MLP / WARHAMMER 40,000 : THE INDOMITOUS CRUSADE

-Canterlot Castle, Audience chamber-

The very halls of Canterlot bore witness to many momentous occasions in Equestria’s long history. But no moment was more historic, more profound than when Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Cadence led the ancient lord and nine loyal captains of the Astartes chapters were brought into the castles main audience chamber. As the group reached towards the center of the chamber, the four alicorns stood before the thrones and taking their side were the elements and the sparkle family. It was here Roboute stepped forward towards the co-rulers.

“Now Lord Guilliman, Thou wish to speak to us, of grave matters?” Luna asked. “That I do.” Roboute retorted, nodding to a servo skull. The device hovered above the center of the group and began projecting downwards, displaying a map of the Milky Way Galaxy. The ponies gathered in closely to the projection. Twilight, most of all studied the projection with most awe. It was not as if she had never seen such a projection before. Though she was baffled as to how it was possible to create such a map without magic. Her thoughts were set aside as Celestia nudged her out of thought, as Guilliman uttered his words.

“What you see before is a map of the entire Imperium of Man, as it has stood for ten millennia after its birth. In it contains countless worlds and citizens. To the western portion of the galaxy, lies Segmentum Solar, there lies both the ancient home forge world of Mars and also Terra, the cradle of humanity. It is also where the Imperial Palace lies and in it…my father, The Emperor of Mankind.” The captains then lowered their heads simultaneously. The princesses took notice the sense of great respect these men have for this figure.

Upon observing the map, the youngest Alicorn noticed a tear in the galactic map. “Hey, …what’s this?” There was a long dreaded silence in the room. It was only broken when Guilliman continued his lecture. “That…is The Eye of Terror. Rightfully named because of the hellish realm it has given way to.” “Given way to?” Twilight asked. Roboute nodded “Yes, the realm of the ruinous powers. It is the only gateway for the dark forces that seek the galaxy’s destruction. This enemy is simply known to us as Chaos.”

“Did somebody say Chaos?” A disembodied voice called. The marines and ponies looked around. The ponies had a stern look on their faces. “Discord. Show yourself.” Celestia demanded sternly. Just then the Draconequus crept right behind her as if reality had bent to his will. This provoked the marines to ready their weapons and aim them at the creature. Discord looked down the barrels confused. “Was it something I said?” He asked.

Twilight and the others backed away alarmed by the change in atmosphere. “What’re you doing?!” Fluttershy cried. Guilliman readied his blade and pointed the tip at the unknown creature. “It is a daemon, my lord!” Captain Acheran stated. The lord commander did not immediately strike the creature. Instead, he began examining Discord, trying to get a feel of the chaotic being. He looked to the librarian Tigurius, who nodded him more assuring. To the surprise of the captains, Roboute Guilliman lowered his blade. The ponies were rather relieved. “My lord, what are you doing?” Beliel, Grand master of the Deathwing asked. “Be still Captain.” Roboute stated, “We have nothing to fear from this creature. He is merely an annoyance, rather than a threat.”Stated the Ultramarines Librarian.

This greatly insulted the Draconequus to a great deal. “WHAT?!! Me, an annoyance?!!...Well, maybe that’s true. BUT, NONE THE LESS?!!!” He then felt a hoof placed on his leg. Discord looked to see it belonged to Fluttershy, glaring at him in a way he knew all too familiar with. With a sigh, the spirit of Chaos stepped down and took backed away. “You, creature, are merely a child, compared to the likes of the Chaos gods.” The Librarian stated. “To them, your power is merely child’s play to the atrocities that true chaos inflicts upon the mind, body, and senses.”

“Chaos gods?” Luna asked. Tigurius ‘eyes began to glow as a flash of light engulfed all in the room, once it had faded, the ponies, and marines, as well as Discord, were brought into a projection of the warp. Twilight and the others began to look in wonder as Tigurius began to explain.

“What you see before is what is known as the immaterium, the Warp. It is a reality that parallels real space. This realm is the source of all psychic powers, or in your case Magic. It is also our means of intergalactic travel. Yet this realm has a dark, malevolent purpose in its existence. The Warp is the home realm of the four Chaos Gods, and their vile legions of daemonic servants, who seek the ruin of souls.”

The Librarian began to project images of the ruinous powers and their legions, the scenes depicted to the ponies were both frightening, and fascinating. The only ponies who stood stern were the five alicorns, Discord, and Pinkie. “Ooooooooh…freaky!” Pinkie proclaimed. “As I have said, there are four Gods of Chaos” Tigurius continued. “There is Khorne, The Blood God, who hungers for War, Battle, and Murder. He is the embodiment of mindless and absolute violence, destroying everyone either friend or foe. He sits upon a brass throne upon a mountain of skulls, seeking for the blood to flow ever more to him.” In a gulf of flame, a vision of Khorne appeared, seated on his Skull Throne with the echo of battle in the background.

“Contrary to Khorne, there is Tzeench, The changer of ways. The God of Change, Sorcery, Fate, and Hope. Of all the gods, he is the most disturbing and above all the most incomprehensible of them all. They say his crawls ever change, ever-shifting, ever plotting.” A vision of the ever changing Tzeench is cast, in his most common form. “Thirdly, there is Nurgle, The Plague Lord. The designated God of Death, Decay, and Disease. He is the abominable father of all physical corruption and morbidity. The inevitable entropic decline of all things is his “gifts” to the galaxy. His spilling guts produce lesser daemons known as nurglings.” The images began projecting Nurgle in his true form, a body bloated with corruption. The vision was almost so real, that everyone could smell the horrific stench he produced. He was covered from head to toe in boils on his green, leathery necrotic skin. And from his festering wounds, The Nurglings feasted on the sickly fluids. This made many of the ponies sick to their stomachs, especially Rarity.

“Ugh…I can’t look anymore. Please! Stops this!” The Fashionista cried out. “That’s disgusting,” Cadence admitted. “Hmmm…a bit over the top, I’d say.” Critiqued Discord. “it’s like a bad cart accident. It’s so horrible, but you can’t look away.” Shining stated, “I’d want to throw up right now. But, I’d think that’d be an honor to that sicko if anything.”

The vision then dissipated to a more seductive bright shade of pink. “Finally we have the Prince of Pleasures, Slaanesh. The youngest of the Chaos gods. “It” is the embodiment of Pleasure, Desire, and sensation. It can assume male, female, or both. It is said that this being is divinely beautiful;, and those who look upon it are deprived of their soul, and enter its services.” The last vision depicted Slaanesh, as the Eldar had viewed her since her birth. The ponies could see why others would follow her. Even cadence took notice of an eerily similarity she has to this creature. “Freaky….” She uttered.

As before, the vision faded. “Yet there is still one bit of grace form their existence, and that is that they are not a unified whole. The desire the same goal, total domination of all realms. Yet to share that power with one another is anathema to them. They will fight each other over the spoils. Causing great warp storms as they clash one another. And yet it is not unheard of that they band together when a threat is great enough. For you see…There is one they fear above else. One who has the power to subdue, and weaken them, if not destroy them. A man they would call Anathema…”

“My Father.” Roboute Added. One final projection was cast in front of the Equestrian residents, an image of a man in golden armor, with a flaming blade in hand. Celestia then realized that this man was the unquestioned ruler of humanity…The Emperor of Mankind. In another blinding flash of light, all were brought back to the safety of the hall of Canterlot castle.

The elements of Harmony, Alicorns, Dragon, and draconequus began to slowly regain their composure after experiencing such a vision, as Tigurius rested himself after using so much psychic energy. “Easy, now.” Roboute told the chief Librarian. Roboute then noticed Celestia approaching. “I see now, why you wished to speak so urgently to me. But tell me, Lord Guilliman. What will happen now?” The lord of Ultramar approached the oldest of the Alicorns and made eye contact with her as he spoke. “Due to our ships needing extensive repairs, we are unable to leave this world for the time being. The ships that remain functional have been ordered to seek aid. Before arriving here, we were attacked by the very powers you saw, and have sent their followers to find us. I fear it will not be long until they find us here.”

Everyone present grew concerned and downright afraid. “But, our presence here has gone unnoticed for the time being. An opportune time to prepare, and ready this world when the time comes.” A small smirk crept onto Celestia’s face. “Indeed.” “Princess,” Twilight asked. “Do you think it’s a good idea to let all of Equestria know of the existence of such powers?” “No”, she answered. “To tell now, would only cause panic. Besides, we still are at war on several fronts. Until we are united at last will it be the proper time.” “I agree,” Guilliman stated. “For now, we must remain silent. A great task lies ahead in the days to come. One, we shall aid you through however we can.”

“You mean…you wish to help us?” Luna asked. “Indeed, I do.” He started, thinking back to the hour in which he was resurrected, with the help of the Eldar, on Macragge. “As unorthodox as it is to aid a xenos race, such as yourselves, it seems only right that I should aid you in your darkest hour.” Raising the gauntlet Hand of Dominion, Guilliman opened his hand out towards Celestia.

Upon realizing what was happening, the princess of the day placed her hoof in the metallic grip as it lightly closed and the two shook. In that instant, an Alliance had been made, one that may very be somewhat abnormal to some, but necessary, and one that was not unheard of. “Thank you,” Celestia said. “Please…allow me to show you around my home, and Canterlot” “I would be honored, your highness.” Said Roboute. “Please, call me Celestia.” She retorted. “Very well, Celestia.” The group as a whole then proceeded down the long hallway, as Princess Celestia of Equestria began to Give Roboute Guilliman, Lord Commander of the Imperium a tour of her castle, grounds, and city.

-Elsewhere, beneath the Crystal Empire-

In the years recently passed, The Crystal Empire had revealed many secrets. However, not every one of those secrets has been uncovered. One such secret still remains hidden beneath, in the icy caverns that have gone untouched since time in memorial. Including a large black slab of rock, adorned in eerie emerald runes of an unknown language, with only one door which remained sealed for countless eons…until now.

The large slabs that were once shut began to slowly open, as the dust was blown off as the air on the other side of the doors burst free. Once the slabs slide into the wall in which they came. A moment of silence was heard. A silence which grew into the sounds of distorted chirping, and the sounds of metallic feet marching forward.