//------------------------------//
// 11 - Warrant of Trade 
// Story: My Little Rogue Trader 
// by Tyrannosaurus_Tux 
//------------------------------//



I gasped. Choked. Arms and legs reaching. I smelled copper. I sucked air in through my mouth. I looked around. The clicking of computers and the lights of the bridge sounded all around me, lit by bright lumens and cogitator screens. The windows were closed. I was still in the warp. I... I couldn't see anyone on the bridge. 

When I tried to move, all that was accomplished was a pull on my skin. I was stuck to the throne. Even my head seemed magnetized to the cushion. I tried to cry out, but nothing escaped. I tugged on my arms, and I tried to lean forward. I felt my skin pull on my skull, but nothing else. I instead opted to try and relax. This... was a dream, right? Nothing can harm me here. It's just a dream... it's just a dream. 

The bridge windows opened with a clattering sound, and I saw—!





I woke up, but not on my bed. 

It was a featureless surface, in some sort of void. It was cold. I could see nothing, nobody. I stood up. I was in my captain's outfit. I peered into the darkness, blinking as I could see faint lights appear. Stars. Constellations. Auroras of blues, pinks, purples, greens. Softly swirling, softly drifting. I looked around, trying to see, hear... anything. I rubbed my mouth and nose. I could hear distant chimes... bells? Faint rushing water... and wind. I looked around but could see nothing in the empty horizons. 

I thought that if this was a dream, then I might as well content myself with the sights. When I thought that, however, streaks of red, like cut skin, streaked across the sky. black, violet, red, and orange poured forth from the wound, flooding a good part of the sky. The aurora remained... but damaged. The thought comes... unbidden. 'Like me.'

Finally, a voice. It was my own, and it echoed. I heard the marching of many feet.

"It's about time." It was impatient. Arrogant. Commanding. Everything a Rogue Trader should be. Boots clapped on concrete.

I turned around and saw... me. I wore the same outfit, but... my hair, my face, my hands... they were slick, dripping with blood. More cuts and gouges covered my body than I cared to count. My eyes! They shone with golden light... the same light I saw whenever I closed my own eyes, even under covers. I could not see anything beneath that light. A crowd cheered, even as a rope pulled taught. 

I... looked about as awful as I felt. I tried to speak up, to ask something, but I couldn't. It was as though my jaw was wired shut. I heard the click of a landmine.

"No," the other me said. I heard the distant thunder of artillery guns. They cratered some distant battlefield. Machine guns fired. "No, you need to listen."

I was out of breath. I fell on my rear. My hands caught my fall. They hurt as if I had been punching burning ash. I smelled scorched carbon, too. 

The other me squatted down, trying to remain steady on his... my feet. I could hear distant laughter, both angelic and demonic. 

"Whatever," I finally managed to speak aloud, with much difficulty. "Weird dream."

The other me blinked my golden eyes and shook my head. "Fine. I'm dreaming, whatever," I spat. I pointed a bleeding finger at me. "I could waste my time trying to convince myself that I'm not a dream construct or even a daemon of the warp." A far-off siren, one that I somehow knew beckoned everyone who heard to shelter.

I leaned forward into a cross-legged position. The other me did likewise sit into a cross-legged sitting position, a giant weight sloughing off my shoulders. There was a lot of red-black ichor pooling on the ground. I heard screams. No... battle cries. Fixing of bayonets. I looked around to see what could be making that sound, but... there was nothing. Nothing but me and myself. I looked back to the blood-soaked me as I said, "Or I could give you the important stuff. I'll even make sure it's burned into your waking memory." I paused, wiping my finger and my thumb over my golden eyes. "My waking memory. You... I... you know what I mean," I said with a wave of a hand, flinging droplet particles behind me. 

I heard a hollow metal object hit the floor. I smelled something awful, and I choked. Gagged. I need to focus, I reminded myself. Or was it the other me who said that?

"I remember some of the basics, of course," I said, pausing to pull a knife out of my own hand. "My name is Edo Von Hassia, Rogue Trader of the Imperium of Man and Equus. My personal voidship is the super-heavy Enterprising Frigate-class 'Mercy of the Stars'. My Princesses are Twilight Sparkle, Silver Sword, Azure Fire, Cherry Heart, and Forest Grace. Their idea, not... ours."

I thought for a minute, then said, "Our children... many. Not important right now." I heard the rushing sound of aircraft engines.

Heat flashed to my face, and the light appeared in my own eyes. I punched myself in the face, causing me to fall over. I held a hand up as I stood up to beat myself again. I saw only emptiness in the other me... Old Edo's eye sockets.

"Not... important?" I interrogated. "Not important!?" 

The light returned to his eyes, and I just about doubled over. My jaw hurt. Don't hit yourself, I guess. I heard a beast somewhere. Stomping.

The other me sat back up. Something was sobbing. Was it me? Now, it was Old Edo's turn to stand over me. 

"Our Dynasty, Edo," I... he... I growled. "I was attacked by daemons, and they broke me in half... just about. That's why I'm here, and you're... I..."

He sighed. I sighed. A world took its last breath beneath fire. 

"We're both here. I've been doing my best to come back, but something's... changed."

Old Edo gestured to his eyes. "I'm sure you noticed the light. The power. Even if you did remember before, you'd only remember that... this is... quite unprecedented."

There was only one place, one person, in fact, that I could vaguely recall. One whose light was like that of the gods.  The sky's blood started to drip down.

"The Emperor."

Flashes of light lit up the sky. The blood diminished... but only for a moment. Then, it poured down everywhere. Me and myself were confronted with a flash flood. I tried getting up, but Old Edo fell on top of me. Our faces were close together. I stared myself in the eyes. He... I... pressed a pointer finger into my sternum. Ichor freely poured from Old Edo's nose. Old Edo grimaced with black teeth, and he started to say something. His voice was accompanied by many, many others.

Remember your oath, Rogue Trader. 

Remember who you are.

Remember your ambition.

Si Dieu n’existait pas, il faudrait l’inventer.

The crimson flood washed away all. 





"Edo? Edo!" 

I was drenched. A quick look revealed that it was a mundane sort that chilled me... only sweat. I sat up. I was surrounded by my Princesses, plus Amber. I was in the living room. I... passed out? I heard a griffish cough, and I looked over to see bright violet eyes look into mine. Suddenly, I felt claws comb over my brain, looking for damage. Like looking through a file cabinet, checking for burned contents.

I hummed, finding the sensation not altogether unpleasant. Logically, it was still weird, but after what I just witnessed, I think I should take anything I can get.

I opened my eyes and noticed the pink shield around us. That's my Princess. Keeping nasties out. I look to Twilight, whose hard eyes softened when she saw my tired smile.

"You good?" She asked.

I nodded, slowly. "I saw..." I recalled aloud. "Another... me. I... he..."

I was more out of it than I knew. 

Twilight shushed me with a hoof. "Let's... get you somewhere safer." She pressed on my torso, causing me to lay back down on the gurney. Gurney? I was lifted up as the shield collapsed. I could do nothing but breathe as I was carried aloft. First, to the elevator, then inside the elevator. 

"Wh-Where are we going?" I wheezed. 

From my side, I could hear Twilight's voice, saying, "We've decided that it would be safest to have you next to one of the actual Gellar shield generators. You've been attracting way more attention than usual."

After a moment, Twilight said, "I'll also be placing my own wards and spells of protection on the room. It's unused, so I'll have plenty of space to work with. I meant what I said, my little Rogue Trader. Just... take it easy."

I was weak. Pathetic.

No. No, this will not be so. I focused. I must remember. I must become stronger. To do that... I would need my power. Yes. With power, I can bind my wounds. With power, I can rise above my... mortality itself. New possibilities began to manifest in my brain. I would not be the weak center of my family. As I thought about what to do, the elevator doors opened once again. I was jostled as our little group moved again, covered by the pink bubble. I closed my eyes.

There it was again. That light. My light. It was like that of the Emperor. I remember quite the light shows he would put on when a display of power was needed. He especially liked to use it during... shouting matches. 

But it was mine. My light. My power. I brought a little of it forth. Feeling returned to my limbs. Heat, too. A soft light radiated from my bosom. I breathed more deeply than I could before. The gurney stopped midair. 

"I can walk," I said calmly. I let go of the light, letting it dissipate. I saw myself lower down. I put my feet over the sides, then stood up. I was in one of the hallways of the ship, surrounded by my Princesses and Amber. 
I took a good look around. Even here, I saw some of the opulence of my flagship. Much of the space on the wooden walls was reserved for artistry, scenes of alien planets, and great battles. I straightened up, feeling my back pop a little. 

I looked around to many faces, expecting... something. 

Remember your oath, Rogue Trader.

I shivered. 

"I..." I swallowed. "I saw something while I was unconscious," I said. Twilight opened her mouth, but I quickly added, "Not a daemon. A vision of... myself. He told me... things."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, but I continued, "I must... remember my oath. As... a Rogue Trader."

Twilight's eyes twitched. She sought an answer between the lines. "What..." she said, slowly. "What did it... he tell you?" 

"That..." I recalled. "That he split from me as a result of the attack, and the light somehow manifested itself, as well. The same light I just used to regain my strength."

Twilight shook violently. "To think... that..." She took a deep breath. "It's a theory. Your... awakening has many on edge. The best place to go to remember your oath, Edo... would be the Warrant Chamber Room."

I nodded. I held a hand aloft, inviting Twilight to lead the way. She took the lead, re-establishing her shield all the while. 





I did not need it pointed to me when we reached the Warrant Chamber Room. Or rather, the Warrant Chamber Room entrance. It was a stately room, filled with stained glass windows. Of me, of my Princesses, of the Emperor, and the Solarch... it was strange to see a pony in power armor. Those two larger-than-life (I hope) statues of the Emperor and the Solarch flanked the doors to what obviously was my Warrant Chamber Room. All this for a piece of paper?

...Was it just a piece of paper? There was more to the grand murals and... altars. There were altars in the room... and those who knelt before the altars. I stopped in my tracks to look at the small crowd. They all wore their red Word Bearer cloaks, but... they wore power armor, like the Space Marines. As I looked, however, another realization lit up my eyes. Only a few of those who were here were actually Astartes. The rest? Many humans, but even a few Equus creatures were seen in the mix.

One of which who must have heard me enter, because I saw gold eyes go wide at the sight of me. 

The pony gasped. "It's the Rogue Trader!" 

More and more individuals who had been praying turned their eyes to me. I realize that these are survivors of the Lamb's Embrace. They're... paying their respects to me. Instead of bowing before the image of my dynasty... they're now just... bowing to me. 

I sighed. I am a Lord Captain. This is fine. This is typical... I hope. I'll have to ask Twilight or somebody later. I closed my eyes... and noticed the light again, growing... it caused me to snap my eyes back open. I saw my audience. Their reverence. What was going on?

Remember your oath, Rogue Trader. I turned my eyes towards the door and swallowed. The mighty adamantine door was covered in too many decorations to really describe, but the most obvious one was a massive skull that stared back down at me, above a box of text. 

"This is it."

It read,




I, Edo Von Hassia, do solemnly swear...

To walk bravely first into darkness,
To unite and reclaim what was lost,
To triumph over nightmares untold,
To hold boldly the reins of fate,
To walk steadily the road of thorns,
Through pain to greatness.




From the center of my head, I felt a new supernova of pain. That day... it was the culmination of a lifetime of work, of fighting. The first lifetime of many... God, how old am I? I blinked... and found myself somewhere else entirely.

I was no longer in the bowels of my ship, the Mercy of the Stars. I was no longer even in space. I held up a hand to shield my eyes from the first sunrise I ever saw in the world of Equus.

"First, there was One... then there were Six. The Five were not like the One, and the One did not desire the Five... but they needed to bond together if they were to save their world. Then, there was a new One, followed by Five."

My own words were being spoken to me. Was it Old Edo... or my own recollection? Who were the Five and One? My brain... 

I said aloud, clutching my head, "It hurts to remember..."

I was back in the Mercy. I opened my eyes to look to see into the eyes of the One. 

Twilight Sparkle. Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria...—I shook my head. Another story tried to begin in my memory. In a time now past, in the Imperial Palace of Earth... no other details were forthcoming. Wait... a final story, one that ties the both of them together, somehow. One day, I woke up in the magical land of Equestria. An event, others like it, orchestrated by a traitor.

"How close are we?" I asked. 

Twilight thought a moment, then said, "We're bypassing all the Protectorate to reach Hassia quickly, but not too much further now."

I looked around, noting that we were now alone in the room. The Word Bearers and their Chapter-kin had left. 

"Oh," I noted. "I... well, it'd be nice to see the planets I've been learning about."

After a moment, Twilight huffed with a smile, and said, "Maybe later, Edo." 

By that point, I noticed that the adamantine doors of my warrant chamber were swinging wide open with a metallic creak. I hurried inside, past my Princesses. 

Inside, I saw... a grand room. Part shrine, part safehouse, part archive. I saw a few bookshelves, filled with books, movies, and... games? My brain itched. There was... something really weird about them. I looked around some more. I had managed to stuff a couch and TV in here, too. Was this a Warrant Chamber room or a "get away from it all" room? I looked to see the Warrant itself.

I should have known it would've been a truck-sized roll of giant parchment suspended at the back of the room, behind an altar with a terminal and a smaller copy of the Warrant, which was sealed behind glass. A stylized version of my Dynasty crest was engraved on the floor with golden brass and paints. Warm light flooded the room from many, sweet-smelling candles. I blinked at the odd sight; these were candles, yet I just stepped into a sealed room. Who's been managing these candles?

Any and all questions that were rising in my mind as to the nature of this room and what it was I was supposed to be doing here were interrupted by a very strange sight. 

In front of the Warrant of Trade... my Warrant of Trade, stood me. The one from my dream.... vision? Old Edo's coat was slick with my... his blood, his back turned towards me. He... I was looking at the Warrant. He stood stock still, and I suspect by the lack of audible movements that my Princesses had noticed as well.

I could only hear the faint movements, creaks, and whirring of the ship.

Then, the other me reached out a hand, and my refractor field device flew from my belt into his hand. A shimmering light covered him just as blasts of energy slammed into the shield, from a purple bolt of lightning to balls of fire and even a frosty beam of ice. 

Old Edo sighed. "That was close," he said in my tired voice. Finally, I... he turned around, and looked at all of us with empty eye sockets. Old Edo then added, "I don't particularly enjoy being on the receiving end of a Blue-on-Blue." 

Amber Sight was the first to advance, even as Princess Twilight raised a shield. 

"In truth, I'd hoped to be gone by now," admitted Old Edo. "That the Rogue Trader would... remember all he needed to know. But as I recalled what I know..." he looked over his hand, dripping onto the metal floor. Old Edo looked directly at me.

"I realized that it would be too much to process all or even most at once. So I'm recalling a little, day by day until I'm fully... absorbed again."

Twilight, walking up to the edge of her shield, simply said, "I don't care, daemon. Hassian Refractor, commence shut down. Override code: TwiPin-Theta-328."

Old Edo and I asked, "What?" Before the shimmering shield unceremoniously shut down. Then, a torrent of magic and psychic pain overwhelmed Old Edo. 

Something I was barely able to witness, as the torrent of pain somehow overwhelmed my own senses, causing me to double over. My skin split, and I saw a torrent of blood fall from my face as I fell over. 

No... no, no! I looked up to see Old Edo disintegrate into golden light, which hovered for a moment before reaching through Twilight's shield to slam into me. I saw—!?