The last black crusade

Chapters

The calm before the storm
On terra
Luna's dream. Twilight meets Dante.
Friendship is magic
24 hours
Landfall
The return of Sanguinius
10,000 years behind schedule..... but still got it done!
The Emperor's new clothes
The Emperor protects
Harmless?
A new era

The calm before the storm

In his stateroom, Abaddon got up. Time to flee Cadia and go launch a crusade against the Imperium again with his million or so chaos space marines!
Going to the bathroom. He began to brush his teeth. Nurgle always made his breath smell bad enough to kill plague marines in the morning. Luckily, Tzeentch's and Slannesh's toothpaste would be enough to drive that stench away and make his teeth smell good with a good shine.
Deciding he could use a few caffeine pills he opened the door to his medicine cabinet where he kept his pills.
And met face to face, with the barrel of a baneblade............
"CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!"
And then Abaddon woke up. Realizing it was just a dream. Though he was rather hesitant about going to the bathroom to brush his teeth and decided he could skip the caffeine pills. No telling if his archenemy Creed hid a baneblade or a payload of explosives in there.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
"Remain vigilant." Cyrus said into the vox as he watched his scouts take aim.

"Taking bets now, who thinks I can clip the wings off of that changeling?" One of his scouts said.

"If you miss, you clean my kit. If you make it, I clean yours."

"Deal!"

BLAM*

The insect-like creature fell to the ground giving screeches of pain.

"Good shot. Only thing is, you got one catch, and the rest of them got away." Cyrus said gesturing at the rest of the fleeing changelings.

"Ummmmmm............"

"Nevermind. We're done anyways." The captain of the tenth company got up with his two students. Packing up their gear, they left the screaming creature in the dust and headed on back.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

"2.78 more weeks until predicted day of Abaddon's next black crusade." Martellus said.

"Great. Are we ready?"

"By my calculations, there is a going to be a...."

"On second thought. I don't want to know." Diomedes said.
Knowledge was power and all, but sometimes, there was just things no one wanted to know. Especially if the chances of winning would be low.
Like REALLY low.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ From atop of the golden throne, the Emperor watched as Vulkan dropped off the remainder of the goods he had asked for. The final delivery was the most important.
Adamantium, Ceramite, Plasteel, Equestrian crystal and a ton of shards of harmony.
Still a top the golden throne, Vulkan wondered exactly his father would do with them, since he had him place the materials in a empty room.
On second thought, since the moment he stepped out he heard metal hitting metal, he realized he probably had an idea what he was going to do with the materials after all.

The Emperor looked at Celestia who through her concentration, could not take the time to look back. Though, she would have plenty of time to do that later.
The Emperor, after almost one year of under this, almost had no need for the cybernetics within the golden throne anymore. (Save for the fact he still has no heart....)
Over time, he gained things that he had been lost to him. His severed arm now regrew and felt even better than it's last one. Both his eyes grew back, his lost organs, and pieces of bone and flesh that had been shattered during the battle with Horus.
And of course, with his new found strength. He had once again was able to command his Imperium. It had hardly been a year, but yet he was already made many popular reforms amongst his Imperium.
He wished not to be treated like a god, yet for reasons unbeknownst to him, despite him explicitly saying that he didn't want to be treated like a god, he still was. And his rebirth now meant that Terra was even more flooded with pilgrims than it normally was.
Though, some concession did happen at this. One thousand unfortunate psykers no longer needed to be sacrificed to him now that his body could support itself, and the machines that had kept him alive for so long that were failing anyways were no longer needed.
Though as of this moment, he still lacked a heart, meaning he still required something to serve as an artificial heart when Luna and Celestia switched with one another on who got to continue repairing his body.
And now, in due time, he would be once again fit enough to rise from his throne and do what is needed. As of now, he sat back and waited as Malcador continued to restore his body.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
"It's not usually this silent." Thule remarked watching his returning brothers. "I used to hear animals all the time in the Everfree."

"Not anymore." Twilight said shaking her head. "They sense it too. They know what's coming. The entire world is quiet. It's only the calm before the storm."

"Abaddon?"

"That's his name? Yes. He's coming. Along with his army. He's coming to destroy Equestria."

"This world is easily the crown jewel of any sector it plants itself in." Thule said looking around, admiring the Equestrian landscape. "But when Abaddon comes, it will not be to paradise, for the bold soldiers of the Emperor will give him hell. Abaddon can taste his final victory. He will savor consuming this world. But we, will ensure he chokes on it."

"I hope that is the case....." Twilight said. Though she hated the idea of Equestria turning into a hellscape similar to the one Thule described about Demios during his Kronus campaign. That's the mark of chaos right there. Hopefully, the elements, the tree of harmony and the souls of every pony will keep that taint out.

"If we fail. The Emperor would not." Thule said finally. "His enemies will fall before him and his friends will rejoice once he rises. It won't matter if we all die. For the emperor protects, so then we will let none find us wanting."

Twilight wondered truly whether or not if the emperor did protect and what was the source to this zeal that all humans seem to share about their ruler. Not even Princess Celestia received things like this and she already thought she herself was a bit too well-liked for what was good for her.
But of course, she knew Thule meant every last word that came out of his mouth. He was never known to be a braggart and he always had a high sense of honor. Chances are, the good man would rather die for Equestria than see it burn.
Or rather, die for the Emperor on Equestria than see it burn.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Light years away, a countless fleet of strike cruisers and battle barges were on route to Equestria. Having met to at the rendezvous point, they were given orders by the Emperor himself. The final battle would be at Terra and Equestria. Should Equestria fall, the forces of chaos would gain much more than if Terra be destroyed in it's stead.
Now, the they prepared themselves, almost 300,000 space marines, to partake in the third largest battle in human history, and to ally themselves with aliens, something that was a rarity at the time.
Despite all their qualms ranging from xenos to leaving Terra unprotected, did a single space marine as much as object to the emperor's orders?
Not at all.
Surely with the Emperor's rebirth, with the aid of these strange creatures and with chainsword and bolter, victory was assured.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
At the eye of terror, at the maelstrom, at every single chaos bastion, the dark fleets of chaos rallied together and marched for Holy Terra and peaceful Equestria. The task was simple. Destroy Equestria and all it's people, and the dark gods will have a tighter grip on the material universe and part of Terra's defense will be shattered, then destroy Terra and kill the false emperor.
Surely with their numbers, the gifts of the dark gods and the daemons whom already had a grip on the material universe, victory was inevitable.

Not just the Imperium, but the entire galaxy held their breath to see what the outcome of this is. For the entire fate of the material universe now hangs in the balance of whether or not harmony wins against chaos.
The Emperor himself gripped the edges of his throne tightly. It wasn't just his imperium that was at stake. It was the entire galaxy. Everyone had everything to lose.
Yet...... the Emperor allowed himself a crafty grin. Everyone had everything to lose.
In this battle, the dark gods have staked on their greatest champions and most zealous devotes. It would be to the Emperor's plan. If the legions of chaos are defeated here, then the dark gods will most likely starve off.
It all depended on his space marines and Equestria now.

On terra

Luna walked around the Imperial palace, always catching many stares. She had flew above the palace before to admire the exterior and mass of it. Canterlot castle couldn't as much as hold a candle to this construct nor could the royal guard have anything on with the Custodes whom had faithfully guard this place for over 10,000 years. That kind of devotion was the thing of legend on Equestria. The type where it had only been done by her sister when she raised the sun and moon at dawn and dusk.

There was one thing in the palace that she was rather interested in. It was the long hallway just before the eternity gate where many unfurled banners were located. She watched with interest at the many symbols within the room with a curiosity of a cat to a ball of yarn. Why not take a closer look?

The first banner she had chanced upon was one which had belonged to Dorn. She hadn't moved to a distance of about eight paces when a vision overtook her.
She saw Dorn in his youth being raised by his "grandfather". She saw him first give his loyalty to the Emperor and his many moments of glory. She saw him construct the defenses of Terra and watched as he boarded a ship only to find the mortally wounded body of the Emperor and the corpses of two men Luna did not know. She watched him in his frustration with himself, his arguments with Guilliman and his final day with the rest of his kind as he battled aboard the Sword of Sacrilege. That was when the light overtook him and he was thrown into Equestria, where he first spent a thousand years of Equestrian time (Equestria at this point was still in it's own pocket universe where time flowed differently from the rest of the universe), on his quest to find the sigilite and to attempt and decipher who he may be. That was when the vision ended and Luna was back where she had been a bit surprised and confused over what happened.

Another thing interested her. She saw the symbol of the blood angels, the one of which had belonged to one of the dead men. She approached it to get a closer look, resulting in another vision.

"Horus. Stop this madness now." A human said as he approached his treacherous brother. He had wings similar to that of a pegasus. Human pegasus?
"It's not too late brother. Join me and we shall take down that false emperor and rule the galaxy for ourselves." Horus replied.
"My loyalties lie with our father. You have gone mad Horus. You know what I am here to do."
"Then die like the rest of them, Sanguinius." Horus replied attacking Sanguinius. The battle ended with a chink in Horus' armor and the swift and painful death of the winged figure. Luna, hardly caught his name, but the scream already escaped her mouth.
"SANGUINIUS!"

The vision stopped. She was once again, alone in the hall. She looked around and breathed a sigh of relief that no one had saw (or heard) her. There was one last banner that interested her. It was the mark of Malcador.

"Behold the greatest sacrifice of our age! Malcador the Sigillite is no more. Henceforth he shall always and only ever be Malcador the Hero!"
Luna watched the robed human sit upon the golden throne, clenching his teeth as the shockwaves of pain struck him, again and again. Slowly wearing him down. The Emperor gave one final bow to Malcador and left in full body armor and weaponry.
The vision once again continued when she saw the same robed man standing in an Equestrian field, speaking to a random pony. She watched him grow more and more amused when the pony spoke back. She watched as Malcador taught the pony to read and write in low gothic.
She watched when the two primarchs, Harmony and Discord landed. The problem they had with their ship which effectively marooned the trio. She watched as Harmony too, found a liking to ponykind and taught them various things that would prove useful. She watched as both Harmony and Malcador met a pregnant alicorn and regarded her with awe and respect. She watched as Discord began to experiment with dark magic which mutated his body. She watched as Harmony grew disgusted with Discord and the two fought with both hardly making it out alive. She watched as Harmony agreed to separate his soul only to have Malcador realize that he wouldn't be able to use the elements later on, so he decided to merge with the unborn child (or children since Malcador had no way of knowing) of the alicorn since it took a pony. And it needed to be a powerful user of magic as well. She watched as her mother died in childbirth and her children had no clue of their true origins. Only reaching adulthood unnaturally early, finding the tree of harmony where the elements had been placed carefully by Malcador before the process and defeating the rather mischievous Discord as opposed to the destructive and evil one which Harmony had ended up killing in their battle.
And that's when that vision ended.
So that's who she once a part of. A man whom had given his life and went through hell on earth for his loyalty to mankind and his emperor. Who even after dying once, was intent on making sure chaos never left it's mark anywhere.
He truly was a great man.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Luna had recently finished her shift once again. While casting her spell she had asked the Emperor about the moon.
"What's the moon called again?"
A chuckle escaped his lips. "Luna."
Oddly fitting for the princess of the moon to have the same name as the moon above holy terra itself.

Now, here at the Terran dawn, she watched Terra. The weary custodes who have been eternally vigilant, the throngs of pilgrims who had waited generations, all wishing to get ONE glimpse of the Emperor in his new body.
She pondered on how weary the human race truly was. Seeing how the air pollution was rather dense, she used her magic to instantly clear it.
The night on Terra had never been so beautiful. Luna made a point of arranging the constellations into a pattern that was as majestic as possible. (She did not actually move the stars, rather used her magic to make an illusion.)

Gasps of surprise echoed throughout the Imperial palace as the legions of people went to get a glimpse at the dark sacred night. The beautiful moon that was still there. Even the ever-vigilant custodes allowed themselves just a millisecond of a peek. For this was something that couldn't be missed. Had he been able to, perhaps even the Emperor would have looked upon the beauty of the Terran dawn, and admired it himself.

Luna made sure dawn looked just as good. Though for now, she returned to the palace, lest she miss breakfast. Though many people would just for the sake of watching the Terran dawn.
The new Terran dawn.
The dawn of the Emperor's rebirth. And with that, the dawn of a new golden age for not just mankind, but the entire galaxy, and all who wished to be apart of it.

Luna's dream. Twilight meets Dante.

Luna allowed herself a nap. About four more hours until her shift. Silently, she slipped into dreamland again. The very reason she slept less often now.
In her dream, she saw countless astartes, daemons and ponies battle in a massive valley. A familiar one at that. The crystal empire was still in sight.
She saw this dream from a bird eye's view, unable to say anything, but witnessing and hearing it all.
For some reason, she knew every name of every combatant. From Kaldor Draigo to Marneus Calgar to Dante, from Ulkair to Skarband to Fateweaver.
Shifting her view, away from the massive battle in the valley, she watched the crystal empire only to find that it too, was under siege from chaos.
She watched as hundreds of astartes hold the line against chaos space marines, watched as Draigo dueled M'kachan in one of it's plazas, watched as Dante desperately attempt to push Skarband away from the crystal heart, watched as Temperus Maximus fought Kharn in the crystal palace and Tia?
She watched her sister fight her way through it's streets, past countless daemons and chaos space marines, right into a mass of loyalists. They were staring grimly at some smoke.
In that smoke, a blue glowing blade flashed, she saw her sister charge headlong at the blade.
And that was when her dream ended.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

"Your tur.... are you alright?" Celestia asked as Luna entered the room.
"Fine. Fine." Luna said as she began to cast her spell. "Go take a break or something...."
Celestia shrugged and left. Luna was careful not to make eye-contact with her during this time. But it was certainly not possible to avoid eye-contact with the man she was healing................
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The Emperor frowned to himself as he took a peek at what Luna was thinking about. Luna didn't exactly notice since he wasn't exactly Mr. Happy-go-lucky-guy-who-likes-to-smile.
The Emperor only let out a silent sigh as he thought about Luna as a person and her past. He too, readied for the final battle. He had already prepared for the worst.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Twilight? There's someone you should meet." Gabriel said. "The first wave of the Emperor's legions have arrived."
"Already? Well, what are we waiting for?" Rainbow Dash asked as she waved Twilight over. "C'mon! I can't miss meeting even more humans!"
Angelos did his best to remain emotionless.

"My name is Dante. I presume you are Twilight.. are you not?" The Blood Angels chapter master said introducing himself. He did cut a regal figure.... though that mask he wore gave many a pony (and space marine) an uneasy feeling.
"Yes..." Twilight said staring at the mask. It creeped her out to no end. Dante under his mask, smiled. He always felt rather amused when ANYONE showed visible signs of uneasiness or apprehension over his mask.
"And of course...... we have more men.... in high orbit of course. When the fight begins, we shall unleash the wrath of Sanguinius upon our enemies." Dante said proudly. "We have about 40,000 battle brothers. Ready under my command." (Most chapter masters either were reasonably convinced or "persuaded" that Dante should lead any successors of the original legion.)
40,000? That's twicethe entire armed forces of Equestria! Twilight thought.
"And don't forget about the Iron Hands cha..... representative." Dante said. "Though he wasn't too keen on coming here. I suspect their numbers are slightly.... maybe two, three thousand under ours."
87,000 humans? This fight should be easy..... unless chaos has more. Oh good heaven, please make it so chaos doesn't have more men.
"I do believe everyone else is on the way." Dante replied. "Can you believe it? The Emperor himself ordered about 600,000 space marines to be here in Equestria. Never would have expected so many brothers in one place." "Especially considering the fact they were defending the home world of some random aliens. Aliens that the Emperor seems to have a liking to. Meh, if they do have a connection to the Emperor than maybe their worth keeping around. Their gifts do put them on.... better terms with most battle brothers than the average alien, myself included." (This part, Dante said over the vox to Angelos.)
"Oh, and Gabriel, I thought you nearly were killed. Wounds like that don't go away in an instant do they?"
"They did with Equestrian magic. Any other day, I would have tore the place down ranting about witches. My friend Thule received a similar treatment. He is now once again no longer detained within his dreadnought. Nearly dead, and yet in her endless compassion for almost all beings, Twilight had dragged him from the jaws of death to once again serve the Emperor."
"Nice. Nice." Dante said nodding. "I will remain here for now. When the traitors come, our chapters will show them the wrath of the Emperor."
"Praise the Emperor. Let none find us wanting."
"Indeed brother. Indeed."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Mr. Dante, may I have a question?" Twilight asked watching the astartes take a look around in ponyville.
"Speak your mind." Dante replied.
"How old are you?"
"Odd question." (Not odd at all actually.) "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I heard space marines... aren't like other humans and live a long time...... and I heard that the Emperor is older than Princess Celestia, and that the humans called the primarchs are also older.."
"Wel..."
"He's like 10,000 years old too." A blood angels scout joked. "Right sire?"
"Shut up." Dante replied. "Didn't your elders have tell you it's not polite to ask someone their age."
"Especially when he's like as old as the Emperor?!" The scout once again fired up. "C'mon, don't feel bad, you can share about the time when you shook hands with the Emperor."
"No I did..."
"See he did!"
"Shouldn't you be somewhere? We have about 3 more weeks. I want everyone to be ready. Go."
"We should fortify this place up. One place in particular though." Twilight said. "It's the most important part of the Emperor's plan!"
"How did you know about his plan?" Dante snapped.
"He...... he... told me...." Twilight said a bit nervous at the sudden menacing tone Dante spoke in.
"Oh. Okay then. I agree. I suppose the Iron hands wouldn't mind lending some men for the job."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Elsewhere, the vile forces of chaos launched their massive fleets to attack both, holy Terra and Equestria.
ETA of both planets?
Approximately 3 weeks.
3 more weeks for the Emperor to finish up healing, and for his primarchs to fortify the last of Terra.
And 3 more weeks for the hundreds of thousands astartes to prepare on Equestria.

Author's Note

Joking about the age the chapter master of one of my favorite chapters.
lol

Friendship is magic

[10 days before estimated arrival time of Abaddon the Despoiler.]
"600,000 astartes have arrived at the planet currently known as Equestria. They are as of now in orbit, awaiting orders. What will they be sire?" The custodes asked the Emperor.
"Remain in orbit until the arrival of the despoiler and his forces." The Emperor said. "When the legions of chaos arrive, I want every available astartes to be down there."
"What if Abaddon attempts to destroy the planet?"
"He can't. It's impossible as a matter of fact." The Emperor said. "The magical shield surrounding the planet is a rather powerful one at that. We couldn't break through that barrier with all the cyclonic torpedoes in the entire universe as far as I know. The shield is powered by just one powerful magical artifact."

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Mephiston looked at the crystal heart. Stared into it just as Tigurius had looked inside the Tyrannid hive mind. Where the Tyrannid hive mind had however caused Tigurius great pain, the crystal heart soothed the Blood Angels librarian filling him with senses of love and hope. The crystal heart was like a living being with a mind of it's own. It extended it's warm tender touch to all. The feelings of hatred and pain slowly crept out of the Lord Of Death's mind until he fell into a state of where it was like listening to the Emperor speak.
That's when he noticed something.
The Emperor WAS speaking to him. Whispering to him.
"Guard this artifact. Let it protect you, and with your chapter master, you will protect it."
Looking around, Mephiston soon realized Dante had heard the voice too. Along with any space marine within "earshot."
"He has spoken his will brother." Dante said. "We will follow."
"So shall we."

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
"These are the elements of harmony, and these are their bearers milord." Arven said to Draigo as he presented to him the six equines all wearing elements.
"It's truly an honor to see there are beings out there who have battled chaos for longer than myself. To think one's existence spells woe for the dark gods. There is no greater blessing than that." Draigo said to the mane six.
"And I bet there's nothing more AWESOME than going around in chaos' own playground and...." Dashie's mouth without a warning closed on it's own, seemingly against her will.
Draigo evidently, doesn't exactly like hearing about the time he spent trapped in the warp. He may not fall to the corruption or the blades of daemons, but there are things he'd rather not hear.
"The dark forces of chaos arrive in 10 days. We'll need your support." Twilight said.
"As we will need yours." Draigo replied drawing his weapon in a salute. "It will be an honor to fight alongside you."
Any other space marine listening to Draigo's words would be astounded at how easily he took everything. Then again, the Emperor had fished him out of the warp and given him orders personally. So probably, it shouldn't be a surprise that Draigo seemed WILLING to fight alongside aliens.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"I hope you truly are what the Emperor expects you to be." Azrael said to Cypher as they stood in front of the tree of harmony.
"You have my word."
"You may have the Emperor and the primarch's trust, they may tolerate you, but I do not." Azrael spat out. "Prove to be you are no heretic, no traitor, and you will gain my trust, and what these aliens call, friendship."
"Glad to see you're always up for making more friends." Cypher said. "You know what this place is?"
"They call this place the tree of harmony. To Equestria and it's dwellers it is the most..... how should I saw this..... holy place on the planet. Wrong word considering they are mostly irreligious, but it will still suffice. This place also contains properties of magic. Had I not been enlightened from the Emperor, I would have burned the alien witches with their tree. Now then. Do you know what's the one thing that is strengthening every warrior of the Emperor this very moment except for him who we dedicate our service to?"
"This tree?"
"Yes. You know what I mean."
Azrael stalked off. Glad to be out of the presence of the fallen. Hell, the Emperor may like him and think him redeemed and the same went for Jonson who got his blade back, but for Azrael, it'd take more than just a few soft words and fixing a lost blade if Cypher wanted his trust.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Dorn looked up into the skies.
Ten days until his treacherous brethren return. He had a score to settle. This time, he was intent on being with his father for every moment.
Jonson polished off his blade and contemplated. He won't be caught napping this time. Pity the man who falls upon his wrath.
Khan nodded to Russ. They were going to battle through this together. Brother was not going to have to leave brother in this battle over the sake of one another. They will do this together, and they will destroy the traitors.
Guilliman readied his weapons. He had many scores to settle. The daemon primarchs would be right to fear him.
Vulkan watched as most of the civilian population quickly fled Terra or were conscripted for the coming siege. He made it his point that the same fate would not befall them as his salamanders during the Horus Hersey.
Corax readied the defenses and prepared for battle. He will be redeemed this battle.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
In equestrian, everything grew silent. The laughter and hustle and bustle that once filled the planet was gone. With a silent and dreading anticipation of the thing all ponies loathed. War.
And now, from the most fragile trust of the most zealous chapters to a proud Equestrians, and from the blooming friendship of the blood ravens to ponykind, it would all depend on them.
If Equestria will teach humanity anything in the coming day, it will be one thing.
Friendship, is magic.

24 hours

"The enemy has come to our door. Abaddon can almost taste his victory. We shall make this his last meal."
"The Emperor has ordered us to defend Equestria at all costs. Will we return to him beaten and battered with our duty unfulfilled?"
"I say not. I say we make Abaddon rue the day he ever decided to set foot on his planet."
"Our fleet may not provide fire for us. That matters not. Equestria will give aid to it's defenders."
"Chapter masters, honored captains and fabled champions all stand by with us. Let their valor help guide our fire into the hearts and minds of the enemy!"
"The primarchs are with us! The Emperor is with us! Let the Emperor provide us with strength and purpose, and let Equestria provide us with support."
"Abaddon has come for our blood. But he will only drown in his own!"
______________________________________________________________________________________________
48 hours before estimated arrival of Abaddon the Despoiler.
Before over a thousand humans. Chapter masters, captains etc. Twilight gave her presentation. It was rather unnerving to stand before a thousand armored bodies all of whom could snap a pony in half with little effort. All of whom were too eager to spill blood. They may wish to spill bad blood, but killing as usual was abhorred in Equestria as a whole no matter who is the recipient.
"So.... this is Equestria." Twilight said using her magic to amplify her voice getting everyone's attention. Any other day, most space marines would be ranting and raving about witches and pulling out bolters in a flash. Thankfully, the Emperor's word would quench any thirst for pony blood.
"You see, the most important area in Equestria as of now is the Crystal Empire." Twilight pointed to the majestic city made from Equestrian crystal. Many of it's properties would boggle the minds of librarians and tech-marines for ages to come.
"Now in the crystal empire, lays two entities. One of them, is the crystal heart. The other, is Princess Cadence."
"The crystal heart provides a shield for not just the crystal empire but for all of Equestria AND Terra. In short we are going to have to make sure the armies of chaos don't get a hold of it."
"Princess Cadence with the power of her magic, powers the crystal heart. Without her, the crystal heart is powerless, but at the same time, Cadence has no such protection spells at her disposal."
"The tree of harmony here provides yet another protection from chaos. It's magical properties will weaken and kill the forces of chaos. It's unlikely they will want to land anywhere near there. So in short, the place that chaos will make landfall is where the magic is at it's weakest. In the dwelling places of the nightmare forces."
"We all know what the elements of harmony do, so let's skip that."
"Abaddon is here to kill all of us. Every pony, every loyalist, everything. We cannot fail. If we win, chaos will be nothing but a bad memory. I hope we may all be there on the day when chaos is nothing but an old tale of legend. I have one request now. Will you defend Equestria?"
She was answered with the deafening roar of warcries and promises.
The legions of the Emperor will be here.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
"Defend xenos. This is fucking absurd." Someone said over the vox as the space marines readied themselves.
"The Emperor orders it." Some older battle brother replied. "If aliens are not unclean in the eyes of the Emperor, then they are not in mine."
"I agree."
"Aye."
"He is our lord. What he says goes."
"Did someone forget to you that he doesn't want to be referred to as a god? Let me fill you in."
"Another sign that he is. Modesty. Now then, he deems aliens fit to alongside us. What do you say?"
"No."
"Someone throw this guy to the inquisition."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
24 hours before the arrival of Abaddon.
Twilight gasped in awe aboard the Litany of Fury. She had been on it once.... but now, she was allowed a better tour of the ship. It was amazing how humans managed to build floating cities in space. A civilization with a history of 50,000 years huh? A race with a history of even more.
"I am glad you chose to join us." Solomon said as he returned from the area where the raven's kept their artifacts. "I want you to have this."
"A spellbook?"
"Yes. It'll come useful in the coming siege. I see a great pysker in every member of your race. I see a navigator, an astropath, everything. Hell, your people can make plants grow just by tapping on dirt and make chaos want to keep a distance. I envy you."
"Thanks?"
"Come on down. We'll miss dinner." Solomon said.
"Dinner?"
"Yes. It's a feast by standards of most humans. Though Gabriel insisted we all eat extra heartily today."
"Why?"
"For many of us, this will be our last meal. Tomorrow. Many us will dine on the right side of the Emperor. Bless everyone."
Twilight was beginning to feel uneasy at Solomon's statement.
"Will we win?"
"I don't know. I don't know."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
The Emperor could almost feel his heart growing. He breathed a sigh of relief to know that 1,000 unlucky souls no longer needed to be given to him so he had to live. He watched as now Celestia took her shift.
"Will Equestria survive?" Celestia asked him with all the deep concern of a loving monarch.
"I am sure it will." The Emperor said. "I am sure it will."
"Thank you." Celestia said as she continued her efforts.
"You may be in a different body and with a different mind, but you haven't changed a bit all this time." The Emperor said. "I merely wish for you to remain with me long after we've been finished. Again."
"You know I can't just leave Equestria to stay here. As much as I like Terra."
In truth, Celestia actually hated Terra. She hated the pollution, she hated the corrupt men and women who would let nothing stop their thirst for power. She hated it all. She wished it would be better.
"I know you want Terra to be better. To be a shining star it once was. That's why I ask you to remain. Equestria is already a picnic to walk through compared to here." The Emperor replied. He glanced down for a moment. "Though, if you don't want to, I suppose I can't stop you. I've asked too much favors from you in the last 10,000 years. You died twice for me and the betterment of the galaxy."
"I am willing to die a third time then in that case." Celestia replied. "Luna would be too."
"Stay alive." The Emperor replied. "Far too many people have given their lives for me. Why? Because I am some god? I don't even know."
"I doubt I can promise that from what's to come." Celestia said. She knew she too would have to help defend Terra. AND Equestria.
The Emperor sighed. He hoped Celestia and Luna would both remain with him. He missed Malcador. His closest friend.
His only friend.

Landfall

In high orbit above Equestria, the forces of the imperium and the forces of chaos had begun their battle. Abaddon watched from his flagship as his countless army began to make landfall upon Equestria. He grinned wolfishly to himself. A good portion of the traitor legions had

Twilight watched as the mob of beserkers attempted to lay siege to the crystal empire. Chainaxes roared, grenades were flung and bolter rounds flew as the mad men yearned to spill blood. They only got about a few meters in front of the city before the shield stopped them. They were promptly torn apart by the bolter fire from the space marines on the wall. Right after that, she saw yet another mob attempt to breach the shield ending in failure. This happened about a few times over. Though it showed that the forces of chaos aren't going to breach the crystal empire any time soon, it did leave Twilight wondering one thing.
How numerous was their army?
It only took one glance for her at the massive army of chaos space marines for Twilight to be filled with doubt.

"The fight goes well." Mephiston said to Dante over the vox. "The traitors won't be breaching this city any time soon."
"Understood. We are engaging the heretics on multiple fronts. All battle-brothers report the fight is going in our favor."
"The Emperor is with us afterall. So are the primarchs. Our enemies don't have a prayer."

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
"Squad broken!"
"Damnation! We need support!"
"They....are....too strong!"
"The lapdogs of the false emperor are upon us!"
"This cannot be!"
"Retreat! Retreat!"

From orbit, Abaddon eavesdropped on the vox. To make a long story short, his men were making a mess of the things. He had watched, observed and listened to the battle. His men (those who didn't go off to do their own thing that is) had attempted to lay at least twelve major offensives on the crystal empire, all of them ending in utter failure. His first wave of servants had failed him.
Time for plan B.
Abaddon turned to the tyrant of Sarora.
"Go. Take them with you as well."
The slanneshi chaos lord grinned with malicious pleasure and turned to go to the planet's surface. This would be fun.

"Chaos dogs! You can run, but you can't hide!"
"After them!"
From her vantage point. Rainbow Dash watched as yet another band of chaos space marines were ripped apart by bolter fire and chainswords. She gave a slight yarn.
"Was more awesome the first time." She murmured to herself. She decided maybe she would nap above all the bloodshed below. It was getting a bit old now, that the good guys were kicking evil's flank.

"Hello brothers......... welcome to the feast......which one of you would like to be the first course?"
Rainbow Dash immediately turned around to see who had spoken. She had hardly moved her head when she heard the screams.
From her point, she watched as a REALLY demented-looking person stood above a pile of corpses laughing manically.
"Oh... my gosh....."
She was out of the cloud in ten seconds flat, to the crystal empire to alert the chapter masters of this new foe.

"Your lord seeks my help? What do I get in return for my services?"
"Life."
"Doubtful. Are you aware of who I am whelp? That fool Ygethmor is a dim-wit compared to my knowledge. Your master needs me. And he of all people should know my services don't come cheap. Now then, tell me what I get out of this. If not, then tell Abaddon I have no interest in his petty wars."
"Fine. We'll help you to find the key to the black library. You better please the despoiler."
"It will be my pleasure to aid him if he would be half as generous." Ahriman replied gripping his staff. He promptly teleported down to the planet below.
Korda nodded with approval. He was due for the planet too.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

"Lucius, here? On Equestria?" Calgar asked.
"Who the hell else meets that description or is half as fucked up?" The messenger replied. "This is bad. Abaddon isn't holding back."
"Calgar! More news!" A mail pony ran in. "Another wave of chaos just made landfall."
"No problem. We'll take care of that."
"That's not important though. The man leading them is called....."
"Called...."
"Typhus."
"Sweet Emperor........."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Kharn roared with laughter over the din of battle as he decapitated yet another slave of the corpse-emperor. He looked down to see a fleeing pony.
Pathetic creature. Unworthy. Kharn thought as he pointed his pistol at a rushing assault marine. He sent the bolt straight between his eyes as he turned around to go and look for more victims.
The slaves of the false emperor kept rushing at him, all wishing to get the kill, and this only pleased Khorne more. It didn't matter who died. It just mattered someone got killed.
Kharn though this as he watched one of his world eaters get torn apart by a hailstorm of bolter fire.
"Come slaves of the false emperor! Who will offer their blood to Khorne?"

______________________________________________________________________________________________
Fluttershy hid behind a crate as she watched the berserker kill the loyalist manically screaming for more blood.
"I know you're there alien........" The berserker said in a more calm tone. "Come out. Offer your blood to the blood god."
Fluttershy curled into a ball as she heard the berserk space marine went into a raging frenzy to try and find her.
"WHERE ARE YOU?! COME OUT! COME OUT NOW!"
The rage and the yelling lasted for about a good two minutes which felt like two hours to Fluttershy. After more waiting and silence, she gave a sigh of relief and chanced a look.
To her horror, she was grabbed roughly by her neck and brought face to face with a blood-covered astartes. She tried hiding behind her mane instead of face those horrible eyes... yet they stared into her, burned into her soul. She tried to escape, only to find that even if she managed to, it'd still be futile. She was surrounded by them. World eaters as they were called.
"I found you....." He said giving a wicked smile. Taking his axe, he brought it close to her. Fluttershy could only give a small scream.
Her small scream was drowned out by a larger one. Two larger ones actually. She was promptly dropped and got a good view of it all.
The world eater had a massive blade through his chest. He was then lifted up and was broken in half. His assailant was another space marine. A big man for as far as more astartes went. He had a cigar and a pair of shades Rainbow Dash certainly would approve of.
The newcomer picked up the dead world eater's leg and held it like a club.
"My name... is Temperus Maxiumus. And I fucking hate all you."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Cyrus took out his detonation key and pulled the trigger. He gave a slight chuckle of amusement at the sounds of the screams as body parts went flying from the explosion. His victory was short-lived, as it wasn't long before he heard the sounds of a predator tank.
"Chaos armor!"
The tank's main gun turned to the building they were hiding behind. It was then when Cyrus and his two scouts decided to run, the building materials of Equestria would provide little protection.
"Tarkus! I need your help!"
"On my way. Hold on!"
The missiles flew like a swarm of angry bees, all hitting the predator. The tank was almost flipped upside down at the resulting explosion.
"Nice shot! Ready up, we got more incoming!"
"On it. Let's go Cyrus, today will be a day of glory for the Emperor."
"Then let none find us wanting!"
The two squads regrouped, and went straight for the nearest battle.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ "Incoming!"
The space marines on the walls all made gestures with their hands at the mob of approaching chaos space marines.
"Fire at will!"
The whirlwind missiles and heavy bolters ripped through the air and landed all over the hundreds of approaching chaos space marines, tearing them apart.
"More approaching!"
Twilight gave another gasp of horror. Not at the numbers of chaos but at how many bodies lay at the walls.
"They're not retreating? But they lost so many of their men!"
"It doesn't matter Twilight." Dante said. "Abaddon is a ruthless leader. He doesn't care how much of his men die. He'll keep on sending them."
"But the guys who faced a year ag...."
"Surprisingly, these are the type of traitors whom I prefer to face. Some chaos lords know the value of their men. Abaddon doesn't. Another barrage!"
______________________________________________________________________________________________

The Emperor gripped his throne so tightly the point where he made a dent with his fingers. He listened to the sounds of the slaughter from his throne room. Listened to his sons bark out orders to the Imperial guard, space marines and the custodes.
"Will this place hold?" Luna asked over the din of battle.
"It will. It will. Whether or not they hold is a better question."
He wasn't worried about the abilities of his men. Oh no. Definitely not at his hour. He was more worried of the ability of their men.
He had felt it.
The daemon primarchs were here.
That was bad news.
Perhaps the one thing that was worse than Abaddon.

Celestia's horn glowed golden once again as she sent the power of the sun straight at a chaos battleship. The entire construct was vaporized the moment the beam made contact with it's prow. Nothing was mightier than the power of the stars save for perhaps the gods themselves.
Celestia watched as Corax sent a night lord hurtling to his demise. They were winning.
She believed that last part for about as long as it took her to get a glimpse of Angron.

The return of Sanguinius

Angron. Greatest champion of Khorne. Right here. In front of her.
Celestia looked upon the monster for only a few moments, and that was enough for her to be overwhelmed by disgust. She hated how this.... this thing reveled in bloodshed and how it laughed and laughed every time it killed. She hated to as much as look upon it. It was unclean.

Celestia had always been known to be a kind and compassionate ruler, alway managing to hope for the best for anyone. Though even she couldn't help but feel disgusted as Angron tore apart a squad of guardsmen in seconds and how he enjoyed the massacre, laughing maniacally at the slaughter he carried out.
It took a while, and by a while, I mean three seconds for Angron to cut his way through the entire contingent of guardsmen before he turned his attention to the white alicorn.
"Ah..... Celestia.... do you know me? I certainly know you....."
"Yes Angron. I do know you. And frankly, I wish I didn't. Leave from here." The last phrase of words carried a menacing undertone that even the greatest champion of the blood-god couldn't help but approve of.
"You do not scare me witch." Angron replied. "You are weak like the rest of your kind. Though you have courage. Something the rest of your kind lacks."
"And you are treasonous and dishonorable like the rest of yours. You only revel in bloodshed. You have no courage. No honor, nothing. You are nothing. You are just a stain on this galaxy." Celestia replied readying herself for trouble.
"You dare insult my honor? Come, offer your blood to the blood god."
"Gladly. Though your master will drink from yours."
Celestia leapt down from her vantage point to face the Daemon prince. Angron was amused. He held his axe in mock-salute and charged forward with a roar.

Celestia fired various bolts at the daemon prince all glancing off with little effect. Moving quickly, she side-stepped as Angron hit a wall still raging beyond reason.
The monster turned around and gave a chuckle as Celestia now ran at him. This was great. Did this alien truly think she would win?
Angron laughed inwardly as he let Celestia charge him even giving him an opening. He soon regretted that.

Angron had thought Celestia intent on impaling him with her long horn. He was wrong. Instead with his defense down, Celestia had swung one of her wings at him.
Only then did Angron realize that each feather was as sharp and sturdy as even his own axe as he received a massive slash on his face.
"Now this is a fight!" Angron replied as he took his axe and sent it down on Celestia. To his surprise, Celestia blocked his axe with her horn keeping the axeblade in midair before forcing Angron back.
Angron was astonished to say the least. He had expected this to be a easy fight. Looks like he was wrong. His bravado quickly diminished as Celestia once again continued her fierce attack forcing even him back.

"Impressive. But not good enough!" Angron replied sending a blow that knocked Celestia off her feet. She regained her balance in just a few seconds wiping blood off her brow.
"Don't waste your energy. I'll deal with this fiend." Jonson said as he waved Celestia off. The primarch of the dark angels drew his blade that was returned to him just a year ago. He was eager to test it.
"Jonson? The lion seeks to fight me? Very well then."
"Leave Celestia. You are aware what happens if are to die. I'll send this fiend to hell."
For not one second, did Celestia doubt the word of the lion.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Emperor sat on his throne watching as Celestia once again returned. He gave a small sigh of relief. Turning to his primarchs he gave his orders.
"Your fallen brothers are here. Only you may defeat them. Go now! May fortune aid you in your battle."
The primarchs all nodded and armed themselves leaving to confront their treacherous kin.
"Quickly, both of you! It's not just Terra that's at stake, but the entire galaxy. The sooner you get me off this thing, the better!"
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Ahriman stood at the site of where the magic of harmony was at it's weakest. He gave a small sigh of relief when he found out most of his powers still functioned at this spot. Behind him, stood a few cultists, his own personal entourage and a few hand-picked chaos space marines.
"Begin the ritual."
The cultists began the blasphemous rites. While this Ahriman crooked a finger at the world eater whom walked forward.
Ahriman gave a malicious grin.
"Come forth, Skarband!"
The world eater was lifted off his feet and into the air surrounded by unholy energies, his body exploded in a shower of blood, and the massive form of Skarband came forth.
"What do you want sorcerer?"
"I promised you blood old great one. It is here. But as you know, there is one thing that stops you."
"Yes....."
"Destroy it and there will be more than enough blood to please even you."
"Do not presume to command me. But I will go. For now."
The great bloodthirster took off with his wings and flew for the crystal empire. Ahriman allowed himself another chuckle as he readied his next attempt to summon another daemon.
M'kachan.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Another barrage. Fire!" Dante said as he saw the missiles rain down upon the incoming traitors. It scattered them to a degree, though did little to dent their ranks.
"Dante! We are getting reports from our brothers. Canterlot too is under siege."
"No matter! What matters is here and........." Dante paused mid-sentence.
"Milord?! What's wrong?"
"That is what's wrong."

The blood angel captain looked up to see the titanic form of Skarband approaching.
"Sweet Emperor......."
"That's not even the worst of it." A grey knight said. "I felt it. M'kachan is here too."
He didn't really need to say that. The great daemon of Tzeentch had shown his face already.

Skarband raised his mighty blade, and sent his axe straight at the shield. With one mighty blow, he punched a hole into it.
In orbit, Abaddon watched. All was going according to plan.
The forces of chaos that were laying siege on the city began to pour through the gap, attempting to scale the walls of the crystal empire. The shield however quickly began to repair the hole. That was where M'kachan came in. The lord of change stepped forth and held up his hand, leaving the hole open with his magic.

Skarband however was in the shield. Spreading his wings, he flew over the wall to wreck havoc within the city. He had one objective.
Destroy the crystal heart.

"Incoming!"
Cadence from her point watched in horror at the approaching monster. It looked like the things from where nightmares were made. Shining Armor stood next to her. His eyes were intent.
"Where are you going?!" Cadence asked as her husband put on his wargear.
"To do what I must."
The unicorn left, and ran unto the streets. He will stop the daemon.

"Retreat! Retreat!" Dante roared over the vox. The various space marines quickly fell back out of the warpath of the bloodthirster as it picked up a whirlwind and threw it at the crystal palace.
The palace itself was probably indestructible by standards of most weapons. Though the same couldn't be said for the vehicle or it's crew.
Dante with his jump pack, plunged headlong in the way of Skarband finding himself next to Shining Armor.
"He's coming...."

"Don't just run like a bunch of scared conscripts, assist them!" Mephiston said as he fired psyker lightning at the bloodthirster. Being a bloodthirster, Skarband was hardly affected by magic and shrugged off the attacks.
Quickly, Mephiston had heavy bolters and lascannons on vantage points.
Dante and Shining Armor would need all the support they could get.

"They're going to overrun the city at this rate!" Someone said as another group of chaos raptors leapt over the walls.
"Don't let them get to the gate!" Draigo screamed as he tore up another traitor. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the daemon M'kachan hold up the shield from closing.
He knew what needed to be done.
"Come with me." Draigo said to the closest group of brothers. They leapt over the walls and made their way through the thousands of heretics.
"Kill M'kachan."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
"How long are we going to have to remain here?!" Scootaloo asked. "I am bored!"
"Me too!"
"Me three!"
Cyrus long stopped paying attention. He was more worried about the artillery barrage. He glanced grimly at Tarkus who said nothing.
"You know... what would happen if this place was to collapse?"
"We'd be dead." Cyrus replied grimly. "It's nice and all how this place is on a mountain but...."
"We'd only be sitting ducks if they could bombard us. Which they can't." Tarkus replied watching a lightning cloud sent a bolt down at a chaos whirlwind. Those things weren't common. Thank the Emperor they weren't.
"Okay, so in the worst case scenario, we could hide in the......"
The explosion rocked the room where they were in. Sending the cutie mark crusaders bursting out of the room as the two space marines hit the ground.
They obviously weren't watching where they were going. Nor could they pay attention too much.
Because as the floor collapsed, they fell straight into the mines. The hole was buried as fast as it had been cracked open. The only things remaining intact was a pair of dazed astartes.
"Hell.... where's Azrael?" Cyrus asked as he licked his wounds. "I want Cypher."
"Let's go. Stand here and we're dead."
They didn't happen to hear the screams..........
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Rainbow Dash hid herself amongst the vegetation, watching the armies of chaos make their moves. She remembered every detail that may be important. Calgar and the others would need it.
That human... Lucius as they called him was probably the most disgusting thing she ever heard of.
Okay, Typhus was probably worse but...... he was the sickest.... no wait, wrong choice of words.
"Why not let me go in down there and kick their flanks?" She said to herself as she took another peek.
She didn't happen to notice the massive figure sneaking up on..................
"What th..."
She was quickly dragged into the forest with a hand covering her mouth.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Shining Armor watched from behind a broken fence. Skarband had hardly swatted him and he was sent flying, his most potent of spells hardly scratching the daemon.
Everything depended on Dante now as Shining found himself unable to move. He had broken a leg and would be unable to move without support.

Dante fared hardly better. His armor was a few steps from failing and the damage he inflicted on Skarband was only moderate at best.
"Pathetic." Skarband replied as he felt the lascannon hit him in the back. Picking up a dead space marine, he flung the corpse at the man with the lascannon sending him falling off his vantage point.
Dante was losing. He knew it took. He grew desperate. He watched as Mephiston ran over to help him. He watched as Davian Thule ran from the battlements, all the way here to fire a heavy bolter at the daemon.
His friends were growing desperate too.
Skarband was about to reach the crystal heart.
Mustering the last of his strength, Shining Armor sent a massive beam at Skarband. The attack shattered the armor on the bloodthirster's back.
The daemon turned around. Even as he was rained upon by bolter rounds, fire and melta weapons.
"Quick, hit him!"
Dante picked himself up.
Was he just talking to him?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Time went to a standstill. Dante using his jump pack, hit Skarband in the back.
The force of the blow was great. It sent the both of them flying at super high speeds into a house.
It was harder than Adamantium..........
The snap was audible to the point it would wake the dead.
Dante allowed himself a quick smile as he saw Skarband lose his grip on the material universe. His smile quickly turned to a frown when he saw the shape of another bloodthirster approach.
Ka'bandha.
He tried to get up to deal with this menace. But he couldn't.
I have failed..... you.... Dante thought as he attempted to crawl toward the bloodthirster, firing rounds from a bolter dropped.
It did nothing.
He watched in horror as the bloodthirster knocked away his brothers like ninepins and approached the heart.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Ka'bandha gave a malicious smile as he took a look at the crystal heart. He raised his axe to destroy the thing.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
That was not to be.
It came from the skies. A massive beam of light straight at the bloodthrister.
Sanguinor!
The daemon stood no chance. It was blind-sidded from above and it was turned into little more than daemonic pancake from the blow by sanguinor.
No. Not sanguinor.
Sanguinius?
That was on the mind of every marine that had any relation to the blood angels when they saw the face of the newcomer.

10,000 years behind schedule..... but still got it done!

[2 hours ago]
"Silence. Whatever you do, be quiet!" The newcomer said said as he clasped his hands over Rainbow Dash. While firm, he made sure to be gentle. Gentle enough so that he wouldn't accidently smother the equine.
As soon as they were at a safe distance. The human loosened his grip and allowed Rainbow Dash to speak. He dropped not all-the-more gently on the ground.
"Who the buck are....... whoa...... are you a pegasus?!" Rainbow Dash asked. She didn't know humans had wings. Some humans used magic, and other humans used technology to fly but natural wings? That's a new one.
"Listen to me!" The human said doing his best not to raise his voice.
"What? Why?" Rainbow Dash asked. Something was wrong. This newcomer seemed to know something she didn't.
"There are daemons here. Great daemons. They are the harbingers of death and doom. Listen. Go to the place known as Canterlot and..."
"How do you kn...."
"Shhhh.... listen. Anyways, go to Canterlot. Are you aware of the place known as the crystal caves?"
"Yes."
"Go there. Take this with you." The human took out a strange-looking device and handed it to Rainbow Dash. "Go there. Someone will pick it up."
"Whoa whoa whoa, and how do I know you're not a spy?!"
"Trust me. Please do it. The fate of everything rests in that machine. Do not stop for anything. I cannot deliver it myself. My people are in danger and I must aid them. I have to aid them. You can take it there. Now go!"
Rainbow Dash hesitated for one moment, then beat her wings and made her way to canterlot.

[Now]
"Is that....... the Sanguinor?!"
"No. That's Sanguinius!" Dante said. He was never more sure of anything in his entire life.
"My brethren, there is no time. Our companions still need aid!" The newcomer said. "To me!"
No one as much as hesitated. Even chapters with no connections to the blood angels followed the newcomer.
This man was surely a primarch.

M'Kachen hit Draigo with all his power like a storm. Draigo hit him back.
Despite the heavy assault he was under, Draigo allowed himself a triumphant smile. M'Kachen had to stop using his magic that made the gap in the shield. Now, it just depended on him to kill the daemon. His comrades were doing all in their power to distract the others.
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Rainbow Dash arrived at Canterlot only to find the entire city with their heads down.
"They're going to level this place!"
"Stay indoors! Emperor Damn it! No... what the fu...."
"Look out! Fire!"
The Canterlot fire teams were already working overtime. From the constant artillery barrage this wasn't going well.
"Damn it Cyrus, I am not going down there! You have to do something about it!"
"I can't. I will NOT send greenhorns to die like...."
"Hey.... guys! Did anyone see Scootaloo and the others?"
"Not now! I am more worried if we don't have the.. DUCK!"
Rainbow Dash quickly ran out of the way of the artillery as Tarkus and Cyrus continued their arguing. She was on her own.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Girls? I can't see."
"Neither can I."
"Here, let me........ ah! There we go!"
Sweetie Belle's horn gave off a small amount of light. Suffice for them to see a small area ahead.
"Here we go! Now we can just....... get........out....of....here........."
The trio looked up. The "exit" if you could even call it that was blocked from rubble. They were trapped.
"Looks like we're gonna have to find a different way out."
"Hey look on the bright side, we can earn our cutie marks!"
"Cutie mark crusaders! Cave explorers!"

[About ten minutes later]
"Are we lost?"
"Ummm.....no"

[About twenty minutes later]
"Okay we're lost."
"What no we're not. I got the way out and...."
"We passed that rock about eight times by now."
"Oh no........"

[About half an hour later.]
"I give up." Scootaloo said. "We're gonna be trapped here. Forever! This is terrible!"
"Ah think it may be worse....."
"How can this possibly for worse?!"
"Well....."
The loud footsteps came right on cue.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Dante was half astonished. He had the gates opened and all that stood was Draigo. Covered in blood. Not one of his companions still stood with him. All dead.
"The daemon lies dead." Draigo said painfully gesturing at the crushed head of M'kachen. "And so does many of our brothers."
There may have been as much as two hundred space marines that had gone out with Draigo to battle the hordes of chaos. They were all dead and now, in plain site was another black legion of chaos approaching.
"There seems to be no end to heresy in this galaxy!" Draigo said pounding the ground angrily. "We will kill them. We will kill them all!"
"Calm yourself son of Titan." Sanguinius said. "Anger and frustration will not solve anything. As of now, we must muster our defenses."
"Sanguinius? It is an honor to meet your, great one." Draigo said getting a grip on reality once again. "It seems a primarch can rise from the dead."
"In no small effort from the Emperor." Sanguinius replied. "Details are not important however. We must defend this city to the last man if necessary. Dante, send me more men."
"At once milord."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
The screaming lasted about ten minutes straight.
[Awkward pause.]
"Okay now that we're do...."
[More screaming.]
"Anyways...."
[Even more screaming.]
"You took one helluva fall." The newcomer said shaking his head. "Will you shut up and stop acting like I am going to eat you or something?"
"You're not?"
Facepalm*
"Okay, I am not going to eat you. By any chance, did you meet anyone who looks like me but with wings?"
"No... why?"
"Nevermind. Come on, get up. We're not safe here. This cavern isn't stable."

"My name is Applebloom." Applebloom said introducing herself. "These are my friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. We're the cutie mark crusaders!"
"Crusaders? You don't look like the fighting type to me."
"Fighting? We don't do any fighting. Unless maybe we can earn our cutie marks in fighting! Anyways.... you're human right?"
"Yes. I am."
"So what's your cu...special talent?"
"I like to build things. Like that!"
The human with strangely shiny arms pointed at a large device. It looked like a massive door frame without the door. It took a while for the cutie mark crusaders to grasp it.
"it" happened to be the fact that this human's hands were made of steel.
STEEL.
"Uh mister?"
"What?"
"What's your name?"
"Ferrus Manus."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
The gates opened, and Draigo limped inside, his armor covered with blood. Not sure if it was his, his comrade's or his enemy's. It didn't even matter at this point.
M'kachen was dead. Slain personally by the chapter master of the Grey knights. It had been a hard battle, but Draigo emerged triumphant, though he wasn't without his losses.
About 200 astartes had accompanied him to kill M'kachen and perhaps over a thousand chaos space marines. None of them were still alive. What was worse was that right behind him, still in visible sight was an army of thousands upon thousands of chaos space marines.
"We're being hit on all fronts. Reports of greater daemons have been now confirmed. Our forces are pinned down."
"The situation in space?"
"The chaos fleets are no match for us, but neither fleets may support their ground forces and it's the battle for this planet that matters. We still have reserve compani...."
"Deploy them. Now."
"At once."
"This will be a hard fight." Sanguinius said looking at the legions of chaos. He hoped Rainbow Dash would get the delivery to Manus.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Aw buck." Rainbow Dash said as she cut herself on a crystal. "Why the buck can't they just teleport this to each other or something?"

Elsewhere, while Rainbow fumbled in the caves.
"You sleep here?"
"I wasn't exactly to enjoy the comforts of life." Manus said. A certain stone slab served as Manus' table, bed and chair all at the same time. The latter two he wasn't going to be using in that fashion too much anyways.
"I built that by the way." Manus said pointing at the doorframe. "Don't touch it."
"Yes.... but can we help?"
"A bit late for that. But.... I have a feeling I know someone who can."
Reaching into the shadows, Ferrus grabbed a hold of something which gave a grunt and dragged it in. It was blue and was flopping around like a wet fish. It was Rainbow Dash.
"You got the last piece?"
"What the bu... leggo of me!"
"Certainly." The primarch dropped Rainbow Dash who gingerly rubbed her neck. "Yeah, now some human with wings gave me this. And next time, don't do that or I'll kick your flank!"
And then Rainbow Dash, with hooves mind you, took out the device Sanguinius had given her and HANDED it to Ferrus Manus who looked rather bewildered.
I am not even going to ask.
Taking the last piece, he placed it into the doorframe and listened to the hum. Grabbing a thunderhammer he smashed open his "bed" and took out another interesting looking machine.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"I got bad news." Cyrus said to everyone else over the vox. "Our reserve forces made landfall..... only their surrounded by the forces of chaos."
"Can you help them?"
"No. Tarkus and I have been trapped in this city for hours. We set foot outside and we get buried in ordinance."
"Can anyone else?"
"I am afraid not. Something tells me the despoiler planned for this. Our men are being engaged on all fronts and are effectively pinned down on all fronts. There is no one to go and help those who are trapped."
"Where are they trapped?"
"In a massive valley under constant barrage. They have been surrounded and are unlikely to make it out without support. Someone has to......"
"Captain! I have news."
"Not now sco...."
"It's urgent!"
"Fine, what is it?"
"Abaddon has made landfall.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Come slaves of the false-emperor!" Abaddon said as he despoiled yet another loyalist. "Come to your deaths."
The loyalists had their backs to a figurative wall as they found themselves fighting for their lives. This was all planned. Daemons and great champions of chaos were placed here just to intercept and kill them.
Sanguinius watched in horror as the armies of chaos began to wreck havoc amongst his brethren. There may have been over 60,000 loyalist astartes there!
"All units, follow my lead!" The angel said as his forces gathered around him. A pitiful force compared to the armies of chaos. "We will smash a hole in them! Attack!"
He hadn't moved about a few dozen paces when yet another chaos company assaulted them too. They as well were pinned down, unable to assist their brothers who were being slaughtered.

Abaddon laughed to himself. He had the upper hand. Turning around and cutting a path through the loyalist ranks, he made his way for the crystal empire.
Good. Sanguinius wasn't here. That'd be one thorn out of his side. He was still surprised at how the Primarch was here. No matter.

From a top of the crystal empire walls, Twilight watched Abaddon approach. She signaled to Thule the approaching chaos warmaster.

Thule turned pale as snow for a moment, but his faith overpowered any doubt. He waved over his comrades and they rained down heavy bolter fire upon Abaddon.
They may as well as been spitting at the despoiler, for he hardly even flinched. Taking his sword, with one blow he cut a hole in the shield.
He gave Ygethmor the signal.
The sorcerer lord sent down hundreds of chaos space marines and himself included and gathered around the gate as heavy bolter fire pounded the traitors.
With one mighty blow, Abaddon destroyed the gate.
He contemplated on whether or not he should personally destroy the crystal heart.
Nah.
Turning around Abaddon left to go partake in the massacre as his Lord deceiver entered the city along with his personal entourage.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Celestia felt it.
Saw it to.
She saw as the hundreds of chaos space marines pour into the crystal empire and begin to overrun it's defenders. She turned to Luna.
"Can you finish the spell?"
"I can. What is it? Are deamons upon us?"
"They are upon the crystal empire! You know of it's importance. I ask you now, are you sure."
"Yes. Tia. What will you do?"
"Vulkan can send me to Equestria. I must help to defend it."
"Bu..."
"No buts. I am counting on you Luna!"
And the princess of the sun was off. The Emperor could only watch from his throne as she went out to find Vulkan.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
"An alien witch wishes to stop me? Priceless!" Ygethmor said to himself. "You've lost alien! Accept it and I'll see to it your end is painless!"
"I haven't lost yet!" Twilight retorted sending a magical bolt at the sorcerer. It splashed off his armor, yet evidently caused him pain.
"Then you will die slowly and with great pain." The sorcerer held up his hand and lightning poured forth intent on smiting Twilight who held her ground.
Aside from this many loyalists and heretics battled each other within the empire.
It was then within the height of the melee that something magical happened.
The sovereign princess of the sun herself appeared. Straight out of nowhere. Her very arrival shook the earth sending chaos space marines flying in all directions.
It was then Twilight had taken her opportunity and sent a powerful blast straight at the face of Ygethmor decapitating him instantly.
"Princess Celestia!"
"Twilight! There is no time, we must defeat Abaddon. Hurry!"
"At once Princess!"
"Everyone, follow my lead. Your people need aid!"
Despite the discomfort of many space marines that they were aiding (and now taking orders) from an alien, they got right to it. They all followed Celestia to the site of the battle.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Ahriman had long left daemon summoning to his entourage. He watched with amusement as the loyalists were being cut to pieces. He watched as Abaddon took a position by him.
"Is my work not satisfactory my lord?"
"It indeed is sorcerer."
"I hope my reward will be as good."
"It will be. But come, it seems my lord deceiver has failed me. As a token of my generosity, I give you the power that was once his."
"Your kindness does you credit. I accept so long as this gives me entrance to the black library."
"It will. Now then, I sense someone approaching."
"Well, look at that."

It was Princess Celestia approaching. With her angel-like wings, she soared over the battlefield sending the golden tears of the sun down at the enemy. Many chaos space marines met their end, vaporized to the point where hardly dust remained.

Ahriman grinned.
"The princess of sun? A worthy challenge."
The ever-so arrogant greatest champion of Tzeentch stepped forward. He crooked a finger to challenge the princess of the sun. This would be his last mistake.
With the power of the greatest psyker known to man at her back, Princess Celestia sent the full-power of her magic at Ahriman.
Tzeentch was a great sorcerer. But the power of harmony, Malcador and the sun itself made it that even HE couldn't protect his favored champion.
Ahriman's position as Lord deceiver was a short-lived one as his body and soul was destroyed by the power of Celestia. Not even a husk remained.

Abaddon was astonished. Ahriman didn't even stand a chance against that. He readied himself as a hailstorm of bolts struck him.
The dark gods protected him, but he felt every single one, he felt a chink of his armor being melted and he felt the heat scorch his skin.
This puny witch thought she could best him?
Not a chance.
With a roar, Abaddon launched himself forward, every jolt of pain from Celestia. He watched as a grey knight, Arven joined to aid her.
He grinned. This would be a triumphant day for him.

Celestia launched herself forward along with Arven, her horn glowed a bright gold and her wings shared the glow. She would kill this devil and that would end it all.

They both struck each other. Abaddon with the talon of Horus and Celestia with her horn. In the end however, a large white shape fell into the bottom of the valley.
"PRINCESS CELESTIA!" Sanguinius screamed. Surprise, pain and guilt struck him. "No. Not you too!"
"Arven too...." Dante said. "Emperor preserve both of them."
"There is no more time to lose." Gabriel said arriving with the 1st company of the Blood Ravens. "We have sat idly as our companions died. No more. We kill Abaddon."
"I agree." Azrael said arriving on the scene. "The space wolves do too."
"For the Emperor?" Thule asked rhetorically arriving too late.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!"
"FOR THE IMPERIUM!"
"FOR HUMANITY!"
"FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN!'
"FOR THE GALAXY. FOR ALL WHO SUFFER UNDER CHAOS!"
"FOR A BETTER TOMMORROW! FOR THE EMPEROR'S VISION!"
"FOR CELESTIA! CHARGE! KILL ABBADDON."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"And done!" Manus said. "Now then, I would like you three to do a favor for me."
The primarch leaned over and whispered to the cutie mark crusaders.

"Done...." Luna said. "But..... you can't get up!"
"Oh I can." The Emperor replied. "In just a second."
From under his throne, a massive gateway opened. And in strode...... the cutie mark crusaders?
"What the fu....."
"No, let them be. You know what to do children?"
"Yeah!"
A hidden compartment on the throne opened up, and ate the device the cutie mark crusaders carried.
And with that, the Emperor rose. Tearing off all the life support systems, the empty room's door opened and his wargear flew out, landing perfectly on where he needed them.
From underneath his helmet, he smiled.
"We go to Equestria! It needs our aid!"
The cutie mark crusaders had never seen a more majestic being. Not even Princess Celestia and Luna held a candle to him.
It was time now.

The Emperor's new clothes

Sanguinius stared at the ground. Celestia was dead. He had failed.
He had heard the Emperor tell him to ensure to keep that half of Malcador's soul alive.
He had failed.
He had listened to the importance, of her. The knowledge and wisdom that would be valuable to the Emperor.
He had failed.
And now, there was one thing left to do. To kill Abaddon.
Even that he couldn't do. His father disallowed him to engage the warmaster of chaos, fearing for his life. Why didn't Celestia at least receive a warning from Abaddon's power?!
Sanguinius once again realized. This was his fault. He should have at least told Celestia the true power of the despoiler.
He had failed.
He watched only as those who could, battled their way through the ranks of chaos.
He hoped for their best.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Azrael tore off the head of the chaos space marine and flung it into the ranks of the enemy. It was strange really. He hardly even knew Celestia, even had some hidden contempts for the alien monarch and witch. Yet he couldn't help but feel sorrow gnawing at his heart and burning rage within. Abaddon will pay for this.
"Attack brothers! For tomorrow we die!"

Calgar led his men. Faithful, courageous and honorable cutting a path into the heart of chaos. With their brothers at their side, they struck terror into even the most beserk of the servants of the dark gods.
"The warrior who acted our of honor could never fail! We will not either!"

Dante clove his way past the countless chaos space marines flanked by his honor guard. He was intent on destroying chaos as he had done for the past millennia. When Celestia had been struck by the talon of Horus, he felt it too. He felt the same thing every other blood angel felt. Abaddon dies.
"No one who died in his service dies in vain!"

Gabriel was amongst the first to lead the charge tearing far ahead of even the White Scars and Ravenguard elements amongst their ranks.
"I FEEL NO FEAR FOR I AM FEAR INCARNATE."

Thule stood back with his heavy bolter. He uttered a small prayer to himself.
"The Emperor protects, let none find us wanting."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Nothing made Tarkus and Cyrus more relieved in the world when they saw the random explosion of all chaos artillery positions.
Ehh? What?
They would of went off to investigate, had it not been the fact they saw a Custodes.
Wait what?!
"Custodes?! Here?!" Cyrus asked. "Then that could only mean....."
"He's hear." Tarkus whispered. "Among us."
The Emperor walked in plain sight within the ruined streets of Canterlot flanked by Luna and his personal band of custodes, the various astartes in Canterlot watched their god walk through the streets amongst them. Stopping to aid a trapped pony.
"My Emperor! I stand before you. I await judgement and retribution for any of my sins." Tarkus said throwing himself at the Emperor's feet. Cyrus soon followed, bowing so low he almost hit the ground.
"There is no need. I do not wish to be referred to as a god."
(Sure he made that edict about a year ago yet no one seemed to take it seriously until he said it himself.)
"As you wish." Cyrus said. "Milord, what have we done to earn your grace?"
"Everything. Cyrus. Everything. Come now, Abaddon is here. We come to finish the fight. We go now. Manus!"
"Right here."
"We go to aid our trapped brethren. We shall not falter."
"No. We will not." Luna said.
Cyrus and Tarkus both didn't have the hearts to tell Luna what had happened over the vox.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Abaddon waved his forces off. He was surprised at how so few men were able to punch a hole in his forces to allow the loyalists to gain an advantage.
To be fair, he hadn't exactly planned for about three companies of terminators, at least a dozen chapter masters and a single alien psyker with powers that outclassed even the best one to his knowledge.

Twilight could only watch as the forces of chaos fell back. She shook her head wondering how many members of the royal guard were remaining and how many astartes had died.
She listened to as Sanguinius and various chapter masters and captains discuss their next step.
Chaos had pinned down pretty much everyone except for this rather large army. The only problem was..... chaos outnumbered them. Four to one.
With most of their brothers pinned down, with the fleet in orbit unable to provide any support, an with a massive army of chaos that numbered almost 250,000 not too far off in the distance.
Needless to say, the situation was bad.
Fortunately, scouts had located and destroyed the site of Ahriman's dark sorcery. It was great relief that chaos would be deprived of reinforcements.
Unfortunately, reports of many great daemons of chaos have already been sighted. Emperor help them now.

"Understand that if you seek to destroy that chaos army, I am forbidden from engaging the despoiler." Sanguinius told everyone, much to Twilight and everyone else's dismay. Sanguinius was the only person would could defeat the chaos warmaster that was with them. Unless another primarch decides to show up, Abaddon would continue to be a grave threat.
"What do we do then? Our brothers have their hands tied, our fleets are cannot provide us with fire support, the imperial guard is defending Terra and reinforcements may be weeks away, what is there left?!"
"Do not doubt the Emperor. He will give us victory."
"I don't doubt the Emperor at all. But I am doubt we can win this battle, badly outnumbered and the only man who is capable of destroying our most powerful foe may not engage him."
"Who said we had to win THIS battle?" Twilight asked.
"Silence wit..."
"Show some respect."
"Listen, I am not from where you're from, but from what I've seen, you have some of the best soldiers in the galaxy here right with you! Draigo, the man who had braved the playground of the dark gods themselves! Dante, the man who with a little help saved the day just recently! Gabriel and Thule, they were there to kill a daemon that could have been as powerful as Abaddon! Azrael, I saw you lead just a few hundred men to save several thousand people. What's to stop you? There just a lot of ordinary mad men. But....."
"But....."
"They lack conviction. Your fighting for your emperor are you not? They are only fighting for.... well, some are fighting just for the sake of fighting, they can't win. They don't even want to win deep down. That's why we'll come out on top. Come on, there's no time to lose. We can't let chaos lick their wounds and get back on their feet."
"And a purple alien becomes the savior of the hour." Azrael muttered underneath his breath. "Come on then. We kill Abaddon and avenge the sigilite.
"Then we go. But we should rest first.... just in case...."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The Emperor looked up. Luna could tell from his frown that something was wrong. He began to mutter and remained silent once again.
"My friends, I must depart as of now."
"WHAT?!"
"I will return. My orders are simple. At the outskirts of the crystal empire lie many of your brothers. Assist them. I will join you at the final battle. Until then......."
The Emperor disappeared in a flash.
"And we were just getting to the good part." Luna said underneath her breath. "Come on! Follow me. I know the way."

The Emperor protects

"Did you do this?" Tarkus asked taking a look at the entire devastated ranks of chaos artillery.
"No." The custodes replied. "We came from the underground area known as the crystal caves."
"I did this." A voice said emerging from the ground. It took everyone about three seconds to figure out who this newcomer was judging from his hands.
"Ferrus Manus?"
"Indeed. My friend. Indeed." The primarch replied. "I have returned from the grave to participate in the final battle."
"Resurrection? Humans posses that kind of magic?!" Luna asked raising an eyebrow.
"Only one man is capable of such feats." Cyrus said. "The Emperor. Bless us to have been in his presence. Even if only momentarily."
"That's someone Twilight will want to study from." Luna said to herself. "So.... are we really going to change the tide of battle with only a few hundred souls?"
"Never underestimate the custodes or the astartes. Once the siege on Terra is repelled, more of our brothers will join us. Until then."
"Got it." Luna said. "I have gotten many reports that your brothers are in need. Shall we assist them?"
"At once." Tarkus said. "The traitors have pinned down our forces for a long time. Time we turned the tide of this battle."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Draigo sent the chaos space marine screaming into the warp as he tore him asunder. No one could withstand the wrath or the chapter master of the grey knights.
If only everyone else fared just as well.
The numbers were beginning to make a difference. Despite their conviction , despite the fact that many chaos space marines were weakened by the magic of harmony, it was beginning to show that chaos would win with their greater numbers.
Twilight could only watch as one of the members of the royal guard was ripped apart by raptors, she could only watch as a burning space marine lunged into a massive mob of chaos space marines, detonating an entire belt worth of grenades right into the mob.
She was tied down too by her own battle. She abhorred murder while the forces of chaos seemed to revel in it. Taking her horn, she fired another magical blast which impaled another chaos space marine.
That madman. Kharn.
Kharn charged through the masses of the loyalists and tore them apart, it was unknown how many of them died by his hand alone. As of now, the greatest human champion of khorne battled the great wolf, Logan Grimnar.

Twilight moved a bit too slowly on one of them and she received a bloody gash on her forehead sending her back. She survived thanks to Sanguinius who flattened the offender with nothing but his feet. The angel was covered in blood, he had slew more champions of chaos than the rest of his army combined, yet it hardly seemed to make a difference.
"Up and at them my warriors!" Sanguinius roared over the din of battle. "Onward!"
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Abaddon laughed with vile glee as he saw the angel being pushed back. It had taken about a few thousand warriors to do so, but it had been done. The primarch was beginning to falter, his attacks were becoming clumsy and losing focus. To think the great man known as the angel would meet his end twice.
"The slaves of the false emperor have lost." Abaddon said. "The galaxy will burn now."
"You first fiend!"
"What th...."
The magical blast sent Abaddon flying into a group of his own warriors in a fashion most undignified for the warmaster of chaos.
"Who dares to attack me?!"
"I dare!" Luna said landing on the ground, kicking up enough to dust to smother a lesser man. "Now die vile beast!"
Her horn glowed a bright silver as a massive beam of the same color once again hit Abaddon.
And that's the second time today his armor would receive a good crack.
"Kill that witch!"
It took a while, but Luna was eventually forced back by Abaddon's bringers of despair. Only when Luna jumped back did Abaddon realize something.
There was now a massive army of loyalists coming from the rear.
OH...... so that's why the other guys weren't answering on the vox.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Gabriel almost laughed out of joy when the last chaos space marine had finally been routed. The armies of chaos took a heavy beating in the last few hours, their numbers were almost cut in half. Now this was a fair fight.
Ferrus Manus greeted his brother Sanguinius. The two would take charge of the next battle. Luna would lead with them. Speaking of which.............
"Where's my sister Twilight?"
"Huh?"
"Where's my sister?"
"Oh yeah...... um....."
"Come on, spit it out! I bet Tia is still off giving those dastardly humans another beating!"
"Luna. I have bad news."
"What?"
"Celestia is no longer with us......................"
______________________________________________________________________________________________
The news was devastating for the princess of the moon. She wept silently, mourning for her loss. They weren't even able to recover a body to mourn over. They couldn't have. If Drach'nyen had cut her flesh, than there'd be nothing to save her. Not even the Emperor.
Manus watched, for the first time perhaps pitying any absence of strength. He would have to give it once again. He knew the feeling. His Iron Hands had missed him for 10,000 years with nothing but empty air to grieve over. He walked over to Luna placing a metal hand over her shoulder.
"Be strong. The despoiler took the life of your sister. He dies tomorrow. I promise you." Manus said.
Luna gave no reply. Just silence and more bitter tears.
"Be strong." Manus said again. "What would she do had she been in your position?"
"She would do what needed to be done." Luna said. Celestia knew what she would do. She already done it. Luna didn't feel she had what it takes. It'd take more than some warlord with metal hands to convince her.
"You may not feel you have what it takes. You do. I heard your story Luna. You managed to stay 1,000 years without even as much as company. You are strong. Stronger perhaps. I suspect when the time comes, you will avenge your sister. I leave you tonight.... but before I do, I ask you to be the man you once were. Celestia has proven she is still the same man after 10,000 years. Can you do the same?"
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"DEATH TO ABBADON! DEATH TO THE TRAITORS! DEATH THE ENEMIES OF THE EMPEROR!"
"FOR THE EMPEROR! FOR ALL OF MANKIND! FOR THE GALAXY!"
"FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN. FOR HARMONY. FOR CELESTIA."
"FOR OUR PRIMARCHS! FOR OUR BROTHERS! FOR OUR ALLIES AND FOR THOSE WE CHERISH. PURGE THE ENEMY."

The traitors were caught with their pants down on this one. The disorganized ranks of chaos had once again been plagued with a certain spirit of disharmony while their former brothers hammered them with the might of the Emperor. The planet too unleashed her wrath as lightning bolts rained down upon them.

And Kharn loved it.
Kharn almost felt like laughing as he picked up a loyalist and ripped him in half with bare hands. He wondered if he could get his hands red from the blood of the two primarchs. Now there's some fitting opponents for him!
He was then barred from his slaughter by a certain man. Rivals.
Kharn's rage began to once again pile up. This man thought himself as his superior. This man with a cigar and a pair of awesome shades.
"It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum." Maximus taking out a pack. "And I got a lot of kick ass and bubblegum."
"You will make a fine offering to khorne." Kharn said. He hated Maximus, this man was like him. Too much like him, only he served the corpse-emperor. Yet at the same time, he felt respect for him. Now he could show Khorne why HE was the greatest champion at his god's disposal.

"OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH OHMYGOSH. Hey squirt, let's watch them!" Rainbow Dash said watching the two engage in mortal combat. She loved Maximus shades.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Abaddon stepped down from his place. It was time to spearhead his black crusade. Drawing his fell sword, he felled many slaves of the corpse emperor. One thing barred his way in the end however.
Luna.

The princess of the sun reminded Twilight awfully a lot of the human primarchs. She wore a dark blue armor that looked strangely human in design and a large helmet similar to that of Nightmare Moon's.

"Death marked you the day you come here demon." Luna said. "I'll kill you here and now."
"A challenge? Your only a shadow of your sister and you seek to challenge me? Her death was swift, regret the fact you won't share the same fate."
Abaddon fired various bolts from his lightning claws, they bounced off of the shield Luna made. Nothing he didn't expect.
The despoiler charged forward, intent on cleaving the princess of the moon in half with his blade. He was surprised to have his blow deflected by an ebon blade.
Forged from the moon stones themselves, the sword of Luna was a potent weapon. The princess of the moon dug that out from the castle.
The fact that Drach'nyen was deflected astonished the despoiler. Then again, this was Equestria where he was at a "disadvantage". No matter.
The dark blue blade moved fast held in air by Luna's horn raining down furious blows at the despoiler whom parried and blocked. Beads of sweat dripped down his face.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Lucius was having a great time. He had already mutated into at least three different bodies and was feasting upon the lapdogs of the emperor.
He had just eaten his last meal.

"To the left..... steady!" Cyrus said as Fluttershy aimed his sniper rifle with... hooves.
"Oh please don't make me pull the...."
"JUST SHOOT THE GOD DAMN THING."
The bullet was shot, sent straight through the battle and into the skull of Lucius. Fluttershy could only cover her eyes not wishing to witness what she had done.
Cyrus laughed maliciously. Finally the soul stealer would plague them no longer.

"Ewww you smell funny!" Pinkie Pie said to Typhus as the plague marine tried to hit her with his manreaper which missed every single time.
"Here eat a cupcake!" The baker threw a cupcake at the plague marine only succeeding in pissing him off.
"You mock me?! I will rot you away worm!"
"That's not nice! And you smell still! Here try some perfume!"
Pinkie Pie sprayed the stuff all over the plague marine whom sputtered and coughed in disgust.
They say that's highly flammable................................

And that's exactly what Maximus thought too. He spat his cigar out on Typhus while returning to deal with Kharn.
The plague marine went up in flames, the disease destroyed by the flames. Perhaps having rotted armor wasn't such a good thing after all? Especially with all that.... [Things best not described] all over it. Seeing another idea, the angry marine moved over to the burning corpse, seizing the body and hoping he wouldn't catch a case of super aids, he flung the smelly baggage straight at Kharn, slime and ooze splattering all over him.

By the time Kharn would get the things out of his eyes, he was staring at the barrel of Maximus' bolter.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Luna panted as she once again rained down blows at the despoiler, one misstep and she was knocked off her hooves by the talon of Horus, sent flying back into the dirt, armor shattered.
"Weak!" Abaddon spat out he moved closer readying himself for the things he'll enjoy doing. He grinned wolfishly.
"Away Luna! I'll deal with this fiend."
Luna gave a gasp. Not because it was the Emperor who spoke.
But because of who stood right next to him.
"Tia?"

Harmless?

"Tia!"
In front of everyone. Yes literally everyone. Luna embraced her sister and wept tears of joy. The Emperor nodded to a man in the crowd who had white hood on.
"I may or may not have had anything to do with this." Cypher said.
"You done well. That's all." The Emperor replied. "Abaddon. I give you one chance. Surrender, and all I ask of you is to never show your face in this galaxy ever again."
"He isn't like other humans." Celestia whispered. "If he were..."
"The choice would probably be death or death." Luna giggled.
"The false-emperor gives me mercy? You truly are weak false emperor of mankind! I will not bend knee to you!"

Twilight was in awe of The Emperor. His armor was a shining, no glowing gold and the blade in his hands gave off a flame that changed color to match the elements of harmony that they were built off of. His helmet made him look like one of those seen in the old castle of Celestia and Luna. In his left hand he carried his sword, in his right a massive hand of claws.
"Abaddon. It's not too late. Your wrongs can still be forgiven. Lay down your arms and cease your madness to chaos."
"I will not! I will kill you right here to show that I do not take orders from anyone!"
The warmaster of chaos launched himself at the Emperor of mankind who only smiled mirthlessly.

Abaddon was no Horus. Powerful? Indeed. As powerful as one of his primarchs? Perhaps. But as powerful as a god? Certainly never.
Had the Emperor tried in his battle with Horus, Horus would have lost in a quick one-sided battle. Abaddon was no Horus nor was he as powerful.

Abaddon swung Drach'nyen at the Emperor who easily parried. That's the second time the fell blade would be proven as not the most potent weapon in this galaxy.
The Emperor sent a kick at the despoiler which knocked him back.

"Is that foam on his mouth?" Luna asked.
Sure enough, the warmaster of chaos had begun to foam around the mouth. He once again sent a flurry of blows at The Emperor who blocked and defended with ease.
He wasn't even trying.

"Do not toy with me!" Abaddon roared as he brought the Talon of Horus down on the Emperor. The Emperor caught the claw in midair with his own and tightened his grip.

In one move so fast that not even the despoiler saw until the pain hit him, The Emperor tore off his arm sending him screaming back.

But Abaddon wasn't quite finished yet. The despoiler once again got his footing. To his surprise, the Emperor tossed his own sword away.
"You mock me like this?!" The despoiler in his mindless rage sent the blade crashing down, intent on splitting The Emperor's skull in two. The unthinkable happened.

The Emperor caught the blade in midair. Caught the blade in midair. CAUGHT DRACH'NYEN IN MIDAIR and plucked the fell sword from Abaddon's grasp. Taking it by the handle, The Emperor severed Abaddon's other arm and brought the blade above his head, and broke it over his knee.
He had just bent the most terrible entity to his will, and broken it as if it was a match stick. He truly was a god.

Abaddon was ignoring the pain in his body now as he stumbled back, armless (or should I saw, HARMLESS?!).
"What are you?!"
"The Emperor. That is all." The man said as he picked the despoiler up by the neck.
"I still do not fear you. Or bend knee to you." Abaddon said spitting in the god's face. "Throw me to your dogs."
"As you wish."

Turning around, The Emperor flung the broken body of the despoiler straight into the men behind him. They gleefully ripped the body apart, savoring the despoiler's scream. However it wasn't easy to kill the one with the mark of chaos from every god, yet it was oddly satisfying to cause him such pain. That was the sickening part to Twilight. Unable to bear it, she fired a magical beam at Abaddon's heart.
Only to realize, he had two.

An act of mercy had now just caused him more pain as the despoiler howled in pain while the astartes still attempted to mutilate him as he was still alive. To Twilight's shock, The Emperor didn't do anything about it. Just turned his back on the torture.

It took a while, but she was able to get her second shot. This time killing Abaddon. Even then, it didn't do much to stop a squabble over who got to keep Abaddon's head. Said argument ended with Thule severing Abaddon's head and presenting it to the Emperor who calmly refused to have such a foul thing be on his standard.

The Emperor turned to the army of chaos.
"Surrender, and I promise you will keep your lives."
The response was the same. They truly were lost. The Emperor with a heavy heart ordered the purge of the forces of chaos. With the Emperor on their side, the resulting event wasn't a battle but a massacre. The armies of chaos were smashed.

__________________________________________________________________________________________
"This is the tree of harmony." Celestia said. "It was what had kept chaos from summoning TOO much daemons and had weakened them. See this stream here? That's the thing that kept me alive despite my injuries. In no small part for Cypher."
"Can you feel it everyone? The love it gives to all living beings? The warmness? The tender embrace like a mother to her newborn? It loves all beings. It created the elements of harmony from my son's soul and was the work bench of Malcador."
But who planted the tree?
A combined effort from the Emperor, Isha and some more benign beings in the warp. (Yes, those exist.)

"Look! The tree! It's blossoming!" Someone said. Sure enough flowers began to grow. The petals soon fell off and began to fly.... (Um what?)
"Like I said, it loves all beings." The Emperor said watching as a two petals landed on the eyes of a dead space marine until it covered him. Similar things were happening to every dead astartes on the entire planet. When all the dead had been covered in the pink petals, a massive yet gentle gust of wind blew them all off. All that was left was a light pink rose. Growing, blossoming, glowing.
The dead will be remembered. Their final deeds will shine as brightly as the rose left behind.

And that one thing, made Equestria holy to every last astartes in the Imperium.

A new era

Twilight walked through the earth. This had once been farmland. Now, it was a barren wasteland littered with groaning and screaming corpses and the stench of the dead.
Yet in this hellscape, behind all the ruined war machines of humanity, behind the rotting corpses, behind the bones there lay a rose. Many roses actually.
There were no bodies to be recovered from this campaign. Every burial site of the dead yielded a blossoming rose, light pink in color, yet glowing. Those who weren't buried were covered with petals until their corpses hid from sight, then utterly vanished, returning as a rose.

The roses spoke. Whispering.
"Arven...... arven....."
"Cato....Cato......"
"Druwin.... Druwin..."
The names of every last astartes who had fought for harmony, for the Emperor and for the galaxy would be forever remembered. Their names would last as long as the immortal rose that whispered their names.
In this blasted hellscape, life once again gave a new in the form of hope. Hope was the first step to life. A better life. A better future.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
The Emperor sat in his throne-room. The golden throne was long unneeded merely a ceremonial trinket that the Emperor used. It was a reminder.
The Emperor waved a man clad in white power armor and with a white hood. Whispering into his ear, the man nodded and vanished in a puff of smoke.
The Emperor smiled to himself. Cypher was easily making out to be an excellent messenger. Whatever powers he had, not even the Emperor cared to know, just to make best use of it. The man had requested to be the personal messenger and voice of the Emperor. After his noble actions over the course of 10,000 years, The Emperor granted his wish.

As Cypher departed, The Emperor turned his head out the window to watch the massive building that was a human webway gate. Recently constructed. Took a long time.
Like three hours. Manus really was sleeping on this job.

Cypher returned about a second after he departed and gave his news. The reports were in from Cadia. The eye of terror was indeed shrinking and the grip the dark gods have over the material universe was slipping. Chaos had lost. Perhaps forever.

While The Emperor mused about his next plan, Sanguinius sat on the cloud over orbit. Twilight's potion had done it's job quite well and he too was able to reside and lounge on the water vapor in the skies, even build things out them. He watched curiously as Pegasi worked at a weather factory that cleaned the Terran atmosphere. He watched as a rain cloud deposited water onto the earth.
Just momentarily did an earth pony tap the earth. A small sprout emerged once again. Terra would soon be green like it was in the days gone by. Free of pollution and taint.

The Emperor had personally appointed and removed officials. Unscrupulous, power hungry and mad as some may be they certainly wouldn't dare to oppose the word of The Emperor. He watched as his new officials went to work, brains racking to help improve the Imperium.

Celestia and Luna were among them. Their wings had been covered with the Emperor's Aquila. This was the new sign that the sigilite (sigilites) now beared. Their ideals of tolerance, peace and love would be spread across the Imperium to replace the hatred and warfare that plagued it for so long.

Equestria's moon had now been built upon. A fortress monastery for the space marines that wished never to leave Equestria. Whether it was out of bond for their deceased comrades, sentimentality or wish to remain on the planet it didn't matter. They stayed stubbornly as well as helped conduct mining operations on the moon.
With the presence of a massive astartes force in orbit, even the most bloodthirsty Dark Eldar raiding party would think twice before as much as setting foot on a normally-defenseless planet.

Speaking of the moon, it was discovered there was a massive concentration of shards of harmony on the Equestrian moon. In addition, Ferrus Manus had built a device capable of holding the creatures of the warp at bay with said shards of harmony making them now a needed material for the Imperial webway project. Trade began with Equestria and Terra with the former receiving technology whilst the latter receiving the materials they needed.

The Imperium soon became what The Emperor had wanted. Life was taking a turn for the better. Even though chaos had been defeated there were still threats in the forms of orks, necrons, tyrannids and all the other enemies of the imperium. But The Emperor, in his endless wisdom had ways to deal with these threats other than bolters and legions of warriors. With his sly diplomacy, he convinced many ork clans to go wage war with the Tyrannids and necrons, secured a treaty with the Tau empire and made a few pacts with the Eldar craftworlds. He would soon prepare for the invasion of Commorragh and destroy the dark Eldar but that was a story for another time.

Now on the height of his power, with his own empire on the rise and for the first time at peace, The Emperor knew the fruits of his labor would be great. Astartes recruitment went into overdrive to ready for a second great crusade, the Imperial guard's traditional tactics would be scrapped, and given a better military doctrine then "run-at-the-enemy-while-they-mow-you-down".

His own sons too would enjoy the benefit. Guilliman, Dorn and Manus stayed on Terra. Guilliman went into politics, Dorn went into rebuilding and Manus went to work on the project with The Emperor. While that, the others all went on their own crusades to expand the imperium.

Equestria too rebuilt. And it rebuilt overnight. Literally. The ingenuity of the earth ponies boggled and amazed the minds of many techmarines of how fast they worked, able to rebuild large structures in mere minutes.

Despite the influx of technology, Equestria would still cling to it's traditions. In the private chambers of Princess Celestia, it would seem just as common for her to have a high-tech map of the galaxy right next to an old fashioned telescope.

The Emperor too visited Equestria quite often. The Tree of harmony and the crystal empire especially. He was always given a warm welcome, venerated as the most powerful being in magic. He would later write down some of his ways to teach to Equestria. After all, in Equestria, great psykers weren't born, they were made.

And now, after 10,000 years of strife, war and hopelessness, the Imperium was getting back on it's feet. The galaxy would be once again peaceful and the power of the dark gods would be broken forever.
Now, the galaxy may finally launch itself into a new era of peace and prosperity.