PonyHammer 40,000: Magic of War | Winter Strikeby Dragon HeartChaptersDa Mammoths EscapeLet the Blood FlowNo Retreat!Only Fools are CertainOur Work is ClearDis is a SNAARL!Death is Almost Upon UsThe Immortal Enemy Draws NearUnlikely AlliesThe TruthThere Can be Only OneA Terrible TaskThe NecroniesWe are not Your EnemiesGather Da Clans!The Clans UnitedShock and AweThe Daemon GateUneasy AllianceI Expect War in all ThingsRace to the TitanMy TriumphA Momentary VictoryDa Mammoths EscapeThe Warboss had managed to successfully take control of a few Hog clans, and was still needing more boars for his SNAARL!, but a large gate powered by generators blocked his path. On cue, Hogs with rocket launchers, as well as Hog Wartraks went in and fired away at the generators. Once all nine of the generators were destroyed, the power to the wall failed out, and the gate sunk into the ground. Inside, Hogs were scrambling around while a Mega-Armored Hog Nob yelled at them. "What you gitz doin'?" He shouted, "Fight! Dey ain't dead till I sayz dey dead!" The power outage reached the gate behind the Hog leader, making it fall to the ground. The giant mammoth that was being held inside walked out, making the other Hogs flee for their lives. "Who dat rumblin'?" The Nob asked before the mammoth impaled him on its tusk and threw him to the side. The Warboss laughed at the sight. "Now dat waz funny! Charge, boarz! Dis fight iz already mine... I can taste it!" Author's Note No wonder the Hogs (Orks) are the comic relief of the series. Everything they do is so stupidly funny it contagious. "Who dat rumblin'?" Gets me every time. I'm gonna go wrestle some mammoths, the rest of you can enjoy the story. Let the Blood FlowBorbutz's aircraft, which was a stolen Equestrial Transport Ship, didn't get very far as it suddenly exploded and crash landed. Borbutz and a few Hogs survived the accident, but the Warboss wasn't happy about any of the circumstances. "I don't care dat da flyer boar iz dead..." Borbutz yelled, "find me anudder flyer boar so I can kill 'im instead! How am I suppose ta run a SNAARL! out here wid no boarz?" The Hog Borbutz was talking to didn't even have time to answer as the angry Warboss grabbed him, flipped him upside-down, and smashed him four times into the ground before throwing him like a bag of garbage. "And right near a pony base? Dis just grand!" At said base, Discord units were making ready for a Hog attack. The Discord Lord, Grule, was trying to ease his troops, who were not very happy about the lack of murder and bloodshed. "My stallions grow restless guarding this insufferable fleck of ice they call Horn V," Grule stated, "though I do not blame them. Blood was meant to flow hot and free... not to run cold and sluggish. By Khorne, I should be commanding crusades, but this world... see how it denies me even my most basic pleasures." "Then perhaps I can provide you with some sport. Yes?" A Unicorn of Discord asked. "Our hunters clipped the wings of the shuttle carrying Warboss Borbutz. He recently united the other Hog clans. I believe he survived the crash." Grule grinned sinisterly from the given information. "Yes! Finally some sport. Eliminating Borbutz will send the Hogs reeling. But tell everyone that I alone will claim his head! By nightfall, we'll drink a toast from his skull!" With that said, the Discord Lord, his Discord Marines, and even a Desecrater headed off to fight against the Hog hoard and hunt for the Warboss. Author's Note Let's see how this plays out, shall we? The streets will be flooded with blood for about a few hours or so, and they'll get one heck of a surprise! No peeking... No Retreat!Behind the walls of a desecrated ruin, the forces of Discord were ready to fight against the Equestrial Guard who have arrived on Horn V. On the streets outside the walls, cultists were assaulted with bombing runs by Equestrial Gunships. One of the ships landed in the outskirts of the city. The airtight doors opened, and an Earth Pony clad in golden armor with retractable battle claws and a leg mounted bolter, the General, stepped off the ship and onto the ground. He was followed by another Earth Pony wearing a deep red uniform and hat, a Commissar, who breathed in the cold air and exhaled with pride. "Ah..." said the Commissar, "another world, another victory in the making for our glorious Empress!" "I see no victory here." said the General. "I see but one truth, and that truth is war. This world would not even warrant our attention were it not for our prize." More gunships flew over cultists and blew them up with their bombing runs. "Yes," The Commissar said, remembering the weapon of value they came to reclaim, "the Titan Domesticus. Imagine... a great war machine forged in the volcanic foundries of Ares." Another gunship landed, dispatching Equestrial Guardponies to combat any surviving cultists. "The Titan fell in the defense of this world," The General stated, "and the Empress had entrusted the Cadian 412th Regiment of the Equestrial Guard to retrieve it. The Titan lies in the ruins of Horn V's principal city, Tehorn. But, one thing at a time. We must take the Tehorn Defense Fortress if we hope to defeat the forces of Discord firmly entrenched upon this world. Spread word to the stallions. Tell them we win this day or we die trying. There is no retreat!" Author's Note The Equestrial Guard has set hoof on Horn V and are ready to take on the forces of Discord and a Hog SNAARL! They've got lasguns, bolters, and tanks, plenty of tanks. Those Leman Russ Battle Tanks can snipe you from a mile away, I swear. Only Fools are CertainThanks to the Farseer razing the generators, the seemingly invincible Daemon Gate was rendered vulnerable and disintegrated to ashes, but not before claiming the lives of many brave soldiers. The remaining troops headed through and gunned down any cultist stragglers still alive. "We have won," The Commissar said, "but the cost was high. Hundreds dead... thousands wounded. I have the numbers here if you wish." The General sighed. "We will mourn the dead later while the wounded can still fight. Regardless, we have our hoofhold and the soldiers left are more than enough to secure the Titan." The General looked at the opening in the gate suspiciously. "Still... I wonder. Why did the Daemon Gate collapse? Whose fortune was that?" "The fortune of Discord, General Buck." The Commissar proclaimed. "Such is the folly of consorting with evil. The Empress was smiling down upon us today, General, I'm certain of it." "Only fools are certain, Commissar." Buck stated. "And the day is not yet won. There is more to come... but what awaits us, I am not sure." He and the Commissar trotted away to prepare for the trip into the ruins, but not before receiving an emergency transmission from out of nowhere. "This is Brother Harnus... I repeat... this is Brother Harnus of the Aquamarines..." The voice yelled, "fell heretics have shot us down. The Titan crew is with us..." The vox buzzed out shortly and came back. "... will hold out for as long as we can but our transport has crashed deep inside enemy territory. ... must save the Titan crew at all costs..." Author's Note The Aquamarines are here, too?! This day get better and better. Sounds like they're in deep trouble. General Buck had better save their flanks before the forces of Discord do. Save the Titan crew, no matter what." Our Work is ClearAt the crash site, on top of a large hill, the transport lay half buried in the ground with dead Pony Marines around it. The remaining Aquamarines were under assault by cultists. A Pony Marine, wearing a helmet that resembled a skull and wielding a large mace, stood behind sandbags and fired at the heretics before him. "We have weathered fiercer storms than this!" said the Marine. "Hold the line, damn you. You will not embarrass the Empress today by dying!" Cultists fell and more cultists galloped in as the Marine continued to shout commands. "Watch your flanks and protect the Titan's crew! There! More come to die!" Meanwhile, General Buck and the other Equestrial Guardponies were observing the situation, and were not liking the circumstances of it. "Discord... Hogs..." said the Commissar, "our work is clear." "Indeed!" Buck said in agreement, "The Lightningeagle crashed nearby and it is to us to reach Chaplain Harnus and his Pony Marines. More importantly... we must save the Titan's crew. To this task, all considerations... even our lives, are secondary!" The Commissar smiled in agreement to those terms. "I would have it no other way!" Author's Note It's time for a rescue mission! With Hogs to shoot at and Ponies of Discord to burn, this is gonna be a blast! "Sworn ever to your duties, when at peace, and when at war". I love the 40K Imperial words of wisdom, just as much as... THUNDER HAMMERS! Dis is a SNAARL!Although the General's plan was in order, it was not running smoothly. In the streets of the ruins, Equestrial Guardponies were fleeing from, and under attack by, the Hog SNAARL! that Borbutz led. "Too many..." a Guardpony yelled as his comrades were gunned down, "there's too many! Never seen this many before... sound the retreat! Sound the-" He, too, was shot to death by the Hogs as they waddled into view. Borbutz, followed by his Hog SNAARL!, was more than ready for a Pony hunt. "Dat'z it boarz!" He shouted as the Hogs pounded their axes and blades on the ground. "Kill yer fill and smear dis here ice patch wid dere blood! Dis is a SNAARL! All good and proper! Da way it should be done... with me as Warboss!" "What about Buck, Boss..." the Armored Hog Nob asked, "can I kill him... showz you I'z a good Hog?" "No!" Borbutz spat, "Buck'z mine. I want his head!" "What'z so special about his head?" The Nob asked. "Dat's where da skull is, stupid." said Borbutz. "And I'd look foolish wiz his hoof on my pointy stik!" The Nob shook his head. "Stupid, stupid me! I knew da answer ta dat!" Author's Note Stupid, that's the name of the Mega Armored Nob. Once again, the Hogs are making us laugh with their own logic behind how to hunt and claim your trophies of war. And remember, always put the skulls on your pointy stick, because you'll look mighty foolish with a foot on it instead. Death is Almost Upon UsWith the Hogs hungry for battle and mayhem, the Equestrial Guard were having trouble reaching the Aquamarines. Atop a hill, barricaded by crudely built walls, Hog Wartraks were annihilating anything that tried to cross the bridge to the crash site. "We must retreat and find another way around." said Buck as more Guardponies were killed by Hog rockets. "The bridge is lost to us!" More Guardponies continued to be killed by incoming rockets until they finally turned and headed back. "To be thrown back by this... filth!" The Commissar said in disgust. "Had we our Party Cannons ready, we would've taught them a lesson!" The retreating Guardponies were still being demolished by Hog artillery, but managed to finally get out of their reach. Elsewhere, hidden from anyone's view, an Eldeer Warlock reported ill news to the Farseer. "Exalted Farseer!" She said, "The Equestrials are mired before the bridge and falter under heavy bombardment. Your orders?" The Farseer closed her eyes in disbelief. "The Equestrials test my patience with their incompetence!" She said angrily, but sighed. "Very well... we will deal with the Hogs ourselves, but only because the time grows short. Death is almost upon us..." With that said, Eldeer warriors appeared around her, ready to carry out the act of assistance. Author's Note Them Eldeer are so self-centered. They wonder how Ponies survived for millennium. Truth be told, I'm curious, as well. But enough talk, let's go slaughter some Hogs. The Immortal Enemy Draws NearThe Hog war party was regrouping at their settlement. They sharpened their blades, loaded their guns, and were ready for another fight. Meanwhile, the Eldeer were relocating their structures near a Webway Gate hidden inside a walled off portion of ruins. The Farseer appeared at the Assembly with the Warlock and Rangers. She was breathing heavily from some sort of exhaustion. "Farseer Toldear?" The Warlock asked, concerned for her wise leader, "What is wrong? You appear ill." Toldear shook her head and regained her composure. "It is naught but passing weakness." She said. "The immortal enemy draws near and I'm afraid their presence taxes my strength." "Then they will find us lying in wait, ready with their deaths." The Warlock proclaimed. "The Webway Assembly is safe, as is the Stone itself." "Good," said Toldear, "for without the Stone, we cannot strike down what approaches. Still... there is work to be done. We cannot relocate again without attracting the attention of the area's Hogs, however. Their leader possesses interesting technology." Back at the settlement, the Hogs were banging their axes and blades on the ground along with a large Hog a size smaller than a Warboss, if not bigger. He wore a metal mask and had a plethora of energy coils on his back that surged with power. "Deploy our Rangers to eliminate this Hog leader before they attack and destroy us all." said Toldear, and the Eldeer Rangers departed. Author's Note Ooh, stealthy assassination mission. Those missions are hard to work with, especially when your enemy can see you when you see them. That Big Mek is smarter than the average Hog. Unlikely AlliesThe Eldeer had succeeded in killing off the Hog leader and escaping from the other Hogs, but at the cost of many warriors, and their hidden presence. An Equestrial Guard Assassin took position to fire past a barricade. He locked on and shot an Eldeer Woodsinger. With the assassin's cover blown, a squad of Rangers went in and shot the assassin to death. "The skein of plots unravels." said Toldear. "Many have sacrificed themselves so that we might escape, but we are weakened for that loss. Now the Equestrials know we are here. There is only one thing we can do..." Using her magic on the Webway Assembly, Toldear managed to hack into the Equestrial Guard Vox Channel. "Greetings General Buck," She said, "I am Farseer Toldear. I require your assistance." At the Equestrial Guard headquarters, Buck picked up on the xeno's voice and immediately responded. "Eldeer!" said Buck, "Heh, I knew there was more to this than the Hogs and Discord Pony Marines. Well then... if you know me by name, then you know my question!" "Indeed." said Toldear, "Why should you help us? Because in this matter... we are not your enemy. It was we who saved you against the Daemon Gate and the Hog Artillery. And if we perish, then you will never know the real threat facing all of you." Buck raised an eyebrow. "The strange readings? Very well. We will meet face to face. Meanwhile..." The Equestrial Guard prepared for their rescue mission. Their guns and tanks were set up for battle. "I don't trust the Eldeer either," Buck said to the Commissar, "but this way, we know where they are. Move our stallions into position around the Eldeer and protect them until we can relocate them." With that said, they headed off to save their adversaries. Author's Note This cutscene itself confused me greatly. The only Imperial that found them was an Assassin, and they killed him. The Farseer then reveals their presence to Sturnn, who sound more surprised than not. The way things work just doesn't cope with me anymore. The TruthThe Equestrial Guard had manage to protect the Eldeer long enough for them to relocate their Assembly and other structures to a different location. Afterwards, Toldear and Buck met face to face with their troops close behind. "Thank you for your assistance." said Toldear. "You Eldeer are always trying to manipulate us into fighting your battles." Buck spat. "Heckgate VII, Tartaurus... here! What is it this time?" "Very well," said Toldear, "but remember that once I tell you the truth, I cannot untell it." "I believe in the Empress." Buck proclaimed, "Hers is the only truth. Anything you have to say falters in comparison to that." Toldear sighed. "Very well... death's locusts are coming to this world, and they will appear where your primitive Titan has fallen, to stop you from claiming it. They are called the Necronies, and they will lay waste to all life in this sector." "Necronies?" Buck said, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm, I've heard the word before." "The last time they were awake, eons ago, they thinned the galaxy of its species and threatened us to the verge of extinction. We possess a weapon this time, however. Our Soul Stone can destroy them. But... we will speak more of this later. The Hogs and Fallen Ponies approach. Let us be on our way." They departed and headed back to their bases, to ready for the next battle ahead. Author's Note Necronies. Yes, Necronies. Be ready for a shocking surprise that... really... isn't... that... much of a surprise. Do you fear Death? If not, then let's put your courage to the test. There Can be Only OneNear a Webway gate, the Eldeer structures were materializing around it. Toldear and her warriors appeared from the gate, ready for their next move. "Never have I encountered such an obstinate species." The Warlock said. "The Hogs are victims of their nature, but these ponies are willfully persistent and blind. How they survived..." "... is a joke the universe shares with no one, I'm afraid." said Toldear. "But we can trust the ponies will turn against us when the Titan is operational. That is why we must reach the Titan first with the Soul Stone. Only then can we hope to defeat the Necronies." Meanwhile, at the Equestrial headquarters, Chaplain Harnus is informed from Buck of what was told to him. "Necronies?" Harnus asked, "And you believe the Eldeer?" "Their assertions mean nothing to me." said Buck. "I agreed to help them to keep them within reach and to aid us in destroying the enemy. I fully expect them to betray us at first opportunity." Buck turned to look at the army before him. "We must reach that Titan and get the crew in place before the Eldeer do. Only one of us, Equestrial or Eldeer, will win the day. And the victor will be chosen here." Harnus trotted off to his marines, and Buck trotted off to his troops, both were ready to go all out. Author's Note Here comes the breaking point. Who will reach the Titan first, the Ponies or the Eldeer? Make your guesses in the comments below. Don't worry, you won't be penalized for guessing wrong. A Terrible TaskThe Eldeer had found the Titan. The great war machine lied buried in rubble and snow, unused for who knows how long, but they had no use for it. The Assembly, the Soul Stone, and their other structures materialized at the sight. Toldear stood before her warriors with beauty and grace. "My brothers and sisters of nature and song..." She said, "a terrible task falls to us. The Necronies, our ancestor-foes and destroyer of our sister species have returned. Even to this millennium, some Woodworlds lie in silent ruin because of them, millions of brothers and sisters guttered out like weak candles. We cannot abide this travesty again. To obliterate the soul itself is an act of utter, unprecedented malice that we cannot allow. The Necronies must pay for their actions. Today... they answer to us." The Warlock trotted up to the Farseer with the news she had been expecting. "Farseer Toldear... Necrony Monoliths sighted." "So it is." Toldear sighed, "Every battle must be a war unto itself. There can be no partial triumphs, for the Necronies will return again and again." She turned to her warriors. "Prepare yourselves. Today we war." Author's Note To me, the Eldar sound like such a tragic race. They've suffered so much, and yet the Imperium frown upon their very existence, while the Eldar see their existence as threatening. There are no true alliances in this universe, it's kill or be killed. The NecroniesAfter a long time of waiting, a giant black object that surged with green energies descended from the sky and landed on the planet surface. The object then opened up a panel in front, revealing a green portal. Four gun-like weapons poked out of its corners, and a large green crystal rose from on top. "Be strong of heart my warriors!" said Toldear. "The Necronies have arrived!" From the monolith, robots structured like Earth Pony skeletons started coming out of the portal. They wielded weapons that glowed with the same energies that was emanating from the monolith itself. Even their bodies were pulsing with the unnatural energies. Toldear stared at the mechanical monstrosities and breathed heavily from their presence. "By the Gods... guard my soul in the Eternity Matrix. This is Farseer Toldear, praying for what I fear is the last time. Give me strength!" The Necronies slowly made their way across the wasteland, ready to bring death to the world they were upon. Author's Note This is gonna get ugly, FAST. It's mystical deers versus the robotic undead. Lets hope that stone they have will really kill them off with ease. If not, their end is nigh. We are not Your EnemiesThe Soul Stone worked in destroying the Necrony Monolith, but more monoliths came out of the blue, and the stone needed time to recharge. Toldear thought the Titan might be of use against the Necronies, but she did not know how to work it. She knew she needed the help of the Equestrials once again. Easier said than done. General Buck and the Equestrial Guard, who had managed to survive the Hog/Discord battle, were going over battle plans to lure the enemies into a trap. "Order the third phalanx to pull back..." said Buck, "let the enemy pursue them. Then, close in with the eighth and tenth phalanxes... like we did on Baldmane." The Commissar looked to see Toldear boldly approach them. "General! Eldeer!" "Stay your hoof, pony." said Toldear. "I've come to speak with you, not fight." "You have guts, Eldeer," Buck commented, "considering we already trusted you once." "We are not your enemies today, so stop treating us as such." said Toldear. "We do not want your Titan. It is yours once we dispose of the Necronies." Buck leered at the Farseer and spoke softly. "I don't trust you, Eldeer." "Your trust is not required in this war..." Toldear stated, "only your help." Author's Note Oh man. Do you know what happens when you tinkerf*ck with something you don't know how to work? You screw up royally. And to make matters worse, if it's someone else's, you've got a lot to pay for. Gather Da Clans!In one of the ruined cities of Horn V, the sounds of gunfire and clashing blades echoed in the air. The forces of Discord and Hogs were shooting and hacking and slashing at each other, neither side wanting to back down. The bodies were piling up as Ponies and Hogs fell at each others hooves. Far from the battle, a group of Hogs and a large, mechanically armored Hog Nob were regrouping. "We be fightin' dem Discord Boyz for a long time now." The Nob said. "Da Equestrial boyz before dem waz easy, but dese boyz... dey too tough for us. Dey smash us good 'less we run!" "You talkin' scared." A Hog sneered, "You a coward! Dem only poniez!" "I'z got more brains den you! I sayz we run!" Behind the Armored Nob, a Hog Warboss waddled up from behind and shot the other Hog to death. "And I sayz you shut da hell up!" He bellowed. "I'm da Boss! Questions?" He looked at the other Hogs, none of them said anything. "Good! We need more boarz for dese here SNAARL! before we take da Discord boyz down good!" The Warboss pointed at a large banner not too far from their position. "Dis here is da first of da five big Hog Clanz! Ta take 'em, we needs to destroy dere big SNAARL! banner! That'll teach them." Author's Note If anyone asks, "Why did you publish five chapters at once"? It's because of the whole 1000 words or more rule in the submission thing. I apologize. And if anyone notices any boo-boos in the story, let me know through means other than comments, please and thanks. The Clans UnitedAfter taming the mammoths and killing the last Hog leaders, The Warboss had succeeded in uniting the Hog Clans. All around him, Hogs were banging their axeheads and blades on the ground, making drumming sounds. The Warboss stood proud with his own Mega-Armored Hog Nob Second in Command. "Dis planet iz mine now!" The Warboss boasted. "All da Hog Boarz answer ta me! Who da Warboss?" "You, Borbutz!" The Nob proclaimed, "You da biggest, baddest Warboss ever. You bigger den Wartheg! You be bigger den Poombah!" "Nopony bigger den Poombah ya ignorant git!" Borbutz stated, "At least... not yet! Now... where'z my flyin' ting? I got me a Discord boy skull by da name of Lord Grule ta claim for my pointy stik!" Down a hill, cultists galloped for their lives, but were inevitably trampled to death, or sent flying into the air, by a rampaging mammoth that was Borbutz's. Author's Note HOGZ, HOGZ, HOGZ, HOGZ! Shaddle up, shaks! Hogz, Hogz! It's gonna be a mammoth of a mess when Borbutz is on the move. But how far will he make it? I'm sure some of you know. Shock and AweAfter fighting their way through swarms of Hogs, Grule and his forces had finally defeated Borbutz. The massive Hog laid motionless on the ground as the Discord Lord and his Khorne Minotaurs approached his body. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Gunships flew in and started bombarding the streets. Grule looked around in shock. "What?! Where is that artillery coming from?!" Borbutz, who was feigning death, got back up to his hooves and looked around, too. "Looks like da Equestrial Guardz come ta kick yer can!" said Borbutz. "Fool!" said Grule, "We'll both die on this misbegotten ball of ice! You'll make a lovely mound of snow! Unless we charge their lines before they tighten their noose!" "Waddya mean, charge der line?" Borbutz asked as he waddled away. "Tell ya what. Youz go yer way, I go mine and we'll see who comez out da udder side." "What? Borbutz, where in the Warp are you going? Borbutz!" Grule growled in frustration. "Damn him! I'll charge the lines alone, then, and kill him when I next see his bloodshot eyes." Grule galloped with the Khorne Minotaurs towards the lines, wailing his battle cries of anger. "AAAAARRRRGGGHHH! KILL THEM ALL!!" Author's Note WHOO! The Equestrial Guard have arrived, at last! They're much more tougher than they were in the first game, and they've got Sentinels, which kinda look like the AT-ST walkers from Star Wars. I don't know why, they just do, which makes them even COOLER! The Daemon GateThe Equestrial Guard had managed to get past most of the Discord war parties that got in their way, but then they reached their last obstacle; The Daemon Gate. The large, corpse riddled barricade not only blocked their entrance to the city, it fought back with warp energy fireballs, mortally damaging anything it hit. "We cannot survive this barrage much longer." said the Commissar. "The Daemon Gate is protected by the foul workings of the Warp." The General stated. "If we cannot overcome it quickly, then all is lost!" From atop a large snow hill, an Eldeer Farseer saw the massacre unfold before her eyes. Even though she didn't appreciate the Ponies and their existence, she wasn't pleased with their troubles. "The Equestrials falter in their opening steps..." She said, "far sooner than I would have liked. How typical of them. Sadly, we must intervene on their behalf. Naycha's Tears! Four generators channel power to this so-called Daemon Gate. If we are to help these Equestrials, we must destroy the four generators first. Fortunately, we can use our Webway Gates to reach impassible areas and to bypass the Equestrial presence. They'll never know it was we who helped them." With that said, the Farseer disappeared, and reappeared near one of her Webway Gates at a different location. Now she had to destroy the generators. Author's Note Those Eldeer are so manipulative, it's sickening. They trick Ponies into fight their battles, and when they're all dead, they finish where they couldn't. It's another one of those days. Uneasy AllianceAlthough the forces of Discord lost the battle at the gates, they had managed to capture some Guardponies and torment them into squealing what they know. "Stop... please." the horribly mutilated Earth Pony begged, "I'll tell you whatever you want. I'll tell you everything!" "Why are you here on my world?" Grule demanded as Borbutz watched. "Answer me and I'll show you mercy." The Pony sighed in defeat. "We were assigned to retrieve a Titan: Domesticus. It was badly damaged in the defense of this world ages ago. We were hoping to repair it." Having more than enough information, Grule swung his bladed mace and slaughtered the Guardpony to death. Borbutz raised his only eyebrow in confusion. "Titan? What dat?" "Power unimaginable, Borbutz." Grule explained, "A war machine unlike any other... a weapon to devastate worlds... entire star systems, even. If I can gain control of the Titan, none could stand in my way. I'd be a God. Organize your forces, Borbutz, and let us be done with these Equestrial Guardponies. Afterwards, we'll settle matters between us." "Soundz good, Grule." said Borbutz in agreement. "I'll gather da boarz, and once I crush da poniez I'll help ya bleed somethin' good." The Warboss waddled away with his Hogs, and the Discord Lord grinned at the Hog's obliviousness. "Not unless I crush you under the Titan's heel first, Borbutz." Author's Note Uh oh. Now Grule wants the Titan, and Borbutz is gonna cause more ruckus than before. This could be disastrous. If he does obtain the weapon, we're all doomed to be slaves to Discord. General Buck had better step up his commanding game, he'll need to. I Expect War in all ThingsThanks to the Eldeer for eliminating the Hog forces that guarded the way, the Equestrial Guard went in and destroyed the Discord forces that were keeping the Pony Marines at bay. But a single Discord Unicorn escaped the razing of the stronghold and teleported to the Aquamarines' holdout. They fired at the Unicorn, but the Unicorn fell to his knees and was lifted into the air, only to plummet to the ground and explode in a bloody mess to summon a Greater Daemon of Khorne before them. A marine charged at the monster, and to his folly, was crushed by the beast's mighty grip. Chaplain Harnus then rushed in to combat the daemon. The beast slashed at the Chaplain, but missed. Harnus then hit the daemon in the face with his mace, and then uppercut it, making it reel back and lose its axe. The daemon fell to its hands and knees and tried to grab the Chaplain, but Harnus grabbed one of its horns and flung himself onto its head as the monster stood up. Harnus pounded the daemon on the head with his mace three times, making it fall onto the ground. Harnus rolled off and delivered the killing blow, crushing its head. A warp portal opened underneath the daemon's limp body, and it was sucked back to where it came from. General Buck and Harnus soon met near an armed Pony Marine transport, thanking each other for their brilliant efforts in the battle. "Again, General Buck," said Harnus, "you have my thanks and the thanks of the Aquamarines." Buck nodded. "I am the Empress's humble servant, but... we were not entirely responsible for today's rescue. Someone else is helping us. This is twice that some impassible obstruction miraculously evaporated." "You should trust in the Empress." said Harnus. "She was with us today." "Of that I have no doubt." said Buck. "Still, something else is helping us and I wish they'd stop. I don't like favors curried in secret. They wilt under the Empress's light." "Your words are pious..." Harnus commented, "I respect that." "Thank you." said Buck, "I expect war in all things and rarely disappointed or caught unaware. I'll let my stallions know that the Equestrium's finest extend them their gratitude." "Indeed." Harnus said in agreement, "The Titan's crew is secure and ready for transport." "Let us leave this place, then, and make our return to the outpost." said Buck. "We must get the crew back to the Titan, or all this will have been for naught." Buck and Harnus trotted off to the outpost to prepare for the march towards the Titan. Author's Note Ever feel like you're being watched? I have that feeling a lot, and it doesn't really bother me. I've grown use to people staring at me. It's a welcomed burden that I carry for the price of recognition. Race to the TitanElsewhere, Lord Grule confronted Borbutz, very angry about the Hog's actions. "Borbutz! What is the meaning of this?" "It'z time I got me some Eldeer skullz." said Borbutz. "I hear dere Farseer got a pretty skull." "Just stay clear of the Titan Hog..." Grule warned, "try to rob me of my prize and I'll rob you of your legs!" "You'z too worried about dat Titan, Grule." Borbutz stated. "Makez you blind. Maybe I should destroy it fer ya... keep yer mind on important tings... like winnin'!" "The Titan is the only prize worth having!" Grule yelled. "Take another step towards it and I will drive my hooves into your greasy eye pits." "Da Equestrial boyz smashed you good." said Borbutz. "You'z weak! Da new hammer, Grule, iz me! My SNAARL! iz unstoppable. What you got? Nuffin!" "I have enough stallions to seize the Control Gate." said Grule as he trotted away with his forces. "And who controls the gate, controls the fate of this battle!" Author's Note The Equestrials, the Eldeer, the Forces of Discord, or the Hogs? Who's gonna win this war? And who's gonna face against the Necronies? Comment your guesses (you won't be penalized) and find out in the next chapter of Winter Strike. My TriumphThe bringers of order and the bringers of disorder fought it out. Both were not willing to give up victory. Harnus and the Aquamarines were consequently slaughtered in the battle, but Buck and the Equestrial Guard were still standing. Borbutz decided it was time to leave the planet, but not without killing Grule and taking his skull first. The Eldeer were too cunning and fast to be beaten in the race, and thus made it past the gate before the other factions could, and sealed them off from the path. Their structures, and their Soul Stone, materialized past the gate and with them. Outside the barrier, the Equestrial Guard were caught in a fight between rogue Hogs and Discord Marines and were forced to hold their own, while the Eldeer were finally able to do what they came to do. "I hear the songs of the natural heavens," Toldear stated, "and the music is cacophonous. It is strange, but I find comfort in its dissonance. Righting the chaos of the universal opus is what's given my kind purpose when, by all right, we as a race should have collapsed in upon ourselves." She turned and trotted away from the massacre. "Win or lose... this battle is already my victory... my triumph. It is now fate which decides whether I am there to celebrate that fact or not." Author's Note To anyone who didn't guess the Eldeer, sorry. They are the canonical victors, after all, both here and in Winter Assault. They will fight their immortal enemies and avenge their fallen brothers and sisters. A Momentary VictoryWith the use of the now severely damaged Titan, the Soul Stone, and the Avatar of Khaine, every single monolith that arrived was utterly demolished, and the Necronies themselves vanished into thin air. "Farseer..." The Warlock addressed, "have we truly won?" Toldear sighed. "A momentary victory, I assure you." She said. "The Titan has served its purpose, but the strain ruptures it. If it explodes, it will claim us in her fury!" "Your kin await your instruction, Farseer..." The Warlock said, "what would you have us do?" Toldear turned and faced the Warlock. "The Necronies came, expecting to find souls for the claiming, and instead, found defeat. We can leave now. Go... through the Portals! Sound the evacuation! We are finished with this world." With that said, Toldear and the other Eldeer made their way to the Webway Gate and disappeared. The Titan began exploding in different places at once, killing many Guardponies and even Buck himself. Every single portion of the massive weapon blew up and soon was nothing but a pile of scrap metal. "We have won the day," Toldear stated, "but the day is not won on battles alone. The Necronies will continue their march, and at every turn of every crooked corner of this universe... they will find us lying in wait. And they will find us unafraid..." Author's Note And that's how you end an expansion sequel. Everyone should know by now that this is how it goes. If not, read the wiki. Soon, there will be more brutal wars in the future of the forty-first millennium. Remember, success is measured in blood; yours or your enemies.
Da Mammoths EscapeThe Warboss had managed to successfully take control of a few Hog clans, and was still needing more boars for his SNAARL!, but a large gate powered by generators blocked his path. On cue, Hogs with rocket launchers, as well as Hog Wartraks went in and fired away at the generators. Once all nine of the generators were destroyed, the power to the wall failed out, and the gate sunk into the ground. Inside, Hogs were scrambling around while a Mega-Armored Hog Nob yelled at them. "What you gitz doin'?" He shouted, "Fight! Dey ain't dead till I sayz dey dead!" The power outage reached the gate behind the Hog leader, making it fall to the ground. The giant mammoth that was being held inside walked out, making the other Hogs flee for their lives. "Who dat rumblin'?" The Nob asked before the mammoth impaled him on its tusk and threw him to the side. The Warboss laughed at the sight. "Now dat waz funny! Charge, boarz! Dis fight iz already mine... I can taste it!" Author's Note No wonder the Hogs (Orks) are the comic relief of the series. Everything they do is so stupidly funny it contagious. "Who dat rumblin'?" Gets me every time. I'm gonna go wrestle some mammoths, the rest of you can enjoy the story.
Let the Blood FlowBorbutz's aircraft, which was a stolen Equestrial Transport Ship, didn't get very far as it suddenly exploded and crash landed. Borbutz and a few Hogs survived the accident, but the Warboss wasn't happy about any of the circumstances. "I don't care dat da flyer boar iz dead..." Borbutz yelled, "find me anudder flyer boar so I can kill 'im instead! How am I suppose ta run a SNAARL! out here wid no boarz?" The Hog Borbutz was talking to didn't even have time to answer as the angry Warboss grabbed him, flipped him upside-down, and smashed him four times into the ground before throwing him like a bag of garbage. "And right near a pony base? Dis just grand!" At said base, Discord units were making ready for a Hog attack. The Discord Lord, Grule, was trying to ease his troops, who were not very happy about the lack of murder and bloodshed. "My stallions grow restless guarding this insufferable fleck of ice they call Horn V," Grule stated, "though I do not blame them. Blood was meant to flow hot and free... not to run cold and sluggish. By Khorne, I should be commanding crusades, but this world... see how it denies me even my most basic pleasures." "Then perhaps I can provide you with some sport. Yes?" A Unicorn of Discord asked. "Our hunters clipped the wings of the shuttle carrying Warboss Borbutz. He recently united the other Hog clans. I believe he survived the crash." Grule grinned sinisterly from the given information. "Yes! Finally some sport. Eliminating Borbutz will send the Hogs reeling. But tell everyone that I alone will claim his head! By nightfall, we'll drink a toast from his skull!" With that said, the Discord Lord, his Discord Marines, and even a Desecrater headed off to fight against the Hog hoard and hunt for the Warboss. Author's Note Let's see how this plays out, shall we? The streets will be flooded with blood for about a few hours or so, and they'll get one heck of a surprise! No peeking...
No Retreat!Behind the walls of a desecrated ruin, the forces of Discord were ready to fight against the Equestrial Guard who have arrived on Horn V. On the streets outside the walls, cultists were assaulted with bombing runs by Equestrial Gunships. One of the ships landed in the outskirts of the city. The airtight doors opened, and an Earth Pony clad in golden armor with retractable battle claws and a leg mounted bolter, the General, stepped off the ship and onto the ground. He was followed by another Earth Pony wearing a deep red uniform and hat, a Commissar, who breathed in the cold air and exhaled with pride. "Ah..." said the Commissar, "another world, another victory in the making for our glorious Empress!" "I see no victory here." said the General. "I see but one truth, and that truth is war. This world would not even warrant our attention were it not for our prize." More gunships flew over cultists and blew them up with their bombing runs. "Yes," The Commissar said, remembering the weapon of value they came to reclaim, "the Titan Domesticus. Imagine... a great war machine forged in the volcanic foundries of Ares." Another gunship landed, dispatching Equestrial Guardponies to combat any surviving cultists. "The Titan fell in the defense of this world," The General stated, "and the Empress had entrusted the Cadian 412th Regiment of the Equestrial Guard to retrieve it. The Titan lies in the ruins of Horn V's principal city, Tehorn. But, one thing at a time. We must take the Tehorn Defense Fortress if we hope to defeat the forces of Discord firmly entrenched upon this world. Spread word to the stallions. Tell them we win this day or we die trying. There is no retreat!" Author's Note The Equestrial Guard has set hoof on Horn V and are ready to take on the forces of Discord and a Hog SNAARL! They've got lasguns, bolters, and tanks, plenty of tanks. Those Leman Russ Battle Tanks can snipe you from a mile away, I swear.
Only Fools are CertainThanks to the Farseer razing the generators, the seemingly invincible Daemon Gate was rendered vulnerable and disintegrated to ashes, but not before claiming the lives of many brave soldiers. The remaining troops headed through and gunned down any cultist stragglers still alive. "We have won," The Commissar said, "but the cost was high. Hundreds dead... thousands wounded. I have the numbers here if you wish." The General sighed. "We will mourn the dead later while the wounded can still fight. Regardless, we have our hoofhold and the soldiers left are more than enough to secure the Titan." The General looked at the opening in the gate suspiciously. "Still... I wonder. Why did the Daemon Gate collapse? Whose fortune was that?" "The fortune of Discord, General Buck." The Commissar proclaimed. "Such is the folly of consorting with evil. The Empress was smiling down upon us today, General, I'm certain of it." "Only fools are certain, Commissar." Buck stated. "And the day is not yet won. There is more to come... but what awaits us, I am not sure." He and the Commissar trotted away to prepare for the trip into the ruins, but not before receiving an emergency transmission from out of nowhere. "This is Brother Harnus... I repeat... this is Brother Harnus of the Aquamarines..." The voice yelled, "fell heretics have shot us down. The Titan crew is with us..." The vox buzzed out shortly and came back. "... will hold out for as long as we can but our transport has crashed deep inside enemy territory. ... must save the Titan crew at all costs..." Author's Note The Aquamarines are here, too?! This day get better and better. Sounds like they're in deep trouble. General Buck had better save their flanks before the forces of Discord do. Save the Titan crew, no matter what."
Our Work is ClearAt the crash site, on top of a large hill, the transport lay half buried in the ground with dead Pony Marines around it. The remaining Aquamarines were under assault by cultists. A Pony Marine, wearing a helmet that resembled a skull and wielding a large mace, stood behind sandbags and fired at the heretics before him. "We have weathered fiercer storms than this!" said the Marine. "Hold the line, damn you. You will not embarrass the Empress today by dying!" Cultists fell and more cultists galloped in as the Marine continued to shout commands. "Watch your flanks and protect the Titan's crew! There! More come to die!" Meanwhile, General Buck and the other Equestrial Guardponies were observing the situation, and were not liking the circumstances of it. "Discord... Hogs..." said the Commissar, "our work is clear." "Indeed!" Buck said in agreement, "The Lightningeagle crashed nearby and it is to us to reach Chaplain Harnus and his Pony Marines. More importantly... we must save the Titan's crew. To this task, all considerations... even our lives, are secondary!" The Commissar smiled in agreement to those terms. "I would have it no other way!" Author's Note It's time for a rescue mission! With Hogs to shoot at and Ponies of Discord to burn, this is gonna be a blast! "Sworn ever to your duties, when at peace, and when at war". I love the 40K Imperial words of wisdom, just as much as... THUNDER HAMMERS!
Dis is a SNAARL!Although the General's plan was in order, it was not running smoothly. In the streets of the ruins, Equestrial Guardponies were fleeing from, and under attack by, the Hog SNAARL! that Borbutz led. "Too many..." a Guardpony yelled as his comrades were gunned down, "there's too many! Never seen this many before... sound the retreat! Sound the-" He, too, was shot to death by the Hogs as they waddled into view. Borbutz, followed by his Hog SNAARL!, was more than ready for a Pony hunt. "Dat'z it boarz!" He shouted as the Hogs pounded their axes and blades on the ground. "Kill yer fill and smear dis here ice patch wid dere blood! Dis is a SNAARL! All good and proper! Da way it should be done... with me as Warboss!" "What about Buck, Boss..." the Armored Hog Nob asked, "can I kill him... showz you I'z a good Hog?" "No!" Borbutz spat, "Buck'z mine. I want his head!" "What'z so special about his head?" The Nob asked. "Dat's where da skull is, stupid." said Borbutz. "And I'd look foolish wiz his hoof on my pointy stik!" The Nob shook his head. "Stupid, stupid me! I knew da answer ta dat!" Author's Note Stupid, that's the name of the Mega Armored Nob. Once again, the Hogs are making us laugh with their own logic behind how to hunt and claim your trophies of war. And remember, always put the skulls on your pointy stick, because you'll look mighty foolish with a foot on it instead.
Death is Almost Upon UsWith the Hogs hungry for battle and mayhem, the Equestrial Guard were having trouble reaching the Aquamarines. Atop a hill, barricaded by crudely built walls, Hog Wartraks were annihilating anything that tried to cross the bridge to the crash site. "We must retreat and find another way around." said Buck as more Guardponies were killed by Hog rockets. "The bridge is lost to us!" More Guardponies continued to be killed by incoming rockets until they finally turned and headed back. "To be thrown back by this... filth!" The Commissar said in disgust. "Had we our Party Cannons ready, we would've taught them a lesson!" The retreating Guardponies were still being demolished by Hog artillery, but managed to finally get out of their reach. Elsewhere, hidden from anyone's view, an Eldeer Warlock reported ill news to the Farseer. "Exalted Farseer!" She said, "The Equestrials are mired before the bridge and falter under heavy bombardment. Your orders?" The Farseer closed her eyes in disbelief. "The Equestrials test my patience with their incompetence!" She said angrily, but sighed. "Very well... we will deal with the Hogs ourselves, but only because the time grows short. Death is almost upon us..." With that said, Eldeer warriors appeared around her, ready to carry out the act of assistance. Author's Note Them Eldeer are so self-centered. They wonder how Ponies survived for millennium. Truth be told, I'm curious, as well. But enough talk, let's go slaughter some Hogs.
The Immortal Enemy Draws NearThe Hog war party was regrouping at their settlement. They sharpened their blades, loaded their guns, and were ready for another fight. Meanwhile, the Eldeer were relocating their structures near a Webway Gate hidden inside a walled off portion of ruins. The Farseer appeared at the Assembly with the Warlock and Rangers. She was breathing heavily from some sort of exhaustion. "Farseer Toldear?" The Warlock asked, concerned for her wise leader, "What is wrong? You appear ill." Toldear shook her head and regained her composure. "It is naught but passing weakness." She said. "The immortal enemy draws near and I'm afraid their presence taxes my strength." "Then they will find us lying in wait, ready with their deaths." The Warlock proclaimed. "The Webway Assembly is safe, as is the Stone itself." "Good," said Toldear, "for without the Stone, we cannot strike down what approaches. Still... there is work to be done. We cannot relocate again without attracting the attention of the area's Hogs, however. Their leader possesses interesting technology." Back at the settlement, the Hogs were banging their axes and blades on the ground along with a large Hog a size smaller than a Warboss, if not bigger. He wore a metal mask and had a plethora of energy coils on his back that surged with power. "Deploy our Rangers to eliminate this Hog leader before they attack and destroy us all." said Toldear, and the Eldeer Rangers departed. Author's Note Ooh, stealthy assassination mission. Those missions are hard to work with, especially when your enemy can see you when you see them. That Big Mek is smarter than the average Hog.
Unlikely AlliesThe Eldeer had succeeded in killing off the Hog leader and escaping from the other Hogs, but at the cost of many warriors, and their hidden presence. An Equestrial Guard Assassin took position to fire past a barricade. He locked on and shot an Eldeer Woodsinger. With the assassin's cover blown, a squad of Rangers went in and shot the assassin to death. "The skein of plots unravels." said Toldear. "Many have sacrificed themselves so that we might escape, but we are weakened for that loss. Now the Equestrials know we are here. There is only one thing we can do..." Using her magic on the Webway Assembly, Toldear managed to hack into the Equestrial Guard Vox Channel. "Greetings General Buck," She said, "I am Farseer Toldear. I require your assistance." At the Equestrial Guard headquarters, Buck picked up on the xeno's voice and immediately responded. "Eldeer!" said Buck, "Heh, I knew there was more to this than the Hogs and Discord Pony Marines. Well then... if you know me by name, then you know my question!" "Indeed." said Toldear, "Why should you help us? Because in this matter... we are not your enemy. It was we who saved you against the Daemon Gate and the Hog Artillery. And if we perish, then you will never know the real threat facing all of you." Buck raised an eyebrow. "The strange readings? Very well. We will meet face to face. Meanwhile..." The Equestrial Guard prepared for their rescue mission. Their guns and tanks were set up for battle. "I don't trust the Eldeer either," Buck said to the Commissar, "but this way, we know where they are. Move our stallions into position around the Eldeer and protect them until we can relocate them." With that said, they headed off to save their adversaries. Author's Note This cutscene itself confused me greatly. The only Imperial that found them was an Assassin, and they killed him. The Farseer then reveals their presence to Sturnn, who sound more surprised than not. The way things work just doesn't cope with me anymore.
The TruthThe Equestrial Guard had manage to protect the Eldeer long enough for them to relocate their Assembly and other structures to a different location. Afterwards, Toldear and Buck met face to face with their troops close behind. "Thank you for your assistance." said Toldear. "You Eldeer are always trying to manipulate us into fighting your battles." Buck spat. "Heckgate VII, Tartaurus... here! What is it this time?" "Very well," said Toldear, "but remember that once I tell you the truth, I cannot untell it." "I believe in the Empress." Buck proclaimed, "Hers is the only truth. Anything you have to say falters in comparison to that." Toldear sighed. "Very well... death's locusts are coming to this world, and they will appear where your primitive Titan has fallen, to stop you from claiming it. They are called the Necronies, and they will lay waste to all life in this sector." "Necronies?" Buck said, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm, I've heard the word before." "The last time they were awake, eons ago, they thinned the galaxy of its species and threatened us to the verge of extinction. We possess a weapon this time, however. Our Soul Stone can destroy them. But... we will speak more of this later. The Hogs and Fallen Ponies approach. Let us be on our way." They departed and headed back to their bases, to ready for the next battle ahead. Author's Note Necronies. Yes, Necronies. Be ready for a shocking surprise that... really... isn't... that... much of a surprise. Do you fear Death? If not, then let's put your courage to the test.
There Can be Only OneNear a Webway gate, the Eldeer structures were materializing around it. Toldear and her warriors appeared from the gate, ready for their next move. "Never have I encountered such an obstinate species." The Warlock said. "The Hogs are victims of their nature, but these ponies are willfully persistent and blind. How they survived..." "... is a joke the universe shares with no one, I'm afraid." said Toldear. "But we can trust the ponies will turn against us when the Titan is operational. That is why we must reach the Titan first with the Soul Stone. Only then can we hope to defeat the Necronies." Meanwhile, at the Equestrial headquarters, Chaplain Harnus is informed from Buck of what was told to him. "Necronies?" Harnus asked, "And you believe the Eldeer?" "Their assertions mean nothing to me." said Buck. "I agreed to help them to keep them within reach and to aid us in destroying the enemy. I fully expect them to betray us at first opportunity." Buck turned to look at the army before him. "We must reach that Titan and get the crew in place before the Eldeer do. Only one of us, Equestrial or Eldeer, will win the day. And the victor will be chosen here." Harnus trotted off to his marines, and Buck trotted off to his troops, both were ready to go all out. Author's Note Here comes the breaking point. Who will reach the Titan first, the Ponies or the Eldeer? Make your guesses in the comments below. Don't worry, you won't be penalized for guessing wrong.
A Terrible TaskThe Eldeer had found the Titan. The great war machine lied buried in rubble and snow, unused for who knows how long, but they had no use for it. The Assembly, the Soul Stone, and their other structures materialized at the sight. Toldear stood before her warriors with beauty and grace. "My brothers and sisters of nature and song..." She said, "a terrible task falls to us. The Necronies, our ancestor-foes and destroyer of our sister species have returned. Even to this millennium, some Woodworlds lie in silent ruin because of them, millions of brothers and sisters guttered out like weak candles. We cannot abide this travesty again. To obliterate the soul itself is an act of utter, unprecedented malice that we cannot allow. The Necronies must pay for their actions. Today... they answer to us." The Warlock trotted up to the Farseer with the news she had been expecting. "Farseer Toldear... Necrony Monoliths sighted." "So it is." Toldear sighed, "Every battle must be a war unto itself. There can be no partial triumphs, for the Necronies will return again and again." She turned to her warriors. "Prepare yourselves. Today we war." Author's Note To me, the Eldar sound like such a tragic race. They've suffered so much, and yet the Imperium frown upon their very existence, while the Eldar see their existence as threatening. There are no true alliances in this universe, it's kill or be killed.
The NecroniesAfter a long time of waiting, a giant black object that surged with green energies descended from the sky and landed on the planet surface. The object then opened up a panel in front, revealing a green portal. Four gun-like weapons poked out of its corners, and a large green crystal rose from on top. "Be strong of heart my warriors!" said Toldear. "The Necronies have arrived!" From the monolith, robots structured like Earth Pony skeletons started coming out of the portal. They wielded weapons that glowed with the same energies that was emanating from the monolith itself. Even their bodies were pulsing with the unnatural energies. Toldear stared at the mechanical monstrosities and breathed heavily from their presence. "By the Gods... guard my soul in the Eternity Matrix. This is Farseer Toldear, praying for what I fear is the last time. Give me strength!" The Necronies slowly made their way across the wasteland, ready to bring death to the world they were upon. Author's Note This is gonna get ugly, FAST. It's mystical deers versus the robotic undead. Lets hope that stone they have will really kill them off with ease. If not, their end is nigh.
We are not Your EnemiesThe Soul Stone worked in destroying the Necrony Monolith, but more monoliths came out of the blue, and the stone needed time to recharge. Toldear thought the Titan might be of use against the Necronies, but she did not know how to work it. She knew she needed the help of the Equestrials once again. Easier said than done. General Buck and the Equestrial Guard, who had managed to survive the Hog/Discord battle, were going over battle plans to lure the enemies into a trap. "Order the third phalanx to pull back..." said Buck, "let the enemy pursue them. Then, close in with the eighth and tenth phalanxes... like we did on Baldmane." The Commissar looked to see Toldear boldly approach them. "General! Eldeer!" "Stay your hoof, pony." said Toldear. "I've come to speak with you, not fight." "You have guts, Eldeer," Buck commented, "considering we already trusted you once." "We are not your enemies today, so stop treating us as such." said Toldear. "We do not want your Titan. It is yours once we dispose of the Necronies." Buck leered at the Farseer and spoke softly. "I don't trust you, Eldeer." "Your trust is not required in this war..." Toldear stated, "only your help." Author's Note Oh man. Do you know what happens when you tinkerf*ck with something you don't know how to work? You screw up royally. And to make matters worse, if it's someone else's, you've got a lot to pay for.
Gather Da Clans!In one of the ruined cities of Horn V, the sounds of gunfire and clashing blades echoed in the air. The forces of Discord and Hogs were shooting and hacking and slashing at each other, neither side wanting to back down. The bodies were piling up as Ponies and Hogs fell at each others hooves. Far from the battle, a group of Hogs and a large, mechanically armored Hog Nob were regrouping. "We be fightin' dem Discord Boyz for a long time now." The Nob said. "Da Equestrial boyz before dem waz easy, but dese boyz... dey too tough for us. Dey smash us good 'less we run!" "You talkin' scared." A Hog sneered, "You a coward! Dem only poniez!" "I'z got more brains den you! I sayz we run!" Behind the Armored Nob, a Hog Warboss waddled up from behind and shot the other Hog to death. "And I sayz you shut da hell up!" He bellowed. "I'm da Boss! Questions?" He looked at the other Hogs, none of them said anything. "Good! We need more boarz for dese here SNAARL! before we take da Discord boyz down good!" The Warboss pointed at a large banner not too far from their position. "Dis here is da first of da five big Hog Clanz! Ta take 'em, we needs to destroy dere big SNAARL! banner! That'll teach them." Author's Note If anyone asks, "Why did you publish five chapters at once"? It's because of the whole 1000 words or more rule in the submission thing. I apologize. And if anyone notices any boo-boos in the story, let me know through means other than comments, please and thanks.
The Clans UnitedAfter taming the mammoths and killing the last Hog leaders, The Warboss had succeeded in uniting the Hog Clans. All around him, Hogs were banging their axeheads and blades on the ground, making drumming sounds. The Warboss stood proud with his own Mega-Armored Hog Nob Second in Command. "Dis planet iz mine now!" The Warboss boasted. "All da Hog Boarz answer ta me! Who da Warboss?" "You, Borbutz!" The Nob proclaimed, "You da biggest, baddest Warboss ever. You bigger den Wartheg! You be bigger den Poombah!" "Nopony bigger den Poombah ya ignorant git!" Borbutz stated, "At least... not yet! Now... where'z my flyin' ting? I got me a Discord boy skull by da name of Lord Grule ta claim for my pointy stik!" Down a hill, cultists galloped for their lives, but were inevitably trampled to death, or sent flying into the air, by a rampaging mammoth that was Borbutz's. Author's Note HOGZ, HOGZ, HOGZ, HOGZ! Shaddle up, shaks! Hogz, Hogz! It's gonna be a mammoth of a mess when Borbutz is on the move. But how far will he make it? I'm sure some of you know.
Shock and AweAfter fighting their way through swarms of Hogs, Grule and his forces had finally defeated Borbutz. The massive Hog laid motionless on the ground as the Discord Lord and his Khorne Minotaurs approached his body. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Gunships flew in and started bombarding the streets. Grule looked around in shock. "What?! Where is that artillery coming from?!" Borbutz, who was feigning death, got back up to his hooves and looked around, too. "Looks like da Equestrial Guardz come ta kick yer can!" said Borbutz. "Fool!" said Grule, "We'll both die on this misbegotten ball of ice! You'll make a lovely mound of snow! Unless we charge their lines before they tighten their noose!" "Waddya mean, charge der line?" Borbutz asked as he waddled away. "Tell ya what. Youz go yer way, I go mine and we'll see who comez out da udder side." "What? Borbutz, where in the Warp are you going? Borbutz!" Grule growled in frustration. "Damn him! I'll charge the lines alone, then, and kill him when I next see his bloodshot eyes." Grule galloped with the Khorne Minotaurs towards the lines, wailing his battle cries of anger. "AAAAARRRRGGGHHH! KILL THEM ALL!!" Author's Note WHOO! The Equestrial Guard have arrived, at last! They're much more tougher than they were in the first game, and they've got Sentinels, which kinda look like the AT-ST walkers from Star Wars. I don't know why, they just do, which makes them even COOLER!
The Daemon GateThe Equestrial Guard had managed to get past most of the Discord war parties that got in their way, but then they reached their last obstacle; The Daemon Gate. The large, corpse riddled barricade not only blocked their entrance to the city, it fought back with warp energy fireballs, mortally damaging anything it hit. "We cannot survive this barrage much longer." said the Commissar. "The Daemon Gate is protected by the foul workings of the Warp." The General stated. "If we cannot overcome it quickly, then all is lost!" From atop a large snow hill, an Eldeer Farseer saw the massacre unfold before her eyes. Even though she didn't appreciate the Ponies and their existence, she wasn't pleased with their troubles. "The Equestrials falter in their opening steps..." She said, "far sooner than I would have liked. How typical of them. Sadly, we must intervene on their behalf. Naycha's Tears! Four generators channel power to this so-called Daemon Gate. If we are to help these Equestrials, we must destroy the four generators first. Fortunately, we can use our Webway Gates to reach impassible areas and to bypass the Equestrial presence. They'll never know it was we who helped them." With that said, the Farseer disappeared, and reappeared near one of her Webway Gates at a different location. Now she had to destroy the generators. Author's Note Those Eldeer are so manipulative, it's sickening. They trick Ponies into fight their battles, and when they're all dead, they finish where they couldn't. It's another one of those days.
Uneasy AllianceAlthough the forces of Discord lost the battle at the gates, they had managed to capture some Guardponies and torment them into squealing what they know. "Stop... please." the horribly mutilated Earth Pony begged, "I'll tell you whatever you want. I'll tell you everything!" "Why are you here on my world?" Grule demanded as Borbutz watched. "Answer me and I'll show you mercy." The Pony sighed in defeat. "We were assigned to retrieve a Titan: Domesticus. It was badly damaged in the defense of this world ages ago. We were hoping to repair it." Having more than enough information, Grule swung his bladed mace and slaughtered the Guardpony to death. Borbutz raised his only eyebrow in confusion. "Titan? What dat?" "Power unimaginable, Borbutz." Grule explained, "A war machine unlike any other... a weapon to devastate worlds... entire star systems, even. If I can gain control of the Titan, none could stand in my way. I'd be a God. Organize your forces, Borbutz, and let us be done with these Equestrial Guardponies. Afterwards, we'll settle matters between us." "Soundz good, Grule." said Borbutz in agreement. "I'll gather da boarz, and once I crush da poniez I'll help ya bleed somethin' good." The Warboss waddled away with his Hogs, and the Discord Lord grinned at the Hog's obliviousness. "Not unless I crush you under the Titan's heel first, Borbutz." Author's Note Uh oh. Now Grule wants the Titan, and Borbutz is gonna cause more ruckus than before. This could be disastrous. If he does obtain the weapon, we're all doomed to be slaves to Discord. General Buck had better step up his commanding game, he'll need to.
I Expect War in all ThingsThanks to the Eldeer for eliminating the Hog forces that guarded the way, the Equestrial Guard went in and destroyed the Discord forces that were keeping the Pony Marines at bay. But a single Discord Unicorn escaped the razing of the stronghold and teleported to the Aquamarines' holdout. They fired at the Unicorn, but the Unicorn fell to his knees and was lifted into the air, only to plummet to the ground and explode in a bloody mess to summon a Greater Daemon of Khorne before them. A marine charged at the monster, and to his folly, was crushed by the beast's mighty grip. Chaplain Harnus then rushed in to combat the daemon. The beast slashed at the Chaplain, but missed. Harnus then hit the daemon in the face with his mace, and then uppercut it, making it reel back and lose its axe. The daemon fell to its hands and knees and tried to grab the Chaplain, but Harnus grabbed one of its horns and flung himself onto its head as the monster stood up. Harnus pounded the daemon on the head with his mace three times, making it fall onto the ground. Harnus rolled off and delivered the killing blow, crushing its head. A warp portal opened underneath the daemon's limp body, and it was sucked back to where it came from. General Buck and Harnus soon met near an armed Pony Marine transport, thanking each other for their brilliant efforts in the battle. "Again, General Buck," said Harnus, "you have my thanks and the thanks of the Aquamarines." Buck nodded. "I am the Empress's humble servant, but... we were not entirely responsible for today's rescue. Someone else is helping us. This is twice that some impassible obstruction miraculously evaporated." "You should trust in the Empress." said Harnus. "She was with us today." "Of that I have no doubt." said Buck. "Still, something else is helping us and I wish they'd stop. I don't like favors curried in secret. They wilt under the Empress's light." "Your words are pious..." Harnus commented, "I respect that." "Thank you." said Buck, "I expect war in all things and rarely disappointed or caught unaware. I'll let my stallions know that the Equestrium's finest extend them their gratitude." "Indeed." Harnus said in agreement, "The Titan's crew is secure and ready for transport." "Let us leave this place, then, and make our return to the outpost." said Buck. "We must get the crew back to the Titan, or all this will have been for naught." Buck and Harnus trotted off to the outpost to prepare for the march towards the Titan. Author's Note Ever feel like you're being watched? I have that feeling a lot, and it doesn't really bother me. I've grown use to people staring at me. It's a welcomed burden that I carry for the price of recognition.
Race to the TitanElsewhere, Lord Grule confronted Borbutz, very angry about the Hog's actions. "Borbutz! What is the meaning of this?" "It'z time I got me some Eldeer skullz." said Borbutz. "I hear dere Farseer got a pretty skull." "Just stay clear of the Titan Hog..." Grule warned, "try to rob me of my prize and I'll rob you of your legs!" "You'z too worried about dat Titan, Grule." Borbutz stated. "Makez you blind. Maybe I should destroy it fer ya... keep yer mind on important tings... like winnin'!" "The Titan is the only prize worth having!" Grule yelled. "Take another step towards it and I will drive my hooves into your greasy eye pits." "Da Equestrial boyz smashed you good." said Borbutz. "You'z weak! Da new hammer, Grule, iz me! My SNAARL! iz unstoppable. What you got? Nuffin!" "I have enough stallions to seize the Control Gate." said Grule as he trotted away with his forces. "And who controls the gate, controls the fate of this battle!" Author's Note The Equestrials, the Eldeer, the Forces of Discord, or the Hogs? Who's gonna win this war? And who's gonna face against the Necronies? Comment your guesses (you won't be penalized) and find out in the next chapter of Winter Strike.
My TriumphThe bringers of order and the bringers of disorder fought it out. Both were not willing to give up victory. Harnus and the Aquamarines were consequently slaughtered in the battle, but Buck and the Equestrial Guard were still standing. Borbutz decided it was time to leave the planet, but not without killing Grule and taking his skull first. The Eldeer were too cunning and fast to be beaten in the race, and thus made it past the gate before the other factions could, and sealed them off from the path. Their structures, and their Soul Stone, materialized past the gate and with them. Outside the barrier, the Equestrial Guard were caught in a fight between rogue Hogs and Discord Marines and were forced to hold their own, while the Eldeer were finally able to do what they came to do. "I hear the songs of the natural heavens," Toldear stated, "and the music is cacophonous. It is strange, but I find comfort in its dissonance. Righting the chaos of the universal opus is what's given my kind purpose when, by all right, we as a race should have collapsed in upon ourselves." She turned and trotted away from the massacre. "Win or lose... this battle is already my victory... my triumph. It is now fate which decides whether I am there to celebrate that fact or not." Author's Note To anyone who didn't guess the Eldeer, sorry. They are the canonical victors, after all, both here and in Winter Assault. They will fight their immortal enemies and avenge their fallen brothers and sisters.
A Momentary VictoryWith the use of the now severely damaged Titan, the Soul Stone, and the Avatar of Khaine, every single monolith that arrived was utterly demolished, and the Necronies themselves vanished into thin air. "Farseer..." The Warlock addressed, "have we truly won?" Toldear sighed. "A momentary victory, I assure you." She said. "The Titan has served its purpose, but the strain ruptures it. If it explodes, it will claim us in her fury!" "Your kin await your instruction, Farseer..." The Warlock said, "what would you have us do?" Toldear turned and faced the Warlock. "The Necronies came, expecting to find souls for the claiming, and instead, found defeat. We can leave now. Go... through the Portals! Sound the evacuation! We are finished with this world." With that said, Toldear and the other Eldeer made their way to the Webway Gate and disappeared. The Titan began exploding in different places at once, killing many Guardponies and even Buck himself. Every single portion of the massive weapon blew up and soon was nothing but a pile of scrap metal. "We have won the day," Toldear stated, "but the day is not won on battles alone. The Necronies will continue their march, and at every turn of every crooked corner of this universe... they will find us lying in wait. And they will find us unafraid..." Author's Note And that's how you end an expansion sequel. Everyone should know by now that this is how it goes. If not, read the wiki. Soon, there will be more brutal wars in the future of the forty-first millennium. Remember, success is measured in blood; yours or your enemies.
