//------------------------------// // Obside // Story: Adepta Sororitas: The Tale of Canoness Sunset Shimmer // by ratedoni //------------------------------// Part 1: Among the Rubble Rubble, brick, ice and cinders scattered across the dead remains of a forgotten city. Howling winds of the icy wasteland of the north buffeting against the ruins of buried dreams as the sounds of battle were carried by the frigid wind. The sounds of bullets, screeches and metal clashing, all of it leaving their imprint on this land, one that will not be erased easily, but just as the battle echoed outside of the city, in the streets there was another battle. The now resting carcass of what could have been in the past a normal pony of Equestria hit the rocky ground of the street, its dark eyes now focusing on nothing as the body finally found peace due to the large hole in the middle of its head, its dark blood congealing in the middle of the snow storm as around it, more creatures rose to battle, each and every one being destroyed by piercing bullets and bombs. But they didn’t stop. They couldn’t. Just like an ancient machine that could only do one single order, these monsters knew only one thing; attack. Their brains, their whole beings had been repurposed. Every ounce of what they once were, of who they had been in the past, now transformed to be the perfect weapon… or at least that was the idea behind them; the skull blowing up due to a bullet as the body joined the rest of the creature’s corpses in the snow, the roars of many filling the abandoned and torn apart streets of the Crystal Kingdom, ultimately showed that these things were not perfect monsters after all. The long automatic rifle on his hands kept firing bullet after bullet, the empty casings bouncing harmlessly on the snow as the blood, gunpowder and mayhem continued their incessant party across the nightmarish city. What once were pristine streets now showed signs of chaotic taint, with walls of flesh where crystal or mortar once existed, screaming and suffering a constant echo as bullets kept on going. Then it stopped. No more bullets in the chamber. Architect watched the green rifle on his hands and instead of changing the magazine, he simply threw the weapon aside as his trusty briefcase threw two small handguns into the air, falling right into his hands and once more began to rain lead, until once more, nothing in the chamber, so he threw them, but instead of bouncing, the two handguns began to shine and then, a powerful explosion sent several monsters into the air, with many others being destroyed by the resulting fireball and shower of shrapnel. Architect was also rocketed back by the explosion, but most of the damage seemed to be absorbed by the body-encompassing light that could only mean an energy shield. Quickly getting up he had to avoid a huge claw by jumping aside as he quickly kicked the monster right underneath its chin sending it flying backwards. “Oh geez, all this just for a delivery? I’m gonna have to charge a premium!” As another gun, an orange SMG with a short barrel, once more was thrown into his hands his battle continued, as outside the city, ponies and chaos monsters continued their war. But there was something bizarre. They were behaving… differently? They were not simply rushing like maniacs. Instead, they all acted like one, as if they were simply a collective, all running by a program. He then felt something, a change in the air as all the chaos constructions looked into the trenches and screamed in rage. Every single monster, ready to tear into its opponents, all for the destruction of harmony. “Okay, I’ve gotta say, that one was new, usually they just like to growl and do… monster things, not call out for someone and that one is obviously Sunset. Great, just great. It always has something to do with the redhead menace herself!” Part 2: Trenches, Ice and a lot of Cleansing “Well, that is interesting,” the soldier looking over the ice and into the battlefield uttered, his lasgun over his shoulder and his own helmet looking rather ridiculous on such a wiry and small body. Unlike most soldiers of the Imperium this one was not exactly a perfect specimen of physical prowess. Sunset knew that even Jacqueline, the shortest of the Catachan warriors that they had on their forces could break Baldrick with just one hand, but well, each soldier was useful for the Imperium of Man, if only as a test dummy. “And what would that be Baldrick? The fact that we are surrounded by xeno scum that are bravely dying instead of us, or the fact that all these Chaos Servants are screaming as one and it almost sounds like a word?” Blackadder may not have been the bravest of men, but he could definitely be considered a cunning man, even though, that even Baldrick, someone that thought that the universal symbol of danger was a stamp that pirates used to mark their stuff, could see something bizarre on the behavior of those monsters was worrying. “… They are not creatures of chaos,” the captain of their ragtag bunch of soldiers said, making Blackadder and her closest Sisters turn to her. The Britannia soldier raised an eyebrow, which was the most shocked expression that he had on his repertoire, while the armored women didn’t react at all, probably getting to the same conclusion. “Excuse me my Lady, but, what do you mean by not creatures of chaos? For what I see they act, look and bleed just like them.” “The resemblance is skin only,” the elegant warrior Tabitha responded while Sunset assessed the situation and what could change with it. “We have been fighting against those… mockeries of life for quite a while and so, we are attuned to their presence thanks to the gifts from the Emperor as his daughters. These things do look the part darling, but that’s only it.” “Tabitha is right. Whatever these things are they are not behaving in the same way, but whatever the case, seems that we have company incoming,” The rumbling of the ground and the snow being kicked around did not hide the monsters as they charged across the land, sending pony soldiers flying due to the impact, getting closer into the trenches. “Well, be as it may be, I don’t think the etymology or xenology difference will do any good considering they are more than ready to tear all of us apart.” Blackadder arched an eyebrow at the savagery in which those monsters tried to rush the distance into the trenches, but just as quickly, a beast simply keeled over, half of its head blown over. Sunset’s hand was raised, her worn out bolter pistol in her hand smoking due to the heat of the bullet and just like that, Sisters and Imperial soldiers opened fire, unleashing fire and brimstone upon the open field. From the skies, pegasi backed down from the fight as they saw their human allies unleash a new machine to kill. From the snow, they pulled covers and long thin barrels pointing at the sky also made good on their design, ripping apart the flesh of the flying creatures. The snow was now a seemingly endless sea of crimson and black, as the world that had been idealized as the home of friendship and cooperation now had been corrupted by the cruel reality of war and survival. As the Princesses back home lamented the end of their subject’s innocence, on the battlefield, another one got a cruel lesson in the reality of what was war. Princess Twilight Sparkle never noticed the tears running down her face, her mind shattered by the noises, the sounds and vision of ponies and monsters alike dying in the wasteland; what was once untainted by everypony, now would be remembered as the place where this butcher had happened. She was for all purposes catatonic to everything and everyone. The noise was muted, her thoughts were gone as she watched the massacre. Part of her brain, which was always working no matter what, processed the destruction around her, wondering if this was the plan that Sunset Shimmer had for her, for this to totally break her just so she could take one last revenge against her former teacher. If that was the true meaning of the redhead’s decision, then she had successfully destroyed everything Celestia had held dear, so she stood amongst the ashes and snow, softly crying for the souls of so many ponies, lost due to this insanity known as war. “You know what I find hilarious about this whole situation?” The redheaded commander of the forces asked the rest of her entourage as they unleashed lead, casing after casing falling into the frozen ground. Around them, some of the snow had started to melt due to the intense heat coming from autogun and lasgun being used by the humans in the defense of the position. Around them, both anti-air and artillery did the damage across the wide expanse. Only 300, or almost that amount of soldiers wreaked havoc as the melted snow quickly distorted the trenches around, not that it bothered the Imperial forces, who simply kept firing, dropping the enemy in their reckless charge. “I’m not quite sure what you would find hilarious in a situation like this your holiness, not with so many teeth and claws ready to pounce on our poor under armored behinds.” “Don’t be such a spoilsport Blackadder.” The battle grin on Chroma’s face was good enough to understand the pleasure that the warrior had in the middle of the battle as she kept firing her twin guns. “It’s just that, this whole thing, for all these ponies, this whole situation, all this war must have broken their minds, their innocence utterly robbed by the cruel reality of the universe.” The Canoness simply looked at the datapad on her belt. “But for us it’s just Wednesday 1400 hours. Nothing like screwing over a Xeno species while doing our job to kick Chaos’ ass… or a similar facsimile in this case.” Far from the main battlefield, but close enough to hear the screams and bullets, someone saw the raising smoke and wondered how something could have gone so wrong with no one to stop it in time. Underneath her silver boot one of the monsters growled aggressively, but with a little bit more pressure the beast simply whined in pain and terror. “I don’t mind the help on this mission lady, but you are definitely not one of our forces and I’m sure if you were a stowaway in our ship we would have noticed a woman like you, so who are you?” the blonde, tall and completely toned young woman from Catachan said as the rest of her scout forces looked in awe at the ease in which this mysterious woman had destroyed all the demons that had been guarding the left side of the palace entrance. Jackeline was a proud fighter, one that would go one on one with any creature on her native planet, but even she was amazed at the kind of agility and strength that the seemingly thin woman had shown, something that just didn’t make sense. It was over in a heartbeat, with every demon falling and staying down at the strikes of the mysterious human-looking woman and Jaqueline meant ‘human-like’ because it wasn’t possible for someone that powerful to be a simple human being, not with that kind of power. The woman for her part simply smiled, her eyes shining in secret delight behind the silver filigree mask, her long white cloak blowing with the cold biting wind of the snow wastelands. “Oh my dear, we wouldn’t have time to tell you everything, but there is one thing, a name that came to me in my death and rebirth… call me Madeleine if you will and I’m here because I have to be.” There was after all, something that only she could do, something that she had to receive and a person that was responsible for all this madness, but so far, it was still hiding in the tower, letting her little puppets take the fall instead of her. “Well, that wasn’t mysterious at all. You better tell us exactly who you are and where are you from or we will fill your body full of autogun rounds!” “I always forget that you people of the Imperium are so ready to attack everything, but believe me, I am not here to be your enemy, I’m only here to investigate something.” And with that, the woman simply turned around, her long silver coat flowing with the wind behind her, all while she moved in the palace’s direction Part 3: A creation made out of ash, and a battle that will soon be cinders “Okay, gotta admit, three prong attacks while pulling the main forces out of the city and then attacking the main focus points with trains full of TNT or whatever the case may be considering you are Imperium and you like blowing things up, was a pretty good idea.” Architect was used to strange ideas, he had them all the time, that’s one of the reasons why he was capable of filling orders from all kinds of dimensions and situations. Case in point, the weapon that he had on his hands at the moment could be considered something out of a horror/slasher movie due to its combination of chainsaw and flamethrower that could make most Space Marines weep in pride and joy. “Insane, but pretty good, no wonder Sunset has got so far in the Imperium.” “We are pretty sure you are not supposed to be here,” the tall almost barbaric looking man at his side could only utter in confusion at the way the man had simply appeared with his silver briefcase and a bolter pistol on his hand. They were sent as recon for the last part of the mission, but finding most of the enemy forces already dealt with by just one man was quite the surprise. “We, as in, you mean your whole unit? Well, this is the Crystal Kingdom so I’m pretty sure no human or monsters should be here. Was this part of Sunset Shimmer’s plan all along? You guys get inside the city as they are busy dealing with the ponies outside and then… what? I mean, you are not a force big enough as it is to storm the gates of hell at this moment.” Everyone on the Cobalt forces were a little surprised and a little in awe at the way in which the man acted, but seeing the attire and the clear insignia of the Imperium on the man’s weapons, well, maybe the Emperor had sent some reinforcements. “You know of our commander.” “Oh believe me, in this kind of situation, there is always a Sunset Shimmer in the middle of it. Now, let’s push these things back, I have a delivery to make! For the Emperor!” And that’s how the two sides of the pincer attack went, but up in the tower, there was another reaction to the quickly decaying condition of the battle. Sombra would have smirked at the clear rage on the woman’s face, but he was a little busy trying to survive the way in which he was being choked with the chain on his neck. “So the little ponies found themselves their own little savior. Of course it had to be the stupid redhead, it is always one of them!” The bald woman threw the umbrum to the side where he stayed trying to regain his breath. “She must have been sent by one of those two fucking idiots. Father was right, whoever is out there is looking out for us and they have always found a way to put a Sunset right in front of us!” the long nails of the woman were pushing into her palms, piercing them while her blood began to fall into the marble floor, corroding the stone and eating large chunks out of it due to its toxicity. “You speak of this creature as if it were more dangerous than the princesses or the elements,” Sombra finally was able to utter once he regained control of his voice after being strangled for so long. “Oh, don’t make me go about this stupid woman, not even back when I was alive she could contain herself, such a fucking nice little girl.” On top of her head, the fiery halo flared with her rage, remembering another of the redheads that she had met while she was still human, before the touch of her Father had shown her the true world. “Now she is here with troops, ready to rescue her city and kill you once more.” “And you too, don’t forget that these creatures hold power big enough to completely annihilate you.” At those words, the rage simply vanished, being exchanged by a sonorous and raucous laughter coming from the angelic looking woman. “You think…you think that they are strong enough to beat me?! Oh, that was so good. You think that I should fear them?! Simple stupid ponies?! I do not know where you get these ideas, but they are hilarious! Your elements and the tree are not even capable of reaching Father, what would they even be able to do to me? No, it’s that stupid redheaded woman which will be the problem. There is always a redhead!” She needed to control her stress, so she took one of her practice dummies, one of the ponies who had been experimented by her; the squelching sounds of the head being crushed by her hand was extremely satisfying alongside the screams of pain, before the pony gurgled and was finally capable of finding peace. As this was happening up in her tower, back on street level, the few remnants of local resistance were being eliminated quickly at both sides of the city, thanks to the surprising help of two unexpected sources. And just as the rest of the monsters were ready to charge straight into the lines of ponies into the trenches to take down the group of the redheaded Sister, Sunset unleashed her next part of her attack. With one swift order, from underneath canvas and camouflaged, a monster of a machine was uncovered, an engine that had already been prepped. “Is everything ready inside this thing?” The Sister in command of everything, Sunset Shimmer, was more than ready to unleash hell upon these creatures and this machine was the most expedient tool she could find with the time she had at her disposal. Thankfully the few members of the Mechanicus she had at hand were ready to take whatever they could get their hands on (and they had many of those) and their design was pretty much what she had been looking for; a battering ram with an engine. “Everything is ready for your signal, your Holiness,” the young member of the Mechanicus, a young female tech-priest of name Tara was the one that had been allowed to go into the trenches for this part of the operation. Her synthetic voice, still not as reverberating as the older red hooded weirdos that Sunset had at her disposal, was almost clear and human sounding. She still seemed to have many human parts, which was strange for the red robed weirdos, but she wasn’t going to complain when the girl was a lot easier to deal with than other mechanical lunatics. “Perfect. Chroma, get the Sisters ready. Blackadder, you are in charge of the trenches and somebody grab the princess. I’m pretty sure she won’t like to miss this thing!” With a massive grin on her face she got into one of the carts as the other soldiers obeyed her orders, quickly boarding the carts, without noticing that the one who got Princess Twilight was a pink garbed soldier ready to join the adventure. The wind picked up as the engine quickly moved the carts across the snow, a plow installed in front of the train cart shoved everything aside, sending many poor souls flying through the air as they tried to stop the momentum of the beast. It was like this that the battle for the Kingdom was about to reach new heights. This was but the first step in a bigger conflict. It was time for the war to get on track.