Earlier That Morning

"Thank you for helping me keep that freak at bay. I'll try to figure out how to use my new power properly as soon as I can so I can get back to work." Said Yellow Jacket to Aries. True to Luna's prophecy, Aries had to face the Fallen Angel, as he dubbed him, numerous times while Yellow Jacket dreamed of the trauma she endured during the Awakening.

"Patience is a virtue, you cannot hasten your recovery." Aries said in parting as the horn less Unicorn faded from the Dream realm, waking up.

As the dream faded, Aries found that his PDF was in no need of assistance, he had taught them well.

...Any last words, heretic? The words of the false Emperor created by Sombra echoed in his mind. He couldn't shake them from his thoughts, he couldn't see the witch's deception in the Emperor's eyes. It was just so real.

"...Troubled?" Aries turned to the sound of Luna's voice. She seemed...odd. Like she had witnessed something troubling, perhaps a dream of what could be Equestria's future should Chaos return.

"I will not have this conversation more than once, and since you've made it clear that I'll be forced to explain myself to Rainbow Dash, you will have to wait." Aries replied.

Luna exhaled through her nostrils. "Circumstances have ensured that I will be occupied during that time, but very well. In the meantime, do you wish to dream? We've still another hour or so of work before the late sleepers are no longer our priority."

"...Istvaan. Let me fight beside my brothers." Aries said. With a nod, Luna's horn began to glow.

An Hour Later

Luna waved goodbye to the volunteers as she prepared to depart. Aries walked behind her as she did. "...Why did you do that?"

Luna stopped waving, but did not face him yet. "It was only a dream, and it's what should've happened."

Aries said nothing more of his dream...in which, Captain Ehrlen's suicidal charge was victorious against all odds, and Aries slayed Angron in single combat.

"So, are you ready for your talk with Rainbow Dash?" Luna asked, finally facing him.

"...I'm ready to be done with it." Aries replied, causing Luna to supress a giggle.

The two departed the Royal Guard Training Grounds that has become the PDF's headquarters. Aries made his way to a restaurant in Canterlot while Luna teleported to her own destination.

Waiting for Aries at the restaurant was not only Rainbow Dash, but two Unicorns that had been set against him by Sombra, one of whom he now realized had an injury similar to Yellow Jacket's.

The War Hound sat himself down. Rainbow Dash broke the ice immediately. "Did you clear your head?"

"...No. The Witch's trickery yet plagues me." Aries answered, seeing no reason to hide what he saw.

The ponies seemed confused by his choice of words, but otherwise understood. "It's okay to be afraid, and I get that you need to ignore your fears in a fight if you want to win, but the fight's over. If you keep it to yourself, it'll tear you apart."

Aries looked at the Unicorn who spoke, the one with a broken horn. Her eyes were full of regret and pain, and she carried herself like a soldier. "Who are you?"

"I am known as Tempest Shadow. I'm not going to pretend that my story compares to yours but...I've been here before. And when I arrived here, I didn't have anypony who was willing to help me, and that led me down a dark path... until Princess Twilight pulled me back." The Unicorn explained.

"Hmph. Very well, let's be done with this." And thus, Aries explained the vision Sombra had shown him, and what it meant to him.

"I had made peace with the fact that what I was doing went against the Imperial Truth, and I have made no attempt to hide that I only aided Equestria to vanquish a greater enemy to the Imperium. But now, all I can think about is the Emperor declaring me a heretic for my actions...And what I could do to prevent this prophecy." Aries lamented.

"You mean...stop helping us?" Rainbow Dash inquired fearfully.

"...I don't know." Aries confessed.

The table was speechless for a long time. Rainbow Dash broke the silence. "W-well...I-I don't know what to say to that. I know you're not the biggest fan of someone who doubts your Emperor. But thanks for sharing."

Someone who doubts the Emperor. Aries could see how badly Rainbow Dash was holding back, even without that line. Of course they wouldn't understand.

"For a human to doubt the Emperor is heresy. But you're either Xenos, or worse still, a Daemon, so what else could you do? I have heeded your request and have no further business here. Goodbye." Aries rose to walk away, but Tempest and the other Unicorn rose to stop him.

"A-Actually sir, we're reporting to you under orders from Princess Celestia...this...should've been done Yesterday but...things got complicated" The other Unicorn said.

"Then report and be quick about it." Aries answered without hesitation while his astartes mind used it's transhuman multitasking abilities to berate him for completely forgotting that he was, in fact, supposed to have done that.

"Yes, ahem, I am Chancellor Neighsay. Formally head of the Equestrian Education Association, I now wish to serve in the Planetary Defense Force against an enemy that is, undoubtedly, far more threatening than a lack of common knowledge." The unnamed Unicorn explained.

"And I have been wondering the lands outside Equestria where such practices as slavery is common and making them...less common. But now that a greater threat looms over my home, I'll do whatever is necessary to defend it." Tempest explained.

The 12th Legion has had a very hated history with slavery. Aries found his respect for this pony rising. "A senior member of the PDF lost her horn in battle with an astartes sorcerer during the Awakening. Report to our HQ and find her address, help her master her Warpborn powers."

Tempest was again confused by the choice of words, but nonetheless nodded. She departed while Aries turned his attention to Neighsay.

The Unicorn seemed like an underhanded sort, but one who thought of himself as a necessary evil, Aries knew how to use him."While Chaos' presence in the Dream Realm has weakened, it is possible that this is simply to throw us off the scent of other cultists that weren't involved with the initial attack. That, and Sombra's assault on the Crystal Empire has me concerned. I want you to investigate any potential threats, possible Cultists or local villains, and report them to me." Aries ordered.

Neighsay saluted and departed, and Aries took his leave.

Rainbow Dash watched him go. She wanted to tell him that anyone who thought the way his Emperor thought was wrong, evil even, but she knew in her heart that doing so would only make the War Hound her enemy...if he didn't kill her, which was a big if.

Aries paused on his way back to the PDF's HQ. He had grown accustomed with feeling lost in Equestria, but he nonetheless hated the feeling of not knowing what to do.

Training the Xenos, or Daemons, (he really needed to figure that out) would make him feel like he was doing something to spite Chaos, but now it only felt like heresy...which it was...but was it?

Aries could swear that he felt the Nails biting into his brain, but it was worse than that. He was simply...uncertain.

"My my, you do need some help." Aries expected to find another pony behind him, but the voice belonged to something... peculiar.

It had the body of a serpent, the head of a horse, the talon of a raptor, the paw of a lion, the hoof of a horse, a reptilian foot claw, and wings, one leather and one feathered.

".....Are you an ally to Equestria?" Aries asked the only question that mattered...though he had several.

"Oh yes, I'm honestly a little wounded that the others never told you about me. Though, they probably assumed you'd misunderstand." The creature said in a voice that screamed arrogance.

"Misunderstand what exactly?" Aries asked him.

"That I'm a spirit of chaos and disharmony." It answered.

"The servants of Chaos are far more disturbing than the likes of you, I would not have mistaken you for such a being." As soon as Aries said this, the creature's smile vanished in cadence with the sound of shattering glass emanating from it's head.

It's formally upturned face now stared at the War Hound with an unamused expression. "Allow me to rephrase that."

The creature snapped it's fingers, and in a flash of light...Aries was an Earth Pony with the War Hound's insignia as his Cutie Mark. "I am a spirit of chaos and disharmony. The mistake you would've made is believing that I'm affiliated with those imbeciles who wouldn't know what real chaos was if it smacked them in the head."

Aries, who had just come to terms with what was happening, attempted to attack the creature that dared to transform him so, only for the creature to wrap it's serpentine body around the War Hound's own while continuing it's incessant babbling. "I mean seriously, when do you ever plan chaos? It just happens. And Khorne? Khorne even has 'Honesty' among his virtues. And don't even get me started on Nurgle, that's as far away from chaos as you can get."

The creature waited for a reply, but all he got were the grunts and strains as Aries kept trying to fight back. "Well, aren't you going to say anything?"

"RELEASE ME DAEMON!! AND RESTORE MY HUMANITY THIS INSTANT!!!" Aries shouted in a far lighter voice.

The creature rolled it's eyes, but complied with a snap of it's fingers.

The instant he was a Space Marine again, Aries drew Warp Eater with the intent to end this creature's existence. Though the fact that it floated overhead and out of reach made doing so difficult. "And it's not 'Daemon', it's Discord."

Aries searched for any means by which he may slay this hated foe. A tree stood nearby. He ran to it and leapt, grabbing one of it's branches and pulling himself onto it before kicking off and falling through the air with a mad flurry of slashes that might've struck Discord...if he hadn't floated out of the way the minute Aries climbed the tree. "Really?"

Aries roared in frustration. "FACE ME IN BATTLE THAT I MAY DESTROY YOU COWARD!!!"

"Oh? Like how you wish to destroy our little pony friends because they weren't born as hairless apes who's most defining trait is destroying anything they don't understand rather than, oh I don't know, trying to understand it?" Discord inquired.

"YOU DARE TO MOCK HUMANITY!?" Aries shouted.

"I dare to mock everything, battle-puppy." Discord retorted with a sneer.

"DAMN YOU!!!" Aries shouted, still frantically trying to some manner of killing this thing, but finding none.

"Oh no, I'm pretty sure you're the one who's damned." Discord said.

Aries did not reply. Shaken as he was at having spent half a minute as something inhuman, the absence of the Nails allowed a swift return of his sanity, and the realization that the only way to beat this bastard was not to play his game.

Aries turned to walk away, only to find himself levitating into the air. "Oh alright, I'm done playing games. So, do you want my help or not?"

"I want nothing to do with you that doesn't end in your death." Aries declared.

"Well, lucky you. This little stunt just might kill me." Discord said nothing as he, with the ease of tearing wet paper, burrowed into the Warp with Aries trapped in the coils of his tail.

He slithered through the Immaterium at such speeds that neither Aries nor the horrors of the Warp had a chance to comprehend each other as they passed. It seemed to go on for less than a minute before Discord suddenly shouted "TAKE FIVE AND TALK TO YOUR GRANDSON!!"

Discord unceremoniously dropped Aries, who crashed into the not-ground of the Immaterium, sprang to his feet ready for a fight...and found himself face to face with the Emperor of Mankind.

"...huh...wu-wha..." It took Aries nearly as long as a mortal civilian discovering war to comprehend what was happening. Though to his credit, the Emperor was almost equally confused, though he recovered far quicker.

The Emperor's eyes left Aries as confusion traded place with annoyed understanding. The War Hound followed his master's and found Discord with his back pressed against a psychic shield of his own creation holding back a numberless horde of Warpspawn.

"...Take five and talk to your grandson...It is not often that I am taken completely by surprise, but that being has managed it."

"P-PAY NO HEED TO THAT WRETCHED ABOMINATION!! YOU OWE ME NONE OF YOUR TIME MY LORD!!!" Aries shouted as he fell to a knee and quite possibly became the first astartes to ever be so thoroughly embarrassed.

The Master of Mankind returned his attention to Aries. "I have done naught but hold this horde at bay for the last ten thousand years. And tempted as I am to seize this opportunity to leave the Golden Throne, that Xenos would undoubtedly allow Terra to fall if I attempted such."

Aries' hatred for Discord now threatened to eclipse his hatred for Angron. The spawn of Khorne had spared no detail regarding the Emperor's final battle against Horus Lupercal, and the consequences that befell the Imperium:now the embodiment of all that the Emperor sought to destroy. And here was an opportunity to undo all that damage, so close and so easily taken away by this fool.

"That fool is a being older and more powerful than myself. You would be wise not to underestimate him Aries." The War Hound was stunned. Though he didn't know why, of course the Emperor could read his mind...and know his sins.

The Emperor's face softened. "Your sins are miniscule compared to my own. And all of the Imperium joins you in your doubt." The Emperor waved his taloned hand, and Aries was granted a vision of the Primarch Roboute Gulliman...negotiating with Eldar.

"Though old wounds prevent a true alliance, the Imperium and the Aeldari draw closer and closer to putting their differences aside as their blood continues to stain the same swords. And even if such a thing comes to pass, even that may not be enough to prevent mankind's extinction." The Emperor explained.

"...Wh-what can be done?" Aries asked.

"I do not know...but with the numerous mad men who use my name to execute good men, I see no reason to slay you for using what little you have to defy Chaos. You are forgiven and set free. You did not fail me Aries...I failed humanity." The Emperor lowered his head as he said the last sentence. Those words...they somehow cut Aries deeper than hearing the Emperor call him a heretic. Why? Because even if Aries died a traitor's deatg, the Imperium lived on...right?

"...No." The Emperor returned his gaze to the War Hound as he rose from his knee. "No. I am not free. My duty isn't done."

"What more can you do? You are marooned on a primitive Xenos world. And if I let you return to the Imperium, they would not accept you. You would die needlessly." The Emperor explained to him.

"On Istvaan III, I gave up my life for you. On Equestria, I will give up my soul. I will devout myself to not only defending these Xenos from the Great Enemy, but in teaching them how to bring the fight to them, to the Imperium." Aries answered.

"And what would that accomplish but to get you and the equines killed?" The Emperor inquired.

"It will take the pressure off the Imperium and allow them to recover. We will not accomplish much, and even if we prevail, it will only ensure that Witch's prophecy comes true, but SO BE IT!" Aries shouted defiantly.

"You would do this? Sell your soul to Xenos and their God for an Imperium that will burn you as it would your father?" The Emperor asked of him.

"I am not meant for the new world that will be born from the ashes. I am only meant to burn this one down." Aries replied.

The Emperor smiled with pride at the War Hound. "Very well, but as you give your soul to this Spirit of Harmony, see that she knows that I will take it back someday."

Aries nodded, and would've said more, but. "That's nice. But I gave you five minutes and you took ten. I CAN'T HOLD BACK MUCH LONGER!!" Discord shouted as his barrier began to crack like glass along with his body.

The Emperor wasn't fooled, he knew that this alien was far stronger than he was letting on, but he also knew that if they had returned, then perhaps Aries would be more victorious than even He expected, so he played along. "Very well spirit. Take this wayward son from my sight until I may reclaim his lost soul."

"DONE!" Discord shouted as he sprang at Aries like a bolt of lightning.

The War Hound's last sight was the Emperor forming a golden barrier with which to hold off the endless horde that fell upon Him like a flood, and then he was speeding through the Warp again.

Author's Note

So yeah, pardon the randomness, but random is really the only way to write Discord. Speaking of which, Discord is more than his canonical self in this fanfic. Anyone care to guess what the Emperor knows him to be?

And as for the Emperor, I had the idea for this chapter running around my brain for awhile now. I hope I did it justice. If there's anything I need to add, remove or fix in this impromptu therapy session, let me know in the comments below.

Also, the reason I got it done this quickly is because it's been burning a hole in my pocket for months now, in case you were wondering.

Okay, that's all I got, I'll introduce Aries to Greenskin in the next chapter, see you then.