Omake: "Memorial" · 6:02am Nov 12th, 2018
Celestia stood on the bridge of her flagship, looking down at the world of Caesaria IV. The fighting continued, as always, but with the main Warboss dead and his strongholds shattered the presence of the Empress was not needed to guarantee victory. So she returned to coordination, directing ships and men while working on Twilight's sword and armor in her spare time.
But now, she needed a moment alone. Just her and her sons.
"You summoned me, Empress?" Celestia turned slightly to see Corax approaching, the Primarch giving a respectful nod.
"Yes, Corax..." she said, looking back down at Caesaria. "It... it always pains me, to see things like this. To see millions uprooted, cast into the fray between life and death. I am their Empress, and yet..." she sighed. "I can not be their God, no matter how much they beg me to."
"Perhaps that is what they need," Corax offered. "They need a leader they can see, not one they blindly wish to."
"Thinking in that manner cost me so much..." Celestia whispered. There was a pause before she spoke again." You know... you know I felt Ferrus Manus die?"
"... No, I did not." Corax said, his voice going soft as well. "There was so much death on Isstvan V, and I had been cut off from the Iron Hands... I could barely notice anything beyond my own rage."
"I know," Celestia said, turning to face her son. "Ferrus was... Well, he was always one who was straightforward, brutal at times. I look back and think that perhaps I could have tempered that fire better, but then he would not have been Ferrus, would he?" Corax didn't answer, so Celestia continued. "After I ordered Horus to be brought to justice, and after I had calmed down to think clearly again, I cast my soul into the Immaterium to keep an eye on progress and make sure everything was going to plan." she paused and gave a rueful chuckle. "What an idiot I was, thinking things would go according to plan..."
"I saw as the Traitors fired their first shells into your lines. I saw Astartes shot in the back by those they thought their friends, cut down before they realized what had gone wrong... and in the center of it all was Ferrus, forcing his way through to strike down every Traitor he could find. In those moments, watching him smashing his way through the enemy, I thought..." Celestia's voice cracked, ever so slightly, before she brought herself back under control. "I thought if there was any chance of victory, or at least salvaging some of what had been sent out, it lay in him.
"But in an instant, he was gone." she looked away. "One strike, and he was gone. I... I could not feel him, could not see him. I-It was just a flash, and he was dead.... just a flash."
"I did not see him fall," Corax replied. "That is but another shadow that haunts me to this day. Time and again I find myself in a position to act-"
"And you are powerless." Celestia finished, Corax nodding in agreement. "Ferrus... Sanguinius... Dorn... Curze... Every name that has fallen lingers in my mind, a monument to all that suffered because of my sins." Celestia sighed, reaching to dry a stray tear from her eyes before she spoke again. "But we remain, so that their sacrifices may not be in vain. That is one mistake I have no intention of making."
"I understand." Corax stepped up to Celestia, stopping once he had reached her side. The two stood in silence for several minutes, watching as ships moved down to Caesaria to bring troops and supplies to those in need.
"I miss them," Celestia said finally, blinking away more tears. "I miss all of them..."
"As do I, Empress," Corax said. "As do I..." Briefly, Celestia thought she could see Luna standing next to her, the younger alicorn reaching to drape a wing over her shoulder. The moment past, but Celestia could feel a small smile tugging at her lips.
That, perhaps, would be enough.
...
Tara had turned in for the night. Just as well, as Naomi did not think she was ready to be brought into this particular ceremony.
She was dressed in a white robe, tied at the waist by a scarlet belt. Normally she would wear a hood to hide her xenos brand, but with Tara's influence she left more comfortable letting some of her defenses down. Her fellow Sisters were similarly dressed, all of them clutching a single white rose as they knelt before the altar in their room. A small cloud of incense floated about them, a pleasant odor even as the Sisters prepared themselves.
Empress, guide my words... Naomi prayed.
"Today," she started. "Marks the ninth anniversary of Morya. Today marks the ninth year of the Lost Convent of Our Order."
"We shall never forget," the other four replied in unison. There was a pause before Veronica leaned forward, setting her rose before the altar.
"We shall never forget the Five Hundred," she said. "Girls in body and soul, struck down by traitors before their time. O Empress bless their souls, that they would continue to shine through the dark." another pause, and Rebecca set her rose next to Veronica's.
"We remember Sister Superior Hannah," Rebecca said, her voice catching for a moment. "She was stern, but never cruel. By her hand, my life was saved, as were many lives I cannot count. May her wisdom ring true to the lost, and may her gaze be lasting upon the next generation."
"We remember Sister Amelia," Ruth said as she set her rose down. "In blood and spirit she was our Sister, our friend. Her eyes were open to so many of the Emperor's miracles, but her gaze has gone cold. May the wonders she saw come true, that her memory never die." Naomi looked down the line. Judith was last, her hands trembling as she held her rose close to her chest. There was a lengthy pause, all the Sisters waiting before she spoke.
"We remember..." she started, her lips quivering. "W-we remember... We remember.... Rachel." Judith choked, dropping her flower and pulling Ruth into a tight hug, tears flowing down her cheeks. Ruth reached up and whispered to Judith, gently stroking her back as the Sister sobbed. Naomi closed her eyes, her own tears rolling away as she did her best to keep composed. Judith was always the first... for she had almost been the First...
"It's okay, Judith," Naomi said softly. "We can stop if you would like."
"No," Judith shook her head, her body shaking as she tried to fight back her sobs. "W-w-we've always finished. It... It would do us no good to stop... they wouldn't let us..." Naomi gave a short nod, turning back to the altar as she lifted her rose up.
"We remember Canoness Diana," she said, giving the rose a kiss before setting it atop the others. "Hero, Leader... mother... By her words we were saved from Morya, and her spirit did not fail until all were brought away. She was an exemplar of the Order, and a mentor to all; may her memory die only when the last Sister of Battle draws her final breath."
"May they all be remembered," Rebecca and Veronica said, Ruth too busy comforting Judith to join in. There was another pause, Naomi closing her eyes again.
"So passes another year since the Battle of Morya," she said. "Let us never forget."
I hope you have had a peaceful Veteran's Day/Armistice Day.
The Imperium tried to make its soldiers rejoice in the death of their comrades. However, in the end, they failed to stop them being human.
Thank you for writing this. It is a beautiful tribute.
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4966880 You're very welcome. Wanted to show that not all that happens in the Imperium is doom and battle (and to help get into the zone for Judith's arc in the story, but that's something else entirely).