The Grimdark 6 Vol One: Lost Loyaltyby SuperSaiyanDicloniusChaptersChapter one:ExileChapter Fourteen: Cutting Their TeethChapter Fifteen: Equestria RevealedBonus Chapter:Chaotic PlotsChapter Sixteen: Merciless MutinyChapter Seventeen: The End of HarmonyChapter Eighteen: Chaos StrikesChapter Nineteen: The Tide TurnsBonus Chapter:A Father's FuryChapter Twenty: The Darkest HourChapter Twenty One: The Horde StrikesChapter Twenty Two: Coup De GraceFinal Chapter: Scars of WarChapter Two: Restless NightChapter Three: Twilight InvestigatesChapter Four: Road to War (Meetings)Chapter Five: War MeetingChapter Six: Istvaan IIIChapter Seven: A Warrior Without WarChapter Eight: Buck WildChapter Nine: False Glory, True FireChapter Ten: Forbidden InformationChapter Eleven: A Good Night's DuelBonus Chapter:Chaotic WhispersChapter Twelve:Planetary Defense ForceChapter Thirteen: Chaos StirsChapter one:ExileHis howls of rage drowned out the screams of the Daemons that came at him from every direction, he had long since lost track of time, he only focused on killing every enemy before him in the name of the God Emperor. He had spent every round, broken his blade, and now crushed the enemies of man with his armored hands and stolen weapons, ripped from the Daemons' claws, or torn from his own open wounds. He swung a Bloodletter's blade down on one of it's kinsmen, cutting it in half, before impaling another, the weapon getting stuck in it's chest. He grabbed the dying Daemon by the throat and threw it into the masses charging towards him before charging himself, but as he closed the distance, the Daemons disappeared. He looked all around, but the dead battlefield was plain, no enemies and no places for them to hide. You have amused me these long years. He turned upward to the voice, only to realize that the field that he had fought in for longer than he could remember was the open palm of the Beast atop the Skull Throne, and he now stared into that monster's eyes. But I grow tired of your loyalty to the Anathema, so now you will kill for me alone. Without a second of hesitation, he charged the incarnation of hate, swearing vengeance for his brothers, but with a mere wave of his hand, the Beast sent him to a realm with no threats to the Imperium, where he can only spill blood...for the Blood God. Another Realm He halted his charge as he realized that his enemy had disappeared, which was after he had effortlessly crashed through a tree, and surveyed his new surroundings. He was in a forest, on the edge of it actually, he could see light piercing through the foliage to his left. Peering out through the trees, he could see a village not far away, but he kept his distance, the Great Enemy's words echoing through his mind, telling him that whatever lived here, the enemies of man wanted them dead, and expected him to kill them. He would never kill for Chaos, but that did not mean the inhabitants of this eorld were not a threat to man kind, his hesitation could be what the Great Enemy was counting on for their victory, he would have to judge them, weigh their value alive and dead, but there was a problem. As soon as he thought of them, he clenched his head as pain sung through his skull, The Butcher's Nails, hammered into his brain to give him rage and killer instinct beyond the norm, demanded that he once more throw himself into the thick of slaughter, but he would wait, until he was sure that the Imperium needed him to destroy these villagers. His objective clear in his mind, he pushed the bite of the Nails to the back of his mind and walked around the forest, keeping within view of the town, but out of sight of anyone looking too close, hoping to find a villager or two to judge without being seen. Eventually, he found a small house on the outskirts of the forest, surrounded by small animals with nests and wooden houses built by sentient hands. He squatted down and waited to see what would come out of the house, he was almost certain that it would be xenos, incentive for him to destroy them, at the very least they would uneducated barbarians unwilling to accept the imperial truth, but he expected Eldar, simply because of a time long ago when a skirmish with one of the tricksters' Farseers ended in the witch's escape, but not before she had promised him that he would stand alone, betrayed by the ones he loved and trusted, his fury spiked as he remembered how right she had been, but he pushed the memories of that night to the back of his mind, the mission comes first. His eyes darted from the house to the windows, looking for any sign of movement as a couple of small equine creatures walked up the path, he began to believe that no one was home...when the strangest thing happened. "Thanks for helping me out with Gummy, who knew too much sweets could be bad for alligators?" One of the equines asked the other...in flawless imperial gothic. If he had been a normal human rather than an astartes, his jaw would've hit the ground, but he simply absorbed the information as it came, they are indeed xenos, sentient equines...who feed sweets to alligators, not exactly a threat to the imperium. "Oh, it's no problem Pinkie Pie, but you should consider cutting down the amount of cupcakes you feed to Gummy, most ponies can't eat that much." The other equine said to her friend. So they call themselves ponies, again, nothing damning. "Really, I eat, like, three times that much." The pony named Pinkie Pie stated...before pulling a cake half her size out of thin air and swallowing it whole with no effort at all. That was a red flag, the only way that would be possible was some sort of warp magic, and her friend didn't even bat an eye, meaning that it was likely a common practice, but she could be a sanctioned psyker with special privileges, or they could have complete control over the warp, that would explain why the Great Enemy wants them dead. Pinkie Pie's friend giggled slightly. "I believe you, well, I have to go tend to the animals, you know how Angel gets if I make him wait." "Okey Dokey, see you tomorrow Fluttershy." Pinkie Pie said before trotting back the way she had come, leaving Fluttershy, who evidently lived here, to go about feeding each animal outside before opening the door to her home to the happy calls of greeting from several other animals. He looked at the sun and realized that it would soon be dark, he had learned little of these xenos, they were strange, but not dangerous, had they been discovered by the imperium, it is unlikely that astartes would be sent to deal with them. He slid back into the forest and began looking for a place to spend the night without killing indiscriminately. The forest was thick, broken only by the paths of beasts, but eventually, he found a cave to stay in. By the time he found this shelter he was seething, the Nails demanded death and carnage, but he would not kill for Him, only in the Emperor's name. He barely surveyed his surroundings, but luckily for whatever had lived here, the cave was now abandoned. He didn't stop until he was in the deepest depths of the cave, he didn't want to chance anything hearing what would inevitably happen. He reached the end and leaned against the wall, clenching his head as the pain continued to grow, he lost track of how long he endured, but the light of the sun had faded, and a bright ray of moonlight illuminated the mouth of the cave. The pain grew, and grew, and grew, he paced the back of the cave, needing to kill, but refusing to serve the enemies of man. It was the truest battle of wills, he would not allow his rage to benefit those foul beings, but as he refused to vent his rage in battle, the rage only burned stronger. At his wit's end, he removed his helmet, allowing the cool night air to alleviate the faintest of his great discomfort. His eyes drifted to the helmet in his hand, the helmet he wore...the helmet they wore. He gripped it in both hands, staring into it's deactivated eyes, remembering those he stood beside for years, those he protected when they were vulnerable, those he failed to protect, and finally...those who betrayed him. He began to tighten his grip as the last thought took over his mind, he had always buried his pain in rage, but now that he could not kill, he only had one target for his anger. With a vengeful shout, he threw the helmet into the cave wall. It bounced off and rolled on the floor, but then he stomped it. The ceramite helm held strong, but he kept stomping, screaming in anger. He persisted in the attack long after the helmet had been crushed flat, until he flung himself at the very cave, striking, kicking, clawing, and slamming his head into the rock forged walls, until he struck with such fury that he rendered himself unconscious. He awoke to the familiar sounds of battle, and beheld the sight that gave him his great rage. His father, the primarch Angron, and several thousands of his own brothers, charging towards him and those of his brothers that they had betrayed. With a vengeful shout, he and the last loyalists of the XIIth legion met the traitors in a violent clash that saw their white and blue power armor painted red. He swung his weapon to and fro, not caring for what it was, only that it killed the traitors until there was none left. He butchered every traitor that came within arm's length, it was all they deserved. Eventually, as they did before, the remaining traitors were engulfed in fire and emerged as monsters that he would later know as Daemons, but it did not matter to him, Daemon or traitor, they would die for what they've done. He swung and he killed and he swung and he killed and he- "ENOUGH!!" He found himself immobilized and saw his numberless enemies disappear, leaving him in a blue void... and he was not alone. "Do I have your attention now?" asked the dark blue xeno. Author's Note Author's Note: And that concludes chapter one, and yes, it was intentionally vague, the World Eater's name and his back story will be revealed next chapter, until then. Chapter Fourteen: Cutting Their TeethSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Fifteen: Equestria RevealedSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Bonus Chapter:Chaotic PlotsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Sixteen: Merciless MutinySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Seventeen: The End of HarmonySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Eighteen: Chaos StrikesSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Nineteen: The Tide TurnsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Bonus Chapter:A Father's FurySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Twenty: The Darkest HourSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Twenty One: The Horde StrikesSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Twenty Two: Coup De GraceSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Final Chapter: Scars of WarSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter Two: Restless NightIt had been half a year since the Cozy Glow incident, and Equestria had put the unfortunate ordeal behind them. Princess Luna smiled at the sight of the dream realm as it was tonight, not a single nightmare in sight, everypony slept soundly. Luna enjoyed nights like these, she could just relax and observe the interesting dreams of her subjects. She watched Scootaloo follow in Rainbow Dash's flight path and become the greatest Wonderbolt of all time, Trixie perform for herself and Celestia, Pinkie Pie...well, Luna didn't know what the hay was going on there, but it was definitely fun to watch. Luna was about to peer into Twilight's dreams...when someone else fell asleep. The dream erupted like a volcano, so violent and enraged that the hateful energies emanating from it poured into neighboring dreams and twisted them into nightmares. Reacting in an instant, Luna dived straight into the horrible nightmare, knowing that things would only get worse if she didn't stop the source of the corruption before tending to the affected dreams. The stenches of blood and fire assaulted Luna as she entered the nightmare, the sight she beheld was far more violent than anything she had ever seen. Upon a burning world fought thousands of armored creatures that could've been mistaken for minotaurs if they only had horns, their armor resembled that of knights, colored white and an almost cobalt blue, their eyes glowed a firey orange, and there was a blood red circle with inward pointing spikes marking their shoulders. The knights fought each other with beastly ferocity, painting their white armor red with their blood. Luna couldn't understand it, they wore the same armor and bore the same mark, so why were they killing each other? Luna focused her magic, trying to locate the dreamer, she had no idea who this pony was, or what could possibly give them so horrible a nightmare, but she had to resolve this matter fast or they would surely go mad. Her horn glowed and shot a beam, which illuminated one of the knights. Now Luna was completely confused, what in Equestria was going on? The knight in question was no different than any of the others, it swung a blunt, boxy sword that seemed to roar as loud as the knight wielding it, it seemed to lack a cutting edge, but left wounds far more brutal than those of a normal sword, perhaps there was a blade on it, it was just swinging too fast for Luna to get a good look. Luna flew towards the knight and tried to get his attention. "Sir knight, you are fighting phantoms, they're not- YIEE!!" Luna teleported just in time to avoid his strike, only to watch in horror as the knight was slahed and stabbed by no less than six of his like-colored enemies, only for fire to engulf the entire battlefield and disappate, leaving the now unharmed knight alone against an endless horde of horned, red-skinned monsters that wielded burning weapons. Luna saw the knight overpowered in an instant only to fight his way out, his injuries disappearing as quickly as the knight was struck as if the very fact that the berserk knight didn't realize that he was struck nullified the damage. Luna called out to him again, this time with the royal Canterlot voice. "Sir knight, this conflict is pointless, your enemies are not real." It appeared that the knight heard her this time, but did not understand her words, as the sound of her voice resulted in him disarming a monster and hurling it's weapon towards Luna, who dodged with a shocked expression. Realizing that she couldn't resolve this issue in her usual way, Luna declared "ENOUGH!!" and dispelled the dream through force, she hated having to do so, as her duty was to help dreamers overcome their nightmares, not avoid them, but this was a special case. She had immobilized the knight, in the hope of preventing him from attacking her again, and approached him. "Do I have your attention now?" The knight stared at her, it's expression hidden behind it's helmet, and said nothing. "I apologize for the impoliteness, but you're dreaming, the enemies you fought were not real." Luna explained. The knight did not respond, so Luna gave further explanation. "I am Princess Luna, guardian of the Dream Realm, it is my duty to assist troubled ponies overcome their fears." "I am no pony." The knight spoke in an echoing, metallic voice. "I have no need for your assistance alien." That piqued Luna's interest, but she had greater concerns right now. "I would honor your wish sir knight, but the hateful energies from your nightmare have affected other dreams, and it will only get worse if I leave you to fight this battle alone." That got a reaction from the knight, though it was only slight. "...So the Daemons are pouring into the minds of others through me..." Demons!? Now Luna was genuinely worried, she had to wrap this up and tend to the affected dreams. "I am sorry to trouble you, sir knight, but now that I've stopped the flow of hateful energy, I must aid my subjects, especially if demons plague them." Luna released the calmed knight and turned to disembark. "I will join you." Luna turned to face him, running over the pros and cons in her mind, she knew nothing about him, and less about the nightmare that plagued him, but he knew more about their enemy, and he didn't seem to be a threat. "Very well, stand close to me." The knight approached Luna and she transported his consciousness with her's back to the Dream Realm. Three dreams were burning the same orange and red that the knight's had, two were growing in size and ferocity, one faster than the other, but one seemed to be stabilizing. In silent agreement, the two headed to the one most rapidly growing. On account of the nightmare's rapid growth, Luna wasn't surprised to find herself in the dream of a young philly, Diamond Tiara. The philly dreamt of being the ruler of Canterlot, in a far more flamboyant castle than that of Luna and her sister, with a great many servants. Now, the castle was burning and the servants layed butchered but for a few guards who were putting up a hopeless fight, valiantly defending Diamond Tiara to the last stallion. "HAVE AT THEE!!" Luna shouted as she shot a magic blast at the demon closest to the philly, grabbing their attention. Luna charged full-speed towards the enemy, and was surprised to find the knight beside her was outpacing her by no small margin. His sword, which she now realized was lined with dozens of sharp metal teeth, began to howl once more, the teeth traveling in a circle at such speed that they became a blurred line. He beheaded the first demon and grabbed a second with his free hand, Luna couldn't pay attention to what happened next as she had closed the gap and fired another beam at the closest demon, sending it flying and disarming it. She used her telekinesis to claim the blade and transform it, the burning bronze becoming dark blue and bathed in moonlight, the strange triangle-like symbol becoming a cresent moon. Three demons leapt at her, but wielding a blade with magic gave Luna speed and agility far beyond that of the demons and their odd apendages, the three demons died in midair without blocking a single blow, the corpses exploding into pieces when they hit the ground before they disappeared in flames. Luna expected more to come at her, but was surprised to realize that the remainder of the enemy had already been dealt with by the knight save two, one of which he impaled with his sword before grabbing it with both hands, one on it's throat and the other on it's waist, and ripping it in half with brute strength alone, his sword landing on his foot before he kicked it up into the air, grabbed it, and bisected the last demon, raising his screaming sword and roaring in triumph. "Area secure, let's move." The knight said as he regained his composure. "First things first." Luna said as her horn began to glow. The knight watched as the fires were extinguished, the damage was repaired, and the dead ponies were resurrected, leaving but one piece of evidence of the attack, the frightened philly. Luna approached Diamond Tiara with a motherly smile. "Are you all right little one?" she asked in a calming voice. "I-I-I think so, what was that?" The young pony asked, shaking, but not as violently. Luna's horn glowed again, as did the philly's eyes, when the glow faded, Luna's smile became snarky. "Didn't your mother warn you that sort of wheat causes nightmares?" The philly's eyes grew wide. "Wuh, w-well yeah but, I never thought it'd be anything like THAT, ugh, I'll never eat that horrible stuff again!" Diamond shouted as she stopped shaking. "Ah well, lesson learned, enjoy the rest of your night little one." Luna as she turned and walked towards the waiting knight. "Thank you Princess." the philly called out, bowing to the night-colored alicorn. Luna joined the knight and transported them back to the Dream Realm, explaining herself telepathically as she did so. "While I will discuss this situation with my sister and our peers, a demon attack is hardly something a philly should know about." The knight gave no response. They surveyed the affected dreams again, Diamond Tiara's was stable, the second was still growing, but the other had started to fade. Luna would investigate this dream last, curious as to who was fending off the demons by themselves, but more concerned with the one who wasn't. Luna and the knight entered the second dream, and found themselves in a blood soaked ballroom. Ponies fled for their lives with nowhere to go as they were cut down by the demons, the butchered bodies of those too slow becoming obstacles for the panicked survivors to navigate. Luna and the knight took off in different directions, the former flying above the carnage so as not to be hindered, and the latter either throwing aside or simply trampling anything that stood between him and his hated enemy. Luna focused her efforts on finding the dreamer, who was to be protected above the illusions of ponies. She found that it was the earth pony Octavia, who was keeping a steady lead against her pursuers. Luna dropped between them and blasted the demons with a large energy blast before turning to Octavia. "Are you all right?" she asked the cello player. "Oh, thank you Princess, I have no idea why I'm having such an awful nightmare, but it feels so real." Octavia said, turning to show where one of the demons had cut her. "Your dream has been invaded by foul creatures, my associate and I will drive them back, but I need you to stay close to me." Luna explained. Octavia was about to say something, only for the words in her throat to come out as a scream as a demon came from behind Luna. Luna teleported into the sky facing the demon, watching it's sword impact the floor that she had stood on, before blasting it backwards and taking it's sword, transforming it as she had before. Three other demons attacked Octavia from different directions, the earth pony falling into the fetal position as they did. Luna landed with authority above the smaller Equestrian, looking like a mother protecting it's child, the force of the impact stunning the demons. The first to recover charged and brought it's sword down in an overhead slash. Luna blocked his attack and, in a manner that only magic swordsmen can, spun the sword against the opposing blade, slashing the demon's throat, until it was all the way in her opponent's guard. She then beheaded the demon and flung the sword into the chest of the second demon as it began it's charge. The third demon, which was behind Luna, recovered and charged with a shoulder to shoulder slash. Luna recalled her sword, but it wouldn't be fast enough, the demon swung, but Luna was faster on the draw, catching the demon's unarmored chest with a buck. Luna flung her sword into it's head before it could recover again and surveyed the scene for more. This time, she wasn't too surprised to see that the only demon left was falling dead in two halfs at the knight's feet. Luna stepped away from Octavia and allowed her to stand up before repairing her dream. "There, everything should be as it was before." The ballroom was newly refurbished and the guests were enjoying themselves, the only thing out of place was the band's lack of a cello player. "Ah, thank you Princess." Octavia bowed to Luna, before turning to the knight. "And thank you as well good sir, I am forever in your dept." The knight seemed uninterested with Octavia's gratitude. "One still remains, let us be done with this." "Yes, of course." Luna acknowledged and trotted over to him. "Fairwell Octavia, pleasant dreams." If Octavia replied, it went unheard as Luna and the knight returned to the Dream Realm, locking their gaze on the last corrupted dream, only to find that there was only the faintest sign of corruption left. "Hmm, it seems that this one may not need our assistance, though I feel that we should still investigate." Luna stated. "Agreed, I am curious as to how one of your race can hold their own against the Bloodletters." The knight replied. The name Bloodletters piqued Luna's curiosity, but she put it aside and focused on the task at hand. Luna and the knight entered the final corrupted dream, and beheld a very different sight. The dream in question was a stadium, almost completely untouched, with only two or three dead ponies, and several demon shaped scorch marks. In the middle of the arena the last six demons surrounded the dreamer, who Luna recognized immediately. "Ah, of course it'd be her dream ahhahahaha." Rainbow Dash smirked as her eyes darted from demon to demon, waiting to see which would strike first. One of the demons roared and swung it's sword only for Rainbow Dash to dodge it without effort. A second attacked, and Rainbow Dash tripped him, causing it to fall on it's own sword, before retreating to the sky to point and laugh, causing the demons to leap at her futilely, enraged by her amusement. Luna observed the scene with humored smirk. "Should we help her?" The knight turned to her. "These foul creatures see honor in killing indiscriminately and have no fear in death, I will not save them from this shameful defeat." Luna could hear the delight in his voice as he watched the demons suffer, and agreed that they were getting what they deserved. Rainbow Dash took notice of Luna's presence, and broke away from her opponents to greet her. "Hey Princess, what brings you here?" Luna giggled at how lightly she was taking this. "You may not have noticed, but your dream has been corrupted by outside forces seeking to harm you." she explained while pointing a hoof at the charging demons, who were at least a minute away. "Oh really, well I bet they won't try that again after the thrashing I've been giving them." Rainbow Dash smirked. "You show great skill xeno, I had come to believe that your race relied on your rulers for protection." The knight said to Rainbow Dash who turned to him. "Don't know what xeno means, but I'm gonna pretend it's something awesome, I'm Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria, who're you?" "I am Aries of the World Eaters legion of adeptus astartes, chosen champions of the Imperium of Man and the God Emperor of Mankind." The knight stated proudly, giving Luna more questions than answers. "God Emperor, huh, with a title like that, guy must be proud of himself, oh, one sec." Rainbow Dash said before darting off towards the closing demons. She smashed though their lines like a cannonball, turning back to strike those that she missed within the same second. Before the first demon could recover, Rainbow Dash began to circle them at 5 times the speed of sound, the whether controlling magic of the pegasai generating a tornado that lifted and captured the demons. Rainbow Dash tightened her circle at the base of the tornado, causing it to grow taller and taller, when she was comfortable with it's height, she took to the sky. The tornado disappated and the demons screeched as they fell, but Luna's eyes were on Rainbow Dash, who was diving straight for them at ever growing speeds, causing a sonic cone to appear at her out streched hooves that shrank, and shrank. As the demons came five feet from the ground, and Rainbow Dash caught up to them, the sonic cone exploded into the legendary Sonic Rainboom, forcing some demons into the pavement and killing them instantly, and sending others flying this way and that, Luna ducking under one and Aries allowing another to crash into him like an egg against a rock. The crowd of ponies went wild with cheers and chants as Rainbow Dash, who had gone skyward after the explosion, trailed a rainbow colored streak into the shape of a lightning bolt underneath a conveniently placed cloud. RAIN-BOW DASH! RAIN-BOW DASH! RAIN-BOW DASH! RAIN-BOW DASH! Her ego satisfied for the moment, Rainbow Dash returned to Luna and Aries. "So, what were those losers up to?" "I have yet to determine their motives, all I know is that they came from Aries' nightmare and invaded three other dreams through him." Luna explained. Rainbow Dash's arrogance disappeared the instant she realized others had been put in danger. "WHAT!? ARE THEY OKAY!?" "You needn't worry Rainbow Dash, Aries and I took care of it, I will look into the situation further and inform you and the others of any developments in the morning, until then, enjoy your...fan base." Luna snickered. Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief. "All right, you let me know if any of those bozos come back, later Princess." And with that, Rainbow Dash took to the sky and started performing aerial maneuvers for the entertainment of the masses. "She's a capable fighter, although her personality reminds me of the sons of Gullimen." Aries stated as Luna returned them to the Dream Realm. "Well, now that the threat has been dealt with, would you mind explaining...what exactly transpired?" Luna asked him. Author's Note I am gradually copying these chapters from another fanfic site, so these first 5 chapters are gonna come out rapid-fire until I catch up, I'm just spacing them out while get used to a new site. Chapter Three: Twilight Investigates"Well, now that the threat has been dealt with, would you mind explaining...what exactly transpired?" Luna asked him. Aries sighed internally, in spite of his greatest efforts, this xenos world had still been invaded through him, and now he had to make a choice, continue struggling to remain neutral, or assist the aliens in their fight against a common enemy. He stared at the alien psyker called Luna, he had been on guard from any sensation of the witch trying to probe his mind throughout the entirety of their alliance, and yet even now, she made no such attempt, if nothing else, she was more tolerable than the treacherous Eldar. With a silent prayer for forgiveness, Aries decided that he would aid these xenos. "I was sent to your world by the ruler of these Daemons in the belief that I would destroy it myself, but I refuse to be their pawn, however, it appears that my compliance may not be necessary." Luna was skilled in the art of controlling her emotions, Aries doubted that a non-astartes would've picked up the subtle hints of worry and confusion that he had seen clear as day. "Well...as grateful as I am that you refused, can you expl-" Luna's question was cut off as Aries began to fade. Elsewhere Aries gripped his head as he was engulfed in pain, he pulled himself from the cave floor, his surprise at Luna's disappearance immediately dismissed as he realized that he had simply awakened, he was grateful that it did not happen during the battle against the Bloodletters. Aries surveyed the cave, he could tell that the light outside came from a moon, and by the position of the cave that barely three hours had passed since he had rendered himself unconscious. He doubted that Luna would seek him at this time, as she had duties to tend to, thinking about it, Aries found that assigning trusted psykers to oversee the minds of dreaming mortals, children especially, was actually a good idea. Aries took a step towards the exit of the cave, only to step on something metal and flat. Aries looked down and beheld the sight of his ruined helmet. He grit his teeth and cursed internally, it was all he could do to refuse the need to destroy, but it had costed him a far too valuable, and now irreplaceable, piece of equipment. Aries snarled audibly and threw away the now useless helmet. He barely heard the sound of the helmet crash into the cave wall and fall to the floor, he seethed in frustration at his situation...and all that had led to it. His thoughts were interrupted by a lavender flash of light, it disappeared as quickly as it appeared with popping noise, but then reappeared with a hum. "Hello, is anypony here, uh, Princess Luna sent me.." Aries saw the xeno long before she saw him, it seemed to be of the same sub-species as Luna, possessing both feathered wings and a conical horn that glowed with lavender psychic light. Aries entertained the idea of attempting to conceal himself, but he had already committed himself, and Luna had undoubtedly sent this alien to gather information on the new threat. Repeating his prayer for forgiveness, Aries stepped into the alien's view. Moments Prior, The Dreamrealm Twilight was one half second away from adding the final ingredient to her experiment when Princess Luna teleported into her personal space, startling Twilight, who applied too much of the final ingredient, resulting in an explosion that left both princesses coughing and covered in ashes. "Pr-Princess Luna, what brings you here?" Twilight asked as soon as she recovered. "I'm here to enlist your aid Twilight Sparkle, I fear that Equestria is in grave danger." Luna explained. Luna then retold the nights events to Twilight, who was as excited by the news as she was terrified. "Unfortunately, he awoke from his slumber before he could explain anything more, and you above all ponies are skilled in taking notes, so I wish to give you the means of finding Aries and leave the situation in your capable hooves until my sister raises the sun and my duties end." Luna concluded. "I won't let you down Princess." Twilight ensured her as she willed herself to awaken. Twilight shot out of bed in a burst of adrenaline, trying to keep her mind focused on the task at hand in spite of her excitement of enacting first contact with a new race that was so unlike anything she had heard of, a minotaur sized bipedal knight that fought with the ferocity of a dragon lord. Twilight had more questions than she could ask, but she would save that for when she had found him. She focused her magic on the memory that Luna had given her on the feel of his aura, and found it within moments. Luna's words hadn't done him justice, his presence was that of Wrath made manifest, as if he hated everything around him and sought it's destruction. Twilight was determined to find out why he was so angry and help him overcome it if possible, and with this determination driving her, she teleported to within ten feet of his location. Twilight found herself in almost complete darkness but for the moonlight behind her, the feeling of solid stone beneath her hooves telling her that she was in a cave. Twilight channeled magic from her horn to serve as a torch and, not wanting to startle the angry 8 foot demon slayer, called out to him. "Hello, is anypony here, uh, Princess Luna sent me..." Twilight walked forward, and then felt her hoof land on something made of metal, she looked down to find an odd disk with jagged edges, she couldn't figure out what it was. She was torn from the sight of the disk by very loud footfalls. When the owner of these footfalls came into view, Twilight was completely incapable of hiding her shock, gasping audibly and taking an instinctive step back and staring slack jawed. He was everything Luna had described, a minotaur sized bipedal knight with white and blue armor, but there were two noteworthy differences. He had no weapon, let alone the screaming sword with teeth that Luna had described, but the most terrifying difference was that he had no helmet, giving Twilight a clear view of his face. It was a human, one of the creatures from Sunset Shimmer's dimension, he had dark brown hair with skin that could have been a pale white before years under Celestia's sun (or at least, A sun) had tanned it, he also seemed to have been hurt in his fight with the demons as he bled from a wound on his forehead, but what disturbed her was that something had long ago pierced his face, just behind his lips, leaving his face fixed in a permanent snarl anytime he opened his lips. "You needn't fear me xeno, if I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have taken that step." The human, Aries if Twilight remembered correctly, stated as a fact, making Twilight gulp down the excess saliva that was building in her throat. "G-greetings, Sir Aries..." Twilight began, bowing to the knight. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna sent me to you in the hopes that you could inform us of this new threat to Equestria." "I have agreed to inform you, and I will honor that agreement, but I will have no more of this "sir" nonsense, refer to me as Aries alien." The knight said, baffling Twilight. "O-oh, okay then, umm...alien?" Twilight gestured with her hoof as if she were holding the word in question. "Aliens, or xenos as they are also called, are sentient races that are inhuman, yours is the first xenos race that I have encountered that was not hostile at first contact, so pardon the mistrust, I have simply learned to expect every creature in the galaxy to be my enemy... I merely offer you the first strike." Aries explained, giving Twilight one answer and several new questions. "Well...uhh...you don't have to worry about that from us, Equestria is a peaceful place, my people value Harmony and Friendship above all else, but that doesn't make us strangers to violence, we've learned that some creatures cannot be reasoned with, and if what Princess Luna told me about these demons is true, we're not going to solve this with a rational conversation." Twilight explained. "Certainly not, these foul abominations are the manifestation of war, rage and slaughter, born from both the mad xenos races who fight to rule and oppress all life in the galaxy, and mankind's will to defy them, they only know how to spill blood in the name of their heinous master, the self proclaimed 'Blood God' Khorne." Aries confirmed her fears, causing another gulp. "Oh...well, I think I can figure out why they're targeting us then." Twilight hypothesized. "And what would that be?" Aries inquired. "Well as I said earlier, we respect Harmony and Friendship above all else, I may have left out that we actually have a guardian diety called the Spirit of Harmony, who draws powers from six emotions that we call the Elements of Harmony, it sounds to me like they would be a perfect foil for this Blood God." Twilight explained. Aries seemed to ponder this information. "...I doubt that this spirit poses a threat to the Great Enemy...but it could if given time to grow and adapt...a lot of time." "Well, you haven't seen the Elements in action yet, you see, we have used the Elements of Harmony to drain the power of a magic devouring demon, a different demon, not these guys, anyway we also turned another demon to stone, but our biggest accomplishment by far is using them on a ruler who had gone insane and changing them back to normal." Twilight explained. Aries pondered this. "...If such is the case, then that would explain why they sent me here, instead of their more demented followers." "Oh yeah, Luna told me that they expected you to destroy us, is it because you haven't met a friendly race yet?" Twilight asked. "Among other reasons, yes, but this has nothing to do with our current enemy." Aries stated. "Oh, right, um, so other than hacking them apart with a screaming sword made of teeth, do you know any other ways to stop them." Twilight inquired. "The Daemons come from a Realm called The Warp, within this Realm, emotions become physical beings, these Daemons, as I said before, are embodiments of pure hatred, as such, they cannot exist in the material plane without a blood sacrifice, or possessing living beings, it isn't uncommon for one to do the latter in order to enact the former and bring forth an invasion, so long as Luna keeps an eye out for them invading the minds of your people, it is doubtful that they can launch an effective attack, but in preparation for such a thing, the best course of action would be for me to train your military for a full scale war." Aries explained. Twilight shivered at the thought, Equestria had not known a true war for over a thousand years, on occasion, this has come back to bite them, such as the invasion of the Storm King, but now they face an enemy that won't put the ponies in chains until Twilight and her friends can rescue them, but a hateful force that was out to slaughter them out of spite. "I see, I will inform Princess Luna and Celestia of these developments, do you wish to accompany me, there's no reason for you to stay here." Twilight asked him. "Yes, there is." Aries said, clutching his head as though it were in pain, and glancing at the metal disk that Twilight saw before. Twilight looked again, and realized from the similar design and color that it was his missing helmet. "Did you do this?" Twilight asked as she picked up the helmet with her magic. The human looked at her, pausing only to wipe at the blood from his wound that forth far slower than Twilight thought it should. "...yes, there is an explanation, but I am not ready to give it to you, I will only say that I stay in this cave for your safety." Twilight saw only the truth in his eyes...as well as shame, and sadness "Luna told me that you were fighting people wearing the same armor as you in your dream, you don't have to answer if don't want to, but if you don't give somepony the whole story, they may imagine something worse than the truth." As Twilight said this, she repaired his helmet with a spell and gave it back to him. Aries took it and looked at her with no expression. "Not if the truth is worse than anything you could hope to imagine." He said as he put on his helmet, the glass eyes lighting up orange. Twilight bowed to him as a goodbye and teleported to Canterlot, the flash of lavender light failing to bring with it a single sympathetic tear. Chapter Four: Road to War (Meetings)Aries looked over his helmet for the tenth time since Twilight had disappeared, he had long since confirmed that there were no impurities, despite having been repaired by an alien psyker, yet seeking taint on his equipment kept him occupied. So long as his thoughts were away from...those events, he was able to ignore the bite of the Nails. The sun had risen an hour ago, and so Aries waited for either Luna or Twilight or some other xeno to contact him. He equipped the helmet and checked it's every function, the HUD was fully functional, the eyes lit up, it was perfect... the Machanicus would see this world burn if they knew how perfect a completely destroyed piece of Imperial technology was after being touched by alien magic. A short time later, as Aries considered an eleventh scan of taint on his helmet, a lavender flash signaled Twilight's return. "Good morning Aries, did you sleep well?" The alien asked of him with a polite smile. "I did not sleep at all alien, I require but three hours of sleep per week, and can stay awake up to two weeks if it is necessary." Aries replied. "Oh, that's interesting, well aside from more questions that I hope to ask you later, the Princesses are ready to meet you now." Twilight said. "Very well, lead the way." Aries said. "No problem, just stand next to me and we'll be there in no time." Twilight responded, gesturing to her side. Aries got the hint immediately and drew the line. "I have sacrificed a great many of my beliefs in the past 24 hours for the sake of defeating the Great Enemy, I will not use magic for ease when it is not necessary." Twilight blinked in confusion. "H-huh, uh are you saying you wanna take the train instead?" "Is this 'train' a means of transportation that does not involve magic?" Aries asked. "Yeah, it's a vehicle that's runned by a steam powered engine." Twilight said the last part questioningly, as though not sure if the ceramite clad super soldier who has spent most of his life in a country sized space ship knew what an engine was. "Primitive, but effective, we will take the train." Aries said. "Alright, I have to inform the Princesses that we'll run a little late, we're not the only ones expected, so we should have time, uh, if you head east, you'll see a small town called Ponyville, I live in the castle at it's center, I've already told my apprentice about you so you just have to knock on the door and Starlight'll let you in, Oh! and if a pink Earth Pony points a cannon at you, it's not a weapon, please don't kill my friend." With that, Twilight vanished in a lavender flash of light. Aries took an extra nanosecond to ponder that last one, recalling the completely pink xeno that he had seen with the yellow one when he first arrived and her unusual personality, before exiting the cave and heading back to this 'Ponyville'...what were the founders thinking when they named it. Moments Later Aries' trek back had been nearly as uneventful as his first trip through the forest, he had encountered a large beast with bat wings and a scorpion's tail, but the creature had taken a single scent from the World Eater and fled for it's life. The first beast's wisdom was not shared by the second, a pack of wolf shaped wooden automatons that were held together by magic, Aries found no challenge in them, but had been grateful for the exercise. Now, Aries was back on the outskirts of the forest, he pulled back some branches to observe Ponyville, it was a faint distance away, but he could make out the brightly colored pelts of the equine xenos. Taking a breath, and giving another prayer for forgiveness, Aries cleared the forest and walked towards them. It wasn't long before they saw him, several stared at him, trying to figure out what he was or what his intentions were, others fled the scene, some in braver fashion than others. As Aries closed the distance and entered the town, none dared to approach him, he ignored the mumbles and whispers of the aliens comparing him to a minotaur or a knight, until one said something that he couldn't ignore. "Do you think it speaks Ponish." A sea-green alien asked a cream colored xeno. Aries halted and faced the offending xeno. "It is called Imperial Gothic, if you will speak humanity's tongue, then you will call it by it's proper title." The alien and it's friend both stared wide-eyed at the astartes, completely stunned. Aries did not wait for their reply, and decided that since he had already addressed them, they might as well be useful to him. "I have business with the one called Twilight, she informed me that I am to await her at a castle in this settlement." Aries took notice of the fact that mentioning Twilight snapped them out of it instantly and seemed to calm them. "Oh, Princess Twilight's castle is right in the center of Ponyville, we can show you the way." The two aliens trotted in front of Aries and he followed them, he would've done so silently, but something they said grabbed his interest. "Twilight led me to believe that there were only two Princesses." The two mares seemed to find this humorous. "Well, she's only been an alicorn for two, almost three years, and the royal sisters have ruled Equestria for over a thousand years." explained the green one. "That, and Princess Celestia was Twilight's mentor since she was a philly, so she tends to forget that she has the same rank and prestige that they do." added the cream colored one. "Experience outranks everything." Aries said, remembering the time a green Commissar had tried to pull rank on his squad's sergeant, the enraged astartes had shown the fool the error of his ways by ordering one of his own men to shoot him dead, an order obeyed without hesitation. "Hmm, you have a point Mr..uhh.." The green xeno looked up to him in anticipation. "...Aries." He answered. "Lyra, my BFF here is BonBon." The alien gestured to herself and then to her cream colored friend. "Nice to meet you." The latter added. "It is...better... than my usual interactions with xenos." Aries replied, uncomfortable with the small talk that served no purpose as they had veered to a meaningless topic. "You don't have any friends?" Lyra asked, confused by the statement. "The only other races my people have encountered have either been bloodthirsty savages or deceptive manipulators who use us as pawns for their schemes." Aries explained, startling the aliens. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that...do you at least have any friends with own kind?" asked BonBon. That innocent question stopped Aries in his tracks, his breathing elevated slightly and he closed his fists. "...they're gone." The aliens looked confused, but then the recognition struck them like a bolt shell. "I-I-I am so sorry, I didn't mea-" "Enough, I've wasted enough time with the two of you, where is the castle?" Aries demanded. Lyra pointed beyond a roof of a building to his right, beyond it was a large crystalline structure, where the village itself looked almost man-made, this structure was completely alien. "I will find my way from here." Aries stated and pressed on, noticing the xenos' apologetic stares, sympathy from aliens, Emperor preserve him. He navigated the maze of buildings and curious bystanders and found his destination, the castle was an impressive sight in it's own right, but Aries would prefer a Gothic design. He approached the castle and knocked, a moment later, the door opened. "I'm sorry, but Twilight's not heeeeerrreee..." Aries had to look down below his knees to see the eyes of the small reptilian alien, no doubt a servant. "I am aware, she told me to wait for her here." The xeno craned his head to speak to someone inside while keeping his eyes on the astartes. "Uhh, Starlight...what does the demon slayer look like again?" A female voice answered him as it's owner drew closer. "He's supposed to be an 8 foot bipedal knight, I think Twilight said he was-" The mare came into view and stopped in her tracks, giving him the same look as the servant, "At...the...door." Starlight finished awkwardly. "H-he-hello.." "Greetings." Answered Aries, not waiting for an invitation to step inside. The aliens continued to stare at him, but he ignored them and simply waited, a few moments passed, finally Starlight worked up the courage to speak up, only to be cut off when Twilight appeared between them. "Is everything in order?" Aries asked, getting Twilight's attention. "Oh, I see you made it, I you hope that you weren't waiting too long, but yes, everything is in order." Twilight said. "Then where is this train?" Aries asked. "We're taking the train?" The servant asked. "It's a long story, but yes, we're taking the train, and I've already informed the others, they'll meet us at the train station." "Then let us proceed." Aries said as he headed towards the door, Twilight leading the way flanked by her cohorts. Aries took notice that the aliens were a lot less fearful of him now that he was in the company of one of their leaders, some remained at a safe distance, and none dared to question them, but several have already resumed their daily routines. The four of them made it to the train station without incident, Aries found that the vehicle in question ran on a fixed track and was chained to several carts made for carrying a large number of passengers from one destination to another, he doubted that it could move faster than the equines themselves, but as a machine, it wouldn't tire as they would, even astartes had limits to how long they could run. Twilight waved down a group of mares who Aries assumed were the others she had mentioned, though he had no idea how any of them qualified to assist in what was to come...with one exception. "ARIES!" cried a familiar voice from behind them, the World Eater turned to the familiar sight of the xenos warrior that reminded him of the 13th legion, Rainbow Dash as he recalled. The winged equine flew to meet them and hovered in front of the astartes with one of it's hooves outstretched. "How ya been?" Aries regarded the gesture, assuming that it was some sort of greeting that he was expected to respond to in some manner. As the xeno had shown respectable skill in faceing a more than insignificant number of Bloodletters on her own, he decided to place an closed fist against it's hoof to show respect to the warrior. "I have been well, though I am not accustomed to spending so long away from combat." Before any other questions could arise a voice rang out. "ALL ABOARD!!" while ringing a bell, signaling that it was time to board the train. The group of eight aliens and one space marine entered the train, and though the transport's staff member looked at him the same way as the rest of their kind, this one actually dared to address him. "Uuuhhhh, S-sir, do you ha-have a...ticket?" "No, I do not." Aries said, looking down at the golden horned alien with dark brown hair and green eyes. "W-well, I'm sorry, but I cannot let you board without a ticket." The xeno said, nervous, but unfaltering. "I have urgent business with your rulers, I do not have time for this." Aries said and turned to walk away...only for a golden flash to see the alien appear in his path, his gaze roaring defiance. "I am sorry sir, but unless you have a ticket, I cannot let on this train." The alien said with conviction. Aries was about to brush him aside when Twilight ran up to them with a gold colored piece of paper in her mouth. The alien turned and looked to her confused. "That's funny, I could've sworn that I had already punched your ticket Princess." "It's not mine, I just forgot to give Aries his before we boarded." Twilight explained, causing the xeno to look back at the astartes, and then back to Twilight. "Very well, although you should have a talk with your friend, his manners are abhorrent." And with that, the xeno turned to leave. "What is your name, alien?" Aries asked. The xeno gave him a look and hesitated, but in time, an answer came. "One-way Express." "I will remember that." Aries said, bowing his to the creature that, in spite of it's head failing to reach Aries' knee, stood his ground against a World Eater. Author's Note Fair points Warpsmith, one of which will be answered in chapter 6 (which I am currently writing and plan to publish on the weekend) another I will answer in a later chapter, but for the hostile aliens bid, he said that I encountered, not the Imperium, he himself, I know the Imperium has encountered nonhostile xenon before, most popular being the Jotaro (might've spelled that wrong) which the Inquisition put a leash on. Chapter Five: War MeetingAries was reaching his limit, the foul xeno known as Pinkie Pie may not have aimed a cannon at him yet, but the endless barrage of pointless questions was bringing the bite of the Nails to dangerous heights. "When'syourbirthday,what'syourfavoritecake,what'syourfavoritecolor,isitred,Ithinkitwouldbered,doyouthinkitwouldbered,causeIthinkitwouldbered,doyouhaveanyfriends,doyouwannamakenewfriends,doyouwannabemyfriend..." on and on and on and on until finally, Aries could see a large city roughly three kilometers away with a castle built into the side of a mountain. Rainbow Dash turned her head away from her conversation with the others and finally saw her energetic friend harassing the now trembling World Eater, but as she inhaled to tell Pinkie to stop, Aries did something that even a daredevil like her considered a little bit drastic. Pinkie Pie was flung from her perch on the space marine's shoulder as Aries smashed himself through the wall of the train, ripping through it like it was paper. "ARIES!!!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she zipped over to the hole in the train to see if he was all right, only to stare, mouth agape, as the demon slayer caught up to the hole and then passed it...on foot. Aries ran as fast as his super human body and performance enhancing power armor would let him, the impact of his feet against the grassy plains giving but the faintest relief as he passed the locomotive and kept on going. Aries heard a sound closing in on him, looking to the side brought him face to muzzle with Rainbow Dash, the arrogant alien warrior giving him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry about my friend, I told her not to overwhelm you again and I'll keep a closer eye on her in the future." Aries nodded his head enough that she could see the movement and kept on running. "Not much of a talker, are you?" Rainbow Dash prodded. "I am familiar with conversing with others, but your 'friend' needs some practice." Aries responded. Aries barely recognized Rainbow Dash's expression as one of surprised humor before she disappeared behind him, stunned into stopping until she let out a long, loud laugh. In a few seconds, Rainbow Dash caught up with him again, still snickering and smiling. "Yeah, Pinkie tends to get overexcited when around new people, you see, she's made it her mission in life to make friends with everycreature she meets, and trust me, as soon as she figures out how, she will make friends with you." Aries doubted that, but didn't comment, and instead pressed forward. Seeing that the conversation was over, Rainbow Dash smiled mischievously, which did not go unnoticed by Aries. The thought that the xeno plotted betrayal crossed his mind, but he couldn't see her being that open about it, however, the smirk's meaning became known as he noticed that the alien was gradually pulling ahead of him. "Hmph, challenge accepted." Aries sprinted hard, they had a single kilometer to go, and though he knew this alien was capable of outrunning him even if he were piloting a Thunderhawk, he was determined to represent humanity's finest warriors, if for no other reason than to bring faint relief to the Nails before a meeting with the planet's rulers. Aries pulled a slight lead that he retained until they made it to the train station, Aries had to grind to a halt while the alien simply halted with practiced ease. "Man, you're not even winded, are ya?" Aries turned to the xeno. "As if you had gotten here as fast as you could." Rainbow Dash laughed at that. "Yeah, but I couldn't move half that fast on hoof, so I'll keep title of fastest pegasus and you can have the title of fastest, uh, you called yourself a 'World Eater', right?" Aries nodded. "Yes, that is the name of my legion, the 12th legion of adeptus astartes or 'space marines' if you prefer." From here Aries and Rainbow had a friendly chat until the train arrived. Rainbow veered away from the important matters, stating that she'll hear about them at the meeting. Aries told her of the adeptus astartes and their purpose to rule and serve the imperium of man. Rainbow told him of the three pony tribes, the pegasai, the unicorns,the earth ponies, and their allies, the dragons, the griffins, the yaks, the changelings, and the hyppogriffs. Aries only got as far as space marines in general and what separated them from normal humans, which were unexplained. Rainbow only got as far as each race's appearance and abilities, which Aries had asked for. At last the train caught up to them, Pinkie Pie was the first one out, she apologized to Aries...a little too much, Rainbow Dash put a hoof in her mouth and swore her to silence, for now. The others arrived soon after, and the group made their way to the court of the royal sisters, the journey wasn't too long, as Pinkie Pie had joined the rest of the group to hear Rainbow Dash's retelling of what Aries had told her, which she exaggerated as much as was possible. (not that much) Aries trailed behind, observing the city, more particularly, how it's citizens made the residents of Ponyville seem courageous, fleeing and screaming as if he were attacking them. On more than one ooccasion had a xeno dressed like a law enforcer or a guard attempted to confront him only for Twilight to appear in between in a flash of witch-light and send them off. Aries looked back and realized that the beasts he had encountered in the forest would pose a very significant threat to these four foot peace loving equines, which in it's own way, made Ponyville akin to Catachan. Eventually, they made their way to the castle, Aries would give credit where credit was due, the castle guards never even flinched, though he could hear their elevated heartbeats and assumed the fact that he accompanied Princess Twilight was the only reason they had kept their composure. They made their way to the throne room, the door was before them on the other side of a long hallway, the large stain-glass windows portraying still images that Aries recognized as past exploits, as the 12th legion had similar portraits on their ships' halls. Twilight opened the door with her magic, and while Aries immediately recognized Princess Luna, and determined that the taller white alien was her sister, Celestia, his attention immediately focused on one of the visiting rulers. It was bipedal, possessing wings and horns and scepter with a glowing crimson stone, only it's sky-blue scales kept him from believing it to be a Bloodletter. Aries recalled Rainbow Dash's description of dragons and put two and two together, he may have pondered it for awhile, but to an astartes, a while if less than a second, and so he was able to look away before his suspicion was noticed, however, he doubt anyone would judge him, as they were all doing the same with far less tact. The dragon and young avian lion seemed impressed, the rest were having mixed reactions, with the only one that Aries couldn't read being the large bovine that had the fashion sense of a Space Wolf. The green insectoid equine and the avian equine seemed to react in the same manner as the ponies, while the ancient avian lion and black insectoid equine stiffened as if preparing for a fight, cute. "You must be Aries, on behalf of Equestria, I thank you for aiding my sister in defending our people." Announced Celestia. "This war is mine to fight, if my enemies wish to destroy you, then I will stop them." Aries replied. "Then shall we discuss how to end this war as quickly as possible?" Celestia said, beckoning to a seat at the table in front of the two thrones that would put him across from the royal sisters with the black Changeling on his left and the young griffin on his right. He took his seat, the ponies and dragon that accompanied him taking seats reserved for them as well, and the council began. "While we awaited your arrival, my sister explained that the demons came from your nightmare, you were surrounded by them and they were numberless, she also told us that you described them as incarnations of War, Rage and Slaughter, is there anything else you can tell us about them?" Celestia asked, and every alien present looked to him...but he looked to Luna. "Is that all you saw of my dreams?" Aries asked, her reaction answered for her. "I felt as though that was too personal for me to speak of without your permission, am I right in assuming that they were possessed by these demons?" Luna's answer confused all present. "No...they were not, I thank for keeping it to yourself." Aries stated and immediately changed the topic. "I dream of these creatures because I was captured by them and forced to fight for my life for countless years, I do not know how much time has passed, but in that time, the mad fools gloated to me with arrogance, told me of their heinous orgins, their plans for the universe, and how they fight." Aries explained, earning a few gasps and looks of pity. Twilight looked like she was about to voice to their sympathy, but Aries brought to silence her and continued. "They are Ethereal beings, and as such they cannot enter the physical plane outside of two methods, possession of mortals, or being summoned through blood sacrifices, it is uncommon for a small group of Daemons to do the former and then perform the latter to bring the invasion, I have discussed this with Princess Twilight, but the best course of action is for Princess Luna to continue overseeing the dreams of her subjects and look out for possible possessions and perhaps acquire assistants to counter a greater work load, but in case of the worst-case scenario, I believe the best course of action would be allowing me to train your armies in fighting these enemies in all out war." The air grew thick at those last three words, Aries expected as much. "They can't be that bad, I mean I beat up a whole bunch of them all by myself." Aries turned to Rainbow Dash, she was clearly bluffing, her worry was evident to the astartes, but she had succeeded in calming her fellows. "Yaks can beat any demon that ponies can beat, Yaks best at fighting." said the Yak prince in an accent that made orks sound articulate. "Gotta agree with Rutherford, Rainbow Dash may be an awesome pony, but she's still a pony, no offense." said the dragon lord. "...You are wrong." Aries said to Rainbow Dash, causing the others to look at him for an explanation. "...You know this, don't you?" This he said to Luna, who had seen his mind. "If you are referring to your dream, I cannot be sure how accurate it was, you didn't appear to be in the best state of mind." Luna explained, and Aries couldn't fault that, the Nails had him in their grasp at that time. "Can you look again, see into my mind, and this time, show them my memories?" Aries asked. Luna looked shocked, but she nodded. "If you wish to show them your memories, and they wish to see them, I can make it so." "You do it Gilda, tell me anything that's important and skip the sappy stuff, the only dreams that interest me are my own." said the elder griffin to the younger who groaned at the task. "Uh, Thorax, I think you should sit this out, you're not built like I am." said the black changeling to the green one who nodded. With this, the group left the table, and allowed it to be removed by servants before making circle around Aries and Luna, the elder griffin and Thorax remaining behind, along with Fluttershy and Rarity. Luna closed her eyes and channeled her magic, when she opened her eyes, they glowed like moonlight, this glow exploded from her eyes, first enveloping Aries, and then the circle of xenos. Author's Note This is the last chapter that I have already written, chapter 6 will be ready either tomorrow or the day after, after that, I try to post weekly. Also, if anyone is interested, I have recently decided to make YouTube videos, they're just slideshow music videos, but I have started up a series where I compare a character from mlp with a faction from 40k, feel free to look them up in your free time. See you all next time. Chapter Six: Istvaan IIIA maelstrom of violence, that was the only way Twilight could describe what she was seeing. The various creatures around her shared her shock, even Prince Rutherford was clearly stunned by the sheer brutality of the battle. Humans, a race that only Twilight recognized, screamed like mad beasts with glowing eyes and discolored skin as they charged into a vicious melee with the World Eaters who tore them into red mist with their screaming swords and axes of similar nature...all but a few. Everycreature was surprised to find that Aries himself was not part of the melee, instead he and a few other World Eaters trailed behind at a steady pace, their swords and axes at their hips and their hands occupied with a large rectangular device with a smaller curved rectangle connected to it and a small tube or exit hole, small compared to the device, but Twilight could've stuck her horn inside the hole if she wanted to for whatever reason. Twilight was about to ask Aries about the nature of the device when suddenly, a mad human with magical abilities similar to that of a unicorn teleported behind the World Eaters who were too concerned with those in front of them to notice, but as the human prepared to hurl purple lightning at the unsuspecting World Eaters, there was a noise that Twilight could only describe as a thunderclap with the royal Canterlot voice, and the human's head exploded. Twilight turned to the direction that the noise had come from to see the image of Aries lowering the device, smoke fading from the hole. More thunderclaps drew Twilight's attention to the others, she couldn't see what they were shooting at, at least she suspected they were shooting projectiles of some sort, but she could hypothesize from where they were aiming that it was snipers and desserters that their berserk allies failed to realize were there. "So you are not a front line fighter, your skill with the screaming sword led me to believe otherwise." Princess Luna asked the real Aries who stood with the group, Twilight listened in, making mental notes of every word he used to describe this...this. "The 12th legion of adeptus astartes is primarily a melee oriented legion that is unsurpassed in sheer ferocity, but that does not blind us to the necessity of covering fire, as a tactical marine, I am tasked with keeping my rage in check and focusing on the battlefield, protecting my brothers from those who would exploit the vulnerabilities of one who is blinded by rage, if one of my less restrained brothers were to take my place, I doubt that we would be speaking right now." Aries explained. Twilight knew what he was implying, his 'brothers' were savages in every sense of the word, she actually felt a touch grateful that all of the humans were possessed, for she doubted that the World Eaters would notice any that weren't. The battle, if one could call it that, was extremely one sided, any heavy armaments were charged head on and barely left a dent in the mad marines' armor, and any flanking maneuver attempted by the madmen was swiftly thwarted by the tactical marines. "W-was all that necessary, I mean, couldn't you've cured them somehow?" Applejack stuttered out, everyone just stared at one part of the violent scene or another. "We were not taught any such tactic, wherever we deploy, none survive, it led to us being hated, secluded, the majority of our efforts directed to xenos threats, and thus the fact that we were called in to deal with this incursion speaks volumes of just how dangerous this threat can be, for whatever else the Imperium we serve may call us, above all else...we are necessary." Aries stated as a fact. Applejack wanted to argue that point, but before they could, static bursts erupted from the resting World Eaters, who started getting restless, before they started moving away with haste. "What's that all about?" asked Ember, voicing the group's confusion. "Astartes communicate through a vox system, a radio, installed in our helmets, without it, you wouldn't be able to hear me through the ceramite alloy that my armor is made of, and when in combat, rather than broadcasting our communication to the enemy, we use private vox channels, and these can be used to speak with other astartes on different parts of the planet, or with our orbiting fleet." Aries explained. While everycreature else, including Twilight was exclaiming about the advanced technology and how they could benefit from it, Princess Luna had a very different concern. "So what did whom say to you to earn such a reaction?" "...We are betrayed." Aries explained. The scene changed, the World Eaters were packing themselves into a large reinforced shelter, their words may have only been the static of their unheard communications, but the body language spoke volumes. "You're hiding, what could make you hide, why aren't you fighting them?" Rainbow asked. "There is nothing to fight, the traitors are preparing an orbital bombardment, but in order to ensure that we believe the unbelievable, the loyalist who warned us said it was a bio weapon unleashed by the possessed." Aries explained as the image of Aries arrived at the shelter and started calling out for World Eaters behind him to move faster. As three more made it in, the door began to close, Aries kicked the marine closing it, allowing one final World Eater through, before Aries was tackled and beaten while the door was closed, other World Eaters pulled off Aries' attackers and started trying to open the door again, ensuing a brawl. "ENOUGH! CONTROL YOURSELVES FOOLS!!" Demanded an unhelmeted astartes baring many scars and a cybernetic eye. The World Eaters pulled away from each other and started trying to communicate with those outside, trying to figure out what was happening. Aries started clutching his head as though in pain, but straightened himself as Rainbow Dash looked towards him. "Are you okay big guy?" "I can hear them through the vox, the sounds of my brothers drowning, a horrid reminder that I failed in my oath to protect them." Aries explained. "Hmm, Yak thinks yak misheard angry knight, how do creatures drown on dry land?" Prince Rutherford asked. Princess Luna was about to protest his curiosity about his brothers dying, but Aries answered him first. "Because the entire planet has been covered in the Life Eater virus, a destructive mist that breaks down all it touches on a molecular level, my brothers are drowning because their lungs are being filled in by their own melted flesh, that's how you drown on dry land, alien." Everycreature was completely taken aback to hear of such a horrible fate, worst of all was Pinkie Pie, she had been uncharacteristically silent throughout the entire thing, her mane and tail smooth and straight, but that last piece of information caused her coat to lose all color. "Man, it's a good thing Fluttershy didn't come." Muttered Rainbow Dash. Everyone was taken from their despair by a horrendous noise that persevered for a long time and drowned out any questions of it's cause, only Aries and the images of the outraged astartes weren't covering their ears. The noise subsided, and Aries answered the inevitable question. "The Life Eater virus is also highly combustible, the application of a thermal charge saw the entire planet burned to glass and any who somehow survived the virus killed, luckily, this bunker and others like it were built to withstand such things." Everycreature again reeled in shock that such horror could even exist, but Luna had a different thought. "Why is this happening, why are you being betrayed?" Aries turned to her. "Our father and brothers have tired of their oaths to the Emperor and now seek the freedom to kill indiscriminately, so when our father was told that Warmaster Horus seeks to usurp the Golden Throne, he joined his heretical rebellion, we and those of the Sons of Horus, the Death Guard, and the Emperor's Children legions who are more loyal to the Emperor than we are to our treacherous fathers have been cut from our legions and condemned, named traitors by those who forsake their oaths because we would not join them in their heresy." Aries turned and spat through his helmet, disgusted by the sheer audacity of his former brothers and father. "ANGRON!! YOU DARE TO STAB US IN THE BACK FROM OF A COMMAND VESSEL!? I COULD SEE SUCH TACTICS FROM CURZE, BUT YOU!? YOU DARE!!? IF YOU SEEK OUR BLOOD, THAN SPILL IT WITH YOUR OWN HANDS YOU COWARD!!!" The World Eater in charge shouted with a finger in his ear, earning shouts of agreement and challenge and vows of vengeance from the others. The scene changed again, the next thing everycreature knew, the World Eaters were outside, fortified in a ruined city, facing a plain upon which flying machines bearing the blood red jaws of the World Eaters unloaded 6 times their number, one of whom stood out from the rest, a colossus among giants, wearing crimson and bronze armor and wielding two screaming axes as if they were toys in his hands despite them each being larger than Big Mac. The flying machines unloaded the last of the World Eaters and flew out towards the loyalists. The sky erupted in endless thunder as the flying machines rained death upon the loyalist line, a few loyal World Eaters fired rockets at the enemy flyers, but damage was minimal. The colossus roared and the traitors charged the loyalist line, firing randomly and without accuracy. Aries and the other tactical marines returned fire at targets of opportunity, eliminating enemy champions with special weapons as their melee oriented allies charged to their deaths. "WHAT ARE THEY DOING!? Don't they know that's suicide?" Twilight exclaimed. "It was always suicide, our only choice was to beg for mercy we wouldn't receive, or drown them in our blood as they spilt it" Aries said. The loyal World Eaters were cut down, butchered, even eaten in some cases by their mad brothers, the tactical marines began to run out of ammo, joining the melee as they did so. Aries too ran dry, discarding his bolter in a fit of rage that embarrassed his present self as he watched, and at last drew his screaming sword and drowned out it's roar for blood with a howl of fury as he charged into battle, butchering his traitorous brothers before he too was cut down. The scene changed again, now Aries was alone, the only World Eater surrounded by the demons Luna had described, they assaulted Aries immediately, and he met them in kind. "Wait...didn't you just..." Ember hesitated to say it, but everyone was thinking it. "Yes, I died, my soul was cast into the immaterium along with those of all the other loyalists, a gift to the Dark Gods from the Archbetrayer." Aries all but snarled as he thought of the others who suffered his fate. Before anycreature else could question him, they turned their attention to the snarls of the demons, nearly discernable words could be heard from them. "Pay no attention to their lies." Aries warned. "They speak in half truths, it takes centuries to piece together the facts that they fragment for their amusement." This time, it was Celestia who questioned him. "And you did this...as you fought them?" Aries actually chuckled at that. "hmm hmm hmm hmm, I understand your disbelief, it is true that I do not have the patience for such a thing, but I don't need it, an astartes has a photographic memory, so while I ignored them completely, I remember every word they said, and from my experiences fighting them, I can piece together what few truths they said...including how my father and brothers are now devoted servants of their master, the Blood God Khorne, incarnation of War, Rage, and Slaughter, which brings me to the purpose of showing this to you, if even one of your kin are possessed unknowingly, and is allowed to summon a gateway to the Warp, we will not only face Daemons, but my brothers as well, and the Istvaan III Atrocity shall repeat itself on your world." The image of Aries fought on as the illusion was broken, returning everycreature to Canterlot. "Oh, you're back already?" asked Rarity as she and the others who stayed behind trotted to meet them. "What's wrong with you Gilda, was it even sappier than I thought?" Asked Grandpa Gruff. "It wasn't sappy at all actually, I'm pretty sure you would've finally had a heart attack if you had seen it." Gilda said without any humor or her usual sarcasm. "Pharnyx, are you alright?" Thorax asked his brother as he approached. "It is a really good thing you didn't see that, I almost wish I hadn't, but one of us needed to know what we were up against...it isn't pretty Thorax." answered the more aggressive changeling. "No..it isn't, war never is, that's why we must stop it before it begins while preparing for it as though it were inevitable." Aries declared. The leaders all nodded in agreement before Celestia spoke up. "We will need a week, a few days to get the word out, and a few more for volunteers to make arrangements to put their lives on hold until this matter is settled...however long it may take." "In the meantime, I fear I will require assistance in managing the Dream Realm...it appears that I now have need of an apprentice of my own." Luna said, looking between her sister and Twilight. "You can ask your subjects nicely if you want, I'm gonna pull Garble and the rest off their lazy tails and get them ready for a fight." Ember proclaimed. "Yak doesn't need to ask or tell other yaks to get ready, yaks always ready to fight...and SMASH!!" Prince Rutherford reared up and brought his front hooves down with authority. "Our people may have fled from the Storm King, but I will not lose the freedom that Princess Twilight and her friends have given us so easily." Declared Queen Novo. The others nodded in approval, and everycreature departed to prepare their nations for the coming war. Aries made to depart as well, but Celestia hailed him. "Aries, there is no reason for you to spend this week in a cave alone, you are more than welcome here." "...Very well, so where am I to retire?" Aries asked. "You can stay in my castle if you want, it's just me, Spike, and Starlight, so there's plenty of room." Twilight offered. "Very well, then we are taking the train?" Aries inquired. "I...suppose so.." Twilight said, a few of her friends showing mild disappointment. "Oh, and don't worry, I fixed the hole you made so the conductors aren't mad anymore." Twilight said. "...Why would I be worried about that?" asked Aries. Author's Note To whom it may concern, I am constructing a tribute to Aries on my YouTube account (of the same name) which will be ready within the hour. Once again, this chapter was just finished on my main site, FanFiction.net, and I am out of pre written chapters, which means updates will be weekly, but I am also going to post another (one shot) mlp40k fanfic either later tonight or tomorrow. See you all then and there Chapter Seven: A Warrior Without WarThe Following day Twilight was the first Equestrian out of bed. She had hardly slept on account of the new developments. And looking outside revealed that Celestia had yet to raise the sun. Twilight made her way downstairs toward the library in order to grab a few books to read until the others awakened...only to find that she, in fact, wasn't the first one awake. Aries paced around the library anxiously, his breathing elevated. Twilight could tell that something troubled him. Aries stopped pacing when Twilight cleared her throat to get his attention. "Couldn't sleep either, I take it?" she asked him. "That is not a problem, I do not require more than 3 hours of sleep within a week. One of many enhancements that separate astartes from the humans they once were." Aries replied. Twilight blinked away the shock and suppressed the urge to question him, for now, and skipped to the point. "Oh, well then, why did you seem stressed? is it because of the possible invasion?" Aries paused before answering. "In a manner of speaking...I am a warrior Twilight Sparkle. And unlike the common men and women of the Astra Militarum, I cannot simply stop being a warrior. There are some astartes capable of such, the sons of Vulkan and Fulgrim, but not a World Eater, not me...the waiting is hell, it's always been hell, but this is worse than anything I've endured...because it's 'possible' that I wait for nothing." Twilight pieced it together, he had made the battlefield his home. It was something that anypony would call barbaric, or crazy, but she found herself recalling how Applejack got her cutie-mark. After she moved to Manehattan to get away from the farm. She had spent the whole time pining for it, and returned early, because it was where she belonged. That was what war meant for Aries, it was home...and it was so far away. Twilight racked her brain for ways to help the astartes feel better, confident in the belief that the usual tactics were out of the question. "Um, well...you couldn't have been fighting ALL the time, what did you do between fights?" Aries actually made a sound that caused Twilight to believe that he was smirking beneath his helmet. "I sparred with my brothers and tended to my weapons and armor." Twilight was stunned, not because of his dedication to his calling, but because he actually showed that he could experience humor. "Oh, well then...umm, I got nothing...but I may know some ponies who can help you." Aries tilted his head. "Who would that be?" Twilight answered by turning to show her flank to him. "You see this mark? We call them 'cutie-marks'. They magically appear on our flanks when we discover our destiny." Twilight explained, Aries listening in the belief that there is a point to this. "A few years ago, a trio of fillies discovered that their destiny was helping others find their destiny, whether it's helping younger foals get their cutie-marks, helping older ponies understand their cutie-marks, or even helping other creatures without cutie-marks find their place in the world." Twilight concluded. "And you believe these three children can help me?" Aries showed no confidence in that plan. "Well I'd bet every book in my library that if you were a pony, your cutie-mark would be the insignia on your shoulder." Twilight said, pointing a hoof at the mark of the 12th legion. "Being a World Eater is your destiny, and right now you don't know what to do with it because you're in a world of peace and changing that is what they want. And if there's anypony that can help you, it's the Cutie-mark Crusaders." Twilight concluded. "I am all but certain that this will be a waste of my time...but I have a week to waste. Very well, where will I find them?" Aries asked. "It's not a matter of where, they live here in Ponyville. We just have to wait until a decent hour." Twilight said, pointing to a window and the lack of sunlight. Aries looked like he was about to protest, but then decided against it. "Very well, how long must we wait?" Twilight smiled at the astartes allowing her to help him. "Just a few hours, in the meantime, would you mind telling me more about where you came from. I know your legion is a sore topic, but what about the others, what about the imperium, and you mentioned other aliens?" Twilight summoned a blank scroll and a quill and ink. Aries shrugged in a 'why not' manner and sat in a chair, removing his helmet as he did. "What I know of xenos is what I learned from fighting them. So it's no surprise that I am most familiar with the Ork race, a species of barbaric savages that worship war as you worship friendship." Hours passed, yet Twilight never noticed the sun rise, she hung on Aries every word, writing an entire novel dedicated to the foul greenskins, even subtly complicating some of their beliefs to make them understandable for more complex creatures, such as referring to Gork as a clever fighter and Mork as a violent strategist. "So...is it a decent hour yet?" Aries asked, pointing to the window. Twilight turned to see the sunlight and actually leaped into the air with surprise. "WHOA!! Oh, um, sorry." Twilight composed herself and cleared her throat. "Yes it's a decent hour, and it's not a school day, so let's go see if we can burrow them for the day." With that, Twilight explained the situation to Spike, who would pass it on to Starlight, and the two set out. The moment Aries stepped out of the castle, he was surprised to see that the locals have a done a complete 180 in regards to his presence, waving their hooves at him in pleasant greetings. Aries ignored them and proceeded to follow Twilight towards a small shop of sorts labeled 'Rarity for you'. Twilight entered the building easily enough, but Aries had to crouch and turn his shoulders in order to squeeze in. "Oh, sorry about that." Twilight apologized. "You could not have foreseen that your buildings would have to fit an astartes, so there is nothing to apologize for." Aries affirmed. "Oh, Twilight what can I do fo-...uh, how did he get in?" The unicorn that Aries recognized from the war meeting had come from a back room levitating a piece of fabric with her magic. "He's surprisingly flexible." Twilight replied before getting down to business. "Um, is Sweetie Belle around?" Rarity nodded. "Why, yes she is, but might I ask what you need her for?" "Aries is having trouble adjusting to... not being at war with everything all the time, and I was hoping that the CMCs could help him find a place in Equestria when we're not preparing for a war that we might not even have to fight if we're lucky." Twilight explained. "Ah, I see. OH SWEETIE BELLE, COULD YOU COME HERE DARLING?" Rarity called out towards the room she had come from. "COMING!" Replied the voice of a young girl before the owner of said voice emerged. The unicorn filly had white fur and a twin colored mane and tail of two different shades of purple and a 'cutie-mark' of a shield with a music note within a star upon it's center. Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to ask a question, but fell silent as she laid eyes upon the World Eater. "...Whoa, you must the Demon Slayer." The filly's eyes started to sparkle as though she were enchanted by the space marine. "I have slain far more than Daemons child, but there are very few creatures on this planet that can satisfy my need for blood and honor. I was told you and two others could help with that." Aries explained. The World Eater's blunt expectations seemed to dispell the enchantment. "Oh, uhh... Scootaloo and Apple Bloom might have some ideas, Scootaloo knows all about the need for heart stopping adrenaline, and Apple Bloom is pretty straight forward in her approach. I'll go find them." Twilight gave a nervous laugh and chipped in. "We'll go find them, you go and look for Scootaloo while me and Aries find Apple Bloom. We can regroup at your tree house, okay?" "Sounds good to me, I'll see you there Princess, nice meeting you Mr. Demon Slayer." Sweetie Belle said as she made her way outside. Twilight was about to follow her when- "Um, Twilight, darling... you and your friend aren't going to do anything...dangerous, are you?" Twilight turned to Rarity, but Aries answered first. "I will only endanger myself, the children will be kept at a safe distance." "Oh, um...alright then..." Rarity was still nervous but said nothing else. Aries started to crouch again to exit the store, only for a lavender aura to envelope the door, and cause it to stretch as if the solid doorframe was elastic and grow big enough to accommodate him. Aries looked back to Twilight, who was straining to hold the spell, and then quickly went through the opening. The doorframe returned to normal, and Twilight said a few final words to Rarity before exiting the boutique herself. "You didn't have to do that." Aries said as he started walking. "Maybe, but what kind of friend would I be if I didn't?" Twilight asked him, catching up to lead the way to their destination. Aries looked at her. "We...are friends?" he said, unsure. "Of course." Twilight answered with a smile. Aries didn't know how to think about that. "Hmph, I guess this is how Jerrik felt when we first met." He said to himself, forgetting to switch his vox to a private line. "Who's Jerrik?" Twilight said, alerting the World Eater to his blunder. Aries' astartes mind allowed him to mentally berate himself, analyze the situation, and determine whether or not if it would be better to clarify or not in such speed that Twilight never even knew that his tongue slipped. "Jerrik was a Librarian in my legion, a psyker like yourself." Aries began, earning the alicorn's undivided attention. "Psykers have a difficult time mastering their abilities, and the destruction caused by untrained psykers discovering their abilities led to them being feared among the imperium. It is not uncommon for human controlled worlds to hunt psykers as monsters and witches, and many astartes legions refuse the use of psykers, fewer still treat their psychic brothers as equals." He went on, horrifying the princess. "I, however, do not share that fear, for the Emperor himself is a psyker, the most powerful of all, and He stands as an example of how these feared powers can be used for good, just like my legion and the VIIIth do for rage and fear respectively. So I saw no reason not to treat Jerrik as he was, a brother, not unlike any other World Eater." Aries concluded. Twilight smiled at his answer, only for her happy expession to turn into sadness when she realized that Jerrik was undoubtedly dead, like the rest of Aries' friends. The thought of such a thing befalling her own friends assaulting her mind, as they had the night before. Aries saw her expression and knew what caused it. He said nothing more on the subject as he could confirm what she knew. They arrived at a farm called Sweet Apple Acres. Aries saw naught but a single breed of fruit bearing trees stretching out for a good length. As well as various breeds of livestock, though what purpose equines had for such creatures eluded him. "HELLO!? IS ANYPONY HOME!?" Twilight called out, resulting in a larger, male equine with fur as red as the farm's namesake fruit emerging from the barn. "Hiya Big Mac, is Apple Bloom home?" Twilight asked the stallion. "Eeyup." Was his reply. "Great, I was hoping the CMCs could help me with something, you don't mind if I pull her away from the farm today, do you?" Twilight asked. Big Mac thought about it, Aries believing that he was weighing the loss in productivity over helping him and Twilight, before smiling at her. "Nnope." "Great, can you tell me where she is? It's been awhile since I navigated the farm." Twilight asked him. The crimson stallion silently pointed a hoof down one of the paths between the rows of apple trees. "Thanks." Twilight nodded her head towards him, a gesture he returned with a silent smile. Big Mac went inside the barn while Twilight and Aries went off in the indicated direction...Aries couldn't tell if he respected the stallion for his straightforward approach, or if he was just grateful for the lack of pointless conversation. As they walked down the path, Aries noticed that every tree they passed had been harvested recently. He also noticed a loud impact sound every 20 seconds. Eventually, he spotted a tree that was so filled with fruit, the branches bent with the weight. That is, until another impact caused the tree to shake, dislodging every single fruit. Aries and Twilight made their way to the harvesters, one Aries recognized as Applejack, and the other was a bright yellow furred filly with bright red hair that was a few shades darker than Big Mac's fur tied up with a pink bow and another shield shaped cutie-mark with a heart inside of an apple. "Hey Applejack, Apple Bloom." Twilight greeted when they were ten feet away. "Howdy Twi, what brings ya down here an- Oh, ya brought Aries along?" Applejack sounded a bit concerned and looked towards Apple Bloom, who had the same look as Sweetie Belle. "Wow, so yer that Demon Slayer that mah sister told me about?" The filly asked the astartes. "Yes, I am. I was told that you and your friends could help me find an occupation in a world with no Daemons to slay." Aries replied. Unlike Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom actually got even brighter. "Sure...don' suppose ya wanna give apple buckin' a try?" The filly pointed a hoof at an apple tree with buckets beneath it. "Bucking? You...kick the trees?" Aries inquired, to which the filly nodded and Applejack walked over to a tree on the other side of the path. "It may be a little difficult at first, since ya gotta figure out how hard to buck it ta get all the apples to fall without damagin' the tree." After an explanation, Applejack brought up her back legs and kicked the tree, causing every apple to fall from it's perch and into the buckets below. Aries pondered the option, it may not be as adrenalizing as front line combat, but may be the closest he can get until he can start training the Planetary Defense Force. Aries walked up to the tree that Apple Bloom had marked for him. Putting his hand upon it as he contemplated how much to hold back lest he break it in half. It was strong, sturdy, he could increase the effect of a weaker kick by aiming higher than the base, increasing the shake effect. With this in mind, he positioned himself with his right arm facing the tree, before leaning right, jumping left without his right foot touching the ground, and finally leaping right with a high kick-off on the tree, rolling as he landed. He turned back to see the results. Less than half the tree's fruit had been harvested. "Hey, not bad. I only got two of em on mah first try." Apple Bloom stated with a smile. "Heh, well I'm sure that even his kind don't get that big by skippin' leg day." Applejack joked. "If you are referring to training exercises, no, we do not skip." Aries said. "Apple bucking is a definitely a challenge, but I would prefer to combat something that can fight back if at all possible." "Hmm, well I don't know about fighting somecreature, but I'm sure Scootaloo can find somethin' that'll get yer blood pumpin'." Apple Bloom said. "Very well, shall we proceed to the rendezvous?" Aries asked Twilight. "You don't mind, right Applejack?" Twilight asked her friend. The farm pony waved her off. "Nah, I can finish up by myself. Have fun sugercube." With that, the three head out to the CMCs clubhouse. The walk was relatively short, as the clubhouse was located just off the farm. They came upon the tree house to find Sweetie Belle waiting for them, along with a pegasus filly with orange fur and a purple mane and tail and third shield shaped cutie-mark with a lightning bolt inside a feathered wing. "Heya Crusaders, I take it you both know what we're doin' today?" Apple Bloom asked her allies. Sweetie Belle nodded, while Scootaloo got her turn with the enchanted eyes at her first time seeing the astartes up close. "Whoa, you're every bit as awesome as Rainbow Dash said you were." "So, you are related to the warrior are you? Then perhaps you can tell me how I may occupy myself as I wait for the Defense Force to be drawn up." Aries said. "Hmm, as a matter of fact, I do have something that might interest you, and it's starting later today." The filly pulled out a flyer and handed it to the World Eater. The flyer announced that 2 hours from now, a gladiator like competition was to be held, a series of fights with a champion match for the main event. Aries handed the flyer back to Scootaloo. "An interesting idea, though I have my doubts, particularly on how much your kind can challenge me." "You do look pretty strong. Hmm, how about we watch the show so you can see if you like it, and if you do, then we talk about getting you in the ring. What do you say?" Scootaloo inquired. Aries pondered it for a moment. If nothing else, he can an idea on how the equines fight. "Very well, lead the way." Author's Note I'm cutting it here, because next chapter...the impossible happens. On an unrelated note: ho-ly FUCK the season 9 premiere actually had me out of my seat and pacing to calm myself down. The trailer terrified me because I thought they gave away the ending, but no, that's how it STARTS!! If there is anything disappointing about the premier, it's that they hyped up Sombra's return and then hit him with the stupid stick, so 9.999/10 cause everything else was Bad to the Ass like HOW IN ALL THE WARP'S HELLS IS THIS GONNA END!?!?!? However, I will be making this fic an AU because I already had a pre-set plan for Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow, so I won't be including any character developments that emerge in later episodes. One last thing to mention before I wrap this up, I've copied this story on fimfiction and someone on that site has informed me that I've been merging sentences by using commas in place of periods, so I will going back to fix that later, so pardon the updates that will not be the next chapter. All right, that's all I got, see you all next time. Chapter Eight: Buck Wild"FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS! MARES AND STALLIONS! WELCOME! TO THE GREATEST SHOW TO EVER GRACE EQUESTRIAN SOIL! WELCOME! TO THE PASTURE! OOOOFFFFFF! PPPAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!" As the announcement ended, the lights came on, followed by intense music and a fireworks display. The crowd was going wild with anticipation...all but three. One of a certain trio of fillies who was not as excited for the upcoming events as her Pegasus and Earth Pony friends, a World Eater who was unimpressed with the theatrics, and an alicorn who could've sworn she had heard that announcer's voice before. "Welcome, one and all to the P.O.P., I am your host, Michael Colt, and joining me today is our local sponsor, the strong speaking motivater who made our appearance in Ponyville possible, Iron Will." The Pegasus with a pale coat, brown mane, and strange W for a Cutie-Mark, confirmed Twilight's suspicions as the minotaur made his way to the announcer's table and took his seat. "THANKS MICHAEL! IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE! NOW! WITHOUT FURTHER ADO! LET'S SHOW THE CROWD SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE! THEM! PPOOOOOOPPP!" Iron Will flexed his obnoxiously large muscles as he spoke, making Twilight fearful that this was another sham...it was. While the crowd and the fillies became immersed in the show, yes, even Sweetie Belle, Twilight and Aries could easily see that the 'fighters' were pulling punches and throwing themselves when touched. Twilight explained her unfortunate history with Iron Will and getting pulled into his shenanigans, and apologized for wasting the warrior's time. "It is alright Twilight, as I said, I expected this to be a waste of time. And while the fights may be fake, the strength and acrobatics are not, so I at least have a hint of how ponies fight." With that, Twilight and Aries stuck around to allow the fillies to enjoy the show, one enjoying the fact that they were having fun, the other making mental notes of different pony martial arts while discerning what was plausible in a real fight and what wasn't. "And now, without ado..." Began Michael Colt. "THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!" Continued Iron Will. "The main event." concluded Michael Colt as the lights dimmed and the speakers started playing music for the next fighter. The crowd booed as a farmpony just smaller than Big Mac with a bit of blubber on him with a black coat, a white main, a scar over one of his brown eyes, and a Cutie-Mark of a watermelon slice, made his way to the ring. Aries dismissed him almost immediately after he had entered the ring as he just flexed muscles hidden beneath his fat and foreshadowed that his fighting style was based on power without skill, a grenade rather than a bolter. As soon as the overweight Earth Pony's music stopped, another song started...the champion...was a bolter. All eyes fallowed the Earth Pony who gave no show of bravado or gimmick other than his body. Muscular yet flexible, with a nut-colored coat, a black mane and eyes with a thin mustache and goatee, and a Cutie-Mark of a pony silhouette kicking another pony silhouette the way a human would. The crowd was impressed by his Cutie-Mark that even Aries knew meant that fighting was his destiny, but Aries was pleasantly surprised to recognize his sub-breed. As impossible as it (and everything else thus far) was, the champion fighter was a cross between an Equestrian Earth Pony...and the war horses of the Attilan Rough Riders. Fillies and Gentlecolts, please give an appropriate applause to the reining, defending, P.O.P. champion." Michael Colt began. "BBBUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKK!!!! WWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLDDDDD!!!!" Iron Will concluded as Buck Wild climbed into the ring, ignoring the cheering crowd as he stared down his opponent. His opponent charged as soon as the bell rang, attempting to slam into his opponent with his massive weight, but Buck Wild flipped over him and landed on his powerful neck before spinning with his hind legs outstretched...or so it seemed. Aries was disappointed to see the promising fighter pull back his leg just enough that a mortal would think his opponent had dodged it. However, the other pony's counterattack was not fake. Buck Wild was dodging full strength attacks and only feigning counterattacks that his opponent reacted to as if they were bug bites, and the crowd was falling for it. "HA! LOOKS LIKE THE CHAMP HAS BIT OFF MORE THAN HE CAN CHEW!" Announced Iron Will. "Unsurprising, Melon Slice is one of the most physically dominant competitors in the P.O.P., talent can only carry you so far against an opponent of a much higher weight class" Agreed Michael Colt, making Aries want to rip the pony's limbs off, considering how many of his brothers have proven that wrong when facing Ork Nobs and Warbosses in 1 on 1 melees. Fortunately for the ignorant Equestrian, Aries attention turned back to the fight as Melon Slice wrapped a foreleg underneath Buck Wild's own and threw him out of the ring. Only for the champion to grab the top rope with his teeth and rocket back into the ring in a front flip that ended in a double ax kick on Melon Slice's head. The larger stallion fell like puppet whose strings had been cut, but Buck Wild took his time making the cover, and the referee made the count a lot slower than he had for past matches, but this went over the crowd's head. The bell rang, and the crowd cheered the champion's victory, but the annoucers seemed to be late. Aries turned to them and isolated their whispered conversation from the white noise around him. "I thought he was supposed to lose." Muttered Iron Will as quietly as possible. "He was, I guess it's kinda hard for a natural fighter to throw a fight, Mr. McMane isn't going to be happy about this." Replied Michael Colt. Suddenly, the Earth Pony put a hoof to the headset around his ears. Aries could a voice emitting from the device, but not what was being said. "Uh, F-Fillies and Gentlecolts, I am delighted to tell you that our champion is not finished yet." Declared Michael Colt. Buck Wild composed himself well, Aries was the only one who could read the telltale signs of surprise as he looked to the announcer and saw him mouthing words that Aries couldn't quite read on account of the difference in mouth and jaw structure. "Th-THAT'S RIGHT! MELON SLICE WASN'T FOR ENOUGH FOR SO! I-I AM OFFICIALLY DECLARING AN OPEN CHALLENGE!!" Buck Wild declared. Aries knew what was happening, he was being stripped of his title for entertainment's sake, it wouldn't be long before his next opponent arrived. "Get their attention."Aries said to Twilight. "Huh? why?" She asked confused. "Because I'm taking that challenge." Twilight got the message loud and clear. Another entry began to play when Twilight took to the sky and shot a flare to get everypony's attention. The music stopped and the newcomer stopped flexing for the crowd as he and the annoucers and the spectators all turned their attention to the princess. "Uh, if I can have everpony's attention, um, I have a challenger for the champion." Twilight's awkward statement caused a wave murmurs among the crowd. "WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS! AN OPEN CHALLENGE!? THIS COMPETITION IF FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ONLY!!" Iron Will declared while Michael Colt ran the situation by his boss. Twilight deadpanned at the minotaur. "As a matter of fact, he just said that it is an open challenge, and the fighter I have in mind is a professional athlete, a warrior to be precise." "Uhh, Mr.McMane would like to see this fighter if you don't mind Princess." Michael Colt stated. Twilight pointed to where the World Eater was seated, a spotlight trailing her hoof as Aries stood up. Everypony that hadn't noticed the astartes from the more distant areas from him in the crowd let out gasps of amazement. Michael Colt went slack-jawed, and Iron Will looked from his muscles to the armored giant trying to determine which of them was bigger. Aries ignored them all, and locked eyes with Buck Wild. The Earth Pony showed no fear, in fact, he looked excited. "Mr.McMane doesn't usually allow this, but he isn't going to turn down a request from the Princess of Friendship herself. But he can't fight in a full suit of armor of course, and since I don't know anything about him, we need you to announce him when he comes down the ramp." Michael Colt stated. "That is acceptable." The robotic voice made the Earth Pony jump out of his skin as he had not noticed the astartes descend from the crowd. "Twilight, I will need your assistance in removing my armor, it was not meant to be equipped by hand." Aries said as he made his way to the back of the arena in search of a dressing room. 20 minutes passed from when Aries and Twilight left to get the World Eater ready to when Twilight returned to relieve Michael Colt of his headset. "Ahem, Fillies and Gentlecolts, Mares and Stallions, stranded in our dimension, hailing from a world engulfed in war, a proud servant of the Imperium of Man, a Tactical Marine of the World Eaters legion of the adeptus astartes: ARIES!As Twilight finished announcing the World Eater, an entrance song clicked on as the crowd questioned each other about the astartes. The questions fell silent when the warrior god among mankind came down the ramp. Where everypony else was gaping at the scar that fixed his face into a permanent snarl, Twilight was analyzing his other scars, some of which appeared surgical in nature. Aries ignored the crowd, his eyes locked on Buck Wild, as he climbed into the ring and stared him down, the Equestrian never flinched. "I will follow the rules of this tournament, but I expect a real fight. Do not restrain yourself against me." Buck Wild smirked at his opponent. "I had a feeling that's what you wanted You're on...Aries." The stallion even spoke with an Attilan accent, Aries wondered if one of their horses was somehow transported to this world and bred with a local mare. There were many ways that didn't make sense, and yet... Aries put the thoughts from his mind as he and his opponent took to their conrners. Ding Ding Ding In true World Eater fashion, Aries went on the attack, charging the stallion. Buck Wild waited in a stance, and then turned around for a simple buck. Aries caught both hooves, but the kick was strong enough to force the back of his hands into his chest and make him release his hold. Had he not grabbed Buck's hooves, that attack would've been strong enough to knock him down. Aries jumped back to close any openings for a follow-up. Buck Wild turned to face him. "You were testing me with that, weren't you?" The stallion asked. Aries actually smiled "Indeed, I was expecting you to dodge rather than challenge a stronger opponent with strength, but it appears that the arrogance was mine." With that, Aries entered a proper combat stance, his body turned to the side, his arms guarding his head. Buck Wild smirked amusingly and walked towards the astartes.Aries recognized the tactic immediately, a slow, unthreatening advance into striking range to make your opponent lower their guard. As soon as he was close enough, Buck Wild sprinted and jumped, coming down in a spinning double ax kick. Aries ducked and threw his arms out, catching the kick without being struck then he slammed the stallion down, causing the crowed to pop. Aries let the stallion rise to his feet, but kicked him in the head before he could get his bearings. Buck Wild stumbled. Aries went to follow it up, but the stallion was faking, as he turned in his stumble and bucked at the astartes again. Aries saw it coming and, in payback, flipped over the pony, landing in front of him and sweeping all four hooves out from underneath him. Aries tried to stomp on the stallion's head, but Buck Wild rolled out of the way, flipping onto his neck and spinning with his legs outstretched. Aries caught the first leg, but Buck locked the second leg into the arm that held the first and, with amazing leg and core strength, pulled his body up and reached with his front legs in an attempt to lock in a choke-hold on the astartes. When Aries realized his opponents intent, he dropped, knocking the wind out of his opponent. Aries rolled off the stunned Earth Pony, grabbed his back legs, and threw him into the air. Aries prepared to kick his opponent as he fell, but Buck Wild righted himself in midair and bucked as he fell, both hooves connecting on the space marine's face. The crowd went wild as Aries fell down and spat blood and shards of shattered teeth from his mouth. Aries himself felt delighted, as the collision to his skull gave relief to the Butcher's Nails. The clopping of hooves told Aries that Buck Wild was pressing the attack. Aries rolled to his back and kipped up before turning with a spin kick. Buck Wild was too shocked by seeing a creature that large move that guickly to see it coming, and the kick connected all of the World Eater's shin with all of the Earth Pony's head. Buck Wild hit the ground like a puppet that had it's strings cut, but he immediately started trying to get up. Aries backed off, wanting more of a fight, as the Earth Pony got on two hooves and two knees. The crowd started chanting and stomping their hooves. Buck Wild was on his hooves proper, but he stumbled uneasily, his vision blurring. Aries knew it was finished, but the fact that his clearly beaten opponent was trying to keep going brought a smile to his face. "You've fought well Buck Wild, if you wish to yield, no one would think less of you." Buck Wild smiled at the World Eater. "Thanks but...I would...think less...of myself." Aries nodded and prepared one final blow when- "OH GET OFF YOUR HIGH-HORSE! THAT ALIEN MUSCLE MONSTER BEAT YOU LIKE A GRAPE CRUSHER MAKES WINE!! JUST FALL DOWN AND GET OUT OF THE RING, WE'RE ALL TIRED OF WATCHING YOU ACT LIKE SOME FANCY CHAMP WHEN YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER SHOW PONY!!" Melon Slice shouted from ringside. Twilight prepared to retort...Buck Wild prepared to retort...the crowd showered with boos...but they all went silent when Aries leapt from the ring and attacked the loud mouthed pony. A bell rang furiously, but Aries blanked it out as he viciously beat the disrespectful Equestrian. The beating didn't stop until a lavender field of energy engulfed him, he could hear Twilight straining to hold his fury in check as Aries fought his restraints until- "STOP! He isn't worth it... I've dealt with his kind ever since I got this Cutie-Mark." Buck Wild confessed. Aries ceased his efforts to turn Melon Slice into a red paste, but he stared into the beaten pony's eyes. "If you were in that ring with me, you wouldn't have lasted two seconds you worthless scum. Don't ever make light of someone who failed if you can't do better you filth." With that, he turned away from Melon Slice and back to Buck Wild. "Shall we continue?" Buck Wild laughed at this. "Actually, your assault on Melon Slice caused you to be disqualified, I won." Aries nodded in recognition. "Ah, so that's what the bell meant. Very well, you are the winner...the champion." "You don't approve of my line of work?" Buck Wild could see it in his eyes. "I fight for Blood and Honor, not amusement. I was seeking distraction while your rulers make the preparations for the coming war." Aries stated, confusing Buck. "War, what war?" The fighter asked. "Word has not reached you yet? Enemies from another dimension are attempting to invade Equestria. The Royal Sisters are gathering volunteers for me to personally train to fight them." Rather than terrify the fighter, the news made him excited. "Really, heh, I left the Royal Guard because their wasn't enough action for me. I joined the P.O.P. because it was the best that I could get. Where do I sign up?" Buck Wild inquired. "The word will reach you eventually, along with the information you seek. I was told to expect the first recruits within a week, I'll see you there." Aries smiled at the Earth Pony with whom he had bonded through blood and battle. Aries parted ways and blocked out any protests of his actions from those that had not earned his respect. He learned from Twilight as she equipped his power armor to him that he was banned from the Pasture of Pain forever. However, as he and the others left, something did bother him. The Cutie-Mark Crusaders all hung their heads in shame. They and the Princess were not punished for the World Eater's actions, so their shame confused him. "What guilts you young ones, you had no hand in my actions and were not scolded as such, is there some other reason for you to feel ashamed?" The three fillies looked at him as though the answer should've been obvious. "Well..We failed, we came here to help you find a place in Equestria, but you just got kicked out, and none of us have any ideas about where to go next." Scootaloo explained, the others nodding in agreement. "You may not have succeeded in the manner that you expected, but as I told Twilight, I was all but certain that this would be nothing more than a waste of time to begin with." Aries explained, the children not feeling much better. "However, you've proven me wrong in that belief." This caused the three to look at him in utter disbelief. "Huh, but yah didn' like it, an got thrown out, how was it not a waste o time?" Asked Apple Bloom. "Because I recruited Buck Wild to the Planetary Defense Force, and thus came to the conclusion that any other areas you previously thought could've worked for me may also hide potential recruits that I can scout myself, testing them before they even arrive for the first day of training. And even if I find no more than this one, it is one that I may not have found without the three of you. So congratulations Crusaders, you've allowed the warrior known as Buck Wild to find his place as your first line of defense." The three fillies cheered and congratulated each other, thanking Aries and giving him locations where he may find other potential recruits as the sun set on the first day. Author's Note I am just going to say this now, I am NOT making seven mini arcs about this, there will be time skips for two or three days where Aries finds nothing, but yeah, I thought that seeing an unarmored astartes go against an Earth Pony who was destined to fight was a good filler chapter. Anyone whose curious about Aries' entrance theme needs only to go to my YouTube channel and see my tribute to him, you may also enjoy my ten (at the time of writing this chapter) videos that compare a character from My Little Pony to a faction in Warhammer 40,000. (I take requests) Welp, that's all I got for this one, see you all next time. Chapter Nine: False Glory, True FireTwilight wasn't surprised to see Aries awake before her again, but she was surprised to see him reading one of her books. Aries turned his head when he heard her exclaim in surprise...with an actual equine sound. "Am I not supposed to touch your books?" he asked. "Uh N-no! yo-you can read as much as you like! I just...didn't picture you as a reader." Twilight replied, still staring at the book in his hands like it defied logic by existing. "I do not read for recreational purposes, as you do, but I still know very little of this world and it's people. So I decided to research your race and your allies...I can't help but notice that you have personally written the more informative books about dragons and changelings." Aries explained, causing Twilight to blush. "Yeah, I'm sure you've noticed from those books that our alliance with their races are fairly new, as well as why that is." Twilight replied. "Indeed, though I am more interested in these." Aries said showing Twilight exactly which book he was reading: The History of the Wonderbolts. "I believe that I may find potential recruits within their ranks." "That's a great idea." Twilight exclaimed. "The Wonderbolts are the most esteemed pegasai in Equestria. Rainbow Dash is a member, and you seemed pretty impressed with her." "Indeed, Rainbow Dash has proven herself against the Daemons. If the rest are even half as capable as her, then my training should make them somewhat significant." Aries stated. "So when should I contact them?" "Actually, this time it's not a where, but a when. You see, pegasai have the ability to walk on clouds, and so they live in the floating city of Cloudesdale. If you're going to visit them, then you'll need me to accompany you in order to cast a spell that will let you walk on clouds yourself." Twilight explained. It was hard to tell on account of the emotionless helmet, but Twilight believed that the hesitation was from him considering whether or not to let her use magic on him again. She remembered the unhappy look on his face while she removed his armor yesterday, and what he had told her of the Imperium's general distrust of magic and the reasons behind it. Although the hesitation was barely noticeable. "Very well, I accept your assistance in this matter." "Excellent, I'll just ask Starlight to mind the school while I'm gone." Twilight stated. A Few Hours Later Aries moved a foot off the hot air balloon that he and Twilight had traveled in, and lowered it to the cloud...resistance, as though it were springy. When Aries planted his entire foot, he stepped out of the balloon completely with full confidence, though he was still distasteful on having to rely so heavily on magic. He allowed it to happen yesterday because power armor was not made to be removed by hand and he felt that Buck Wild deserved a true fight, but just to get from place to place...he really wished Jerrik was here, that would be a little better. Twilight was next to exit the balloon, after which, she stepped in front of the astartes and led him to where they would find these Wonderbolts, Equestria's elite warriors. Aries tuned out Twilight's tour routine about the base itself and observed the training. Something was off, he could see several pegasai training their flight strength and performing aerial maneuvers, but no combat training. Odder still, a formation halted to stare at the World Eater, their Sergeant corrected them at first, but when he saw what drew their attention away from training, he gawked as well. Aries halted in his tracks "IF YOU HAVE TIME TO SIGHTSEE, THAN YOU HAVE TIME TO SWEAT AND BLEED!!GET BACK TO WORK!!!" The Wonderbolts shot off like a bullet...and those that hadn't noticed him until he shouted promptly double timed their routines. "Woah, were you drill instructor back home?" Twilight asked, her wings unsettled as though she was fighting a primal instinct to take flight. "No, but I find my expectations lowering by the second, this is pathetic." Aries grumbled as he stomped past Twilight. Before he could get too far ahead, a familiar rainbow colored streak made it's way to them, halting before the astartes. "I thought I recognized that voice, you got a set of pipes, dude." Rainbow Dash smiled at the astartes. Aries pondered Rainbow Dash's words, but not noticeably. "Yes, well, I'm afraid that these 'Wonderbolts' leave much to be desired." Aries said, pointing to the team of flyers that had irritated him. The minute he pointed them out, another pegasus that had been chasing after Rainbow Dash diverted course and landed close enough to be heard by the team in question at a reasonable volume, which she proved to be unnecessary. "STORMY SKIES!! YOU AND THOSE NEWBIES GET DOWN HERE, RIGHT! NOW!!" Aries examined the apparent commander, she was along the same size as Rainbow Dash with a bright yellow coat and a mane that was two shades of orange that looked like flames. She also had ember colored eyes behind a pair of sunglasses. And unlike Rainbow Dash and the other Wonderbolts who wore flight suits, this pegasus wore a heavily decorated jacket. The team in question landed in formation before the irate pegasus, Stormy Skies front and center. The commander started pacing down the team's length, her anger clear. "Does anypony wanna tell me what our guest ment by 'sightseeing'?" "W-we got distracted ma'am, we didn't know what that creature was, or what it was doing here." Answered Stormy Skies. Aries bit back a complaint of his own, it was one thing when no one else was disciplining them, but for now, he would let their C.O. take care of them. "So, you all missed the memo about how there is a new threat to Equestria. The memo that a new ally is putting together a new military detachment to fight this threat. The memo that he would be coming here to scout potential recruits...the memo that I personally gave everypony on base so that they would know that he was coming...you missed THAT MEMO!?" The officer shouted. Stormy Skies hung his head, but another pegasus wasn't done trying to justify their slip-up. "We're sorry Spitfire, we just didn't know he'd be so-" The commander, apparently named 'Spitfire', was nose to nose with the mare before she could say another word. "Do you know happens when you get distracted in a flight formation newbie?" She had removed her glasses in order to stare the recruit in the eyes. "U-uh um, W-we mess up?" The pegasus answered weakly. "And do you know what happens when you miss up on a high-risk formation?" Spitfire continued. "Uh, we..we could crash?" Was the reply. "And what happens when you crash newbie?" Her eyes narrowed. The recruit gulped, her expression saying that she knew what was coming. "We end up in a fu-" "YOU END UP IN A FULL BODY WING AND HOOF CAST, DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW!!" The recruit pressed her ears against her head as Spitfire let her have it. "YES MA'AM! I'M SORRY MA'AM! IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN MA'AM!" The recruit couldn't get the words out fast enough. "Good." Spitfire turned around and took three steps...before realizing that something was wrong with this picture. "WHAT ARE YOU NEWBIES STILL DOING HERE!! BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY LUMPS!! NOW!!!" Spitfire watched them leave, with slightly less motivation than Aries had given them, before letting out a sigh and trotting to the group. To her credit, Aries is certain that he only noticed her shock and awe at his appearance because he's an astartes. "Sorry about that sir, it's their first week." The pegasus then proceeded to clear her throat and put her forehoof against her head in a salute. "Captain Spitfire, Commanding Officer of the Wonderbolts, at your disposal sir." "At ease Captain, I was never one for ceremony, a title doesn't make a warrior after all." Aries replied. "Oh, I can assure you that Spitfire is as tough as they come. I may have been awesome before I joined the Wonderbolts, but Spitfire's training made me 20% cooler." Dash affirmed. "20% won't be enough for the coming war, nor will a week of 'flight manuvers', I was under the impression that you were military." Aries inquired. Spitfire gulped audibly. "I'm sorry to disappoint you sir, but since Equestria hasn't seen an actual war for centuries, we're mostly just...show-ponies." The word was bitter in her mouth, and her head hung in shame. Rainbow Dash was about to say something, but Aries beat her to it. "I have already found one promising recruit among 'show-ponies', perhaps there is one among your number who isn't satisfied with his position." Spitfire hid her relief well from her fellow ponies. "I was hoping you'd say that, I would've been a bit embarrassed if I had called up the rowdier recruits for nothing." "Lead the way then." Aries said. Spitfire chose to trot rather than fly while Rainbow Dash zoomed off ahead and Twilight fell in step beside Aries. "Okay, so one bad impression and one good impression?" She asked of the World Eater. "Hmm, yes, I believe so. Although at present, I only consider one of them recruitable." Aries replied. They arrived at their destination. The Wonderbolts present either looked confident...or like they couldn't be bothered. "ATTENTION!!" Shouted Spitfire, the Wonderbolts obeying with varying degrees of haste. Spitfire swallowed her anger for the moment. "Listen up maggots, you have been chosen because our new friend here..." She pointed at hoof at Aries, earning a few oohs and awes. "...needs some ponies to whip into shape for a big fight against a new threat to Equestria...AND YOUR IT!!" At the last word, she pointed her hoof at a random mare...who promptly fainted at the idea of fighting. After Spitfire remembered how to close her mouth, she started scratching the back of her head with a forehoof while looking at Aries with a nervous smile. However, before he could reply, someone else commented on the situation. "Hah, or not. I guess someponies just don't have what it takes to get their hooves dirty." The speaker was a stallion who Aries had noted as having the least motivation, though now, he showed the least fear. That was promising. "Alright newbie, YOUR IT!!" Spitfire said to the speaker, who stepped up confidently. "Alright, what's the routine?" Aries stepped up to him. "Fight me." The volunteer looked confused for a moment, but then, with a shrug, his confidence returned. He took to the sky and prepared to dive bomb the astartes. Aries didn't take a combat stance, he merely took the time his opponent took to approach him to position himself. Then, when his opponent was close enough, Aries kicked him in the gut just hard enough to stop him, not hard enough to break anything. The pegasus fluttered back down to the cloud, coughing and wheezing. "Wha-WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?" Aries looked down at him. "You've failed, you may return to your 'flight maneuvers'." The pegasus straightened up immediately. "WHAT!? Your failing me because I complained when you kicked me in the stomach!?" "Are you going to complain when a Daemon kicks you in the stomach...with a Hellblade?" Aries deadpanned. The pegasus was shocked at first, but then he busted out laughing. "PWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIGHT!? AAAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" "THUNDERBOLT!!" Spitfire shouted, failing to stop the pegasus' laughter. "I c-I can't help it Captain. D-did you hear that!? AHHAHAHAH-" Having grown fed up with the display, Aries put his foot down...on top of Thunderbolt, stomping him through the cloud they stood on. Everypony gasped in shock at the display, except Rainbow Dash who had started laughing herself...Then Thunderbolt returned, he wasn't laughing anymore. "Alright pal, you can drop the 'tough guy' act, your little sham isn't fooling anypony." Thunderbolt said, completely unaware of how close he was coming to death. Any other World Eater would've butchered the fool by now, but even Aries' more contempt brothers who mocked him for 'belonging to the Salamanders legion' knew better than to question his honor. "Explain." Thunderbolt rolled his eyes. "Oh please, it's obvious that you're just trying to score some brownie points with the princesses by putting on this big show of putting together a team to fight the next big bad to threaten Equestria, which will undoubtedly be defeated by Princess Twilight and her friends like all the others and you'll look good for being ready to do what the Wonderbolts and Royal Guard never do, even when they encounter the threat first." Aries just looked at him for a few seconds before grabbing him the neck, slamming him through the cloud a few times before grabbing his tail and throwing him away. "Uh, why are you doing that?" One of the recruits asked him. "Because it keeps from killing him...barely." Aries replied. When Thunderbolt came back, he looked like he was going to try to give Aries another mouthful, but Spitfire intercepted him. "THUNDERBOLT!! You've been dismissed." Again, Thunderbolt rolled his eyes. "Oh please, like you're going to do anything, do you really want me to bring up the Wonderbolts 'heroic' track-record?" "Stand. Down." Spitfire all but snarled. "pfft, Whatever." And at last, the fool left. Spitfire walked back over to the group grumbling about Thunderbolt. "Man, what a weasel. Why is that even a Wonderbolt anyway?" Asked Rainbow Dash. "Uuuuugggghhh, because Thunderstorm is his dad." Spitfire explained. "Uuuhhhh, who?" Dash asked, causing Spitfire to face-hoof. "Gah, you're killing me Dash. Thunderstorm is the Cloudesdale noble who funds us, and his ancestors funded the original Wonderbolts. They realized that with Equestria being so peaceful that we didn't need as much actual military training. And then, with our recent losing streak, Thunderstorm started talking about cutting us off completely and talking to Twilight about convincing the Elements of Harmony to show off for the people instead." "WHAT!?" Shouted Rainbow Dash and Twilight, along with the less attentive Wonderbolts who shared Rainbow Dash's neglect of common knowledge. "But why? And what do you mean by losing streak? I thought we were at the top of our game." Said Rainbow Dash. "Since you came along, yes. Our shows have been packed more than ever. But you're one of the Elements, the real heroes. Look at our accomplishments since before you joined us Dash, that losing streak." Spitfire replied. Twilight was about to interject, but then she made an expression that told Aries that she knew what Spitfire was talking about, though Rainbow Dash was still clueless. "What are you talking about? You're shows were on fire for years before I showed up, especially you Spitfire. I followed you from your rookie years, and how you always wowed the crowd with your signature move: The Hell Blazer." Spitfire smirked a little for a second, as though grateful that Rainbow Dash thought so highly of her, though she shouldn't. "I'm not talking about the shows Dash. I'm talking about when we were utterly useless against Tirek, I'm talking about when Twilight's pet dragon grew the size of Canterlot and went on a primal rampage and our attempts to stop him ended with us trapped in a water tank like a bunch of moths, I'm talking about when we went to judge that little flight competition you were in when your pal Rarity lost the magic that let her fly and fell from Cloudesdale and we rushed in to save her only to get knocked out cold by her flailing hooves and need you to save us, while performing the legendary Sonic Rainboom that was only supposed to be a myth...FOR THE SECOND TIME!!" Aries listened to the rant with varied emotions, mostly because he wanted to know more about that part with Spike. "Combine that with the fact that we were actually losing our audience until you showed up and saved our flanks again, it's really hard not to see Thunderstorm's point." Spitfire concluded. "Huh, when you put it like that..." Said one of the Wonderbolts, putting a hoove to the bottom of her muzzle in contemplation. "WHEN YOU PUT IT LIKE THAT NOTHING!!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "The Wonderbolts are a symbol, a disarmed army that means we don't fight to survive anymore. You think I didn't know that when I signed up?" Spitfire blinked a bit. "Well, I guess I should've known, you just talk about how great we are all the time, I kinda assumed you were in denial." The two stared at each other, and then they laughed. "Hmph, a symbol that you needn't fight anymore. That the threats are so small, you need but a few champions to keep them at bay. I hoped to, one day, bring such a thing to the imperium. To see the men and women of the Astra Militarum return to their families. The Ist, IIIrd, VIIth, IXth and XIIIth legions reduced to ceremonial parades as the Xth and XVIIIth focus less on weapons and armor and more on progress as the IVth and XIVth protect our borders eventlessly whilst my brothers and I hunt down our routed foes beside the Vth, VIth, VIIIth, and XVIth legions...a fool's dream, but one I cannot fault you for indulging as I once did." Aries lamented. "Thanks, nice speech. Too bad your only choice is our star player." Spitfire said, gesturing to Rainbow Dash. "Why do you say that?" Asked Aries. "Well, I heard you when you said that you only saw one of us as eligible, and I don't think I changed your mind." Spitfire lowered her head. "I was not referring to Rainbow Dash, I was referring to you." Aries brought Spitfire's head right up. "WHAT!? M-ME!?" "You acknowledge that your methods won't be enough when the Daemons come, are you willing to be as useless against them as your other foes, or will you let me mold you into a capable warrior." Aries shifted into a combat stance as he spoke. The message was clear, Spitfire removed her jacket and signiture whistle, ordering Rainbow Dash to hold them. "Fight until the pain is unbearable, begin when you're ready." Aries stated. Spitfire charged him head on, but pulled away at the last moment to fly around him. If he were mortal, he would not be able to track her. And even as an astartes, it was difficult. Spitfire increased and decreased her altitude at random, keeping just out of reach of the World Eater, until she suddenly closed the gap and struck, flying over his head and kicking off of his helmet to knock him off balance and circling around to strike again. It is at this point that Twilight received an answer to one her less pressing unanswered questions about the astartes... what was with that strange backpack. The stabilizer engines automatically rotated to the direction Aries was falling and fired off at full power, righting the space marine, who proceeded to launch a kick at Spitfire who barely dodged. Spitfire came about and feigned a charge again, but this time, Aries remembered the split-second her eyes started turning before she did, and waited. The minute her eyes turned, he kicked where she would be. Aries struck home, kicking her in the chest and catching her wing down. She hit the cloud hard and skidded a good distance. "SPITFIRE!!" Shouted Rainbow Dash as she rushed to help her friend to her feet. "Is that all you've got, because it's not enough to pass." Aries said walking over to the pegasai. "WHOA! WHOA! TIME OUT ARIES! that kick of yours broke her wing dude, she can't fly anymore." Rainbow Dash interjected. "The enemy won't care, so neither will I." Aries replied. "Bu-" Rainbow was about to protest further when. "He's right Dash, I got careless...heh, story of my life." Rainbow Dash turned to Spitfire, who held her broken wing close to her body. "I can keep going...no, I will keep going...I've HAD IT! with losing every fight and being called a hero. It was one thing when you and the Elements could do the heavy lifting for us while we get points for trying, but if this is even half as bad as Celestia made it sound in her letter, then that's not good enough anymore. So I'm doing more than just trying this time." Spitfire screamed a battlecry as she charged on hoof, turned, and bucked. Her hooves smashed into ceramite, pushed against it, but in the end, fell to the cloud without moving the astartes even a centimeter. "...You pass." Aries said. There was a silence, as if everypony was waiting for Aries to realize that he said the wrong word, and then Rainbow Dash started cheering along with the Wonderbolts who, until now, still stood at attention. "See a doctor about your wing, practice ground combat, and keep in mind that if you find yourself spending more time healing than you do training...you never had a chance to begin with." Aries ordered his new recruit. Spitfire said nothing, she was too exhausted, and fairly certain that she sprained her legs. She just smiled in silent victory. However, her smile disappeared when she realized something. "Daaaash, when you rushed over to help me, did you drop my jacket and whistle...through the cloud." Author's Note I am SO! FUCKING! SORRY!! about that. this should not have taken this long, but alas, I am both blessed and cursed with a wondering mind, meaning that by the time I start getting deep into writing one fic, I've already come up with 6 new ideas. combine that with 3 of my DD buddies moving away (we had our farewell game over the weekend) and Springtime allergies and it just took me longer to focus. I would beat myself up about it more, but then I realized some people take a month to do what I usually do on a weekend, so I'm really just disappointed that I promised an update every weekend and now it's Thursday. Outside of that, I do remember the review about the Astra Militarum not being a thing before the Horus Heresy, so why did I say it again? The answer: next chapter. P.S. I may or may not start a new story that I write beside this one...keep an eye out. Chapter Ten: Forbidden InformationAries still had half a day to look for recruits outside of Cloudesdale, and Rainbow Dash was still looking for Spitfire's belongings, so Twilight decided to head home and relax. She teleported back to the castle, after confirming that Aries wouldn't need her for anything, and started looking for a nice book to read. However, her attention was drawn to a book that she hadn't had in mind. It was the journal that she used to communicate with Sunset Shimmer. She had sent a message regarding Aries and the Imperium as she knew it, wondering if there was any connection between Aries' world and Sunset's. It would appear that Sunset had written a reply. Twilight opened the glowing book and read the latest entry. I need you to come through the portal...do not tell him what you're doing. That was odd, did Sunset know something? Only one way to find out. Elsewhere Sunset paced back and forth in front of the statue that served as a portal between Equestria and Earth, uncaring of the rain pouring onto her or the fact that she was at Canterlot High during summer break. Please be wrong, please be wrong, please be wrong, please be wrong... A purple glow coming from the statue broke her from her thoughts as Twilight entered her world in her human form. "Twilight." Sunset called, rushing to her friend and giving her a hug in welcome. "It's good to see you too Sunset, but what's this about?" Twilight asked when the embrace ended. Sunset's smile disappeared when she remembered what was going on. "He doesn't know that you're here, right?" "No, he doesn't, but why do you seem afraid of him? He's not that scary." Twilight questioned. Sunset looked back at the portal, and then looked around, as though afraid that the World Eater was eavesdropping on them from somewhere. "Not here, come with me." With that, Sunset led Twilight to the street and hailed a taxi. Twilight's delight at the vehicle and it's functions amused Sunset, but it couldn't dispell her fear. Sunset directed the driver to her apartment and led Twilight into the living room. There, she had several video games laid out to show off. "Okay Twilight, I need you to look at these, and tell me if you recognize the characters on the covers." Twilight was a little confused, she knew what video games were of course, there was even a local colt who's cutie mark was based on his arcade skills. Twilight picked up one of the games...and almost threw it when she found the Image of Tirek roaring at her. ut it wasn't at her, it was at a group of humans fighting the giant centaur on the cover of the game: Tirek's Revenge. She picked up another: Sombra's Shadow, and saw a humanoid King Sombra swinging a scythe at a human knight with a sword and shield. She picked up another: Hive of Horrors, and saw a human with a weapon similar to Aries' lost bolter unaware that a humanoid Chrysalis was on the ceiling above him. "I've beaten all of these villains back home...h-how does this world know about them?" Twilight asked. "They don't, the people who made these games have no idea that these villains are real in another world...but that's not the point." Sunset said before getting up, signaling Twilight to wait where she was, and then returning with a box of...something. Sunset opened the box and rummaged through it's contents. "...Okay Twilight, does Aries look like..." She pulled something out of the box and showed it to Twilight. "...This." Twilight forgot how to close her mouth as she realized that the orange and red object in her hand was a tactical marine with Sunset's cutie-mark as it's insignia. "...Okay, Aries is a game character in this world?" Twilight asked. Sunset turned pale as she realized that she was right. "Twilight...this game...is not Ogres and Oobliettes...this is Warhammer 40k, the darkest fantasy world." Twilight suddenly understood why Sunset was so afraid. "So, he's a villain?" "Technically, no. 40k doesn't have a set villain, everyone is good and bad in their own ways. But the Emperor he's talking about is the kind of ruler that would make you wish to live under Sombra. And Aries is loyal to him above all else." Sunset explained. "...okay...so, what you're saying is...the proud enforcer of a power-mad tyrant is protecting us from something even worse because...why?" Twilight voiced the million dollar question. "Because the enemy of my enemy dies second, he figured out that there is a reason that this enemy wants you dead. Speaking of which, you just told me that 'his enemy' is coming for Equestria. Could you be more specific, there's a lot of them." Sunset inquired. "Umm...Corn?" Twilight said...completely stunned to see Sunset feint as soon as she said it. A few moments later. Sunset groaned as she came back to her senses. Twilight had put her on her couch with all the armpillows beneath her, and was now reading the codexes that Sunset had in the same box that held her homemade warband of Thousand Sons that she made around the head canon of her fantasy self leading them to victory against the Emperor and Celestia. (she was still evil when she made them) "...So, Khorne huh?" Sunset said as she came to terms with the severity of the situation. "Yeah...Khorne...hopefully he's the only one after us, I already learned more about Slaanesh than I would ever want to...I promise not to Celestia that you sacrificed her to Tzeentch by the way." Twilight joked...but Sunset wasn't laughing. "...Do you have any idea how many ponies are going to die?" Sunset said with almost no emotion. "Hopefully none, it's still possible that Princess Luna could keep the Daemons from possessing anypony." Twilight said. "So what, they can wait for centuries...Aries probably can't." Sunset said. "Umm, you have plenty of books on Daemons and the Thousand Sons, and a few on the Eldar, but I'm still just as unaware of what you know about Aries as I was when I came here." Twilight pointed out. "Right, sorry. World Eaters are berserk melee fighters. And if he's one of the younger ones who was recruited to the legion in the later years before the Horus Heresy, then he was probably given the Butcher's Nails: a neural implant that causes extreme pain, but also releases chemicals into his brain that cause pleasure whenever he's fighting. If he goes to long without that fix, the Nails'll drive him mad." Sunset explained. "Well, Luna described his skill with a chainsword as pretty berserk, but he's a tactical marine, so he's pretty good at keeping his rage in check." Twilight argued. "Maybe, bit there's a difference between keeping anger in check, and keeping it bottled up. And this isn't the kind of anger that goes away with therapy, telling you what the Nails are doing to him won't make them stop." Sunset counter argued. "Okay, is there any good news?" Twilight asked, a bit worried. "Well, from what you told me that he told you, there is a slight chance that might be slightly, or even completely wrong." Sunset replied. "Uhh, care to explain?" Twilight asked. "Well, you said that one of his friends was a librarian, that shouldn't be possible, considering the time line. And the Astra Militarum isn't founded until after the Horus Heresy. With these differences in mind, and the fact that Tirek is a demon king, Sombra draws power from a magic ring, and Chrysalis is just an alien bug with the sentience of a wasp, and they all fought against humans, there is the possibility that there are some other differences, but you should act as though there isn't, just to be safe." Sunset pointed out. "Okay, anything else?" Twilight asked. "Not that I know off the top of my head, Warhammer 40k is a big franchise, but I'll try to get some books about the 12th legion and the Ruinous Powers so that you know what you're dealing with, but do not, I repeat, NOT let him know about this. I don't want to walk by that statue and suddenly have an angry World Eater jump out screaming 'heresy' at me while he rips me to pieces." Sunset shuddered visibly at the thought. "Heh heh, you're secret's safe with me, although he probably wouldn't have as big of an argument if you didn't play a traitor legion." Twilight joked. All of the tension left Sunset as she and Twilight laughed at that. "Fair enough, maybe I should invest in the Blood Ravens." After that, the two talked a little more before Sunset got another taxi to take Twilight back home. Twilight arrived in Equestria two hours after she left. Satisfied with her new lead into the mystery of the new conflict brewing, she grabbed a book from a nearby shelf and turned the page...then Aries returned. "OF ALL THE DISFUNCTIONAL! IRREDEEMABLE! WORTHLESS! PATHETIC EXCUSES FOR MILITARY I HAVE EVER SEEN! CANTERLOT'S ROYAL GUARD MAKES THEM ALL LOOK LIKE CUSTODES!!!" Author's Note Okay, so my upupcoming weekend is taken up by alternative plans. So I decided to throw this shorter chapter to kinda explain some of my fuck ups regarding the lore. So there you have it, Gamer Sunset is my plot device that covers the numerous plot holes that have been pointed out and I can't tell if you're going to be okay with this or declare Exterminatus...let's find out. Chapter Eleven: A Good Night's DuelAries had managed to keep himself busy throughout the week by hunting for recruits to the Planetary Defense Force, though he had only managed to find two recruits. It was now the eve before he would officially meet with his forces. He anticipated turning away more than half of them, but hoped that he was wrong. For now however, he would sleep, and be at the peak of his performance tomorrow. He stepped into the room that Twilight Sparkle had assigned to him for the first time since he had arrived in this castle. The bed had been magically enlarged to accommodate him. He had thanked the Equestrian for it's hospitality while privately despising their over-reliance on magic, believing this to be the sole reason that their technology was so primitive. Of his armor, he only removed his helmet and the battery pack. Then he committed himself to a few pre-sleep exercises while his armor was deactivated, allowing him to feel it's full weight. After the last pushup, he crawled onto the bed, which held his weight, power armor and all. He was asleep within moments. Aries opened his eyes to the sight of Bloodletters charging him, he had his helmet and battery pack, along with a chainsword. Aries thumbed the activation rune and relaxed slightly at the familiar vibration crawling up his arm. As the first Bloodletter charged into range, Aries swung...only for the Daemon and it's kin to disappear in a flash. Aries straightened himself and looked in the direction of the telltale wing flaps of Princess Luna. "We thought that we would prevent the peril of your last slumber before it began." "A good strategy, one that I had planned to employ myself." Aries said, attempting to mask his disappointment. "Meaning that you had wanted to face them yourself...this wouldn't have anything to do with nails in your head, would it?" Luna asked. Aries hid his shock well and spoke in an unimpressed voice. "What do you know of the Butcher's Nails?" "Only what young Sparkle has told us. She wanted her means of investigating you to be kept secret for fear of...retribution." Luna answered. "I had expected her to probe my mind for fear that I was hiding something, I just want to know how she did it without me realizing it." Aries explained. "Twilight is a magnificent sorcerer, as dedicated to magic as you are to war. Which brings us back to the Nails." Luna said, making the same assumption. "Yes, I am required to fight or I will go mad. I had planned on controlling myself this time now that I am aware of the enemy's plans, but now..." Aries was already planning to return to the Everfree Forest for a hunt, praying that he could find something capable of appeasing the Nails. "Now you are in the Dream Realm, a realm that I govern. If you allow me into your mind, I can find memories of enemies unrelated to your anger and reconstruct them in the hundreds for you." Luna stated as a fact. Aries started at that, though only another astartes would have noticed. "That...could work, providing all that I've seen doesn't drive you mad." Luna smirked. "We have lived longer than 1,000 years, and Equestria earned it's peace. We fight not to prevent madness from seizing our world, but to prevent it from doing so again." "And as for what you've seen. When showed us the tragidy that was Istvaan III, I noticed another World Eater loyalist carrying a weapon that was superior to your screaming sword, a more practical blade that glowed with magic and cut through armor like a hot knife through butter." Luna added. "You speak of a power sword, it does not use magic, though I myself do not know how it works outside of what you have described." Aries clarified. "Ah, well, I hope you don't mind that yours does use magic." Before Aries could reply to that, a sword materialized before him with the Imperial Aguila as a crossguard and the crimson teeth of the World Eaters atop it in the center. The hilt was colored in the pattern of his armor, while the blade appeared to be polished steel. "This is a replica of the weapon I had forged as your badge of office. Within the crossguard is the legendary Alicorn Amulet: a powerful artefact that, when worn by a unicorn, increases their magic to the levels of an alicorn. Special crystals forged into the blade allow the amulet to encase the weapon in field of magic theorized to mimic the 'power sword'...of course, the blade was only completed in the final hour of sunlight this day, so we have yet to test it." Luna explained. Aries stared at the blade, contemplating it. He knew that he would have to accept a new weapon eventually and had been ready for a simple sword or ax, but a magic sword is something that he did not expect. He was already allied with the xenos, accepting their help and returning it in kind, and yet every time he encountered something that opposed the Imperial Truth, his first instinct was to reject it. But his logic would then remind him of the situation at hand, and he couldn't deny that a power sword, even a fake one with magic, would be a magnificent boon against the Daemons. And then there was his suspicion that Equestrian magic was feared by the Great Enemy, if so then this sword could prove their bane. Aries took the weapon in his hand and tested it's balance with a few practice swings. "A switch hides itself in the lower jaw of the teeth, that will activate the magical field." Luna stated. Aries felt around the World Eaters icon, and sure enough the center of the lower jaw could be pressed inward. Aries did so and the blade was enveloped in a bright crimson power field. "Give me an opponent so I may bloody this weapon." Aries 'requested' of Luna. Taking no evident offense, Luna's horn began to glow. She closed her eyes and stilled for a moment. "...Ah, perhaps this shall suffice." Aries watched as Luna's body began to glow and change along with her voice. Aries recognized the harmonizing voice before the glow faded, revealing an Eldar Farseer with midnight blue armor, a moonlight colored Wraithbone sword and Luna's cuite-mark in place of any craft world insignia. "I would prefer if I did not have to hold back, did you not say that you could create images in the hundreds?" Aries complained, wishing to kill his enemies. "We can. But we can't die in the Dream Realm, so there is no reason for you to hold back, and we wish to experience your skill first hand." Luna said, twirling her sword as she struck a fighting pose. "If you insist." Aries said as he charged the Eldar. He swung the blade towards her, but she ducked under it and rolled behind him. He turned and parried Luna's counterattack with authority, stunning her long enough to kick her in the chest. Luna rolled with the momentum and landed on her feet with her free hand crackling with energy. HUZZAH!! Luna called out as she threw the spell towards Aries, who dodged to the side and started to charge, only to realize that Luna was already on top of him...and above him. Aries parried her downward strike and grabbed her by the throat with his free hand before tossing her like a rag doll, charging in her direction before she even landed. Luna threw another psychic blast at him. This time Aries tested the power field of his weapon by batting away the magic like a softball. Luna, expecting him to dodge again, wasn't prepared to intercept him. The Farseer brought it's blade up, but Aries knocked it aside with the same blow that saw her head flying from her shoulders. The Eldar disappeared in dark blue smoke. Aries followed the sound of a rapid heartbeat to Luna, who was back to normal but shocked still. "I warned you." Aries said unapologetically. He expected her to show some anger at his harsh version of sparring, or regret to ignoring his warnings, either of which would've been followed with resignation as she realized that his aggressive approach would prove necessary, if not inadequate, against the Daemons...He did NOT expect her to smile and then start laughing. "AH HAHAHAHAHA!! SO YOU DID! WELL FOUGHT WORLD EATER! WE HAVE NOT FELT A RUSH LIKE THAT IN CENTURIES!" Luna stated absolutely giddy in the afterglow of their duel. "Hm, I did not expect you to appreciate the thrill of combat." Aries stated. Luna stopped smiling as her blue cheeks turned red. "Oh uh..w-well do not tell our sister of this but...these years of peace, they are a bit..." Luna paused, knowing the word for it, but thinking it too harsh and searching for a softer one. "Boring." Aries answered for her. Luna was shocked to hear it, not because she wasn't thinking it, but because realizing what it sounded like gave her a rather unappealing image of herself, causing her to hang her head in shame. "Yes, boring...We fought hard for the life we enjoy, against Discord, against King Sombra, against the Changeling King Chitin who is only remembered through his daughter Chrysalis. But, as the war for harmony crawled to a halt. We, who saw to the defeat and disarmament of our foes while our sister saw to the reassurance and relief of our people, became less and less appreciated. More so when there was less nightmares throughout the land... On one of the few that I delt with, the nightmare was resolved prior to my intervention by a figment of the dreamer's imagination, my sister, keeping them safe." Luna lamented. "You felt unnecessary. That you no longer had a purpose." Aries summarized. Luna nodded. "In the end, this led to...a rather unfortunate chapter in my life." Aries had a thought. "Twilight Sparkle informed me that you possess known as the 'Elements of Harmony' and that among their feats is turning an alicorn from madness." Luna's face said it all: shock and fear, followed by shame. "My sister and I had an argument about my standing...shortly after, I began to hear voices. Looking back on it now, it isn't unlike what you described, it is possible that I fell prey to Demons from that dimension." "And the Elements cleansed you, no wonder they want this world to burn." Aries stated. "Do you think such could be done for your brothers?" Luna asked. Aries seized, Luna's words implanting the first thought that it was possible that their betrayal may not have been theirs at all. His astartes mind running over a hundred scenarios and weighing every pro and con, before coming to a solution. "If we did, they would demand their own deaths." Luna didn't seem surprised. "I thought the same thing once. I created a personal nightmare for myself to punish me everytime I slept... I guess that they wouldn't forgive themselves overtime?" "I don't know what you did while under their thrall, but my brothers killed their own, violated their oaths, and I have no idea how many they've butchered across the stars since then. No, they won't forgive themselves, and even if they did, I couldn't, not after what they've done. I would only request of you to cleanse them so that they could die with honor." Aries concluded. "I see." Luna lowered her head once more, grateful now more than ever of how short lived her reign of terror had been. "I must go, there are other dreamers to watch over, enjoy yourself." Luna said, her horn glowing. WAAAGH! Aries turned to the ork horde with a concealed smile on his helmeted head, charging into battle as Luna left him to his dream. Author's Note Yeah, after realizing that I was 5 days ahead of the PDF recruits being official, I just couldn't wait that long. If it helps, I can rewrite the Wonderbolt chapter so that it's three days later instead of one. As for the sword, I'm sure a lot of you were wondering how Aries was going to fight without his weapons, well now you know. What are your thoughts on my use of the Alicorn Amulet? And finally, Luna. After she got some character development in the later seasons, and we see her being appreciated by those she helps in the Dream Realm (the CMCs mostly) it didn't really make since to me that her Trigger was 'Everypony slept through her beautiful nights and loved Celestia's days'. So I mixed it up with Luna dealing with war prisoners along with Nightmares and Celestia being the poster gal for hope and prosperity which put people at ease and made them stop having nightmares. (This is backed up by the logic: if you lived through a tyrant's rise and fall, you wouldn't have nightmares like the CMCs did because that sort of stuff wouldn't worry you.) Okay, coming up next: I introduce the PDF in it's entirety, and then...chaos stirs. Bonus Chapter:Chaotic WhispersAs Aries and Luna conversed in the World Eater's dream, the forces of Chaos struck. Having successfully deceived the younger princess into believing that they could only enter through the mind of the astartes, they now had a golden opportunity to sink their claws into Equestrian souls. A small number of weaker Daemons who were subtle enough to not draw Luna's attention emerged from the Warp and made their way to the dreams of their respective victims. Elsewhere DJPON3 was getting down as well in her sleep as she does awake. The music was booming, the ponies were dancing, everything was right. But then, a cacophonous noise thundered through the audience and several fell dead while others fell deafened. DJ herself was struck by the blast directly hearing the noise through not only the music she played for the audience, but her headphones as well. She looked lowered her sunglasses to show her death glare to whoever disturbed her dream, she knew that the ponies killed weren't real, but it was still messed up. Her gaze brought her to a bizarre bipedal monkey-crab-thing that looked male and female at the same time with a guitar in it's arms, a clawed hand on the neck and a pincer ready to strum the strings. The instrument itself was a dark, almost black, purple with monstrous faces howling in agony and longing. The creature smiled at the Equestrian music maestro, the message was loud and clear. DJPON3 put her sunglasses back in place and returned the smile. Challenge accepted. Elsewhere Twilight Sparkle just couldn't get it out of her mind, she still knew so little about the situation at hand. Sunset may have helped her out, and promised to send her books about the Imperium and the World Eaters, but for now she simply had more questions than answers. Even in her dreams, she frantically tore through book after book, searching for more information, more facts...more knowledge. A heavy thud spooked the youngest alicorn into the air. She turned to the sound and saw a large tome with the symbol of the World Eaters upon it. Twilight landed in front of the great tome, as large as she was, and turned the cover. Dust flew from the book, causing a coughing fit. Twilight may enjoy the smell of a fresh library book, but ancient tome dust was a little strong for her. Get on my level scrub. Twilight shot up and turned this way and that, searching for the source of the voice but not finding it. Elsewhere These Daemons and more planted their horrible seeds of temptation, but they knew that their window would not allow them to truly corrupt Equestrians before Luna returned and learned of their attempts...attempts which were diversions, for one Daemon of each Power went beyond Luna's domain, into the dreams of those that she does not protect. Author's Note Sorry for the shortie. I have to work weekends this week and do not have a lot of time to write, so I figured I'll throw a little something your way and let you have a laugh at the TTS reference and make it up to you next week. Have a good one. Chapter Twelve:Planetary Defense ForceAries examined the blade carefully, seeking impurities in it's design...Truly the Mechanicum would glass this world out of jealousy if they knew it's populace was capable of producing such fine weapons with their magic. A touch to the activation rune bathed the weapon in a crimson glow. He had argued against testing the weapon against a suit of Royal Guard armor, since he could kill it's wearer with a blunt stick, and instead made ready to slice through a pony shaped mannequin made entirely out of steel. With deliberate gentleness, Aries moved the blade slowly towards the mannequin. The steel melted at the touch of the power field, allowing the sword to pass through without resistance. "HUZZAH!" Luna shouted excitedly as she and the royal blacksmith observed the successful test. "A weapon worthy of a warrior of your caliber, is it not?" "...Yes, a fine weapon indeed." Aries said, still wishing for an imperial weapon, but grateful that he was armed. "Any ideas for a name?" The smith asked. Aries deactivated the weapon and examined it again. It was crafted as a World Eater's weapon, but he did not wish to name a xenos blade in honor of his battle brothers, and he wouldn't stain it with a name from his treacherous father's ideals...so he named it for it's intent. "Warp Eater." "Warp Eater it is, I hope she serves you well sir." The smith said, removing his hat and bowing to the astartes. "I'll fetch the sheath for you." "There is no need." Aries said. Before the smith could reply, the space marine mag-locked the sword to his thigh. "Huh, that's handy. Guess I'll keep the sheath for myself as a reminder, ain't everyday you make a magic sword after all." The smith stated to himself. "Thank you for your part in the coming conflict Forge Fire. We pray these weapons never taste blood, but trust that they will save more lives than they end." Luna stated. "That's my hope princess. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta get started on the others." With that, Forge Fire took his leave. As did the princess and the World Eater, who at long last would meet the Planetary Defense Force. Elsewhere The training grounds where the Royal Guard do voluntary exercises with weapons and martial arts had never seen more activity in a thousand years than it did today. Along with Buck Wild and Spitfire, Aries counted three ponies that he hadn't met...and one that he had. "So, do you have your ticket?" Aries jibed at One-Way Express. "As a matter of fact, I do...sir." The unicorn said, levitating a recruitment flyer for Aries to read. (Where did it come from?) "Hmph, so you do...we'll see if you have the requirements before the day is done." Aries promised. Aries turned away from the unicorn and headed to a pony he didn't recognize, but halted at the sound of buzzing. Turning to the sound revealed Pharynx. "I'm not late, am I?" "No, we're still waiting for others to arrive, hopefully." Answered Luna while Aries made his way over to them. At this, Pharynx grimaced. "Well, you can stop waiting on more Changelings. I couldn't get a single other Changeling to volunteer." "I can't say I'm surprised. From what I've learned of your kind, you are a wolf amongst sheep." Aries stated. Pharynx sighed. "I want to be mad at you disrespecting my people like that, but you're right." The conversation was interrupted by wing flaps, given off by a half dozen dragons and a trio of griffins. A griffin, who is recognized as Gilda, was the first to report. "Sorry, but these are the only griffins who care enough to try and enlist, there were a few others, but they're far too young." "Fine then, it'll have to do." Aries said, disappointed, but again, unsurprised. Gilda returned home while Ember made her report. "I managed to convince these five knuckleheads to chip in for the privilege of keeping anything worth pillaging off the demons." "With their addition, we have fourteen volunteers...a good start I suppose, but it won't be enough." Aries stated. "Oh, I wouldn't sell them short big guy." Before Aries could reply, Ember grabbed him by the hips and, to his surprise, lifted him off the ground, power armor and all. "...Put. Me. Down." Aries demanded. Ember did so. And just in time for the doors to open and accommodate the only strictly non-flying species of Equestria's allies. Prince Rutherford walked ahead of ten yaks, jumping their numbers up to 24. "Yaks come to fight demons until demons are gone. These elite yaks train under World Eater while rest of yaks train at Yakyakistan with each other." Prince Rutherford reported, his elite yaks giving an authoritative stomp in silent agreement. "Heh, excellent. You've done well Prince Rutherford." Aries stated while Luna spoke some last words with Ember who then headed home. "Of course yaks did best, yaks are best at war." Rutherford responded arrogantly. "I have to disagree with that, but your forces will have their chance to prove themselves in training." Aries replied. Prince Rutherford snorted, but said nothing more as he turned and left. When the doors closed behind him, the yaks disbanded their formation and started mingling with the other aliens as more wingflaps brought forth seven hippogryphs. "You must be Aries. Commander Sky Beak reporting." The lead hippogryph said with a salute, bringing his taloned forelimb to his forehead. Aries responded by slamming his fist to his chest. "Well met Commander, will you be joining us or are you just here to present the volunteers?" "The latter I'm afraid. Queen Novo needs me whipping the rest of our military into fighting shape. These boys are just here to show Equestria that we stand with them, even if the fighting gets so bad that we cannot send further reinforcements." "Understood, inform your queen that her contribution makes 30...to the first response." Aries spoke loud and clear. It was a start, but it wasn't enough. And Sky Beak knew it too. "I...I see. She will be informed sir." And with that, Sky Beak departed. A few more charitable minutes later confirmed that there would be no further recruits today. And so it began. Luna stood back to observe. "INTO FORMATION!!" Shouted Aries. World Eaters are not the most uniform legion of the astartes, but even Aries visibly cringed at the embarrassing display before him. The yaks, the hippogryphs, Spitfire, and Pharynx did well. But the griffins, the dragons, Buck Wild, One-Way Express, and the yet unnamed ponies took a total of 30 seconds to fall into formation with the more uniformed recruits falling out to point them in the right direction...if not lead them there. Aries brushed it aside, he was neither of the Ultramarines, or The Emperor's Children. These xenos were here to kill Daemons, not look good doing it...but it was really bad. "You're purpose is to fight and kill an enemy that has no interest in mercy. Not in receiving it, certainly not in showing it." Aries began. To which the more militant volunteers responded with: "SIR YES SIR!" Some of the more civilian volunteers echoing it after. "To that end, there will no formation drills, no uniforms save the armor and weapons being built for you, and no necessity for proper procedure." Aries continued. "SIR Yes si-" The reply died down when the more civilian volunteers realized that the militant ones just nodded in understanding. "You are here for one purpose...To learn how to fight." At this, several volunteers started getting confident. Others mentally prepared themselves...and one of the unnamed ponies raised a hoof. "May I be excused?" This resulted in laughter from the dragons and the griffins...they didn't laugh for long. A black glow enveloped everycreature laughing before they were lifted into the air, slammed together, and slammed onto the ground. "CAN IT YOU KNUCKLEHEADS!!" Aries observed the unicorn that launched the attack and saw that she looked almost exactly like the one who wished to leave. "Come here, both of you." Aries said to the aforementioned unicorns. They both cringed but came forward expecting to be in trouble. Aries examined them. The timid one had a yellow coat, blue eyes and a black mane and tail that was long and smooth. The other had a black coat, red eyes, and a yellow mane and tail of the same length, but stood up in spots, giving it a 'spikey' look. And both ponies had a black and yellow insect as their cutie-mark, The former's being herbivorous and the latter's being carnivorous. The two unicorns came to stand before Aries and the more confident one bowed her head. "I'm sorry sir, I just couldn't stand to let those jerks laugh at my sister like that. It's not her fault." Aries tilted his head. "Isn't it? She signed up, she came to fight, and she lost her nerve. How is it not her fault?" "Because I begged her to come with me, and promised that it would be fun." The unicorn replied. "Fun? you are going to be fighting for your very right to live, the enemy will stop at nothing to kill you...and you thought she would have fun?" Aries pointed at the more timid unicorn to emphasize his point. "Well...I thought that there would be other jobs. Ya know like, I'm a fighter and she's a healer, that kinda thing." The pony replied. "There will be, and the enemy will try to kill them so they can't heal you anymore, which is why you will all be fighters first and foremost." Aries replied. "...Ooohhh, sorry sis." The unicorn replied. "It's okay." The other replied. "HEY PONY!!" The group turned to see that the dragons and griffins had recovered and were looking for payback. "WOAH! WOAH! WOAH! CALM DOWN EVERYCREATURE! LET'S LET ARIES HANDLE IT!!" Shouted the last unnamed pony, trying to diffuse the situation. The lead dragon was about to retort when- "No, let them fight." Everycreature, including Luna, turned to look at Aries. "What did you say?" Asked the younger princess. "This is the sort of training I had in mind. So yes, let them fight." Aries replied. "Uh, isn't that a bit much for one pony." Pharynx chimed in. Not liking the odds of a single unicorn against seven creatures that were larger, more aggressive, and pissed off. "If everyone here attacked her at once, myself and the princess included, it still wouldn't convey how hopelessly outnumbered we'll be, you must all learn to be an army in your own right." Aries explained. The more militant creatures suddenly got nervous. The last pony, a pegasus, taking flight without even bothering to ask. But the dragons and griffins were either unfazed or just didn't pay attention as they started advancing. "...hmph. Fine, you idiots want a fight that bad, I'll give you one." The unicorn rolled her neck and trotted to meet them. "FIGHT!" Shouted Aries, compelling the more aggressive creatures to charge. The unicorn teleported behind them as they leaped into a dog-pile. She gathered energy into her horn and blasted the whole group, causing to fly everywhere. A dragon recovered in midair and shot a fireball at her opponent. The unicorn threw up a shield just in time to deflect it, but the blast concealed the dragon so the pony didn't realize that she was charging. The dragon smashed into the shield like a wrecking ball, shattering it like glass and knocking the pony to the ground. The unicorn tried to get up, but one of the griffins pinned her down with his talons. The dragon advanced, cracking her knuckles and laughing arrogantly. She pulled her fist back. The unicorn gritted her teeth. The blow came down. SMACK The unicorn opened her eyes in shock and saw Spitfire hovering over her. The dragon out cold. "IF YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL ME, THEN FINE! BUT I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO WATCH A PONY GET MAULED!!" She shouted at Aries, who had done nothing to stop this. "You make it sound she has to fight alone...I was wondering when the rest of you would start training." Aries replied. Spitfire blinked in shock, completely caught off guard. She only came to her senses when the other dragons and griffin, who had finally recovered, ambushed her. Their victory was short-lived, as everycreature watching decided to involve themselves in the melee, turning the tide. Aries watched on, unsurprised though still disappointed when two dragons and one griffin cried out about 'fairness'. He would see them gone when training was over for the day. "...Are you still here?" Aries asked to the timid unicorn who was watching the spectacle beside him. She jumped at his voice being directed at her and hesitantly answered. "S-sorry sir, I..I just..." "I have no interest in your excuses. Either leave or participate. I don't care which, but if you stay, you are committed. I won't let you back out again." Aries stated. The unicorn hesitated, turning from the battle to the exit and back again before finally screaming out. "I'M COMING JACK!!" And throwing herself into the melee in a berserker's frenzy. Luna walked up to stand next to Aries. "Who are those two?" Asked the World Eater. "A pair of twins who are attending my sister's school for gifted unicorns: Yellow Jacket and Honey Bee." The princess replied. Aries turned back to the brawl and saw the two sisters standing tall, each using an unconscious dragon as a club. "Hmph, well if nothing else, this will be amusing." And so the training began... Author's Note Sorry about the delay, I spent my Saturday watching Detective Pikachu (great movie) and had to write after work. Okay, so the PDF has begun it's development, and none too soon, for Chaos will soon stir. And on that note: There is a rumor coming down the pipe that my Khornate Champion of choice may or may not be getting redeemed in an episode or two. If so, good for him, but I'm keeping him evil in this story because he is too good as a Khornate Champion. And of course, Grogar...I don't know if I'm going to include him or not, but only because I've decided that I'm going to make this a series rather than just one book, and I'm considering using him for a bigger conflict later down the road. We'll see what happens. Okay, that's all I got, see you all next time. Chapter Thirteen: Chaos StirsAs the newly formed Planetary Defense Force cut it's teeth under the World Eater's brutal training regimen. The fortunate few of the Daemons that slipped past Luna's watchful eyes the night before planted their seeds into four hearts already touched by madness. Khorne It came to him again, the dreaded memory that haunted his every sleeping hour. That worthless puny pathetic excuse for a dragon holding the Bloodstone Scepter and claiming the title of Dragon Lord. Ordering him to humiliate himself as vengeance for putting the shrimp in his place. And then giving the Scepter to another dragon that was almost as puny and sappy as he was. He tried to ignore it. He tried to move on and forget about it. But he always found himself wondering what he could've done differently that would've let him win. This time however, the dream was different. He didn't see different ways he could've won. Instead, the dream was focused on those that defeated him. How they worked together, how one went for the scepter while the other distracted him. But most of all, how during the very first challenge, even though he forgot about it, he saw the so called Dragon Lord get knocked out of the sky and into the water below, only for that Pony Lover to save her life. She shouldn't be Dragon Lord, she should be dead. Indeed, the worthless failure should be. Garble's eyes snapped open. He wasn't in the dragon lands anymore, though the only difference was that his favorite lava pool was now a lake of blood... It was kinda cool. But that wasn't what held the juvenile dragon's attention, he instead was staring at the strange creature that sat atop a mountain of ape-like skulls. Garble hadn't seen anything like it. He almost mistook it for a dragon. But no, any dragon that big would already have it's wings, plus it's head was wrong, just barely. "W-who...no, WHAT are you?" Garble asked the creature. "I am...willing to help you." Claimed the creature. "Uh...okay, first off: dragons don't need help. And second: help with what exactly?" Garble inquired. The creature smiled. "First off: you're right. Second off: Help you take what is rightfully yours from that fake dragon." Garble groaned. "As nice as that sounds, the fact is that Dragon Law clearly states that a Dragon Lord cannot be challenged until they've held the title for ten years. And even when that time runs out, I'm going to get the scepter on my own." The creature laughed at this. "And how do you plan to do that... when you're outnumbered." "What are talking about? There's only ever one Dragon Lord. All I have is get the scepter away from Ember, and that one is me." Garble claimed. "And all she has to do to stop you is get her pony friends to interfere on her behalf. Even if other dragons wouldn't help her stop you from doing what you most certainly could, the ponies would never allow it, because they know what you'll do to them." The creature reasoned. This gave Garble pause. Any other dragon would never ask for help defending what's theirs, but Ember wasn't any other dragon. She could ask for help, she's done it before. "Grrr, Well what am I supposed to do about it. Dragon Law doesn't say anything about asking for help." "It shouldn't have to. It should go without saying that a Dragon Lord fights alone. Because real dragons don't have friends who fight for them and fake dragons shouldn't become Dragon Lords in the first place. That Scepter is yours by right, and the laws that you are raised to obey keep you from it, Dragon Law has failed the dragons, and now they listen to ponies." The creature explained. Garble was taken aback. He was right, no Dragon Lord had asked for help before, nor had any dragon for that matter, that's why it wasn't written down. Not because it wasn't wrong, but because it was so wrong that no one had to say that it was wrong. "Well, what's in it for you. Or do you honestly think that I'm going to believe that you just wanna help me?" Garble challenged. The creature smirked. "I am no pony. In fact, I despise their kind more than you do. As for what I want, Equestria: destroyed. Do we have a deal?" Garble mirrored the creature's smirk "What's the plan?" "Plan? I don't deal in plans. I deal...in power." With this, the creature reached it's hand into the lake of blood and pulled out a double bladed ax forged from black steel and bearing demonic iconography. "Those killed with this weapon have their power added to the ax's wielder. If those weaklings in Equestria have proven anything, it's that there's strength in numbers, make that strength your own." The creature says as it hands Garble the ax. The minute he touches it, all of Garble's frustrations come to the forefront of his mind, amplified tenfold, and all he wants is to make those worthless pony loving weaklings pay for denying him his right...to kill the weak. Tzeentch Queen Chrysalis tossed and turned in her sleep, the mutiny of her hive replaying as she slept on the forest floor. Revenge. She must have revenge, but she needed a plan. How fortunate, that's our specialty. Chrysalis awoke not in the Everfree forest, but in a realm that shifted and changed at a pace far greater than the changeling hive...she found it soothing to her eyes. The only reason she knew that she wasn't alone is because the creature that spoke to her shifted and changed in a different manner, as if on an opposite wavelength from the realm they both occupied. The only thing that didn't change about this creature was it's head, the head of a raven with ever changing feathers of different size and color. "You seek revenge on those who chose to give up the path of power for the sake of peace. My associates wish to see this world burn, would you care to deliver the final blow?" The creature inquired as if it even had to ask. And so Chrysalis listened to this raven's omen of death, how four different attacks would be launched in conjunction. The attackers would only work together in terms of timing, and when the pieces fell into place, Chrysalis would know exactly how to personally thrust the knife into Equestria's warm caring heart. Slaanesh Boredom, that's all he felt these days. His aunts always tried to teach him how they were making Equestria better with Friendship with barbarous dragons and uncultured yaks and those horrible changelings, but he just couldn't see it. The world would be so much better if those disturbing creatures would simply vanish, or at the very least, use what little they're good for to serve Equestria. Heh, maybe one of those changelings could be made into a proper mare. And why would you need an insect to do that? Prince Blueblood awoke not in his room but in a throne room that, unlike Celestia's, actually met his expectations. He made his way to the throne, the servants all stopping what they were doing to bow before him as he passed, all without faltering in their tasks. But he didn't notice this, it was expected of servants after all. No, he noticed her. She was the most beautiful mare he had ever laid eyes on, even in spite of the goat-like horns flanking her normal horn, even in spite of one of her wings being bat-like, even in spite of one of her legs being covered in a dark purple exoskeleton, the rest of her...by Celestia, the rest of her, Blueblood had no words. "Oh, why hello my dear prince." The alicorn said with the most beautiful voice Blueblood had ever heard as she walked towards him. Blueblood extended a hoof, and the mare gladly kissed it with such passion that he could tell that she genuinely enjoyed it as much as he did. "H-he-hi...wu-who are you?" The prince babbled, feeling very light headed. "I am Secret Keeper my lord, your servant...and your property." Secret Keeper all but whispered, making Blueblood's heart almost seize. "O-Oh...a-are you?" The prince said, delighted but fearful that his Aunt Luna could pop in at any time and speak of this to Celestia. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about her. She's too busy with that alien and the little army that they gave him." Secret Keeper reassured him. That managed to ruin Blueblood's good mood. His royal blood ensured a life of comfort, but he had little pull politically, and he didn't have any personal guards. But suddenly, this alien ape thing that proudly confessed to being a killing machine brings it's war to Equestria. And instead of throwing it in Tartarus where it belongs, they give it an army. And use an ancient Equestrian artifact to give him a nice sword. "OH! Oh I am so sorry my lord, I didn't mean to remind you of the failings of your aunts." The alicorn said with a smile on it's face, a smile that went unnoticed as her words fed Blueblood's ego and self-importance to a level unheard of from the prince. "Oh, it's not your fault. It's theirs. But what can be done? They rule all of Equestria after all, and they refuse to listen to me." Blueblood ranted, his frustrations doubling with every word as he started to realize that their actions were even more absurd than he once thought. "Oh, but they won't rule for long." The mare whispered into his ear as she started to stroke his chest with a hoof. "Wu...what do you mean?" Blueblood asked, excited by the thought of someone smarter being in charge, and also ecstatic for the mare's touch. "The being who gave me to you as a gift intends to dethrone your foolish aunts...and place you on Equestria's throne to rule as you wish." The alicorn said to the arrogant unicorn. "Oh really, well I can't wait for that. But how do you plan to pull that off?" Blueblood asked as he unconsciously pulled the mare closer to him so he could take in more of her alluring scent and the smoothness of her coat. "There are others seeking to conquer Equestria, but they will all be stopped by your aunts pupil and her friends...as will my master, if you let them." The thought of Twilight Sparkle's friends made Blueblood bitter, especially that worthless sow that humiliated him at the Grand Galloping Galla. "How do I stop them?" Blueblood asked, too focused on his own arrogance to even hear his own words at this point. "Easy my lord, the key to their power is their unity. Break them apart, isolate even one of them, and the rest are useless." The alicorn whispered into his ear as she stopped stroking his chest and wrapped her front legs around his neck. "Oh, I know just the one." Blueblood chuckled to himself as he mirrored the mare's actions. The two of them standing on their hind legs and the mouths to each other ears. "Yes, but that is for another time my lord. For now, enjoy your dreams." With these last words, the mare pulled her lips from Blueblood's ear and merged them with his own lips as they fell onto a bed that materialized out of nowhere. Nurgle Of the four Daemons that escaped Luna's sight, the weakest was a lone Nurgling. The small beast-minded Daemon sought a sick despairing individual to give Nurgle's love, to make him forget fear and pain and accept his unchangeable fate. But there was no such creature among the ponies, nor among their allies, for all who were sick and ill were cared for kindly and those who couldn't be saved were made ascomfortable as possible until the end. The Nurgling thought it should return to the Grandfather, to tell him that this world was as kind as he and, dare he believe it, did not need his love. But that changed when he found them. Deep within the bowls of the Everfree Forest, forgotten and abandoned by their loved ones, were hundreds of ponies... infected with Swamp Fever. This dreaded disease was inflicted by a flower's pollen, and slowly turned the infected into the very trees that grew the flower, making them dangerous. But this did not register with the Nurgling, only the fact that the Equestrians left the infected all alone in these woods, left for dead when they were still very much alive...and oh so lonely. The Nurgling could feel the despair of the infected, who live on as trees but cry out to be ponies once more, their cries unheard. This angered the small Daemon who immediately burrowed into the tree possessing the strongest soul that it could sense. The Daemon merged with the soul, sacrificing it's will in order to give the pony it's animal like awarness. From the Nurgling's burrow in the tree emerged a unicorn. The Equestrian was in the final stage of Swamp Fever infection, with tree branches sprouting the deadly flower protruding from it's back, but it would never be a tree again, it was free. The unicorn leaped and whinnied with joy at it's new found freedom, and yearned to return to civilization, but not yet. It would never share the cruelty of those that abandoned him and do so to the others, and so he channeled magic from it's horn to the other trees. Broadcasting their unheard pleas to Grandfather Nurgle. Author's Note And there's our first wave of bad guys. Garble's planning a mutiny. Chrysalis is planning to seize victory while everyone else is fighting. Prince Blueblood is planning to take the Mane 6 out of the picture. And a single Nurgling just started a zombie apocalypse. (what else is new) I hope that I represented the methods of each Daemon when it comes to corruption, I kinda feel like I might have made the Bloodletter sound to Tzeentchian but I figured if there is any character that Khorne's followers would sympathize with it'd be Garble. I mean, I get the whole team work thing and I know for a fact that it's a good thing that Garble didn't become Dragon Lord, but I still feel he got cheated out of something that he earned because 'he's the bad guy and Spike and Ember were the good guys'. Also I am aware that today's episode featured Garble, but I had to miss it and plan to watch it tomorrow. With that, and the fact Queen Chrysalis is still on her own at this point, we are officially in an AU. Also, there is more to the Chaos invasion than what I revealed here, but that'll have to stay hidden...for now. P.S. To those who are unaware, I have been posting YouTube videos that compare characters from MLP to factions in 40k. If anyone has a request, I would love to hear it.
Chapter one:ExileHis howls of rage drowned out the screams of the Daemons that came at him from every direction, he had long since lost track of time, he only focused on killing every enemy before him in the name of the God Emperor. He had spent every round, broken his blade, and now crushed the enemies of man with his armored hands and stolen weapons, ripped from the Daemons' claws, or torn from his own open wounds. He swung a Bloodletter's blade down on one of it's kinsmen, cutting it in half, before impaling another, the weapon getting stuck in it's chest. He grabbed the dying Daemon by the throat and threw it into the masses charging towards him before charging himself, but as he closed the distance, the Daemons disappeared. He looked all around, but the dead battlefield was plain, no enemies and no places for them to hide. You have amused me these long years. He turned upward to the voice, only to realize that the field that he had fought in for longer than he could remember was the open palm of the Beast atop the Skull Throne, and he now stared into that monster's eyes. But I grow tired of your loyalty to the Anathema, so now you will kill for me alone. Without a second of hesitation, he charged the incarnation of hate, swearing vengeance for his brothers, but with a mere wave of his hand, the Beast sent him to a realm with no threats to the Imperium, where he can only spill blood...for the Blood God. Another Realm He halted his charge as he realized that his enemy had disappeared, which was after he had effortlessly crashed through a tree, and surveyed his new surroundings. He was in a forest, on the edge of it actually, he could see light piercing through the foliage to his left. Peering out through the trees, he could see a village not far away, but he kept his distance, the Great Enemy's words echoing through his mind, telling him that whatever lived here, the enemies of man wanted them dead, and expected him to kill them. He would never kill for Chaos, but that did not mean the inhabitants of this eorld were not a threat to man kind, his hesitation could be what the Great Enemy was counting on for their victory, he would have to judge them, weigh their value alive and dead, but there was a problem. As soon as he thought of them, he clenched his head as pain sung through his skull, The Butcher's Nails, hammered into his brain to give him rage and killer instinct beyond the norm, demanded that he once more throw himself into the thick of slaughter, but he would wait, until he was sure that the Imperium needed him to destroy these villagers. His objective clear in his mind, he pushed the bite of the Nails to the back of his mind and walked around the forest, keeping within view of the town, but out of sight of anyone looking too close, hoping to find a villager or two to judge without being seen. Eventually, he found a small house on the outskirts of the forest, surrounded by small animals with nests and wooden houses built by sentient hands. He squatted down and waited to see what would come out of the house, he was almost certain that it would be xenos, incentive for him to destroy them, at the very least they would uneducated barbarians unwilling to accept the imperial truth, but he expected Eldar, simply because of a time long ago when a skirmish with one of the tricksters' Farseers ended in the witch's escape, but not before she had promised him that he would stand alone, betrayed by the ones he loved and trusted, his fury spiked as he remembered how right she had been, but he pushed the memories of that night to the back of his mind, the mission comes first. His eyes darted from the house to the windows, looking for any sign of movement as a couple of small equine creatures walked up the path, he began to believe that no one was home...when the strangest thing happened. "Thanks for helping me out with Gummy, who knew too much sweets could be bad for alligators?" One of the equines asked the other...in flawless imperial gothic. If he had been a normal human rather than an astartes, his jaw would've hit the ground, but he simply absorbed the information as it came, they are indeed xenos, sentient equines...who feed sweets to alligators, not exactly a threat to the imperium. "Oh, it's no problem Pinkie Pie, but you should consider cutting down the amount of cupcakes you feed to Gummy, most ponies can't eat that much." The other equine said to her friend. So they call themselves ponies, again, nothing damning. "Really, I eat, like, three times that much." The pony named Pinkie Pie stated...before pulling a cake half her size out of thin air and swallowing it whole with no effort at all. That was a red flag, the only way that would be possible was some sort of warp magic, and her friend didn't even bat an eye, meaning that it was likely a common practice, but she could be a sanctioned psyker with special privileges, or they could have complete control over the warp, that would explain why the Great Enemy wants them dead. Pinkie Pie's friend giggled slightly. "I believe you, well, I have to go tend to the animals, you know how Angel gets if I make him wait." "Okey Dokey, see you tomorrow Fluttershy." Pinkie Pie said before trotting back the way she had come, leaving Fluttershy, who evidently lived here, to go about feeding each animal outside before opening the door to her home to the happy calls of greeting from several other animals. He looked at the sun and realized that it would soon be dark, he had learned little of these xenos, they were strange, but not dangerous, had they been discovered by the imperium, it is unlikely that astartes would be sent to deal with them. He slid back into the forest and began looking for a place to spend the night without killing indiscriminately. The forest was thick, broken only by the paths of beasts, but eventually, he found a cave to stay in. By the time he found this shelter he was seething, the Nails demanded death and carnage, but he would not kill for Him, only in the Emperor's name. He barely surveyed his surroundings, but luckily for whatever had lived here, the cave was now abandoned. He didn't stop until he was in the deepest depths of the cave, he didn't want to chance anything hearing what would inevitably happen. He reached the end and leaned against the wall, clenching his head as the pain continued to grow, he lost track of how long he endured, but the light of the sun had faded, and a bright ray of moonlight illuminated the mouth of the cave. The pain grew, and grew, and grew, he paced the back of the cave, needing to kill, but refusing to serve the enemies of man. It was the truest battle of wills, he would not allow his rage to benefit those foul beings, but as he refused to vent his rage in battle, the rage only burned stronger. At his wit's end, he removed his helmet, allowing the cool night air to alleviate the faintest of his great discomfort. His eyes drifted to the helmet in his hand, the helmet he wore...the helmet they wore. He gripped it in both hands, staring into it's deactivated eyes, remembering those he stood beside for years, those he protected when they were vulnerable, those he failed to protect, and finally...those who betrayed him. He began to tighten his grip as the last thought took over his mind, he had always buried his pain in rage, but now that he could not kill, he only had one target for his anger. With a vengeful shout, he threw the helmet into the cave wall. It bounced off and rolled on the floor, but then he stomped it. The ceramite helm held strong, but he kept stomping, screaming in anger. He persisted in the attack long after the helmet had been crushed flat, until he flung himself at the very cave, striking, kicking, clawing, and slamming his head into the rock forged walls, until he struck with such fury that he rendered himself unconscious. He awoke to the familiar sounds of battle, and beheld the sight that gave him his great rage. His father, the primarch Angron, and several thousands of his own brothers, charging towards him and those of his brothers that they had betrayed. With a vengeful shout, he and the last loyalists of the XIIth legion met the traitors in a violent clash that saw their white and blue power armor painted red. He swung his weapon to and fro, not caring for what it was, only that it killed the traitors until there was none left. He butchered every traitor that came within arm's length, it was all they deserved. Eventually, as they did before, the remaining traitors were engulfed in fire and emerged as monsters that he would later know as Daemons, but it did not matter to him, Daemon or traitor, they would die for what they've done. He swung and he killed and he swung and he killed and he- "ENOUGH!!" He found himself immobilized and saw his numberless enemies disappear, leaving him in a blue void... and he was not alone. "Do I have your attention now?" asked the dark blue xeno. Author's Note Author's Note: And that concludes chapter one, and yes, it was intentionally vague, the World Eater's name and his back story will be revealed next chapter, until then.
Chapter Fourteen: Cutting Their TeethSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Fifteen: Equestria RevealedSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Bonus Chapter:Chaotic PlotsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Sixteen: Merciless MutinySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Seventeen: The End of HarmonySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Eighteen: Chaos StrikesSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Nineteen: The Tide TurnsSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Bonus Chapter:A Father's FurySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Twenty: The Darkest HourSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Twenty One: The Horde StrikesSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Twenty Two: Coup De GraceSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Final Chapter: Scars of WarSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter Two: Restless NightIt had been half a year since the Cozy Glow incident, and Equestria had put the unfortunate ordeal behind them. Princess Luna smiled at the sight of the dream realm as it was tonight, not a single nightmare in sight, everypony slept soundly. Luna enjoyed nights like these, she could just relax and observe the interesting dreams of her subjects. She watched Scootaloo follow in Rainbow Dash's flight path and become the greatest Wonderbolt of all time, Trixie perform for herself and Celestia, Pinkie Pie...well, Luna didn't know what the hay was going on there, but it was definitely fun to watch. Luna was about to peer into Twilight's dreams...when someone else fell asleep. The dream erupted like a volcano, so violent and enraged that the hateful energies emanating from it poured into neighboring dreams and twisted them into nightmares. Reacting in an instant, Luna dived straight into the horrible nightmare, knowing that things would only get worse if she didn't stop the source of the corruption before tending to the affected dreams. The stenches of blood and fire assaulted Luna as she entered the nightmare, the sight she beheld was far more violent than anything she had ever seen. Upon a burning world fought thousands of armored creatures that could've been mistaken for minotaurs if they only had horns, their armor resembled that of knights, colored white and an almost cobalt blue, their eyes glowed a firey orange, and there was a blood red circle with inward pointing spikes marking their shoulders. The knights fought each other with beastly ferocity, painting their white armor red with their blood. Luna couldn't understand it, they wore the same armor and bore the same mark, so why were they killing each other? Luna focused her magic, trying to locate the dreamer, she had no idea who this pony was, or what could possibly give them so horrible a nightmare, but she had to resolve this matter fast or they would surely go mad. Her horn glowed and shot a beam, which illuminated one of the knights. Now Luna was completely confused, what in Equestria was going on? The knight in question was no different than any of the others, it swung a blunt, boxy sword that seemed to roar as loud as the knight wielding it, it seemed to lack a cutting edge, but left wounds far more brutal than those of a normal sword, perhaps there was a blade on it, it was just swinging too fast for Luna to get a good look. Luna flew towards the knight and tried to get his attention. "Sir knight, you are fighting phantoms, they're not- YIEE!!" Luna teleported just in time to avoid his strike, only to watch in horror as the knight was slahed and stabbed by no less than six of his like-colored enemies, only for fire to engulf the entire battlefield and disappate, leaving the now unharmed knight alone against an endless horde of horned, red-skinned monsters that wielded burning weapons. Luna saw the knight overpowered in an instant only to fight his way out, his injuries disappearing as quickly as the knight was struck as if the very fact that the berserk knight didn't realize that he was struck nullified the damage. Luna called out to him again, this time with the royal Canterlot voice. "Sir knight, this conflict is pointless, your enemies are not real." It appeared that the knight heard her this time, but did not understand her words, as the sound of her voice resulted in him disarming a monster and hurling it's weapon towards Luna, who dodged with a shocked expression. Realizing that she couldn't resolve this issue in her usual way, Luna declared "ENOUGH!!" and dispelled the dream through force, she hated having to do so, as her duty was to help dreamers overcome their nightmares, not avoid them, but this was a special case. She had immobilized the knight, in the hope of preventing him from attacking her again, and approached him. "Do I have your attention now?" The knight stared at her, it's expression hidden behind it's helmet, and said nothing. "I apologize for the impoliteness, but you're dreaming, the enemies you fought were not real." Luna explained. The knight did not respond, so Luna gave further explanation. "I am Princess Luna, guardian of the Dream Realm, it is my duty to assist troubled ponies overcome their fears." "I am no pony." The knight spoke in an echoing, metallic voice. "I have no need for your assistance alien." That piqued Luna's interest, but she had greater concerns right now. "I would honor your wish sir knight, but the hateful energies from your nightmare have affected other dreams, and it will only get worse if I leave you to fight this battle alone." That got a reaction from the knight, though it was only slight. "...So the Daemons are pouring into the minds of others through me..." Demons!? Now Luna was genuinely worried, she had to wrap this up and tend to the affected dreams. "I am sorry to trouble you, sir knight, but now that I've stopped the flow of hateful energy, I must aid my subjects, especially if demons plague them." Luna released the calmed knight and turned to disembark. "I will join you." Luna turned to face him, running over the pros and cons in her mind, she knew nothing about him, and less about the nightmare that plagued him, but he knew more about their enemy, and he didn't seem to be a threat. "Very well, stand close to me." The knight approached Luna and she transported his consciousness with her's back to the Dream Realm. Three dreams were burning the same orange and red that the knight's had, two were growing in size and ferocity, one faster than the other, but one seemed to be stabilizing. In silent agreement, the two headed to the one most rapidly growing. On account of the nightmare's rapid growth, Luna wasn't surprised to find herself in the dream of a young philly, Diamond Tiara. The philly dreamt of being the ruler of Canterlot, in a far more flamboyant castle than that of Luna and her sister, with a great many servants. Now, the castle was burning and the servants layed butchered but for a few guards who were putting up a hopeless fight, valiantly defending Diamond Tiara to the last stallion. "HAVE AT THEE!!" Luna shouted as she shot a magic blast at the demon closest to the philly, grabbing their attention. Luna charged full-speed towards the enemy, and was surprised to find the knight beside her was outpacing her by no small margin. His sword, which she now realized was lined with dozens of sharp metal teeth, began to howl once more, the teeth traveling in a circle at such speed that they became a blurred line. He beheaded the first demon and grabbed a second with his free hand, Luna couldn't pay attention to what happened next as she had closed the gap and fired another beam at the closest demon, sending it flying and disarming it. She used her telekinesis to claim the blade and transform it, the burning bronze becoming dark blue and bathed in moonlight, the strange triangle-like symbol becoming a cresent moon. Three demons leapt at her, but wielding a blade with magic gave Luna speed and agility far beyond that of the demons and their odd apendages, the three demons died in midair without blocking a single blow, the corpses exploding into pieces when they hit the ground before they disappeared in flames. Luna expected more to come at her, but was surprised to realize that the remainder of the enemy had already been dealt with by the knight save two, one of which he impaled with his sword before grabbing it with both hands, one on it's throat and the other on it's waist, and ripping it in half with brute strength alone, his sword landing on his foot before he kicked it up into the air, grabbed it, and bisected the last demon, raising his screaming sword and roaring in triumph. "Area secure, let's move." The knight said as he regained his composure. "First things first." Luna said as her horn began to glow. The knight watched as the fires were extinguished, the damage was repaired, and the dead ponies were resurrected, leaving but one piece of evidence of the attack, the frightened philly. Luna approached Diamond Tiara with a motherly smile. "Are you all right little one?" she asked in a calming voice. "I-I-I think so, what was that?" The young pony asked, shaking, but not as violently. Luna's horn glowed again, as did the philly's eyes, when the glow faded, Luna's smile became snarky. "Didn't your mother warn you that sort of wheat causes nightmares?" The philly's eyes grew wide. "Wuh, w-well yeah but, I never thought it'd be anything like THAT, ugh, I'll never eat that horrible stuff again!" Diamond shouted as she stopped shaking. "Ah well, lesson learned, enjoy the rest of your night little one." Luna as she turned and walked towards the waiting knight. "Thank you Princess." the philly called out, bowing to the night-colored alicorn. Luna joined the knight and transported them back to the Dream Realm, explaining herself telepathically as she did so. "While I will discuss this situation with my sister and our peers, a demon attack is hardly something a philly should know about." The knight gave no response. They surveyed the affected dreams again, Diamond Tiara's was stable, the second was still growing, but the other had started to fade. Luna would investigate this dream last, curious as to who was fending off the demons by themselves, but more concerned with the one who wasn't. Luna and the knight entered the second dream, and found themselves in a blood soaked ballroom. Ponies fled for their lives with nowhere to go as they were cut down by the demons, the butchered bodies of those too slow becoming obstacles for the panicked survivors to navigate. Luna and the knight took off in different directions, the former flying above the carnage so as not to be hindered, and the latter either throwing aside or simply trampling anything that stood between him and his hated enemy. Luna focused her efforts on finding the dreamer, who was to be protected above the illusions of ponies. She found that it was the earth pony Octavia, who was keeping a steady lead against her pursuers. Luna dropped between them and blasted the demons with a large energy blast before turning to Octavia. "Are you all right?" she asked the cello player. "Oh, thank you Princess, I have no idea why I'm having such an awful nightmare, but it feels so real." Octavia said, turning to show where one of the demons had cut her. "Your dream has been invaded by foul creatures, my associate and I will drive them back, but I need you to stay close to me." Luna explained. Octavia was about to say something, only for the words in her throat to come out as a scream as a demon came from behind Luna. Luna teleported into the sky facing the demon, watching it's sword impact the floor that she had stood on, before blasting it backwards and taking it's sword, transforming it as she had before. Three other demons attacked Octavia from different directions, the earth pony falling into the fetal position as they did. Luna landed with authority above the smaller Equestrian, looking like a mother protecting it's child, the force of the impact stunning the demons. The first to recover charged and brought it's sword down in an overhead slash. Luna blocked his attack and, in a manner that only magic swordsmen can, spun the sword against the opposing blade, slashing the demon's throat, until it was all the way in her opponent's guard. She then beheaded the demon and flung the sword into the chest of the second demon as it began it's charge. The third demon, which was behind Luna, recovered and charged with a shoulder to shoulder slash. Luna recalled her sword, but it wouldn't be fast enough, the demon swung, but Luna was faster on the draw, catching the demon's unarmored chest with a buck. Luna flung her sword into it's head before it could recover again and surveyed the scene for more. This time, she wasn't too surprised to see that the only demon left was falling dead in two halfs at the knight's feet. Luna stepped away from Octavia and allowed her to stand up before repairing her dream. "There, everything should be as it was before." The ballroom was newly refurbished and the guests were enjoying themselves, the only thing out of place was the band's lack of a cello player. "Ah, thank you Princess." Octavia bowed to Luna, before turning to the knight. "And thank you as well good sir, I am forever in your dept." The knight seemed uninterested with Octavia's gratitude. "One still remains, let us be done with this." "Yes, of course." Luna acknowledged and trotted over to him. "Fairwell Octavia, pleasant dreams." If Octavia replied, it went unheard as Luna and the knight returned to the Dream Realm, locking their gaze on the last corrupted dream, only to find that there was only the faintest sign of corruption left. "Hmm, it seems that this one may not need our assistance, though I feel that we should still investigate." Luna stated. "Agreed, I am curious as to how one of your race can hold their own against the Bloodletters." The knight replied. The name Bloodletters piqued Luna's curiosity, but she put it aside and focused on the task at hand. Luna and the knight entered the final corrupted dream, and beheld a very different sight. The dream in question was a stadium, almost completely untouched, with only two or three dead ponies, and several demon shaped scorch marks. In the middle of the arena the last six demons surrounded the dreamer, who Luna recognized immediately. "Ah, of course it'd be her dream ahhahahaha." Rainbow Dash smirked as her eyes darted from demon to demon, waiting to see which would strike first. One of the demons roared and swung it's sword only for Rainbow Dash to dodge it without effort. A second attacked, and Rainbow Dash tripped him, causing it to fall on it's own sword, before retreating to the sky to point and laugh, causing the demons to leap at her futilely, enraged by her amusement. Luna observed the scene with humored smirk. "Should we help her?" The knight turned to her. "These foul creatures see honor in killing indiscriminately and have no fear in death, I will not save them from this shameful defeat." Luna could hear the delight in his voice as he watched the demons suffer, and agreed that they were getting what they deserved. Rainbow Dash took notice of Luna's presence, and broke away from her opponents to greet her. "Hey Princess, what brings you here?" Luna giggled at how lightly she was taking this. "You may not have noticed, but your dream has been corrupted by outside forces seeking to harm you." she explained while pointing a hoof at the charging demons, who were at least a minute away. "Oh really, well I bet they won't try that again after the thrashing I've been giving them." Rainbow Dash smirked. "You show great skill xeno, I had come to believe that your race relied on your rulers for protection." The knight said to Rainbow Dash who turned to him. "Don't know what xeno means, but I'm gonna pretend it's something awesome, I'm Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria, who're you?" "I am Aries of the World Eaters legion of adeptus astartes, chosen champions of the Imperium of Man and the God Emperor of Mankind." The knight stated proudly, giving Luna more questions than answers. "God Emperor, huh, with a title like that, guy must be proud of himself, oh, one sec." Rainbow Dash said before darting off towards the closing demons. She smashed though their lines like a cannonball, turning back to strike those that she missed within the same second. Before the first demon could recover, Rainbow Dash began to circle them at 5 times the speed of sound, the whether controlling magic of the pegasai generating a tornado that lifted and captured the demons. Rainbow Dash tightened her circle at the base of the tornado, causing it to grow taller and taller, when she was comfortable with it's height, she took to the sky. The tornado disappated and the demons screeched as they fell, but Luna's eyes were on Rainbow Dash, who was diving straight for them at ever growing speeds, causing a sonic cone to appear at her out streched hooves that shrank, and shrank. As the demons came five feet from the ground, and Rainbow Dash caught up to them, the sonic cone exploded into the legendary Sonic Rainboom, forcing some demons into the pavement and killing them instantly, and sending others flying this way and that, Luna ducking under one and Aries allowing another to crash into him like an egg against a rock. The crowd of ponies went wild with cheers and chants as Rainbow Dash, who had gone skyward after the explosion, trailed a rainbow colored streak into the shape of a lightning bolt underneath a conveniently placed cloud. RAIN-BOW DASH! RAIN-BOW DASH! RAIN-BOW DASH! RAIN-BOW DASH! Her ego satisfied for the moment, Rainbow Dash returned to Luna and Aries. "So, what were those losers up to?" "I have yet to determine their motives, all I know is that they came from Aries' nightmare and invaded three other dreams through him." Luna explained. Rainbow Dash's arrogance disappeared the instant she realized others had been put in danger. "WHAT!? ARE THEY OKAY!?" "You needn't worry Rainbow Dash, Aries and I took care of it, I will look into the situation further and inform you and the others of any developments in the morning, until then, enjoy your...fan base." Luna snickered. Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief. "All right, you let me know if any of those bozos come back, later Princess." And with that, Rainbow Dash took to the sky and started performing aerial maneuvers for the entertainment of the masses. "She's a capable fighter, although her personality reminds me of the sons of Gullimen." Aries stated as Luna returned them to the Dream Realm. "Well, now that the threat has been dealt with, would you mind explaining...what exactly transpired?" Luna asked him. Author's Note I am gradually copying these chapters from another fanfic site, so these first 5 chapters are gonna come out rapid-fire until I catch up, I'm just spacing them out while get used to a new site.
Chapter Three: Twilight Investigates"Well, now that the threat has been dealt with, would you mind explaining...what exactly transpired?" Luna asked him. Aries sighed internally, in spite of his greatest efforts, this xenos world had still been invaded through him, and now he had to make a choice, continue struggling to remain neutral, or assist the aliens in their fight against a common enemy. He stared at the alien psyker called Luna, he had been on guard from any sensation of the witch trying to probe his mind throughout the entirety of their alliance, and yet even now, she made no such attempt, if nothing else, she was more tolerable than the treacherous Eldar. With a silent prayer for forgiveness, Aries decided that he would aid these xenos. "I was sent to your world by the ruler of these Daemons in the belief that I would destroy it myself, but I refuse to be their pawn, however, it appears that my compliance may not be necessary." Luna was skilled in the art of controlling her emotions, Aries doubted that a non-astartes would've picked up the subtle hints of worry and confusion that he had seen clear as day. "Well...as grateful as I am that you refused, can you expl-" Luna's question was cut off as Aries began to fade. Elsewhere Aries gripped his head as he was engulfed in pain, he pulled himself from the cave floor, his surprise at Luna's disappearance immediately dismissed as he realized that he had simply awakened, he was grateful that it did not happen during the battle against the Bloodletters. Aries surveyed the cave, he could tell that the light outside came from a moon, and by the position of the cave that barely three hours had passed since he had rendered himself unconscious. He doubted that Luna would seek him at this time, as she had duties to tend to, thinking about it, Aries found that assigning trusted psykers to oversee the minds of dreaming mortals, children especially, was actually a good idea. Aries took a step towards the exit of the cave, only to step on something metal and flat. Aries looked down and beheld the sight of his ruined helmet. He grit his teeth and cursed internally, it was all he could do to refuse the need to destroy, but it had costed him a far too valuable, and now irreplaceable, piece of equipment. Aries snarled audibly and threw away the now useless helmet. He barely heard the sound of the helmet crash into the cave wall and fall to the floor, he seethed in frustration at his situation...and all that had led to it. His thoughts were interrupted by a lavender flash of light, it disappeared as quickly as it appeared with popping noise, but then reappeared with a hum. "Hello, is anypony here, uh, Princess Luna sent me.." Aries saw the xeno long before she saw him, it seemed to be of the same sub-species as Luna, possessing both feathered wings and a conical horn that glowed with lavender psychic light. Aries entertained the idea of attempting to conceal himself, but he had already committed himself, and Luna had undoubtedly sent this alien to gather information on the new threat. Repeating his prayer for forgiveness, Aries stepped into the alien's view. Moments Prior, The Dreamrealm Twilight was one half second away from adding the final ingredient to her experiment when Princess Luna teleported into her personal space, startling Twilight, who applied too much of the final ingredient, resulting in an explosion that left both princesses coughing and covered in ashes. "Pr-Princess Luna, what brings you here?" Twilight asked as soon as she recovered. "I'm here to enlist your aid Twilight Sparkle, I fear that Equestria is in grave danger." Luna explained. Luna then retold the nights events to Twilight, who was as excited by the news as she was terrified. "Unfortunately, he awoke from his slumber before he could explain anything more, and you above all ponies are skilled in taking notes, so I wish to give you the means of finding Aries and leave the situation in your capable hooves until my sister raises the sun and my duties end." Luna concluded. "I won't let you down Princess." Twilight ensured her as she willed herself to awaken. Twilight shot out of bed in a burst of adrenaline, trying to keep her mind focused on the task at hand in spite of her excitement of enacting first contact with a new race that was so unlike anything she had heard of, a minotaur sized bipedal knight that fought with the ferocity of a dragon lord. Twilight had more questions than she could ask, but she would save that for when she had found him. She focused her magic on the memory that Luna had given her on the feel of his aura, and found it within moments. Luna's words hadn't done him justice, his presence was that of Wrath made manifest, as if he hated everything around him and sought it's destruction. Twilight was determined to find out why he was so angry and help him overcome it if possible, and with this determination driving her, she teleported to within ten feet of his location. Twilight found herself in almost complete darkness but for the moonlight behind her, the feeling of solid stone beneath her hooves telling her that she was in a cave. Twilight channeled magic from her horn to serve as a torch and, not wanting to startle the angry 8 foot demon slayer, called out to him. "Hello, is anypony here, uh, Princess Luna sent me..." Twilight walked forward, and then felt her hoof land on something made of metal, she looked down to find an odd disk with jagged edges, she couldn't figure out what it was. She was torn from the sight of the disk by very loud footfalls. When the owner of these footfalls came into view, Twilight was completely incapable of hiding her shock, gasping audibly and taking an instinctive step back and staring slack jawed. He was everything Luna had described, a minotaur sized bipedal knight with white and blue armor, but there were two noteworthy differences. He had no weapon, let alone the screaming sword with teeth that Luna had described, but the most terrifying difference was that he had no helmet, giving Twilight a clear view of his face. It was a human, one of the creatures from Sunset Shimmer's dimension, he had dark brown hair with skin that could have been a pale white before years under Celestia's sun (or at least, A sun) had tanned it, he also seemed to have been hurt in his fight with the demons as he bled from a wound on his forehead, but what disturbed her was that something had long ago pierced his face, just behind his lips, leaving his face fixed in a permanent snarl anytime he opened his lips. "You needn't fear me xeno, if I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have taken that step." The human, Aries if Twilight remembered correctly, stated as a fact, making Twilight gulp down the excess saliva that was building in her throat. "G-greetings, Sir Aries..." Twilight began, bowing to the knight. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna sent me to you in the hopes that you could inform us of this new threat to Equestria." "I have agreed to inform you, and I will honor that agreement, but I will have no more of this "sir" nonsense, refer to me as Aries alien." The knight said, baffling Twilight. "O-oh, okay then, umm...alien?" Twilight gestured with her hoof as if she were holding the word in question. "Aliens, or xenos as they are also called, are sentient races that are inhuman, yours is the first xenos race that I have encountered that was not hostile at first contact, so pardon the mistrust, I have simply learned to expect every creature in the galaxy to be my enemy... I merely offer you the first strike." Aries explained, giving Twilight one answer and several new questions. "Well...uhh...you don't have to worry about that from us, Equestria is a peaceful place, my people value Harmony and Friendship above all else, but that doesn't make us strangers to violence, we've learned that some creatures cannot be reasoned with, and if what Princess Luna told me about these demons is true, we're not going to solve this with a rational conversation." Twilight explained. "Certainly not, these foul abominations are the manifestation of war, rage and slaughter, born from both the mad xenos races who fight to rule and oppress all life in the galaxy, and mankind's will to defy them, they only know how to spill blood in the name of their heinous master, the self proclaimed 'Blood God' Khorne." Aries confirmed her fears, causing another gulp. "Oh...well, I think I can figure out why they're targeting us then." Twilight hypothesized. "And what would that be?" Aries inquired. "Well as I said earlier, we respect Harmony and Friendship above all else, I may have left out that we actually have a guardian diety called the Spirit of Harmony, who draws powers from six emotions that we call the Elements of Harmony, it sounds to me like they would be a perfect foil for this Blood God." Twilight explained. Aries seemed to ponder this information. "...I doubt that this spirit poses a threat to the Great Enemy...but it could if given time to grow and adapt...a lot of time." "Well, you haven't seen the Elements in action yet, you see, we have used the Elements of Harmony to drain the power of a magic devouring demon, a different demon, not these guys, anyway we also turned another demon to stone, but our biggest accomplishment by far is using them on a ruler who had gone insane and changing them back to normal." Twilight explained. Aries pondered this. "...If such is the case, then that would explain why they sent me here, instead of their more demented followers." "Oh yeah, Luna told me that they expected you to destroy us, is it because you haven't met a friendly race yet?" Twilight asked. "Among other reasons, yes, but this has nothing to do with our current enemy." Aries stated. "Oh, right, um, so other than hacking them apart with a screaming sword made of teeth, do you know any other ways to stop them." Twilight inquired. "The Daemons come from a Realm called The Warp, within this Realm, emotions become physical beings, these Daemons, as I said before, are embodiments of pure hatred, as such, they cannot exist in the material plane without a blood sacrifice, or possessing living beings, it isn't uncommon for one to do the latter in order to enact the former and bring forth an invasion, so long as Luna keeps an eye out for them invading the minds of your people, it is doubtful that they can launch an effective attack, but in preparation for such a thing, the best course of action would be for me to train your military for a full scale war." Aries explained. Twilight shivered at the thought, Equestria had not known a true war for over a thousand years, on occasion, this has come back to bite them, such as the invasion of the Storm King, but now they face an enemy that won't put the ponies in chains until Twilight and her friends can rescue them, but a hateful force that was out to slaughter them out of spite. "I see, I will inform Princess Luna and Celestia of these developments, do you wish to accompany me, there's no reason for you to stay here." Twilight asked him. "Yes, there is." Aries said, clutching his head as though it were in pain, and glancing at the metal disk that Twilight saw before. Twilight looked again, and realized from the similar design and color that it was his missing helmet. "Did you do this?" Twilight asked as she picked up the helmet with her magic. The human looked at her, pausing only to wipe at the blood from his wound that forth far slower than Twilight thought it should. "...yes, there is an explanation, but I am not ready to give it to you, I will only say that I stay in this cave for your safety." Twilight saw only the truth in his eyes...as well as shame, and sadness "Luna told me that you were fighting people wearing the same armor as you in your dream, you don't have to answer if don't want to, but if you don't give somepony the whole story, they may imagine something worse than the truth." As Twilight said this, she repaired his helmet with a spell and gave it back to him. Aries took it and looked at her with no expression. "Not if the truth is worse than anything you could hope to imagine." He said as he put on his helmet, the glass eyes lighting up orange. Twilight bowed to him as a goodbye and teleported to Canterlot, the flash of lavender light failing to bring with it a single sympathetic tear.
Chapter Four: Road to War (Meetings)Aries looked over his helmet for the tenth time since Twilight had disappeared, he had long since confirmed that there were no impurities, despite having been repaired by an alien psyker, yet seeking taint on his equipment kept him occupied. So long as his thoughts were away from...those events, he was able to ignore the bite of the Nails. The sun had risen an hour ago, and so Aries waited for either Luna or Twilight or some other xeno to contact him. He equipped the helmet and checked it's every function, the HUD was fully functional, the eyes lit up, it was perfect... the Machanicus would see this world burn if they knew how perfect a completely destroyed piece of Imperial technology was after being touched by alien magic. A short time later, as Aries considered an eleventh scan of taint on his helmet, a lavender flash signaled Twilight's return. "Good morning Aries, did you sleep well?" The alien asked of him with a polite smile. "I did not sleep at all alien, I require but three hours of sleep per week, and can stay awake up to two weeks if it is necessary." Aries replied. "Oh, that's interesting, well aside from more questions that I hope to ask you later, the Princesses are ready to meet you now." Twilight said. "Very well, lead the way." Aries said. "No problem, just stand next to me and we'll be there in no time." Twilight responded, gesturing to her side. Aries got the hint immediately and drew the line. "I have sacrificed a great many of my beliefs in the past 24 hours for the sake of defeating the Great Enemy, I will not use magic for ease when it is not necessary." Twilight blinked in confusion. "H-huh, uh are you saying you wanna take the train instead?" "Is this 'train' a means of transportation that does not involve magic?" Aries asked. "Yeah, it's a vehicle that's runned by a steam powered engine." Twilight said the last part questioningly, as though not sure if the ceramite clad super soldier who has spent most of his life in a country sized space ship knew what an engine was. "Primitive, but effective, we will take the train." Aries said. "Alright, I have to inform the Princesses that we'll run a little late, we're not the only ones expected, so we should have time, uh, if you head east, you'll see a small town called Ponyville, I live in the castle at it's center, I've already told my apprentice about you so you just have to knock on the door and Starlight'll let you in, Oh! and if a pink Earth Pony points a cannon at you, it's not a weapon, please don't kill my friend." With that, Twilight vanished in a lavender flash of light. Aries took an extra nanosecond to ponder that last one, recalling the completely pink xeno that he had seen with the yellow one when he first arrived and her unusual personality, before exiting the cave and heading back to this 'Ponyville'...what were the founders thinking when they named it. Moments Later Aries' trek back had been nearly as uneventful as his first trip through the forest, he had encountered a large beast with bat wings and a scorpion's tail, but the creature had taken a single scent from the World Eater and fled for it's life. The first beast's wisdom was not shared by the second, a pack of wolf shaped wooden automatons that were held together by magic, Aries found no challenge in them, but had been grateful for the exercise. Now, Aries was back on the outskirts of the forest, he pulled back some branches to observe Ponyville, it was a faint distance away, but he could make out the brightly colored pelts of the equine xenos. Taking a breath, and giving another prayer for forgiveness, Aries cleared the forest and walked towards them. It wasn't long before they saw him, several stared at him, trying to figure out what he was or what his intentions were, others fled the scene, some in braver fashion than others. As Aries closed the distance and entered the town, none dared to approach him, he ignored the mumbles and whispers of the aliens comparing him to a minotaur or a knight, until one said something that he couldn't ignore. "Do you think it speaks Ponish." A sea-green alien asked a cream colored xeno. Aries halted and faced the offending xeno. "It is called Imperial Gothic, if you will speak humanity's tongue, then you will call it by it's proper title." The alien and it's friend both stared wide-eyed at the astartes, completely stunned. Aries did not wait for their reply, and decided that since he had already addressed them, they might as well be useful to him. "I have business with the one called Twilight, she informed me that I am to await her at a castle in this settlement." Aries took notice of the fact that mentioning Twilight snapped them out of it instantly and seemed to calm them. "Oh, Princess Twilight's castle is right in the center of Ponyville, we can show you the way." The two aliens trotted in front of Aries and he followed them, he would've done so silently, but something they said grabbed his interest. "Twilight led me to believe that there were only two Princesses." The two mares seemed to find this humorous. "Well, she's only been an alicorn for two, almost three years, and the royal sisters have ruled Equestria for over a thousand years." explained the green one. "That, and Princess Celestia was Twilight's mentor since she was a philly, so she tends to forget that she has the same rank and prestige that they do." added the cream colored one. "Experience outranks everything." Aries said, remembering the time a green Commissar had tried to pull rank on his squad's sergeant, the enraged astartes had shown the fool the error of his ways by ordering one of his own men to shoot him dead, an order obeyed without hesitation. "Hmm, you have a point Mr..uhh.." The green xeno looked up to him in anticipation. "...Aries." He answered. "Lyra, my BFF here is BonBon." The alien gestured to herself and then to her cream colored friend. "Nice to meet you." The latter added. "It is...better... than my usual interactions with xenos." Aries replied, uncomfortable with the small talk that served no purpose as they had veered to a meaningless topic. "You don't have any friends?" Lyra asked, confused by the statement. "The only other races my people have encountered have either been bloodthirsty savages or deceptive manipulators who use us as pawns for their schemes." Aries explained, startling the aliens. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that...do you at least have any friends with own kind?" asked BonBon. That innocent question stopped Aries in his tracks, his breathing elevated slightly and he closed his fists. "...they're gone." The aliens looked confused, but then the recognition struck them like a bolt shell. "I-I-I am so sorry, I didn't mea-" "Enough, I've wasted enough time with the two of you, where is the castle?" Aries demanded. Lyra pointed beyond a roof of a building to his right, beyond it was a large crystalline structure, where the village itself looked almost man-made, this structure was completely alien. "I will find my way from here." Aries stated and pressed on, noticing the xenos' apologetic stares, sympathy from aliens, Emperor preserve him. He navigated the maze of buildings and curious bystanders and found his destination, the castle was an impressive sight in it's own right, but Aries would prefer a Gothic design. He approached the castle and knocked, a moment later, the door opened. "I'm sorry, but Twilight's not heeeeerrreee..." Aries had to look down below his knees to see the eyes of the small reptilian alien, no doubt a servant. "I am aware, she told me to wait for her here." The xeno craned his head to speak to someone inside while keeping his eyes on the astartes. "Uhh, Starlight...what does the demon slayer look like again?" A female voice answered him as it's owner drew closer. "He's supposed to be an 8 foot bipedal knight, I think Twilight said he was-" The mare came into view and stopped in her tracks, giving him the same look as the servant, "At...the...door." Starlight finished awkwardly. "H-he-hello.." "Greetings." Answered Aries, not waiting for an invitation to step inside. The aliens continued to stare at him, but he ignored them and simply waited, a few moments passed, finally Starlight worked up the courage to speak up, only to be cut off when Twilight appeared between them. "Is everything in order?" Aries asked, getting Twilight's attention. "Oh, I see you made it, I you hope that you weren't waiting too long, but yes, everything is in order." Twilight said. "Then where is this train?" Aries asked. "We're taking the train?" The servant asked. "It's a long story, but yes, we're taking the train, and I've already informed the others, they'll meet us at the train station." "Then let us proceed." Aries said as he headed towards the door, Twilight leading the way flanked by her cohorts. Aries took notice that the aliens were a lot less fearful of him now that he was in the company of one of their leaders, some remained at a safe distance, and none dared to question them, but several have already resumed their daily routines. The four of them made it to the train station without incident, Aries found that the vehicle in question ran on a fixed track and was chained to several carts made for carrying a large number of passengers from one destination to another, he doubted that it could move faster than the equines themselves, but as a machine, it wouldn't tire as they would, even astartes had limits to how long they could run. Twilight waved down a group of mares who Aries assumed were the others she had mentioned, though he had no idea how any of them qualified to assist in what was to come...with one exception. "ARIES!" cried a familiar voice from behind them, the World Eater turned to the familiar sight of the xenos warrior that reminded him of the 13th legion, Rainbow Dash as he recalled. The winged equine flew to meet them and hovered in front of the astartes with one of it's hooves outstretched. "How ya been?" Aries regarded the gesture, assuming that it was some sort of greeting that he was expected to respond to in some manner. As the xeno had shown respectable skill in faceing a more than insignificant number of Bloodletters on her own, he decided to place an closed fist against it's hoof to show respect to the warrior. "I have been well, though I am not accustomed to spending so long away from combat." Before any other questions could arise a voice rang out. "ALL ABOARD!!" while ringing a bell, signaling that it was time to board the train. The group of eight aliens and one space marine entered the train, and though the transport's staff member looked at him the same way as the rest of their kind, this one actually dared to address him. "Uuuhhhh, S-sir, do you ha-have a...ticket?" "No, I do not." Aries said, looking down at the golden horned alien with dark brown hair and green eyes. "W-well, I'm sorry, but I cannot let you board without a ticket." The xeno said, nervous, but unfaltering. "I have urgent business with your rulers, I do not have time for this." Aries said and turned to walk away...only for a golden flash to see the alien appear in his path, his gaze roaring defiance. "I am sorry sir, but unless you have a ticket, I cannot let on this train." The alien said with conviction. Aries was about to brush him aside when Twilight ran up to them with a gold colored piece of paper in her mouth. The alien turned and looked to her confused. "That's funny, I could've sworn that I had already punched your ticket Princess." "It's not mine, I just forgot to give Aries his before we boarded." Twilight explained, causing the xeno to look back at the astartes, and then back to Twilight. "Very well, although you should have a talk with your friend, his manners are abhorrent." And with that, the xeno turned to leave. "What is your name, alien?" Aries asked. The xeno gave him a look and hesitated, but in time, an answer came. "One-way Express." "I will remember that." Aries said, bowing his to the creature that, in spite of it's head failing to reach Aries' knee, stood his ground against a World Eater. Author's Note Fair points Warpsmith, one of which will be answered in chapter 6 (which I am currently writing and plan to publish on the weekend) another I will answer in a later chapter, but for the hostile aliens bid, he said that I encountered, not the Imperium, he himself, I know the Imperium has encountered nonhostile xenon before, most popular being the Jotaro (might've spelled that wrong) which the Inquisition put a leash on.
Chapter Five: War MeetingAries was reaching his limit, the foul xeno known as Pinkie Pie may not have aimed a cannon at him yet, but the endless barrage of pointless questions was bringing the bite of the Nails to dangerous heights. "When'syourbirthday,what'syourfavoritecake,what'syourfavoritecolor,isitred,Ithinkitwouldbered,doyouthinkitwouldbered,causeIthinkitwouldbered,doyouhaveanyfriends,doyouwannamakenewfriends,doyouwannabemyfriend..." on and on and on and on until finally, Aries could see a large city roughly three kilometers away with a castle built into the side of a mountain. Rainbow Dash turned her head away from her conversation with the others and finally saw her energetic friend harassing the now trembling World Eater, but as she inhaled to tell Pinkie to stop, Aries did something that even a daredevil like her considered a little bit drastic. Pinkie Pie was flung from her perch on the space marine's shoulder as Aries smashed himself through the wall of the train, ripping through it like it was paper. "ARIES!!!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she zipped over to the hole in the train to see if he was all right, only to stare, mouth agape, as the demon slayer caught up to the hole and then passed it...on foot. Aries ran as fast as his super human body and performance enhancing power armor would let him, the impact of his feet against the grassy plains giving but the faintest relief as he passed the locomotive and kept on going. Aries heard a sound closing in on him, looking to the side brought him face to muzzle with Rainbow Dash, the arrogant alien warrior giving him an apologetic look. "I'm sorry about my friend, I told her not to overwhelm you again and I'll keep a closer eye on her in the future." Aries nodded his head enough that she could see the movement and kept on running. "Not much of a talker, are you?" Rainbow Dash prodded. "I am familiar with conversing with others, but your 'friend' needs some practice." Aries responded. Aries barely recognized Rainbow Dash's expression as one of surprised humor before she disappeared behind him, stunned into stopping until she let out a long, loud laugh. In a few seconds, Rainbow Dash caught up with him again, still snickering and smiling. "Yeah, Pinkie tends to get overexcited when around new people, you see, she's made it her mission in life to make friends with everycreature she meets, and trust me, as soon as she figures out how, she will make friends with you." Aries doubted that, but didn't comment, and instead pressed forward. Seeing that the conversation was over, Rainbow Dash smiled mischievously, which did not go unnoticed by Aries. The thought that the xeno plotted betrayal crossed his mind, but he couldn't see her being that open about it, however, the smirk's meaning became known as he noticed that the alien was gradually pulling ahead of him. "Hmph, challenge accepted." Aries sprinted hard, they had a single kilometer to go, and though he knew this alien was capable of outrunning him even if he were piloting a Thunderhawk, he was determined to represent humanity's finest warriors, if for no other reason than to bring faint relief to the Nails before a meeting with the planet's rulers. Aries pulled a slight lead that he retained until they made it to the train station, Aries had to grind to a halt while the alien simply halted with practiced ease. "Man, you're not even winded, are ya?" Aries turned to the xeno. "As if you had gotten here as fast as you could." Rainbow Dash laughed at that. "Yeah, but I couldn't move half that fast on hoof, so I'll keep title of fastest pegasus and you can have the title of fastest, uh, you called yourself a 'World Eater', right?" Aries nodded. "Yes, that is the name of my legion, the 12th legion of adeptus astartes or 'space marines' if you prefer." From here Aries and Rainbow had a friendly chat until the train arrived. Rainbow veered away from the important matters, stating that she'll hear about them at the meeting. Aries told her of the adeptus astartes and their purpose to rule and serve the imperium of man. Rainbow told him of the three pony tribes, the pegasai, the unicorns,the earth ponies, and their allies, the dragons, the griffins, the yaks, the changelings, and the hyppogriffs. Aries only got as far as space marines in general and what separated them from normal humans, which were unexplained. Rainbow only got as far as each race's appearance and abilities, which Aries had asked for. At last the train caught up to them, Pinkie Pie was the first one out, she apologized to Aries...a little too much, Rainbow Dash put a hoof in her mouth and swore her to silence, for now. The others arrived soon after, and the group made their way to the court of the royal sisters, the journey wasn't too long, as Pinkie Pie had joined the rest of the group to hear Rainbow Dash's retelling of what Aries had told her, which she exaggerated as much as was possible. (not that much) Aries trailed behind, observing the city, more particularly, how it's citizens made the residents of Ponyville seem courageous, fleeing and screaming as if he were attacking them. On more than one ooccasion had a xeno dressed like a law enforcer or a guard attempted to confront him only for Twilight to appear in between in a flash of witch-light and send them off. Aries looked back and realized that the beasts he had encountered in the forest would pose a very significant threat to these four foot peace loving equines, which in it's own way, made Ponyville akin to Catachan. Eventually, they made their way to the castle, Aries would give credit where credit was due, the castle guards never even flinched, though he could hear their elevated heartbeats and assumed the fact that he accompanied Princess Twilight was the only reason they had kept their composure. They made their way to the throne room, the door was before them on the other side of a long hallway, the large stain-glass windows portraying still images that Aries recognized as past exploits, as the 12th legion had similar portraits on their ships' halls. Twilight opened the door with her magic, and while Aries immediately recognized Princess Luna, and determined that the taller white alien was her sister, Celestia, his attention immediately focused on one of the visiting rulers. It was bipedal, possessing wings and horns and scepter with a glowing crimson stone, only it's sky-blue scales kept him from believing it to be a Bloodletter. Aries recalled Rainbow Dash's description of dragons and put two and two together, he may have pondered it for awhile, but to an astartes, a while if less than a second, and so he was able to look away before his suspicion was noticed, however, he doubt anyone would judge him, as they were all doing the same with far less tact. The dragon and young avian lion seemed impressed, the rest were having mixed reactions, with the only one that Aries couldn't read being the large bovine that had the fashion sense of a Space Wolf. The green insectoid equine and the avian equine seemed to react in the same manner as the ponies, while the ancient avian lion and black insectoid equine stiffened as if preparing for a fight, cute. "You must be Aries, on behalf of Equestria, I thank you for aiding my sister in defending our people." Announced Celestia. "This war is mine to fight, if my enemies wish to destroy you, then I will stop them." Aries replied. "Then shall we discuss how to end this war as quickly as possible?" Celestia said, beckoning to a seat at the table in front of the two thrones that would put him across from the royal sisters with the black Changeling on his left and the young griffin on his right. He took his seat, the ponies and dragon that accompanied him taking seats reserved for them as well, and the council began. "While we awaited your arrival, my sister explained that the demons came from your nightmare, you were surrounded by them and they were numberless, she also told us that you described them as incarnations of War, Rage and Slaughter, is there anything else you can tell us about them?" Celestia asked, and every alien present looked to him...but he looked to Luna. "Is that all you saw of my dreams?" Aries asked, her reaction answered for her. "I felt as though that was too personal for me to speak of without your permission, am I right in assuming that they were possessed by these demons?" Luna's answer confused all present. "No...they were not, I thank for keeping it to yourself." Aries stated and immediately changed the topic. "I dream of these creatures because I was captured by them and forced to fight for my life for countless years, I do not know how much time has passed, but in that time, the mad fools gloated to me with arrogance, told me of their heinous orgins, their plans for the universe, and how they fight." Aries explained, earning a few gasps and looks of pity. Twilight looked like she was about to voice to their sympathy, but Aries brought to silence her and continued. "They are Ethereal beings, and as such they cannot enter the physical plane outside of two methods, possession of mortals, or being summoned through blood sacrifices, it is uncommon for a small group of Daemons to do the former and then perform the latter to bring the invasion, I have discussed this with Princess Twilight, but the best course of action is for Princess Luna to continue overseeing the dreams of her subjects and look out for possible possessions and perhaps acquire assistants to counter a greater work load, but in case of the worst-case scenario, I believe the best course of action would be allowing me to train your armies in fighting these enemies in all out war." The air grew thick at those last three words, Aries expected as much. "They can't be that bad, I mean I beat up a whole bunch of them all by myself." Aries turned to Rainbow Dash, she was clearly bluffing, her worry was evident to the astartes, but she had succeeded in calming her fellows. "Yaks can beat any demon that ponies can beat, Yaks best at fighting." said the Yak prince in an accent that made orks sound articulate. "Gotta agree with Rutherford, Rainbow Dash may be an awesome pony, but she's still a pony, no offense." said the dragon lord. "...You are wrong." Aries said to Rainbow Dash, causing the others to look at him for an explanation. "...You know this, don't you?" This he said to Luna, who had seen his mind. "If you are referring to your dream, I cannot be sure how accurate it was, you didn't appear to be in the best state of mind." Luna explained, and Aries couldn't fault that, the Nails had him in their grasp at that time. "Can you look again, see into my mind, and this time, show them my memories?" Aries asked. Luna looked shocked, but she nodded. "If you wish to show them your memories, and they wish to see them, I can make it so." "You do it Gilda, tell me anything that's important and skip the sappy stuff, the only dreams that interest me are my own." said the elder griffin to the younger who groaned at the task. "Uh, Thorax, I think you should sit this out, you're not built like I am." said the black changeling to the green one who nodded. With this, the group left the table, and allowed it to be removed by servants before making circle around Aries and Luna, the elder griffin and Thorax remaining behind, along with Fluttershy and Rarity. Luna closed her eyes and channeled her magic, when she opened her eyes, they glowed like moonlight, this glow exploded from her eyes, first enveloping Aries, and then the circle of xenos. Author's Note This is the last chapter that I have already written, chapter 6 will be ready either tomorrow or the day after, after that, I try to post weekly. Also, if anyone is interested, I have recently decided to make YouTube videos, they're just slideshow music videos, but I have started up a series where I compare a character from mlp with a faction from 40k, feel free to look them up in your free time. See you all next time.
Chapter Six: Istvaan IIIA maelstrom of violence, that was the only way Twilight could describe what she was seeing. The various creatures around her shared her shock, even Prince Rutherford was clearly stunned by the sheer brutality of the battle. Humans, a race that only Twilight recognized, screamed like mad beasts with glowing eyes and discolored skin as they charged into a vicious melee with the World Eaters who tore them into red mist with their screaming swords and axes of similar nature...all but a few. Everycreature was surprised to find that Aries himself was not part of the melee, instead he and a few other World Eaters trailed behind at a steady pace, their swords and axes at their hips and their hands occupied with a large rectangular device with a smaller curved rectangle connected to it and a small tube or exit hole, small compared to the device, but Twilight could've stuck her horn inside the hole if she wanted to for whatever reason. Twilight was about to ask Aries about the nature of the device when suddenly, a mad human with magical abilities similar to that of a unicorn teleported behind the World Eaters who were too concerned with those in front of them to notice, but as the human prepared to hurl purple lightning at the unsuspecting World Eaters, there was a noise that Twilight could only describe as a thunderclap with the royal Canterlot voice, and the human's head exploded. Twilight turned to the direction that the noise had come from to see the image of Aries lowering the device, smoke fading from the hole. More thunderclaps drew Twilight's attention to the others, she couldn't see what they were shooting at, at least she suspected they were shooting projectiles of some sort, but she could hypothesize from where they were aiming that it was snipers and desserters that their berserk allies failed to realize were there. "So you are not a front line fighter, your skill with the screaming sword led me to believe otherwise." Princess Luna asked the real Aries who stood with the group, Twilight listened in, making mental notes of every word he used to describe this...this. "The 12th legion of adeptus astartes is primarily a melee oriented legion that is unsurpassed in sheer ferocity, but that does not blind us to the necessity of covering fire, as a tactical marine, I am tasked with keeping my rage in check and focusing on the battlefield, protecting my brothers from those who would exploit the vulnerabilities of one who is blinded by rage, if one of my less restrained brothers were to take my place, I doubt that we would be speaking right now." Aries explained. Twilight knew what he was implying, his 'brothers' were savages in every sense of the word, she actually felt a touch grateful that all of the humans were possessed, for she doubted that the World Eaters would notice any that weren't. The battle, if one could call it that, was extremely one sided, any heavy armaments were charged head on and barely left a dent in the mad marines' armor, and any flanking maneuver attempted by the madmen was swiftly thwarted by the tactical marines. "W-was all that necessary, I mean, couldn't you've cured them somehow?" Applejack stuttered out, everyone just stared at one part of the violent scene or another. "We were not taught any such tactic, wherever we deploy, none survive, it led to us being hated, secluded, the majority of our efforts directed to xenos threats, and thus the fact that we were called in to deal with this incursion speaks volumes of just how dangerous this threat can be, for whatever else the Imperium we serve may call us, above all else...we are necessary." Aries stated as a fact. Applejack wanted to argue that point, but before they could, static bursts erupted from the resting World Eaters, who started getting restless, before they started moving away with haste. "What's that all about?" asked Ember, voicing the group's confusion. "Astartes communicate through a vox system, a radio, installed in our helmets, without it, you wouldn't be able to hear me through the ceramite alloy that my armor is made of, and when in combat, rather than broadcasting our communication to the enemy, we use private vox channels, and these can be used to speak with other astartes on different parts of the planet, or with our orbiting fleet." Aries explained. While everycreature else, including Twilight was exclaiming about the advanced technology and how they could benefit from it, Princess Luna had a very different concern. "So what did whom say to you to earn such a reaction?" "...We are betrayed." Aries explained. The scene changed, the World Eaters were packing themselves into a large reinforced shelter, their words may have only been the static of their unheard communications, but the body language spoke volumes. "You're hiding, what could make you hide, why aren't you fighting them?" Rainbow asked. "There is nothing to fight, the traitors are preparing an orbital bombardment, but in order to ensure that we believe the unbelievable, the loyalist who warned us said it was a bio weapon unleashed by the possessed." Aries explained as the image of Aries arrived at the shelter and started calling out for World Eaters behind him to move faster. As three more made it in, the door began to close, Aries kicked the marine closing it, allowing one final World Eater through, before Aries was tackled and beaten while the door was closed, other World Eaters pulled off Aries' attackers and started trying to open the door again, ensuing a brawl. "ENOUGH! CONTROL YOURSELVES FOOLS!!" Demanded an unhelmeted astartes baring many scars and a cybernetic eye. The World Eaters pulled away from each other and started trying to communicate with those outside, trying to figure out what was happening. Aries started clutching his head as though in pain, but straightened himself as Rainbow Dash looked towards him. "Are you okay big guy?" "I can hear them through the vox, the sounds of my brothers drowning, a horrid reminder that I failed in my oath to protect them." Aries explained. "Hmm, Yak thinks yak misheard angry knight, how do creatures drown on dry land?" Prince Rutherford asked. Princess Luna was about to protest his curiosity about his brothers dying, but Aries answered him first. "Because the entire planet has been covered in the Life Eater virus, a destructive mist that breaks down all it touches on a molecular level, my brothers are drowning because their lungs are being filled in by their own melted flesh, that's how you drown on dry land, alien." Everycreature was completely taken aback to hear of such a horrible fate, worst of all was Pinkie Pie, she had been uncharacteristically silent throughout the entire thing, her mane and tail smooth and straight, but that last piece of information caused her coat to lose all color. "Man, it's a good thing Fluttershy didn't come." Muttered Rainbow Dash. Everyone was taken from their despair by a horrendous noise that persevered for a long time and drowned out any questions of it's cause, only Aries and the images of the outraged astartes weren't covering their ears. The noise subsided, and Aries answered the inevitable question. "The Life Eater virus is also highly combustible, the application of a thermal charge saw the entire planet burned to glass and any who somehow survived the virus killed, luckily, this bunker and others like it were built to withstand such things." Everycreature again reeled in shock that such horror could even exist, but Luna had a different thought. "Why is this happening, why are you being betrayed?" Aries turned to her. "Our father and brothers have tired of their oaths to the Emperor and now seek the freedom to kill indiscriminately, so when our father was told that Warmaster Horus seeks to usurp the Golden Throne, he joined his heretical rebellion, we and those of the Sons of Horus, the Death Guard, and the Emperor's Children legions who are more loyal to the Emperor than we are to our treacherous fathers have been cut from our legions and condemned, named traitors by those who forsake their oaths because we would not join them in their heresy." Aries turned and spat through his helmet, disgusted by the sheer audacity of his former brothers and father. "ANGRON!! YOU DARE TO STAB US IN THE BACK FROM OF A COMMAND VESSEL!? I COULD SEE SUCH TACTICS FROM CURZE, BUT YOU!? YOU DARE!!? IF YOU SEEK OUR BLOOD, THAN SPILL IT WITH YOUR OWN HANDS YOU COWARD!!!" The World Eater in charge shouted with a finger in his ear, earning shouts of agreement and challenge and vows of vengeance from the others. The scene changed again, the next thing everycreature knew, the World Eaters were outside, fortified in a ruined city, facing a plain upon which flying machines bearing the blood red jaws of the World Eaters unloaded 6 times their number, one of whom stood out from the rest, a colossus among giants, wearing crimson and bronze armor and wielding two screaming axes as if they were toys in his hands despite them each being larger than Big Mac. The flying machines unloaded the last of the World Eaters and flew out towards the loyalists. The sky erupted in endless thunder as the flying machines rained death upon the loyalist line, a few loyal World Eaters fired rockets at the enemy flyers, but damage was minimal. The colossus roared and the traitors charged the loyalist line, firing randomly and without accuracy. Aries and the other tactical marines returned fire at targets of opportunity, eliminating enemy champions with special weapons as their melee oriented allies charged to their deaths. "WHAT ARE THEY DOING!? Don't they know that's suicide?" Twilight exclaimed. "It was always suicide, our only choice was to beg for mercy we wouldn't receive, or drown them in our blood as they spilt it" Aries said. The loyal World Eaters were cut down, butchered, even eaten in some cases by their mad brothers, the tactical marines began to run out of ammo, joining the melee as they did so. Aries too ran dry, discarding his bolter in a fit of rage that embarrassed his present self as he watched, and at last drew his screaming sword and drowned out it's roar for blood with a howl of fury as he charged into battle, butchering his traitorous brothers before he too was cut down. The scene changed again, now Aries was alone, the only World Eater surrounded by the demons Luna had described, they assaulted Aries immediately, and he met them in kind. "Wait...didn't you just..." Ember hesitated to say it, but everyone was thinking it. "Yes, I died, my soul was cast into the immaterium along with those of all the other loyalists, a gift to the Dark Gods from the Archbetrayer." Aries all but snarled as he thought of the others who suffered his fate. Before anycreature else could question him, they turned their attention to the snarls of the demons, nearly discernable words could be heard from them. "Pay no attention to their lies." Aries warned. "They speak in half truths, it takes centuries to piece together the facts that they fragment for their amusement." This time, it was Celestia who questioned him. "And you did this...as you fought them?" Aries actually chuckled at that. "hmm hmm hmm hmm, I understand your disbelief, it is true that I do not have the patience for such a thing, but I don't need it, an astartes has a photographic memory, so while I ignored them completely, I remember every word they said, and from my experiences fighting them, I can piece together what few truths they said...including how my father and brothers are now devoted servants of their master, the Blood God Khorne, incarnation of War, Rage, and Slaughter, which brings me to the purpose of showing this to you, if even one of your kin are possessed unknowingly, and is allowed to summon a gateway to the Warp, we will not only face Daemons, but my brothers as well, and the Istvaan III Atrocity shall repeat itself on your world." The image of Aries fought on as the illusion was broken, returning everycreature to Canterlot. "Oh, you're back already?" asked Rarity as she and the others who stayed behind trotted to meet them. "What's wrong with you Gilda, was it even sappier than I thought?" Asked Grandpa Gruff. "It wasn't sappy at all actually, I'm pretty sure you would've finally had a heart attack if you had seen it." Gilda said without any humor or her usual sarcasm. "Pharnyx, are you alright?" Thorax asked his brother as he approached. "It is a really good thing you didn't see that, I almost wish I hadn't, but one of us needed to know what we were up against...it isn't pretty Thorax." answered the more aggressive changeling. "No..it isn't, war never is, that's why we must stop it before it begins while preparing for it as though it were inevitable." Aries declared. The leaders all nodded in agreement before Celestia spoke up. "We will need a week, a few days to get the word out, and a few more for volunteers to make arrangements to put their lives on hold until this matter is settled...however long it may take." "In the meantime, I fear I will require assistance in managing the Dream Realm...it appears that I now have need of an apprentice of my own." Luna said, looking between her sister and Twilight. "You can ask your subjects nicely if you want, I'm gonna pull Garble and the rest off their lazy tails and get them ready for a fight." Ember proclaimed. "Yak doesn't need to ask or tell other yaks to get ready, yaks always ready to fight...and SMASH!!" Prince Rutherford reared up and brought his front hooves down with authority. "Our people may have fled from the Storm King, but I will not lose the freedom that Princess Twilight and her friends have given us so easily." Declared Queen Novo. The others nodded in approval, and everycreature departed to prepare their nations for the coming war. Aries made to depart as well, but Celestia hailed him. "Aries, there is no reason for you to spend this week in a cave alone, you are more than welcome here." "...Very well, so where am I to retire?" Aries asked. "You can stay in my castle if you want, it's just me, Spike, and Starlight, so there's plenty of room." Twilight offered. "Very well, then we are taking the train?" Aries inquired. "I...suppose so.." Twilight said, a few of her friends showing mild disappointment. "Oh, and don't worry, I fixed the hole you made so the conductors aren't mad anymore." Twilight said. "...Why would I be worried about that?" asked Aries. Author's Note To whom it may concern, I am constructing a tribute to Aries on my YouTube account (of the same name) which will be ready within the hour. Once again, this chapter was just finished on my main site, FanFiction.net, and I am out of pre written chapters, which means updates will be weekly, but I am also going to post another (one shot) mlp40k fanfic either later tonight or tomorrow. See you all then and there
Chapter Seven: A Warrior Without WarThe Following day Twilight was the first Equestrian out of bed. She had hardly slept on account of the new developments. And looking outside revealed that Celestia had yet to raise the sun. Twilight made her way downstairs toward the library in order to grab a few books to read until the others awakened...only to find that she, in fact, wasn't the first one awake. Aries paced around the library anxiously, his breathing elevated. Twilight could tell that something troubled him. Aries stopped pacing when Twilight cleared her throat to get his attention. "Couldn't sleep either, I take it?" she asked him. "That is not a problem, I do not require more than 3 hours of sleep within a week. One of many enhancements that separate astartes from the humans they once were." Aries replied. Twilight blinked away the shock and suppressed the urge to question him, for now, and skipped to the point. "Oh, well then, why did you seem stressed? is it because of the possible invasion?" Aries paused before answering. "In a manner of speaking...I am a warrior Twilight Sparkle. And unlike the common men and women of the Astra Militarum, I cannot simply stop being a warrior. There are some astartes capable of such, the sons of Vulkan and Fulgrim, but not a World Eater, not me...the waiting is hell, it's always been hell, but this is worse than anything I've endured...because it's 'possible' that I wait for nothing." Twilight pieced it together, he had made the battlefield his home. It was something that anypony would call barbaric, or crazy, but she found herself recalling how Applejack got her cutie-mark. After she moved to Manehattan to get away from the farm. She had spent the whole time pining for it, and returned early, because it was where she belonged. That was what war meant for Aries, it was home...and it was so far away. Twilight racked her brain for ways to help the astartes feel better, confident in the belief that the usual tactics were out of the question. "Um, well...you couldn't have been fighting ALL the time, what did you do between fights?" Aries actually made a sound that caused Twilight to believe that he was smirking beneath his helmet. "I sparred with my brothers and tended to my weapons and armor." Twilight was stunned, not because of his dedication to his calling, but because he actually showed that he could experience humor. "Oh, well then...umm, I got nothing...but I may know some ponies who can help you." Aries tilted his head. "Who would that be?" Twilight answered by turning to show her flank to him. "You see this mark? We call them 'cutie-marks'. They magically appear on our flanks when we discover our destiny." Twilight explained, Aries listening in the belief that there is a point to this. "A few years ago, a trio of fillies discovered that their destiny was helping others find their destiny, whether it's helping younger foals get their cutie-marks, helping older ponies understand their cutie-marks, or even helping other creatures without cutie-marks find their place in the world." Twilight concluded. "And you believe these three children can help me?" Aries showed no confidence in that plan. "Well I'd bet every book in my library that if you were a pony, your cutie-mark would be the insignia on your shoulder." Twilight said, pointing a hoof at the mark of the 12th legion. "Being a World Eater is your destiny, and right now you don't know what to do with it because you're in a world of peace and changing that is what they want. And if there's anypony that can help you, it's the Cutie-mark Crusaders." Twilight concluded. "I am all but certain that this will be a waste of my time...but I have a week to waste. Very well, where will I find them?" Aries asked. "It's not a matter of where, they live here in Ponyville. We just have to wait until a decent hour." Twilight said, pointing to a window and the lack of sunlight. Aries looked like he was about to protest, but then decided against it. "Very well, how long must we wait?" Twilight smiled at the astartes allowing her to help him. "Just a few hours, in the meantime, would you mind telling me more about where you came from. I know your legion is a sore topic, but what about the others, what about the imperium, and you mentioned other aliens?" Twilight summoned a blank scroll and a quill and ink. Aries shrugged in a 'why not' manner and sat in a chair, removing his helmet as he did. "What I know of xenos is what I learned from fighting them. So it's no surprise that I am most familiar with the Ork race, a species of barbaric savages that worship war as you worship friendship." Hours passed, yet Twilight never noticed the sun rise, she hung on Aries every word, writing an entire novel dedicated to the foul greenskins, even subtly complicating some of their beliefs to make them understandable for more complex creatures, such as referring to Gork as a clever fighter and Mork as a violent strategist. "So...is it a decent hour yet?" Aries asked, pointing to the window. Twilight turned to see the sunlight and actually leaped into the air with surprise. "WHOA!! Oh, um, sorry." Twilight composed herself and cleared her throat. "Yes it's a decent hour, and it's not a school day, so let's go see if we can burrow them for the day." With that, Twilight explained the situation to Spike, who would pass it on to Starlight, and the two set out. The moment Aries stepped out of the castle, he was surprised to see that the locals have a done a complete 180 in regards to his presence, waving their hooves at him in pleasant greetings. Aries ignored them and proceeded to follow Twilight towards a small shop of sorts labeled 'Rarity for you'. Twilight entered the building easily enough, but Aries had to crouch and turn his shoulders in order to squeeze in. "Oh, sorry about that." Twilight apologized. "You could not have foreseen that your buildings would have to fit an astartes, so there is nothing to apologize for." Aries affirmed. "Oh, Twilight what can I do fo-...uh, how did he get in?" The unicorn that Aries recognized from the war meeting had come from a back room levitating a piece of fabric with her magic. "He's surprisingly flexible." Twilight replied before getting down to business. "Um, is Sweetie Belle around?" Rarity nodded. "Why, yes she is, but might I ask what you need her for?" "Aries is having trouble adjusting to... not being at war with everything all the time, and I was hoping that the CMCs could help him find a place in Equestria when we're not preparing for a war that we might not even have to fight if we're lucky." Twilight explained. "Ah, I see. OH SWEETIE BELLE, COULD YOU COME HERE DARLING?" Rarity called out towards the room she had come from. "COMING!" Replied the voice of a young girl before the owner of said voice emerged. The unicorn filly had white fur and a twin colored mane and tail of two different shades of purple and a 'cutie-mark' of a shield with a music note within a star upon it's center. Sweetie Belle opened her mouth to ask a question, but fell silent as she laid eyes upon the World Eater. "...Whoa, you must the Demon Slayer." The filly's eyes started to sparkle as though she were enchanted by the space marine. "I have slain far more than Daemons child, but there are very few creatures on this planet that can satisfy my need for blood and honor. I was told you and two others could help with that." Aries explained. The World Eater's blunt expectations seemed to dispell the enchantment. "Oh, uhh... Scootaloo and Apple Bloom might have some ideas, Scootaloo knows all about the need for heart stopping adrenaline, and Apple Bloom is pretty straight forward in her approach. I'll go find them." Twilight gave a nervous laugh and chipped in. "We'll go find them, you go and look for Scootaloo while me and Aries find Apple Bloom. We can regroup at your tree house, okay?" "Sounds good to me, I'll see you there Princess, nice meeting you Mr. Demon Slayer." Sweetie Belle said as she made her way outside. Twilight was about to follow her when- "Um, Twilight, darling... you and your friend aren't going to do anything...dangerous, are you?" Twilight turned to Rarity, but Aries answered first. "I will only endanger myself, the children will be kept at a safe distance." "Oh, um...alright then..." Rarity was still nervous but said nothing else. Aries started to crouch again to exit the store, only for a lavender aura to envelope the door, and cause it to stretch as if the solid doorframe was elastic and grow big enough to accommodate him. Aries looked back to Twilight, who was straining to hold the spell, and then quickly went through the opening. The doorframe returned to normal, and Twilight said a few final words to Rarity before exiting the boutique herself. "You didn't have to do that." Aries said as he started walking. "Maybe, but what kind of friend would I be if I didn't?" Twilight asked him, catching up to lead the way to their destination. Aries looked at her. "We...are friends?" he said, unsure. "Of course." Twilight answered with a smile. Aries didn't know how to think about that. "Hmph, I guess this is how Jerrik felt when we first met." He said to himself, forgetting to switch his vox to a private line. "Who's Jerrik?" Twilight said, alerting the World Eater to his blunder. Aries' astartes mind allowed him to mentally berate himself, analyze the situation, and determine whether or not if it would be better to clarify or not in such speed that Twilight never even knew that his tongue slipped. "Jerrik was a Librarian in my legion, a psyker like yourself." Aries began, earning the alicorn's undivided attention. "Psykers have a difficult time mastering their abilities, and the destruction caused by untrained psykers discovering their abilities led to them being feared among the imperium. It is not uncommon for human controlled worlds to hunt psykers as monsters and witches, and many astartes legions refuse the use of psykers, fewer still treat their psychic brothers as equals." He went on, horrifying the princess. "I, however, do not share that fear, for the Emperor himself is a psyker, the most powerful of all, and He stands as an example of how these feared powers can be used for good, just like my legion and the VIIIth do for rage and fear respectively. So I saw no reason not to treat Jerrik as he was, a brother, not unlike any other World Eater." Aries concluded. Twilight smiled at his answer, only for her happy expession to turn into sadness when she realized that Jerrik was undoubtedly dead, like the rest of Aries' friends. The thought of such a thing befalling her own friends assaulting her mind, as they had the night before. Aries saw her expression and knew what caused it. He said nothing more on the subject as he could confirm what she knew. They arrived at a farm called Sweet Apple Acres. Aries saw naught but a single breed of fruit bearing trees stretching out for a good length. As well as various breeds of livestock, though what purpose equines had for such creatures eluded him. "HELLO!? IS ANYPONY HOME!?" Twilight called out, resulting in a larger, male equine with fur as red as the farm's namesake fruit emerging from the barn. "Hiya Big Mac, is Apple Bloom home?" Twilight asked the stallion. "Eeyup." Was his reply. "Great, I was hoping the CMCs could help me with something, you don't mind if I pull her away from the farm today, do you?" Twilight asked. Big Mac thought about it, Aries believing that he was weighing the loss in productivity over helping him and Twilight, before smiling at her. "Nnope." "Great, can you tell me where she is? It's been awhile since I navigated the farm." Twilight asked him. The crimson stallion silently pointed a hoof down one of the paths between the rows of apple trees. "Thanks." Twilight nodded her head towards him, a gesture he returned with a silent smile. Big Mac went inside the barn while Twilight and Aries went off in the indicated direction...Aries couldn't tell if he respected the stallion for his straightforward approach, or if he was just grateful for the lack of pointless conversation. As they walked down the path, Aries noticed that every tree they passed had been harvested recently. He also noticed a loud impact sound every 20 seconds. Eventually, he spotted a tree that was so filled with fruit, the branches bent with the weight. That is, until another impact caused the tree to shake, dislodging every single fruit. Aries and Twilight made their way to the harvesters, one Aries recognized as Applejack, and the other was a bright yellow furred filly with bright red hair that was a few shades darker than Big Mac's fur tied up with a pink bow and another shield shaped cutie-mark with a heart inside of an apple. "Hey Applejack, Apple Bloom." Twilight greeted when they were ten feet away. "Howdy Twi, what brings ya down here an- Oh, ya brought Aries along?" Applejack sounded a bit concerned and looked towards Apple Bloom, who had the same look as Sweetie Belle. "Wow, so yer that Demon Slayer that mah sister told me about?" The filly asked the astartes. "Yes, I am. I was told that you and your friends could help me find an occupation in a world with no Daemons to slay." Aries replied. Unlike Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom actually got even brighter. "Sure...don' suppose ya wanna give apple buckin' a try?" The filly pointed a hoof at an apple tree with buckets beneath it. "Bucking? You...kick the trees?" Aries inquired, to which the filly nodded and Applejack walked over to a tree on the other side of the path. "It may be a little difficult at first, since ya gotta figure out how hard to buck it ta get all the apples to fall without damagin' the tree." After an explanation, Applejack brought up her back legs and kicked the tree, causing every apple to fall from it's perch and into the buckets below. Aries pondered the option, it may not be as adrenalizing as front line combat, but may be the closest he can get until he can start training the Planetary Defense Force. Aries walked up to the tree that Apple Bloom had marked for him. Putting his hand upon it as he contemplated how much to hold back lest he break it in half. It was strong, sturdy, he could increase the effect of a weaker kick by aiming higher than the base, increasing the shake effect. With this in mind, he positioned himself with his right arm facing the tree, before leaning right, jumping left without his right foot touching the ground, and finally leaping right with a high kick-off on the tree, rolling as he landed. He turned back to see the results. Less than half the tree's fruit had been harvested. "Hey, not bad. I only got two of em on mah first try." Apple Bloom stated with a smile. "Heh, well I'm sure that even his kind don't get that big by skippin' leg day." Applejack joked. "If you are referring to training exercises, no, we do not skip." Aries said. "Apple bucking is a definitely a challenge, but I would prefer to combat something that can fight back if at all possible." "Hmm, well I don't know about fighting somecreature, but I'm sure Scootaloo can find somethin' that'll get yer blood pumpin'." Apple Bloom said. "Very well, shall we proceed to the rendezvous?" Aries asked Twilight. "You don't mind, right Applejack?" Twilight asked her friend. The farm pony waved her off. "Nah, I can finish up by myself. Have fun sugercube." With that, the three head out to the CMCs clubhouse. The walk was relatively short, as the clubhouse was located just off the farm. They came upon the tree house to find Sweetie Belle waiting for them, along with a pegasus filly with orange fur and a purple mane and tail and third shield shaped cutie-mark with a lightning bolt inside a feathered wing. "Heya Crusaders, I take it you both know what we're doin' today?" Apple Bloom asked her allies. Sweetie Belle nodded, while Scootaloo got her turn with the enchanted eyes at her first time seeing the astartes up close. "Whoa, you're every bit as awesome as Rainbow Dash said you were." "So, you are related to the warrior are you? Then perhaps you can tell me how I may occupy myself as I wait for the Defense Force to be drawn up." Aries said. "Hmm, as a matter of fact, I do have something that might interest you, and it's starting later today." The filly pulled out a flyer and handed it to the World Eater. The flyer announced that 2 hours from now, a gladiator like competition was to be held, a series of fights with a champion match for the main event. Aries handed the flyer back to Scootaloo. "An interesting idea, though I have my doubts, particularly on how much your kind can challenge me." "You do look pretty strong. Hmm, how about we watch the show so you can see if you like it, and if you do, then we talk about getting you in the ring. What do you say?" Scootaloo inquired. Aries pondered it for a moment. If nothing else, he can an idea on how the equines fight. "Very well, lead the way." Author's Note I'm cutting it here, because next chapter...the impossible happens. On an unrelated note: ho-ly FUCK the season 9 premiere actually had me out of my seat and pacing to calm myself down. The trailer terrified me because I thought they gave away the ending, but no, that's how it STARTS!! If there is anything disappointing about the premier, it's that they hyped up Sombra's return and then hit him with the stupid stick, so 9.999/10 cause everything else was Bad to the Ass like HOW IN ALL THE WARP'S HELLS IS THIS GONNA END!?!?!? However, I will be making this fic an AU because I already had a pre-set plan for Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow, so I won't be including any character developments that emerge in later episodes. One last thing to mention before I wrap this up, I've copied this story on fimfiction and someone on that site has informed me that I've been merging sentences by using commas in place of periods, so I will going back to fix that later, so pardon the updates that will not be the next chapter. All right, that's all I got, see you all next time.
Chapter Eight: Buck Wild"FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS! MARES AND STALLIONS! WELCOME! TO THE GREATEST SHOW TO EVER GRACE EQUESTRIAN SOIL! WELCOME! TO THE PASTURE! OOOOFFFFFF! PPPAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!" As the announcement ended, the lights came on, followed by intense music and a fireworks display. The crowd was going wild with anticipation...all but three. One of a certain trio of fillies who was not as excited for the upcoming events as her Pegasus and Earth Pony friends, a World Eater who was unimpressed with the theatrics, and an alicorn who could've sworn she had heard that announcer's voice before. "Welcome, one and all to the P.O.P., I am your host, Michael Colt, and joining me today is our local sponsor, the strong speaking motivater who made our appearance in Ponyville possible, Iron Will." The Pegasus with a pale coat, brown mane, and strange W for a Cutie-Mark, confirmed Twilight's suspicions as the minotaur made his way to the announcer's table and took his seat. "THANKS MICHAEL! IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE! NOW! WITHOUT FURTHER ADO! LET'S SHOW THE CROWD SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE! THEM! PPOOOOOOPPP!" Iron Will flexed his obnoxiously large muscles as he spoke, making Twilight fearful that this was another sham...it was. While the crowd and the fillies became immersed in the show, yes, even Sweetie Belle, Twilight and Aries could easily see that the 'fighters' were pulling punches and throwing themselves when touched. Twilight explained her unfortunate history with Iron Will and getting pulled into his shenanigans, and apologized for wasting the warrior's time. "It is alright Twilight, as I said, I expected this to be a waste of time. And while the fights may be fake, the strength and acrobatics are not, so I at least have a hint of how ponies fight." With that, Twilight and Aries stuck around to allow the fillies to enjoy the show, one enjoying the fact that they were having fun, the other making mental notes of different pony martial arts while discerning what was plausible in a real fight and what wasn't. "And now, without ado..." Began Michael Colt. "THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!" Continued Iron Will. "The main event." concluded Michael Colt as the lights dimmed and the speakers started playing music for the next fighter. The crowd booed as a farmpony just smaller than Big Mac with a bit of blubber on him with a black coat, a white main, a scar over one of his brown eyes, and a Cutie-Mark of a watermelon slice, made his way to the ring. Aries dismissed him almost immediately after he had entered the ring as he just flexed muscles hidden beneath his fat and foreshadowed that his fighting style was based on power without skill, a grenade rather than a bolter. As soon as the overweight Earth Pony's music stopped, another song started...the champion...was a bolter. All eyes fallowed the Earth Pony who gave no show of bravado or gimmick other than his body. Muscular yet flexible, with a nut-colored coat, a black mane and eyes with a thin mustache and goatee, and a Cutie-Mark of a pony silhouette kicking another pony silhouette the way a human would. The crowd was impressed by his Cutie-Mark that even Aries knew meant that fighting was his destiny, but Aries was pleasantly surprised to recognize his sub-breed. As impossible as it (and everything else thus far) was, the champion fighter was a cross between an Equestrian Earth Pony...and the war horses of the Attilan Rough Riders. Fillies and Gentlecolts, please give an appropriate applause to the reining, defending, P.O.P. champion." Michael Colt began. "BBBUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKK!!!! WWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLDDDDD!!!!" Iron Will concluded as Buck Wild climbed into the ring, ignoring the cheering crowd as he stared down his opponent. His opponent charged as soon as the bell rang, attempting to slam into his opponent with his massive weight, but Buck Wild flipped over him and landed on his powerful neck before spinning with his hind legs outstretched...or so it seemed. Aries was disappointed to see the promising fighter pull back his leg just enough that a mortal would think his opponent had dodged it. However, the other pony's counterattack was not fake. Buck Wild was dodging full strength attacks and only feigning counterattacks that his opponent reacted to as if they were bug bites, and the crowd was falling for it. "HA! LOOKS LIKE THE CHAMP HAS BIT OFF MORE THAN HE CAN CHEW!" Announced Iron Will. "Unsurprising, Melon Slice is one of the most physically dominant competitors in the P.O.P., talent can only carry you so far against an opponent of a much higher weight class" Agreed Michael Colt, making Aries want to rip the pony's limbs off, considering how many of his brothers have proven that wrong when facing Ork Nobs and Warbosses in 1 on 1 melees. Fortunately for the ignorant Equestrian, Aries attention turned back to the fight as Melon Slice wrapped a foreleg underneath Buck Wild's own and threw him out of the ring. Only for the champion to grab the top rope with his teeth and rocket back into the ring in a front flip that ended in a double ax kick on Melon Slice's head. The larger stallion fell like puppet whose strings had been cut, but Buck Wild took his time making the cover, and the referee made the count a lot slower than he had for past matches, but this went over the crowd's head. The bell rang, and the crowd cheered the champion's victory, but the annoucers seemed to be late. Aries turned to them and isolated their whispered conversation from the white noise around him. "I thought he was supposed to lose." Muttered Iron Will as quietly as possible. "He was, I guess it's kinda hard for a natural fighter to throw a fight, Mr. McMane isn't going to be happy about this." Replied Michael Colt. Suddenly, the Earth Pony put a hoof to the headset around his ears. Aries could a voice emitting from the device, but not what was being said. "Uh, F-Fillies and Gentlecolts, I am delighted to tell you that our champion is not finished yet." Declared Michael Colt. Buck Wild composed himself well, Aries was the only one who could read the telltale signs of surprise as he looked to the announcer and saw him mouthing words that Aries couldn't quite read on account of the difference in mouth and jaw structure. "Th-THAT'S RIGHT! MELON SLICE WASN'T FOR ENOUGH FOR SO! I-I AM OFFICIALLY DECLARING AN OPEN CHALLENGE!!" Buck Wild declared. Aries knew what was happening, he was being stripped of his title for entertainment's sake, it wouldn't be long before his next opponent arrived. "Get their attention."Aries said to Twilight. "Huh? why?" She asked confused. "Because I'm taking that challenge." Twilight got the message loud and clear. Another entry began to play when Twilight took to the sky and shot a flare to get everypony's attention. The music stopped and the newcomer stopped flexing for the crowd as he and the annoucers and the spectators all turned their attention to the princess. "Uh, if I can have everpony's attention, um, I have a challenger for the champion." Twilight's awkward statement caused a wave murmurs among the crowd. "WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS! AN OPEN CHALLENGE!? THIS COMPETITION IF FOR PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ONLY!!" Iron Will declared while Michael Colt ran the situation by his boss. Twilight deadpanned at the minotaur. "As a matter of fact, he just said that it is an open challenge, and the fighter I have in mind is a professional athlete, a warrior to be precise." "Uhh, Mr.McMane would like to see this fighter if you don't mind Princess." Michael Colt stated. Twilight pointed to where the World Eater was seated, a spotlight trailing her hoof as Aries stood up. Everypony that hadn't noticed the astartes from the more distant areas from him in the crowd let out gasps of amazement. Michael Colt went slack-jawed, and Iron Will looked from his muscles to the armored giant trying to determine which of them was bigger. Aries ignored them all, and locked eyes with Buck Wild. The Earth Pony showed no fear, in fact, he looked excited. "Mr.McMane doesn't usually allow this, but he isn't going to turn down a request from the Princess of Friendship herself. But he can't fight in a full suit of armor of course, and since I don't know anything about him, we need you to announce him when he comes down the ramp." Michael Colt stated. "That is acceptable." The robotic voice made the Earth Pony jump out of his skin as he had not noticed the astartes descend from the crowd. "Twilight, I will need your assistance in removing my armor, it was not meant to be equipped by hand." Aries said as he made his way to the back of the arena in search of a dressing room. 20 minutes passed from when Aries and Twilight left to get the World Eater ready to when Twilight returned to relieve Michael Colt of his headset. "Ahem, Fillies and Gentlecolts, Mares and Stallions, stranded in our dimension, hailing from a world engulfed in war, a proud servant of the Imperium of Man, a Tactical Marine of the World Eaters legion of the adeptus astartes: ARIES!As Twilight finished announcing the World Eater, an entrance song clicked on as the crowd questioned each other about the astartes. The questions fell silent when the warrior god among mankind came down the ramp. Where everypony else was gaping at the scar that fixed his face into a permanent snarl, Twilight was analyzing his other scars, some of which appeared surgical in nature. Aries ignored the crowd, his eyes locked on Buck Wild, as he climbed into the ring and stared him down, the Equestrian never flinched. "I will follow the rules of this tournament, but I expect a real fight. Do not restrain yourself against me." Buck Wild smirked at his opponent. "I had a feeling that's what you wanted You're on...Aries." The stallion even spoke with an Attilan accent, Aries wondered if one of their horses was somehow transported to this world and bred with a local mare. There were many ways that didn't make sense, and yet... Aries put the thoughts from his mind as he and his opponent took to their conrners. Ding Ding Ding In true World Eater fashion, Aries went on the attack, charging the stallion. Buck Wild waited in a stance, and then turned around for a simple buck. Aries caught both hooves, but the kick was strong enough to force the back of his hands into his chest and make him release his hold. Had he not grabbed Buck's hooves, that attack would've been strong enough to knock him down. Aries jumped back to close any openings for a follow-up. Buck Wild turned to face him. "You were testing me with that, weren't you?" The stallion asked. Aries actually smiled "Indeed, I was expecting you to dodge rather than challenge a stronger opponent with strength, but it appears that the arrogance was mine." With that, Aries entered a proper combat stance, his body turned to the side, his arms guarding his head. Buck Wild smirked amusingly and walked towards the astartes.Aries recognized the tactic immediately, a slow, unthreatening advance into striking range to make your opponent lower their guard. As soon as he was close enough, Buck Wild sprinted and jumped, coming down in a spinning double ax kick. Aries ducked and threw his arms out, catching the kick without being struck then he slammed the stallion down, causing the crowed to pop. Aries let the stallion rise to his feet, but kicked him in the head before he could get his bearings. Buck Wild stumbled. Aries went to follow it up, but the stallion was faking, as he turned in his stumble and bucked at the astartes again. Aries saw it coming and, in payback, flipped over the pony, landing in front of him and sweeping all four hooves out from underneath him. Aries tried to stomp on the stallion's head, but Buck Wild rolled out of the way, flipping onto his neck and spinning with his legs outstretched. Aries caught the first leg, but Buck locked the second leg into the arm that held the first and, with amazing leg and core strength, pulled his body up and reached with his front legs in an attempt to lock in a choke-hold on the astartes. When Aries realized his opponents intent, he dropped, knocking the wind out of his opponent. Aries rolled off the stunned Earth Pony, grabbed his back legs, and threw him into the air. Aries prepared to kick his opponent as he fell, but Buck Wild righted himself in midair and bucked as he fell, both hooves connecting on the space marine's face. The crowd went wild as Aries fell down and spat blood and shards of shattered teeth from his mouth. Aries himself felt delighted, as the collision to his skull gave relief to the Butcher's Nails. The clopping of hooves told Aries that Buck Wild was pressing the attack. Aries rolled to his back and kipped up before turning with a spin kick. Buck Wild was too shocked by seeing a creature that large move that guickly to see it coming, and the kick connected all of the World Eater's shin with all of the Earth Pony's head. Buck Wild hit the ground like a puppet that had it's strings cut, but he immediately started trying to get up. Aries backed off, wanting more of a fight, as the Earth Pony got on two hooves and two knees. The crowd started chanting and stomping their hooves. Buck Wild was on his hooves proper, but he stumbled uneasily, his vision blurring. Aries knew it was finished, but the fact that his clearly beaten opponent was trying to keep going brought a smile to his face. "You've fought well Buck Wild, if you wish to yield, no one would think less of you." Buck Wild smiled at the World Eater. "Thanks but...I would...think less...of myself." Aries nodded and prepared one final blow when- "OH GET OFF YOUR HIGH-HORSE! THAT ALIEN MUSCLE MONSTER BEAT YOU LIKE A GRAPE CRUSHER MAKES WINE!! JUST FALL DOWN AND GET OUT OF THE RING, WE'RE ALL TIRED OF WATCHING YOU ACT LIKE SOME FANCY CHAMP WHEN YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER SHOW PONY!!" Melon Slice shouted from ringside. Twilight prepared to retort...Buck Wild prepared to retort...the crowd showered with boos...but they all went silent when Aries leapt from the ring and attacked the loud mouthed pony. A bell rang furiously, but Aries blanked it out as he viciously beat the disrespectful Equestrian. The beating didn't stop until a lavender field of energy engulfed him, he could hear Twilight straining to hold his fury in check as Aries fought his restraints until- "STOP! He isn't worth it... I've dealt with his kind ever since I got this Cutie-Mark." Buck Wild confessed. Aries ceased his efforts to turn Melon Slice into a red paste, but he stared into the beaten pony's eyes. "If you were in that ring with me, you wouldn't have lasted two seconds you worthless scum. Don't ever make light of someone who failed if you can't do better you filth." With that, he turned away from Melon Slice and back to Buck Wild. "Shall we continue?" Buck Wild laughed at this. "Actually, your assault on Melon Slice caused you to be disqualified, I won." Aries nodded in recognition. "Ah, so that's what the bell meant. Very well, you are the winner...the champion." "You don't approve of my line of work?" Buck Wild could see it in his eyes. "I fight for Blood and Honor, not amusement. I was seeking distraction while your rulers make the preparations for the coming war." Aries stated, confusing Buck. "War, what war?" The fighter asked. "Word has not reached you yet? Enemies from another dimension are attempting to invade Equestria. The Royal Sisters are gathering volunteers for me to personally train to fight them." Rather than terrify the fighter, the news made him excited. "Really, heh, I left the Royal Guard because their wasn't enough action for me. I joined the P.O.P. because it was the best that I could get. Where do I sign up?" Buck Wild inquired. "The word will reach you eventually, along with the information you seek. I was told to expect the first recruits within a week, I'll see you there." Aries smiled at the Earth Pony with whom he had bonded through blood and battle. Aries parted ways and blocked out any protests of his actions from those that had not earned his respect. He learned from Twilight as she equipped his power armor to him that he was banned from the Pasture of Pain forever. However, as he and the others left, something did bother him. The Cutie-Mark Crusaders all hung their heads in shame. They and the Princess were not punished for the World Eater's actions, so their shame confused him. "What guilts you young ones, you had no hand in my actions and were not scolded as such, is there some other reason for you to feel ashamed?" The three fillies looked at him as though the answer should've been obvious. "Well..We failed, we came here to help you find a place in Equestria, but you just got kicked out, and none of us have any ideas about where to go next." Scootaloo explained, the others nodding in agreement. "You may not have succeeded in the manner that you expected, but as I told Twilight, I was all but certain that this would be nothing more than a waste of time to begin with." Aries explained, the children not feeling much better. "However, you've proven me wrong in that belief." This caused the three to look at him in utter disbelief. "Huh, but yah didn' like it, an got thrown out, how was it not a waste o time?" Asked Apple Bloom. "Because I recruited Buck Wild to the Planetary Defense Force, and thus came to the conclusion that any other areas you previously thought could've worked for me may also hide potential recruits that I can scout myself, testing them before they even arrive for the first day of training. And even if I find no more than this one, it is one that I may not have found without the three of you. So congratulations Crusaders, you've allowed the warrior known as Buck Wild to find his place as your first line of defense." The three fillies cheered and congratulated each other, thanking Aries and giving him locations where he may find other potential recruits as the sun set on the first day. Author's Note I am just going to say this now, I am NOT making seven mini arcs about this, there will be time skips for two or three days where Aries finds nothing, but yeah, I thought that seeing an unarmored astartes go against an Earth Pony who was destined to fight was a good filler chapter. Anyone whose curious about Aries' entrance theme needs only to go to my YouTube channel and see my tribute to him, you may also enjoy my ten (at the time of writing this chapter) videos that compare a character from My Little Pony to a faction in Warhammer 40,000. (I take requests) Welp, that's all I got for this one, see you all next time.
Chapter Nine: False Glory, True FireTwilight wasn't surprised to see Aries awake before her again, but she was surprised to see him reading one of her books. Aries turned his head when he heard her exclaim in surprise...with an actual equine sound. "Am I not supposed to touch your books?" he asked. "Uh N-no! yo-you can read as much as you like! I just...didn't picture you as a reader." Twilight replied, still staring at the book in his hands like it defied logic by existing. "I do not read for recreational purposes, as you do, but I still know very little of this world and it's people. So I decided to research your race and your allies...I can't help but notice that you have personally written the more informative books about dragons and changelings." Aries explained, causing Twilight to blush. "Yeah, I'm sure you've noticed from those books that our alliance with their races are fairly new, as well as why that is." Twilight replied. "Indeed, though I am more interested in these." Aries said showing Twilight exactly which book he was reading: The History of the Wonderbolts. "I believe that I may find potential recruits within their ranks." "That's a great idea." Twilight exclaimed. "The Wonderbolts are the most esteemed pegasai in Equestria. Rainbow Dash is a member, and you seemed pretty impressed with her." "Indeed, Rainbow Dash has proven herself against the Daemons. If the rest are even half as capable as her, then my training should make them somewhat significant." Aries stated. "So when should I contact them?" "Actually, this time it's not a where, but a when. You see, pegasai have the ability to walk on clouds, and so they live in the floating city of Cloudesdale. If you're going to visit them, then you'll need me to accompany you in order to cast a spell that will let you walk on clouds yourself." Twilight explained. It was hard to tell on account of the emotionless helmet, but Twilight believed that the hesitation was from him considering whether or not to let her use magic on him again. She remembered the unhappy look on his face while she removed his armor yesterday, and what he had told her of the Imperium's general distrust of magic and the reasons behind it. Although the hesitation was barely noticeable. "Very well, I accept your assistance in this matter." "Excellent, I'll just ask Starlight to mind the school while I'm gone." Twilight stated. A Few Hours Later Aries moved a foot off the hot air balloon that he and Twilight had traveled in, and lowered it to the cloud...resistance, as though it were springy. When Aries planted his entire foot, he stepped out of the balloon completely with full confidence, though he was still distasteful on having to rely so heavily on magic. He allowed it to happen yesterday because power armor was not made to be removed by hand and he felt that Buck Wild deserved a true fight, but just to get from place to place...he really wished Jerrik was here, that would be a little better. Twilight was next to exit the balloon, after which, she stepped in front of the astartes and led him to where they would find these Wonderbolts, Equestria's elite warriors. Aries tuned out Twilight's tour routine about the base itself and observed the training. Something was off, he could see several pegasai training their flight strength and performing aerial maneuvers, but no combat training. Odder still, a formation halted to stare at the World Eater, their Sergeant corrected them at first, but when he saw what drew their attention away from training, he gawked as well. Aries halted in his tracks "IF YOU HAVE TIME TO SIGHTSEE, THAN YOU HAVE TIME TO SWEAT AND BLEED!!GET BACK TO WORK!!!" The Wonderbolts shot off like a bullet...and those that hadn't noticed him until he shouted promptly double timed their routines. "Woah, were you drill instructor back home?" Twilight asked, her wings unsettled as though she was fighting a primal instinct to take flight. "No, but I find my expectations lowering by the second, this is pathetic." Aries grumbled as he stomped past Twilight. Before he could get too far ahead, a familiar rainbow colored streak made it's way to them, halting before the astartes. "I thought I recognized that voice, you got a set of pipes, dude." Rainbow Dash smiled at the astartes. Aries pondered Rainbow Dash's words, but not noticeably. "Yes, well, I'm afraid that these 'Wonderbolts' leave much to be desired." Aries said, pointing to the team of flyers that had irritated him. The minute he pointed them out, another pegasus that had been chasing after Rainbow Dash diverted course and landed close enough to be heard by the team in question at a reasonable volume, which she proved to be unnecessary. "STORMY SKIES!! YOU AND THOSE NEWBIES GET DOWN HERE, RIGHT! NOW!!" Aries examined the apparent commander, she was along the same size as Rainbow Dash with a bright yellow coat and a mane that was two shades of orange that looked like flames. She also had ember colored eyes behind a pair of sunglasses. And unlike Rainbow Dash and the other Wonderbolts who wore flight suits, this pegasus wore a heavily decorated jacket. The team in question landed in formation before the irate pegasus, Stormy Skies front and center. The commander started pacing down the team's length, her anger clear. "Does anypony wanna tell me what our guest ment by 'sightseeing'?" "W-we got distracted ma'am, we didn't know what that creature was, or what it was doing here." Answered Stormy Skies. Aries bit back a complaint of his own, it was one thing when no one else was disciplining them, but for now, he would let their C.O. take care of them. "So, you all missed the memo about how there is a new threat to Equestria. The memo that a new ally is putting together a new military detachment to fight this threat. The memo that he would be coming here to scout potential recruits...the memo that I personally gave everypony on base so that they would know that he was coming...you missed THAT MEMO!?" The officer shouted. Stormy Skies hung his head, but another pegasus wasn't done trying to justify their slip-up. "We're sorry Spitfire, we just didn't know he'd be so-" The commander, apparently named 'Spitfire', was nose to nose with the mare before she could say another word. "Do you know happens when you get distracted in a flight formation newbie?" She had removed her glasses in order to stare the recruit in the eyes. "U-uh um, W-we mess up?" The pegasus answered weakly. "And do you know what happens when you miss up on a high-risk formation?" Spitfire continued. "Uh, we..we could crash?" Was the reply. "And what happens when you crash newbie?" Her eyes narrowed. The recruit gulped, her expression saying that she knew what was coming. "We end up in a fu-" "YOU END UP IN A FULL BODY WING AND HOOF CAST, DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW!!" The recruit pressed her ears against her head as Spitfire let her have it. "YES MA'AM! I'M SORRY MA'AM! IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN MA'AM!" The recruit couldn't get the words out fast enough. "Good." Spitfire turned around and took three steps...before realizing that something was wrong with this picture. "WHAT ARE YOU NEWBIES STILL DOING HERE!! BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY LUMPS!! NOW!!!" Spitfire watched them leave, with slightly less motivation than Aries had given them, before letting out a sigh and trotting to the group. To her credit, Aries is certain that he only noticed her shock and awe at his appearance because he's an astartes. "Sorry about that sir, it's their first week." The pegasus then proceeded to clear her throat and put her forehoof against her head in a salute. "Captain Spitfire, Commanding Officer of the Wonderbolts, at your disposal sir." "At ease Captain, I was never one for ceremony, a title doesn't make a warrior after all." Aries replied. "Oh, I can assure you that Spitfire is as tough as they come. I may have been awesome before I joined the Wonderbolts, but Spitfire's training made me 20% cooler." Dash affirmed. "20% won't be enough for the coming war, nor will a week of 'flight manuvers', I was under the impression that you were military." Aries inquired. Spitfire gulped audibly. "I'm sorry to disappoint you sir, but since Equestria hasn't seen an actual war for centuries, we're mostly just...show-ponies." The word was bitter in her mouth, and her head hung in shame. Rainbow Dash was about to say something, but Aries beat her to it. "I have already found one promising recruit among 'show-ponies', perhaps there is one among your number who isn't satisfied with his position." Spitfire hid her relief well from her fellow ponies. "I was hoping you'd say that, I would've been a bit embarrassed if I had called up the rowdier recruits for nothing." "Lead the way then." Aries said. Spitfire chose to trot rather than fly while Rainbow Dash zoomed off ahead and Twilight fell in step beside Aries. "Okay, so one bad impression and one good impression?" She asked of the World Eater. "Hmm, yes, I believe so. Although at present, I only consider one of them recruitable." Aries replied. They arrived at their destination. The Wonderbolts present either looked confident...or like they couldn't be bothered. "ATTENTION!!" Shouted Spitfire, the Wonderbolts obeying with varying degrees of haste. Spitfire swallowed her anger for the moment. "Listen up maggots, you have been chosen because our new friend here..." She pointed at hoof at Aries, earning a few oohs and awes. "...needs some ponies to whip into shape for a big fight against a new threat to Equestria...AND YOUR IT!!" At the last word, she pointed her hoof at a random mare...who promptly fainted at the idea of fighting. After Spitfire remembered how to close her mouth, she started scratching the back of her head with a forehoof while looking at Aries with a nervous smile. However, before he could reply, someone else commented on the situation. "Hah, or not. I guess someponies just don't have what it takes to get their hooves dirty." The speaker was a stallion who Aries had noted as having the least motivation, though now, he showed the least fear. That was promising. "Alright newbie, YOUR IT!!" Spitfire said to the speaker, who stepped up confidently. "Alright, what's the routine?" Aries stepped up to him. "Fight me." The volunteer looked confused for a moment, but then, with a shrug, his confidence returned. He took to the sky and prepared to dive bomb the astartes. Aries didn't take a combat stance, he merely took the time his opponent took to approach him to position himself. Then, when his opponent was close enough, Aries kicked him in the gut just hard enough to stop him, not hard enough to break anything. The pegasus fluttered back down to the cloud, coughing and wheezing. "Wha-WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?" Aries looked down at him. "You've failed, you may return to your 'flight maneuvers'." The pegasus straightened up immediately. "WHAT!? Your failing me because I complained when you kicked me in the stomach!?" "Are you going to complain when a Daemon kicks you in the stomach...with a Hellblade?" Aries deadpanned. The pegasus was shocked at first, but then he busted out laughing. "PWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIGHT!? AAAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" "THUNDERBOLT!!" Spitfire shouted, failing to stop the pegasus' laughter. "I c-I can't help it Captain. D-did you hear that!? AHHAHAHAH-" Having grown fed up with the display, Aries put his foot down...on top of Thunderbolt, stomping him through the cloud they stood on. Everypony gasped in shock at the display, except Rainbow Dash who had started laughing herself...Then Thunderbolt returned, he wasn't laughing anymore. "Alright pal, you can drop the 'tough guy' act, your little sham isn't fooling anypony." Thunderbolt said, completely unaware of how close he was coming to death. Any other World Eater would've butchered the fool by now, but even Aries' more contempt brothers who mocked him for 'belonging to the Salamanders legion' knew better than to question his honor. "Explain." Thunderbolt rolled his eyes. "Oh please, it's obvious that you're just trying to score some brownie points with the princesses by putting on this big show of putting together a team to fight the next big bad to threaten Equestria, which will undoubtedly be defeated by Princess Twilight and her friends like all the others and you'll look good for being ready to do what the Wonderbolts and Royal Guard never do, even when they encounter the threat first." Aries just looked at him for a few seconds before grabbing him the neck, slamming him through the cloud a few times before grabbing his tail and throwing him away. "Uh, why are you doing that?" One of the recruits asked him. "Because it keeps from killing him...barely." Aries replied. When Thunderbolt came back, he looked like he was going to try to give Aries another mouthful, but Spitfire intercepted him. "THUNDERBOLT!! You've been dismissed." Again, Thunderbolt rolled his eyes. "Oh please, like you're going to do anything, do you really want me to bring up the Wonderbolts 'heroic' track-record?" "Stand. Down." Spitfire all but snarled. "pfft, Whatever." And at last, the fool left. Spitfire walked back over to the group grumbling about Thunderbolt. "Man, what a weasel. Why is that even a Wonderbolt anyway?" Asked Rainbow Dash. "Uuuuugggghhh, because Thunderstorm is his dad." Spitfire explained. "Uuuhhhh, who?" Dash asked, causing Spitfire to face-hoof. "Gah, you're killing me Dash. Thunderstorm is the Cloudesdale noble who funds us, and his ancestors funded the original Wonderbolts. They realized that with Equestria being so peaceful that we didn't need as much actual military training. And then, with our recent losing streak, Thunderstorm started talking about cutting us off completely and talking to Twilight about convincing the Elements of Harmony to show off for the people instead." "WHAT!?" Shouted Rainbow Dash and Twilight, along with the less attentive Wonderbolts who shared Rainbow Dash's neglect of common knowledge. "But why? And what do you mean by losing streak? I thought we were at the top of our game." Said Rainbow Dash. "Since you came along, yes. Our shows have been packed more than ever. But you're one of the Elements, the real heroes. Look at our accomplishments since before you joined us Dash, that losing streak." Spitfire replied. Twilight was about to interject, but then she made an expression that told Aries that she knew what Spitfire was talking about, though Rainbow Dash was still clueless. "What are you talking about? You're shows were on fire for years before I showed up, especially you Spitfire. I followed you from your rookie years, and how you always wowed the crowd with your signature move: The Hell Blazer." Spitfire smirked a little for a second, as though grateful that Rainbow Dash thought so highly of her, though she shouldn't. "I'm not talking about the shows Dash. I'm talking about when we were utterly useless against Tirek, I'm talking about when Twilight's pet dragon grew the size of Canterlot and went on a primal rampage and our attempts to stop him ended with us trapped in a water tank like a bunch of moths, I'm talking about when we went to judge that little flight competition you were in when your pal Rarity lost the magic that let her fly and fell from Cloudesdale and we rushed in to save her only to get knocked out cold by her flailing hooves and need you to save us, while performing the legendary Sonic Rainboom that was only supposed to be a myth...FOR THE SECOND TIME!!" Aries listened to the rant with varied emotions, mostly because he wanted to know more about that part with Spike. "Combine that with the fact that we were actually losing our audience until you showed up and saved our flanks again, it's really hard not to see Thunderstorm's point." Spitfire concluded. "Huh, when you put it like that..." Said one of the Wonderbolts, putting a hoove to the bottom of her muzzle in contemplation. "WHEN YOU PUT IT LIKE THAT NOTHING!!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "The Wonderbolts are a symbol, a disarmed army that means we don't fight to survive anymore. You think I didn't know that when I signed up?" Spitfire blinked a bit. "Well, I guess I should've known, you just talk about how great we are all the time, I kinda assumed you were in denial." The two stared at each other, and then they laughed. "Hmph, a symbol that you needn't fight anymore. That the threats are so small, you need but a few champions to keep them at bay. I hoped to, one day, bring such a thing to the imperium. To see the men and women of the Astra Militarum return to their families. The Ist, IIIrd, VIIth, IXth and XIIIth legions reduced to ceremonial parades as the Xth and XVIIIth focus less on weapons and armor and more on progress as the IVth and XIVth protect our borders eventlessly whilst my brothers and I hunt down our routed foes beside the Vth, VIth, VIIIth, and XVIth legions...a fool's dream, but one I cannot fault you for indulging as I once did." Aries lamented. "Thanks, nice speech. Too bad your only choice is our star player." Spitfire said, gesturing to Rainbow Dash. "Why do you say that?" Asked Aries. "Well, I heard you when you said that you only saw one of us as eligible, and I don't think I changed your mind." Spitfire lowered her head. "I was not referring to Rainbow Dash, I was referring to you." Aries brought Spitfire's head right up. "WHAT!? M-ME!?" "You acknowledge that your methods won't be enough when the Daemons come, are you willing to be as useless against them as your other foes, or will you let me mold you into a capable warrior." Aries shifted into a combat stance as he spoke. The message was clear, Spitfire removed her jacket and signiture whistle, ordering Rainbow Dash to hold them. "Fight until the pain is unbearable, begin when you're ready." Aries stated. Spitfire charged him head on, but pulled away at the last moment to fly around him. If he were mortal, he would not be able to track her. And even as an astartes, it was difficult. Spitfire increased and decreased her altitude at random, keeping just out of reach of the World Eater, until she suddenly closed the gap and struck, flying over his head and kicking off of his helmet to knock him off balance and circling around to strike again. It is at this point that Twilight received an answer to one her less pressing unanswered questions about the astartes... what was with that strange backpack. The stabilizer engines automatically rotated to the direction Aries was falling and fired off at full power, righting the space marine, who proceeded to launch a kick at Spitfire who barely dodged. Spitfire came about and feigned a charge again, but this time, Aries remembered the split-second her eyes started turning before she did, and waited. The minute her eyes turned, he kicked where she would be. Aries struck home, kicking her in the chest and catching her wing down. She hit the cloud hard and skidded a good distance. "SPITFIRE!!" Shouted Rainbow Dash as she rushed to help her friend to her feet. "Is that all you've got, because it's not enough to pass." Aries said walking over to the pegasai. "WHOA! WHOA! TIME OUT ARIES! that kick of yours broke her wing dude, she can't fly anymore." Rainbow Dash interjected. "The enemy won't care, so neither will I." Aries replied. "Bu-" Rainbow was about to protest further when. "He's right Dash, I got careless...heh, story of my life." Rainbow Dash turned to Spitfire, who held her broken wing close to her body. "I can keep going...no, I will keep going...I've HAD IT! with losing every fight and being called a hero. It was one thing when you and the Elements could do the heavy lifting for us while we get points for trying, but if this is even half as bad as Celestia made it sound in her letter, then that's not good enough anymore. So I'm doing more than just trying this time." Spitfire screamed a battlecry as she charged on hoof, turned, and bucked. Her hooves smashed into ceramite, pushed against it, but in the end, fell to the cloud without moving the astartes even a centimeter. "...You pass." Aries said. There was a silence, as if everypony was waiting for Aries to realize that he said the wrong word, and then Rainbow Dash started cheering along with the Wonderbolts who, until now, still stood at attention. "See a doctor about your wing, practice ground combat, and keep in mind that if you find yourself spending more time healing than you do training...you never had a chance to begin with." Aries ordered his new recruit. Spitfire said nothing, she was too exhausted, and fairly certain that she sprained her legs. She just smiled in silent victory. However, her smile disappeared when she realized something. "Daaaash, when you rushed over to help me, did you drop my jacket and whistle...through the cloud." Author's Note I am SO! FUCKING! SORRY!! about that. this should not have taken this long, but alas, I am both blessed and cursed with a wondering mind, meaning that by the time I start getting deep into writing one fic, I've already come up with 6 new ideas. combine that with 3 of my DD buddies moving away (we had our farewell game over the weekend) and Springtime allergies and it just took me longer to focus. I would beat myself up about it more, but then I realized some people take a month to do what I usually do on a weekend, so I'm really just disappointed that I promised an update every weekend and now it's Thursday. Outside of that, I do remember the review about the Astra Militarum not being a thing before the Horus Heresy, so why did I say it again? The answer: next chapter. P.S. I may or may not start a new story that I write beside this one...keep an eye out.
Chapter Ten: Forbidden InformationAries still had half a day to look for recruits outside of Cloudesdale, and Rainbow Dash was still looking for Spitfire's belongings, so Twilight decided to head home and relax. She teleported back to the castle, after confirming that Aries wouldn't need her for anything, and started looking for a nice book to read. However, her attention was drawn to a book that she hadn't had in mind. It was the journal that she used to communicate with Sunset Shimmer. She had sent a message regarding Aries and the Imperium as she knew it, wondering if there was any connection between Aries' world and Sunset's. It would appear that Sunset had written a reply. Twilight opened the glowing book and read the latest entry. I need you to come through the portal...do not tell him what you're doing. That was odd, did Sunset know something? Only one way to find out. Elsewhere Sunset paced back and forth in front of the statue that served as a portal between Equestria and Earth, uncaring of the rain pouring onto her or the fact that she was at Canterlot High during summer break. Please be wrong, please be wrong, please be wrong, please be wrong... A purple glow coming from the statue broke her from her thoughts as Twilight entered her world in her human form. "Twilight." Sunset called, rushing to her friend and giving her a hug in welcome. "It's good to see you too Sunset, but what's this about?" Twilight asked when the embrace ended. Sunset's smile disappeared when she remembered what was going on. "He doesn't know that you're here, right?" "No, he doesn't, but why do you seem afraid of him? He's not that scary." Twilight questioned. Sunset looked back at the portal, and then looked around, as though afraid that the World Eater was eavesdropping on them from somewhere. "Not here, come with me." With that, Sunset led Twilight to the street and hailed a taxi. Twilight's delight at the vehicle and it's functions amused Sunset, but it couldn't dispell her fear. Sunset directed the driver to her apartment and led Twilight into the living room. There, she had several video games laid out to show off. "Okay Twilight, I need you to look at these, and tell me if you recognize the characters on the covers." Twilight was a little confused, she knew what video games were of course, there was even a local colt who's cutie mark was based on his arcade skills. Twilight picked up one of the games...and almost threw it when she found the Image of Tirek roaring at her. ut it wasn't at her, it was at a group of humans fighting the giant centaur on the cover of the game: Tirek's Revenge. She picked up another: Sombra's Shadow, and saw a humanoid King Sombra swinging a scythe at a human knight with a sword and shield. She picked up another: Hive of Horrors, and saw a human with a weapon similar to Aries' lost bolter unaware that a humanoid Chrysalis was on the ceiling above him. "I've beaten all of these villains back home...h-how does this world know about them?" Twilight asked. "They don't, the people who made these games have no idea that these villains are real in another world...but that's not the point." Sunset said before getting up, signaling Twilight to wait where she was, and then returning with a box of...something. Sunset opened the box and rummaged through it's contents. "...Okay Twilight, does Aries look like..." She pulled something out of the box and showed it to Twilight. "...This." Twilight forgot how to close her mouth as she realized that the orange and red object in her hand was a tactical marine with Sunset's cutie-mark as it's insignia. "...Okay, Aries is a game character in this world?" Twilight asked. Sunset turned pale as she realized that she was right. "Twilight...this game...is not Ogres and Oobliettes...this is Warhammer 40k, the darkest fantasy world." Twilight suddenly understood why Sunset was so afraid. "So, he's a villain?" "Technically, no. 40k doesn't have a set villain, everyone is good and bad in their own ways. But the Emperor he's talking about is the kind of ruler that would make you wish to live under Sombra. And Aries is loyal to him above all else." Sunset explained. "...okay...so, what you're saying is...the proud enforcer of a power-mad tyrant is protecting us from something even worse because...why?" Twilight voiced the million dollar question. "Because the enemy of my enemy dies second, he figured out that there is a reason that this enemy wants you dead. Speaking of which, you just told me that 'his enemy' is coming for Equestria. Could you be more specific, there's a lot of them." Sunset inquired. "Umm...Corn?" Twilight said...completely stunned to see Sunset feint as soon as she said it. A few moments later. Sunset groaned as she came back to her senses. Twilight had put her on her couch with all the armpillows beneath her, and was now reading the codexes that Sunset had in the same box that held her homemade warband of Thousand Sons that she made around the head canon of her fantasy self leading them to victory against the Emperor and Celestia. (she was still evil when she made them) "...So, Khorne huh?" Sunset said as she came to terms with the severity of the situation. "Yeah...Khorne...hopefully he's the only one after us, I already learned more about Slaanesh than I would ever want to...I promise not to Celestia that you sacrificed her to Tzeentch by the way." Twilight joked...but Sunset wasn't laughing. "...Do you have any idea how many ponies are going to die?" Sunset said with almost no emotion. "Hopefully none, it's still possible that Princess Luna could keep the Daemons from possessing anypony." Twilight said. "So what, they can wait for centuries...Aries probably can't." Sunset said. "Umm, you have plenty of books on Daemons and the Thousand Sons, and a few on the Eldar, but I'm still just as unaware of what you know about Aries as I was when I came here." Twilight pointed out. "Right, sorry. World Eaters are berserk melee fighters. And if he's one of the younger ones who was recruited to the legion in the later years before the Horus Heresy, then he was probably given the Butcher's Nails: a neural implant that causes extreme pain, but also releases chemicals into his brain that cause pleasure whenever he's fighting. If he goes to long without that fix, the Nails'll drive him mad." Sunset explained. "Well, Luna described his skill with a chainsword as pretty berserk, but he's a tactical marine, so he's pretty good at keeping his rage in check." Twilight argued. "Maybe, bit there's a difference between keeping anger in check, and keeping it bottled up. And this isn't the kind of anger that goes away with therapy, telling you what the Nails are doing to him won't make them stop." Sunset counter argued. "Okay, is there any good news?" Twilight asked, a bit worried. "Well, from what you told me that he told you, there is a slight chance that might be slightly, or even completely wrong." Sunset replied. "Uhh, care to explain?" Twilight asked. "Well, you said that one of his friends was a librarian, that shouldn't be possible, considering the time line. And the Astra Militarum isn't founded until after the Horus Heresy. With these differences in mind, and the fact that Tirek is a demon king, Sombra draws power from a magic ring, and Chrysalis is just an alien bug with the sentience of a wasp, and they all fought against humans, there is the possibility that there are some other differences, but you should act as though there isn't, just to be safe." Sunset pointed out. "Okay, anything else?" Twilight asked. "Not that I know off the top of my head, Warhammer 40k is a big franchise, but I'll try to get some books about the 12th legion and the Ruinous Powers so that you know what you're dealing with, but do not, I repeat, NOT let him know about this. I don't want to walk by that statue and suddenly have an angry World Eater jump out screaming 'heresy' at me while he rips me to pieces." Sunset shuddered visibly at the thought. "Heh heh, you're secret's safe with me, although he probably wouldn't have as big of an argument if you didn't play a traitor legion." Twilight joked. All of the tension left Sunset as she and Twilight laughed at that. "Fair enough, maybe I should invest in the Blood Ravens." After that, the two talked a little more before Sunset got another taxi to take Twilight back home. Twilight arrived in Equestria two hours after she left. Satisfied with her new lead into the mystery of the new conflict brewing, she grabbed a book from a nearby shelf and turned the page...then Aries returned. "OF ALL THE DISFUNCTIONAL! IRREDEEMABLE! WORTHLESS! PATHETIC EXCUSES FOR MILITARY I HAVE EVER SEEN! CANTERLOT'S ROYAL GUARD MAKES THEM ALL LOOK LIKE CUSTODES!!!" Author's Note Okay, so my upupcoming weekend is taken up by alternative plans. So I decided to throw this shorter chapter to kinda explain some of my fuck ups regarding the lore. So there you have it, Gamer Sunset is my plot device that covers the numerous plot holes that have been pointed out and I can't tell if you're going to be okay with this or declare Exterminatus...let's find out.
Chapter Eleven: A Good Night's DuelAries had managed to keep himself busy throughout the week by hunting for recruits to the Planetary Defense Force, though he had only managed to find two recruits. It was now the eve before he would officially meet with his forces. He anticipated turning away more than half of them, but hoped that he was wrong. For now however, he would sleep, and be at the peak of his performance tomorrow. He stepped into the room that Twilight Sparkle had assigned to him for the first time since he had arrived in this castle. The bed had been magically enlarged to accommodate him. He had thanked the Equestrian for it's hospitality while privately despising their over-reliance on magic, believing this to be the sole reason that their technology was so primitive. Of his armor, he only removed his helmet and the battery pack. Then he committed himself to a few pre-sleep exercises while his armor was deactivated, allowing him to feel it's full weight. After the last pushup, he crawled onto the bed, which held his weight, power armor and all. He was asleep within moments. Aries opened his eyes to the sight of Bloodletters charging him, he had his helmet and battery pack, along with a chainsword. Aries thumbed the activation rune and relaxed slightly at the familiar vibration crawling up his arm. As the first Bloodletter charged into range, Aries swung...only for the Daemon and it's kin to disappear in a flash. Aries straightened himself and looked in the direction of the telltale wing flaps of Princess Luna. "We thought that we would prevent the peril of your last slumber before it began." "A good strategy, one that I had planned to employ myself." Aries said, attempting to mask his disappointment. "Meaning that you had wanted to face them yourself...this wouldn't have anything to do with nails in your head, would it?" Luna asked. Aries hid his shock well and spoke in an unimpressed voice. "What do you know of the Butcher's Nails?" "Only what young Sparkle has told us. She wanted her means of investigating you to be kept secret for fear of...retribution." Luna answered. "I had expected her to probe my mind for fear that I was hiding something, I just want to know how she did it without me realizing it." Aries explained. "Twilight is a magnificent sorcerer, as dedicated to magic as you are to war. Which brings us back to the Nails." Luna said, making the same assumption. "Yes, I am required to fight or I will go mad. I had planned on controlling myself this time now that I am aware of the enemy's plans, but now..." Aries was already planning to return to the Everfree Forest for a hunt, praying that he could find something capable of appeasing the Nails. "Now you are in the Dream Realm, a realm that I govern. If you allow me into your mind, I can find memories of enemies unrelated to your anger and reconstruct them in the hundreds for you." Luna stated as a fact. Aries started at that, though only another astartes would have noticed. "That...could work, providing all that I've seen doesn't drive you mad." Luna smirked. "We have lived longer than 1,000 years, and Equestria earned it's peace. We fight not to prevent madness from seizing our world, but to prevent it from doing so again." "And as for what you've seen. When showed us the tragidy that was Istvaan III, I noticed another World Eater loyalist carrying a weapon that was superior to your screaming sword, a more practical blade that glowed with magic and cut through armor like a hot knife through butter." Luna added. "You speak of a power sword, it does not use magic, though I myself do not know how it works outside of what you have described." Aries clarified. "Ah, well, I hope you don't mind that yours does use magic." Before Aries could reply to that, a sword materialized before him with the Imperial Aguila as a crossguard and the crimson teeth of the World Eaters atop it in the center. The hilt was colored in the pattern of his armor, while the blade appeared to be polished steel. "This is a replica of the weapon I had forged as your badge of office. Within the crossguard is the legendary Alicorn Amulet: a powerful artefact that, when worn by a unicorn, increases their magic to the levels of an alicorn. Special crystals forged into the blade allow the amulet to encase the weapon in field of magic theorized to mimic the 'power sword'...of course, the blade was only completed in the final hour of sunlight this day, so we have yet to test it." Luna explained. Aries stared at the blade, contemplating it. He knew that he would have to accept a new weapon eventually and had been ready for a simple sword or ax, but a magic sword is something that he did not expect. He was already allied with the xenos, accepting their help and returning it in kind, and yet every time he encountered something that opposed the Imperial Truth, his first instinct was to reject it. But his logic would then remind him of the situation at hand, and he couldn't deny that a power sword, even a fake one with magic, would be a magnificent boon against the Daemons. And then there was his suspicion that Equestrian magic was feared by the Great Enemy, if so then this sword could prove their bane. Aries took the weapon in his hand and tested it's balance with a few practice swings. "A switch hides itself in the lower jaw of the teeth, that will activate the magical field." Luna stated. Aries felt around the World Eaters icon, and sure enough the center of the lower jaw could be pressed inward. Aries did so and the blade was enveloped in a bright crimson power field. "Give me an opponent so I may bloody this weapon." Aries 'requested' of Luna. Taking no evident offense, Luna's horn began to glow. She closed her eyes and stilled for a moment. "...Ah, perhaps this shall suffice." Aries watched as Luna's body began to glow and change along with her voice. Aries recognized the harmonizing voice before the glow faded, revealing an Eldar Farseer with midnight blue armor, a moonlight colored Wraithbone sword and Luna's cuite-mark in place of any craft world insignia. "I would prefer if I did not have to hold back, did you not say that you could create images in the hundreds?" Aries complained, wishing to kill his enemies. "We can. But we can't die in the Dream Realm, so there is no reason for you to hold back, and we wish to experience your skill first hand." Luna said, twirling her sword as she struck a fighting pose. "If you insist." Aries said as he charged the Eldar. He swung the blade towards her, but she ducked under it and rolled behind him. He turned and parried Luna's counterattack with authority, stunning her long enough to kick her in the chest. Luna rolled with the momentum and landed on her feet with her free hand crackling with energy. HUZZAH!! Luna called out as she threw the spell towards Aries, who dodged to the side and started to charge, only to realize that Luna was already on top of him...and above him. Aries parried her downward strike and grabbed her by the throat with his free hand before tossing her like a rag doll, charging in her direction before she even landed. Luna threw another psychic blast at him. This time Aries tested the power field of his weapon by batting away the magic like a softball. Luna, expecting him to dodge again, wasn't prepared to intercept him. The Farseer brought it's blade up, but Aries knocked it aside with the same blow that saw her head flying from her shoulders. The Eldar disappeared in dark blue smoke. Aries followed the sound of a rapid heartbeat to Luna, who was back to normal but shocked still. "I warned you." Aries said unapologetically. He expected her to show some anger at his harsh version of sparring, or regret to ignoring his warnings, either of which would've been followed with resignation as she realized that his aggressive approach would prove necessary, if not inadequate, against the Daemons...He did NOT expect her to smile and then start laughing. "AH HAHAHAHAHA!! SO YOU DID! WELL FOUGHT WORLD EATER! WE HAVE NOT FELT A RUSH LIKE THAT IN CENTURIES!" Luna stated absolutely giddy in the afterglow of their duel. "Hm, I did not expect you to appreciate the thrill of combat." Aries stated. Luna stopped smiling as her blue cheeks turned red. "Oh uh..w-well do not tell our sister of this but...these years of peace, they are a bit..." Luna paused, knowing the word for it, but thinking it too harsh and searching for a softer one. "Boring." Aries answered for her. Luna was shocked to hear it, not because she wasn't thinking it, but because realizing what it sounded like gave her a rather unappealing image of herself, causing her to hang her head in shame. "Yes, boring...We fought hard for the life we enjoy, against Discord, against King Sombra, against the Changeling King Chitin who is only remembered through his daughter Chrysalis. But, as the war for harmony crawled to a halt. We, who saw to the defeat and disarmament of our foes while our sister saw to the reassurance and relief of our people, became less and less appreciated. More so when there was less nightmares throughout the land... On one of the few that I delt with, the nightmare was resolved prior to my intervention by a figment of the dreamer's imagination, my sister, keeping them safe." Luna lamented. "You felt unnecessary. That you no longer had a purpose." Aries summarized. Luna nodded. "In the end, this led to...a rather unfortunate chapter in my life." Aries had a thought. "Twilight Sparkle informed me that you possess known as the 'Elements of Harmony' and that among their feats is turning an alicorn from madness." Luna's face said it all: shock and fear, followed by shame. "My sister and I had an argument about my standing...shortly after, I began to hear voices. Looking back on it now, it isn't unlike what you described, it is possible that I fell prey to Demons from that dimension." "And the Elements cleansed you, no wonder they want this world to burn." Aries stated. "Do you think such could be done for your brothers?" Luna asked. Aries seized, Luna's words implanting the first thought that it was possible that their betrayal may not have been theirs at all. His astartes mind running over a hundred scenarios and weighing every pro and con, before coming to a solution. "If we did, they would demand their own deaths." Luna didn't seem surprised. "I thought the same thing once. I created a personal nightmare for myself to punish me everytime I slept... I guess that they wouldn't forgive themselves overtime?" "I don't know what you did while under their thrall, but my brothers killed their own, violated their oaths, and I have no idea how many they've butchered across the stars since then. No, they won't forgive themselves, and even if they did, I couldn't, not after what they've done. I would only request of you to cleanse them so that they could die with honor." Aries concluded. "I see." Luna lowered her head once more, grateful now more than ever of how short lived her reign of terror had been. "I must go, there are other dreamers to watch over, enjoy yourself." Luna said, her horn glowing. WAAAGH! Aries turned to the ork horde with a concealed smile on his helmeted head, charging into battle as Luna left him to his dream. Author's Note Yeah, after realizing that I was 5 days ahead of the PDF recruits being official, I just couldn't wait that long. If it helps, I can rewrite the Wonderbolt chapter so that it's three days later instead of one. As for the sword, I'm sure a lot of you were wondering how Aries was going to fight without his weapons, well now you know. What are your thoughts on my use of the Alicorn Amulet? And finally, Luna. After she got some character development in the later seasons, and we see her being appreciated by those she helps in the Dream Realm (the CMCs mostly) it didn't really make since to me that her Trigger was 'Everypony slept through her beautiful nights and loved Celestia's days'. So I mixed it up with Luna dealing with war prisoners along with Nightmares and Celestia being the poster gal for hope and prosperity which put people at ease and made them stop having nightmares. (This is backed up by the logic: if you lived through a tyrant's rise and fall, you wouldn't have nightmares like the CMCs did because that sort of stuff wouldn't worry you.) Okay, coming up next: I introduce the PDF in it's entirety, and then...chaos stirs.
Bonus Chapter:Chaotic WhispersAs Aries and Luna conversed in the World Eater's dream, the forces of Chaos struck. Having successfully deceived the younger princess into believing that they could only enter through the mind of the astartes, they now had a golden opportunity to sink their claws into Equestrian souls. A small number of weaker Daemons who were subtle enough to not draw Luna's attention emerged from the Warp and made their way to the dreams of their respective victims. Elsewhere DJPON3 was getting down as well in her sleep as she does awake. The music was booming, the ponies were dancing, everything was right. But then, a cacophonous noise thundered through the audience and several fell dead while others fell deafened. DJ herself was struck by the blast directly hearing the noise through not only the music she played for the audience, but her headphones as well. She looked lowered her sunglasses to show her death glare to whoever disturbed her dream, she knew that the ponies killed weren't real, but it was still messed up. Her gaze brought her to a bizarre bipedal monkey-crab-thing that looked male and female at the same time with a guitar in it's arms, a clawed hand on the neck and a pincer ready to strum the strings. The instrument itself was a dark, almost black, purple with monstrous faces howling in agony and longing. The creature smiled at the Equestrian music maestro, the message was loud and clear. DJPON3 put her sunglasses back in place and returned the smile. Challenge accepted. Elsewhere Twilight Sparkle just couldn't get it out of her mind, she still knew so little about the situation at hand. Sunset may have helped her out, and promised to send her books about the Imperium and the World Eaters, but for now she simply had more questions than answers. Even in her dreams, she frantically tore through book after book, searching for more information, more facts...more knowledge. A heavy thud spooked the youngest alicorn into the air. She turned to the sound and saw a large tome with the symbol of the World Eaters upon it. Twilight landed in front of the great tome, as large as she was, and turned the cover. Dust flew from the book, causing a coughing fit. Twilight may enjoy the smell of a fresh library book, but ancient tome dust was a little strong for her. Get on my level scrub. Twilight shot up and turned this way and that, searching for the source of the voice but not finding it. Elsewhere These Daemons and more planted their horrible seeds of temptation, but they knew that their window would not allow them to truly corrupt Equestrians before Luna returned and learned of their attempts...attempts which were diversions, for one Daemon of each Power went beyond Luna's domain, into the dreams of those that she does not protect. Author's Note Sorry for the shortie. I have to work weekends this week and do not have a lot of time to write, so I figured I'll throw a little something your way and let you have a laugh at the TTS reference and make it up to you next week. Have a good one.
Chapter Twelve:Planetary Defense ForceAries examined the blade carefully, seeking impurities in it's design...Truly the Mechanicum would glass this world out of jealousy if they knew it's populace was capable of producing such fine weapons with their magic. A touch to the activation rune bathed the weapon in a crimson glow. He had argued against testing the weapon against a suit of Royal Guard armor, since he could kill it's wearer with a blunt stick, and instead made ready to slice through a pony shaped mannequin made entirely out of steel. With deliberate gentleness, Aries moved the blade slowly towards the mannequin. The steel melted at the touch of the power field, allowing the sword to pass through without resistance. "HUZZAH!" Luna shouted excitedly as she and the royal blacksmith observed the successful test. "A weapon worthy of a warrior of your caliber, is it not?" "...Yes, a fine weapon indeed." Aries said, still wishing for an imperial weapon, but grateful that he was armed. "Any ideas for a name?" The smith asked. Aries deactivated the weapon and examined it again. It was crafted as a World Eater's weapon, but he did not wish to name a xenos blade in honor of his battle brothers, and he wouldn't stain it with a name from his treacherous father's ideals...so he named it for it's intent. "Warp Eater." "Warp Eater it is, I hope she serves you well sir." The smith said, removing his hat and bowing to the astartes. "I'll fetch the sheath for you." "There is no need." Aries said. Before the smith could reply, the space marine mag-locked the sword to his thigh. "Huh, that's handy. Guess I'll keep the sheath for myself as a reminder, ain't everyday you make a magic sword after all." The smith stated to himself. "Thank you for your part in the coming conflict Forge Fire. We pray these weapons never taste blood, but trust that they will save more lives than they end." Luna stated. "That's my hope princess. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta get started on the others." With that, Forge Fire took his leave. As did the princess and the World Eater, who at long last would meet the Planetary Defense Force. Elsewhere The training grounds where the Royal Guard do voluntary exercises with weapons and martial arts had never seen more activity in a thousand years than it did today. Along with Buck Wild and Spitfire, Aries counted three ponies that he hadn't met...and one that he had. "So, do you have your ticket?" Aries jibed at One-Way Express. "As a matter of fact, I do...sir." The unicorn said, levitating a recruitment flyer for Aries to read. (Where did it come from?) "Hmph, so you do...we'll see if you have the requirements before the day is done." Aries promised. Aries turned away from the unicorn and headed to a pony he didn't recognize, but halted at the sound of buzzing. Turning to the sound revealed Pharynx. "I'm not late, am I?" "No, we're still waiting for others to arrive, hopefully." Answered Luna while Aries made his way over to them. At this, Pharynx grimaced. "Well, you can stop waiting on more Changelings. I couldn't get a single other Changeling to volunteer." "I can't say I'm surprised. From what I've learned of your kind, you are a wolf amongst sheep." Aries stated. Pharynx sighed. "I want to be mad at you disrespecting my people like that, but you're right." The conversation was interrupted by wing flaps, given off by a half dozen dragons and a trio of griffins. A griffin, who is recognized as Gilda, was the first to report. "Sorry, but these are the only griffins who care enough to try and enlist, there were a few others, but they're far too young." "Fine then, it'll have to do." Aries said, disappointed, but again, unsurprised. Gilda returned home while Ember made her report. "I managed to convince these five knuckleheads to chip in for the privilege of keeping anything worth pillaging off the demons." "With their addition, we have fourteen volunteers...a good start I suppose, but it won't be enough." Aries stated. "Oh, I wouldn't sell them short big guy." Before Aries could reply, Ember grabbed him by the hips and, to his surprise, lifted him off the ground, power armor and all. "...Put. Me. Down." Aries demanded. Ember did so. And just in time for the doors to open and accommodate the only strictly non-flying species of Equestria's allies. Prince Rutherford walked ahead of ten yaks, jumping their numbers up to 24. "Yaks come to fight demons until demons are gone. These elite yaks train under World Eater while rest of yaks train at Yakyakistan with each other." Prince Rutherford reported, his elite yaks giving an authoritative stomp in silent agreement. "Heh, excellent. You've done well Prince Rutherford." Aries stated while Luna spoke some last words with Ember who then headed home. "Of course yaks did best, yaks are best at war." Rutherford responded arrogantly. "I have to disagree with that, but your forces will have their chance to prove themselves in training." Aries replied. Prince Rutherford snorted, but said nothing more as he turned and left. When the doors closed behind him, the yaks disbanded their formation and started mingling with the other aliens as more wingflaps brought forth seven hippogryphs. "You must be Aries. Commander Sky Beak reporting." The lead hippogryph said with a salute, bringing his taloned forelimb to his forehead. Aries responded by slamming his fist to his chest. "Well met Commander, will you be joining us or are you just here to present the volunteers?" "The latter I'm afraid. Queen Novo needs me whipping the rest of our military into fighting shape. These boys are just here to show Equestria that we stand with them, even if the fighting gets so bad that we cannot send further reinforcements." "Understood, inform your queen that her contribution makes 30...to the first response." Aries spoke loud and clear. It was a start, but it wasn't enough. And Sky Beak knew it too. "I...I see. She will be informed sir." And with that, Sky Beak departed. A few more charitable minutes later confirmed that there would be no further recruits today. And so it began. Luna stood back to observe. "INTO FORMATION!!" Shouted Aries. World Eaters are not the most uniform legion of the astartes, but even Aries visibly cringed at the embarrassing display before him. The yaks, the hippogryphs, Spitfire, and Pharynx did well. But the griffins, the dragons, Buck Wild, One-Way Express, and the yet unnamed ponies took a total of 30 seconds to fall into formation with the more uniformed recruits falling out to point them in the right direction...if not lead them there. Aries brushed it aside, he was neither of the Ultramarines, or The Emperor's Children. These xenos were here to kill Daemons, not look good doing it...but it was really bad. "You're purpose is to fight and kill an enemy that has no interest in mercy. Not in receiving it, certainly not in showing it." Aries began. To which the more militant volunteers responded with: "SIR YES SIR!" Some of the more civilian volunteers echoing it after. "To that end, there will no formation drills, no uniforms save the armor and weapons being built for you, and no necessity for proper procedure." Aries continued. "SIR Yes si-" The reply died down when the more civilian volunteers realized that the militant ones just nodded in understanding. "You are here for one purpose...To learn how to fight." At this, several volunteers started getting confident. Others mentally prepared themselves...and one of the unnamed ponies raised a hoof. "May I be excused?" This resulted in laughter from the dragons and the griffins...they didn't laugh for long. A black glow enveloped everycreature laughing before they were lifted into the air, slammed together, and slammed onto the ground. "CAN IT YOU KNUCKLEHEADS!!" Aries observed the unicorn that launched the attack and saw that she looked almost exactly like the one who wished to leave. "Come here, both of you." Aries said to the aforementioned unicorns. They both cringed but came forward expecting to be in trouble. Aries examined them. The timid one had a yellow coat, blue eyes and a black mane and tail that was long and smooth. The other had a black coat, red eyes, and a yellow mane and tail of the same length, but stood up in spots, giving it a 'spikey' look. And both ponies had a black and yellow insect as their cutie-mark, The former's being herbivorous and the latter's being carnivorous. The two unicorns came to stand before Aries and the more confident one bowed her head. "I'm sorry sir, I just couldn't stand to let those jerks laugh at my sister like that. It's not her fault." Aries tilted his head. "Isn't it? She signed up, she came to fight, and she lost her nerve. How is it not her fault?" "Because I begged her to come with me, and promised that it would be fun." The unicorn replied. "Fun? you are going to be fighting for your very right to live, the enemy will stop at nothing to kill you...and you thought she would have fun?" Aries pointed at the more timid unicorn to emphasize his point. "Well...I thought that there would be other jobs. Ya know like, I'm a fighter and she's a healer, that kinda thing." The pony replied. "There will be, and the enemy will try to kill them so they can't heal you anymore, which is why you will all be fighters first and foremost." Aries replied. "...Ooohhh, sorry sis." The unicorn replied. "It's okay." The other replied. "HEY PONY!!" The group turned to see that the dragons and griffins had recovered and were looking for payback. "WOAH! WOAH! WOAH! CALM DOWN EVERYCREATURE! LET'S LET ARIES HANDLE IT!!" Shouted the last unnamed pony, trying to diffuse the situation. The lead dragon was about to retort when- "No, let them fight." Everycreature, including Luna, turned to look at Aries. "What did you say?" Asked the younger princess. "This is the sort of training I had in mind. So yes, let them fight." Aries replied. "Uh, isn't that a bit much for one pony." Pharynx chimed in. Not liking the odds of a single unicorn against seven creatures that were larger, more aggressive, and pissed off. "If everyone here attacked her at once, myself and the princess included, it still wouldn't convey how hopelessly outnumbered we'll be, you must all learn to be an army in your own right." Aries explained. The more militant creatures suddenly got nervous. The last pony, a pegasus, taking flight without even bothering to ask. But the dragons and griffins were either unfazed or just didn't pay attention as they started advancing. "...hmph. Fine, you idiots want a fight that bad, I'll give you one." The unicorn rolled her neck and trotted to meet them. "FIGHT!" Shouted Aries, compelling the more aggressive creatures to charge. The unicorn teleported behind them as they leaped into a dog-pile. She gathered energy into her horn and blasted the whole group, causing to fly everywhere. A dragon recovered in midair and shot a fireball at her opponent. The unicorn threw up a shield just in time to deflect it, but the blast concealed the dragon so the pony didn't realize that she was charging. The dragon smashed into the shield like a wrecking ball, shattering it like glass and knocking the pony to the ground. The unicorn tried to get up, but one of the griffins pinned her down with his talons. The dragon advanced, cracking her knuckles and laughing arrogantly. She pulled her fist back. The unicorn gritted her teeth. The blow came down. SMACK The unicorn opened her eyes in shock and saw Spitfire hovering over her. The dragon out cold. "IF YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL ME, THEN FINE! BUT I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO WATCH A PONY GET MAULED!!" She shouted at Aries, who had done nothing to stop this. "You make it sound she has to fight alone...I was wondering when the rest of you would start training." Aries replied. Spitfire blinked in shock, completely caught off guard. She only came to her senses when the other dragons and griffin, who had finally recovered, ambushed her. Their victory was short-lived, as everycreature watching decided to involve themselves in the melee, turning the tide. Aries watched on, unsurprised though still disappointed when two dragons and one griffin cried out about 'fairness'. He would see them gone when training was over for the day. "...Are you still here?" Aries asked to the timid unicorn who was watching the spectacle beside him. She jumped at his voice being directed at her and hesitantly answered. "S-sorry sir, I..I just..." "I have no interest in your excuses. Either leave or participate. I don't care which, but if you stay, you are committed. I won't let you back out again." Aries stated. The unicorn hesitated, turning from the battle to the exit and back again before finally screaming out. "I'M COMING JACK!!" And throwing herself into the melee in a berserker's frenzy. Luna walked up to stand next to Aries. "Who are those two?" Asked the World Eater. "A pair of twins who are attending my sister's school for gifted unicorns: Yellow Jacket and Honey Bee." The princess replied. Aries turned back to the brawl and saw the two sisters standing tall, each using an unconscious dragon as a club. "Hmph, well if nothing else, this will be amusing." And so the training began... Author's Note Sorry about the delay, I spent my Saturday watching Detective Pikachu (great movie) and had to write after work. Okay, so the PDF has begun it's development, and none too soon, for Chaos will soon stir. And on that note: There is a rumor coming down the pipe that my Khornate Champion of choice may or may not be getting redeemed in an episode or two. If so, good for him, but I'm keeping him evil in this story because he is too good as a Khornate Champion. And of course, Grogar...I don't know if I'm going to include him or not, but only because I've decided that I'm going to make this a series rather than just one book, and I'm considering using him for a bigger conflict later down the road. We'll see what happens. Okay, that's all I got, see you all next time.
Chapter Thirteen: Chaos StirsAs the newly formed Planetary Defense Force cut it's teeth under the World Eater's brutal training regimen. The fortunate few of the Daemons that slipped past Luna's watchful eyes the night before planted their seeds into four hearts already touched by madness. Khorne It came to him again, the dreaded memory that haunted his every sleeping hour. That worthless puny pathetic excuse for a dragon holding the Bloodstone Scepter and claiming the title of Dragon Lord. Ordering him to humiliate himself as vengeance for putting the shrimp in his place. And then giving the Scepter to another dragon that was almost as puny and sappy as he was. He tried to ignore it. He tried to move on and forget about it. But he always found himself wondering what he could've done differently that would've let him win. This time however, the dream was different. He didn't see different ways he could've won. Instead, the dream was focused on those that defeated him. How they worked together, how one went for the scepter while the other distracted him. But most of all, how during the very first challenge, even though he forgot about it, he saw the so called Dragon Lord get knocked out of the sky and into the water below, only for that Pony Lover to save her life. She shouldn't be Dragon Lord, she should be dead. Indeed, the worthless failure should be. Garble's eyes snapped open. He wasn't in the dragon lands anymore, though the only difference was that his favorite lava pool was now a lake of blood... It was kinda cool. But that wasn't what held the juvenile dragon's attention, he instead was staring at the strange creature that sat atop a mountain of ape-like skulls. Garble hadn't seen anything like it. He almost mistook it for a dragon. But no, any dragon that big would already have it's wings, plus it's head was wrong, just barely. "W-who...no, WHAT are you?" Garble asked the creature. "I am...willing to help you." Claimed the creature. "Uh...okay, first off: dragons don't need help. And second: help with what exactly?" Garble inquired. The creature smiled. "First off: you're right. Second off: Help you take what is rightfully yours from that fake dragon." Garble groaned. "As nice as that sounds, the fact is that Dragon Law clearly states that a Dragon Lord cannot be challenged until they've held the title for ten years. And even when that time runs out, I'm going to get the scepter on my own." The creature laughed at this. "And how do you plan to do that... when you're outnumbered." "What are talking about? There's only ever one Dragon Lord. All I have is get the scepter away from Ember, and that one is me." Garble claimed. "And all she has to do to stop you is get her pony friends to interfere on her behalf. Even if other dragons wouldn't help her stop you from doing what you most certainly could, the ponies would never allow it, because they know what you'll do to them." The creature reasoned. This gave Garble pause. Any other dragon would never ask for help defending what's theirs, but Ember wasn't any other dragon. She could ask for help, she's done it before. "Grrr, Well what am I supposed to do about it. Dragon Law doesn't say anything about asking for help." "It shouldn't have to. It should go without saying that a Dragon Lord fights alone. Because real dragons don't have friends who fight for them and fake dragons shouldn't become Dragon Lords in the first place. That Scepter is yours by right, and the laws that you are raised to obey keep you from it, Dragon Law has failed the dragons, and now they listen to ponies." The creature explained. Garble was taken aback. He was right, no Dragon Lord had asked for help before, nor had any dragon for that matter, that's why it wasn't written down. Not because it wasn't wrong, but because it was so wrong that no one had to say that it was wrong. "Well, what's in it for you. Or do you honestly think that I'm going to believe that you just wanna help me?" Garble challenged. The creature smirked. "I am no pony. In fact, I despise their kind more than you do. As for what I want, Equestria: destroyed. Do we have a deal?" Garble mirrored the creature's smirk "What's the plan?" "Plan? I don't deal in plans. I deal...in power." With this, the creature reached it's hand into the lake of blood and pulled out a double bladed ax forged from black steel and bearing demonic iconography. "Those killed with this weapon have their power added to the ax's wielder. If those weaklings in Equestria have proven anything, it's that there's strength in numbers, make that strength your own." The creature says as it hands Garble the ax. The minute he touches it, all of Garble's frustrations come to the forefront of his mind, amplified tenfold, and all he wants is to make those worthless pony loving weaklings pay for denying him his right...to kill the weak. Tzeentch Queen Chrysalis tossed and turned in her sleep, the mutiny of her hive replaying as she slept on the forest floor. Revenge. She must have revenge, but she needed a plan. How fortunate, that's our specialty. Chrysalis awoke not in the Everfree forest, but in a realm that shifted and changed at a pace far greater than the changeling hive...she found it soothing to her eyes. The only reason she knew that she wasn't alone is because the creature that spoke to her shifted and changed in a different manner, as if on an opposite wavelength from the realm they both occupied. The only thing that didn't change about this creature was it's head, the head of a raven with ever changing feathers of different size and color. "You seek revenge on those who chose to give up the path of power for the sake of peace. My associates wish to see this world burn, would you care to deliver the final blow?" The creature inquired as if it even had to ask. And so Chrysalis listened to this raven's omen of death, how four different attacks would be launched in conjunction. The attackers would only work together in terms of timing, and when the pieces fell into place, Chrysalis would know exactly how to personally thrust the knife into Equestria's warm caring heart. Slaanesh Boredom, that's all he felt these days. His aunts always tried to teach him how they were making Equestria better with Friendship with barbarous dragons and uncultured yaks and those horrible changelings, but he just couldn't see it. The world would be so much better if those disturbing creatures would simply vanish, or at the very least, use what little they're good for to serve Equestria. Heh, maybe one of those changelings could be made into a proper mare. And why would you need an insect to do that? Prince Blueblood awoke not in his room but in a throne room that, unlike Celestia's, actually met his expectations. He made his way to the throne, the servants all stopping what they were doing to bow before him as he passed, all without faltering in their tasks. But he didn't notice this, it was expected of servants after all. No, he noticed her. She was the most beautiful mare he had ever laid eyes on, even in spite of the goat-like horns flanking her normal horn, even in spite of one of her wings being bat-like, even in spite of one of her legs being covered in a dark purple exoskeleton, the rest of her...by Celestia, the rest of her, Blueblood had no words. "Oh, why hello my dear prince." The alicorn said with the most beautiful voice Blueblood had ever heard as she walked towards him. Blueblood extended a hoof, and the mare gladly kissed it with such passion that he could tell that she genuinely enjoyed it as much as he did. "H-he-hi...wu-who are you?" The prince babbled, feeling very light headed. "I am Secret Keeper my lord, your servant...and your property." Secret Keeper all but whispered, making Blueblood's heart almost seize. "O-Oh...a-are you?" The prince said, delighted but fearful that his Aunt Luna could pop in at any time and speak of this to Celestia. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about her. She's too busy with that alien and the little army that they gave him." Secret Keeper reassured him. That managed to ruin Blueblood's good mood. His royal blood ensured a life of comfort, but he had little pull politically, and he didn't have any personal guards. But suddenly, this alien ape thing that proudly confessed to being a killing machine brings it's war to Equestria. And instead of throwing it in Tartarus where it belongs, they give it an army. And use an ancient Equestrian artifact to give him a nice sword. "OH! Oh I am so sorry my lord, I didn't mean to remind you of the failings of your aunts." The alicorn said with a smile on it's face, a smile that went unnoticed as her words fed Blueblood's ego and self-importance to a level unheard of from the prince. "Oh, it's not your fault. It's theirs. But what can be done? They rule all of Equestria after all, and they refuse to listen to me." Blueblood ranted, his frustrations doubling with every word as he started to realize that their actions were even more absurd than he once thought. "Oh, but they won't rule for long." The mare whispered into his ear as she started to stroke his chest with a hoof. "Wu...what do you mean?" Blueblood asked, excited by the thought of someone smarter being in charge, and also ecstatic for the mare's touch. "The being who gave me to you as a gift intends to dethrone your foolish aunts...and place you on Equestria's throne to rule as you wish." The alicorn said to the arrogant unicorn. "Oh really, well I can't wait for that. But how do you plan to pull that off?" Blueblood asked as he unconsciously pulled the mare closer to him so he could take in more of her alluring scent and the smoothness of her coat. "There are others seeking to conquer Equestria, but they will all be stopped by your aunts pupil and her friends...as will my master, if you let them." The thought of Twilight Sparkle's friends made Blueblood bitter, especially that worthless sow that humiliated him at the Grand Galloping Galla. "How do I stop them?" Blueblood asked, too focused on his own arrogance to even hear his own words at this point. "Easy my lord, the key to their power is their unity. Break them apart, isolate even one of them, and the rest are useless." The alicorn whispered into his ear as she stopped stroking his chest and wrapped her front legs around his neck. "Oh, I know just the one." Blueblood chuckled to himself as he mirrored the mare's actions. The two of them standing on their hind legs and the mouths to each other ears. "Yes, but that is for another time my lord. For now, enjoy your dreams." With these last words, the mare pulled her lips from Blueblood's ear and merged them with his own lips as they fell onto a bed that materialized out of nowhere. Nurgle Of the four Daemons that escaped Luna's sight, the weakest was a lone Nurgling. The small beast-minded Daemon sought a sick despairing individual to give Nurgle's love, to make him forget fear and pain and accept his unchangeable fate. But there was no such creature among the ponies, nor among their allies, for all who were sick and ill were cared for kindly and those who couldn't be saved were made ascomfortable as possible until the end. The Nurgling thought it should return to the Grandfather, to tell him that this world was as kind as he and, dare he believe it, did not need his love. But that changed when he found them. Deep within the bowls of the Everfree Forest, forgotten and abandoned by their loved ones, were hundreds of ponies... infected with Swamp Fever. This dreaded disease was inflicted by a flower's pollen, and slowly turned the infected into the very trees that grew the flower, making them dangerous. But this did not register with the Nurgling, only the fact that the Equestrians left the infected all alone in these woods, left for dead when they were still very much alive...and oh so lonely. The Nurgling could feel the despair of the infected, who live on as trees but cry out to be ponies once more, their cries unheard. This angered the small Daemon who immediately burrowed into the tree possessing the strongest soul that it could sense. The Daemon merged with the soul, sacrificing it's will in order to give the pony it's animal like awarness. From the Nurgling's burrow in the tree emerged a unicorn. The Equestrian was in the final stage of Swamp Fever infection, with tree branches sprouting the deadly flower protruding from it's back, but it would never be a tree again, it was free. The unicorn leaped and whinnied with joy at it's new found freedom, and yearned to return to civilization, but not yet. It would never share the cruelty of those that abandoned him and do so to the others, and so he channeled magic from it's horn to the other trees. Broadcasting their unheard pleas to Grandfather Nurgle. Author's Note And there's our first wave of bad guys. Garble's planning a mutiny. Chrysalis is planning to seize victory while everyone else is fighting. Prince Blueblood is planning to take the Mane 6 out of the picture. And a single Nurgling just started a zombie apocalypse. (what else is new) I hope that I represented the methods of each Daemon when it comes to corruption, I kinda feel like I might have made the Bloodletter sound to Tzeentchian but I figured if there is any character that Khorne's followers would sympathize with it'd be Garble. I mean, I get the whole team work thing and I know for a fact that it's a good thing that Garble didn't become Dragon Lord, but I still feel he got cheated out of something that he earned because 'he's the bad guy and Spike and Ember were the good guys'. Also I am aware that today's episode featured Garble, but I had to miss it and plan to watch it tomorrow. With that, and the fact Queen Chrysalis is still on her own at this point, we are officially in an AU. Also, there is more to the Chaos invasion than what I revealed here, but that'll have to stay hidden...for now. P.S. To those who are unaware, I have been posting YouTube videos that compare characters from MLP to factions in 40k. If anyone has a request, I would love to hear it.
