Chapters Preparations
Twilight watched the earth pony, sweat beads forming on her forehead. She was trying, trying REAL hard to do something with her hooves. It reminded Twilight of her entrance exam into Celestia’s school. She watched as the foal attempt and attempt again and again to get something out.
And there it was.... a spark.... a glowing orb in his hand. He had done it!
There was clap in the room. Which probably surprised more than just a few. The pony overseeing the test was not a pony at all. He was a draconequus.
“Bravo! Bravo! Jolly good show!” Discord said. “I knew you could do it! Here have some cake!”
The foal was surprised when in a bright flash, he find himself holding a slice of chocolate cake. He thanked Discord who told him encouraging words.
“Next!” Discord said ringing a bell. Snapping his fingers, he gave himself a glass of chocolate milk.
“Why the hell do you trust that thing?” Solomon asked stepping next to Twilight. “First chance, he gets, he’s going to unleash hell.”
“Oh pish posh. Had you forgotten it was HE who helped us retrieve the elements from Sunset?”
“Even then, I suspected he had done it for personal gain.” Solomon continued. “He may have no affiliations with the dark gods, but he is still chaos. He will bring ruin to us one day. I am sure of it.”
“Well, Angelos is planning to cleanse the sub-sector.” Solomon said. “I heard that your brother plans on going with him...”
“What?!” Twilight exclaimed. “But is... is he crazy?!”
“It’s going to be quick. I assure you he won’t be gone for long even if he does leave.” Solomon said soothingly. “So Thule, Adrastia and Arven have finished planning.”
“Yes. They did it last night. I know I am not going because I got this school to maintain. But I do know that Celestia and Luna both will go with them.”
“Heh. So... what have you guys been up to lately?”
“Hunting for dragons, training recruits, and defending our cause against some less sensible people.”
Twilight had a feeling she didn’t want to know what those “less sensible” people thought of Equestria. It was well known that ever since on their first arrival, the blood ravens had disliked all of ponykind until recent events. But even now, she wondered if she could truly call just ANY human a friend.
They walked through the long halls of the school, Solomon catching many glances of awe and fear. They made sure to pass one particular looking mirror.
The mirror shimmered for a moment, until three men stumbled out. Two recently inducted scouts and of course, the captain of the tenth company himself, Cyrus.
“Indeed. The blood ravens still need to repair the damage that was done. With Angelos restored to being in one piece, we can go on crusades against the vile forces of chaos once more. I am due to meet Thule.”
“Right this way then!” Twilight said as she led them through the halls of the school. Most of them still being empty for the moment.
One thing Twilight had always dreamed of, was being at the reigns of Equestria’s largest library. It was a dream now come true. Ponyville’s new library was almost three times larger than Canterlot’s, making a outback rural town into a new center of learning in Equestria and a new cultural center thanks to the common sight of humans in the area. It’s also well known that this library is the only place containing anything that wasn’t written by someone that was from Equestria. A certain book about the warp and Equestria had been written by some librarian a few days back.
“Good afternoon gentlemen.” Adrastia said. “Glad to see you are all here.”
“Humph.”
“We do however have a source. Apparently it’s jungle.... that’s it. And that whatever information is in some large temple....”
Which you got out of a Emperor forsaken story book. Solomon thought. Stupid just stupid.
“So those who wish to accompany us are off here.” Adrastia said taking out a sheet of paper with names. They were: Adrastia, Cyrus, Martellus, Rainbow Dash, Celestia and Luna, five scouts, a few battle brothers, Arven, two of his brothers, a librarian and....... cutie mark crusaders.”
“Okay, okay. We are not bring children on this.” Thule said firmly. “I don’t give a damn who has anything to say on this, that is not happening.”
Thankfully the three fillies wasn’t here to say anything on that. Most people had no objection, those who did muttered it silently lest they get on the Captain’s bad side.
“So it’s all good?” Celestia asked.
“Yeah. I take it we’re walking?” Thule said.
“Yes. You don’t want to be seen in skies when we cross dragon territory.”
“Why stopping us from drop podding in or taking an alternate route?”
“Because why the hell not? We have all the time in the world to find out about how the hero somehow ended up on Equestria and how it all happened.” Arven said. “Not crossing dragon territory is just an excuse not to get a good fight and I haven’t gotten a good one for a few weeks already.”
“Well, I guess we’re all done here.” Twilight said. “I got a school to run.”
Twilight watched the classroom. She watched the diversity in it all and her chest swelled with pride. She had done it, she had taught pegasi and earth ponies to use the buried potential! That was a feat that will be remembered for long years to come. Now she watched as the entire class made their attempts at performing more magic. Some of it was mundane, a light orb in one’s hooves or the occasional telekinesis... others involved a random plant sprouting in your hooves.....
Twilight had always wondered, how exactly does a human think. It was already clear they are VERY religious and as such, the sensible thing was to respect their religion, that probably ensures they won’t try to murder you in a grisly manner as they would to the “heretics”.
Speaking of which, Twilight wondered if even now it was still safe to go in that forest. It was to be noted that bands of chaos space marines had taken refuge there. Despite being largely cut off from chaos, they were still a threat that had to be dealt with, something the space marines excelled in.
“You’ll probably need this too...” Rarity said as she put more things into Dashie’s saddlebag. “And this, and this, and oh... maybe....”
“Eh sugarcube? I don’t think that’s all really necessary....”
“Not necessary?! Of course it’s necessary! What if..”
“Rarity.... I am going to the jungle.... not the desert... or Canterlot....”
“Oh.... why didn’t you say so?!”
“Yeah.... well I guess I’ll be back in say a week or two.”
“DON’T FORGET TO WRITE.” Pinkie said jumping straight into her face.
“That’s not exactly possible......”
“But...but...but...”
“I’ll be fine. Sheesh.”
“You think you can handle this?” Thule asked Angelos said as he got his stuff together.
“Yes. Someone has to wipe what remains of the black legion off the sub-sector.”
“Listen, I can do it too you know, you don’t have to....”
“It’s fine Thule. You’re starting to remind me of my family when I first left them.” Angelos said chuckling. “I want to test my new limits. With luck, I’ll be as good as you.”
“Or better.” Thule said with a grin.
“I’ll be taking the first and second companies. Best of luck with your journey.”
“Emperor be with you in your battles.” Thule said.
“I am sure he’s watching over all of us.” Angelos said. “Now then, you got your own duties as well.”
Author's Note
So essentially:
Who we owe
“I got some bad news girls.” Sweetie Belle said as she walked over to join her friends. “They said we can’t go along with them!”
“Why not?! It’s not like anything’s bad is going to happen!”
“I dunno. But... it’s not fair! We could miss a chance at earning our cutie marks!”
“Wait... I got an idea.... why don’t we................”
“This too your highness.” The gentlecolt-in-waiting said as he placed more things into Celestia’s saddlebag. “And done... have a lovely evening.”
“You too.” Celestia said as she went into Luna’s room admiring the new decor. The entire room itself resembled the night sky, while the ceiling was a literal map of the galaxy.
“You think we can find out... more after this?”
“Duh.” Luna said as she got her saddlebag on. “That Arven guy however..... well he’s got some crazy ideas in his helmet.”
“Why?”
“He thinks we’re suppossed to be human..... I mean seriously? I think there’d be a lot more dead bodies in Equestria if we were.”
“I bet. You ever wonder about how humanity has managed to survive? Their race seems bent on fighting.”
“I heard otherwise... I think it’s that we’ve only met like... a soldier caste. “Space marines” as they call themselves. They are different from regular humans.... more bloodthirsty one could say.”
“You ever wonder why they think Equestria is so important?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well..... I heard most humans tend to burn planets that belong to other races....”
“That’s horrible!”
“I know.... but still... perhaps Equestria showed them that not all races out there are there to murder or enslave them. If I recall correctly... the ones called the Eldar are manipulative and dishonest, the Dark Eldar are.... depraved beyond measure, Orcs are mindless savages, Chaos is rather self-explanatory, a race called Tyranids seek only to consume and the necrons seek to destroy all life.”
“I am pretty sure there are more than seven races in this galaxy.” Luna said.
“There is.... or was.....” Celestia said. “I am pretty sure we all can guess what happened to them....”
“Let’s not think about that. Apparently however humans once were on Equestria?”
“I think we’ll find that out soon enough once we’re all done with this.”
“The fact that Malcador used to be on this planet is rather... bizarre.” Adrastia said. “What do you think?”
“I think those two may of have something to do with Malcador.... perhaps trained by him?” Arven suggested.
“Sounds logical.” Adrastia replied. “It’s too bad we don’t know the hero’s stance on xenos.”
“Maybe they’re the two lost primarchs?”
“No way. First off, ALL the primarchs were male.... and unless some massive mistake happened.... actually on second thought, the more I think about it.... it sounds plausible... reason they may have been lost to us all?”
“Time will tell.. time will tell...” Arven said. “I have other theories as well.”
“I don’t want to hear about them.” Adrastia said. “How much this time? 5? 6?”
“1.”
Adrastia paused... considering if she wanted to listen to the grey knight ramble on about his "normal" ideas.
Nah.
“You think you’ll be okay?” Applejack asking Dashie. “Ah know them humans are the friendly type but even then.”
“Big deal... the princesses will be with me, and I know Davian Cool is a great guy!”
“Well.... you said so.... hope you’ll be okay.”
“I will Applejack. This is just going to be like Daring Do! Oh my gosh!”
Applejack decided now was the time to leave lest she be bombarded with anything Do related.
“Equestria. The new crown jewel of perhaps the entire sector.” Cyrus said leaning forward into his desk. “Known for it’s great scenery, undisturbed wildlife, and magical talking horses that repel chaos.”
“Shouldn’t this be my job?” Solomon asked as he sat down next to Cyrus in a large chair made just for him and his kind. “And shouldn’t you be on your way?”
“Oh yes. Thank you, I got too carried away here.” Cyrus said as he got his stuff. “Mind finishing that for me?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.”
“Can I say something funny?”
“Go ahead. I doubt I will find it funny though.”
“Only about 200 years ago did you serve with the deathwatch. Now here you are, the very reason we haven’t burned this planet.”
“I signed up to fight Tyranids and monsters. There’s no honor, no pride, nothing to be gained in killing something that I know children would adore. Or something I myself do like seeing on a daily basis.”
“Growing attached now are we?”
“Shut up.”
“Listen Cyrus, we all on thin ice here. The inquisition is...”
“Do I care? I owe my loyalty to my chapter and the Emperor. I owe friendship to Equestria. I owe neither of those to the inquisition. For the Emperor’s sake, your average pony cares more about me than those fools I served under. They only care about their own agenda. The inquisition was a great idea went wrong! Even Adrastia says the entire Inquisition is composed of fools who care more about their own personal agendas then the Emperor! No matter what the inquisition says, my loyalty is always with the Emperor. And no one, no one will say otherwise!”
“Thank the Emperor we aren’t in a room with any Inquisitors. But as you know.... to fear them, unnecessary. To hate them, heretical.”
“I think I got carried away... again. But do you agree with me?”
“Agree with you on what?”
“That we owe our loyalty to the Emperor and our friendship to Equestria?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Cyrus snorted and went out, leaving Solomon into deep thought. So long as friendship to Equestria didn’t conflict with his faith to the Emperor.... perhaps that’s okay after all.
We're off!
Dashie put on her Safari hat as she pulled out the map drawing a rough sketch of what their route was to be.
Back in Ponyville............
"Permit me for asking, but what exactly did you do with Sunset Shimmer?" Celestia whispered to Thule.
"I have to say, we may need to move faster." Sweetie Belle said. "Man, they move fast."
"There." Cyrus whispered to his scouts as he saw the field begin to rustle. Drawing his knife, he crouched and approached the source of the movement.Oh no.... no...
"Why..... just why......." Luna said facehoofing. "Why do they feel the need to do this for something as mundane as their cutie marks?"
"So Mr. Cool then goes off and takes on both of them!" Scootaloo said. "He beat them up both pretty badly. Too bad the view wasn't too good."
What's he hiding?
“Shhhhh!” Cyrus hissed as he crouched behind the rock. Taking his sniper rifle, he aimed it straight at the head of the closest dragon.
“One shot, one kill.” Cyrus said coldly as the dead beast fell to the ground. For reasons that didn’t surprise him, the other dragons hardly blinked at this.
“Our path is for the most part clear, remain vigilant and hidden.” He said to everyone else. Jumping down, he lead the ground.
“Man this is so..”
“Now now kid!” Rainbow Dash said holding a hoof over Scootaloo’s mouth. “I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to provoke this many dragons!”
If Dashie was unsure about something, then Scootaloo was too. Taking a frantic look around, she hoped they weren’t spotted.
They probably wouldn’t of been. Had not someone accidently bumped into the tail of a sleeping dragon.
The roar could of been heard from miles on end chilling the spines of all those who had been in earshot.
“Sweet Emperor, no.” Adrastia said as she saw about a dozen or so dragons land around them.
“Have no fear Inquisitor.” Arven said readying himself. “This is when things get interesting.”
“For the Emperor! Slay these beasts!” Thule roared as he ran straight at the dragons, many of his brothers doing likewise.
“Kill them all!” Cyrus said in agreement. Taking his sniper rifle, he dropped another dragon.
“Whoa....” Sweetie Belle said. Her first time seeing space marines in action. For their size, they moved rather quickly.
“Eh... ah don’t think rushin....”
Applebloom didn’t even get to finish her sentence. All she saw was one of the space marines fly straight into the head of a dragon and smash it’s skull to a pulp.
“Wait! Humans can fly?”
“With a jump pack they can.” Martellus said.
“Humans can use magic too. Despite not having horns.” Luna added pointing at Librarian Saul who shot lightning from his fingertips. “Though does all human magic involve killing?”
“No.” Martellus said. Still the most common misconception Equestria has. Humanity is not barbaric. At least not when you compare them with everyone else in the galaxy. “There was a psyker who could toss a coin and keep on finding it in his pocket.”
“You see, human magic and pony magic are different.” Luna explained. “Human magic is dangerous, even to the user. That is why many choose never to touch it. Those that do usually wear protection. See how Saul has that helmet? It protects him against the despicable forces of chaos.” (Not all humans could use magic. This was just something that was said and ended up sticking for reasons unbeknownst to any pony despite it being inaccurate.)
“Chaos? Like Discord?”
“Worse. Discord is a harmless jokester compared to the chaos I am talking about.” Luna said thinking for a moment.
“Now that you mention it....” Dashie said.
“What?”
“Nevermind... and wow, that was fast.”
“Indeed.” Thule said wiping a single bead of sweat from his brow. “No injuries and no deaths.”
“Mr. Cool? I have a question.”
“Sure.”
“What’s your cutie mark?”
“I believe we gone over this before.”
“But... don’t you have one? I mean what’s that on your shoulder?”
“That’s just an indication of my chapter.....” Thule said.
“What’s a cutie mark anyways?” Someone asked.
“It’s essentially a symbol of a pony’s special talent.” Celestia explained. “It’s what these three are trying to get out of by going with us.”
“Well in that case, I am not a pony, so I don’t have a cutie mark. But I suppose my special talent is staying alive.”
“That’s it?” Dashie asked. “Not fighting dragons? Or...”
“Yes... staying alive. By rights I probably should have died at least three times by now.”
“And mine is killing daemons!” Arven said. “Bit enough of that, shouldn’t we be on our way?”
“Yes we should.” Thule said. “That was interesting while it lasted. Martellus estimate?”
“Well, I’d say perhaps about another thirty six hours if...”
“Good enough.” Thule said cutting him off. “Let’s go!”
“Should I be worried?” Adrastia asked as she saw up in the sky the sun set and the moon raised.
“Maybe?” Saul said. “That kind of power would be on the same charts the Emperor. Keep in mind they do this on a day to day basis.”
“And no risk from the warp either.” Adrastia added. “Just imagine how many less daemonic incursions we would have if psykers weren’t exactly a massive target for the dark gods.”
“Exactly. Not to mention they repel the dark gods. A single pony to an entire chapter could probably easily root out any potential heretics... though I wonder exactly how most chapter masters would react to having xenos attached to their chapters. The only two men I can think of who won’t blink is Angelos and Picard.”
“Who’s Picard again? I never heard of that name.”
“Oh him. He’s the chapter master of the Reasonable Marines. Legend says he had been lost in an accident for a few hundred years but just returned recently. Now then, I think I am going to join my brothers.”
“So then I jumped on the Bloodthirster and hammered the damn thing to a pulp.” Thule said recounting the battle at Deimos peninsula on Kronus. “And of course, right as when I went to go kill Eliphas, it turned out he was already dead. Though he does end up returning to plague the imperium again and again.”
“Was he that guy you took on alone?”
“That was him. The other man was called Araghast who fancied himself as the pillager of a thousand worlds. More like coward that fled a thousand battles from the way he managed to fight.”
“But just wondering Mr. Cool, why did you have to fight your own people?”
“It was both our faults.” Davian said looking back on it. “Alexander was too stubborn to retreat, and I was too stubborn to finish the job. I am sure if we reasoned it out, Alexander would have left the planet.”
Celestia looked at Thule for a moment. His good eye started to stray around. He was hiding something. Something dark, that he didn’t want to talk about.
Perhaps she’ll find out later.
It doesn't matter who we are
“And this is where we destroyed that foul den of monsters.” Cyrus said pointing at the ruins of what ponies locally called “Changeling city”. “Small they may be, but they could easily have been the third most foul thing I’ve had the displeasure of encountering.”
“What’s the first two?” Dashie asked.
“It’s a tie between Tyranids and Chaos. Though even they may not be the worst thing the galaxy may have to face.....”
“Oh come on, what’s worse than giant alien bugs that eat planets or big scary daemons?”
“Soulless automatons that will destroy everything. Everything. No pity, no remorse, and no means of stopping them. Necrons. Emperor knows what they are capable of.”
“Sheesh, it must really be a harsh life...”
“What told you that? The fact that Thule lost his eye or nearly got killed.... once? Twice? Thrice?”
“Hey, it’s not like Equestria has to deal with this all.”
“And that’s why you’re lucky. Your kind repel chaos, no need to worry of having your souls devoured by the vile gods of chaos. I am just glad the Emperor will protect my soul once I die.”
“He must truly be a noble man to protect all his subjects.” Luna commented. “How powerful exactly is he?”
“More powerful than whatever foul entity that dotes on our souls. He will protect us. The day he rises from his throne, he will lead us to greatness and destroy the vile forces of chaos.”
“Dead bodies maybe?” Luna said flatly. “Did you do this?”
“Just myself, Tarkus, Diomedes and Cyrus.” Martellus said. “I think after this, we all made the galaxy a more pleasant place.”
“You...... humans.....!” A voice boomed making Applebloom jumped... it was... a changeling.
Thule glared at the changeling.
“Away beast, lest I descend into a less reasonable temper.”
“You’re not going to kill it?” Adrastia said surprised. Thule wasn’t particularly known for his reasonableness or willingness not to kill anything that he disliked. Adrastia on the other hand, was more...... reasonable... as far as most humans went.
“I might. I might. Now you going to move yourself or do I have to throw you off a ledge?”
“Monster! Demon! Fiend! You will face judgement when you die! It’s true, you are consumed by hate! You are no better than the d...”
“You dare put me on the same level as daemons? Thule roared at the top of his lungs. “Insolent creature!” Taking his bolter, he fired at the changeling, tearing it’s head clean off.
“Ew....” Applebloom said looking at the body. “That’s just.... horrible!”
“Man, it’s not like he was going to hurt you!”
“Hurting a space marine’s honor is the same as hurting him physically.” Adrastia said. “Honor is very important to the space marine.”
“A mighty race of warriors no doubt!” Dashie said trying to act calm. “Now I wish I was a space marine!”
“I am flattered.” Thule said grinning. “Now let’s get going.... I don’t want to be behind schedule...”
“Huh?”
“Nevermind.” Thule said just remembering Eliphas’ last words.
Abaddon has found the means to escape Cadia.
“Well, I think I’ll get some rest!” Dashie said getting on her cloud. “Even humans need sleep too right?”
“You need sleep after 20 hours if you’re a normal person, Ten times that amount if you’re a space marine.” Adrastia said. “Now then, I’ll get some rest too.” Leaning against a rock, Adrastia used her hat as a blind.
“Davian? May I speak to you for a moment?” Celestia asked with Luna.
“Sure what is it?”
“In private?”
“Okay, I don’t see why not.”
The three walked to a more secluded location, away from the others.
“Tell me, there is something I sense in you.... it’s...”
“I don’t have all day now...” Thule said after the long pause.
“Well.... I believe it’s that you know something everyone else doesn’t.....”
Thule was instantly on his guard.
“How do you know that?” He asked. The dark cloak of fear was now wrapping around him, the last thing anyone needed would be if that story got out.
“Davian, we just wanted to reassure you. We sensed despair in your heart because of this.” Luna said. “Listen... it doesn’t matter who you are or what you are. All that matters is what you do. Even if your roots come from the enemy, you are a hero to your people. Never stop thinking that, even if there is something shady about your origins.”
Thule was rather dumbfounded. Being sworn enemies of chaos, Thule would of expected the two to denounce him for his potential roots with the Thousand sons, but wait....
“Is that why you let Discord live and be free?” He asked.
“Please, never say that phrase again.” Thule said. She was reminding him of Eliphas. “I see you do hold an open mind. But be on your guard Celestia of Equestria, for an open mind is like a fortress with all it’s gates unlocked and wide open.”
“Even the most fortified citadels need to open their gates sometimes.” Celestia chuckled. “I hope what I say here does ease you up a bit.”
“You have my word.”
It calls itself nightmare
It calls itself nightmare
“Are you okay Saul?” Thule asked watching the librarian. Something was off.
“Yeah fine. I just felt something was watching me the entire night.”
“Time to get sleep brother. That’s normally not a good sign.” Martellus said.
“No he’s right. There is something watching us.” Cyrus said emerging from a rock. “I can tell you right now, there is something watching us.”
“Is something wrong Mr. Cyrus?” Applebloom asked popping out of nowhere. “Ah wonder if there’s any...”
“No, it’s all fine, just we better get back on our way.”
“Ah okay. Princess Celestia says it’s only a few miles before we go to the place where no pony has ever been!”
“Great....” Cyrus said. “And next time, talk about this on the vox!” The last part being over the vox channel. “Like I was saying, there is something watching us. I don’t know what it is or what it wants but everyone should be on our guard. I’ll tell Luna and Celestia....”
“It really doe...”
“I can vouch for him.” Arven said stepping into the discussion. “There’s something out there. Emperor knows what foul beast it could be.”
“Fine. Tell Celestia, Luna and possibly Rainbow Dash... but that one does have a tendency to be rash about things.....”
“Like?”
“Then why is...”
“Cause she won.”
The good majority of the space marines who heard this had a hard time of keeping a straight face for the rest of the day.
“And this it. The edge. Few ponies have been this far down south in Equestria. Almost none return.” Celestia said. “We shall be the first.”
“I sense powerful psychic.... lifeforms.” Saul said. “Whatever is down there, it’s dangerous. On your guard brothers.”
Bolters, chainswords and likewise were broken out. Everyone readied themselves for trouble.
It should be noted that shadow forces inhabited here............
“Sixty-six buckets of oats on the wall sixty-six buckets of oats!”
“Take one down, pass it around, sixty-five....”
“Do they ever quit?” Thule asked to Dashie.
“No.” She said stuffing clouds into her ears. “Awfully dark out here....”
“Luna has anything to do with it?”
“Nope. It’s naturally dark down here for some reason....” Celestia cut in.
“How do you know that?”
Everyone stopped walking to hear her answer. Celestia then realized something..... she didn’t.
“I don’t know..... how I knew....” She said. “Maybe we should keep on walking.”
“What? No! I would never hide anything from anyone! Let alone you.” Celestia said indignantly.
Well, at least I am not the only one who has dirty secrets. Thule thought.
“You hear something?” Cyrus asked Martellus as they entered a fog. Celestia quickly casted a spell to allow them to see.
“No. My audio sensors detect nothing except for us two.”
“Sweet Emperor....” Saul said stopping. “I hear something.... it.... it’s whispering to me....”
“Chaos? Here? That’s impossible!” Arven said. “But...”
Every pony stopped dead in their tracks.
“He needs help.”
“Yes, the last thing we need is for some like HIM to be corrupted.”
The very word corrupted commonly made a space marine feel uneasy. A quick explanation of what was potential corrupting Saul did little to ease the tension.
“Nightmare... Nightmare... what do they want?” Arven asked.
“They want to shroud Equestria in darkness for reasons unbeknownst to any pony. However, if he get’s corrupted he will be possessed by some dark and vile spirit to which he will become their tool. With human magic-users wielding destructive magic, I fear what he could do....” Celestia said.
“He will not fall.” Cyrus said soothingly as they continued walking. “Saul is strong, he will never turn his back from his duty and from what he is. He is a space marine, one of the Emperor’s finest warriors! He will not fall to some petty spirit!”
“But for good measure, we should get out of here lest something...... happens.” Arven said. Thank the Emperor for Aegis or he’d probably become the same nervous wreck that Saul had turned into.
“Will he be all right?” Applebloom asked tugging at Celestia’s wing.
“He will be. I am sure of it.” Celestia said half to Applebloom half to the blood ravens.
“But... he’s scared isn’t he?” That notion did give the cutie mark crusaders a chill. If something could make turn a human into a nervous wreck, how bad was it? “Ah mean, when he’s so strong and HE’S afraid then that....”
“Don’t you worry child.” Celestia said. “We will see to it he comes out fine.”
“Shhhh! Their praying!” Luna said. “Best not to offend them.”
The muttering and chanting grew distinctly louder as Saul continued to writhe in agony as the nightmare forces mocked and gibed at him within his mind.
"So is he okay?" Adrastia asked.
"Does being well-enough to descend into a fit of rage constitute as okay?" Martellus said back. "If so, yes."
"When I find whoever is doing this, I am going to flay them alive!" Saul said in a tone that would of impressed the angry marines.
"You might just get the chance." Luna said. "You see, the nightmare forces do manifest occasionally. Tia, how much farther?"
"Only a few more hours of this hell on earth." Celestia said. "I still worry for Saul."
"He'll be fine once he get's his hands on whatever nightmare forces you speak of." Thule said. "Now then, when do you think this fog will clear up?"
"Probably never." Luna said not knowing how she knew that.
You.
“And I thought the screams would never end.” Thule said as they exited the fog. “Okay now, Saul?”
“Fine. Fine. I am glad I am alone in my head.”
“Good thing they left before they could take you over.... the power of a nightmare force will increase exponentially once they’ve acquired a host. If he had gotten possessed....”
“He probably could of killed all of us without as much as lifting a finger.....” Dashie said. “Yes killed.”
“They would under these circumstances.” Celestia said. “Think for a moment, all the power that Saul wields. I took a look at how human magic works.... thank the heavens he wasn’t possessed... some humans have the power to turn others inside out with nothing more than just a glance.”
“Yikes....”
“One of the many reasons why the galaxy is an unpleasant place to live it.” Thule said. “We lost many brothers that way. Never mention his name around Gabriel, but a man named Isador was corrupted in a similar fashion.”
“He lost his mind to some ghosts?” Sweetie Belle asked. “That’s harsh.”
“No. He turned to chaos after being tempted by a sorcerer named Sindri. Sindri beckoned him with power and Isador took it. Angelos had to kill him afterwards. Now, Gabriel is the last man from Cyrene....”
“It must be pretty hard on him, being like the last of his kind then?” Scootaloo noted. “But he has all the.....”
“He lost his family, his friends, everyone..... after he became a space marine.” Thule said. “Even we will see at least what village or city we were fished out of and perhaps find some familiar faces. I may have seen my father twice before he passed away. Now I see the remnants of my family every time I return to Calderis. What does Angelos have? Nothing.”
“That’s where you’re wrong Davian.” Celestia said. “He has a family. You. How can you not even notice that? You even call yourselves brothers. Even then, there’s an old saying in Equestria that you can’t pick your family, but you can pick your friends. He hasn’t despaired like a certain someone else because of that. He realizes what the power of friendship can mean sometimes.”
Thule didn’t bother asking on how Celestia knew that. Half the time, it’s like she could read his mind. That was a likelihood after all, how else would she have figured out the dark and perhaps damning secret uncovered on Kronus?
“Princess.... I think we’re close by.” Dashie said. Pointing ahead, was a large desert.
And in that large desert, was a massive pyramid surrounded by strange treehouses.
“That doesn’t look friendly.” Cyrus said pointing at the group of zebras headed their way.
“Hail Princess of the sun and moon. We did not expect you to return so soon.” The leader said who wore a distinctive cloak.
“Not much yet. But the sun still has yet to set.”
“Okay, okay, the rhyming is starting to creep me out....”
“Children!” Luna said. “Mind your manners!”
“I can talk without rhyming.” Shaka said. “Now then, can you tell me about your strange companions?”
“We are humans.” Adrastia said. “These men however are space marines, finest warriors of the Emperor. The Grey Knights and the Blood Ravens.”
Shaka closed his eyes for a moment, as if in deep thought, then opened them once more.
“Are you here because of war? I can tell you that blood needs not to be spilled no more.”
“And he starts again.” Cyrus said over the vox. “Anyways, we are not here to fight, but mainly to find someone who’s most likely dead.”
“Then it is not as I dread. Why do you carry arms and armor from toe to head?”
“Where a space marine goes, his arms and armor go with him.” Thule said. “We have no hostile intentions.”
“Let’s go then.” Dashie said running after Shaka and his entourage.
“You want to search that tomb?” Shaka asked surprised. “You must all be very brave.”
“Finally he doesn’t rhyme.” Cyrus voxed.
“Watch him start again a few seconds later.” Martellus said.
“We know no fear.” Thule said ignoring the chatter. “We will find what we must. No matter what the consequences may be.”
Shaka wondered for a moment if it was worth it trying to dissuade them.
Meh. No.
“Very well. If your choice was good, only time will tell.”
“Why.... just why....”
“OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!” Dashie said as she went down the corridor. “THIS IS SO COOL!”
“I am surprised this entrance fits us.” Arven said. “Almost like whoever built it was human.”
“Maybe he was human!” Someone suggested.
Possible. Possible.
“What’s wrong?”
“This place is bigger than any of us could imagine.... but I feel like there’s something watching us....”
There was something watching him. It crept within the walls despite it’s size.
“If there’s anything.... we’ll take it out.” Cyrus said. “Come on now, whether or not we find him or his corpse, we best hurry.”
Thule nodded. Going to the next room, he was surprised to find it’s sheer size.
He was also surprised to hear a war cry and see a hulking figure run at him.
The moment that everyone saw Thule hit a wall and slide down comically and painfully, panic started. Seeing massive figures dart around in the dark, anyone carrying weapons armed themselves and ran straight inside to help Thule.
“Stay behind!” Celestia said as she too joined them in the fray attempting to use a light spell. She was promptly also thrown against the wall by something big.....
Bolter rounds flew, exchanges of threats and curses were thrown and chainswords swung at thin air as the invisible assailant toyed with the entire group..... something about this place was strange, making it impossible even for the enhanced vision of the astartes to see. Suddenly...
This gave Celestia enough time to light up the room, what stood before her made every space marine drop his jaw.
Two figures. One clad in grey armor, the other in a yellowish armor. Both easily towered over the other space marines..... a good look at them was enough to unnerve the cutie mark crusaders who hid behind Thule.
“Holy Terra.....” Saul muttered underneath his breath......
The man in the yellow armor glared at the one in the greyish one.
“When I said guard the door, I don’t mean kill anything that as much as pokes it’s head in!”
“Sorry.” The one in the grey armor said in arguably the most unapologetic manner that anyone has ever seen.
Turning his head to the crowd, the man in the yellow armor took a quick glance at everyone, but mainly spent a good few moments staring at Celestia and Luna. It took all their strength for them not to tremble at his gaze.
“Allow me to introduce myself.” The man in the yellow armor said. “My name is Rogal Dorn.”
Holy shit.
Rogal Dorn, Leman Russ, Lion EL’Jonson, Jaghatai Khan, Roboute Gulliman, Vulkan, Corvus Corax.... all of them. They were all here. This entire time. For perhaps over a hundred years.
Why were they here and how did they get here?
“Well....” Dorn began. “I recall battling on a Chaos battleship and right when things were just about as hopeless as possible, I heard the voice of my father telling me I had new quest. My death was promptly feigned and I found myself here.”
“I was told that I would find means to restore our father back to health here.” Russ explained. “So I made way here as fast as possible. My entourage however, did not survive the journey here.”
“I woke up here after getting an odd dream with someone telling me I should be joining my brothers.” Jonson said.
“Woke up here.” Gulliman explained. “I was healed one last time to save humanity in the coming battles.”
“I was told to come here.” Vulkan said.
“I was told my redemption would be here.” Corax explained. “My past burdens still weight upon me. But I have found my redemption and we have found what we are looking for.”
“What is it?” Celestia asked.
Found Malcador.
“Excuse me?”
“What is he talking about? What other two?!”
The primarchs all glanced at each other.
“They don’t know.....”
“Well, this just got a lot more difficult then.” Dorn said shaking his head. “Time to explain but first, is there a better place than a few thousand year old temple in the middle of nowhere?”
“Back to Twilight and the others.” Rainbow Dash said. “She’ll want to see this.”
“Very well.” Vulkan said. “Come to me.”
Imagine the sheer surprise that was caused when a bunch of guys randomly teleported into the room Twilight was in. Now imagine the surprise when they were with people that easily towered over space marines. That was rather terrifying and the first few moments were absolute chaos. Now then.... after a rather long time of attempting to calm things down, everyone settled in.
“He’s not just any ordinary person.” Adrastia said. “He’s a primarch. One of which I am honored to be in the presence of. They are all primarchs.”
“Wow......” Twilight said. “Oh my god! So are you gods?”
“How old are you?!” Twilight asked. “Older than Princess Celestia?”
“About 10,000 years old.” Someone said. “Now then, we do have an agenda that I’d like to see finished.”
“Anyways...” Jonson said. “We are all here to find three things. One of which we have found....”
“What? Or who?” Twilight asked.
“Malcador and two of our brothers...”
“I knew Malcador was here!” Arven said over the vox.
“Shh... listen!”
“The former, we have found. Those two over there.”
“WHAT?!”
Dorn nodded to his brothers. Story time.
Countless years ago, at the end of one of the greatest conflicts the entire galaxy has seen, the Imperium was in ruins. To rebuild, it was decided by the Emperor himself that he would have to resort to desperate measures.
Forming a somewhat rash plan, he quickly made plans to save Malcador. When Malcador died, the Emperor ensured where he went, he would have a new body for his soul to go into. Then, he sent two particular primarchs to retrieve him.
The Emperor had planned to place Malcador on a very particular planet. This planet held strange things that had the abilities to repel chaos. This would be invaluable in the battles to come. However, some time during the landing on Equestria, something had gone horribly wrong leaving the two primarchs and Malcador stranded on Equestria. With their mission already gone wrong, one of the primarchs despaired and ran off.
The remaining primarch could only sigh as his brother abandoned them. But it was noted to took interest in the closest thing to him. It was a strange creature, a small horse to be exact with a pastel colored coat.
For the next few months, that primarch commonly spoke to these horse-like creatures. He really didn’t expect them to do anything, he was merely just bored. With Malcador still trying to make head or tail with what he was here for, this primarch could only kill time and hope for rescue.
Then one day, something extraordinary happened. The primarch was about to speak.... when this horse-like creature spoke back to him..... to this the primarch found amusing and he soon befriended every pony that lived in Equestria, teaching them all both to speak and write in High Gothic which later would become Equestria’s version of low gothic.
This primarch’s name.... was Harmony. He was a Psyker. Perhaps one of the many reasons he was able to teach them all and connect with every pony so quickly.
Harmony was regarded by all ponies to be a strange creature. Big too. But it was noted he made a point of helping others. Kind, generous, wise, honest, optimistic, loyal. Every pony welcomed him wherever he went and they learned much from him. Harmony was known to be have a love for knowledge.
His brother’s name... was Discord. Also a psyker.
Where Harmony was Kind, Discord was cruel. Where Harmony was generous, Discord was greedy, where Harmony was wise, Discord was thin-skinned, where Harmony was honest, Discord was a liar. Where Harmony was optimistic, Discord was a large pessimist. Where Harmony was loyal, Discord was treacherous.
Discord made many dark-deeds in the time he was in Equestria, both Malcador and Harmony cast a blind eye to it for some time until one day, Discord used his psyker powers to torment a pony. This threw Harmony into a state of rage and he lashed out at his brother who was sent straight into a cave.... full of crystals with magical properties.
Deciding that he no longer needed to in the shadow of his “better” brother. Discord imbued himself with this power, it changed his appearance, and he became a chimera.
In the resulting battle that followed, Harmony was wounded to the point where not even the most skilled of techniques could restore. Amazingly Discord refused to kill him and went about causing chaos and tormenting ponykind.
Malcador looked upon this with disgust, for Discord now referred to himself as a spirit of chaos. But being no fighter (Well, at least not when compared to a primarch), he couldn’t do much against Discord, but he had an idea. It involved six powerful magical elements, Harmony and a pregnant alicorn.
Realizing that Discord was now consumed by chaos, Malcador explained to Harmony what needed to be done. Being already crippled to the point of no return, Harmony agreed to Malcador plan and split his soul into six sections.
In short. He created the elements of harmony from his own soul.
But why is Malcador in two pieces?
Simple. He couldn't wield the elements. Only a pony could. The solution? Merge his with the unborn child of a certain pregnant alicorn.
He didn’t happen to know, she was carrying twins.
nor because of this, they would have no memory of their past life.
And lastly, he never expected her to die in childbirth, after Discord’s defeat, which erased his memories as well, few ponies would know what had truly happened. Thankfully, they had chosen to carve it all in a massive temple in the middle of nowhere which the living primarchs had themselves sent to.
“The imperium needs you, Malcador....” Gulliman said after they finished speaking.
“Please, call me Celestia.”
“And I am Luna.”
“Say that again?”
“Memories.” Was the answer. “Bad memories....”
“What are you looking at?” Twilight asked Celestia who was peering through many ancient scrolls. All containing arcane and lost knowledge.
“Why?”
“Because the human known as the Emperor is a god made flesh. Ordinary spells will do little to restore him. It will take perhaps the most powerful of all magic known to Equestria to as much as give him a hint of life.”
“Why are you going to go and heal him? We don’t even know what he’s like! He could be perhaps a fair and just ruler, or just a maniacal warlord!”
“But...”
“No buts. Luna and I have made our decision. When we have finished, we will go to the place known as Terra, and restore the man known as the Emperor back to life. This I believe will be the best for all beings. But while I am gone, I will need someone to look after Equestria for me..... You.”
“Me? You are... entrusting Equestria to... me?”
“Yes Twilight. Do it. I believe in you. And think, you’re not alone. You have your friends, and you have scholars hundreds of years old to aid you, as well as 10,000 year old warriors and politicians in a worst case scenario.”
“But how can they be....”
“Twilight. I trust those two men. Gabriel and Davian are men of reason, and will listen to it. They are not savages that Equestria somehow believes them to be. They will help you. They see a friend in you. And those men called Primarchs, they’re not like most humans. They actually are reasonable and wise men who won’t whip out a blade at the first thing they don’t like. They are the greatest warriors in this galaxy. And as we all know.... it is the greatest warriors who hate war.”
“I suppose your mind is made?”
Celestia smiled. “You’ll do just fine.”
Rogal Dorn
“Awesome!” Spike said still taking a look at one of the primarchs. “They’re even bigger than the other guys! Are they friendly? Are they just as cool?”
“Just as cool?” Rainbow Dash asked. “They’re even more awesome! They told us that they’re each over ten thousand years old! Plus.... they also say that know Princess Celestia!”
“Huh?”
“Apparently Princess Celestia used to be human! Princess Luna too!” Rarity exclaimed. “Can you imagine it? Our two beloved princesses used to be like those brutes!”
“Well, ah reckon she isn’t too much like them or maybe..... a few of us would ‘ave died by now.” Applejack replied.
“I SHOULD THROW A PARTY!” Pinkie Pie said jumping up from an explosion of confetti.
“Now now Pinkie... I am not sure that’s a very good idea....” Fluttershy said. “Anyways... I have to return home. Angel is waiting for me.”
“Yeah, I got a school to run...” Twilight said.
“I still have dresses to make!”
“Weather patrol duty here I come! And Pinkie, don’t you have a job to do at Sugarcube corner? I heard it go fixed!”
“So let me get this straight, you rebuilt an entire town in four days?” Dorn asked. “That’s impressive.”
“Thanks.” Mr. Cake said still a bit nervous. “A quick question Mr. Dorn, do humans all have like.... a special affinity for anything?”
“Hmm.... yes and no. We aren’t born with a special affinity, we merely learned it. My men and I are all excellent construction and destruction workers.”
“Destruction workers?”
“Siege warfare. I could probably bore you with all the tactics and strategies we use..... but that’s not important.” Dorn looked around. “Interesting decor..... it’s made out of candy?”
“It’s just for show.” Mr. Cake said. “Chew on that and you might break your teeth. Thanks for helping, would you like to stay for lunch?” The last part was asked rather nervously as he was unsure about what humans actually ate and how they ate.
“Alright class, so today I decided something new. Now we just finished the history of Equestria.”
Groans*
“Anyways..... so I thought of something. Ponyville itself is only about 5 generations old. So I thought.... why not interview some of the older folks around town to ask what it was like? Actually, stop right there. There are even people who migrated to ponyville among them! So, go around, ask your grandparents, or anyone of age what it was like back in the day, or what it was like before coming to ponyville. My only rule, you may not interview anyone you talked to last time. Try something new for once everpony..... I will be passing out the rubric now.”
Great. Applebloom thought. No more Granny Smith.
And then the bell rang.
“Well.... this is going to be hard.” Applebloom said. “Ah was gonna ask Granny Smith, I think she’s the only pony round town that even has an idea of before Ponyville!”
“My parents are away, and my older sister is the only one who has been in Ponyville for a good chunk of time....”
“No Rainbow Dash.” Scootaloo said sadly. “Now that’s just so uncool.”
“Well, ah think it’s time I go brainstorming. Ah need to do good on this one....”
“Same... looks like interviewing some stranger is going to have to do. Hope they don’t look at me funny.”
“Wait a second.... what did you just say?” Scootaloo asked.
“SWEETIE BELLE YOU ARE A GENIUS!” Scootaloo exclaimed looking ahead.
The two other fillies turned their heads. There he was, in an armored suit of yellow, was one of those primarch guys.
“Good heavens he eats a lot.” Mrs. Cake exclaimed. “He’s ate how much now?”
“Nearly 8 loafs of bread, three dozen cupcakes, eight sandwiches, five bowls of stew and at least twenty eight apples by now.”
And there he was.... standing outside, on his 29th apple.
“Nevermind. I think you have company.” Dorn said gesturing at the three approaching fillies.
“Good afternoon Mr. Cake!” Applebloom said taking out some bits. “The usual!”
Mr. Cake chuckled and handed them some milkshakes. They sat outside, as close to Dorn as possible.
“Yes?” Dorn asked. He was using his inside voice..... which was intimidating to just about anyone.
The cutie mark crusaders were taken back by this. The three looked at him oddly, not even knowing how he knew what they wanted already....
“Greetings.” Dorn said swallowing the rest of his apple in one bite.
“You eat the seeds to... ow! What was that for?” Scootaloo asked as Sweetie Belle smacked her on the head.
“Oh eh yes. May I ask for your name?”
“He has a cool name....” Scootaloo whispered. Dorn laughed inwardly, glad that a small horse approved of his name.
“Eh.... I hope you don’t me asking, but how old are you?” Applebloom asked taking notes.
“I think I turned 10,000 a few years ago.” Dorn replied.
“Are you a god?!”
“No. That title does not belong to me as much as it belongs to any of you.”
“Okay.... so anyways.....”
“Let’s see, comes from a place called Terra, his name is Rogal Dorn, he’s called a Primarch, his special talent is building things and.... destroying things.... he’s 10,000 years old, his favorite food is apples and he likes.... just doing his duty?” Sweetie Belle asked. “What’s the last part suppossed to mean?”
“Who knows? But we still have two more to go...”
“This is certainly going to be interesting.”
Jonson and Russ
“Let’s see, comes from a place called Terra, his name is Rogal Dorn, he’s called a Primarch, his special talent is building things and.... destroying things.... he’s 10,000 years old, his favorite food is apples and he likes.... just doing his duty?” Sweetie Belle asked. “What’s the last part suppossed to mean?”
“Who knows? But we still have two more to go...”
“This is certainly going to be interesting.”
“I recommend my two brothers, Russ and Jonson.” Dorn said. “They are the best of friends, though their way of showing it is rather..... strange.”
“What do ya mean?” Applebloom asked.
“You’ll know it when you see it. They’re by the place called the Everfree forest. One of the Blood Ravens told them if they wanted a fight, they’d get one there.”
“Where’s Vulkan?” Twilight asked speaking with Guilliman. “He was just in here with Celestia and Luna just a few moments ago!”
“He teleported them to Terra.” The primarch replied. “Vulkan was the only other choice aside from Dorn. He’ll also be spreading the word of our return.”
“You must really be important if people want to hear about your return so badly.” Twilight said.
“The final battle is approaching. It was foretold ages ago that when we returned from our quests or when our wounds had healed that it would be the dawn of a terrible and final battle.”
“But how can you lose? All I know is that the enemy is being lead by some cra....”
“You have little to fear from chaos Twilight.” Guilliman replied. “But we..... our souls can at times be consumed by the dark gods. We have much to fear from them. Your very souls poison the dark gods and their servants, ours only can feed them. That is why the Emperor..... asks for your support when the final battle is upon us.”
“What?” Twilight asked. “But..”
“He spoke to Vulkan the first time he teleported back to Terra. I was recently told that the Emperor asks for not just the support of his long-lost friend, but for all of Equestria. If chaos wins... the entire galaxy will be consumed by the dark gods. That is why Equestria must aid the Imperium.... no. That is why EVERYONE must stop fighting and battle the true enemy. Chaos.”
“Then I suppose Equestria will aid humanity in their last battle. Just how?”
Guilliman didn’t have an answer. The cold cloak of dread fell upon Twilight from his silence.
“Just like home.” Jonson said dryly looking into the cave. “You sure this is a good idea?”
“Yeah! We go on the count of three!” Russ said taking final swig at his mead. “Ready? Three...... Two.......”
“Hi!”
“What the...”
“Hey!” Sweetie Belle said cheerily at the two Primarchs who were readying themselves to storm an Ursa Major’s cave. “Whew... we’ve been looking all over for you!”
“I am flattered.” Jonson said in his normal gloomy tone. “Alright, so... you don’t exactly look like a trio of fighters to me, so what are you here for?”
“We just want to ask a few questions. That’s all!”
“Wa...”
“Oh fine....” Jonson said in his usual surly tone. “Alright... fire away I guess.”
“What’s your name?”
“Lion El’Jonson.” The lion replied watching the cutie mark crusaders write it all down.
“Older then you.”
“Hilarious. In years?”
“Okay, so where are you from?”
“Caliban..”
“Favorite food?”
“Really don’t have much time on that......” Jonson said still peering into the cave.
“And what’s your favorite thing to do?”
“But I am drunk! You don’t have an excuse!” (Lies)
“Seriously? I answered the questions... will it seriously kill you just to answer five things?”
“Okay, okay fine.”
“So what’s you name?”
“Leman Russ.”
“So.... Mister Russ.... how old are you?” Scootaloo asked.
“Just as old as him.” Russ said wanting to get this done.
“Alright... where are you from?”
“Fenris. Home sweet home.”
“Favorite food?”
“Small horses....”
“Um what?”
“Nothing. Mead. That’s my favorite.”
“What’s your favorite thing to do?”
“Drink Mead. Lot’s of it...... now then.... ready? Three..... Two........ ONE!”
The two launched themselves into the cave with a roar, in a few seconds the sounds of fighting erupted within. The cutie mark crusaders decided this would be a good time to leave.......
“Media blackout? You’re telling me the newspapers have been closed for almost a year?”
“Travel service too.” The secretary said. “All foreign trading pacts were also put on hold.”
“That’s strange..... can I revoke this?”
“Will since there’s no one to say otherwise.... sure. Here lemme get the papers.”
“When do you think they’ll be back?” Rainbow Dash asked Corax.
“Probably a week.” The primarch replied. “I only told them to poke at the forces of chaos, not go on a joyride through the galaxy. I expect at least one less chaos warband to plague the galaxy when they’re done.”
“Davian Cool really knows his stuff! So how long will you be here?”
“Why?”
“Something tells me the final battle draws near.......”
Solomon's discovery
“What is this? Spam?” Twilight asked the messenger as she dumped about a metric ton with of letters.
“Who did you do for your project?” Pipsqueak asked Featherweight in regards to their project.
“Morning Mr. Dorn!” Sweetie Belle said. “So... whatcha doing?”
“Hmmmm..... think we can use this?” Solomon asked Martellus. The librarian held several crystal chips in his hands.
“In all my born days, I’ve never seen anything like it.” The professor at Canterlot university said. “You really outdone all of us.”
And that’s when Twilight remembered she needed Guilliman’s help.
Author's Note
This chapter was shorter than I would have pefered.... working on that.
At the heart of Terra
“First off..... this is never going to work.” Jonson said. “For starters, Russ cannot sit still for ten seconds. Or as a matter of fact, he can’t be civil for ten seconds either.”
The primarch of the Dark Angels ducked as a chair was flung at him. Point proven.
“Moreover, I have a feeling this may cause some.... less than positive reactions...” An advisor said. “There are still those who have yet to find out what happened the first time in the Everfree forest, as well as that humans.... well.....”
“Say it.” Khan said.
“Well, I mean some cultures had myths and legends regarding humans. Depending on what you are, you’ll most likely react to humans differently.”
“Elaborate.”
“Well, Griffins I heard paint humans in a positive light the way they occasionally talk about them..... though the humans they talk about are smaller. Much smaller. About this big.” The messenger said making a rough estimation with his hooves. “But..... say for example..... minotaurs......”
Eerily similar to a certain myth, minotaurs see humans as reasonless murderers and killers.......
“Really? Reasonless killers?” Guilliman said.
“No, there’s a hint of truth in that.” Jonson gesturing towards Khan and Russ. “Some of our brothers do have quite a temper.”
To drive that point home, the lion received another punch in the jaw from his wolf brother. He sat there dumbly nursing his wound, not wanting to repeat another eight days of senseless fighting.
“As long as you got mead, I am happy.” Russ said opening his canteen and chugging it’s contents. “Oh and.... I know this is an odd question, but do you have any meat?”
“So.... what kind of meat?”
“Any kind.” Russ said. “On second thought...... can I eat you?”
Twilight scrambled behind Dorn who shook his head in an unamused fashion.
“Really? Is this honestly the time? I know it’s hard to take this seriously because it’s “not your problem” but we were told to remain here until...... well, until doomsday for all we know. The least you can do is be helpful.” Dorn said glaring at Russ.
“Okay, okay fine.”
“Excellent. Now then..... can you give me a background on all the cultures of Equestria?”
Pulling up a blackboard, Twilight began her huge lecture of Equestria and all it’s inhabitants.
“Thanks.” Solomon said putting some more of the crystals down on the table for Martellus. “This will work?”
“Dunno.” The techmarine replied. “Alright, so anyways.... I am going to get started. In short...
Get out.”
“Typical.” Solomon breathed as he stepped outside almost bumping into Rarity.
“Sorry bout that. Didn’t see you and.... what?”
“Alright, now to the left..... just a tiny....no wait.... that’s.....”
“The hell are you doing?” Solomon asked.
“Looking “professional”.” One of the marines said. “Seriously? Does every inc...”
“YES IT MATTERS. IT MATTERS VERY MUCH!” Rarity said blasting into the space marine’s face. Point made.
“Why..... just why....”
“So when do they come here?”
“Tomorrow.”
Oh man.......
Despite being more pleasant than every other major civilization to have ever existed within the galaxy, Equestria too had it’s occasionally share of....... ignorance.
When space marines were commonly mistaken for the only type of male humans around, it’s easy to see how that drastically changes on how the average pony views humanity.
While the average human, loyal to his faith, was a mild-mannered sort of chap. (On average at least.....)
And of course, the average space marine was a total zealot on his devotion to the being referred to as the Emperor and commonly seemed to enjoy in partaking in things that fall within the line of murder and fighting. Things within Equestria that many see as barbaric and rather...... dark.
And of course, when most of Equestria found out that a thing called a Primarch, a human of..... nobility, many expected the Primarchs to be vicious warlords and savages that would sack entire countries on a daily basis......
So it was rather surprising to.... well EVERY PONY, that outside of battle, most of the primarchs were mild-mannered and calm. Unlike the good majority of the space marines, they were reasonable men who wouldn’t break someone’s face for just being different. They would however, not hesitate to do the above if someone intends on doing them harm.
And of course, much to the delight of Rarity and a few other Equestrian nobles, it was good to see that the Primarchs, who would be the main event on what happen tomorrow, were level-headed..... except for Russ for rather obvious reasons. He was drunk. Like..... always.
“My, my Mr. Russ! Can’t you be civil for one moment like your brothers?”
“I am drunk! They don’t have an excuse! Now then, more mead!”
Several ponies scrambled off to oblige him. Despite knowledge on the fact that he was a primarch who was for the most part a reasonable person, drunkards were normally an exception to their everything.
"You sound like me mother lassie!" Leman said putting on a certain Fenrisian accent. "Okay, anyways, why would I not want to be drunk?”
“That can’t be good for your livers!”
“The thing about being like me, I can drink to the point where it feels good, but never have to settle for any of the bad things!” The space wolves primarch proved his point by gulping down another canteen of mead.
“Now then, I am hungry!”
"Oh.... I'll see if the cooks can spruce up anything for that appetite of yours......"
"I am craving horses today." The primarch said giving Rarity a wink. "Okay, enough silliness. Tell everyone else you have my word that I will be sober tomorrow. Though...... if I am a bit extra stabby, that's me from withdrawals."
Okay, okay. The crankiest being in Equestria would probably be nothing more than an angry butterfly when compared to a stabby human. All of a sudden, Rarity wondered if it would be better if Russ was drunk for the day instead. Deciding perhaps it was time maybe she'd spend some time with some more civil ponies.... or humans.
"Back so soon?" Dorn asked Vulkan as he teleported in.
"Yep. Something told me I had to be here."
"You get to meet the rest of the inhabitants on this planet. Some child's paradise this place turns out to be. So how's Malcador?"
"Well......"
If Celestia and Luna were scared when they entered the throne room of the Emperor, that'd be the understatement of all of eternity. The sheer amount of power he radiated, just by being there was enough to make the average pony faint and probably fall into a coma afterwards.
"Yes. We're sure." Luna said. "If the galaxy is truly the horrid place you describe it to be, and if restoring him back to health is truly the way..... then we'll do whatever it takes."
"Very well." Vulkan said. "I am sorry to say I may not accompany you."
"Doesn't matter." Celestia smirked. "We'll get it done. Just hope those guards stop looking at us in that way."
"I'll see to that part." Vulkan said. "Good luck."
"Thank you."
"You've come back." A voice boomed within the room making both alicorns jump. Though the voice was one that held joy, it still scared the living daylights out of the two.
"Huh? Oh yes...." Luna said. "We've come back to help...... .you...." She began to stutter when she saw the status of the Emperor's body. It took all her willpower to hurl right in his throne room.
"Malcador..... this process will be very taxing. You don't have to do this." The Emperor boomed echoing Vulkan's very words. "Do you understand what may even happen to you? And what if this fails? I expect you to replace me on the throne if anything goes wrong and...."
"Everything will be fine." Celestia said. "What's the worst that can happen?"
"Very well. Do as you must. But do not endanger your own life for my sake. It will get nothing done."
"We are prepared to do whatever it takes. Chaos can't be allowed to win." Luna said.
"You may be in two, but you haven't changed. Welcome home." The Emperor said. He probably would of been smiling if his body would permit it.
And then, the spell was cast, washing over him, the pain in his body, began to lessen. It felt good.
_______________'s cloak.
"And you look dashing!" Rarity said as she "fixed" Russ' hair. The primarch only grunted in reply. Apparently, he was "a mess" and needed a haircut. But if he was going to give the pony credit, he did like his new hair style.
"Ah, gold. My favorite color." Dorn said adorning a gold cloak.
"You don't talk much do you?" Rarity asked as she saw the lion pick out a color that suited him in silence.
"Purple?"
"Green. Just green." Vulkan said.
"White. I demand white." Khan said.
"Anything. Just anything."
NEWSFLASH
"This going to be such a disaster!" Twilight said. "What am I going to do, what am I going to do?!"
"So... you done yet?" Solomon asked.
"Why are they all here again?" Rainbow Dash asked looking down into ghastly gorge.
"Understand, that a few of our fellow chapters scorn our relationship with Equestria. We will in the coming days, prove them wrong and let them see the error their views."
"How much longer?" The Emperor asked. Though the pain wasn't as great. It still stung. Stung like hell.
"You're jesting, right?" Someone asked as Gabriel made his announcement.
"Fools....... hopeful fools....." Gabriel said under his breath. How could they win? Could they even win? He thought about for a moment the battle they were fighting against chaos. For 10,000 years, chaos had been assaulting humanity. For 10,000 years, the Imperium has endured. But how much longer?But even in the face of hopelessness Gabriel thought. I will fight on. The Emperor may be no god after all, but I will never despair. The vile entities of the warp will be defeated, whether it be by my hand, or someone else's.
"What do you think they were talking about?" Scootaloo asked Rainbow Dash.
"And more mead! I demand more mead!" Russ said watching as any pony who worked in the brewery scrambled to oblige him. "More liquor too! And wine!"
"How much more time?" Rarity asked.
"So.... what else have we been doing wrong?" Thule asked Angelos after the entire gathering was done.
"They're going to be here any second now!" Twilight said prancing about wildly.
"My Emperor says hello!" The translator said walking down from the chariot. Here came the officials of the Holy Griffin Empire. (Why it was holy, no was really sure why... they weren't even religious....) Probably cause someone thought it sounded cooler that way......
"Eh Twilight?" Applejack asked. "You should see who had the colossal nerve to come here."
We'd probably lose all the space on the internet if details were given, so let's cut to chase. Half an hour passes by and we get about a few (thousand) people are crammed inside the ballroom of Canterlot castle. Among them are Ponies, (Crystal empire and Saddle Arabia as well), Griffins, Minotaurs, Zebras, Buffalo, Changelings (unfortunately) and of course, humans.
The seating arrangement into the ballroom had been arranged into a similar fashion as a cabaret. Tables of various shapes and sizes were arranged about with waiters and waitresses ready to take orders. There was of course, the band which would be playing. So things couldn't possibly go wrong could it?
"Nice décor...." One of the griffins said gesturing at a grey knight who was standing in the door way.
And there the primarch was. Surrounded by a bunch of creatures of various species.
"Well, he's enjoying himself." Dorn said as dined on some roasted waterfowl. Despite never cooking meat before, ponies were oddly good at making and preparing it. Odd.
"Humans. They'll kill us all when they see the chance." A minotaur said glaring at the space marines.
Author's Note
Dashid is named after Harun Al-Rashid, one of the caliphs in case anyone is wondering.
Never forgotten.
I guess we could all say overall, it was a fun night for most people. Here's a nutshell of how it went. Starting with a certain someone who became progressively more drunk as the night passed.
"A wise ruler your Emperor must be." Dashid said to Guilliman.
"So... do you kill people?" A minotaur asked Dorn who was now drawing on a napkin.
"How much better is he?" Asked one of the Custodes.
"Malcador, stop and rest."Damn it, I don't have eyelids!
"You think we will ever finish this?" Luna asked as she rested on her bed and glanced around the room. Glamorous.....
Celestia opened her eyes. She was in Equestria.
In to the woods
"Luna? Are you okay?" Celestia asked the next morning.
"What a night....." Thule said watching the night sky.... "Twilight, I think that we....."
"Well I have to say, it was a success!" Twilight said as she helped scrub some tables.To think he used to be one of us. Dorn thought.
Two days later.
"Gabriel?" Aramus asked finding the chapter master sketching on a calendar. "We got a slight problem....."
"What do you think they're doing?" Scootaloo asked watching the ten or so space marines walk through town armed to the teeth.
One year from now
"Nothing."
It would surprise many. The space marines weren't the ones to spot the movement ahead. It was the cutie mark crusaders who saw the barrel poking out of the bush aimed straight at Thule.
"Stop fighting now!" Said farseer shrieked. "What do you fools presume you're doing?"First time for everything Cyrus thought.glorious Imperium."
"One year from now, the forces of chaos will come for both, Terra and Equestria." The Emperor said psychially to the primarchs. "The tree of harmony, the elements of harmony and every last ounce of Equestria will be vital to the defeat of chaos. The tree itself can even provide protection to other planets......"
"This is bad." Arven said as he met with Gabriel. "I am afraid everything that damn witch has told us is all too true. Abaddon WILL flee cadia in one year with his forces and make war upon holy Terra itself."
"Hm...... the tree of harmony?" Solomon asked. "Now let's see here......."
"So.... one year from now, a few hundred thousand scary guys are going to come out of nowhere and invade Equestria?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Cyrus. Our chapter will need more men." Thule said to captain of the tenth company.
"So where are going to test this?" Diomedes asked looking at the chainsword tipped with the shards of harmony.
The Emperor moved his eyes around in his skull of a head and had in a long time, an actual look of his body. Broken, shattered.
Author's Note
And... Done.
The true origins of the Blood Ravens.
The true origins of the Blood Ravens.
“And let’s see now. After that, half of us were on the right side, and the other half decided chaos was the way to go. I am not going to describe the final battle to you in detail as I don’t exactly want to open that can of worms again, but let’s just say in the aftermath of the war, Sanguinius and Manus may they rest in peace both died in their duty.” Gulliman said. “And of course, the other half decided that chaos is the way to go.”
“We will have our revenge. We will taste their grief and their blood and it will be sweet.” Russ said bitterly.
“So what exactly happened to.... us?” Celestia asked.
Dorn shook his head. The other primarchs looked around each other in silence.
“It was the most courageous....... a true sign of loyalty..... and I felt it. You.... made the ultimate sacrifice. You took his place on the golden throne. In only mere hours... you died. Despite all your agony, all your pain... in one final gesture of loyalty, you ensured he would survive.” Dorn said. “I suppose as thanks, he did his best to save your soul..... but you merely ended up here.”
“You treat it as a failure...” Luna said. “Why?”
“Using perhaps the last of his power. Our father spoke to us.” Corax said. “He told those who go to set a course for Equestria.”
“He told those who couldn’t, he’d use his power to send us there.” Dorn said. “We were told to wait until someone found us. And we did. For thousands of years, we occupied ourselves with nothing more than studying all the knowledge stowed away into that temple.”
“Can you get it for us?” Luna asked.
“What’s that suppossed to mean?”
“Probably during the final battle.” Jonson said. “Most likely the next “black crusade.”
“Permit me for asking, but how exactly do you know all of this?” Gabriel asked. “It’s not like...”
“We have our ways.... which I am obviously not going to tell you.” Jonson replied. “Now that we’re done here.... I think we should see Harmony now.........”
“Eh... yes. Bring... them in.”
“Well. Is it me or.....”
“Nope.... me too.”
“Myself included....”
“Can someone....”
Celestia and Luna looked at the primarchs, someone were rolling their eyes, others had their faces buried in their hands, some were scratching their heads in confusion.
“It’s a long story...” Celestia said.
“So Harmony now decided to attach himself to six whelps in place of the man he was sent to rescue. Brilliant. Brilliant.” Jonson said.
“Hey!”
“Makes no sense....” Khan muttered.
“If that’s enough for me to finish my quest. So be it.” Russ said.
“So when do we leave for Terra?”
“Tomorrow.” Vulkan said. “I posses the means to take you there. When my job is finished, I will have to return to Equestria. I have my own orders here.”
“Can you promise to keep Equestria safe?” Celestia muttered. “I only need one element, but separating that one element will weaken the rest of the elements significantly.”
The primarchs looked at one another grimly. They all nodded.
“At once my lords.” Angelos said.
“Do you know why Abaddon targets your chapter so much?” Corax asked sitting down.
“No....”
“Nope.”
“No clue.... wait how did you...”
“We have our ways. Now then, Thule there were documents on Kronus that indicated the Blood Ravens true origins. Who is your first guess....? It’s okay, spill your guts....”
“Magnus....” Thule muttered staring at the ground. “Our chapter’s roots come in the form of a loathsome traitor.”
“Wrong.” Russ said. “Not Magnus...... if that was the case, why would Abaddon despise your chapter so much?”
“Simple. There are only two other primarchs to be psykers.”
“Harmony and Discord!” Solomon said.
“And who is the obvious choice?”
“Harmony....”
“He’s your primarch. That is why Abaddon hates your chapter so much. He feared that you would recover where your true roots laid. And once you did, he feared that you would find Equestria... and use it against him. The very stones on this planet poison chaos.... we shall use this against him.”
“Your words reassure us.” Gabriel said. “It brings joy to me that our chapter has more noble origins than what we previously thought.”
“Indeed. Now then.... while Abaddon still remains on Cadia, we can continue to poke and weaken his forces here. You know what to do. But first... recruit fifty....... ponies and take them with you...”
“Um...... what now?”
“You heard me. Do it. Report back to me when you feel chaos’ grip on the galaxy has been weakened. May fortune be with you on your mission.”
“Very well....” Angelos said a bit taken back by his new orders. A question came to him.
If the primarchs tolerated xenos...... then what was the Emperor’s opinion on them? Probably tolerated them as well. This brought Gabriel to question.
