Emperor's Child in Equestria
Chapter 7: Rivals
Previous Chapter Next ChapterYou are Octavia and for the first time in ages, the house is finally quiet. No more earth-shaking wubs, just peace and quiet. Oh, nope, there it goes again. The house is bucking shaking. Oh well, it was nice while it las-
Those aren’t wubs. And... was that screaming? Sweet Celestia, that’s Vinyl screaming! You trot briskly up the stairs, worried for Vinyl’s health. You stop outside the door to her room and put an ear to it.
”Oh Anon, your Blastmaster is so amazing!” that sounded like Vinyl.
”Scream to be heard!” that one was Anonymous.
”I feel the Warp overtaking me!”
”FOR CHAOS!”
Nope.jpg. Nope nope nope nope. Nopenopenopenopenopenopenopenopenope.
You are Anonymous and today has been a good day. You light up a lho stick and throw an arm behind your head as you lean back on the pillows while a white hoof lazily traces circles around your chest.
”That. Was. Amazing.”
You get told that a lot.
”I get told that a lot.”
”I can see why.”
You’re about to make another smart remark when you freeze, your lho stick bursting into flames as you inhale fiercely though it. Vinyl gives you a look and follows your gaze. There in the corner, in a shadow cast by your helm, is a pair of burning green eyes.
Vinyl blinks. “Woah, I’ve never done it so hard I hallucinated. You, sir, are amazing.”
The eyes meet yours and a wicked smile of jagged fangs forms beneath them. As suddenly as it came it's gone. You jump out of the bed and rush to where your armor lay.
”Hey, what’s the big rush, stud? No round two?”
”That was no hallucination.” you explain.
”Really? What the buck was it, then?”
You look grimly at the spot the eyes had occupied mere moments before.
”A mandrake.”
And for you that can only mean one thing. The Dark Eldar are here. And for some reason you find yourself hoping that mandrake enjoyed itself watching you and Vinyl.
”A what now?”
”A monster of shadow and cruelty. Vinyl, I need to get back to Twilight’s to get my weapons.”
She hops out of bed and trots over to you.
“Well I’ll come with you then.”
You shake your head. “It is not safe for a pony. Stay in here, keep all the lights on, let no shadows exist.”
”Hey Anon, you’re kinda freakin’ me out here. What’s going on?”
”Before I came here I was being chased by some of the most depraved monsters in the galaxy. They found me.”
”Well if it’s that bad then I don’t think you can afford to turn away help.” she says.
You sigh. “I’m... honored that you would risk yourself in such a way for me, but that mandrake just saw us together, it’s entirely possible they’ll target you.”
”Well if that’s the case then shouldn’t I be near you so you know I’m safe?”
Damn this pony and her fucking sense making. You pause a moment before putting on your helmet.
”Fine.” you say. “But stay close, do whatever I say, and never leave my sight unless told to.”
She gives you a half lidded stare. “I like a guy who takes charge.”
Damnit, this is not the time for jokes! Regardless of how entertaining you find them. You attach the last of your wargear and turn to Vinyl.
“Come then, Vinyl. Let us be on our way.”
The two of you race through the streets of Ponyville drawing more than a few confused looks. You spare a glance at the pony running next to you, more than a little impressed that she’s able to keep up with a sprinting Space Marine. You finally find the library and tackle slide through the door, not bothering to take the time to crawl through, Vinyl following right behind.
”Twilight!” you scream into the library, getting to your feet.
”... ow.”
You turn to see Twilight sprawled out on the floor, eyes rotating independently of each other.
”Oh, sorry.”
She shakily gets to her hooves and casts an annoyed glance your way.
”You could have just walked in like a normal person.”
”Twilight, I need to get a message to Celestia, do you have any kind of vox network?”
”Um... I have no idea what a ‘vox’ is, but I can send her a letter for you.”
Every third fucking pony can use magic but they haven’t developed vox yet? Fuck this gay pony tech.
”That will take far too long, I need to speak to her right now!”
Twilight rolls her eyes. “Spike, can you come in here please?”
Spike scurries into the room within scant moments.
“Need something, Twi’?”
”Yes, could you please take a letter to Celestia for Anonymous?”
Fuck it, send the letter then jetpack your ass over to Canterlot and warn her personally.
”Alright, Anon, go ahead.” Spike says, holding a quill and some parchment.
A quill and fucking parchment. Fucking ponies.
You sigh in irritation. “Tell her the Dark Eldar are here.”
Spike writes down your words dutifully but Twilight just stares at you in abject horror.
”What?” she exclaims. “The same Dark Eldar who eat souls and feed on suffering? Those Dark Eldar?”
Oh right, you told her about them didn’t you.
”Yes, those Dark Eldar.”
Spike finishes writing and rolls the scroll up. Then he breathes fire all over the damned thing and it disintegrates. Fuck this gay pony tech! With precisely zero fucks left to give, you thunder down to the basement to grab your raptor pack and your weapons. You equip your pack and mag-lock your bolt pistol and chainsword to your belt and barrel back up the stairs, fully intent on scooping up Vinyl and flying your asses straight to Canterlot.
”Hey Anon, you got a reply!” says Spike as you emerge from the basement.
”What?”
And there Spike stands holding a scroll out to you. Huh, this actually isn’t as gay as you’d previously thought. You unroll the scroll and read the contents. Alright, so she’s coming here to personally handle the situation? Well daemonic aid is always welcomed, but you can’t help but feel slightly miffed that she doesn’t trust you to handle it yourself. Ignoring the fact that you yourself don’t actually believe that you can. Before you can say another word an colossal boom reaches you coming from the center of the town.
”What was that?” Twilight asks.
”Nothing good.” you say. “Come on, Vinyl, let’s go check it out.”
”Hang on! I’m coming with you!” Twilight says.
While you admire her desire to protect the town, you really don’t need another pony weighing you down right now. You’re about to tell her as much when Twilight sprints out the door yelling for you to hurry up. The only reaction you can muster is to cover your face with your hand and sigh.
”Yeah, I know that feeling.” Spike says.
”If I tell you to stay here and out of trouble will you listen?”
Spike nods enthusiastically.
“I don’t need to be told twice not to run face first into danger.”
Thank Slaanesh at least one of these xenos has some common sense.
”Alright Vinyl, let’s go.”
”Right behind ya!”
The two of you leave the library and sprint after Twilight towards the center of town. When you get there you’re greeted by a sight that makes the blood freeze in your veins. This is bad. This is even worse than Dark Eldar. This probably means the end for this entire planet. There, sitting in the remains of a ruined fountain sits an Astartes drop pod.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!
Twilight’s friends all come up, questioning looks on their faces.
”Twi’ what in tarnation’s goin’ on ‘ere? What is that thing?”
Twilight casts a glance your way. “Dark Eldar, right?” she asks.
”No.” you say, somberly. “Worse. That is an Imperial Space Marine drop pod. The Dark Eldar are the least of our worries right now.”
Pinkie hops up and down in excitement.
“Ohhh, more Space Marines? Does that mean they’re friends of yours? Yay! That means we get to have another party!”
Twilight, being the only one who actually knows anything about what’s going on, grows even more worried.
”So now we have to deal with soul eating monsters and world burning xenophobes?!”
”In short, yes. That’s an excellent summary of our current predicament.”
You eye the growing crowd of curious ponies, when that pod opens they’ll all die. You sprint out into the middle of the crowd and stand before the pod.
”Listen to me!” you yell to them. “You all have to run! You’re all in terrible danger!”
Before you can say anything else you hear an almighty thud as the drop pod opens up behind you. Words cannot describe the terror you feel right now. Not for yourself, but for these ponies. They're your charges, your friends.
You turn to face the threat and see three ceremite clad giants striding down the pod’s ramp. Your eyes narrow as you see the weapons clenched in their gauntlets and the heraldry adorning their armor. These may have been the most basic of this chapter’s tactical squads, but even their armor was covered head to foot in ornate heraldry, each suit of armor completely unique. They reach the bottom of the ramp and, regardless of the crowd of xenos surrounding you you can tell that these Astartes have eyes only for you.
And with good reason, too. You have fought this particular chapter many a time with your warband. Their leader steps forward to address you. You recognize him instantly. You’d fought this sergeant in countless battles over the last millennium. The legend “Infernus” inscribed across one pauldron.
”It has been a long time, brother.”
You nod slowly. “It has. And with any luck this will be our last meeting.”
The Astartes ready their sonic weapons, so very different from your own. They were your legion’s greatest rivals in the entirety of the Imperium. The Disco Marines.
