Consciousness. It had returned.

Surprised, he observed the world around him.

First, his armored body was restored. It now shown a resplendent crimson, edged in ivory. Upon his pauldron was the stylized sun of his Legion, and in the center of it a six pointed star.

He was in a study, the walls lined with books, covering subjects ranging from equine anatomy to astronomy to psychology. There were now several tomes about warpcraft and the dangers therein.

He stood in a faintly smoking circle, with runes of power etched into them at precise intervals and angles around the circle.

And in front of him stood a teary-eyed alicorn princess, exhausted after casting a modified warp spell fused with Equestrian magic. One used for millennia by a select few sorcerers to recover the souls of the Rubricae adrift in the warp.

He did not even employ the faintly glowing stone worked into his helm crest to protest the sudden hug of said alicorn, instead kneeling and returning the gesture.

Author's Notes:

And that's that! I do hope you thoroughly enjoyed this diversion from my main story. One day, I shall find a weapon that can slay writer's block without fail.

I initially intended this as a one-shot about the length of "Blooms in the Dust," but I just had to go and write more, didn't I? It's honestly been a pleasant distraction as I keep working on chapter 4 of "Wardens." The current chapter is a bit of a lull in the story arc so it's been a bit of a challenge to write to my satisfaction. This provided an excellent outlet for my writing desires and current 40k kick I've been in.

In the mean time, I'd love to see some discussion about this story, and see what impressions it's left with all of you. I'm definitely looking forward to some comments on the writing style. I'm also curious if anyone would enjoy working on a story with me, or would like my input on one of your projects. Just drop me a message! I can promise I'll answer those.