//------------------------------// // Operation 7: Unwanted // Story: Sunset of Battle // by Tundara //------------------------------// Sunset Shimmer; Sister of Battle By Tundara Operation 7 “They are sending us to a Death World!” Twilight half sobbed, half screamed the moment she and Sunset returned to their shared rooms. The others were in various states of undress and getting ready to sleep, and froze at Twilight’s hysterical face.  It had been a much longer study session than Sunset had anticipated when she’d set off for the library. After their initial discovery of the true nature of ‘Summer Camp’, Sunset and Twilight had devoured every piece of information they could on the planet. Little by little, moment by moment, horrified dread had gripped the two girls as they poured over the ancient vellum pages. Sunset’s skin was tingling with adrenalin, and over Twilight’s shoulders she just gave a single, solemn nod of agreement. Otherwise, Rainbow and Applejack would have brushed off or attempted to downplay Twilight’s outburst.  Running a hand through her hair, Applejack sat down with a heavy thud on her bed, her face going white.  “They are insane,” Rainbow breathed. “This isn’t a sick joke?” “W-What do we d-d-do?” Fluttershy clutched her sleep shirt to her chest, and buried her face into it.  “Who would send Progena to a Deathworld?” Rainbow demanded of the ceiling.  “It’s worse than that. The planet sends all their children to the planet to cull the weak, stupid, or just plain unlucky,” Sunset grimly explained. Flopping backwards, Applejack asked the ceiling, “What do we do?” Sunset could hear the beginning of tears in the ordinarily stoic girl’s voice.  “We warn everyone, of course.” Rainbow was already halfway to the door when Sunset caught her arm.    “Hold up. Do you think they will believe you?” Sunset slowly shook her head. “I’m amazed you three believed Twilight and me.” “This isn’t something you say as a joke,” Rainbow snarled back, tearing her arm free of Sunset’s grasp. “You four come up with a plan. You are better at that sort of thing than me. I’m going to start spreading the word to the others. If this doesn’t light a fire under their asses, then we’re doubly screwed. The five of us together won't survive a Death World. Emperor preserve us, I doubt any in our class will.” It was logical to warn the entire class. Informing them didn’t harm Sunset, and increased the chances that maybe they’d be of use to her and help her survive in some fashion.      On the other flank, there was also an attempted murderer among them, and Sunset was loath to give them any further opportunities to complete what they’d attempted on the ship. If ‘Summer Camp’ eliminated them, so much the better in one regard. The only drawback would be she’d never know, and would always be looking over her shoulder for another dagger.  “That’s true regardless,” Sunset muttered to herself as she rubbed her temples. “So, do I have your permission to warn the rest of the class, squad leader?” Rainbow’s words dripped with scorn.  “Yes. Yes. Of course.” Sunset made a dismissive motion with her hand and turned back to the others. “They are more likely to trust you than me or Twilight.”  Somewhat mollified, Rainbow set off.  “Is there a plan?” Applejack asked after the door had clicked shut.  Sunset shrugged. “We study the enemy, devise ways to beat them, and train even harder. What else is there?” “Oh? Is that all?” Applejack threw up her hands. “You ain’t got some fancy idea I suppose? Just continue on like before, only harder?” “Is t-there anything else we could d-do?” Fluttershy was nibbling on the edges of her fingernails, her lustrous eyes darting frequently towards the window as if she were seriously considering an attempt at leaping through it and running away.  Even if she’d been able to make her way through the reinforced glass, they were three stories up. If, by the Emperor’s intervention, she wasn’t maimed or outright killed from the fall, there was nowhere to run. They were on an island stronghold.  Looking over her squad, Sunset reluctantly admitted that if it were just them, they were doomed. They required the other progena.  “We’re going to have to work with the other squads,” Sunset concluded with a firm nod. There was a slight bitterness in her mouth as she added, “Actually work together, not just act like a bunch of individual squads. We also need to figure out what roles we’re best suited towards and improve our skills.” “It won’t m-matter,” Fluttershy was trembling, her terror complete. “W-we are doomed. The Emperor won’t save us. W-we aren’t worthy of saving. W-we’re cursed! Just like our families. Just like our h-home!” There was a sharp slapping ring, and Fluttershy’s head jerked to the side. Applejack stood over her, a furious snarl on her face.  “I never want to hear you say that again, ‘Shy!” Applejack’s voice wasn’t raised, and that made the anger in it so much more visceral, even to Sunset, who sat stunned watching events unfold. “We can do this! Equis is gone, but we ain’t. Not yet, and I ain’t one for going down without a fight. The Emperor protected us for a reason. It’s up to us to prove ourselves worthy of His protection.” Quite in a corner, Twilight nodded solemnly.  “I’m not strong like you or Rainbow. I can only d-drag you down,’ Fluttershy shook her head morosely.  “Bullshit.” Applejack thrust a finger at Sunset. “She’d be dead without you. Sunset would have died without you.” Fluttershy’s gaze drifted towards Sunset, and there was something else beyond just the terror gripping the girl in her eyes. Was it guilt? No. Sunset blinked and Fluttershy’s features had been steeled somewhat.  ‘Y-you’re right.” Fluttershy rubbed her palms against her cheeks, and in a thin whisper offered, “Thank you.” “Okay, enough moping,” Sunset stepped into the middle of the room and looked at the three other girls with determination.  She hoped the fear squirming in her own belly wasn’t evident on her face, or in her voice. One of Celestia’s quotes popped into her head, about bravery not being the absence of fear. Sunset didn’t share the thought, and pushed the offending memory away. She needed to focus.  “Here is what we’re going to do. Twilight, Fluttershy; you’re almost the weakest of any of our class when it comes to physical exercises. That has to change. Applejack and Rainbow will whip you into shape. You listen to them and follow their exercise and training regimes. I don’t expect you to be as strong or as fast as them, but you can be better than you are today. Yes, you both have other skills, but those don’t matter if you fall behind and get eaten by monsters. Am I understood?” “Yes,” they said together, Twilight even spreading her hands into an aquila over her chest. Tilting her head, Twilight asked, “What about you?”        “I’m going to spend every free moment I have in the library studying everything about this Deathworld. Maybe there is advice or wisdom on how to survive. Or safe places, or something! Drill Abbess Maria says that if we know our enemies we can counter their strategies. Well, that is what I intend to do.” They nodded at the logic, and for a brief moment there was even a sense of hope.  It was only a moment, singular and stark in its rarity.  Reality came slamming back onto their shoulders all too quickly, and the worms of dread writhed harder in Sunset’s stomach.    Word spread rapidly among the ‘cursed class’ of the forthcoming trip to a Death World. A few of the more popular or ‘untainted’, such as Rarity, made enquiries and by their pale faces afterwards, had their fears confirmed. The stoic hallways rattled with hushed whispers among the progena, rumors spreading like a pestilent wave, infecting the young girls' hearts. Many had been teetering on the brink of absolute despair, their faith in the God-Emperor only barely holding them together. With the news of the Death World, many shattered.  The first indication came the next morning as they gathered for morning lessons. Drill Abbess Maria had barely set foot in the vaulted classroom when Minty Fresh stood up and blurted out, “Is it true, Drill Abbess? About this Summer Camp?” Minty’s eyes went wide as saucers before the words had fully flown from her mouth. Shocked at herself she slapped her hands over her mouth to stem a tide of useless apologies that would have only gotten her in more trouble.   “Permission to speak was not granted,” Maria’s stony voice trampled through the chamber. “Punishment is ten lashes.” Face impassive, Drill Abbess Maria reached back with her whip, and the chamber echoed with the crackling snap of it’s electrocuted barb and Minty’s scream. With the first strike her legs started to collapse, and she had to brace herself against her desk. Each strike came quickly on the heels of the one before, so it sounded like a single, continuous hissing crackle inflected by Minty’s shrill screams. On the last stroke the foolish progena crumpled, muscles convulsing so hard she bit off the tip of her tongue. Blood ran from her mouth, turning her shrieks into a wet gargle.  On either side of Minty, Rarity and Pinkie tensed, but didn’t move to help their squadmate. Not until permission was granted, which it was with a dismissive flick of the wrist as Maria returned her whip to her hip. Pinkie hauled Minty up, and from her desk Rarity retrieved a simple cauterizing tool.  “Minty, stop struggling or I’ll singe your face,” Rarity furiously hissed in a low whisper that Sunset’s keen ears only barely picked up.  Despite the tears running down her cheeks, to her credit, Minty didn’t flinch as the end of her tongue was cauterized.  Sunset’s nose twitched as the scent of burnt flesh wafted over her.  Once Minty was seated, Drill Abbess Maria addressed the class. “It has taken you twice as long as the worst projections to uncover the little secret about Steinsmar’s annual summer camp. I have been growing ever more and more disappointed with you girls.” Maria paused, folding her arms behind her back as she spun on her heel to pace before the class. She was like a vulture about to peck open a fresh carcass, a sharp gleam to her eyes. “Your progress has been most displeasing. It has been past experiences that adoptive daughters taken from worlds strangled by Chaos are more fervent in their desires to be of service to the God-Emperor. Those righteous daughters of the Imperium threw themselves into their lessons. Nothing could slow their marches, tame their bolters, or quiet their hymnals. Fire filled their hearts!   “Equis, it has become apparent, was too coddled. Her daughters; they are soft, weak, timid, lazy, and stupid. Some are beginning to whisper that it might be best to cut the convent’s losses here rather than sink any more resources into what is clearly a useless batch. You’d barely be fit to serve as drudges in the lowest levels of the city.”     A heavy silence fell across the progena. Maria’s cold stare sent a chill up Sunset’s spine, and her stomach tied itself into a knot. After a dreadfully long pause, Maria brought two fingers up to rub her temple. “The final decision has been postponed, however, to see if any of you return from Camp. This gives you one last, final chance to prove your worthiness. You will either come back as true progena worthy of the legacy bestowed upon you, your deeds many, or, by His will, your bones will be added to the countless others who failed.” The tension among the progena was wound like a spring ready to snap. Dread, despair, and even resignation was clear in many of the girl’s faces. Only a handful showed any sort of defiance or fire. Rarity, Spitfire and her squad, and a smattering of others held their heads up. All the others had grown far more pale. The only person who seemed unaffected was Pinkie, who continued to wear her typical broad grin.  Sunset squared her shoulders, put on her most ‘business-ready’ expression, and waited for Drill Abess Maria to start the lectures.          It came as a shock when, instead, Maria turned and stared right at Sunset.  “Progena Shimmer, you don’t have to worry about Camp, or getting any deeds,” Maria stated flatly. “Do you honestly think we’d allow your tainted genes into the catalogous? Or for you to be among true sons and daughters of Steinsmar?”  Sunset’s mouth fell open, her hands dropping to her sides. Waves off conflicting emotions crashed over her. She didn’t know to be relieved or furious.  On one hand, she didn’t have to go to a Death world.  But on the other…  “I have to go.” Sunset squared her shoulders with defiance.  The Drill Abbesses eyebrow slowly rose. Her whip entered her hand.  “I can’t be shown preferential treatment.” “Your entire existence is preferential treatment,” Maria countered. “It is unacceptable for the pure children of Steinsmar to be exposed to your corrupted form.” “Yes! What was done to my body, not my soul!” Sunset pressed. “So, we have Sister Elizabeth alter my ears.” “And why would we waste Sister Elizabeth’s time for mere cosmetics?” To the rest of the class, Maria snarled, “See how high and mighty the Eldar act! And see how they can be brought to heel.” With a flick of her thumb, Maria set her whip to it’s highest setting, usually reserved for the battlefield where the intent was to kill, not just inflict pain. The next moment was only pain as every nerve pulsed with the electric bite of Maria’s neural whip. Sunset’s throat went raw from the scream torn from her as she fell backwards. Every muscle convulsed together. Vomit erupted along with the scream, turning it into a pathetic gurgle that clogged Sunset’s mouth. The chamber spun, and then went black for an instant.  In the next, Sunset was on her back, staring at the painted frescos splayed across the ceiling. The stink of burnt meat and singed hair wafted in the air. For two heartbeats she lay there, mind burnt clean and thoughts sluggish to resume.  No one came to help her up.  Rolling onto her stomach, Sunset pushed herself up, arms shaking with the effort as nerves protested being so horribly used after the purging flames of the whip. On either side, Applejack and Rainbow sat stoically, faces locked forward, but their hands were tense on the sides of their seats as they resisted the urge to help Sunset. Her boots scraped on the stone floor as she wrenched herself back into her chair. Panting with the effort, Sunset attempted to stair at Maria with defiance. Instead, she winced and glanced away from the harsh, uncompromising glare worn by the Drill Abbess.  “Progena Shimmer, go and clean yourself up. I don’t want the stink of you in my classroom.” Sunset barely managed to stand, make the sign of the aquila, and stumble out of the classroom. There was only silence as her feet dragged. Shame burned across Sunset’s face, and rage boiled in a hard knot in her stomach. But worst of all, the fear in her stomach had somewhat abated.     Propping herself up using the wall, she made her way down the vaulted corridor to the nearest bathroom. Along the way she was passed by a pair of senior progena only months away from taking the initial vows and being inducted into the Order as proper novitiates. The progena frowned at Sunset’s soiled tunic, but made no comment or offers of assistance as they continued on. At last Sunset reached the bathroom. It was only a series of stalls with a single gilded sink in front of an ornate mirror.  Sunset splashed water on her face, and looked up at her reflection.   Sunset stared into the mirror, and was met by a pathetic girl held in the gilded frame. There was puke all down her front so that her tunic stuck to her slender frame, and a bedraggled, hollow look to her eyes. She was weak, a liability, unwanted. Something to be hidden away, then cast aside like garbage when she proved herself to be useless. For all the mentions of her being sent or blessed by the Emperor, they didn’t want her.  The girl in the mirror, with her tear stained cheeks, sickened Sunset. The desperation on her sharp features, mixed with indecision and doubt, clawed at her soul. But, the emotion that she saw in starkest contrast was that of relief. Where was the hunger for Power? For Glory? For her Destiny! Gone. Wiped away in a moment by the promise of safety. Was this really the limit of her will? All it took to break her was the threat of setting foot on a Death world?  She grabbed her chest and fell against the sink as a sob shook her slight frame. They were going to leave her behind, grow stronger in her absence.  The pain at being denied again, rejected, abandoned, cast aside to be replaced was sharper than even the agony of a neural whip’s strike. It flayed her soul. Spread it open and revealed it in the mirror. And the worst aspect left bare was that she was glad to be left behind. That tiny, treatorious part exhaled in relief that she didn’t have to face the horrors of this horrible galaxy. “No.” The denial of reality filled Sunset’s throat in a feral growl.  She had to go on this trip or all doors to advancement would lam in her face. She would only ever be an unsettling mascot at best. And the worst… How long would it take for her alien appearance to see her put on a pyre?   No. She had a great destiny ahead of her.  In a trembling hand she brought up her knife. Sweeping aside her hair she locked eyes with the girl in the mirror. Fear swam in a bed of tears over large teal eyes.  Resolve crushed the weak emotion, forcing it deep where it could create no more problems. And yet her hand still shook as the cold metal touched soft skin. Sunset could see the hesitation battle to take control again of the girl in the mirror. To make her question herself. Return the doubts and forfeit all hopes of growing stronger for the promises of temporary safety.   Screaming, Sunset ripped the blade up. Excruciatingly hot pain clamped onto the side of her head. Searing tendrils slithered into her brain like hissing snakes. Her vision went white and her knees began to give out. Compared to the bite of Maria’s whip, the pain was pathetic and poorly organized. Intense, sharp, but localized. Tensing her jaw, Sunset forced it down as she transferred the knife to her remaining ear. Before the tremors in her arms could fully take hold, she cut off the other ear.  Her legs gave out and the next thing she was aware of was writhing on the floor in a sticky puddle.  Vaguely, through the torrent of screams in her throat and piercing agony that refused to abate, Sunset was aware of Drill Abbess Maria kneeling down over her. Barely noticeable was the sting of a pain inhibitor in her shoulder. Powerful drugs rushed through Sunset’s veins and washed away the electric flames of severed nerves. “The Emperor protects,” Sunset hoarsely croaked. “The Emperor protects those who are worthy, as you have shown yourself to be. So far.” Maria replied as she motioned for someone behind her to step forward. Fluttershy and Applejack hurried to pick Sunset up, ignoring where her blood stuck to their hands and shirts. “Take her to the medicea.” Sunset breathed a sigh as she relaxed and allowed herself to fall into a stupor. She’d passed another test.