Much of the city around Canterlot had a very somber mood compared to just a few weeks ago. While everyone still had fight in them, it seemed like there would be no way to stave off the corruption for long. Ogres, Changelings and Harpies constantly harassed the boundaries of the city and even began the need for an inquisition to root out any Changeling heresy and find weak links in the line of command.

The Lunar Templars Reclusiarch had been recovered about a street away from the Chapter Master and both had been hauled back to the infirmary wing of the castle. Upon their return some of the unicorns began to notice strange connections about them...

A unicorn medic quickly made his way down the hall of the infirmary wing, looking frantically left and right as his mousy brown mane bounced with each hooffall. He was muttering something to himself as he tried picking up his pace, catching sight of something he slid a bit as he tried to keep his footing. The occupants of the room were near silent as the medic walked in, his coat nearly making him blend in with the reflective topaz floors of the castle.

"Uh... S-Librarian Tenebras... There's... there's something off about the Chapter Master and Reclusiarch..." He panted as he worked to regain his composure.

"What do you mean Rune?" The gentle tone that answered the medic was a definite change compared to the other Astartes he had come across, He began to stand a bit straighter as he looked up at the massive figure.

"Well... Sir... Um... Doctor Trendly just did a scan of both of them and found a... Well... It's really hard to explain... I was sent to get you since he believes you would be the best to find out more about their condition..."

With a quick nod the Lunar Templar astartes quickly made his way to the part of the castle that the Chapter Master and Reclusiarch were in.

Doctor Simon Trendly, a simian doctor of all things, stood over the two massively-genetically changed ponies that were called the Reclusiarch and Chapter master. He hummed curiously to himself as he walked around them and occasionally waved a shaman-like staff above them which glowed a light blue for a few seconds.

The creaking of a door caught his attention and he turned just in time to see one of the more recent additions to the army, a fellow the others called a Librarian. He gave a small mental chuckle to match the wave and smile he presented the giant bipedal unicorn as he walked surprisingly lightly for his size.

"How are you today Sir Tenebras?" He said with a small flourish of a bow, receiving a terse nod from the giant unicorn in return.

"I am fine... although Mister Rune informed me that you have information that would interest me?" He asked in a slightly demanding tone.

Trendly gave a small nod as he beckoned the Librarian over. "Both of them... they have a source unlike you, me, griffons or any creature on this world that can normally use magic..." He caught the small twitch that the massive unicorn had as he mentioned the word 'magic'. "...While you have a lot of power focused on your inner strength, as most creatures do on this world, these two are showing something... else... something... darker."

"I would watch my words if I were you doctor... If you are saying what I am to believe you are saying, you stand to accuse the most loyal of our chapter of heresy..." Tenebras growled as the doctor took a step back.

Raising his hands defensively he quickly worked to make sure he wouldn't be boxed in, "No... Of course I don't mean that, it's that there's something that is providing them with a power not natural to us... it has it's own malevolence to it even stronger than the bloodlust of you marines. If you wish to test what I say, scan them yourself... I am not lying about this."

Slowly, the Librarian turned his gaze back towards the two recovering marines before closing his eyes and hearing the newly familiar chime that was his magic activating.

While he was cautious and used it sparingly, the 'magic' felt so much safer, warmer... less chaotic than what his memories of the warp were. Nothing but his own strength greeted him and he was in control, no need to worry about what could happen.

Letting his moment finish being savored he began to stretch his new sixth sense out to examine the Librarian and Chapter Master, only to recoil back and catch himself with how fast he had gone back. It took a few seconds for him to realize that he had unconsciously shifted away from them and quickened his breathing, although it would've sounded normal for anyone not accustomed to the astartes.

Trendly gave him an odd look, "What is it Tenebras?"

The next few seconds seemed agonizing, dead quiet as even some of the straggling nurses tried to hear what the giant unicorn was going to say.

The thick silence shattered as he spoke just more than a whisper.

"...The Warp..."

After much rushing around, quarantining and general security, the middle sector of Canterlot City remained quite peaceful... to an extent... as citizens tried going about their daily lives, hoping for news from outlying towns that were being defended by the marines, and even more were beginning to silently worry over the disappearance of their rulers. A pair of earth ponies sat in a quiet corner of what was once a park near Canterlot Square.

"I'm telling you Punch, With how long this is going... I don't think that the princesses are going to return... what if they got turned into changeling queens or something?" The first, a light blue stallion with a dark blue mane that had a white stripe going down it, panicked in a hushed tone.

The second, a burgundy stallion quickly smacked his friend across the face. "Floss! Don't say shit like that, do you know how fast Those Guys would be on your ass for heresy? They're coming back, they're just as strong as the marines... they'll be fine..."

With a slight growl Silver Floss glared at his friend. "Yet here we are, stuck a hundred miles from home in quite possibly the last scrap of civilization... I'm starting to think those 'space marines' can-..." He was quickly silenced as Fruit Punch shoved a hoof in his mouth when he noticed a figure on the other side of the park.

The red trim on the stallion's jacket was one thing that stood out against the slowly greying landscape, the other was that while he was a stallion... he stood only on his hind hooves like the marines did and had hands just like them. It didn't seem like he had noticed the two yet, but that didn't stop Fruit Punch from protecting his friend.

Once the burgundy earth pony moved his hoof away Silver Floss gave him an odd look, only to be just as frightened when he noticed who his friend had seen.

"I told ya..." Fruit Punch whispered. "...It doesn't matter how quiet you are... just talking about 'em invites them to stake ya..."

Author's Notes:

I hope you guys like this little chapter, I plan on making a few more before we get to any sort of retaliation.

Oh, and to those of you who want to submit a marine, or who have but want to make a change before they are cemented into the story, Unicorn psykers are now an option.

As always, I love feedback and love talking to you guys.