3.08- New Revelations
New Revelations
Progress on getting relief to the Sanguinium Martyres had slowed. Getting the surviving crew off the ship and safely aboard the Sword of Redemption and its escorts proceeded apace, but the Mechanicus salvage continued to delay their arrival. There were a few more strings Sarai could pull, small bits of blackmail and bribes that would smooth out the process in the short term, but one did not become a Lady Inquisitor by playing only to the short term.
At the very least, it allowed her to pick up more about her new guests.
Velas and his henchmen were to be expected of the Ordo Xenos; attentive, but not overly interesting beyond an odd question concerning technology. The Inquisitor himself had not approached Sarai beyond inquiries on the recovery process, and from what few probes Sarai could take without exposing herself it was clear he had told no one about his conversation with her after they had arrived. There was also no clear indication that he suspected her of withholding more information, but only an idiot would take an Inquisitor’s word at face value.
Sarai was no idiot. That had gotten her killed in Equestria.
Velas had been joined by two new companions: a matronly Sister Hospitaller and a young psyker practically oozing mental trauma. The little witch proved another excuse for Sarai to avoid having to speak directly with Velas, lest their powers intermingle and lead to one or the other leaking more than they let on. The Hospitaller had assured Sarai that “Tara” was doing much to help the other psyker, but even a student of Celestia had little hope in calming that damaged mind. Though it does say a lot for her optimism that she thinks she can do it, Sarai thought. At least Celestia has not gone about stamping that out.
The Sisters of Battle were too close to Twilight Sparkle to confront. Devout servants of the Imperium they might have been, loyalty often had a way of crossing paths one did not want to take. Yes, as an Inquisitor Sarai would carry great authority in their eyes, but compared to Twilight Sparkle? One slip up and the ever-loyal Sisters would have the Student on her tail in no time at all.
That left one person left to approach. And for a man of his stature, Vulkan was quite adept at keeping out of sight.
“Everything, you say?” Sarai asked, turning back to one of her officers.
“Yes, my lady,” the officer replied, giving a sheepish nod. “We’ve checked every scanner and camera, and it seems he’s made a clean sweep of the forge. I’ve tried dispatching servitors and workers to the forge to perhaps see what he is doing, but all reports have shown that he is not there when they arrive.”
“How does he know we are coming, and how can he hide so easily? The Salamanders are not exactly known for their stealth.”
“We are unsure. Our current theory is perhaps one of Inquisitor Velas’ henchmen has been tipping him off to our patrols.” Sarai said nothing, resting her chin on her knuckle as she thought. Velas had not said for how long Vulkan had been aboard his ship, but the Primarch’s friendliness meant building a rapport between them all would have been child’s play. Enough that he would get them to spy for him...? No, this is the Primarch of the Salamanders; he would not stoop that low.
“... Hold off on the patrols for now,” Sarai said, lowering her hand as she continued. “It is obvious Lord Vulkan is suspicious of us, and prying may only make the matter worse. I will try and speak with him directly to see if there is any way to resolve these differences.”
“If you feel that is wise, my lady.” The officer nodded, stepping aside to allow Sarai to pass. While an idle period had arisen aboard the ship, meaning most of the crew would be resting and praying, Sarai still kept to the maintenance tunnels to avoid drawing attention. As the tunnels were meant for servitors and techpriests, not flesh and blood Inquisitors, her path was slow and arduous as she ducked and squeezed through low clearance doors and narrow halls, bits of machinery scraping against her uniform as she continued onward.
Sarai slowed as the air around her began to gently heat up. The forge was always one of the warmest places on the ship, and the Inquisitor could feel herself sweating as she neared. Rather than continue on the normal path, Sarai stopped and began to run her hand along the wall, sweeping her hand across the rough metal. The techpriests would never change the schematics of this ship, she thought. That should put it... ah, here we are.
Sarai pressed down on a small panel near her foot. There was a clunk before the section of the wall parted, Sarai stepping into a room that could easily fit a Terminator with full gear. An old cooling system hung in disrepair above her head, small bits of condensation dripping to the floor next to her. But Sarai paid no attention, for she had what she was looking for: a gap in the cooling pipes that gave her a sweeping view of the forge and all that were inside.
Vulkan was there, his back to Sarai as he worked the forge. The Primarch was no longer armored, instead wearing a pair of work pants and a tunic that were just enough to cover his massive frame. The light of the flames seemed to glisten off his dark skin, giving him the appearance less of a man and more akin to some spirit seeking an end to its wandering. Even from afar Sarai could feel her breath tightening with awe; the Primarchs had always been spoken in terms beyond mere human understanding, but to watch one working in person...
She was snapped from her thoughts by the sound of a door opening. Vulkan turned, and Sarai could see a small figure stepping out of the shadows. Twilight Sparkle. “Ah, young Tara,” Vulkan said, his voice warm and welcoming. “I was wondering if perhaps my invitation had been intercepted.”
“No, it was just... just a bit confusing.” Twilight Sparkle said. “Your handwriting was a bit muddied and vague, all things considered.”
“Apologies for that, my dear; I did not want anyone spoiling the surprise I have for you.” Surprise? Sarai inched closer, watching as Vulkan ducked around the forge and Twilight Sparkle drew closer. The girl was still radiating curiosity and innocence, peeking around the forge like a child searching for gifts during Sanguinala. She stepped back as Vulkan returned with a cart, a new suit of armor resting atop it.
“That’s my armor,” Twilight Sparkle started.
“I was quite impressed by the metalwork,” Vulkan said, bringing the cart to a stop as he continued. “The adamantium weave is quite subtle, and the psychic circuitry is like nothing I have seen in the last fifteen millenia. I would love a chance to learn from the Empress how she performed this...” a pause before Vulkan continued.
“I made a few modifications, nothing too serious lest I damage the circuitry, but I hope you find them satisfactory.” Vulkan lifted up the chestplate of the armor. “I used a larger weave to replace some of the stiffer segments, especially those around your chest and torso. This should provide you with more flexibility and less chafing when you turn and twist about.”
“Wouldn’t that risk making the armor softer?”
“Yes, but the existing weave is already quite tight. You shouldn’t be in too much danger.” Vulkan set down the chest piece before moving on to an arm. “What I really hoped to show you was this.” Sarai watched as Twilight took a step back, her curiosity shifting to... Surprise? Sorrow? The student was not being very clear.
“Is...” she stammered. “Is that Mir’shen’s flamer?” Sarai looked, spotting the flamer nozzle strapped to the side of the armor.
“The Gauntlet of the Forge has served me and my sons well,” Vulkan said. “I am certain that it will serve you equally.”
“B-but I can’t accept this.” Twilight continued, though her hesitancy did not seem to stop her from reaching up to stroke the weapon. “It’s one of your relics, isn’t it? I shouldn’t-”
“You are correct in that it is mine,” Vulkan said, lowering the arm down. “As such, it is mine to decide what to do with. To be truthful, I had planned to destroy the gauntlet and many other relics like it in my grief during Horus’ betrayal, but a word from my sons spared it from the fire.” Sarai’s jaw clenched as she heard this. With so little knowledge left from the Heresy, to learn that a Primarch almost destroyed much of his life’s work...
I suppose they are closer to men than we ever realized.
“My son Mir’shen was close to you, and I will not deny you a chance to cherish his memory. Consider this a gift to ensure that never fades away, else you will lose far more than you could possibly imagine.” Sarai shifted her gaze back to Twilight Sparkle, watching as the younger woman regarded the weapon for a moment, finally she turned back to Vulkan, a sad smile crossing her lips.
“Thank you, Vulkan,” she said. “I promise you I’ll never forget this.”
“You are quite welcome, young Tara,” Vulkan replied as he turned back to the forge. “I was thinking of some other means to ensure your safety, perhaps a shield of some kind, but with the tools I have on hand I could only perform some basic enhancements.”
“Maybe Inquisitor Olivier could help with that.” Twilight offered. I would if he were not being so secretive, Sarai thought.
“I... considered that.” Vulkan said, giving a sigh before he continued. “But while I may be more open towards her than your friends, I feel she is not willing to be open with all of us in the same manner. Her surveillance was also a bit... bothersome.”
“... You’re feeling the same way?” Sarai blinked, turning back to Twilight as the girl gave a huff. “I keep thinking that maybe it was something I did, otherwise she wouldn’t be so unwilling to talk to me. But that makes no sense since I’ve never seen her before in my entire life.”
“Even the most earnest and loyal can be intimidated by those they see as above them. It was one of the many problems my brothers chose to ignore.”
“But I’m not above anyone,” Twilight protested, taking a step towards Vulkan. “I’m just me, Tara. Ever since the Empress returned I’ve been set on a pedestal that no one wants to upset, but I’m no different from any other man or woman that serves her.” Sarai suppressed a scoff. Surely the student of Celestia would not be so ready to stoop that low. She never chose a student for her spinelessness, after all.
... But then, that turned out so well for you.
“These things cannot be forced, dear Tara,” Vulkan said, resting a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “This Inquisitor is still within the mindset she had before all this trouble came upon us. She is not one to be feared, but you need to allow her to make her judgments first before reaching out to her.”
“I know...” Twilight shook her head. “Sorry. I’ve probably been more stressed out in the last month than I have at any other point in my life. It’s a bit hard to get back from.”
“I am sure, but you are doing so well right now.” Vulkan gave Twilight’s shoulder a friendly pat before he broke away. “Though I must ask, why do you seek out the Inquisitor’s attention so readily?” there was a lengthy pause, and Sarai found herself drawing closer, as if leaning against the pipes that concealed her would grant her a better vantage point.
“She seems... lost.” Sarai blinked as Twilight shook her head. “I don’t know how or why, but she seems like she’s trying to reach something, but she’s not sure what it is.”
“You gathered all of that just from speaking with her for only a few minutes?” Vulkan asked.
“I’m good with information, I suppose.” Twilight shrugged. “But besides the normal evasiveness when you don’t want someone to know something, there was a bit of hesitancy when she was speaking to me and to you, like there was more she wanted to say but no way to say it. And I don’t mean like the typical praise and adoration I’m sure you get all the time, but... something personal.”
“I see...” a pause before Vulkan turned fully towards Twilight. “She did say she was a telepath. Perhaps it has something to do with her powers?”
“Maybe, but that would require a few passive readings that would take a lot more than a few minutes to process... unless she’s figured out some avenues that I don’t know about.” another pause before Twilight brought a finger to her chin. “A good possibility since telepathy isn’t one of my strongest subjects. She’s also older than me so she’s had more time to figure it out than I have, though how far she can delve without straining herself is another thing entirely... at any rate, I feel that there’s more Inquisitor Olivier wants to tell us, but it’s burning up inside her so much she doesn’t know how or when to say it.” Now Sarai stepped back. She had figured that Twilight would be observant, but this? Perhaps Velas was correct in his assessment that the girl was relentless at getting others to open up.
“I am sure you will find your chance,” Vulkan replied. “Perhaps you should speak with your friends on this matter.”
“Well... you’re my friend, aren’t you?” there was a lengthy pause before Vulkan laughed, turning and giving Twilight another pat on the shoulder.
“I suppose you are right,” he said, his chuckles dying down. “And I am honored that you consider me a friend.” Sarai remained silent, her jaw tightening as she finished processing the scene before her. Twilight Sparkle was many things; curious, naive, sheltered... and yet, her earnestness could not be denied.
And you continue to hide away from her. What does that say about you?
Sarai turned and squeezed back into the hallway, taking the path back to her quarters even slower now. One way or another, Twilight Sparkle had become too intriguing to ignore. All that remained was how much of the past Sarai was ready to rip open.
...
“I think this is as close as we’re going to get to the real thing,” Mattias said as he looked to the paper before him. He had sketched out a rough version of what the wards around Inquisitor Olivier’s room had looked liked, Alexis and Nikolai adding in whatever he had missed. The work had been carefully executed, as Mattias had wanted to keep the information secret from both the Inquisitor and Twilight for as long as possible, if only to ensure that they would not interrupt and raise more suspicions.
“If you say so, my lord,” Alexis said, taking a sip of tanna before continuing. “I still think one of us could go into that hall and map everything out. Maybe take Angelique and pass it off as her wandering about.”
“Olivier isn’t some underpaid Administratum clerk that will take whatever excuse she’s presented with.” Mattias countered, giving the Valhallan a look. “If she finds us and thinks we’re intruding in her work, we’ll be up against the wall before any of us can invoke the Empress’ Authority.” Though perhaps Twilight’s presence might stay her hand for a little while.
“That she hasn’t already shows she’s got some modicum of patience,” Nikolai said.
“Patience my ass. She’s making it out like she doesn’t even care we’re here,” Alexis pushed away his mug as he turned to his brother. “She’s set no guards, given us no interrogations, not even news about how the war’s going. It’s like we don’t even exist in the little world she’s set up for herself.”
“That’s enough, Alexis,” Mattias said, his voice rising. Both troopers fell silent and turned to Mattias as he continued. “We will make due with the information we have, as we have done before. Inquisitor Olivier has most of the advantages in information and location, so we cannot provoke her any further. Is that understood?”
“... Perfectly, my lord.” the two Valhallans said.
“Good. You’re dismissed.” Alexis and Nikolai rose, heading towards the door as Mattias looked back down at the drawing. Had he known he’d been facing this kind of challenge he would have asked Twilight to teach him how to interpret her hieroglyphs, but now was not the time to be focusing on what could have been.
Especially if it meant facing the danger of now.
“You wanted to see me, Mattias?” Mattias looked up as Twilight drifted into the room. She was dressed in a loose shirt and a long skirt, completely at ease despite all the suspicion around her. Amazing that some of her innocence remains.
“Yes. Come have a seat.” Twilight nodded and took Nikolai’s chair as Mattias continued. “You’re settling in well?”
“As well as I can,” Twilight said with a sigh. “I miss my room back on your ship, to be honest... but anyway, I’ve been getting back into my training regimes now that I got my armor back from Vulkan. I’ve been trying to get used to the flamer he installed, but...” she paused, giving Mattias a sad smile. “I-it’s been a slow process.”
“I can imagine.”
“Other than that there isn’t really a whole lot to do.” Twilight continued. “All my books are in storage and Sarai won’t let me look at her library, and the Empress still hasn’t contacted me yet. At the end of all things, I’m bored.” she slumped over, looking up at Mattias and giving an almost comical pout. “I don’t suppose you’ve gotten around to convincing Sarai to talk to me, have you?”
“I think there are more pressing matters, some of which you might be able to help me with. “Twilight raised an eyebrow as Mattias pushed the drawing towards her. “Remember when we first arrived, and Inquisitor Olivier asked for an audience with me?”
“Yes,” Twilight sat up straight again. “It’s been a busy month, but I remember. What of it?”
“When I approached her room, I saw a warding of some kind in the hallway nearby. This is a close approximation to the pattern that I saw there.”
“And you didn’t recognize it?” Twilight asked, picking up the paper to examine it closely. “I’ve been doing a lot of studying, but I haven’t been able to study every branch or interpretation of magic in the galaxy. What makes you think I’ll be able to identify it?”
“A hunch I’d rather not be true.” Twilight looked back to Mattias again before looking down at the image. There was a lengthy pause before her face lit up in a smile.
“Oh, I see. It’s an Aegis Weave.”
“A what?” Mattias asked.
“An Aegis Weave. Princess Celestia taught me these for my fourteenth birthday.” Twilight set the paper down and pointed to the larger set of symbols on the edges. “See these here? That’s a low level warding spell, kind of like the prayers the Sisters have or some of the weaker dampeners you’ve put on Angelique.”
“Enough to stop low-power psychic intrusion, yes,” Mattias started. “But a determined psyker can break through those without issue. That’s why Angelique has additional dampeners when she begins to lose herself to her prophecies.”
“That’s where the second layer of the weave comes in,” Twilight’s finger moved to the hieroglyphs near the center. “This is a reflection spell, basically a weaker version of my combat shields fused with an object. Again, at base form it doesn’t do much- you could probably break the spell with a weak punch if you really wanted to. But set it on a psycho-reactive surface like brass or copper along with the warding spell, and you have an Aegis Weave. A good weave could probably take some of my tougher shots without breaking while only requiring half the power to enchant it compared to a normal psychic warding.”
“And you learned this when?”
“Oh, I asked about it a few days before I turned fourteen,” Twilight’s smile grew bigger. “Celestia was having a slow period of diplomacy so I thought ‘What the heck? Why not ask her about some higher level theory?’ It was a good day spent, if I do say so myself.”
“Back in Equestria.”
“Yes back...” Twilight’s smile began to sink as the realization struck. “In... Equestria...” she looked down at the drawing, then back to Mattias, then back to the drawing. “Wait, how the heck could Sarai know about Aegis Weaves?! This is Equestrian magic, not Imperium!”
“That is what I wanted to tell you,” Mattias said. Twilight was too panicked to respond to this.
“N-no, it must be a mistake.” she stammered, picking up the paper and scanning it thoroughly. “A mistranslation. Maybe some obscure world has the same writing style... no, this is clearly Equestrian Hieroglyph. Even if it wasn’t it still doesn’t explain how she would know the proper process for the Weave. Parallel universe schools of magic? No, that can’t be it; multiversal theory says that there would be changes in how magic like this works across dimensions... though my own travels would say otherwise, but I can’t think of that right now.”
“Twilight,” Twilight let out a squeak as she looked back up at Mattias. “We need to approach this carefully without throwing around panicked theories. Now,” Mattias took the drawing away from Twilight before continuing. “Is there any way this information could have leaked from your universe to this one?”
“... No.” Twilight said, taking a moment to try and compose herself before continuing. “Not any way I know, at least. The path through the Warp between my universe and this one is so vast that any thought or idea would be shredded to nothingness before it got anywhere close. If Sarai can perform a fully functioning Aegis Weave, she would have needed to learn it from someone.”
“A daemon, perhaps? You did say Chaos attacked your universe before; who’s to say they did not bring something back when they were repulsed?”
“Maybe... but the Aegis Weave was developed a few hundred years after Nightmare Moon’s rebellion; most if not all the daemons would have been driven out of Equestria before then.” Twilight tapped a finger against her chin. “It’s not impossible that one might have slipped through and brought it back here, but what use would a daemon have with a protection spell like this, and why would Sarai have it surrounding her quarters instead of a dungeon or something.” a pause before Twilight spoke again. “Mattias, say I’m where Sarai’s room is. What way would the wards be facing?” Mattias looked at the picture for a moment, perusing his memory before setting it down and turning it around.
“Like this.”
“... That’s what I thought. Face it that way and it would reflect any psychic powers back to the room. Sarai probably uses it to keep her psychic powers under control.”
“That still doesn’t explain how she learned it, though,” Mattias pointed out, taking back the paper. “If anything, it makes it seem like you think she’s possessed.”
“Possessed? No no no, nothing like that.” Twilight shook her head. “Remember that... that thing that appeared on Rynn’s World after all the Tyranids died? Right after he showed up I felt this numbness fall over me, like what I saw was a greater abomination than any alien or the like. Didn’t you feel that too?” Mattias shook his head, causing Twilight to deflate slightly. “Well, that’s what it feels like to be in the presence of a possessed person. I didn’t feel that around Sarai.”
“So if she’s not possessed, then what is she?”
“... An Equestrian, like me.” Silence reigned between the two, Twilight looking away and clenching her hands together. Mattias looked down at the drawing of the Aegis Weave, trying to think of the next thing to say.
“... How?” he asked, snapping Twilight’s attention back to him. “How could she end up here if she’s from your world?”
“I don’t know, and that’s what scares me.” Twilight replied. “To physically cross from one universe to the next you need a serious amount of psychic power to both open the path and get through without being driven insane, killed, or both. Celestia and I only managed it because, well, she’s the Empress, but she still needed Luna to provide enough of a conduit to cross the barrier into the Immaterium in the first place. Celestia would have told me if she sent someone else ahead of us, and anything else that rivals her power either died centuries ago or is currently trapped in stone.”
“Presumably all those who have died did so before this Weave was created?” Mattias asked. Twilight gave a short nod, drawing a frown from Mattias. “Is there any other way to make a conduit like this? Something akin to a Warp Portal?”
“It’s... possible.” Twilight replied. “There were a few experiments with mirrors during the early ages of Equestria. Princess Celestia even has one locked away in her castle somewhere, but she never told me if they actually worked or not.” she shook her head before continuing. “It’s a lot of conjecture I can’t confirm... oh, I hate it when this happens. If only the Princess was back...”
“Well, she is not responding to your cries.” Mattias said. “That means we’re on our own. What will you do?”
“What can I do?” Twilight asked before rising to her feet. “I have to talk to Sarai and find out who she is.” Twilight made to leave, but Mattias reached forward and took her by the hand.
“Twilight, think this through,” he hissed. “While you may have absolute faith in your countrymen, there has to be at least some who are not on the side of light. And think, if your world is so perfect why would one come here without the Empress’ assistance or permission?”
“What? You think she’s a Chaos worshipper?”
“No, but Olivier is dangerous nonetheless. Furthermore, she knows about you: do you have any idea what a Lady Inquisitor can do with deeply personal information about anyone, especially the Empress’ Personal Student?” Twilight grew worried, her eyes darting around.
“She... she wouldn’t try to blackmail me, would she?” Twilight stammered.
“To what end I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past her. Without the Empress’ protection, you are at far greater risk of being discovered and having that information turned against you.”
“But she hasn’t tried to act against me,” Twilight countered. “She’s gone out of her way to avoid me, actually. And...” she stopped, chewing her lip for a moment before continuing. “She seems... hurt.” Mattias could feel his emotions cooling, and soon let go of Twilight’s hand.
“... You noticed her hesitations too, then?” Twilight gave a short nod in response. “What do you think?”
“I think she wants to tell me something, but for some reason she either can’t or won’t.” Twilight sighed. “Maybe it’s about her being an Equestrian, maybe it isn’t. But whatever it is, I need to know what it is. I can help her.”
“Inquisitors aren’t exactly known for accepting outside counseling so readily.” Mattias paused before giving a sigh. “But I suppose at this point there’s only so much I can say to dissuade you. Just be careful, and come to me if you feel you’re in danger.”
“I will.” a pause before Twilight spoke again. “Mattias, I know this is probably the last situation you want to deal with right now, but you have to trust me on this. If I can figure out who Sarai really is, and if we can work together on these matters, then we’ll end up much safer than if we just let this sit.”
“If you can. I just want you to be prepared in case your faith in the kindness of others falls short.” Twilight gave a short nod and turned, stepping back out into the hallway as Mattias took his seat once more. Part of him wanted to call her back, to at least assign one of his henchmen or the Sisters to guard her, but he found himself at a loss for words.
Another Equestrian... he thought. My life continues to grow more complex with every day.
...
One of Sarai’s crewmen had been helpful enough to point Twilight towards the Inquisitor’s quarters, Twilight taking the path slowly as she contemplated what to say. Should I just come out and ask? She thought, turning another corner before shaking her head. No, she’d just be put on the defensive. I should ease my way into that conversation... Maybe this was a bad idea. I should have asked Mattias for advice. She stopped, her hands tightening again before she shook her head.
No, I can do this. I need to figure out who Sarai is. Her resolve renewed, Twilight quickened her pace as she continued onward, keeping her mind clear in case Sarai’s reach was further than she thought. As she continued, Twilight felt a shift in the air around her and a chill run down her spine. She could hear faint whispers, nothing more than fragments but still enough to keep Twilight on edge. A lot of psykers have passed through these halls, she mused. Why? That line of thought ended as she came to the end of the hall, spotting the stylized “I” of the Inquisition that Twilight guessed indicated Sarai’s living quarters. Taking a deep breath, Twilight stepped up to the door and knocked, using a small amount of her power to make sure she was heard.
There was a pause before the door opened, revealing Sarai. She had traded in her uniform for a nightgown and robe, her hair still held back by her headband but now pinned to keep the rest of the excess out of her eyes. Twilight also found her eyes drifting down, her breath catching as she saw the multitude of scars across the Inquisitor’s arm. The scars appeared thickest around Sarai’s wrist, a ragged mess of red and white tissue just barely covered beneath a series of blue tattoos designed to look like a setting sun.
“Miss Tara,” Sarai said, her voice even as she tucked her arm back under her robe. “Is something the matter?”
“Um...” Twilight started, chewing her lip before her thoughts returned. “I had a few questions I wanted to ask you. May I come in?”
“It is rather late,” Sarai countered. “Perhaps we could discuss this at another time?”
“I... I don’t mean to be so intrusive, but I can’t let this sit overnight.” a pause before Twilight continued. “Please? I promise I won’t stay too long.” Sarai looked Twilight up and down, Twilight doing her best not to chew her lip. Finally the older woman gave a sigh and opened the door further.
“I suppose I could spare a few minutes,” she said, stepping aside to allow Twilight to enter. “Please come in. Make yourself comfortable. Would you care for a drink?”
“Um... okay.” Twilight nodded rapidly, stepping further into the room as Sarai closed the door behind her. The room was sparsely decorated, though Sebastian Thor had returned in the form of a large tapestry hanging over the far wall. Beneath the tapestry were a series of windows giving them a sweeping view of the Sword of Redemption, Twilight watching as maintenance craft criss-crossed the cruiser on their daily routines. Twilight turned to her left, seeing a large altar beneath a rack containing Sarai’s armor, atop of which rested an old rifle and a massive sword. Twilight cocked her head to one side as she saw a small picture resting on the altar, though Sarai had returned to her before she could move to investigate.
“I do not know your preferences for drink,” the Inquisitor said, placing a glass of red wine in Twilight’s hand. “But this is a lighter wine, just enough to help you relax before sleeping.”
“Oh, thank you,” Twilight accepted the glass, taking a moment to swirl it before speaking again. “With all that’s going on, I suppose I haven’t really given myself enough time to relax.”
“As is typical of our times.” Sarai said, taking a drink from her own glass as she glided towards a chair. “I would not recommend letting yourself get too loose, though; alcoholism is not becoming any servants of the Imperium... save perhaps properly determined Valhallans.” Twilight let out a short chuckle at this, but quickly got herself under control as Sarai continued. “Come, sit.”
Twilight nodded her thanks and crossed to an open chair, taking a seat before Sarai spoke. “Now then, what is on your mind? I’d read it myself, but I am not so rude as to rip information from the unwilling mind of a guest.”
“Oh... Thank you,” Twilight said, raising her glass to her lips before taking a small sip. The wine was fruity, though the undercurrent of alcohol did sting her tongue. “A-anyway, I was speaking with some of my friends and... well, they’re a bit nervous about you.”
“I did not become a Lady Inquisitor because I was easy to get along with,” Sarai said. “Though I take it there is more than just intimidation.”
“They say you’ve been a bit secretive and aloof. The last...” Twilight stopped herself as memories of Markos and Caesaria returned, her free hand trembling before she got back under control. “The last time we dealt with someone like that... didn’t end well for anyone.”
“Ibraham Markos, you mean?” Twilight choked, looking to Sarai as she took another drink. “Don’t worry, I got that from the official report on the Caesaria operation, not your mind. Would it interest you to know the same man was the one who discovered me?”
“Oh... I-I didn’t realize that he was-”
“The man was an ass who tore me from the only people that cared for my life.” Sarai hissed, turning away from Twilight before she continued. “I am glad to know he is burning in hell for his actions.” Twilight said nothing, though her worry had shifted once more. Sarai said nothing before composing herself, turning back to Twilight and giving a smile. “Apologies, I seem to have let a few old daemons out. Understand that I am not Markos, but my duties have called me away more than you all may be used to.”
“I gathered.” Twilight gave a nod, some of her earlier composure returning. “Um... how long have you been doing this?”
“How long?” Sarai asked before chucking. “Oh Tara, didn’t your mother ever tell you it was rude to ask a woman her age?” Twilight’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her next words coming out as a strangled squeak.
“I didn’t mean to...”
“I understand. No offense taken.” Sarai chuckled again before she took another drink. “I have been in service to the Inquisition in some form or another since I was five, give or take.” her voice grew solemn as she continued. “Truth be told, my entry into their service was both drawn out and traumatizing, such that I don’t even know my true age.”
“Really?”
“Travelling through the Warp while chained down and surrounded by madmen does not do wonders for one’s perception of time. All I do know is that I have been a full Inquisitor for just shy of twenty two years, and a Lady Inquisitor for the last ten.”
“Oh...” Twilight paused, looking down at her wine as she chose her next words. “And during that time, have you ever had... memories?”
“Memories?” Sarai asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Memories of a different time, before you became an Inquisitor and all.” Twilight looked up. “Kind of like deja vu, where you know that you’ve been somewhere in the past but for the life of you you can’t recall the exact moments.” There was a lengthy pause, Sarai allowing her gaze to drift about the room. Twilight wanted to know what exactly she was tracking, but decided against speaking.
“... That’s why you came here, isn’t it Twilight?” Sarai asked, finally turning back to Twilight. When she did not respond, the Inquisitor continued. “No denial? No accusations of me bringing falsehoods against you?”
“Why bother?” Twilight countered. “You’re a telepath; I’d be surprised if you didn’t know about me the moment I walked onboard your ship.”
“You’re quite deductive,” Sarai replied, setting her wine glass aside. “I would have expected nothing less from Celestia’s personal student.”
“So you are from Equestria, then?” Twilight asked, setting her own drink down before continuing. “Mattias and I thought so, what with you having a perfectly cast Aegis Weave guarding your room, but... well, I didn’t want to be intrusive.”
“Really?”
“You’ve been secretive, yes, but your privacy is still your own.” Sarai raised an eyebrow as Twilight backed up. “A-and I know I’m breaching that privacy right now, but I needed to make sure you really were on our side.”
“And I would like to keep things that way,” Sarai replied, her hands tightening. “If you knew the truth, I am sure you would have some objections. After all that I-” she stopped herself, looking past Twilight before her head sank. “I think we’ve had enough for tonight. I’d suggest you go back to your room and rest, forget this ever happened.”
“Sarai...” Twilight rose from her seat, crossing to lay a hand on the Inquisitor’s shoulder. “I don’t want the two of us to keep dancing around each other like this. I know you’re a good person, and I know there’s more that you want to tell me. But I need to know... Just who are you?” There was a long pause, Sarai reaching up to massage her chin as Twilight drew back to give her some space. Finally, the older woman sighed.
“... I would be lying if I said I was a good person,” she said, raising her head to look at Twilight. “There are things in my past that I am not proud of, things that I strive every day to correct... and perhaps I may never reach that point. I too once served Celestia, much as you do now; she was my teacher, my friend...” the Inquisitor choked, her jaw tightening as her eyes darted about. “My name, my old name I suppose, is Sunset Shimmer. I was Celestia’s personal student before you were.”
Twilight blinked, Sarai... no, Sunset’s words washed over her as she took in everything that she just learned. “Sunset Shimmer?” she asked.
“Yes,” Sunset said, giving a short nod as she continued. “Now, I can understand if you’re confused, but rest assured I am not-”
“As in... the Sunset Shimmer?” Sunset blinked as she looked at Twilight again.
“You... know of me?”
“Do I?!” Twilight cried, squealing as she brought her fists to her cheeks. Excitement pushed aside worry, and Twilight found herself bouncing in her spot as she continued. “I-I mean- ohmygosh, I’m talking with Sunset Shimmer! Gah! I’m just... I-I mean, you’re like one of my biggest heroes!”
“You... you’re a fan?” Sunset asked, drawing back in her seat.
“Why wouldn’t I be? You’re the leading expert on mental and empathic magic! I spent three days binge reading all four volumes of your ‘Empathy and Telepathic Conjuring’, twice!” Sunset’s breath caught, and she rose to turn away from Twilight. So caught up in her excitement, Twilight barely noticed
“I always wanted to meet you, see the genius behind all that work... maybe get an autograph...” Twilight blushed, massaging the back of her head as she continued on. “I talked with Princess Celestia about you but she never said much. She always seemed sad when I brought it up... but that doesn’t matter. You’re here now! But... how did you get here in the first place?” By now Sunset had turned away from Twilight fully, but that did little to stop her as Twilight stepped up to be closer to the other woman. “Was it a magical accident? Did you mess up a teleportation spell? Was it one of those magic mirrors from the time of Starswirl that I read about?”
“T-Twilight...”
“Ooh I know! You’re on a secret mission from Princess Luna that not even Celestia knows about, and your success means some future great evil will be stopped completely!” Twilight allowed herself a short chuckle. “If that’s what it is, I don’t want to brag but I know a thing or two about great evils myself. We could compare notes, have study sessions! Oh, this is going to be so much-” Twilight stopped, stepping closer to Sunset before continuing. “Sunset, why are you crying?”
“You’re just... Just a fan...” Sunset blinked, her eyes darting between Twilight and the pool of tears that had gathered around her. She sniffed, wiping her eyes before she turned to Twilight. “S-sorry,” she said. “It’s just... seeing you brought back a lot of memories from the past... not always good ones, I’m afraid.” Twilight’s face fell, and she drew away from Sunset as a myriad of thoughts drifted through her mind.
“D-did I do something wrong?” Twilight asked. “I’m sorry, Sunset. I was just so excited to see somepony I admired-”
“You shouldn’t admire me, Twilight,” Sunset said, her voice harsh. “I’m not... I did not come here by my own volition. This is my penance for the sins I committed against Equestria... and you.”
“But... we’ve never met before.” There was a lengthy pause, Sunset looking away as Twilight waited for an answer. Finally the other woman sighed, turning to face Twilight fully before continuing.
“You’re a Sparkle,” she started, moving back to her seat as Twilight returned to hers. “You know what it’s like to be part of a legacy, to see the work that your ancestors built in centuries past. Your family founded the Daughters of Manehattan, gave Celestia her first student after Luna’s fall, practically wrote the curriculum still used at magic schools the world over. Even if you don’t show it, a certain pride runs through your blood, the knowledge that you’ve helped to build Equestria into what it is today and that you will continue to shape its future long after you’ve passed.”
“Well, yes...” Twilight replied, tightening her hands again before she spoke. “I’ve tried my best to stay humble about it, though. I’m just a pony at the end of the day.”
“You’re a greater woman than I am, then” Sunset gave a bitter laugh at this before continuing. “My family has always been closely tied to the Everfree Sentinels, the premier magic users among Celestia’s armies. It was a Shimmer that helped calm the unrest in Canterlot before the war with the Crystal Empire, and my family has had more ponies to hold the title of Great Mage of the Red than any other in the nation... and my mother was the most recent.
“You can imagine that in such a privileged position I received a great deal of attention. I was given the best spellbooks, the best tutors, even Princess Celestia took me on as a student when I was old enough. Any information I wanted, any spell or incantation I wanted to practice, all was given to me... save for one branch.”
“Chaos magic,” Twilight said, drawing a look from Sunset. “I asked Celestia about spells like that once. She told me I wasn’t ready and that I should focus on my other studies first.”
“And?”
“Well... What else was I supposed to do? When your mentor tells you you’re not ready for something, you’re probably not ready. And... well, I did have a lot of other things I wanted to try out first before going down that rabbit hole.”
“I didn’t think so at the time,” Sunset countered. “What right did she have to restrain me? I was the daughter of one of the most powerful unicorns in the world, a student of dozens of different schools of magic. I’d written books, given short lectures, even tried writing some of my own spells; what was so special about Chaos that I would be denied access to it?” there was a pause as Sunset looked away from Twilight.
“I thought she was holding out on me, belittling my skills, and I became resentful. I pressured other unicorns to tell me about their combat experiences, broke into the wings of Celestia’s library I wasn’t allowed access to, read through historical accounts to try and piece together rituals and incantations. When Celestia caught me planning to use some of my own blood for a conjuring spell, she sent me back to my mother for ‘additional research and discipline’.
“Things only got worse from there. I fought and bickered with my mother for weeks, trying the same stupid stunts that had gotten me banished from Canterlot in the first place... though I didn’t realize it at the time. All the time the allure of Chaos grew deeper, and I craved that power even more. I thought I’d gotten enough information from my home, so after one fight too many I grabbed all my things and teleported back to Canterlot, hoping I could show Celestia what I’d learned and that I was ready.
“That was when I learned about you... and everything fell apart.”
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By the Lion, just as I get back into warhammer again you publish a new chapter. Truly the Light of the Imperium shines brightest upon its loyal followers!
It's happening!
10179959
Remember, you have to make 40k AND MLP parallels for this one.
So much backstory.
I really hope they make up. they make a nice Chaos Couple.
hoooo boy I all I can say is that a bombshell is about to be dropped
Huzzah, backstory! Characterization ho!
The Primarchs are thousands of years old, they can wait another couple of chapters, lol.
Damnit Sunset you always do this. Love you for it anyway.
I had a feeling she was Sunset, glad to see it get proven!
But that does beg the question, how did she end up in the Imperium?
10186511
And the day I decided to finaly watch "If the Emperor had a Text-to-Speech Device" is the day it updates. Truly this story is blessed by the Emperor.
Missing text?
10186943 Fixed
10186574
So, in essence, all the hypocrisy, the ruthlessness, the uncaring pragmatist, etc. Yeah, would work
10186574
We WMG'ing now? Cause I got one.
Discord will make a reoccurence in the story, this time going by his other name... Malal.
very curious
Doop, dee, doo, just gonna log into fimfiction and see if anything interestin--
*sees The Empress Returns has updated.*
*heavy breathing*
I was giddy with anticipation when I realized what this chapter was going to be about, and I was not disappointed. The backstory with the Sparkles and the Shimmers, the bits of expanded Equestrian lore, Vulkan's friendship, Mattias demonstrating how far he's come in trusting Twilight and not jumping the gun... oh it was glorious!
10187033
Comon missconseption.
I'll let Luetin sort it out:
Ooh. For some reason, I hadn't anticipated Chaos sorcery in her past, but I can't say it doesn't fit.
Was Sunset's setting sun tattoo her way of replacing her cutie mark after going through the mirror? It would fit with her cutting through it out of regret later.
Ambition, pride... truly fertile soil for the seeds of Chaos to be planted... This won't end well
God damn it. I cannot stop reading Vulcan's dialogue with his TTS voice.
10187596
You say that as if it was a bad thing.
Pretty good chapter, actually. Sarai/Sunset's reaction to finding out Twilight is her fangirl was hilarious.
10187596
You too huh?
Am I the only one that thinks that part of sunsets back story is nearly the same as magnus. Amazing chapter
10187596
I think most here are doing that lol
The truth is revealed, and Sunset tells of her past.
But don’t let this distract you from the fact that VULKAN LIVES!
Now I'm curious what Celestia would do if she actually had Sunset in front of her. And they just...talked.
10224337 Something like that will happen... but not for a little while more
Augh, I binged on this hard, and now I’m all caught up and want more. It’s really good. I’m not super knowledgeable in 40k lore, so I had a wiki tab open on my computer while reading on my phone so I could look up things I didn’t know without disrupting my reading too much. I’ve learned a lot.
Hopefully we don’t have to wait a few months for the next chapter!
I was following this story as it was posted until somewhere in the jaws of cetus chapters. Now I've just caught up and I'm sad for that. So good. Vulkan is the best.
10187596
That's my preferred voice for him haha
Finally caught up and I'm interested in Sunset's past.
Well, finally some info...