Author's Note

To start off, I severely apologize for how late this is, I erased two separate plot lines that I wanted to do, but couldn't make work, and it drained me to undo what I had done.

I would promise that it wouldn't happen again but...I am a week and a half away from my holiday vacation, and I will be done writing until January, and for my last week I am writing a one-shot Christmas special that is 40k only (TTS to be exact) which means two things, this fic is done until January, and my FIMfiction readers will have to tune in to Fanfiction.net to read my Christmas special. (I'll try to post the fic in the Warhammer 40k group chat, but I don't know if I can get away with that.)

So, there's my apology and my plans for the future. If you have any questions, leave them below, and I'll see you all in January.

Chapter 10: The Waaagh of Friendship

Greenskin never had anything but nightmares, so you can imagine his surprise when one of those 'Bony' gitz popped into his head and changed his dream with some of her Weirdboy stuff...he didn't like Weirdboy stuff. Especially when it didn't look bad, that's always the worst stuff those Weirdboyz do...cause it gets you when don't expect it.

That was last night's weirdness...but this time, things got a lot weirder.

He was alone. No boniez, no Drukhari gitz, Nothing...and it was cold.

Orks normally don't get bothered by such things. Whether they're standing on a planet with no atmosphere, or if a humie sets them on fire. But Greenskin was cold.

He held his arms tight to his trembling chest, breathing out small clouds. All he could think about was how cold it was.

There was a light, a green light. He turned to it...and felt a joy he never felt before.

Far into the distance burned a great green fire. It had to be the size of a Squiggoth, and he could hear Orks screaming their battle cry...it had been so long since he heard it, he couldn't even remember what it sounded like.

He was about to run straight to that fire and jump in feet first...but that's when they showed up.

The only warning was a sound not unlike a screaming child. Greenskin hit the dirt the minute he heard it. Dem Drukhari Gitz!

He saw them now, dozens of them in their spikey speeding things racing each other in circles. They were too far away to see him...but they were between him and the green fire.

Greenskin picked himself up and sighed. There was no way he was gonna risk it.

As he was mourning his loss...he felt something...something warm.

Greenskin realized that he could see his shadow now, and that it was surrounded by a pinkish purple light.

Turning around introduced Greenskin to a new fire. It was tiny thing, and it was quiet with no Orks and no war crys, but it was right there, and only had the same six boniez that have been tending to him since he showed up.

The boniez stepped away from the fire, giving him a path right to it.

The Ork moved slowly towards the fire. He felt warmer...safer. He reached out his hand.

....enskin....Greenskin?" The Ork snorted as he snapped awake, years of muscle memory telling him not to make the Drukhari ask again.

You can imagine his disappointment when he realized it wasn't one of those Drukhari gitz, but Fluttershy.

He still found it strange that the boniez had Orky names...sort of...In fact he was pretty sure that they were fake names meant to earn his trust, though their names did fit them.

Fluttershy had stepped back when he started like that. "Oh, I'm sorry to wake you, but it's past noon and, I was hoping I could try and help you feel better again."

Greenskin sighed, some quiet voice inside of him told him to tell the bony to sodd off, but he wasn't going to open himself up to a punishment. "Awroight. Where to?"

Fluttershy smiled. "Well, after reading through the codex again, we decided to try and find out what kind of 'Boy' you are...did I say that right?"

Greenskin nodded. He only had vague memory of Orks being actual Orks, but he could remember that every title ended in Boy. Storm Boyz, Mek Boyz, Slugga Boyz, Shoota Boyz, Pain Boyz...he didn't know why, but that last one reminded him of the Drukhari Gitz.

Twilight's Castle

"So, do you three think you can do it?" Twilight asked.

"Sure, it'll be easy." Said Apple Bloom, she and the other crusaders were brought up to speed in the hopes that they could help Greenskin find his place...preferably in one the less combative roles.

"So, what do you girls wanna try first?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Well, since he's going to be a fighter no matter what, I think the easiest to start with is the Slugga, Shoota, and Storm Boy." Scootaloo said.

"Twilight wanted to avoid the violent ones." Apple Bloom deadpanned.

"Well, what do you suggest?" Scootaloo came back agitated.

"A Mek Boy. I saw some pamphlets sayin' that Aries wanted ponies with Cutie-Marks about buildin' stuff to help him make some fancy new weapons for the next time Chaos attacks us. If Greenskin helps out, it might help the two of'em become friends." Apple Bloom explained.

"That's not bad. I guess a Killa Kan would be pretty useful if another invasion happens. I was thinking about the Goff Rokka, in case he doesn't want to fight." Sweetie Belle said.

As soon as the fillies agreed on the order they would try their ideas, Fluttershy and Greenskin came into the castle. "WOAH!! WHAT IS THAT SMELL!?" Scootaloo shouted.

Greenskin turned around to leave, but Fluttershy stopped him. "Sorry about that, he can't help it. So, is everypony ready?" The Pegasus asked. The three fillies nodded, undeterred.

Mek Boy

Apple Bloom had brought the group over to a duo of very familiar logs of applewood. "Okay Greenskin, my friends and I are going to show you how to turn this log into a derby cart, and see if you can do the same."

The Ork nodded, but he thought they were crazy. Even Mek Boyz weren't that good.

However, as the hours came and went, Greenskin learned what his foot tasted like.

The three fillies decided that he would never take to the idea if it didn't look Orky enough, so they built a wooden replica of an Ork War Trukk with stick-guns.

"Phew, sorry that took so long, but you should still be able to give it a try before sundown." Apple Bloom said.

The Ork strode over to the untouched log with full confidence that it could be done.

However, knowing that it could be done did not mean he could do it, for an Ork is born as an Ork is born, and Greenskin had not been born a Mek Boy.

He had sawed pieces off the log and thrown decorations and paint onto it. But he could only make it look like a piece of wood with paint and decorations on it.

Instinct born from experience soon caused a panic in Greenskin. If he failed, he would be- He was broken from the thought by a hoof upon him.

"Greenskin it's getting late. Let's try again tomorrow." Fluttershy said.

Greenskin looked at her like she grew a third eye. Pretending you wouldn't punish failure is one thing, but actually not doing it...they were really trying to trick him.

The three runtz came up to them. "Maybe Mek Boy isn't you." The first one said with a giggle.

"Don't worry about it big guy. We went through hundreds of possible destinies before we found our calling as Cutie Mark Crusaders." The second one said.

"Yeah, we'll just try somethin' else tomorrow." The third one said.

Greenskin had his doubts, but he nodded and followed Fluttershy back to his tree.

Greenskin's Dream

The fire was warm and safe. Greenskin could still hear the Orks around the green fire, but he could also hear them Drukhari Gitz too.

He kept his eyes on them, allowing the fire to warm his back, and was ready to run and hide at the first sign that they were getting closer.

But for now, he was warmer...safer...just a little.

Goff Rokka

The CMCs employed the assistance of Octavia and DJPON3 for this next one. Neither of them were fond of Rock and Roll, but they knew how to strum a guitar and beat the drums.

The two played a basic breakdown, just the same five notes in a loop to give the Ork the idea.

He definitely liked it. It was the first time Fluttershy saw him smile, and he even swayed a little and shifted his feet around.

After the eighth loop, the musicians stopped and Octavia handed Greenskin the guitar.

Greenskin used one of his large outgrown fingernails as a pick and played a series of notes with no rhythm, like he was testing it out. But after a while, it became apparent that he didn't know how to make a rhythm come from the notes.

However, he seemed to be enjoying himself. That fact that he actually made sound convinced him that he was doing it right, and he started jumping around and stomping his feet in cadence to the isolated notes.

"Hmm hmm hmm, your friend seems to be enjoying himself Fluttershy. Why don't you let him keep the guitar, I'll pay full price, rather than rent it." Octavia said while watching the flailing Ork, DJPON3 nodding her approvement.

Fluttershy nodded her thanks while the CMCs joined Greenskin's stomp-off.

The Dream Realm

Luna had kept a close eye on Greenskin's dreams after the first one. She hadn't offered guidance, as the Ork was far from trusting.

But it would appear that she would finally be able to leave him be. He had pieced together that he can be warmer, and still watch for the Drukhari, if he moved to the other side of the fire and stuck his head out.

Luna would've told him that he only needs to stick his head out occasionally, rather than constantly craning his neck like that, but he wouldn't trust her.

She was about to leave it at that when her eyes lazily glided onto the green fire that she knew to represent the Ork Waaagh! as the fire Greenskin settled for was the Fire of Friendship ignited on Hearth's Warming Eve so long ago...an idea came to mind.

With a grin that Cozy Glow could admire, Luna flew over the Dark Eldar and fell towards the Waaagh!. Her powers over the Dream Realm clothing her in the image of an Ork mentioned by name in Twilight's codex: Ghazkull Mag Uruk Thraka.

The fake Warlord landed with a thud, grabbing the Orks' attention before pointing her Power Klaw towards the Drukhari. POINTY EADZ!! LET'Z STOMP'EM!!!

The answer was loud and clear. WAAAGH!!

Greenskin watched as the Ork horde slaughtered the Drukhari Gitz before returning to their fire. He kept looking around for more of them, but as none appeared, he felt safe...truly safe.

Slugga Boy, Shoota Boy, or Storm Boy

"Are you sure we can't try something else?" Sweetie asked, a little worried.

"Like what? A Pain Boy?" Scootaloo shot back.

"As much as I hate to say it, Scootaloo does have a point. Even Twilight said it was likely that we'd end up here, Orks are meaner than Timber Wolves after all." Apple Bloom lamented.

Sweetie Belle still didn't like the idea that the only option left was what kind of weapon he would use to kill creatures, but she only translated her distaste further with a defeated sigh.

Fluttershy came up the hill with Greenskin and immediately looked worried. "Um, w-where did you three get all this?"

She was of course referring to the ax, crossbow, and rocket booster assembled on a table before them...she also began to understand why they were near the Everfree Forest and away from town.

"Twilight got'em from a friend of her brother's." Apple Bloom explained.

"Except for this. Rainbow Dash got it from the Dropouts. She wouldn't tell me how." Scootaloo explained while resting a hoof on the rocket.

"Is it safe?" Fluttershy asked.

Choosing her answer carefully, the Pegasus filly said: "Safer than an Ork Rokkit." It did not rid Fluttershy of her nervousness.

Before she could say anything, Greenskin left Fluttershy's side and examined the weapons.

He gave the rocket a test by smacking it with a closed fist. It immediately sped off into the woods and exploded. Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief while Greenskin snorted in amusement.

The crossbow was next. He picked the weapon and pulled the trigger without aiming. It wasn't loaded, so nothing happened. He shrugged and dropped it.

Sweetie Belle was about to pick it up and explain how it works, but the Ork stepped on it and crushed it. Sweetie Belle stepped back.

Finally, he came to the ax. Unlike the Apple Family's wood ax, this was a battle ax made in the days of Griffonstone's glory when the Griffon army gave Equestria plenty of worry.

It was made as a two handed weapon, but Greenskin held it like a hatchet...and tested it on the table it and the other weapons had been laid out on, splitting it in half.

"Well, I guess he's just your average Slugga Boy after all." Sweetie Belle said.

Greenskin turned to them with a smile, one that quickly disappeared when he saw their expressions. Worry, concern, fear. "...Oi kan't keep it, kan Oi."

Fluttershy dropped her concern like a bad habit. "No, I-I mean YES! I told you that we would help you turn back to normal, even if...that means..."

Greenskin knew what it meant. He could keep his new Choppa, or he could keep his tree.

He liked that tree, but it couldn't chop things up. He turned to the forest that was right in front of him.

"...Fankz Fluddashoy." The bony looked at him with pinprick eyes. He had absolutely stunned her.

Greenskin took the first step...and he grew cold.

Greenskin's Dream

Greenskin had fallen asleep in the Everfree, and found himself back where he started, away from the smaller fire, but still closer to it than the green fire...that was open to him now.

Them Drukhari Gitz were still dead, and none had come to replace them, opening the way for him to join the other Orks...but it was a still a long walk.

You are free to go. Greenskin turned to the voice, to the small fire behind him. From it, emerged another bony, Twilight Sparkle, but she was different somehow.

"Who da Gork iz you?" Asked the Ork.

I have gone by many names, the one favored by my little ponies is the Spirit of Harmony. The bony answered.

"Armony? Wut dat?" Greenskin asked.

I'm afraid that I cannot word the explanation in a manner you would understand, but that is not the question you're asking right now. You want to know which fire to choose, do you not?

Greenskin was confused by the Spirit's choice of words, but he understood the question. "Do you know?"

I cannot answer for you, but I can point out an answer you have not thought of. The bony's horn started to glow, and Greenskin noticed a glow coming from him...two of them in fact.

Yelping as he looked down, Greenskin found two tiny fires inside of him, one pink/purple and one green.

After he finished freaking out about being able to see inside his chest, and freaking out about his chest being on fire twice, he asked the spirit: "Wut does dis mean?"

It means that you carry the Magic of Friendship and the Ork Waaagh! inside of you, regardless of where you go from here. The spirit explained.

Greenskin's eyes lit up. Waaagh!..dat'z wut it sounds loike. "So, Fluddashoy iz still moi...uh..."

Your friend, yes. The spirit confirmed.

"So, I can go be wiff uvva Orkz, an' still be friendz wiff her?" He asked.

The spirit could've tried to explain being friends in spirit, but knew the endeavor would be an exercise in futility. No, the other Orks would kill her. You couldn't be with Orks and have friends...but you could have friends, and still be an Ork.

"But Orkz iz made for foighten, Boneyz don' foight." Greenskin said as a fact.

Perhaps not. But several other creatures try to take advantage of that. So many, in fact, that trying to protect peace and harmony has time and again proven to be a war without end. The spirit explained with a slight smile.

"....A Waaagh!...dat doesn't stop..." Greenskin found it difficult to remember how to close his mouth.

The spirit smiled wider now. "Even in spite of all that's happened to you, you're still an Ork. And your connection to Fluttershy proves that you're more than just one of the Boyz. I look forward to the day you truly find your place. But until then, war approaches Equestria in the form of villains from it's past, and Fluttershy will need your help.

As the Ork came to terms with what was said to him, he smiled.

His dream changed, he was back in front of the smaller fire with Fluttershy and the other boniez, including the three runtz, and some shadowy figures were approaching them.

The boniez got scared and started to back away, but Greenskin met them head-on. The pink/purple fire inside him stretching out to stay connected to similar fires inside the boniez, while the green fire built into an inferno and erupted out his throat. WAAAGH!!