MLP / WARHAMMER 40,000 : THE INDOMITOUS CRUSADE

-Castle of the Princesses, Library-

After taking their seats at one of the tables that were recently constructed, Twilight Sparkle and her Brother, General Shining Armor began their thorough and detailed interview with Roboute Guilliman, the so-called Lord Commander of The mysterious Imperium of Man. The primarch agreed to be interviewed as a gesture of good faith. Twilight, being the excessive student pulled out her inkwell, pen, and parchment in an organized manner. One the pen had enough ink; the array of questions began seeping out.

“Let’s see now. I suppose we should start at the beginning. Let’s begin with simply where exactly did you come from?” Twilight ask. Guilliman did not hesitate to respond in a mannerly way. “I was found in a sealed capsule while I was very young. Roughly ten thousand years before this time.” Twilight was caught by surprise with this response. To hear someone claim to be this old, much older than Celestia she was considered practically unheard of. “Did you say ten thousand years?” She asked again. Guilliman nodded.

“Indeed.” He said. “It was on the feudal world of Macragge that I was found by a group of noblemen, lead by a man I would come to know as my adoptive father, Konor. When I asked him during my early years as to where I had come from he told me that he only knew of my presence from a dream, where he found me at a spot called Hera’s falls. It was there he bequeathed me the name Roboute, which means “Great one.”

As the hours had passed by, Roboute continued to tell his story. From his youth as a prodigy, growing fast in both body and mind, and mastering every subject the wisest men could teach him by his tenth birthday. Twilight would write in her notes of how he would go on to say that some of his insights over subjects of history, philosophy, and science would stun his elders. Though unquestionably, his greatest trait she wrote was his natural talent of a military leader as he recounted his expedition to Illyium, where he not only lead a successful campaign against its wild inhabitants But also earned the Wildman’s respect.

Guilliman went on in his story to the point in which he seized control from his father’s co-Consul Gallen, who murdered him for total control. For Gallen lead a fraction of Macragge’s nobility who ravished at the expense of slave, while Konor stood for the common folk. Roboute carried out his father’s vision, and executed Gallen and his co-conspirators, and redistributed their lands and wealth back into the people. He began a tremendous task as to reorganizing and restructuring Macragge’s entire social structure into that of a meritocracy, in which both office and honor were given to the hard-working rather than the wealthy and influential. Twilight became further enticed by the primarch’s accomplishments. But still, she remained level-headed, not wanting to get her hopes up.

“That certainly must have been quite a feat, Mr. Guilliman. But, I want to know about this Imperium of yours at large, if you don’t mind.” Twilight spoke. “Ah yes.” Roboute uttered. “But in order to explain the Imperium, we would need to begin shortly after the restructuring of Macragge, around that time is when I would meet my biological father…The Emperor of Mankind.”

-Somewhere in the castle-

The curious Flurry Heart continued to wander through the reconstruction carried on by the Imperial Guard, and other imperial factions. She was astonished by the large pieces of military equipment that was brought from the fleet in orbit, especially the war machines such as the dreadnaughts, and of course the Imperial Knights, to which she greatly admired for its sheer size. She proceeded to get closer to the machine when a rather strange figure halted her any further.

“Do not approach the machine any further.” He said. “The rite of repair must not be interrupted.” Flurry looked at the figure confused. “Rite of…Repair?” She asked.

“Yes.” The mechanical being responded. “The machine has suffered much pain in past encounters that we must see to its needs as soon as possible.” “But, it’s made of metal. It can’t feel pain.” The young alicorn said.

“Aaaaaaaah, But, that is where you are wrong, little one. For the spirit that resides in this machine is in terrible pain, and must be appeased in the name of the Omnissiah.” “Omnissiah?” Flurry further asked. “What’s that?”

The figure knelt down to her height. “He is the embodiment, and bestower of knowledge and technology in the galaxy.” This only further intrigued Flurry’s curiosity, as she continued to watch the Rite of Repairs being conducted on the Knight, often asking more questions in regards of The Machine God, machine spirits, and their quest for knowledge, and ancient technologies.

-Back in the library-

The ponies continued to hear the tail that Roboute spun as he was approaching the conclusion as far as his resurrection, and the beginning of the Indomitus Crusade. By this time, Twilight had filled nearly a hundred sheets of paper, each containing vast amount s of knowledge as to the current state of the Imperium, from its legislation to its system of government, and so on. “Incredible,” Twilight spoke. “To think that out amongst the stars is a civilization far surpassing than our own.” “I know. To even think any of this is possible astounds me.” Shining added. The ponies then heard a slightly noticeable scuff come from the primarch’s mouth. “Advanced indeed.” Roboute uttered. “If anything, your kind is by far a better example than us.” The elements and dragon looked at one another.

“Begging your pardon Guilliman, But, what do you mean by that?” Rarity asked. “Yeah” Pinkie added, “You have all this cool technology and spaceships at your disposal, while we’re just getting out of the steam age.”

Several seconds had past when Guilliman stood from his seat, and approached a window, looking out into the courtyard. “Because unlike your empire, ours is one that has decayed from a once thriving innovating kingdom into a disgusting ignorant shell, plagued by superstition. To see the secular society my father set out to create reverted to a primitive bureaucracy. To see the fears of my father come true before my eyes is a sheer sign of our failure to the Imperium. Yet all is not lost. Salvation is not beyond us, and I intend on setting humanity back onto the right path, once we depart this world.”

His attention then turned to the royal siblings, and their friends. “But until we are able to do so, we must make do with what time we do have, for I fear that dark times lie ahead for this world.” “What do you mean?” Shining tilted in question.

It was there Guilliman turned to Twilight Sparkle. “I must speak to you and your co-rulers immediately. I have answered your questions as far as I’m concerned. Now, I respectfully ask you to take me to them.” The somewhat aggressive tone set off some bit of alarm in both shining, and spike as they readied themselves for a possible attack. But, both were halted by twilight, which saw in Roboute’s face a sense of urgency, as if this were a matter of life and death. One she was all too familiar with when she first moved to Ponyville and battled Nightmare Moon. “Well…before we left Canterlot, my former instructor, Princess Celestia did ask if it was all possible to invite you to a gathering of delegates in Canterlot. Perhaps there, you can inform us of this coming danger.”

Upon hearing this offer, Guilliman was conflicted a bit. Though he was not fond of attending Galas or parties, he also knew the urgency of the coming forces of Chaos, if they did continue to pursue, which he knew very well they had indeed. “Very well.” He replied. “I will attend this…Gala. But, if only your fellow rulers will hear me in private.” There was a moment of silence as the ponies huddled up, and began whispering amongst themselves. After a matter of minutes, they broke up, and turned their attention back to Guilliman. “It’s a deal.” Twilight proclaimed, raising her hoof towards the primarch. Guilliman too reached with his Hand of Dominion, and lightly grasped the hoof.

Once the two leaders shook, Roboute turned to Captain Acheran with orders to leave. “Have the Ultramarines second company ready to leave at dawn. Along with a small battalion of Imperial Guardsmen, and Tech-priests.” He commanded. The Primaris Captain saluted his Primarch as he departed with the task of carrying out the order. “Inform your princess of our departure at dawn. We will need to reach your capital post haste.” Twilight looked to Shining Armor, who was also confused as to what he meant by post haste. “But, the earliest train doesn’t leave until eight in the morning. How do you intend on arriving there at dawn?” The Ultramarine’s primarch looked back and smirked. “Quite simply, we fly there of course.”

Spike’s eyes widened as he began getting giddy with excitement. “I think he means we’re going to be flying in one of those spaceships.” He squeaked. Starlight Glimmer rolled her eyes as she smiled to hear her dragon so excited. “Spike, you are the master of deduction.” Starlight proclaimed sarcastically, as Twilight looked to spike the way she usually does when writing to Celestia. “ Spike take a letter.”

“Dear Princess Celestia,

Shining Armor and I have successfully have made contact with the one called Roboute Guilliman, and have inquired as to The Imperium of Man in which he claims to rule over. I must say he is unlike anyone I have ever met, and may just be as the girls say that he is. I have documented our conversation, with much information as to the structure of this government, and I can say that there some rather impressive aspects to it in regards to its technology, social structure, and so on. Though, he does seem rather eager, if not paranoid a bit, claiming that it was urgent for him to speak with you and the others. So, I have relayed your invitation to the Gala, seeing as he is a reasonable being, and poses no threat to us. But, on the condition that he is able to speak with you and the other alicorns in private. I suggest we at least hear him out before pressing on any further than we already have.

Your faithful friend,

Twilight Sparkle

P.S. Tell Cadence that Flurry’s having the time of her life amongst these aliens.”

With that stated, Spike rolled the message up, and blew on the material, engulfing it in the magical fire as it dissolved into smoke and dust, traveling towards the equestrian capital of Canterlot, to the very hooves of Princess Celestia herself.