A Different Kind Of Chaos

Chapters

Chapter 1 Familar, yet unknown
Chapter 2 history lesson
Chapter 4 Holding the line
Chapter 5 Ave Imperator
Chapter 3 New order of diplomacy

Chapter 1 Familar, yet unknown

Chapter 1 Familiar, yet unknown

At the residence of a modest home located within the Equestrian township of Trottingham, a young colt was awoken by the morning sunlight shining down upon him.

He stretched himself while yawning, yet despite his blurred vision he pulled himself out of the bed and smiled warmly at the sunshine pouring through his window.

“Looks like this will be a good day.” He spoke to himself, picked up his glasses from the nightstand and walked out of his room.

Eagerly, the earth pony colt went towards the bedroom of his mother and gently opening to the door. A smile formed on his lips to the colt blue unicorn’s chest gently lowering and raising.

Getting an idea, the colt walked towards the kitchen, making some toast and apple tea as breakfast for his mother.

While waiting for the toast to be toasted, the colt’s mind was racing over the recent events that had just happened lately, taking a deep breath.

For four months, he was separated from her after a series of events most refused to divulge, living with her lifelong foalhood companion, Nancy, who was also the mother of his best friend Pipsqueak. And yet, after an unfortunate accident some friends of him and Pip had, he got reunited with his mother, who had helped in saving his friends.

This had been a week or 2 ago. Even after so long, he still couldn’t believe what had happened. Had this been fate? A higher-power seeking for his mother to show she was not a bad pony, giving her a second chance, having pity with her and him?

A loud metallic snap tore him out, the toast was done. Putting it on a breakfast board, he carried it towards the bedroom.

As expected, her nose started to sniff once the fresh smell invaded it. Her scarlet eyes opened, a smile formed on her face. “Morning, Tungsten.”

“Good morning, Mom! I made you breakfast.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

“You’re welcome,” Tungsten replied with a smile of his own before making his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Upon done, he watched himself in the mirror. A cheerful colt with the same coat as his mother, dark brown eyes and a ginger/orange mane looked back.

Going out of the bathroom, he saw his mother entering it, her dark red mane being slightly messy.

It took his mother only a short time to get her mane cleared and straightened out. “Now, let’s enjoy the day, shall we?”

“Of course, mom!” Her son exclaimed cheerfully and they got out of their house, enjoying the calm morning as they walked through town coming towards a park, listening to the singing of the birds.

It wasn’t long until a young voice called out, “Tungsten!” It was a small pinto colt, with the elder colt smiling warmly at him,

“Nice to see you, Pip.” Next to him was an earth pony mare, her coat being of a pale-brown coat, while her mane was a wheat-blonde, having Gray eyes and a pocket watch as Cutie Mark, smiling.

“Hey, Blue Murder.” She gave Tungsten’s mother a friendly hug, which she returned.

“How are you, Nancy?”

“I am doing good, thank you.”

“Looks like we just came in time.” A new voice greeted their ears and they saw an orange, blue-dappled batpony stallion with a white ponytail, wearing a colored cloth and eyepatch over his right eye walking towards them.

Next to him were a batpony mare with yellow cat-like vertical slits for pupils, and dark gray mane, a batpony filly with the same eyes as the mare but a teal colored mane was with them

“Shadowplay?” Tungsten asked surprised.

“Yes, Lucky Star suggested that Amber and I should pay you a visit on this fine day.”

“Candy had the same idea.” Another voice added, belonging to a black-and-white-speckled Earth pony stallion sitting next to her. He possessed of a grey ponytail of a mane, dark moss-green, a tasseled red jerkin with bandoliers thrown across his chest and shoulders and toted a fedora with a trophy band.

Next to him was a unicorn mare, a bright white coat, along with a pink mane that had white strips and blue eyes.

“Again, nice of you to join us, Tybalt.” Blue was delighted, with Candy smiling.

“All the same. What had you planned for today?”

“Oh, just doing a stroll through the park at the moment, enjoying the morning.” Blue explained to Candy before a faint ringing sound come from her saddlebag, pulling out a transceiver. “Yes?”

“Sorry to bother you so early in the morning, Blue, but you, Shadow and Tybalt are needed.” A male voice informed her.

“Not a problem, Fletcher, we’ll be right there.” She put it away, sighing. “Should have known. I see you later then, sweetie.”

Tungsten gave her a hug with a weak smile. “It’s okay, mum, just be careful.” Candy did the same with Tybalt, so did Lucky and Amber with Shadow.

“Of course I will be, sweetheart.” She gently broke it, looking at Pip and Nancy with regret. “Sorry it had to be so short.”

“Its fine, do your duty.” Pip’s mother replied.

As the male batpony was about to turn, he got held back by Amber with a hoof. “Hold on, you can’t go like this.” She was looking at his right wing, which was slightly poking out upwards, messy and started to groom it with her mouth, preening it until it was straight again. “There you go.”

In response, Shadowplay blushed slightly. “Ah, thanks…” The others chuckled slightly at this.

Upon Blue, Shadow and Tybalt leaving, Amber, Lucky and Candy close behind, Pip and Tungsten continued their troll through the park, accompanied by Nancy.

They both stopped at a lake, enjoying the view, it was so majestic and calming. But suddenly, something threw Pip over.

“Oof!” he cried out and rubbed his head, his friend and mother looked in surprise and slight worry towards him.

“Oh, sorry, my bad.” A young voice sounded concerned, the pinto colt looked up to see a hoof offered to him, it belonged to a earth pony colt, barely any bigger than him, probably a few years younger. His green eyes were filled with regret, his coat was orange, the mane red with orange strips as he helped Pip up.

“No harm done.”

“Good, I was distracted admiring the city of Trottingham, me and my mother are visiting.” The other colt explained as a pink unicorn joined him, her eyes blue, the black mane with purple strips, the cutie mark hidden by a black sweater.

“Are you okay, Thunder Kicker?”

“I am fine, mom.” He replied with a smile and she looked at Nancy with a slightly awkward expression.

“Do you know the way to Tall toby?”

Pip’s mother nodded in return. “Yes, I do. Just take the east exit of the park, take a right and straight away. You can’t miss it.” She pointed with a hoof to it, leading the mother and son towards it, her son and friend looked after them.

“Squawk! Wait for me! Squawk!” A parrot with teal fur, yellow claws beak exclaimed as he flew after kicker and his mother.

“Strange…” The elderly of the 2 colts mumbled, “Wearing a sweater at this time of year?” He wondered.

“Well, it is early morning, so slightly cold and they could come from a colder region.” His younger friend pointed out.

“Fair point.” A sigh escaped Tungsten’s mouth. “Even after all this time, I still can’t believe it. That you all were here for me, never judging my mother.”

“Tungsten, listen.” Pip wrapped him into a hug. “That's what friends are for, helping each other in dire situations. Why should I hate her after all she taught me, for something she didn’t want to do?”

“R-right…”

"Plus, that is what Equestria is known for, helping and forgiving each other."
A nod was what Pip got as an answer before a Crackling bang crashed and echoed in the air, both looking around on alert. The sound of It was similar to thunder, causing both to look up into the sky. Their eyes went wide.

Up in the sky, a large bundle of clouds forms, cycling looking to be a form of a great storm, but something was odd about it, not due to their being scheduled a storm in the city, but the clouds were moving on their own and from the dark grey slowly started to glow of a dark purple shade. It was like no storm anypony seen spiraling around in the sky as lightning crackled through it, as it looked unstable and uncontrolled with what little pegasi weather team moving around to stop it, but were thrown back or crash landing into buildings and the ground, it wasn't a storm at all.

Both colts realized within moments that this couldn't be good as soon the storm clouds formed what looked to be monstrous skulls and faces that roared out like crazed animals. "We need to get out of here!" Pip yelled, and both quickly galloped their small hooves running away from the storm.

Yet as they barely moved a few steps, Pip looked back to see Tungsten was lifted in the air as if a strong force was picking him up and pulling him towards the swirling storm. "Pip! Grab my hoof! help me!" Tungsten exclaimed, panicking as he reached his hoof out, and Pip grabbed him with both hooves holding on tightly and trying to pull him back to the ground, only to feel his body getting lifted into the air and were soon both were sucked into the storm of one of the mouths of the cloud beasts.

For a moment, Both colts felt light as if they were floating in the water; their eyes held shut but soon came to the feeling of landing on hard stone, and both groaned in pain, trying to remember what had just happened. Tungsten was first to open his eyes but immediately shut them, wincing at the bright light and the smell of different air. "Ugh…what was... that?" Pip mumbled, dazed, looking around.

"I-I don't know..." Tungsten replied, "But…" His eyes fluttered open to see their surroundings and noticed they seemed to have landed in what looked like an alleyway seeing rats and large amounts of trash around them.

The sky was a dark cloudy shade, making it difficult to see. "I think the bigger question is... where we are?" Tungsten added with a growing fear in his voice.

Despite being the youngest with Pip, Pipsqueak quickly caught on. "Deep breath, Tungsten, it's okay, I'm sure we just got thrown into one of Trottinghams ally ways, and the storm is gone." He said, trying to calm him down, wrapping a hoof around him, Tungsten's breath slowed, and soon he got a slight nod and a weak smile in response, although fear was clearly visible in his eyes.

"B-but.. what are we gonna do now, lost somewhere in the city?"

"Let's just stick together and I'm sure everything would be al-"

"Hello?" a male voice rang in their ears, "Is someone there?" The voice caught the attention of both colts as they looked blindly into the dark and could faintly make out two bipedal silhouettes slowly getting close and seeing that they were... humans. The colts saw humans, real talking humans; to their surprise, a man and woman. Their minds and thoughts were lost in a jumble of questions, confusion, and delirium. They had only seen a human once when a friend of theirs, Dinky Hooves, had landed on a human world called "Earth" due to an accident with magic months ago.

None of the two could see the expressions of the humans in the dark but were sure that it was confusing.
"H-hello... C-Can you help us... P-please?" Pip managed to speak out; still, a bit shook, his voice caused the humans to step back and shake their heads in disbelief and surprise. Still, he and Tungsten somehow believed they would help them, even if they couldn't tell or know why.

The woman was first to move, kneeling down slowly but with a calm and caring tone in her voice. "Of course, come let us help you." She said with a strange accent that almost sounded like the high accent in Canterlot, extending her arms to gently pick Pip carrying; the man waving his hand gesturing Tungsten to follow them. He had his worries about the unknown, taking in the city with his friend and the human as they left the alleyway.

Looking around, most buildings looked pretty simple, almost similar to the Ponyville and residential areas of Trottingham, although a few buildings rose high in the sky like skyscrapers, and some looked to be cathedrals with giant stone statues and decorated windows and golden metals plastered around; they took notice of a few statues they couldn't really describe. It looked like a bald man heavily armored, looking to be the size of a Minotaur or bigger and holding a large sword and shield.

Around hanging off of lampposts were red and golden-looking banners of a two-headed eagle, and on the walls of buildings were posters that caught the colt's attention. One showed a human in what seemed to be an official uniform, with a peaked cap with a two-headed eagle whose wings were spread on it. The man pointed at them, with text written under him.
"I want you for the imperial guard. Nearest Recruitment station."

The other poster showed what looked to be a soldier in dark green body armor and light brown with a red-stained uniform; his body was lying caught in bladed wire, with another text written under him.
"You talk of Sacrifice…He knew the meaning of Sacrifice!"

It made the 2 colts, they had most likely landed in a conflict area, with seeing more posters showing pictures of unknown creatures and more officers and soldiers, they probably landed in a different world from what was in the war; they tremble at the thought as the colt's continuing to walk with the two humans think of dying in whatever war they were thrown in or being soon part of it.

"Shh, easy, it's okay." The woman gently patted Pip; the man did the same with Tungsten laying his hand on his mane and stroking it down, getting a fearful, sorrowful look as both colts tried to stop thinking about the thought. They saw other humans around them, all in different clothing and some with metallic limbs and a few even armored in metal grey armor with a large shield and a mace in hand, looking around at every human that walked by and even eyeing the colts as Oscars wave at them as they nodded. In the streets were floating strange carriages holding crates and boxes, and above them were large bridges that stretched out across to other roads and building with floating metal skulls that flew through the air and descended down below the bridges to another street layer. Then weird decorated ships that soared through the sky. It didn't take long for the two humans to reach their home; it looked like a typical house.

Once inside, the two ponies took in their surroundings, seeing all the strange devices. one that had a strange microphone and speaking with several sets of buttons, another which seemed like a projector device aimed at the wall and a couch.

"Nice... place, looks comfortable."

Tungsten commented as the female human gently put the Pip on the couch, with both finally able to see the humans fully by the home lighting up.

Both seemed young and looked to be adults, dressed in casual-looking clothing. The woman was average in build, thin chin and face, blond hair, and green eyes. Their eyes looked slightly in awe at the man, as his broad face had a scar across his right side and barrow chin. And yet, the right of his brown eyes seemed not to be affected by it as he looked at them with curiosity and slight pity. His athletic chest was decorated with a few awards, hinting he was apparently a veteran. Their eyes fell first on what looked like a bar cross, with a skull at each end. Next to it was a golden skull connected to a rectangle on a red background. After that came three silver skulls, joined on a row in a square.

"Thank you, but right now I know both of you are still shaken and probably have questions but you two are safe here," The man explained in a calming voice. "My name is Oscar, Oscar Milan and this is my wife Zoe."

"I am Pipsqueak. But my friends all call me Pip. And this is my friend Tungsten." Pip said to the two humans, introducing himself and Tungsten, who climbed on the couch and sat next to Pip.

"Do we have visitors, mother?" The ears of the colts perked up to see two girls walking into the room, with the voice belonging to the one with black hair as her father, but blue eyes, slightly smaller than the other one, who was clearly older. The older girl's hair was blond like her mother's, but brown eyes instead; both smaller humans looked at the two ponies in confusion.

Overall, the younger girl seemed close to Pip’s age, her older sibling was estimated around 13 by the colts, both looked at the ponies in confusion.

"Uhh, why did you bring foals with you? we don't have a stable nor room to house them." The older child pointed out.

"We wouldn't need one," Tungsten replied flatly, causing the girls to jump and take a step back in a shocking surprise.

"They talk?!" The younger one exclaimed, only for her mother to raise a hand.

"Yes, your father and I found them lost and scared on our way back, Lara. We only wanted to help them and do good."
Both girls stayed silent for a moment before Lara started to smile.

"That's very nice. What are your names if they have any?" While taken back by this sudden emotional change, both colts smiled back. "I am Tungsten, and this is my friend, Pipsqueak."

Lara's older sister eyed both with what seemed distrust before introducing herself. "Lola is my name and I admit, your Gothic is pretty good."

"Gothic?" In response, Oscar cleared his throat, grabbing both colt's attention. "Maybe you should tell us first about you and how you came here." He looked at both colts seeing Pip looking back at Tungsten and then back at the Oscar.

"Well, we are ponies and come from a land called Equestria, living in harmony; There are earth ponies like Tungsten and me. Pegasus, who can fly and manipulate the weather, and unicorns that can use magic." The humans listened but noticed a Viking's hat and a Wizard's hat on Tungsten's flank as Oscar pointed out with his finger.

"And that Tattoo, does it represent something, a mark of a master or world?"

"That is a mark of a Special Talent a pony is represented by its called a 'Cutie Mark' and only appears on our flanks, which I haven't got one but Tungsten has his." Oscar noded at this response staring at the cutie mark before looking back at Pip as he continues.

"Equestria is ruled by Two Princesses, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They're Alicorns, Celestia controls the sun to move it across the sky to give Equestria a new day and Princess Luna controls the moon to give a new night. As for how we landed here, it happened in the city of Trottingham as some huge crazy dark purple storm appeared out of nowhere and sucked us in it, it happen so fast and everything was confusing, but once we got sucked in all we felt was as if we were floating and everything was dark, then that's how we got here."

"So a warp storm... Interesting." Oscar commented before frowning slightly. "But, I am afraid you might be a long way from home or world or "land" of "Equestria."

"What do you mean?" Tungsten did not understand as a sigh escaped the man's mouth.

"Well, this might not be easy for you… but you've traveled through the warp, it's more of a surprise you managed to survive unscathed, but now you two landed in Imperial territory Heidrum, a civilized world of the Imperium of Mankind."

"I-Imperium?" Pip asked, his eyes widening in shock, looking at Oscar as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

"Yeah, You see, Heidrum is part of the Milky-way galaxy; the Imperium is a human empire spanning billions of different worlds and trillions of humans; that is Imperium of Man. The founder and ruler of the Imperium would be the God-Emperor of Mankind. It was he who founded and united all of humanity almost over 10.000 years ago; as of now, it is the forty-first Millennium." Then he remembered something.

"Say you two seem quite familiar with humans."

Pip and Tungsten looked down slightly awkwardly as the pinto colt took the word, carefully choosing what to say. "Well, yes... Some time ago, a friend of ours landed on a human world."

All humans stayed quiet for a few seconds before the man broke the silence. "now that's fascinating Pip. Though, how did they come across to said world and how you can two understand us?"

"Believe it or not, it's the magic." Tungsten explained. "Neither of us knows exactly how this works, but somehow, it passively acts as translator for most or if not many languages, every pony process magic within them earth pony's have little pegasi have minor forms of it. the only two with high level of magic would be either old unicorns or the two alicorn princesses."

"Hmm, sorcery, could they be pyskers of some sort?" Oscar murmured to himself as he thought over what he gathered from Pip and Tungsten

"But, rest assured, we'll help you wherever and however we can. Allow me to make you a meal." Zoe said this; her guests noticed that the sun was slowly going down from the little light shined through a window. Had telling about their homes and kind really spent that much time? Nonetheless, they took dinner, a tomato soup, with the graduate smiling before both had to yawn.

"Tried from today's events, best rest and continue till the morrow's morning; we shall grant you the spare guest room to rest in for the time comes." Oscar said as the two nodded, finishing their meals and followed him down a hall to stop at the door opening it and greeted the colts with a simple bedroom with a large bed that looked to rest two large humans; the two colts climbed up onto the bed and crawled under the covers with as Zoe stood behind Oscar.

"Goodnight," Zoe said as Oscar turned off the lights and saw the two colts' tired eyes close and yawn.

"Goodnight and... thank you," Pip replied softly as the man closed the door, leaving them alone.

For a moment, both colts rested till Tungsten awoken, looking over at his friend with unease and worry as questions filled his mind, gently pressing his hoof against Pip and gently shaking him to wake him up. "Pip... Pip."

"Wha- What’s wrong Tungsten?"

"Pip... I hope our friends and moms will find us... I can only imagine mom being worried and scared trying to find me."

"Yeah, I can still remember how worried my mom was when I had that similar incident…" Pip shuddered before forming a weak smile. "But like back then and I was with Dinky, I am sure they are looking for us and doing their best to find a way to us and to get us back home to Equestria."

"Yeah... Yeah, your right; we can only hope that there doing something right now... Right?" Tungsten nodded, looking at Pip Nodding at his question.

"Exactly, so all we can do now is stay here and see what we can do for now, okay?

Tungsten nodded, and both closed their eyes as they tried to sleep, hoping for the best and what they believe will come for them, as this was only the beginning of their time in the Imperium.

Author's Note

Why I did this, to give the Imperial guard a tribute, given what they are up aginst as mere humans, plus I thought could be interesting that way.

Sparkler and KIcker belong to Captain_Cosmos, a friendly cameo

Chapter 2 history lesson

The colts awaken, with a smile of joy forming on Pip and Tungsten's faces to see Trottingham in the distance, their home. They galloped towards it as fast as their legs could carry them but soon slowed down. Both colts blinked in confusion before a sharp smell invaded their nostrils. Their hooves felt like dry grass, cracking and crumbling underneath them.

It took Pip and Tungsten only seconds to realize that the lights in the distance weren't shining lights of the city of Trottingham. It was lights of fires, Trottingham was burning, and screams echoed in the distance.
Hearts racing with fear, Pip and Tungsten ran as fast as they could towards their home, hoping their mothers and friends were still alive. But to the sight of horror that sank into their hearts.

Many buildings burnt to a blaze, collapsing and falling to burning ruins, and corpses littered the streets; both hoped their families and friends weren't among the dead "All is Dust!" A male, somewhat mechanic voice exclaimed, "Maim, kill, burn! Maim, kill, burn!" Instinctually, fear-filled, both colts looked around for a place to hide, going into an intact building and slamming the door shut.

Pip and Tungsten quickly held each other; they couldn't understand the sight before them as they peeked through the window. Several giant men in a strangely decorated blue and yellow armor moved past, looking very similar, if not identical, to the tall statues they had seen, the heads covered by helmets with red glowing eyes. Their armor looked heavy enough for both colts to feel the ground shakes as they walked through the fires; the two large pieces on the sides of their armor were decorated with flames. And had a picture of a dragon eating its own tail portrayed on them.

They held what looked like a large metallic box, the sounds of loud explosions as they looked to breathe fire at what the colts feared to be ponies out of their view as screams could be heard growing louder. A terrifying roar made them flinch. Behind the men were creatures beyond anything, the colts had ever seen. At first, they looked like a minotaur, standing on two legs, but it bared no fur, and its pink flesh was a hulking mass of flesh, with several arms on its sides. Their gigantic mouths let out high-pitched squeals of laughter.

Another group of those creatures followed. Those were blue in color, a perpetual scowl on their faces as they sneered and grumbled, adding a deeper whining tone to the group. The colts held their breath as they waited for all those creatures to walk past them; the colts quietly sneaked by, crawling on the ground and continuing their search for their parents and friends. In shock and horror, Pip's eyes shrank and pinpointed at one of the dead bodies.

"No…" Tungsten stopped as well upon spotting the body lying against the wall, bloodied with only the upper half of its body seen with their internals scattered across as if they were ripped in half and tossed to their place, seeing splatters of blood were splattered on the walls and ground place. An earth pony colt "T-Thunder... K-Kicker...?"

"N-no... I-t can't b-be..." Pip stuttered as he saw the body of Kicker's mother next to him, dead with several of her limbs missing or looked to be torn off. Yet as his eyes began to form, tears in them, seeing blood droplets on his cheek and the ground, and slowly looking up, he only stood there frozen in pure horrific fear at the sight he witnessed.

Right before Pip was several serrated metal rusted poles posted with the ground, bodies impaled on them as one's head decapitated and placed at the tip with the rusted, broken tip protruded out from their mouths, and their bodies strung up lower down the pole; the other in pieces with each limb stuck on the other. Pip's heart almost skipped a beat soon as he saw the faces, and he recognized two of them.
"M-mom...Dinky..."

"M-mama!" Tungsten exclaimed to see his mother amongst the impaled bodies, with Tybalt and Shadowplay alongside her corpse. Both wanted to look away but were stunned, unable to move as their eyes locked on the gruesome sight of their families and friends.

"You…" a female voice echoed, almost demonic and distorted; Pip let out a yelp as his ears figured out which voice it was.

"D-dinky?" His eyes were locked on her body, slightly twitching.

"This… iss your faault…Pip." Her head moved towards him, her eyes glowing a bright shade of red, looking directly into Pip's eyes as if they could see his very being.

"You are only to blame... Tungsten..." Blue's voice rang in Tungsten's ears, seeing his mother's eyes glowing the same red as Dinky's; soon, all the corpses of Tybalt and Shadowplay's eyes turned the same color of red as all soon stared at both colts.

With the sounds of crackling bones with contorted snaps and rippings that only a body could make, both colts watched the bodies slowly move, grabbing their limbs and removing themselves off the poles, and move towards the colts, backstepping in fear at the sight of their friends and families blooded and forced back from pieces close onto them.

"Yoou... caused this…." Another voice added, and the foals turned around, trembling to see Kicker and his mother face to face as the glow from their eyes shined down, joining along with others. The colts were surrounded; they repeated the same words over and over, again and again. Growing from simple whispers to words that could be heard.

"It's... your fault..."

Tungsten tried to stand protectively in front of Pip, despite being terrified, shaking in place, and both frantically looking around; Pip's eyes were only locked in a stare with Dinky's and Nancy's. "No… we d-didn't do this..."

"It's... your fault..."

"Please… b- believe us... believe m-me."

"It's your fault!"

"NO!"

With their eyes snapping, both young ponies jolted their breaths, panted, and huffed heavily as they looked around, drenched in a cold sweat; a sigh escaped them to realize it had just been a nightmare.

"Be not afraid young ones." A voice echoed in their heads, and both looked confused around the area, trying to locate it.

"Tis but a dream. Fear not no longer." The voice sounded comforting, calming. What was that spoke to them? They were too tired to think further about this, falling back on the bed to stare at the ceiling before exhaustion forced them to sleep again.

Both colts groggily awaken slowly, but soon their nostrils catching a delicious smell caused both to stir, opening their eyes slowly; Before a door-knocking was heard, "Good morning!" Lara exclaimed, gently opening the door with a smile as she and Lola brought two breakfast boards, each with a glass of water and a bowl of steaming oatmeal.

"Oatmeal, thanks." Pip appreciated it as he and Tungsten ate their meals, enjoying warm filling; even the water tasted fresh yet cleaner than anything they'd had, enjoying every mouth full filling their bellies. "That was good!" Tungsten with his mouth full and a smile on his face.

"Glad to hear it. Now, let's enjoy the start of a new day, shall we?"

"Right." Both colts exclaimed in unison

With that, Tungsten helped each other make the bed, wishing Oscar and Zoe a good morning and helping out in the house with some of the chores they were capable of repaying for the human's hospitality. Time passed quickly, and Zoe was making lunch in the kitchen, with her husband reading a book in the living room as curiosity improved. Pip looked up at Oscar, looking at his decorated chest, seeing the few awards; his eyes fell on the crossbar with a skull at each end. Next to it was a golden skull connected to a rectangle on a red background. After that came three silver skulls, joined on a row in a square.

"Oscar, can we ask you something?" Pip spoke up, and the human laid the book aside with a smile.

"Of course; what's on your mind?" Seeing the pinto colt slowly walk closer before sitting on the floor, looking to the sides as if trying to come up with questions, only to see Pip take a deep breath.

"You are a soldier... aren't you?"

The man sighed, placing his hand on the back of his neck and gently rubbing it, looking towards the ground; then at Zoe, she slowly nodded and left the kitchen leaving the man and colts alone in the living room.

"I am... yes. To be exact, I am a veteran. You see, near the beginning of humanity's expansion of the stars, the Age of Strife came; the done by the forces of Chaos came corrupting the Imperium, and its people to fall following their will it started what is now a never-ending war for survival in an unrelentingly hostile universe." He said, looking up to the two young colts with a blank stare remembering the battles he had fought in, and those Oscar fought with some he could even call sister or brother.

"I am in service of a great army called; The Astra Militarum, or the Imperial Guard in Gothic, its the Imperium of Man's first line of defense from all to any threats, the primary combat force and shield of the great Imperium. It comprises countless billions of men and women on trillions of world -- hundreds of thousands of different regiments, supported by a vast array of light and heavily armored vehicles, weapons, and tactics that provide the Guard's primary offensive and great defense." He said as the two colts looked up at him in shock and awe as he dropped his hand from the back of his neck and leaned back on his couch.

"Many do not survive their first engagements of any of the battles, or for long in general, I believe the oldest a guardsmen last was from thirty minutes to thirty years tops; I was one of the few lucky ones to have survived multiple battles." He told them, slightly shaking as a memory flashed in his mind, remembering his first battle of so many bodies only to fall before they could even let out a battle cry.

"To which, I was blessed with leave to my homeworld; I am grateful for it. All I can say is thanks to a friend of mine in the Guard though he was the 'bashful' one." He chuckled at the thought of his friend.

"Sorry…" Both colts lowered their heads in guilt, only to receive a weak smile from the veteran.

"No harm done. I can only guess you had a question from these awards, huh?" He pointed to the golden skull as both colts looked at what he pointed at, tilting their heads. "This is known as the Medallion Crimson, a common battle honor amongst veterans like me of the Astra Militarum. It is given to those who did their duty despite being mortally wounded. As such many are awarded posthumously, and This,"

His finger went to the skulls with the bar cross. "This is the Crimson Skull, given to soldiers who managed to successfully give medical aid in a combat situation or in the field of battle and the Triple Skulls."

His hand pointed at three skulls connected on a row in a square. "This honor is bestowed upon those who were in a unit that suffered at least sixty-six percent or more casualties and survived."

Both colts were silent for a moment, trying to process everything. "Sounds like you have been through a lot." Tungsten was the first to break the silence.

"Yeah... I have, but thankfully I had others to trust with not just my life but for giving me what have now."

"Then, best we stop this; I don't want to wake bad memories," Pip added, yet the man kept his smile.

"It's fine, I think it's only fair you should know more about the Imperium. Every world has a Planetary Defence Force, PDF for short, being essentially the local military of an Imperial world and the primary source of recruits for the Imperial Guard, of if they are in dire need then come Whiteshields recruits that had their training rushed for more soldiers."

"You said Heidrum is a civilized world; what do you mean by that?" Tungsten wondered as Oscar looked over at him.

"Well, every imperial planet has a specific purpose of fulfilling a certain quota. A civilized world lacks that purpose, being generally self-sufficient in terms of food supply and has varying manufacturing, technological and industrial capabilities. There are Agri-Worlds, entirely dedicated to producing agricultural products, or the most populous type of Imperial planet, are Hive city Worlds or hive worlds for short, just to call a few."

"Hive-World?" Both colts couldn't imagine this, only thinking of a beehive world, eyeing Oscar in confusion.

"Trust me, it's not pretty; I have been to some before. The populations of these planets are so great that the people live in huge urban arcologies called hive cities, truly immense, self-contained, many-layered structures that reach high into the sky or deep underground to the very planet's core almost like this world, each housing billions of individuals. Most Hive Worlds started out as relatively hospitable places to live but soon have become severely polluted, the areas outside the hives reduced to ash wastes or radioactive desert by the never-ceasing industry of the great cities. Equally dangerous can be the hive cities themselves." Oscar told them with slight unease, remembering the hive city population being controlled for their notorious gang warfare within the deep under hives to over hives.

Alone the description was far beyond Pip's and Tungsten's imagination. It sounded like Cloudsdale but like an industrial going wrong or after an apocalypse, doesn't sound like a very good place to live or even visit.

"Every world has to pay the Imperial Tithe, It determines the amount of raw materials, resources or soldiers an Imperial world must supply as taxes to keep the Imperium of Man's interstellar government functioning. In Heidrum's place, it's manpower."

Once again, the colts tried to process everything, with the Pip slightly shuddering. "I hope…we won't get attacked."

In response, he felt Oscar's hand rest on his mane and gently pat his head and a light chuckle. "Don't worry, Heidrum hasn't seen any invasion in years as far as I'm aware, being located rather in the back of the sector; you have my word on it."

"If you say so..."

"If the three of you are finished lunch's ready." The wife of Oscar exclaimed, walking back to the kitchen, catching Oscar and the colt's attention as all three got up from their places and went over to the kitchen. It pleased both colts to see that Zoe had made baked potatoes.

Only now do they notice a portrait. It showed a man in golden armor, just as tall as the statues; the armor was decorated with the same 2-headed eagle they had seen on the poster. His brown hair was added through a majestic-looking golden laurel wreath. They realized a figure of high importance instantly, just like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

"Who's that?"

"Yes, Pip, this is God-Emperor of Mankind, at least what he is expected to look like; he will protect you as he does us." Zoe replied, "But now, let's eat."

They nodded, enjoying the warm taste of the potatoes with every bite.
After finishing their meal, Tungsten asked, "Can we help with the cleaning?"

"That's very kind but leave it to us." Zoe replied.

Acknowledging with a nod, the ponies walked back towards the living room, followed by Lara, who smiled weakly. "If you wish, I could show you outside the city. The vast forests and rivers surround it, a truly relaxing sign."

"If you say so." Pip smiled in return before seeing the girl excused herself to the bathroom. Yet before the 2 could decide what to do, their ears twitched at a voice. "You seem to like and trust others rather quickly than most do?" Loa said, leaning against the wall with a distrustful expression.

Slightly irritated, Tungsten dared to speak up, "Did... we do something wrong, Loa?" However, the older girl's reaction was unexpected. She sighed. "Apologies, it's nothing personal; I am protective of my little sister. As you have heard from my father, it's dangerous out there. Loa, I saw once how normal Imperial citizens with little or no military training or even children, barely older than me and probably you, Tungsten." She said, seeing both Pip Tungsten look to the ground, listening.

"Those people got drafted into the Guard, mostly from military emergencies, which were rare around here; even orphans were brought away to be enlisted. I can only try to protect my sister and keep her happy as good and as long as I can for in this dark coming future." Both colts let it sink in what Loa just had said. It was horrible thinking that anyone could be forced to enlist into the military at any moment, and those not were deemed forced to work for the war causes.

"This sounds…wrong…" Pip mumbled worried and sorrowly,

"Is there no legal possibility to refuse this?"

"Maybe where you’re from... but sadly, no, not in such dire times or places." Tungsten opened his mouth to speak but got interrupted by Lara, coming back into view. "Do you want to play some games?"

"Sure... why not?" Pip managed to form a smile as Tungsten nodded as the girl led them towards her room and showed them several games to choose from. Chess, Scrabble, Janga, checkers, Farkle, and other games of the Imperium. Both colts enjoyed the moments; it helped to take their minds off, each one having a round of victory and loss during their play.

Evening approached, and the kids had another round at Chess and sighed. Tungsten had unwillingly formed the thought of his home; Pip had then looked at the knight piece with only one word entering his mind, mom.

The homesick struck in the colts, and soon they both struggling not to cry. In an instant, the older sister hugged the ginger colt, the younger one the pinto colt. Soon after, dinner was made, and baked potatoes with some other clumps of brown food, but the potatoes tasted warm and delicious for the ponies. After that, they prepared themselves to sleep, asleep rather fast.

"Beware young ones…" There was that voice again, "An Unwanted visitor will come…"

Startling, Pip and Tungsten woke up immediately, still sleepy; the night hanged young, looking around. Faintly, they thought they saw a silhouette in the doorway, unable to tell if it was just their imagination or real.

"So…" It spoke in a low, emotionless automatic voice. "The information gathered by the witnesses was correct… but this will wait till the better till the morrow, for now, we ready ourselves."

Chapter 4 Holding the line

Chapter 4: Holding the line

Pip and Tungsten could only stare at this realization. They were about to be thrown into a war. How likely would they be to survive this?

Would they ever see home again?

The governor seemed to notice their concern, kneeling to them. "Don't worry; you will be safe. Heidrum has bunkers in case of an attack." His expression was sympathy with a weak smile, odd for them. Then he turned to Oscar. "Your family better gets home now."

"Yes, sir." He nodded; his wife led the children outside, their visitors following quietly, yet still trembled slightly. "Shh, calm down," Zoe Spoke in a mothering tone to them with her daughters hugged the colts, who appreciated it.

"It's okay to be scared. We'll get through this, I know it."

"How can you be so sure?" Her younger guest asked, unsureness in his eyes.

"Because, the Tau don't target civilians, it would be against their belief of the Greater Good." Slowly, the colts realized she had a point, and it made sense. If the Tau's goal were to help the rest of the galaxy find their way to peace and prosperity, they would not target unarmed civilians.

Finkle considered his options in the conference room with Oscar and his Space Marine guests. "We probably have only hours to prepare, maybe a day or two until Tau forces arrive. It would be best if you call for reinforcements, Uwe." The Tech Marine nodded in response as Oscar gave a tactical suggestion.

"Considering the Tau's advantage is range but disdain up-close fighting and are unskilled in hand-to-hand combat, I'd suggest we focus our defenses in locations that force the Tau into close range. That way, we can also preserve our limited forces."

"Good thinking, I knew I can count on you." Finkle praised him.

Tungsten and Pip spent their time playing with the sisters, unable to tell how much time passed as suddenly; there was a metal clash and two young cries outside, sounding oddly familiar. "Ouch!"

"No way…" Pip mumbled and looked through the window with his friend. They saw a grey earth pony colt, his yellow eyes darting around in confusion. Next to him was a human girl in a white t-shirt and orange skirt, her blue eyes sharing the colt's reaction, yet in comparison to the colt's brown mane, her hair was yellow and orange striped. “Katja and Blau Streifen?” Tungsten blinked in confusion, and they walked to the door to meet their friends. As expected, the two looked at the colts in confusion.

"Pip, Tungsten? What are you doing here? Where are we?" Blau asked, shaken.

"Its…a long story. You better come inside." The pinto colt gestured to their hosts' house. Just Oscar came back as well, a look of surprise at the newcomers. "Who are you?"

"Some friends of ours." Pip took the word to explain how they had met the other children, that they had landed on earth just like Dinky, and by staying together, they had found a way home, also becoming friends.

It fascinated the family, who tried to explain the universe they had landed in, causing both to shiver briefly, only to be hugged by their friends. "It's alright; you got through it before, and you can do it again." Tungsten gave a weak smile. "How did you land here? Us, it was a strange storm.

Just then, Zoe made some time for the siblings, and they took it gladly as Katja started to explain. "We were trying to comfort Dinky after hearing the news before also such an odd storm occurred as we did a walk and…it sucked us in." She was still a bit shocked.

"Odd…" Oscar mumbled, "Warp storms rarely occur twice in the same place. But be assured, young ones, you're in good hands." Both siblings smiled weakly in response.

"But are you sure this won't be a problem for the governor? Pip expressed doubt, sounding worried.

"With the threat of the Tau, this will be a minor thing now." The veteran assumed.

Despite this, the day went relatively quiet, all having dinner, with the 2 Trottingham colts deciding for the bed. "Katja, Blau, you can have the bed, we'll take the sleeping bags."

"Alright Pip, goodnight." Blau's sister took her socks off and got comfortable with her brother, falling asleep fast.

They could not tell how much they slept until they woke up in a Meadow, seeing their home in the distance, smiling at the sight. In joy, they galloped toward it as fast as they could, happy to see their family again.

But as they got closer, a sharp smell entered their noses; only now they saw darkness swallow everything till it surrounded them.

Every building once known to Sunny Town looked like it had been in disrepair for decades, near the edge of collapse, but no resident in sight anywhere. The children's unease and anxiety rose, and their hearts beat inside their chests.

Oddly enough, their home seemed intact, the front door slightly open. A cold chill was in the air as they opened it and went in. "Mom? Dad?" Blau called out, but there was no response.

Dread lingered in the air as they looked around every room quietly, but it was empty. Then suddenly… "Mama!" Blau exclaimed in shock, and Katja turned to see him looking at the fireplace.

"N-no…It can't be…" She mumbled in shock to see a burnt, charred skeleton in it. Something told them this was their mother, but they could not imagine what caused it nor who would do such a thing.

A terrible groan greeted her, forcing them to jump at the sight of movement from outside. Several bodies rose from the ground, their coats near flesh…rotted away. All their eyes were completely red, with patches of black and grey coats, with their muscles, veins, and bones exposed or with missing limbs.

"W-What? E-everything but that…" Blau whimpered in fear.

"You…." A female voice rang behind them, demonic and distorted, followed by a cracking sound.

Trembling, their eyes went small to see the charred skeleton standing up, its eye sockets glowing red.

"You did this to me…" They hugged each other as their mother spoke to them.

"You cursed us all…." Another familiar voice sounded in their ears, and they saw a large crowd of dead ponies in front of the house, realizing who that voice belonged.

"N-Nana?"

Fear was in their voice, with ponies looking identical, yet he swears one of them was staring at him and his sister from the crowd.

"You have doomed us…"

A male voice added, followed by heavy steps as a human stepped from the crowd of ponies. Their eyes had the same red glow with their bodies rotted, exposing their bones, muscles, and organs. He raised his hand and pointed the finger at them.

“D-dad…p-please…” Katja whimpered before the door and windows were shattered, the crowd slowly surrounding them.

"You did this...

"N-no…" Blau hugged his sister tightly as it echoed in his ears.

"You did this…!"

"W-what…did you mean!?" His sister pleaded, but they just repeated the exact words.

"You did this…!"

Gasping, both siblings shot up, breathing heavily, looking around.

They sighed. It had just been all a dream.

"Are you alright?" Pip asked, concerned with Tungsten and his fellow pony took a deep breath.

"Just…a bad dream."

Nodding, their friends went back to sleep, with the siblings taking another deep breath as they tried to rest again, hearing a faint voice.

"Don't be afraid….

In the morning, the sun invaded through the window, making them stir in their sleep, slowly waking up.

"Good morning." Pip greeted the siblings with a weak smile before going into the kitchen for breakfast.

The four friends enjoyed oatmeal meals as their first meal of the day, then brushed their teeth and played cards to pass the time.

As Lunch time came, Zoe made chipped potatoes, and everyone enjoyed their warm meal until a siren sounded outside.

"Attention Citizens of Heidrum: Xeno attack imminent." A female PA voice warned. "All residents report to the planetary bomb shelters without delay. Display identity badges at all times. Report any and all xeno sightings without delay- Remember: The faithful shall have the Emperor's protection as he watches over us all, The Emperor Protects."

"No time to waste." Oscar calmly said, and his family nodded with the guests, making their way to the nearest bunker, seeing other civilians seeking shelter as they ran through the streets.

The sounds of explosions startled the children, seeing anti-air fire explode in the sky, with Tau transports attempting to land and avoiding the incoming barrage.

"Watch out!" Someone yelled, and their eyes widened at seeing a burning transport ship diving down, spinning out of control like a flaming meteor, and heading right toward them. Out of instinct, Oscar pushed his guests out of the way, barely diving away himself.

"T-thanks…" Pip stuttered from the adrenaline as a loud explosion followed. The transport ship crashed in the middle of the street, blocking the way in a pile of burning rubble.

"Daddy, are you alright?" Lara called out, worried from the other side. "I am fine, my dear. Zoe, get our kids to the shelter, I find another way for our guests!" He called back.

"Will do, stay safe!"

"Damn, that was the only way; come on follow me!" His guests wasted no time to do so, with Pip and Tungsten seeing Kyle and Jan joining, having panic and fear on their faces.

It was not long until they came to what seemed to be a bunker on an elevated position with barbed wire and sandbags fortifying it all around, with several guards posted around wearing dark green body armor carrying what looked to be futuristic assault rifles in the same color with a winged skull on the side. A surprised look on their faces to see kids.

"Good, you made it." Finkle walked out of the bunker. He wore gold body armor, a dark green cape, and a holstered pistol. Noticeably, he had retractable claws on both gauntlets and a weapon-like box on the right. For Tungsten and Pip, it looked similar to the armor one of the officers in the royal guard used by Colonel Peregrine.

"And who are these you've brought here?" Finkle eyed the siblings with surprise, Oscar did a quick explanation with the two colts, and he nodded.

"I see; welcome to Heidrum, I wish it would be under more pleasant circumstances. But worry not, Kyle, I'll do my best to keep you and your mother alive."

He assured both with a weak smile as they trembled slightly, "I hate it, but you best gear up for your own protection. And don't worry, you two, I can get some for yourselves." He pointed to the armory where the soldier's gear was kept, together with the armor for the colts.

It fit perfectly, having a hostler with a pistol, much to their surprise. A fellow PDF soldier quickly took the measurements of the siblings down.

"Why did you give us pistols?" Tungsten asked the governor with concern; he gave a weak smile in return.

"Just for self-defense, better safe than sorry." In a few minutes, one of the soldiers gave the siblings their gear as well; as they put it on, seeing Oscar, Jan, and Kyle walking out of the armory, geared up as well.

"As a veteran, should you not wear some…better equipment?" Blau dared to ask, and Oscar just shrugged.

"What can I say, Flak armor is relatively lightweight, cheap to produce, and dependable in most combat situations, so I like to stay with it, given its cheap and lightweight yet reliable. Same with the Lasgun, really. While the guard's standard infantry weapon, its solid and rugged, remains reliable and precise in almost any environment, and requires very little maintenance. In addition, its power pack can be recharged by exposure to sunlight or by being put into a camp fire for a few minutes, ensuring that the weapon almost never runs out of ammunition, even on prolonged operations or in situations where resupply is unlikely. Same with the Laspistol."

"I see. Where can we help?"

"For starters, we should carry some supplies to our other defensive positions." Millan chuckled, "I like our ingenuity; a massive tunnel network runs between most Imperial Guard structures, allowing troops to quickly redeploy without exposing themselves to enemy fire. That way, we reach any position easily."

And so, the kids grabbed ammo and other supplies as they faintly heard Finkle talking to Jan. "You should not be directly at the front, I think you're best as Medic…"

The tunnels were similar to a mine, with light bulbs being the only source of light held together by support beams. It was not a long way until they reached another entrance to another bunker. It was located at a street corner, offering a chokepoint in defense.

The bunker's armament had what looked like two heavy-mounted weapons. One looked like the classic auto-gun on a tripod with a shield to protect the gunner. Yet the other was puzzling for the children.

Also featuring a shield but a long barrel, its top was open to allow a clip of large ammunition rounds.

"Those are the heavy bolter and Autocannon, the former is our standard heavy infantry weapon. The latter…well…” Oscar paused and closed his eyes, looking for the right word, "An ancient weapon, yet still more than capable of eliminating heavily armored infantry or light vehicles than the Bolter can, thus versatile."

"Contact Contact!" A guardsman yelled in alert and fired his weapon.

Quickly going behind sandbags for cover, peeking carefully over, the kids saw a squad of five soldiers that had a bizarre appearance.

They were dressed in white armor with a red visor with a red strip on the tap, their rifles looking very bulky and long; almost unimaginable for the kids how the soldiers could carry them, let alone fire.

Before they could escape, the bolter team open-fired on them, and they watched the enemies be ripped apart by bolt fire in a matter of seconds, screaming as dark blue blood splattered against the walls and floor.

"A Pathfinder Team, scouts of the Tau forces. Their main force must be close behind." Oscar suspected, and he spotted several shadows around the corner.

"Mow 'em down! Eat plasma fire!" A voice yelled as several squads of Tau soldiers in yellow uniforms came into sight, opening fire; their human adversaries returned it.

A volley of red lasers and blue volts of plasma were exchanged between both sides, with the children hoping their cover would hold as a Tau Soldier yelled, "Keep firing! Keep firing!"

"That's it, just run into our guns!" There was a wicked sense of satisfaction on the heavy bolt gunner as he mowed them down before he added, "Keep that ammo coming!"

While disliking it, Pip looked at his friends, and they nodded, knowing it may be crucial to their survival. Quickly getting up, they grabbed bolter ammunition while the siblings carried ammo from the Autocannon to the weapons teams. The latter's assistant lifted a new clip and placed it into the open top as the precious clip vanished into the gun with each shot, quickly running it dry.

It seemed like hours until one of the Tau yelled, "Fall back, now!" causing the kids to sigh in relief.

"I know it was a good idea to use choke points, we rob the Firewarriors of their range advantage." Oscar commented in slight relief as he saw Kyle and Jan joining them.

Worry was in her eyes as she asked, "Are you children hurt?"

"No, we're fine." Tungsten replied, despite feeling his heart racing from the adrenaline before hearing a groan. To his surprise, the defenders had no casualties, just a few minor wounded. Together, the two helped Jan to patch them up with bandages, receiving slight smiles in return.

Suddenly, without warning, there was a crack as the bolter gunner was thrown back, his chest blackened with a large hole in it.

Using his experience, Oscar scanned the area and saw a faint flicking, firing a few shots from his Lasgun at it. With a scream, three Tau soldiers in small, red uniforms became visible, falling dead to the ground.

"Stealth team down, keep your eyes peeled!" He announced his kill before a terrifying wail made the kids flinch.

Over the street, wall jumped what they could only describe as humanoid birds at first glance.

Bird-like beaks and long quills protruded from their heads like hair, with smaller quills scattered over their bodies around half a meter taller than the humans, with their mouths featuring sharp teeth; Those creatures looked dangerous and savage, ready for a fight.

"Kroot Carnivores! Shoot them down, don't let them get too close!" The veteran warned as he manned the bolter and mowed them down, as a handful managed to get close by leaping into the defenses.

Seeing one coming towards him, Oscar quickly raised his bayonet, stabbing it in its chest as it groaned, dying from a stab in its heart.

While inexperienced and scared, Kyle quickly ducked to avoid a strike and stabbed his attacker in the throat, taking him out. His mother did the same.

They all know they could not allow the Kroot to get near the children, huddled behind a piece of cover, trying to stay brave.

Despite the defender's best efforts, one Kroot passed them, eying the children with a sinister smile. Yet Pip, quick to think using his small size, charged forward, dodging a strike with ease and slipping between its legs before kicking its left leg, causing it to kneel and let out a cry of pain. Tungsten and Blau used this to deal a strike to its chest, with Katja following a strike of her own, knocking the enemy back.

Then suddenly, a laser hit it from behind, falling dead on the floor; they saw Oscar had fired his sidearm. "You okay?" He said, concerned, but they nodded as they breathed heavily. His mouth opened but was cut off by another wail. This time, quadrupedal, canine-like Kroot charged toward the defenders, who opened fire, managing to kill most.

Tungsten screamed as one of them managed to leap at him, struggling with all his might to prevent it from biting his throat. "Get it off me! Get it off! Get it off!"

Blau quickly kicked it off him, allowing his sister and Pip to shoot it with their pistols, throwing the Alien back with every hit until it fell lifeless towards the ground.

His heart was pounding against his chest, with Tungsten breathing heavily as his younger friend checked him with worry. "You're okay?"

"I am f-fine…"

"They retreating!" One of the defenders exclaimed in relief, with Oscar gently putting a hand on the older colt's shoulder.

"It's okay, deep breath." His expression was one of sympathy. "You were not meant to be here after all." Slowly, Pip's friend calmed down, giving a weak nod before the bunker's radio buzzed.

"This is bunker 7; we need supplies, over."

"Copy that, sending some over." Oscar replied, then turned towards Jan and Kyle. "Can you and the kids take care of it?"

"Of course," Kyle replied; his mother nodded with the children, grabbing some bolter ammo and medical supplies.

It was not a long way to the next bunker, manned by a bolter and large mounted gun, somewhat rounded, connected to what looked like a generator.

Just as they got in, there was the sound of battle, and they saw a group of Tau soldiers in bulky suits with large cannons mounted on the back. One of them fired, a blue beam missing the bunker barely as the kids instinctively ducked.

Then an explosion followed by a scream, causing the children to look up. In a puddle of their blood, the Tau soldiers were lying on the ground; the regular ones sought cover behind a wall.

A Tank of the PDF suppressed them; its design took the kids by surprise. A massive turret topped it like any typical tank but with side-mounted heavy bolters, similar to the tanks from the First World War on earth.

"Get on that Multi-Laser!" A voice ordered on the radio, with the kids saw an APC with a small three-barreled turret joined, firing a rapid laser at the enemy infantry to support the tank, forcing them to fall back.

As they did so, there was a whistle, and the youngsters barely made out a barrage of missiles flying past the corner and hitting both vehicles. Their damages weren't significant, leaving with smoking engines but still operational, backing up.

Their reason became clear to the young friends as they saw a large shadow coming closer. It was a Tau vehicle hovering over the ground. Rather slick in design, it was held in the air by two rectangular engines on its side, its weapon placed on top, a missile launcher as it aimed at the bunker, causing the kids to scream.

Yet Kyle was quick on the draw, operating the rounded gun and aiming at the vehicle before firing at it. A large laser from the mounted weapon hit successfully, and the Tau vehicle exploded, firing misses uncontrollably.

"Direct hit, Nice shot boy!" One of the defenders praised him, "One Skyray Missile Gunship less to worry, over. How are the Leman Russ and Chimera holding up?"

"We require repairs here." The tank commander replied, "Where are those damn Techpriests?"

"I will ease the machine's pain; it will take only a moment." A new voice added, sounding slightly distorted as if cybernetic, and a hooded man stepped into view. He carried a large gear-shaped axe and wore a breathing mask over his mouth. A mechanic arm with a drill extended from his back, and he began repairing both vehicles, seeing it only took him a few minutes to fix, replacing and patching up the damages making a sight of amazement for the kids.

"Thanks for the supplies, but for now, you best get them kids back to safety." The same PDF soldier suggested to the son and mother.

"I was thinking the same." Jan added with worry for the children, returning to the tunnels again.

"Who was that man?" Katja could only ask in awe.

"That was a Adeptus Mechanicus Techpriest, the greatest field engineers and maintenance specialists of the Imperial guard. The Leman Russ is our main battle tank, a simple design with the versatility and relative ease of construction. The other vehicle you saw was a Chimera, the ubiquitous transport vehicle of the Imperial Guard." Kyle explained to them.

"A good thing for that Las-cannon, or that might have been it for us…" He added in relief.

He greeted them at Finkle's command center with a weak smile. "You all did well, get some rest; you earned it."

They nodded; Tungsten and Pip shared a bunk, and the siblings fell asleep fast.

"They are petty brave for their age, their parents can be proud." Jan commented with a smile, with her son and governor nodding in agreement.

"Indeed, the reports I received from the bunkers sounded very impressive. The Emperor surely watches over them.” Finkle replied.

The days passed, with the children helping to carry supplies where they were needed, feeling it was the least they could do. Fortunate for them, fighting was reduced to little action, as the defenses held, but they lacked the resources to go on the offensive, both sides stuck in trench warfare, apart from occasional mortar strikes.

It was around a week when Jan made the children something to eat, which they gladly took as Oscar came to check on them. "Hey there kids, how you holding up?" His eyes had a tired expression and sweat and dirt on his face, but he managed to smile.

"We are okay. You look like you need some rest though Oscar." Tungsten replied with caring in his voice.

While appreciating it, Oscar shook his head. "I have to fight on. For Heidrum, for my family, and you."

"And you do a great service Oscar, may the Emperor protect you." Finkle sounded proud as he walked in, yet had a slight expression of regret. "But we have a problem. Enemy artillery threatens our positions. I need you to take it out."

"Alright, sir, will do." Millan saluted as Uwe and his two tactical Marine brothers came into view.

"Allow my brothers to join you." He offered, and the veteran nodded.

"I take any help I can get and it's an honor to fight by the side of his angels."

"Can we help too?" Pip asked as he and his friends got up, ready to help.

Already knowing their selflessness, their hosts just nodded. "Stay behind us and do as we say." Jan and Kyle joined as well.

It was longer than usual; their exit led to the rural areas, through a forest, and into a ditch. Just a few meters away was a cliff overlooking the city, and they saw a missile gunship firing from it, guarded by a squad of Firewarriors with a small round drone.

"We'll take them down while you go in for the final strike, my lord." Oscar suggested to the Space Marines, they both nodded.

He then aimed with Jan and Kyle, and the kids did too. "1, 2, 3…fire!" As they opened fire, one Tau soldier screamed as he got hit, hitting the ground. The other hostiles scrambled to cover as the Tactical Marines stormed forward, firing a few shots from their bolters as they did so.

"Shield activated." With a mechanical voice, the drone announced before it created a shield around the squad, absorbing some fire and allowing them to shoot back, but only hitting the crater's surface.

While their suppressors had to duck, the Space Marines managed to close in, resorting to their knives.

Peeking over the cover, the kids watched as one Tau soldier attempted to strike the space marine with the butt of his weapon, but his opponent sidestepped the slow attack, then sliced his throat. His comrade punched another Tau in its chest, cracking its chest plate and sending it flying and crashing into the ground, dead.

Despite being outnumbered, they quickly took out one defender after another but paused as soon as the gunship turned toward them.

But as it did so, both space marines threw a Frag grenade at it, forcing them to retreat to a safe distance.

With a loud explosion, the enemy vehicle exploded in a giant fireball; Oscar, Jan, and Kyle let out a small cheer and praise at their success.

Yet the eyes of the children went small as their ears heard a loud whistle from the burning wreck. Due to a malfunction or the ammo cooking off, rockets were fired off uncontrollably, and some headed right for them.

"Watch out!" They called out in unison as they pushed Oscar, Jan, and Kyle out of the way before the explosions knocked them over with great force, screaming in pain before everything went black.

Author's Note

What would be WH40k without some action? thanks again to my friend for proofreading/editing.

As to why Katja and Blau Streifen are here, with permission, I thought them and wh40k could be an interesting combination

Chapter 5 Ave Imperator

None of the children could tell how long it was until suddenly, a numb but agonizing feeling of pain filled their bodies, unable to scream. A muffled clashing sound of metal followed, then a voice falling to their ears, sounding incomprehensible.

Their hearts were filled with fear and uncertainty, panicking, but their bodies had no feeling of control before all stopped suddenly, just as it had come.

Slowly, their eyes opened, struggling with blurred visions; their limbs ached and felt numb. Their visions steadily became clearer, and they looked around.

They were in a large room filled with hospital beds and many wounded soldiers, where a beeping noise chimed methodically, along with busy medics and nurses, who greeted them back to the living world.

Before them was what their brains could only describe as a Skull outfitted with a red cybernetic eyepiece, hovering in the air by what looked like a small jetpack engine mounted in the back. Its eye emitted a red laser that scanned them before it beeped again and flew to other patients.

Shortly after, Jan walked in, followed by the giant white armored Space Marine and another woman in a soldier's uniform. Her green eyes looked in relief at the children, smiling weakly, her ginger hair peeking under her helmet. "I am glad to see my efforts and that of Jan and the angel's apothecarian to save you weren't in vain."

"B-but why would you…" Pip struggled to process it as the space marine apothecarian spoke up in a calming, metallic voice.

"It is only my duty and task, it would be remis if I were to allow you to die in such a place."

"Same goes for me, kids." The medic nodded.

"And as a mother myself, I couldn't live with myself to see you all die, children." Jan smiled weakly, but it all seemed uneasy with the apothecarian speaking again.

"It was not an easy task, but I have treated worse ailments. Still… your selfless action forced us to… drastic measures…"

"W-what do you mean?" Confusion was in the pinto colt's voice. He felt his heart begin to pound harder and faster as he felt his left foreleg, but he couldn't feel anything on his right side. Slowly, he managed to look down; his eyes went wide in shock.

A cybernetic prosthetic was in place of it.

Only now, Tungsten noticed his vision had changed. On the edges of his eye, he saw a green rectangle edge covered by a filter similar to a video screen or camera.

Katja's eyes shrank from seeing her back, and chest have metal infused into her flesh where her spine used to be, barely covered by her clothes.

Her brother saw that across his joints, as well as shoulders and arms, metal had molded into his flesh, too, with his fur just barely having grown around the open areas of scarring.

Their brains entered to panic, thrashing before Jan tried to grab them as the apothecarian spoke up. "Calm thyself, be calm."

They barely made out how the other woman prepared a syringe and injected it into them, feeling quickly sleepy, eyes closing.

None of them could tell how much time had passed before they were awake again.

Eyes met their reflections, seeing their cybernetics, thoughts in confusion, and information processing.

Their brains tried to deny what they were looking at, but reality only slowly set in, no matter how much they tried.

How would their friends and families react? Could they ever live with this?
Someone cleared its throat, catching their attention to see Jan walking in, bringing them some food in the form of toast and glasses of water. "Oh, glad you're awake. Brought something to eat for y'all... thought it might help you get your minds off all this." She smiled weakly. "It was… you were very brave kids."

“We… it was just… instinct…” Pip tried to find the right words, his head lowered.

"Save your strength, kids. You done well enough as is." The other woman joined with a weak smile of her own, with the apothocarian behind. "For now, you should focus on recovering." Only now did they notice she was wearing the same uniform as Jan. "Rebecca Landon is the name, but you can call me Becky. One of the few Imperial Guard Medics around here and I can assure you, you're in good hands. Of course, It wasn't easy to give you bionics but... it was necessary to save your lives." She said, lowering her head in slight guilt.

"Yes. We astartes the angels of the Imperium, looked up by many guardsmen and mortals." The Apothecarian added with what seemed to be slight awe in his voice. "Yet still, I and my battle brothers are impressed by these Guardsmen on numerous occasions. But for your age, it was quite a noble action of you. I understand your pain well, children. To be indoctrinated into the Space Marines is rather… tormentful; I remember my ascension well. Along with partaking in such thing from my new younger battle brother."

"Now then." Becky cleared her throat. "You kids rest well. We'll be here or there for you if you need anything."

Nodding, they closed their eyes and focused on sleeping and recovering, hoping Oscar would be okay as around two or three days passed with little to no news from the front. The feeling of their bodies slowly came returning to their bodies.

"Very good then." Becky checked on the kids with Jan. "Let's try to get you kids up."

In response, the pinto colt took a deep breath. "Here we go." It was bizarre for him to move his leg without feeling it, trembling as he tried to stand. He struggled to take a step, only for his sense of balance to be disturbed, immediately falling over but caught quickly by Jan.
Blau Streifen, due to most of his bones reinforced with metal, struggled with feeling his own body, struggling to take a step before Becky had to catch him.

"Come on now, you can do it Pip, I know you can." Tungsten tried to encourage him, his bionic eye blinking its light but barely feeling it himself.

"You got this, brother." Katja added, despite the lack of feeling in her body when she turned towards him.

Both colts smiled in appreciation, along with the women, as the next attempts were slightly more stable, getting further before tripping or stumbling.

Out of habit, the ginger pony attempted to adjust his glasses before noticing his lack of them, letting out a sigh. "Feels a bit weird, given I am used to wearing glasses."

"Yeah, I know, it's always hard to get used to it. More or less to know it's the only way of survival." Becky said with empathy and a caring tone, with her head lowered. "Frankly, I am glad that Oscar didn't need any bionics, given what he went through in his line of service so far." She said.

"I can only hope my son won't suffer a fate such as that." Jan added with fear in her voice and her body slightly trembling. "He already lost his father just as I lost a husband. It would break me to lose him too..."

"W-what happened to him? Tungsten dared to ask, seeing her sigh.

"When Kyle was around your ages, my husband was on a business trip, and the engine of his transport ship failed. It… it immediately disintegrated on impact with him." Now, she looked up with a slightly determined expression, "But, I'll do what I can to make sure you and your families won't suffer such a fate as I have."

They all just nodded, with the grey colt slightly flinching and hissing in pain as Becky recognized this only too well. "Phantom pain, your brain still remembers your limbs. What you have is called a Bone Reinforcer. Thanks to shrapnel pieces having damaged most of your skeleton, it was the only way to keep you in one piece. Your sister, on the other hand, got hit hard in her spine; thus we implemented a bionic spinal and required augments for her."

Fascinated, the kids could only nod again.

The next day, the two colts practiced walking again; thanks to the days, their balance was steady, and both were glad to finally walk properly again.

"Glad to see you healed and quite faster than I expected." Their medic admitted, impressed.

"Now what then?" Katja asked, wondering where to go and what would happen next.

"You're going to the bunkers with other civilians; there is no further risk to put you far from the front." She explained, as they understood, "This field hospital is behind the front, so there is no need for worry."

Jan said, leading them outside. They saw the command bunker in the distance and decided to visit the governor. Inside, he looked at a holographic battlefield map showing all troops and soldiers' lines against enemy lines, yet smiled to see them. "Ah, Glad to see you kids recovered and can stand before me. I would be lying to say you gave me quite a scare for your selfless action from the reports. But for now, you've done enough for me and this world; I thank you for it kids."

Pip opened his mouth to reply before the vox com radio buzzed. "This is Bunker 11 reporting in; enemy contact sighted! Repeat Enemy contact sited! And it looks like they brought in the big guns! Hammerhead Gunship Inbound! It's no good; we can't hold them! We're getting-" The radio cut out with only static in its place, an explosion not too far away, and the governor slammed his hand on the holographic map.

"Throne damn it, they're broken through! Quick, get the kids to safety!" Finkle ordered before the sound of fighting grew ever closer as they ran from the bunker to the civilian bunkers.

"Your men have fought well, but your end is upon you." A Tau voice spoke in a loudspeaker system echoing around before a heavy sigh from the planetary leader greeted the kids' ears.

"Alert the Basilisk artillery unit to load the H.E. rounds and have all guns on our position." He said to a vox-com officer as he relayed his order and quickly responded.

"All cannons are armed and ready sir, waiting on your mark." He said, holding the radio mic to him before the leader took it in his hand. His face snarled, and he clenched his teeth and held the mic to his mouth.

"Shatter the sky!" He roared out with all the anger he could put out.

As the group ran nearly 100 meters away from the bunker, there was a loud bang from a distance, causing them to look back as Finkle walked outside, surrounded by Tau troops who aimed their weapons at him. Before a silent growing whistle came to their ears, an enormous explosion engulfed the bunker in flames, with Finkle and the enemy troops both taken in the blast.

"Oh my…" Pip mumbled in shock, unable to believe what Finkle had done before Jan and their caretaker quickly grabbed and forced them to duck to dodge the shockwave that almost knocked them over momentarily.

"He bought us some time… let's not waste it now, come on." Jan mumbled before they heard boots and saw a squad of guardsmen crossing their parts from the right. Seeing Oscar and Kyle were among them.

"Our position got overrun as well; we need to get to the civilian bunkers, now!" Their caretaker yelled in slight exhaustion before another Guardsman yelled a warning.

"Enemy is inbound on our six coming in from our flanks behind us!"

A Group of Tau soldiers landed in jet packs near behind them. One held what looked like a Gatling gun but was smaller than the others. The latter wore bulky suits, similar to the ones with large cannons they had seen before, but those were much bigger, armed with large missile launchers.

"The hunt is on!" One of them yelled and fired.

His shot went wide but hit the side of a building, sending stone and metal debris raining and ringing the kids' ears.

Screams were only the first thing they heard once the ringing stopped. Turning around, they saw Oscar on the ground, bleeding from his left leg, but he was on the other side of the debris, separated from the kids. "Go! Get to safety; we'll be fine!" He yelled as they briefly saw Kyle and Jan removing debris and helping him up.

"Target acquired!" The Gatling gun tau soldier spoke out as the four kids ran as fast they could, not looking back.

"We've been overrun!" At a crossroads, another guardsmen squad crossed their way, chased by Tau troops; Uwe and his battle brothers were proceeded by Kroot.

"You're strong. It will be good to have that strength for my own." One of the Carnivores spoke eagerly in a weird artificial sound with a strange chirping tone as he charged at Uwe.

The astartes blocked it and pushed his attacker back, slicing his throat, but the Kroot had surrounded them.

His battle brothers defended themselves with their knives to the best of their skills but eventually succumbed to the numbers; one of his battle brothers got struck in the knee, stumbling slightly. It gave several Kroot an opening to hit the astartes chest plate with their blades. Both space marines flinched in pain before dropping dead to the ground.

Uwe and the apothocarian stood alone, holding their ground; the apothocarian got hit several times in his shoulder, chest plate, and knees, getting pushed and pinned against a wall.

One Kroot leaped forward onto the apothocarian and stabbed him right in his neck before he could react and die slowly.

There, Uwe stood alone, stumbling in place from taking several hits before another stabbed into his chest plate. He held himself to stand, grabbing his opponent's weapon and pulling it out of his body. But as quick as lightning, a hit to his leg came from behind, making him drop to his knee before the Kroot warrior.

Then, a blade stabbed into his left shoulder, making Uwe groan in pain.

Time almost appeared to slow as he stood still for several minutes. The Kroot weapon he held let go of its blade only to grab his arm and rip it off his body. Uwe fell onto his knees, then forward into the ground, bleeding in a growing pool of his own blood dead.

Seeing how not even the Emperor's angels of the astartes stood a chance, desperation and fear overcame the youngers as the Tau came from all sides. The kids dashed towards one of the civilian buildings, bursting through the door, slamming it shut, holding each other at the sound of fighting and screams from outside.

"See reason, humans; it is not too late to spare yourself from all this suffering." It belonged to the Tau soldier with the Gatling cannon. The kids held their breaths, watching the shadows of the Tau warriors move past the building with a squad of warriors.

Then the door slammed open, with a fire warrior aiming its weapon at them, ready to fire; they closed their eyes and waited for the shots that would end their lives, quivering in fear and with tears building up or trailing down their faces.

But the shot never came.

"I will not hurt you, young ones." The Tau's voice was calm, robotic, and almost compassionate. Opening their eyes, they saw the Tau soldier knelt, moving his arms and removing his helmet.

He stared down at them with facial features hardened, met by two blazing red eyes on a blue humanoid head only missing its nose with a strange slit that stretched from where a nose would be to its head; it held its piercing gaze on them, holding out its weird four-fingered hand towards them to show he meant no harm, shouldering his rifle.

Slowly and hesitantly, the children stood up, still trembling, which the alien soldier noticed. "The Greater Good is not harmful towards any children or those who can not or wish to fight no more." He assured them as he led them out; they followed his lead, tensed at the sight of the war going around them with their soldiers all around or flying through the air.

The kids saw how the Tau Firewarriors escorted captured guardsmen away, their heads low in defeat and their hands behind their heads, unable to see Oscar, Becky, Jan, or Kyle anywhere among them.

The Tau soldier was leading them towards the soldier with its Gatling gun, overwatching the prisoner and transferring them; one of its hands was on the back of his helmet as he listened to his comlink.

With a chest salute, the soldier reported, "Commander, I come to report on my finding these youngers separated from their families." He said with a low groan coming from the Tau commander.

"I see." He responded with his red glowing visor, unnerving the children as the Tau Commander focused on them, thinking about what to do with them. "Get them to one of the next Guel'a civilian shelters, soldier." This caused the kids to breathe out a sigh of relief.

"Yes sir." The warrior responded and led them to a bunker.

As the kids approached the bunker, they were greeted by numerous civilians talking within the shelter. Oscar's wife, Zoe, looked up with shock yet relief at her visitors before her. "Emperor's blessing. I am so happy to see your children are okay." She said, wrapping her arms around them and looking up at the Tau soldier with a fearful look; he just nodded and left.

As the Tau warrior left, the two girls saw them with relieving joy, embracing them, but their eyes were wide in shock at seeing their newly augmented bodies. "W-What happened to you? Your bodies... a-are you alright?" Lara asked, and after a short moment of thinking, Pip took the word.

"We… we saved Oscar from one of those bombings that came down his way and-" He could not finish being cut off as the little girl's arms were wrapped around him into a tight hug.

"Thank you, you poor thing." Her older sister and mother gave weak smiles in return. "Is... is dad alright?"

"We got separated. I'm sorry, but we don't know..."

A fearful look was in Lara's eyes as she processed everything that was said before a mechanical siren wailed out through the air, a loudspeaker everyone noticed.

"Attention, citizens of Heidrum. The battle has commenced to a loss." It was the Tau Commander speaking through them. "We ask you all to gather at your town square for further instructions; there is nothing to fear."

All civilians looked at each other in uncertainty. It seemed like an eternity until everyone slowly left the bunker and started walking towards the remanence of their home, with the four friends following along.

It was only a short walk to the remains of the square, only to be greeted by a Tau on a platform. This one had no armor but wore a fancy decorated white cloak with a barren chest and a crescent-like hat on his head. In his hands was a long, broad-bladed halberd mounted on a lightweight-looking metallic staff that glowed red like a bright gemstone. Next to him was a squad of six Tau soldiers that featured white helmets, shoulder pauldrons, and knee pads on their body armor.

"Citizens of Heidrum, there is nothing to fear." The speaker in the cloak spoke, his voice echoing around the citizens like a diplomat trying to calm his audience. "Your planet will be now under the banner of the Greater Good, you will and can continue worshipping your "God-Emperor" and maintain your faith with your "Imperial Cult." All the damage we have broughten will be rebuilt and repaired as all your wounded will be treated. equally. After all, everyone has a place, and everyone matters within the Greater Good."

With awe at the Tau speaker, the kids noticed how some citizens seemed relieved, others neutral, yet some only looked with distrust and silent malic before the crowd dispersed, as the kids went to their new home too.

They helped clean for around half an hour before there was a knock on the door, with the mother answering. It was Kyle, giving her hope, yet dreaded the worst as his expression was neutral. "Yes?"

"I got…good news." He smiled weakly. "Oscar's alive and well, being treated at the hospital. I can bring you to him, if you want."

"Of course!" The two girls exclaimed, joined by their guests.

Kyle nodded, leading them through the streets, with the girl and Colts noticing that some large stumbling cybernetic humans were performing repairs on damaged buildings. Their bodies were infused and covered in metal, their faces an unemotional grey skin of blank faces, with only their feet and one arm still organic; the other was a mechanical claw or various tools in place instead.

"W-what are those things?" Pip stuttered in confusion and slight fear. Zoe only looked to where he was looking.

"Those? They are Servitors. As far as I know, they are mindless drones to carry out simple, manual tasks across the Imperium of Man." Zoe explained, "I heard a factory worker explaining them; apparently, they're just genetically engineered, vat-grown, sub-human, and purpose to be like this." She said before looking around and kneeling to the colt's height. "Although… I've heard a rumor or two that some were criminals that went against Imperial Law, or even went rogue granting a sort of last chance at service to the Imperium." She whispered, with slight discomfort in her voice, causing Tungsten to shiver.

Given what his mother went through, Tungsten couldn't help but imagine the same sentence and fate for her, something that was quite likely if she had been in the Imperium and not Equestria.

His female host quickly took notice and rested her hand on his head, petting him gently with regret in her eyes. "S-sorry did not mean to scare you like that."

"It's fine." He smiled weakly in return, hiding his worry and shaking off his thoughts.

Entering the hospital, they got led towards one of the patient rooms, and they met Oscar again on the bed with his left leg in cast, yet his mood was not affected at all, smiling at the visitors. "Hey, my babies, how are you doing?"

"Daddy!" His daughters ran to him in bed, hugging him joyfully as he returned it, then looked at his young equine guests, forcing a weak smile, unsure what to say.

"Glad to see you are alright too. Made me worry for you."

"Are you gonna be okay?" Blau asked, his eyes fixed on the man's leg, who waved a hand.

"Ah, don't worry about it; I survived worse. So this is as bad as it looks. I was lucky I just grazed it."

"Indeed." Becky joined with Jan. "He should be out in a few days, and his injury healed within a few weeks."

"Glad to you do great work as always, Ms. Landon." A new voice sounded, and they turned around to see the Tau with the staff in the doorway, escorted by two bodyguards. "May I have a word with the Lieutenant in private, if you'll be so kind?" He asked, his voice a friendly, calming tone that only got a hardened stare from Oscar.

"Of course, Aun'Vre." Ms. Landon quickly bowed her head and gathered Oscar's family and visitors to follow her out of his room, causing the veteran to eye the Tau with a thick, tense silence between the two.

"Greetings, Lieutenant Millan, I am Ethereal Aun'Vre. You got quite an impressive service record from what I've read." Despite this compliment and friendliness, the Ethereal had a neutral expression to the cold stare from the guardsmen.

"And what got me this honor for you to meet me?" Oscar asked, responding in an empty tone.

"You have been through quite a lot for the Imperium of man. Yet why risk your life to more and longer suffering? With us, you can be your local troops' commander and live a safer and honorable life within our ranks. I am asking you to be your people."

There was no immediate reply by the Guardsmen, only a profound silence from him with his mind lost in thought, but his stare held on the Tau—a promising offer, yet… conflict formed within him. Like Finkle, he knew what was at stake and tried to predict the actions that would come with his choice.

"I... I am honored by your trust, but I fear what would happen to my family if the Imperium of man were to find out of this choice you offer." Oscar stated fear hidden, but with every word he spoke in his voice, trying to stay respectful yet attempting to gain further detail from the Tau, who only nodded at his query.

"You care much for your family, and you're remaining loyal to your race. I cant help but give my respect to a warrior. Be assured, your family's safety and that of your… guests will and always be our top priority, that I can guarantee." Aun'Vre promised. "I offer you this and only ask you to think over this offer, Lieutenant Millan."

Oscar only stared before the Ethereal, watching him leave his hospital room, leaving the guardsmen to lay in bed and sigh at what had transpired.

Back home, the time of day passed quickly, and the family enjoyed and dinned with their guests, and the time for sleep came over.

"Goodnight, guys." Pip said to his friends as they returned the gesture. The screen closed in Tungsten's bionic eye with the glowing light dimming black.

Despite what they went through from war, they now drift soundly and calmly to sleep.

With morning approaching, a rather odd sound came to their ears in their slumber: the sounds of metallic machinery combined with a laser cutting through it.

"Beginning repairs. Construction matrix engaged." A robotic voice spoke, causing the youngers to awaken and look through the window. Outside were floating robots in the colors of the Tau colors, round in bodily form complimented with two small claws on their sides, a small crane on the top, a single red eye in the middle, with what looked like a laser cutter at the bottom, having replaced the Servitors.

Despite being tired in the morning, the four children got up for breakfast, each taking a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of juice. But it was a relatively calm morning. Helping out as needed, soon, around late morning, the doorbell rang, and Zoe answered it.

"Oh, Becky, what brings you here? She asked, surprised to see her at their home.

"Well, I thought I should help our young friends with their new bionics, teaching them how to maintain and care for them you know." Becky smiled weakly, with the mother stepping aside.

"Oh, Becky, how have you been?" Blau asked, giving a cheery wave, which she returned.

"Doing alright from the hospital, dealing with more wounded civies and soldiers the Xeno Tau are bringing in, so are Kyle and Jan; we got released pretty much right after it was over, given me and the others have our medical roles, plus Jan and her son are just civilians." She paused to let out a light yawn before continuing.

"Anyways, I am here to help you maintain your bionics." Only now, they noticed she carried a bag with tools entering their home, turning to Tungsten and Pip.

"For you two, it's quite simple; by pressing the release switches and then twisting them gently, they can be detached easily." She said, pointing over to the couch; it was there where both colts noticed through a mirror that their cybernetics had a button on their sides.

She started pressing one after the other release switch. Both colts felt their cybernetics release before she gently twisted them, and they came off, with the vision of the older colt being slightly blurry, revealing an empty circle where the eyepiece had been. The young woman showed both how to maintain and clean the lens before putting it back in place before her expression went unease as her eyes fell on the siblings. "For your Cybernetics, as you can probably imagine, will be more complicated."

"H-How much?" Katja asked with a voice of dread.

"I am afraid I will have to put you under for this. Let's go to the guest room for this. If you would follow me, please, Katja."

Katja did as told, uneasy about it as she lay down and the medic prepared a syringe. Upon injection, the young girl felt sleepy, slowly drifting away.

With unease and slight curiosity, the others watched as Becky unscrewed several screws, two connected to the shoulder blade bones, two on the base of the rib cage and the twelve vertebrae of the spine, and finally, two more on the base where the spine connected with the pelvis. Upon finishing, the medic unplugged what looked like small cables among the muscles and joints, then carefully and slowly lifted the cybernetic spine.

Every move was precise, calculated, and perfect with care, as if she had this done hundreds of times before, yet she was also swift and efficient in it, as it looked like it took her only a quarter of an hour.

"It's a pain but better than to have nothing, just an inconvenience," Becky commented, sighing as she turned to Katja's brother. "Your turn. Don't worry; I've done this so many times before."

Blau Streifen just nodded and got on the bed, too, being put under Pip, and Tungsten's eyes shrank in awe and horror as the woman placed multiple syringes into small, barely noticeable plug-like ports, injecting it with some liquid, then repeated the same process on different ports all over their friend's body.

"Special liquidized metal fluid straight into the bone marrow, if you are wondering usefully for internal reinforments." She explained to them, nodding in response.

Nonetheless, she finished it with the same timespan as their Katja, with the two waking up soon after.

"Is... is it done?" Blau asked, still a bit dizzy, getting a nod.

"You should still rest a bit," Becky advised, yet sees a question in the young girl's mind.

"Can I take a shower after this?" Katja asked concerned.

"Of course you can." Zoe replied with a chuckle, and after 10 minutes or so, feelings fully returned to their bodies; no longer dizzy, Blau and Katja made their way to the bathroom, with Lola handing over a grey t-shirt and jeans, smiling.

"Here, have some of my old clothes, it's no trouble."

"Thanks." Her expression became unease as she looked at her host, brother, and friends. "Um, could you please…"

Blau Streifen quickly realized what she meant, and so did the others. "Oh right, sure thing, sis."

They turned away, giving her privacy to take the bathroom. It had a slightly futuristic design, with some automated things, yet it was very similar to home, almost. Undressed, putting her clothes into the basket to be washed, and getting into the shower, a sigh of happiness escaped her mouth as she turned the warm water on and on to her body.

The warmth helped her ease all that had happened despite the cold spot where her spine was. Nonetheless, she didn't waste any time, being done within a few minutes, allowing her brother to go next.

"I'll be there if you need anything, sweetie," Zoe offered, getting a weak smile in return due to his cybernetics.

It was a very odd feeling for the young colt, barely feeling the warm water on his body, but he was glad he could still enjoy a wash. Upon finishing, his host entered and helped him to dry himself, as his cybernetics made it a bit tricky to reach all his spots himself.

Tungsten, however, had trouble, he wasn't used to his blurry vision when showering, and his younger friend had problems as well.

A few days passed, and a knock came to the door; Zoe opened it to reveal a man with crutches. "Heh, Hey, my love." Oscar smiled at his wife.

"Dad!" both his daughters ran towards their father to jump into his embrace, yet careful at the site of his still-plastered foot as he chuckled happily.

"I'm happy to see you two again; it's good to be home with you all again." He hugged them back tightly.

"Glad to see you are back, Oscar." Tungsten smiled weakly at him as he looked up at the colt from his kid's embrace.

"Same for you, kids, but don't worry about me; in a week or two, I'll be marching along like I used to." He jested assured them as they smiled warmly.

But as he barely entered, the doorbell rang, with Zoe answering it. Before her stood a man with black hair and brown eyes, the neighbor she recognized, who smiled weakly at her. "Hello, Mr. John, what brings you here?"

"Hello, Mrs. Zoe. I wanted to check on you after Oscar got released. Also... The Tau would like to enroll your guests in school.

"O-oh... Okay and their school supplies?" she asked, completely surprised by this with a hint of concern.

"Do not worry; I'll provide it for them, given I am your children's homeroom teacher and funded by our.... "newly" planetary Rulers."

"Right, right... Okay then, when does it start for them?" She asked concern at ease slightly but still hinting in her eyes and voice.

"Tomorrow." John responded, making her flinch, and she slowly nodded before he bowed his head and left. She walked into the living room to brief her family and guests about the news.

Tungsten shifted his forelegs nervously, his eye darting around. "A-Are you sure this is a good idea? I don't want any trouble or know anything about all that has happened, let alone get into a fight." His friends also shared the same look of unease expressions, but Lola gave them a weak yet cheerful smile.

"I told you, I got your back. Plus, with the Tau, I doubt anyone would dare to try messing with you." She said, comforting the young colt.

"Y-Yeah, Thanks…" He smiled back in appreciation before Zoe called her neighbor for the school supplies, a dark grey saddleback and cream-colored backpack for Blau and Katja, while Tungsten and Pip had a ginger and light brown saddlebags, respectively. While having a slightly futuristic look in sleek designs, the school supplies themselves were not much different from home.

Evening approached, and all residents got ready for bed, with the young guests being slightly nervous about their first school day.

At six a.m., the alarm clock rang in the guest room, and Tungsten reached out a hoof to turn it off as his friends were still sleepy, struggling to stay awake. Nonetheless, they woke up for breakfast, brushed their teeth afterward, and collected their things in their school bags.

"Ready for School?" Lara asked with a smile, and Tungsten gave a weak smile in return, taking a deep breath with the others to prepare himself.

"Ready as we'll ever be." He responded calmly.

And so, the sisters led the way to their school, with their guests following through the busy bustling from where they stood to above them and even down below them in some parts. They all took notice of a few newly placed Ethereal statues and the emblem of the Tau on a few buildings—a circle with a smaller one inside of it connected by a horizontal line.

New posters and holographic messages were plastered and playing across the walls, their eyes wide to see Oscar on some of them, with Tau soldier and a friendly smile on his face. Under them was the text, "The Greater good knows no bounds to all if they are willing to learn from it."

They were shocked by it, seeing Oscar, a man at one point who was killing the Tau but now being friends with them, but only pushed away, reaching the sizeable rectangular school that took around fifteen minutes. Some other students gave the newcomers a surprised look, some a judgmental look, seeing that they were animals and strange, but that was all till the two girls led their friends inside with smiles to ease them.

Taking the stairs to the first floor, the group reached a metal door and entered the homeroom classroom; it had four windows, letting in the bright morning sunlight, and 20 desks arranged near perfect spacing and aligned, most of which were still empty. "Guess we're the first, let's take our first seat, shall we?" Lara asked.

"Yeah." Blau Streifen yawned and stretched himself, as he was still tired, before taking a sit at the desk closest to the door next to his sister. Pip and Tungsten took the seats behind them, being the only ones they knew well.

Looking at the clock, they both saw it was seven-fifty. Within the remaining time, they saw other students coming in and filling the remaining desks. Just as the clock showed eight, a bell rang, signaling the beginning of class, with the teacher last walking in—a man with black hair and brown eyes.

"Hello, Mr. Lewis!" the students greeted him aloud.

"Good morning, class. I am delighted to see you all back and alright after all the conflict. Be assured, our lessons are not fully affected by the Tau." Lewis smiled at them, showing a caring trait for his students. "On behalf of the Tau, we have some newcomers." He said, looking at the two colts sitting behind the two sisters.

"Please welcome them and be respectful with kindness." He said, gesturing for them to come in front of the class.

Nervous, the four friends got up and stepped forward, with Pip taking the lead first to speak, smiling weakly. "I-I'm Pipsqueak, but my friends call me Pip." He introduced himself, followed by his friend

"I am Tungsten. We all come from a world called Equestria, with Pip and I from Trottingham." He said, with the other students whispering and giggling quietly as they stared at the four.

"I am Katja, and this is my brother, Blau Streifen. We also come from Equestria but lived in a town called Sunny Town." The young girl followed. As expected, the class stared at them in confusion before the two sisters started to clap, slowly joined by the others.

"Interesting, I am sure you would like to tell the class more about these places, but we have a lesson start first, shall we?" Their teacher asked as they returned to their seats. He activated a holographic board with the lights fading and the windows closing themselves with words and pictures of planets being shown.

"Several thousands of years ago, humanity, originating from the holy world of Terra, developed the necessary technology to leave Terra's orbit and expand to colonize the Segmentum Solar. Eventually, further technological progress allowed humanity to construct our glorious interstellar starships that colonize the star of our Milky Way galaxy." Lewis started by showing pictures of very ancient and strange naval starships of white and black coloring white and black in the void of space.

It fascinated the four friends, not believing humanity could have gone so far, as their teacher continued, "With that came the holy moment to humanity called "The Age of Technology," It saw the development of the first true Human interstellar civilization and the birth of some form of stellar formation centered on the holy world of Terra." The screen showed much more advanced Naval starships, having a somewhat elegant form, in shape almost royally like, "It gave us many opening to more technological advances we have to this day, but it also lead to a… horrific conflict…" Unease was in his voice.

"Humanity fell into isolation, constant warfare, disease, rampant mutation, famine, and a host of other terrible tragedies and traitors from other worlds. It pushed Mankind to the brink of its end." This caused the children to gasp and cringe in shock and horror. It was unimaginable for them that Ponykind could suffer something like this.

"But…" Now, Mr. John Lewis smiled, "This was where our glorious God Emperor revealed himself to Mankind and started the Unification of humanity on Terra under one banner and sought to reunite all the scattered, isolated worlds of Man beneath that single holy banner, which would become our Holy Imperium of Mankind." He roared out, turning to the class, holding his arms out in the air.

"Glory to our holy Imperium, Glory to our God Emperor, Ave Imperator!" He cheered with various scenes and beautiful artworks of the God Emperor leading fleets and soldiers in ancient holy golden armor to the Royal Imperial Guard and even Space marines shown as the class shouted out with joy and admiration, "Ave Imperator."

Somehow, it reminded the young children of the actions of the first Alicorn in Equestria's existence, Lauren Faust, and to some extent, that of Celestia and Luna. Humanity was devoted to continuing despite their hardships throughout the thousand years.

After that came math, which was not an issue for them, using a holographic calculator built into their desks before soon after the bell rang, and all students left the room for recess.

Reaching the schoolyard, Pip, Tungsten, Katja, and Blau looked in awe at it, which was also a vast playground size. There were three swing sets on the playground's left and right sides and one in the center. There was a tetherball area, a slide, a full basketball court, plenty of oak trees with dark shade for naps, and some benches.

Sitting down on one, they opened their lunch boxes, delighted to see Sandwiches with a cut apple.

"After school, how about I show you the forests and explore?" Lara suggested, getting nods from her friends.

"Hey hey, gorgeous." A new voice interrupted the group, forcing them to see an athletic boy with blond hair and brown eyes smiling at Lola. "Glad to see you are okay, my dear." He sounded friendly, yet his body and tone showed signs as if he had… feelings for the older girl, but Lola only rolled her eyes in response at his "charming" charisma unamused.

"Yes, I am fine; thanks for asking, Dean." Lola's reply was flat and empty, yet he seemed unbothered by it, not even acknowledging her tone or her lack of attention to him.

"Anytime, doll, I am always here if you need someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on." Smiling arrogantly, the boy walked away, not paying, oblivious to the others.

"Oooh, seems like you got a crush." Katja commented teasingly, seeing her face annoyed. "You should be happy about it." Now, her head slightly lowered, sounding somewhat sad, only to be hugged by her brother.

"Yes, but you would not believe how many young boys have a crush on me or try to go after me just because my father is a veteran and has close relations with officers." Dismay was in the older sister's voice, yet she smiled weakly.

"It's uncomfortable with this attention, wanting someone I can trust as a father does with mother. I can imagine how you must feel in your world, Katja, but if you consider my situation, you might not have it so bad." Those words made her female guest realize there was some truth in her words.

Only for the bell to signal that the class was about to start again, making the kids quickly finish their snacks and quickly get back to their class, with their teacher looking a bit uncomfortable, having a tau diplomat with him. "Okay, class. Now we will learn a bit about the... the Greater Good." He said in a distrusting tone while looking at the diplomat.

With tension and eagerness, the four friends listened to how the diplomat told the class how, for the Greater Good, they could pray to the God Emperor. Yet, all those who contribute towards it have a meaningful and valued place within T'au society, showing pictures of other humans who worked with the Tau. It sounded similar to how Equestria lived in harmony, making them wonder how the Tau meeting Equestria would go.

"Now, I know it's only been a few days, young ones, but if we get attacked, seek cover and call the nearest patrol by any means necessary, preferably through your "vox-calls" or our holochrons." His hand held up a small round object; it blinked before showing a hologram of a Firewarrior. "Any information you can and may provide the troops could prove critical." In response, the class nodded to the diplomat's words, some giving only stares matching their teacher's untrustworthiness.

To the kids' surprise, this took the entire lesson, and it was lunch break. As the group arrived at the cafeteria, their eyes widened to see Jan among the staff, which she took notice of as she handed them some vegetarian meals in the form of salad with potatoes, winking and smiling at them. "Just helping out kids, enjoy your meals!"

Taking a free table, they ate, enjoying the fresh and warm taste. "So far, it went rather well, don't you think?" Tungsten asked with awe, getting a shrug from the older sister.

"I guess our classmates don't want to upset the Tau." Lola suspected, giving a distant look. "After lunch, there will be athletics, but I think the school will go through some changes."

"If you say to." the colt said. After their break, they got back to class, and Lewis had news. "Okay, class. I'm afraid to announce that today the school will give you an early release, as we have got to... "reorganize" our schedule along with things for the next lessons for your school year first." His tone was empty, devoid of all emotions, and his face was blank.

"Be safe, kids, enjoy the time with your friends and families, and have a nice day." And so, they walked home, with Oscar's wife delighted to see them once they arrived. "Welcome back, how was school?" She Greeted.

"Better than I thought, everyone treated us well, surprisingly." Pip's friend said, smiling, "Though we might need some clothing for the sports lessons."

Zoe's smile did not fade at all at this news. "Oh well, that won't be an issue. Just tell me what you need and your favorite colors, and I'll do my best to take care of it."

"Crimson red is my favorite color". Pip said happily.

"And I usually wear navy Blue." Tungsten added.

"An orange headband would do it for me and swimming, a dark blue swimsuit, please." Katja requested; she, on the other hand, scratched the back of his head awkwardly at his turn.

"Blue would do to for me but….I might need a swim cap to prevent drag and maybe hoof flippers. Normal sports would be too much if I get rubber horseshoes, as to protect my hooves from getting worn down... if that's okay?"

"No trouble." Zoe responded warmly.

The rest of the day was quiet, with them again helping out in the house before evening arrived once more, the clothing being delivered just after dinner, much to their surprise fitted perfectly upon trying them on.

Their next day in school was not any different, except that they had swimming lessons before lunch, their break, and nervously approaching the dressing rooms. "Don't worry, Katja, I got your back... try to avoid staring." Their older host assured her, giving a weak smile, causing her to nod in appreciation. Her brother and two fellow colts took a deep breath before entering.

"Hey there, guys, don't mind us." One of the other students said respectfully to their newcomers, surprising them.

Katja took only a glance at the other girls. The human body was interesting, yet it wasn't so much different from hers.

"Maybe I worry too much." She thought as Lola waved at her in support before heading to the showers.

"I hope I won't drop like a stone with my cybernetics." Blau said with a concerned tone as they did their quick showers before getting a pat on the shoulder by one of the boys.

"Don't worry, our teacher knows CPR, and I am sure if it is too heavy, they wouldn't have let you attend the swimming lessons, would they?"

"Right... Right."

Joining the others at the pool and climbing it, they were all happy in the warm water. Blau rejoiced he could swim with his cybernetics as they practiced throughout the lesson.

Tungsten used a single-eye goggles and adjusted them to his visual augment eye, so he kept his eyepiece on, glad it was waterproof.

Once done, they returned to the showers. Pip and Tungsten noticed their friend had trouble drying himself, unable to reach some spots. "Here let me help you."

Pip took the towel and dried the tricky-to-reach spots, causing his grey friend to blush. "This is so embarrassing…" Blau dreadfully said.

"Friends help each other, Blau, no reason to be ashamed about this." Tungsten pointed out with a weak smile.

"Right. You are real good friends, Dinky would be lucky to have you." Blau smiled back before looking down. "I hope you weren't… upset about my crush on her back then."

His voice sounded somewhat afraid, getting wrapped into a hug by him. "Not at all. A bit... unsure at first, but I'll admit but I realized you're just as good as a friend to her. Plus, you got my gratitude for keeping her safe."

His pinto friend smiled proudly, making the grey colt chuckle. "Just did what my parents taught me. being polite and what can I say, she does look nice, just like Ivory does. Although I feel a bit confused, as I like them both, but I don't want to get in your way."

"I am sure when we get back home, we can figure things out." Pip assured him before they walked out.

As time passed, school became routine for them, similar to home, taking their lessons and paying attention to tests until it was time for a regular sports lesson. They did a few runs and climbs, with the teacher having a unique idea for the end. "Okay, class, we end the lesson with a soccer match." He handed out bright yellow T-shirts for the other team.

To their relief, the friends stayed together and with their hosts, with Blau being the goalkeeper, his Pip and Tungsten defenders, and the girls taking the middle field. They mainly played defensively, passing the ball whenever possible.

The enemy team was persistent, getting the ball close to the goal. As the opposing player approached to the right, dodging both colts, Blau acted quickly, eyes focused on the ball, and leaped to the right, catching the ball with ease and passing it back to his team.

To his dismay, the opponent gained the upper hand again, coming from the left, but again, the young colt quickly reacted and leaped after it, easily catching it.

There, their team managed to get the ball and scored a goal, making everyone cheer just before Lewis called it to an end.

"Well played guys, especially you Blau!" One student praised him, causing him to blush slightly.

"I just enjoy playing soccer heh." He chuckled, hiding his redding face.

During the break, the kids noticed Dean had walked up to them. "Hey there, have you seen Lola?" He asked them, and Tungsten answered for them.

"Uh... think she's using the bathroom."

"Ah, okay, I'll wait here for her then." The boy sounded slightly disappointed, looking off in the distance."

"I don't want to sound mean to you, but you realize she doesn't like you, right?" Pip dared to ask in an unsure voice, and to their surprise, Dean sighed.

"I know, it's just… I want to show Lola some guys truly like her, not just because of her father's background." Dean responded with disappointment in his tone.

"Oh… I might not be the best at these things, but maybe you should try to approach her calmly." The pinto colt advised, getting a weak smile.

"I... I guess you're right. I'll try."

Just then, they heard a cry of pain, realizing it was that of Lara, and wasted no time checking on her.

In fear and slight anger, they saw the young girl pinned to the ground by a larger boy, who held up her lunch box before throwing it to the ground. "Hey, get off her, you jerk!" Blau yelled at her attacker, who was not fazed by it.

"Or what? Just because the xeno Tau accepts you, you think you can do as you please?" He taunted.

"I said. Leave. Her. ALONE!" The colt charged at the bully in the heat of fury, tackling him to the ground and off his young host. His sister and friends, while shocked, didn't hesitate to check Lara with Dean and Lola, helping her up as she sobbed slightly, covered in dusk and having slight bruises.

Blau punched him in his chest but was quickly thrown off with a kick to the gut, causing him to struggle to breathe, let alone feel the air leave his body and fly off the bully.

Despite the pain, he did not cry as he landed on his back but couldn't react. The bully pressed his foot on him, making the colt struggle to free himself. "Is that all you got? weak!"

"Franco!" An angry voice made him flinch, turning around in fear to see Lewis behind him with an angry expression. "You are in so much trouble, boy!"

Scared, France stopped getting off Blau and walked towards the teacher, trembling and following him away before the teacher came back with concern on his face. "Are you hurt?"

"Just a few bruises. "S-sorry, Mr. Lewis, I just couldn't stand seeing…" Blau trembled, now realizing he might get into trouble too, but the teacher formed a soft smile, patting his head.

"You just wanted to defend, Lara, I understand, you'll be giving a warning." A breath of relief escaped his mouth as his sister hugged the young human.

"It'll gonna be okay, it's gonna be okay." Lara smiled weakly in appreciation at the words before her teacher brought her to the nurse.

It was there where Blau lowered his head in what seemed to be a shame. "S-Sorry, guys, that I lost it…."

They just wrapped him into a hug, his sister only smiling at him. "It happens to all of us, brother, it makes no difference."

As the school day ended, Zoe and Oscar took in the news. "While I can't say I appreciate you butted heads with Franco's boy, I do appreciate you defended Lara." Oscar commented, getting a nod from Blau.

Then the doorbell rang, and as Zoe answered it, they saw Franco's parents with him.

"Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Milan, we were told our son got into a fight with one of your guests?" His father asked, and they nodded. "We would like to offer our apologies for our son's actions. Now, Franco, apologize. Now."

"I-I am sorry for hurting your daughter Mr. Milan..." He sounded rather frustrated but afraid, giving the kids a glare, who just shook their heads in disapproval before his father gave him a slap to the back of his head.

"Try again, boy."

"I am sorry I hit you." He said more convincingly, but his eyes still held a glint of anger and lies.

"Apology accepted." They all spoke together, only to stare at him before returning inside as they left.

The days passed into weeks and eventually a month, the kids helping out as good as they could in the house and going to school.

Early in the morning on the weekend, Pip woke up with the siblings to see Tungsten was gone. As Pip opened his mouth to wish a good morning, his ears twitched at a faint sobbing sound, and he, with his friends, followed to investigate.

Their hearts broke to see their friend in a corner of the hallway, his back to them, head lowered. "Tungsten…" His younger friend spoke up, making him flinch.

"I-I am fine… Ju- Just." The older colt replied hastily, yet the pinto foal quickly realized what this was about.

"Feeling homesick, aren't you?"

Now, Tungsten turned around, tears trailing down his cheeks. "Y-yeah..." They wrapped him into a large hug. "We’ve only been here for a month…but how long is that back home? Does mum still have hope? Or…”

"Now, now, I know how hard this is Tungsten, but I am sure your families still have hope. You and Pip can't give up when we went missing with Dinky," Katja pointed out with a weak smile.

"Y-yeah... R-right…"

"Yeah, it can be hard to bear," Zoe's voice sounded, seeing their hosts behind them. "My daughters and I pray for Oscar when he is away, always missing him so dearly." She said as the sisters joined the hug.

"I missed my family every time the guard deployed me; hell, I remember praying so many times when I went to my first deployment as a white shield… it was exciting, but... it was frightening, chaotic. and horrifying." Oscar says slightly, giving a thousand-yard stare, only to close his eyes, feeling his wife's arms wrap around his neck and hold him.

"It was nothing like how they dilled and trained us for or even the Imperial handbook said it would be... Of course that's pretty much the way it was for all of us in the guard, wasn't it? All that Propaganda, all those years of training... it never really prepared you for all the screams, the blood, or the bodies, doesn't it?" He said with a shaken tone as the memories played in his mind in perfect detail.

An explosion tore him out from his squad, seeing several guardsmen and himself blasted away. Landing on the ground hard mudded dirty with a painful groan, Oscar gasped to see Guardsmen's bodies either dead or dying all around him to what could only be described for him as deadly, giant black and grey beasts, some large and bipedal, others had several limbs, stabbing through the Imperium's ranks, slicing through Sentinel walker armor that got quickly deployed by a dropship.

"Rise WhiteShields! Your Imperium needs you, Guardsmen! Forward! Forward!" A commissar officer shouted at the top of his lungs in a roar before noticing Milan, grabbing him by his carapace chest piece and pulling him up on his feet. "WhiteShield Milan, get up! I did not permit you to die yet; we are almost there!"

"Almost where sir!? Where we're going!?" The young recruit screamed in shock before getting his answer, with the commissar slamming a las-gun into his chest as Milan held it in his shaken hands.

"Over that last ridge, their boy, we pushed those beasts back! To Victory!" His superior exclaimed confidently, charging forward before an explosion landed on him, causing only a red mist and blood to splatter on Milan's shell-shocked body. Shortly after, a missile hit the Sentinel, falling over and exploding, making his earring deafeningly.

Scared, deafened, and without orders, the fresh Guardsman dived into a ditch, the ringing in his ears fading and filled with the screams of the wounded dying and the feared. Hearing cries please and begging mothers, wives, and the emperor to come down and save them. Till a firing line of red Las beams littered above him from an incoming foe of a man saving him as the screams faded and roaring order filled his ear.

"For the Imperium of Man! Strike true and strike with precision!" A voice yelled, and Milan looked up on his hands and knees to see several Guardsmen in thicker carapace armor and helmets firing large Lasguns attached to power packs on their backs. His eyes widened in awe as he recognized these soldiers: Kasrkin, elite forces of the Guard hailing from the only world to birth such great soldiers, fortress world, and cities of Cadia Prime.

They fired their las-guns at blazing speed and power over him to cover as one yelled at his squad leader, "Staff Sergeant Major Grey! This is more than we expected!"

"Ah, we faced worse! Just like on Seperus Prime, we just need to push them back!" He confidently replied, "Just like the commander ordered!"

"He just got killed, sir!" Oscar reported to him, who remained unfazed.
"Firstly, shiny, it's Staff Sergeant Major, not sir!" He looked at Oscar with a death stare, making him question who to be more afraid of before his bright purple glowing eyes looked around at the other soldiers. "Who's the ranking officer now?"

"You are, Staff Sergeant Major! T-That would be you, Staff Sergeant Major!" Oscar pointed out, causing the officer to look briefly at his rank insignia, making a squad mate chuckle.

"He's gotcha there mate. So, what's the plan; Staff Sergeant Major Grey?"

Grey thought for a moment. "You flank left, me and the whiteshield flank right. Good luck, and do what you do best, men!"

"Luck's got nothing to do with it in the Lord Castellan's Own!" His squadmate yelled back before they charged, firing at every hostile they saw. "Keep firing till they see the glow of our Barrels-"

Only for a scream and explosion ranging in the Guardsman's ears, seeing how the squad mate was thrown to the ground by another explosion, with Grey looking at Oscar with raw anger. "Cover me damn it!" Making him obey and give covering fire without hesitation as Grey ran behind him to his fellow Kasrkin and dragged him back by his pack straps.

It was there where the rest of the guardsmen managed to gain the upper hand, giving Oscar and Grey a moment to rest. "That was some nice shooting, son. What's your name, Shiny?" Grey asked curiously.

"Whiteshield Private O-Oscar Milan, 211th Heidrum Regiment." The fresh soldier replied, a bit nervous and shaking still before getting a hard pat on the shoulder.

"You did well today here. I'll be sure to pass on my recommendations to High Command."

"T-thank you, Staff Sergeant Major!" Oscar saluted, "I fight for my wife and daughter."

"Oh?" In response, Oscar pulled a small parchment paper out of his pocket, showing his pregnant wife and child. "Quite a gorgeous woman you got there. I also got a beautiful woman; she could kill you with just her terrifying glare from her beautiful eyes." The Cadian Kasrkin laughed aloud.

"If it weren't for him back then, I probably would've never had made it this far. Even in the Imperium, you can still make good friendships." The veteran smiled weakly.

"Thank you Uncle Grey." The youngest whispered as she moved to hug her father.

"Yet now I still remember a rather… odd adventure with him…" Oscar said his brow flexing slightly.

"Oh?" Blau asked, surprised, their host turning to his family.

"Would you prepare breakfast, sweetie?"

"Sure thing, daddy!" His younger daughter exclaimed in glee, making her way to the kitchen with her sister and mother, as Oscar took a deep breath.

"It was on an imperial world, which name I can't remember, having been ordered to assist the governor out…"

So you two are the help I have requested?" The governor asked as he looked at Oscar and Grey with surprise.

"Yes, sir, we have the most experience out of the available guardsmen in the area. What do you need?" Oscar explained, with the reply being unexpected.

"Some local gang saw it fit to steal my personal store of fine Amasec and you need to recover it for me. The store is in an old brewery."

"With respect, why us? Wouldn't that be something for the local law enforcement or the Adeptus Arbites?"

That Amasec they stole was meant for a friend, so it's rather personal for me. If they resist, kill them." The governor warned, and they just nodded.

Driving a truck to get there, they found it odd that nobody was guarding outside, yet prepared to breach. Kicking the door open, they scanned their surroundings…

Only to find... no one. "Why would they leave the place unguarded?" Milan wondered, with his friends shrugging.

"Probably didn't expect anyone would find this place, but it makes our job easier." With that, they loaded the barrels onto the truck and delivered the Amasec to a bar that the governor's friend owned.

In the owner's office, Oscar took the word. "Here's the Amasec as the governor asked, anything else?"

The owner laughed, "Take it easy, boys; let me finish this drink first, okay?" He poured himself a glass and took a sip, but what happened next was barely a moment later; his body cramped and shook, giving a sickly expression, causing both guardsmen to look at each other in surprise and worry.

He started to cough, skin becoming pale, before letting out an angry roar, flipping over the table, and charging at Oscar before they could react, pinning him to the wall and choking him. Milan fought with all his strength, but his vision quickly blurred black.

Just as he thought it was over, it quickly returned as he got released, seeing the man turning around with a fire axe in his back, unfazed, before throwing Grey against the wall.

But his friend was quick, drawing his sidearm pistol and firing at point-blank into the head, blasting his head off.

Grey groaned in pain but waved a hand to show he was fine. "What in hell happened to him?" His mind wandered, and a quick realization came to Oscar's mind.

"Hey, may-maybe it was this Amasec?" Dread was in his voice.
"I doubt it; the guests drank it, too." Just as he turned towards the bar, they saw all the guests glaring through the glass, having similar body conditions. Both men screamed in surprise and horror as the patrons of the bar started clawing at the glass window, breaking through.

Grey quickly grabbed his weapon and fired to hold them back as he shouted, "Open the damn door!"

His friend wasted no time and bashed it open; both men made a run toward the truck and drove away towards the governor to report what happened.

"What?! As if the stealing wasn't bad enough…" Dismay was in the governor's voice before tossing over some explosive, "Get rid of the evidence!"

Knowing there was no arguing with him, they did as told, heading back to the brewery and planting the explosive on the large storage vats before hearing a growl.

Turning around, they saw the patrons trying to break in. "We are trapped in here!" Oscar yelled in slight panic before his friend pointed to a trapdoor, quickly climbing down, seeing briefly, to their confusion, how the people went to drink the Amasec that was still in the brewery.

A large shockwave made them almost lose their balance as they barely walked a few meters. They wondered what was happening before they saw the Amasec flushing into the sewer from the warehouse's drains, forcing them to abandon the sewers.

They had no time to catch their breath, noticing a bright flash coming from behind, and turned around. Their eyes went small to see a mushroom cloud-like explosion coming towards them.

Screaming, they scrambled for cover behind a wall, covering their ears and bracing themselves, feeling the enormous heat on their skins, ears ringing.

It seemed like hours until they noticed… They were still alive and checked themselves, miraculously surviving unharmed.

Daring to look out of their somewhat intact cover, they saw in shock how the city was mostly destroyed, in ruins. "Oh, man, I doubt we can explain ourselves out of this…" Grey mumbled before Oscar noticed a ship on landing approach.

It landed near them, and the loading door opened to… an Inquisitor walked out, taking in his surroundings. "I was about to ask what happened here, but I have a suspicion you two know the answer." His voice was suspicious, causing both men to gulp.

"Well…" Oscar started and explained how they got into this, the inquisitor listening to them patiently.

He stared at them for a moment before opening his mouth. "I see, there were hints of the governor… acting against the Imperium, and this…confirms it. But as you are my only two witnesses and indirectly helped me, you are free to go."

The kids could only stare at what Oscar told them before Blau broke the silence. "How is this even possible!?"

"I don't know and I don't wanna know. My best guess would be that the Amasec was adulterated with an unknown substance through poor distilling, a new recipe, or accidental contamination." Oscar patted his head with a weak smile, "I am just glad I got out of that in one piece."

Before they could form any answer, Lara walked in, having an eager smile as she eyed the colts. "Do you mind if I try something?"

They just nodded, and the young girl stretched her arms out; her left hand went for Blau, her right for Tungsten, scratching their ears. Giving in to animal instinct, both moaned softly in pleasure, leaning into it, with Katja chuckling, seeing their eyes roll back. She often saw her father doing the same with her mother and grandmother, as Lara complimented the two colts, "Who's a good boy? Yes, you are!"

"And so are you, Pip." Before the pinto colt could react, a hand, that of Lola, scratched his right ear, and he softly moaned, rearing up while closing his eyes in bliss.

“M-More...please…don’t stop…” Blau mumbled in bliss.

The two girls only giggled before grinning at each other devilishly and started to tickle Blau and Pip instead; both ponies broke out in uncontrollable laughter; their pleas to stop were unheard.

Before Tungsten and Katja could react, they got tackled by an overpowered Oscar with Zoe and broke out in laughter. It went on for a few minutes before being granted mercy. "Always works." Their veteran host grinned and let out a light chuckle in amusement. "How about we take a walk?"

"Sure thing, Oscar, but we still have to clean the house, so we join you later," Zoe said with pity as her children had to join her.

Despite this, Katja, Blau, Tungsten, and Pip followed Oscar through town and towards the same hill they had used to relax before the Tau came, seeing Jan, Kyle, and Becky crossing their way.

"Hey there." Pip greeted them. "We're enjoying the view from here. Want to join us?"

"Sure, why not?" Becky nodded, and Kyle and Jan did, too, though Blau sighed.

"I can't thank you enough, Becky, for helping me and my sis through this all this time."

She just waved a hand, smiling. "Ah, it's nothing; I am doing my job and part. I always dreamed of becoming a doctor and helping people. Of course, nothing could prepare me for frontline service. But, I quickly realized and learned to pull myself together and… that I always can't save everyone all the time." Now, she slightly lowered her head, "But as such, I saw it as a big relief that I managed to save you."

It was hard for the children to imagine how much of a burden this could be for Becky's mind, but it made them appreciate her service so much more. They always appreciated the emergency services, knowing they risked their lives to save others.

"C-can we change the subject, please?" Tungsten suggested, "The portrait of Finkle you made back then looked very good, Kyle. I take it he must have high regard for you?"

The young man chuckled at this. "I may be a normal citizen, but art is my passion. I got this kind of from my father; he appreciated art, too. It turns out that many, including the planetary governor, like my paintings. Never would've thought to get so close on the ruler's good side."

"And while being a medic was unexpected for me, it sure was a helpful experience in skills, helping others." His mother commented in what seemed awe. "Kinda reminds me of an old friend…" Jan trailed off, "Still, our lives aren't much different than before the Tau, so…I hope if the Imperium comes back, we won't suffer." Now, fear was in her voice.

It reminded Pip and Tungsten of what they had heard from Finkle about the fates of planets rebelling against it, making them shiver about what could happen.

Snap!

In the alert, Oscar turned in the direction of the sound. "Who's there?" He called out, and a bush rustled.

"Instinct, eh, Oscar?" a male voice sounded calming, and a guardsman walked out, his hair blond, eyes blue, with a slight hint of a muscular frame under his uniform, arm, and weapon raised to show he meant to harm.

"Chris? What are you doing here?" Oscar asked, surprised.

"What do you think? Segmentum command dispatched our Regiment to liberate Heidrum. A Vanguard unit secured your home not too long ago. So, I think it's best if you and your friends join the main force, follow me." Oddly enough, he paid no attention to the kids, smiling at the veteran, and all briefly looked at each other before doing as told.

Only now, the kids noticed Chris had a number on his shoulder pad, 211, probably the regiment number they assumed.

They couldn't tell how long they followed until they came out of the woods to what looked like ruins of a city, with almost every building collapsed and only a few waterwheels still working.

"This is the former capital of Heidrum, Maleradon. It's abandoned and derelict for centuries; nobody knows why." Millan explained as they entered, and soon, they saw Imperial guard facilities, the same the PDF had used, with infantry and vehicles landing and unloading; the former paid little attention to the children, save for brief looks of surprise.

But the eyes of the children went wide as they walked past a giant crater. Inside was a gigantic cannon with three barrels arranged in a circle, several meters long and as high as several buildings.
"W-What is that?" Blau asked in awe.

"A Hellstorm Cannon, the general discovered it upon landing, probably cut off from an Imperator-class Titan centuries ago." Chris explained.

Just after that was a small bunker they entered; they saw a man in the same uniform as Finkle but with blond hair, looking at a map, his back turned to them as Chris saluted.

"General, I found Lieutenant Millan, together with some citizens."

He turned around slowly, showing blue eyes and athletic build, a slight smile at them, much to the surprise of the youngsters. "Glad to see you are okay, Lieutenant; same for you, Jan, and your son, you too, Becky. My Regiment has the order to liberate our homeworld from the Tau, so get some gear, Oscar.

"Right away, sir. But if I may ask, what about our guests?" Concern was in his voice, eyeing the kids with unease.

"As much as I hate to say it, they best gear up as well for their own protection. We'll be getting reinforced sent soon by the Blood Raptors and two other regiments. Don't worry Jan, you and your son are in good hands."

Both nodded in appreciation.

"And our young guests, sir?" Millan dared to ask.

"The same goes for them; they are just children after all. My vanguard had informed me of their presence after questioning the citizens at your home. I understand your action, Oscar. And acknowledge your loyalty and faith to the imperium, the God-Emperor, and Mankind."

Oscar saluted in response. "Thank you, General Brawn!"

He, Becky, Kyle, and Jan got their gear from an armory while getting the kids theirs, which Brawn's guardsmen had already adjusted to the cybernetics.

"It strange that General Brawn seems rather… calm and tolerating over us." Pip commented in surprise.

"Well, I severed with him since my first day; he deeply cares for his troops and, while weary of Xenos, does and is a rather calculated man first before jumping into the action. My guess is he calculated you are no danger." Their veteran friend assumed.

"He was a friend of my husband, having started as a medic before he climbed the ranks; I guess that is what gave him his caring and tolerance." Jan added with a slightly awkward grin. "Glad to see he still still remembers me."

Just then, the group saw another transport, looking like a Valkyrie and Vendetta heavy gunship, landing, and several soldiers in elaborate blue dress uniforms stepped out in formation.

"They look a bit out of place for this." Katja commented, surprised, causing Oscar to chuckle.

"They might be, but don't be fooled by their uniforms. They are the Mordian Iron Guard, particularly skilled at putting down insurrections and riots against Imperial rule in any urban combat; they got a reputation for following orders to the letter without hesitation. Their homeworld is tidally locked with its sun on one side of it, making the other half of the world bathed in perpetual darkness. In contrast, the other is continuously bathed in its star's radiation, leaving it a scorched and lifeless wasteland. All citizen settlements on Mordian are located on the world's dark side. The planet has well-earned its moniker as "The World of Eternal Night." Oscar explained before noticing another Valkyrie transport ship landing.

As the boarding ramp door lowered, soldiers wearing thick grey protective trench coats, gloves, and gasmasks with a skull mounted on them came and marched in perfect unity. It reminded Katja and Blau of the uniforms of Germany during WW1, still remembering the pictures they had seen during their first stay on Earth.

Some of those soldiers were riding horses that, too, wore gasmasks, but those had a rather unsettling appearance. The horse's hooves were splayed, almost hairless, having no tail but a stump, where only short bristles remained where the mane should be.

A cold shudder went down the spines of the siblings, getting reminded of an old threat they faced when they first landed on Earth.

Just then, two of those soldiers, looking like females, judging by their body build and blond hair sticking out under the helmets and masks, stopped and turned their heads toward the children. One of the females carried two huge tank canisters on her back, only holding a hose attached to them that stretched to a strange weapon in the other female's hands.

They couldn't even see their eyes behind the masks, only hearing the muffled breathing of the mask as they seemed to stare a black, empty, emotionless stare into their very beings.

"By the Emperor…" Oscar mumbled in what seemed shock and horror, "Not them!"

Author's Note

a bit late, my personal life was stressful lately. plus its tricky to find some lore, like a tau occupation, i took the school from a old reddit post i found once

Oscar's battle flashback, should be quite obvious, have a nice day...alright, based on this

, his other, on this

Special thanks to EmptyPlotFiller for allowing the use of Becky and Chris.

my editor also made a pic of the siblings' cybernetics

Chapter 3 New order of diplomacy

Chapter 3: New order of business or diplomacy

Despite this disturbance, both slept pretty well for the rest of the night. As the day approached, the colts yawned, Tungsten reached for his glasses. "Morning, Pip."

"Good morning." The pinto colt returned it. Quietly going outside and peeking through the bedroom doors, they saw their hosts; the human adults and children were still asleep. It gave them an idea.

Walking into the kitchen, they decided to make breakfast for their hosts, toast and juice; despite the futuristic appliances and technology, the toaster worked the same as at home, so it was no problem to get the breakfast done. Pip walked towards the daughter's room, as Tungsten towards the parents. As expected, the hosts sniffed at the warm food and slowly fluttered their eyes open, yet a small smile grew on their faces. "Thank you." Oscar said happily, dishing in with his wife; their daughters did the same.

Then the colts breakfasted themselves, taking a bowl of oatmeal with juice each.

It's very kind of you but leave the cleaning to us," Zoe told them, and they nodded in return. As they went to the living room, the siblings quickly cleaned their dishes and followed them, with the younger sister slightly nervous as she spoke up.

"I know this isn't the best moment, but…can you tell me a bit about your home?"

Both colts took a deep breath, trying to fight the feeling of homesickness swelling up in them. "As you know, we live in Trottingham," Pip started, "But we go to school in Ponyville, a small but nice town. My mother…had a rough life. My father beat my mother and me." The pinto colt shivered, only to be wrapped into a hug by the young girl.

"You don't deserve this!" She cried out with sympathy.

"She had a dead-end job with a meager income, yet she cared deeply for me, and I tried to brighten her up regularly. That and Tungsten's mother, an old friend, and my godmother kept her going with me. Blue Murder also taught me much. B-but…"

Pip stuttered, trying to hold back tears. "I had a familiar accident before, making her very worried…I hope…"

Tungsten rubbed his back. "I am sure they will find us; you said that yourself."

His younger friend nodded, and the older colt continued for him. "As for me, given my mother is friends with Nancy, it was bound to happen we would meet. I barely remember my father, who died in a traffic accident when I was very young. As my mother already lost my father, I dread…." His emotions started to swell up, only for the older sister to wrap him in a calming hug.

"I know its hard, but you got to stay positive." Loa spoke in a comforting voice with a weak smile.

"Righto…" Both colts nodded, knowing she had a point.

"It's okay to cry, it makes us... normal after all, it's never good to hold it in." Oscar added with a weak smile of his own.

Before they could form any reply, the doorbell rang, and he answered it. To his surprise, a pair of policemen were standing outside.

"Officer, can I help you?"

"Sorry to bother you, sir, but we got an inquisitional order to question your guests." One of them holding up a paper with the Inquisitorial seal, making Oscar fear the worst with a deep sense of fear. He knew if he resisted them, it would only get him a death wish, not just to him but to his whole family.

"I see…Can we go with them?"

"Yes, the inquisitor wanted to hear your part as well."

He got back inside to inform his guests and family; he saw his wife hugging their daughters, whispering calming words to their youngest, assuring everything would be alright. Pip and Tungsten tried to look brave, although fear was visible in their eyes as they followed him outside.

The policemen wore black uniforms but with custodian helmets, similar to the police in Trottingham; their squad cars had a black and white scheme with a blue/red light bar.

They got into the backseats, the family got in other cars, and no one said a word as they got driven through the streets. It was nothing but a sense of fear, dread, and awkwardness, but eventually, an enormous palace appeared, causing the colts' eyes to widen at its sight. It had several high towers, similar to Canterlot Castle but larger. Men in the same green uniforms as the poster guarded the entrance, escorting everyone inside or standing guard.

The enormous halls were highly decorated with grand white walls and shiny black floors that glistened with portraits of what the ponies assumed to be past leaders, everyone dressed in a green uniform with a red and yellow cape, the 2 headed eagles that rested on the shoulders, belt, chest-plates, and helmets.

One of the soldiers opened a massive set of double doors, and they saw the man in the same uniform and pose as an artist painting a perfectly matching portrait of him; his hair was greying of old age, yet he looked surprisingly athletic and strong for his looks, having his back to them.

"The unknown xenos have arrived as per your order, Governor Finkle." The soldier told him.

The Governor turned around, revealing his broad face with a single brown eye, his other replayed by a cybernetic eyepiece, giving an intimidating red glow.

"Thank you." Then he turned towards the painter, a tall but thin man with dark brown hair and green eyes. "Kyle, leave us." He just nodded without a word and both painter and soldier left the room.

The Governor turned toward his guests, and his expression became neutral. "I would have never thought that one of my own citizens would get the attention of the Inquisition. I was told by Inquisitor Sturhof that you sheltered xenos." Just as he said this, another man came out of the shadow. He wore brown armor with dark green shoulder pads, a seal on the right pad, a winged skull on the chest, and an eagle on the belt. His expression was neutral as he eyed the colts with icy blue eyes and black hair.

"With all due respect, Governor," Oscar spoke up. "We found them late in the evening, not thinking much of it, given we have steeds in the Imperium. And as they are foals, children no less, it was the most rational instinct to help them." He tried to explain before Sturhof stepped forward.

"I understand your point. But still, their sudden appearance is very suspicious. What do you have to say yourselves on that matter?" With another cold glare, he eyed the colts, making their hearts race and tremble in place.

Yet, they managed to stay calm as Pip tried to explain. "Please, s-sir, we mean no harm to any of you, we are just lost. We don't know how we got here or how we came to this world."

His words were slightly fearful as he and Tungsten recalled what had happened. The Inquisitor stayed silent for a brief moment. "Hmm…fascinating…although, I have to check the truth in this. A Psyker might help to prove this."

"You requested a Psyker, my Lord? As I foresaw these."

It was a male voice that sounded in everyone's ears; the voice was rough, with every breath sounding near a wheeze, as if in constant pain. With awe, Pip and Tungsten saw a man in a purple robe walking in, his eyes hidden by a large domed helmet that reminded them of a crown, several hoses connected to the helmet's back. He gripped a large staff with the eagle and a seal on top of it as he held it, leaning onto it as if it was supporting his body from falling to the ground.

"As it will my lord, but it will be… painful, but it can prove your statement in the shortest way possible."

"Indeed, search their minds to prove what they say is true," Sturhof ordered before turning back to the colts as the Psyker slowly walked over to the colts holding a hand over their heads as they watched, afraid to see his hands tremble and twitch. Steeling themselves as best as possible, both nodded and rubbed a hoof on each other's shoulders to comfort each other. If it would get their hosts out of trouble, it might be worth it.

The Psyker touched their heads, they felt a slight headache, and their hosts were surprised to see them only slightly hissing and grunting; their eyes were held shut as they embraced the Psyker’s power over the warp seeing their minds and memories played out.

Then suddenly, they gasped to see the two colts playing with a Periwinkle-grey unicorn filly, listening to a story told by a brown stallion, who traveled with a blue box, fighting various enemies, a blue-winged unicorn, apparently using a spell to raise the moon and three ponies in dark blue armor fighting by her side. They saw both colts talking in a park before being sucked in by a storm in the sky, proving they were right. But their eyes blinked, the family was shocked to see both colts restrained on a table in a dark cave, frantically looking around as ponies in the ark, dull blues, greens, khakis, and grey armor, their face covered by masks that looked like sort of amalgamation of eyes, skulls, and tentacle prepared to use surgical instruments on them. Seconds later, Humans in uniforms similar to the Imperial Guard. Some wore heavy armor with gas masks that had red lenses; others used flame-based weaponry. They saw soldiers in camouflaged uniforms fighting with dogged determination as they all defended a town from those masked ponies, who supported what could only be described as flying demon monsters. They gasped and breathed heavily as it ended, with the Psyker holding his head in slight pain.

"Their statement is truth, though they have suffered, it is sufficient my liege." Sturhof was emotionless with only a sigh as he turned toward the Governor. "It would appear that under my judgment and jurisdiction has proven them innocent, for now. Sanction them I have other matters that are more pressing to attend to."

"Well then, welcome to Heidrum; you two, I will make sure you two are seen as citizens of our glorious world." Finkle said, turning to Oscar.

"In consideration you just tried to help and your distinguished service record… I will part ways with it just only this once." He smiled slightly, and Millan saluted, being quite relieved and surprised.

"Th-thank you, sir."

A stone fell from Pip's and Tungsten's hearts, also relieved everything went well. They turned to leave, only to notice a ship landing outside the palace. It was formed like a plane at first but small in size, like a small private aircraft. The colors were a mix of red, black, and bleached bone.

"An Astartes holy Stormbird, here?" Finkle sounded surprised and walked outside to meet them. Curiosity got the better of the colts as they watched 4 large figures stepping out. They looked like heavily armored humans in her nightmare, but in the same color as the ship, their helmets had beak-like muzzles, with the left shoulder plate featuring some studs. One wore white armor on the helmet and chest, while the legs and arms stayed red, and another had an eyepiece and a mechanic arm on the back.

"His angels, how may I be of service to you and his will?" The Governor bowed respectfully.

I am Uwe, Techmarine of the Blood Raptors, and I have come by order of my," he paused as if considering his words carefully, "superiors, to this world for in need of supplies of our crusade efforts." The massive armored man with the mechanical arm answered.

"Of course, my lord, I and all of Heidrum will offer all supplies and requests you desire and need."

Pip and Tungsten wanted to get out of sight, but their bodies were frozen in awe, unable to move as the man called Uwe spotted them. "You have…guests, Governor?" He sounded Intrigued.

"Ah, yes I... it's a complicated story, my Lord," The Governor admitted, slightly nervous.

"Well, we have time now for you to explain your reason for housing of these xenos." Uwe stated calmly in return. With that said, Finkle tried to explain to his guests while the Tech Marine and his followers listened patiently and intently to every detail Finkle said from his mouth.

"I see…" Uwe walked towards the colt; their hearts jumped as he looked down at them. "You fear me young ones, you shouldn't, I mean you no harm." he then turned his black visor towards the man standing at their side and made a curt request, "Mr. Milan, keep them safe."

He saluted. "By his will and your order, I'll shall care for them as if they were my own, my lord!"

They watched after the tall armored giants followed the planetary leader who led them away. "W-what…where those?"

"They are called the Adeptus Astartes, holy angels of the Emperor of mankind's greatest warriors, the Space Marines; the perfect soldiers armored and armed in the entire Imperium, or special cases... the beings of death and fear incarnate. They are divided into holy chapters or legions, each having their own colors that serve under the emperor's light. I felt the fear as you did too when I first encountered them, It's a great honor to fight alongside them let alone see one or even speak to one." Oscar explained with a sense of pride. "I fight among many different chapters…Blood Ravens, Imperial Fists, Ultramarines, just to call a few. Although..." He put a hand to his chin, thinking about something.

"I believe I've never heard of these Blood Raptors but read old records and battle reports with their names during my post under the Governor's orders, but I am not sure.…."

Suddenly, the stomachs of the colts growled, causing both to blush in embarrassment. "Ah, time surely passes by, huh? Let us fix that for you and bring something for lunch, there's a good restaurant, and the owner is well known for her good meals." Oscar's wife suggested.

Just as they got outside, a PA vox-com system ranged through the streets. "Attention, citizens. Xeno species visitors. Be advised they are sanctioned, and are under watch of planetary forces, Caution is advised, glory to the Emperor." It was the voice of the Governor.

"That was fast." Pip commented in surprise.

"Yes, Finkle is a very efficient and well-respected leader. Don't worry, nobody will bother you with us around." The veteran assured them.

Not long after, as they walked through the streets, getting some surprised looks from other citizens, they came past a stable, hearing the neighing of the horses inside.

"Are you sure the owner can be trusted?" The bespectacled colt asked, unsure, only to receive an assuring nod from Zoe.

"Yes, she's always kind and friendly, respecting our soldiers greatly. She always gives Oscar and a few soldiers some free meal as veterans and doesn't charge them war bonds or credits."

"If you say so." He looked at Pip, who opened his mouth to speak, only to yelp slightly as he felt his mood lighten up.

"Hmm?" He looked up to notice one of the horses, having a pinto coat like him, had picked him by the scuff and carried him into the stable.

His friend held his hoof over his mouth as he struggled not to laugh, chuckling before laughing slightly in amusement.

"Hey!" A male voice called out, and they saw the farmer rushing in. "Put him down; you can't just pick up random foals!" The mare did as told, and Pip nodded, walking back to his friend and hosts as the farmer apologized. "Sorry about that, Oscar. Are those...?"

"Yes. Yes, they are. Please, they don't mean any harm."

The farmer just shrugged. "I see no problem with foals, even if they are xenos. Cute looking though." He then went back inside, and they continued their way again. At the end of the road was a restaurant, which looked like an average house but had the letters "Jan's Restaurant, all you can eat!"

It was mostly empty at the moment due to their surprise, but a woman with brown hair, green eyes, and a thin build was cleaning behind a counter, spotting them with delight. "Ah, Oscar! Brought the family, I see."

"That's right Jan, we thought we come to lunch; I hope that's no trouble." He asked, slightly nervous, but her happiness did not fade as he feared.

"Not at all, I got some surplus of doggie bags, you can have some for free due to your service. And…" Her eyes fell on the colts. "Who' are those cute animals?"

"Did you hear the announcement?" The woman nodded in response." They are the reason for it." He then tried to explain everything, with her expression becoming one of sadness.

"Oh, you poor kids. You really look like you're starving. Let me make you a big meal to fatten you up."

"Oh no, Mrs. Jan, please, you don't need to make a fuss!" Tungsten exclaimed in surprise as she left for the kitchen, then looked at his younger friend, who shared his reaction. "I did not lose that much weight while my mother was gone, did I?"

"I dunno, you look not changed to me." Pip replied.

Nonetheless, the cook was done within a few minutes, giving the children some lemonade and warm vegetable casserole. It tasted fresh and delicious as they returned home, not expecting such a good taste.

"She really knows how to cook." The pinto colt enjoyed every bite.

"Yes, some say Schaeffer's restaurant is the best in town!" Lara replied in glee. "I know a good spot that overlooks the river, Can I show them?" She asked her parents, who just nodded.

It was only a short way until they came to a hill overlooking the river and forests, eating the remains of their still warm food. "It's really a beautiful view from here-"The younger colt commented with a smile.

"Yes, I love to go there after a hard day; it helps me to relax," Lara explained with a relaxed tone as they watched the skies. Was there an odd sound that greeted their ears? The sound of a roaring engine.

Out of the clouds flew orange and yellow transport ships. It was formed like a cuboid but rounded at the front, with four small cuboid-like engines, two on each side.

Oscar's eyes went wide as he recognized it. "What the- a Tau Orca? What are they doing here?"

"T-Tau?" Tungsten asked, confused.

"A very advanced Xeno race far from the Eastern Fringe of the galaxy, believing that they can help the rest of the galaxy find their way to peace and prosperity by having all under their flag for something called "The greater good." Of course, those that follow under that banner put them at the edge with the Imperium's views and laws, but they are not out for war if they can't avoid it. Still, this could be unpleasant" He sounded unease,

"We better get back to the palace to see if Finkle has organized your sanction IDs yet."

They followed him without hesitation; the Governor waited already for them. "Good timing, it went well." Finkle pointed to two dark green cloaks, having the skull on them. They fitted them perfectly.

"I also arranged that some Flak Armor for them to be made, just in case."

Then he went with his visitors to a large meeting room, seeing the Space Marines were already waiting. Just moments after, a humanoid creature walked in. It was tall and slender, with pure red eyes with blue skin, dressed in a white robe with a brown rounded hat. A small round drone was hovering next to it.

"Greetings, Governor. I am Por'O Pech Nase'fa, diplomat of the Tau Empire." The alien spoke with an echoing, graveling voice.

"What brings you here, xeno?" Finkle asked in a surprisingly neutral voice.

"To ask you to join our Empire and follow the Greater Good of course." Pech replied in return.

"And why should we do that?"

"You want only the best for your people, don't you, Governor. You can still worship your Emperor, I assure you. But, all those who contribute towards it have a meaningful and valued place within our society. And as you know, the Imperium has high tithes and excessive bureaucracy. We can free you of that. Is that not what you want?"

Finkle stayed silent for a moment, appearing to think about it, yet the colts noticed a hand of his slowly going towards his belt.

"It is indeed a very promising offer, Por'O Pech. But I am afraid…."

Before the Tau or his drone could react, the human drew a pistol, firing a red beam hitting Pech in the chest, making him fall back to the ground. The drone exploded in a shower of sparks, falling to the ground, smoking.

"What did you do, Finkle?!" Pip exclaimed in shock.

"A peaceful resolution is no longer an option, and while violence wasn't needed it has happened. There is nothing we can do to change the course now set, youngling." Uwe added in a gruff yet fatherly tone. He sighed before turning his helmeted gaze towards Governor Finkle, "Truly there are diplomatic methods that would have resulted in a better outcome other than gunning the blueberry down." his shoulders shook ever so slightly as a light chuckle escaped his lips, "I shall inform the Consul of this development and see what my kinsmen wish to do."

Finkle sighed. "I am sorry, but I can't allow my people to suffer for this. Humans working with xenos are seen far worse than traitors to the Emperor and humanity, there are different cases of entire planets destroyed due to this, something I dread for Heidrum."

"So…" Oscar took a deep breath. "This means we are at war with the Tau Empire."

Author's Note

Dark Crusade anyone?

Jan and Kyle, OC's of my good friend Midnightwolf GX and the Blood Raptors, the Space marines of Dr K-MoonShard