>Short hours before sunrise you managed to get ahold of yourself and get some sleep.
>Resting half of your brain at a time, you remained aware of your surroundings. You wholly expected the loyalists to try and kill you again sometime in the near future, so such measures were needed.
>Still, you felt at peace. New hope filled your mind, a warm sensation that bled into your outlook.
>You are also uneasy. You don’t know the first thing about this place, the culture, or anything these ponies seem to really value. You will have to tread lightly at first.
>You remember something about a party. The pink pony, what was her name? Oh yes, Pinkie Pie. A tad unimaginative name, but it suited her.
>She said she was throwing a party for you and said it was going to be, in her words, “Epic!”
>You are going to make the most of it, despite your ignorance of such things.
>Sunlight warms your face as the day breaks, bright and clear upon the world of Equestria.
>You fully awaken your mind and rise from your cross-legged meditation on the balcony of your room.
>Born to a world of eternal night, your eyes water at the daybreak, unused to such brightness.
>You smell the scent of dew-wet grass and hear the gentle cooing of mourning doves.
>Your door opens with a creak, and a gilded Pegasus informs you that breakfast is served in the main hall.
>You follow the guard down the corridors, the tread of your boots echoing through the castle.
>The guard opens the door a massive door for you and you step into a large dining room, complete with an impressively massive oaken table, crystal chandelier and fine china dishes laden with food.
>Celestia rises and calls to you, “Chosen! I wondered when you would arrive. We were going to start breakfast without you.”
>Celestia sits across an ebony mirror of herself, resplendent in platinum encrusted black steel. Twilight and her friends are present as well, as are the Scout and Apothecary. Even Blinky is present, hovering at Fluttershy’s shoulder.
>”Good morning to you too, Celestia,” you say as you take your seat across from the Blood Angel. He acknowledges your presence with a quick look toward the older marine. The Apothecary scowls at you, and the boy mirrors his apparent mentor’s expression.
>Your smile does not fade when you face them, but your Astartes mind still demands that you kill them.
>No. You will not kill them. That would be counter-productive. You will not waste Celestia’s trust in you.
>Your monologue is broken by Celestia. “Alright everyone, breakfast is served!”
>You take notice of the food before you. It’s all vegetarian. You heart sinks slightly. You miss the taste of meat.
>You still pile your plate high with eggs and fruit, relishing their freshness and wholesome taste. Compared to your rations aboard your ship this meal is the very nectar of the gods. You attack your first plate, ignorant of your lack of manners.
>”Enjoying your meal, Night Lord?” The Scout smirks as you help yourself to another pile of food.
>You grunt in approval as you notice the other ponies watching your graceless feeding. Celestia lets out an airy giggle at your lack of refinement.
>Her dark opposite also takes notice, if with a bit more curiosity.
>”The food won’t run away from you Chosen, I promise!” She giggles again.
>Perhaps you should slow down a bit.
 
>After breakfast, Celestia informs you and the other two marines that she has a gift for them all.
>She leads you out of the dining hall, followed closely behind by the Ultramarine, the Scout and the 5 ponies. Blinky floats at your shoulder.
>”Ooh, I wonder what the surprise will be?” Twilight excitedly postulates.
>”I’m sure it’ll be something wonderful,” Scout muses.
>”Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment, my young scout,” the apothecary intones flatly. The scout looks slightly crestfallen.
>”What’s the matter with a little hope?” Applejack asks. “It doesn’t hurt nobody to hope.”
>The apothecary grunts. “Perhaps.”
>”It’s going to be something amazing! Celestia gives the best presents, so there’s no doubt it’ll be spectacular!” Twilight picks back up again, trying to encourage the young astartes. He returns Twilight’s smile.
>”We’re hee-ere!” Celestia melodiously calls as you approach a door comically covered in locks. You can barely see the door itself behind such security.
>She flicks the locks away with her magic and they fall to the floor one by one. A hole is left in the center of door.
>”Do you remember when I told you that you all were not the first to come here?”
>The astartes nod. The ponies look confused.
>I will explain everything later girls.” She looks to you three. “Before we buried them, we took their equipment and stored it here. Ponies do not possess the physiology to use such things...” She inserts her horn into the hole, and the doors ghost open.
>The sight takes your and your fellow astartes’ breath away.
>Weapons of every shape and size line the wall. Some xenos, some made for humans, some for Marines. Power armor of every color and variation imaginable sit silently on their oversized mannequins, while terminator armor stands in hunchbacked silence. Innumerable bolters, lasguns, chainswords, power weapons, and even a few sets of thunder hammers wait in silence, seemingly begging to find use again. Even a dreadnought made its way to this planet somehow, its black armor and iron cross betraying its allegiance to the Black Templars.
>”They are all yours. Take whatever you want.”
>”These are relics of their chapters and legions! You don’t have the right to give them away to traitors and the unworthy!” The Apothecary blurts out as you and Scout move to pick out the choicest pieces of the treasure trove.
>”I have the right to give these gifts to whomever I please, thank you very much, Apothecary,” Celestia replies calmly. The ponies by her side tense at the spike of hostility in the air.
>Scout winces at the word “unworthy” while you could not care less what the old loyalist fool thinks.
>”You may be able to turn away good fortune Apothecary, but I will not. The dead do not need weapons and armor anymore,” You state as you feel the weight of hefty double-handed chainsword.
>No, too heavy and ungainly.
>The apothecary rips the blade from your grasp before you can return it to the wall.
>”Do not defile the Emperor’s weapons with your touch, TRAITOR,” he snarls at you.
>You step back, arms crossed, your patience wearing thin.
>Scout stands beside you, holding a red pinioned helmet in his hands. He’s practically giddy with anticipation. “Apothecary, what do you think? Should I take my first suit of power armor?”
>The apothecary glances coldly at the boy, who shrinks from his gaze.
>You place a hand on the boy’s shoulder, despite the flare of revulsion that marks this momentary camaraderie with a loyalist. “Celestia gave these things to us. You don’t need his permission. Take the armor.”
>”Do not listen to him boy. He is a traitor to the Emperor. He is not to be trusted. You must EARN your armor, not plunder it from some xenos’ treasure trove.”
>”Last I checked, Scout is a space marine who can make his own decisions. Let him decide himself.”
>”He does not have a choice. As apothecary, I outrank him. He knows better than to disobey the orders of those ranked above him.”
>”The boy is not even of your chapter and you think you can command him?”
>”I do not think I command him. I know that I do, as much as he does.”
>”Such humility! Guilliman would be proud! Haha!”
 >At this final word of mockery, the Apothecary lost his normally iron hard grip on his temper. His gauntlet shot out, clamping around your throat like a vice.
>Before you can kill the fool in retaliation, a gold aura envelops the aged marine, pulling his hand from your neck. You smirk at him as he turns and glares at the princess, flames of rage burning in his eyes.
>The ponies are crying out, wanting to fight the marine who tried to hurt you.
>”Release me witch!” He snarls.
>”Don’t talk to the Princess like that!” Rainbow Dash shouts.
>”Yeah!” A chorus of voices respond in kind.
>Celestia silences them all with a delicate “ahem”.
>”Apothecary, I warned you last night not to harm Chosen in any way, shape or form. You said you would not.” Her gaze turns deathly serious. “I do not like being lied to.”
>”My apologies, PRINCESS,” the Ultramarine responds, venom lacing every word.
>”This is your final warning, Apothecary.” She releases her hold on the blue marine, who storms off in a fury.
>”Ah’m glad that’s over.” Applejack drawls.
>”And here I thought he was well mannered! Looks can be deceiving.” Rarity says, seemingly hurt by the outburst.
>You look at scout, who is replacing the helm in his hands on the mannequin it belonged to.
>”Oh, come on boy, try the armor on. I’m sure it’ll suit you just fine.” You say to the sulking lad. You honestly don’t know if you care for the boy or just enjoyed driving a wedge between the two loyalists.
>”*sigh* No. He’s right. I don’t deserve to wear power armor yet. I’ll never be able to earn it.” He sits next to the armor, head hung low in depression.
>Fluttershy trots up to up and puts a wing around his shoulders. “Oh, try it on. Celestia said you could have it, didn’t she?”
>The blonde-haired boy looks down at the pastel pony. “Thank you Miss Fluttershy, but I need to earn it. It is our way, after all.”
>”Can you at least take a new weapon? Here, catch!” You call to him.
>The boy obeys, catching the crimson chainsword in his hands. It suits him nicely. It even bears the symbol of his chapter.
>He smiles as he looks the blade over.
>”Yeah. I think I can take this, at least.”
>You turn to the ponies across the way, who are now joined by Celestia’s dark twin. “By the way, didn’t Pinkie Pie mention yesterday she was throwing a party for me? When’s all that happening?”
>”Yer darn tootin’ she is! Nobody throws ah party like Pinkie Pie.” Applejack exclaims.
>”We got invitations last night, as a matter of fact,” Celestia says, producing a violently pink piece of paper. “It says it’s happening today at three p.m., down in Ponyville.”
>Fluttershy gasps. “Three o’clock? We’d better hurry and catch the train if we’re going to make it in time!”
>”You all go on ahead, I’m going to grab a few things. I’ll catch up.”
>”That’s a great plan, but you don’t know where anything is around here, do you?” Rainbow Dash says crossing her hooves.
>”No, I guess I don’t. I was planning on grabbing a jump pack. Maybe we can fly to wherever this party is, eh Rainbow Dash?”
>”Ha! You can’t fly! You don’t even have wings!”
>”I soar on wings of fire.”
>She cocks her head to the side. “Huh?”
 
>You return from the makeshift armory a few minutes later, having secured your jump pack, a few grenades, an elegant and beautiful power sword, a plasma pistol and ammo.
>The jump pack was an old design, more suited for sustained flight than more modern versions.
>”Well THOSE are the weirdest wings I’ve ever seen. No feathers or nothing,” Rainbow Dash says as she looks you over.
>”Don’t worry, I’ll fly just fine.”
>”I’ll believe that when I see it.”
>You smirk under your helmet. You blink-click an activation rune in your helmet, and the turbines strapped to your back whine into life. You sprint toward a balcony a dozen yards away and leap off.
>You don’t see Rainbow Dash running to the railing, expecting to see you splat on the ground below.
>With a burning roar you blast upward, turbines rocketing you forward and away from the castle.
>Dumbfounded, Rainbow Dash takes off after you, her namesake multicolored streak trailing behind her.
>”Took you long enough,” you say as Rainbow Dash pulls beside you.
>”Hey, I’m the fastest thing in Equestria! No one can beat me.”
>”So you say.” The exhilaration of flying with a jump pack was making you confident and giddy.
>”Wanna race, then, Mr. BigShot?”
>” I don’t even know where I’m going.”
>”C’mon Chosen! Ponyville’s just a little ways northeast of here, you can just barely see it over there,” She points her hoof in that direction and you can barely make it out in the distance.
>”I see it. If it’s a race you want then it’s a race you’ll ge-“ You turn to where she was hovering a moment ago. She’s already a good quarter-mile ahead of you.
>”Clever girl…” You kick your jetpack into full afterburner. There’s no way you’re losing to this pony.
 
>Apothecary’s perspective.
>You tramp through the gardens, your anger boiling over completely.
>”Who does she think she is, telling an Ultramarine what to do?! I should have just killed her when I had the chance, like the codex says to do with filthy xenos like her!”
>You glance up at a statue in your path. A grotesque melding of half a dozen animals stands frozen in terror.
>These ponies have the same deviant tastes in art as the damned Night Lord.
>The traitor even came to the Scout’s defence! Trying to drive a wedge through your sacred brotherhood, trying to twist the boy to the darker powers no doubt.
>You never believed for an instant what Celestia had said. That the Night Lord was penitent. It did not matter if he was some whimpering weakling or his father’s spitting image, you were sworn to kill all traitors to the Golden Throne!
>You fail to notice a crack form in the statue above you.
>”Damn your lies Celestia. I’ll cleanse this world of your xenos kind in the name of the Emperor, like I should have done in the first place.”
>Another crack.
>”Then when I’m done with your filthy kind I’ll kill that Night Lord too, and give him a taste of the Emperor’s mercy.”
>The statue explodes in dusty fragments, and a massive golden armored man strides from it.
>You turn to look upon a face you had seen only in the icons of the Ecclisiarchy.
>”God –Emperor…” You mutter in open-mouthed shock.
>You quickly remember your place and fall to your knees.
>”Rise Apothecary of the Ultramarines. Your righteous anger has drawn me to this place.”
>You rise, but avert your gaze and do not answer, his form is too radiant with purity for any human to look upon.
>”Now, receive the blessings of the righteous, Ultramarine.”
>A golden finger touches your forehead, and you feel yourself fill with power, your body swelling and growing ever stronger, your armor expanding to hold your bulk. In a few moments, the transformation is complete. Fingers distended into claws, a wicked blade of malice in your grip, and a nightmarish body complete your metamorphosis.
>Of course, that is not what you see. You see yourself elevated to the same perfection as the primarchs, a living Avatar of the Emperor’s will.
>”Now go, Ultramarine. Cleanse this world of xenos filth, and kill the traitor as well. Sanctify this land in my name!”
>”FOR THE EMPEROR!” You bellow as you leave to murder that traitorous Night Lord and the xenos that inhabit this world.
>After you leave, the trickster returns to his more natural form.
>The amalgamation of half a dozen animals giggles to itself. “That was almost too easy.”
 
 
>You’re gaining on Dash, slowly but surely.
>She would have made a fine Raptor, were she Astartes. That same prideful superiority was present in her, but far more innocent.
>That and she wasn’t a cannibal who ate her fallen brethren. Lovely bunch, those Raptors.
>You rocket underneath Dash, roll over and look her square in the eye. “I thought you said you were the fastest in Equestria?”
>”You ain’t seen nothing yet!”
>With a magically enhanced explosion, Rainbow shattered the sound barrier.
>You would be amazed, but the shockwave knocked your thrusters out of commission, sending you tumbling from the sky.
>SHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT
>Warning runes pulse with unremitting urgency, alerting you to the fact that you were falling at nearly two hundred miles per hour.
>More than enough to splat you across the pavement.
>The town is below you now. If you crashed through a house or hit something softer than the ground you may yet survive.
>You were not going to hit anything other than the town square, which is entirely devoid of anything to slow your fall. Other than the large crowd of ponies gathered around a stage some with some kind of odd white tower at its center.
>You try to aim for that…
 
>Pinkie Pie’s perspective
>Alright everypony! The party’s going to start in a little bit! We just need Chosen and the Princesses to get here!
>KRAKOOM!
>A sonic rainboom!
>Rainbow Dash always knew how to make an entrance.
>Wait, what’s that?
>It was trailing smoke and falling fast.
>The crowd of ponies were staring and pointing at the falling object that you now recognized as Chosen.
>He was heading for you!
>Even worse! He was headed for your cake!
> Maybe he was just excited you made him a cake and didn’t want anything to get in between him and your confectionary goodness.
>You manage to duck out of the way as Chosen splats headlong through your cake, taking the middle level with him.
>The top falls neatly on the bottom layer as Chosen plows through the stage and out the back with a huge crash.
>You rush over to him. Even Rainbow Dash would be hurting after a fall like that.
 
>Back to Chosen’s perspective
>That was not the worst landing you ever made, but it was close.
>THAT award goes to an airdrop on Hydra Secundus, where you were hit by a Thunderhawk and sucked into its turbines. It had gutted the craft, but you had been shredded by the blades of the engines before falling a further 800 meters into a quagmire of rotting corpses and mud. Not a pleasant fight, that one.
>You feel a few bruised ribs and a pounding in your head, but they would fade in time.
>Sight does not come to you. You remove your helm and discover a thick white substance covering the majority of your armor.
>You wipe a little off on your finger and bring it up to your mouth for a taste.
>You abruptly stop, having learned not to trust any “thick white substance” after your last run in with the Emperor’s Children.
 >It smells sweet, but you’re taking no chances.
>A violently pink poofball of a pony pokes her head into the wreckage
>”Are you ok, Chosen? I know my cakes are awesome but I’ve never seen anyone eat one like that! Is that how you eat cakes back home?”
>”What’s a cake?”
>Pinkie looks incredulously at you. “You don’t know what cake is? What kinda crazy place did you come from?”
>”Trust me Pinkie, a really crazy place.”
>”Well come on then! I need to introduce you and get this party started. Then we deal with your cake virginity!”
>WORD CHOICE
>You brush off the icing off your armor as best you can before stepping up on the ruined stage.
>Celestia and her dark doppelganger have appeared, as have Rainbow Dash, Scout and the other ponies.
>”And now everypony, the moment you’ve been waiting for! Let me introduce to you the, er… guys of the hour, Chosen and Scout!”
>”Greetings, ponies.”
>Scout salutes crisply.
>Several ponies gasp, but most are laughing or sniggering at your cake plastered armor.
>”NOW LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!”
>Pinkie Pie whips out a cannon seemingly out of nowhere and fires it off into the crowd, streamers and party accoutrements scattering with a thunderous BOOM.
>”YEEEEAH!” A bulky white Pegasus with tiny wings adds.
>Electronic music thumps from massive speakers, controlled by a white goggled unicorn.
>Reminds you of Noise Marine music, only without the skulls bursting like overripe fruit, or orgasmic seizures on the ground.
>Scratch that. A few ponies are flailing about on what appears to be a dance floor.
>A small plate with what you can only assume is cake is pushed into your and Scout’s hands by Pinkie Pie.
>”Go on! Try a bite!” Pinkie Pie says, hopping up and down in place, a toothy smile spread across her face.
>You look at scout, who is already digging into his plateful with reckless abandon.
>You take a small bite on your fork.
>You cannot really describe what happens next.
>Having not tasted sugar in any form for nearly three centuries, the part of your mind that interperates taste does a small backflip and breakdances to the perfect sensation of Pinkie Pie’s cake.
>”Well, do you like it Chosen?”
>”This… this… Oh, gods this possibly the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten. Did you make this?”
>”Sure did!”
>You don’t respond. You’re too busy enjoying the confectionary masterpiece on your tongue. You are glad you lost your cake virginity to such a deserving icon of sugary perfection.
>Scout’s already going for another piece and you gobble yours down.
>Pinkie Pie hops down from the stage and waves to you and her friends. “C’mon everyp0ny, it’s time to party!”
>Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Scout and the dark pony join Pinkie on the dance floor, while Celestia, Twilight, Fluttershy, Blinky and yourself remain.
>”So… what exactly happens at a party? What do I do?”
>Celestia giggles at your ignorance. “You mingle, dance, eat, and have a little fun. That’s what makes parties so great.”
>”So why aren’t you all out there having a good time?” You ask Fluttershy and Twilight.
> “Oh, I’m not really one for parties…” Fluttershy mumbles as she looks away.
>Blinky makes a sad “dwoo” sound.
>”It’s kind of the same way for me. I usually embarrass myself around other people.”
>The crowd full of ponies bustles with activity. More than a few ponies are gathering around Scout, who garners no small amount of applause and awe with his backflipping dance moves.
>The wonders of youth. Other ponies mingle by a table laden with all sorts of fruit and vegetarian eatables, laughing and carousing with one another.
>May as well try some of this other food they have. If it’s even close to Pinkie’s cooking, you’ll gladly eat it all.
>Ah, good stuff.
>”Hey, aren’t you that Chosen guy?” A Pegasus that practically looks aflame inquires.
>The pony looks dressed in some kind of blue jumpsuit, with goggles around her neck. A few others in similar clothing stand around her.
>”Yes, that is what they call me. And what is your name?”
>”Spitfire. Glad to meet another flyer.” She extends her hoof for what you assume to be a… hoofshake? You shake the hoof. “That was one heck of a landing you made. Are you alright.?”
>”Just a few minor injuries. I’ll be fine.”
>”Good to hear. How exactly do you fly? You don’t have wings or anything.”
>”Jump pack. It hooks onto my armor and pulls me through the air.”
>”Yeah but how?”
>You really have no desire to try to explain how jet turbines produce lift, so you take the easy way out. “Maybe it’s best if I just show you. I’d stand back if I were you.”
>She takes a few steps back, along with the other ponies closeby as your turbines spin up.
>With a roar like an angry god, you soar through the low hanging clouds, trailing thin grey smoke behind you.
>You push the screaming jump pack into full afterburn, rocketing up at ever-increasing speed.
>Might as well show these ponies what you can do.
>You roll through a few ostentatious loops and a corkscrew before pulling into a twisting Coronus Dive.
>Such a dive was usually reserved for insertion into hotzones where AA fire was present, and you twist and weave through nonexistent flak bursts.
> You continue your jinking and powered descent until a short ways above the ground, flaring your engines harshly to slow you down.
>Ponies spread from your landing point like ants from a kicked hive as you thunder into the ground.
>You stand straight once more.
>”THAT is how I fly, miss Spitfire.”
>Despite the soot blackened her face, a courtesy of your engine wash, a pleased smile never falls from her face. Several ponies clap at your shameless disdain for the laws of gravity. A few cheer.
>”Well color me impressed, Chosen, you’re quite the flyer! How would you like to fly with the Wonderbolts? I’d like to see more of what you can do.”
>You always loved to soar, so why not? “I would enjoy that.”
>”Good. Meet us here in the town square on Sunday. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the gang. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to help Soarin’ finish that apple pie of his.”
>You nod and she leaves, being replaced by Rainbow Dash and what appears to be some melding of eagle and lion.
>Rainbow Dash is practically giddy, while her friend seems to be looking you over.
>”Ohmygosh you got invited to fly with the Wonderbolts!? Promise you’ll take me with you when you fly with them! PLEASEPLEASEPLEASPLEASEPLEASE!?”
>She’s bouncing up and down, reminiscent of Pinkie Pie.
>”What exactly are the Wonderbolts?”
>”They’re only the best flyers in Equestria! No one’s faster or can scream through clouds like they can!”
>”You beat me on the way over here; you’re faster than I am. Shouldn’t you already be a Wonderbolt in that case?”
>Rainbow’s looks depressed at these words. “I’ve tried to get them to notice me, but I never got an invite to fly with them.”
>”Why don’t you just ask to fly with them?”
>”I couldn’t just ask, that wouldn’t be right! I’d be butting in on their carefully scheduled training routines!”
>”Yet you want me to take you with me when I go flying with them.”
>Rainbow Dash looks kind of stupefied at her own logic. “Well… yeah…”
>You give her several moments to think about her flawed logic before changing the subject.
>”Well, Rainbow? Are you going to introduce me to your… friend?”
>Having been looking you over since this exchange began, the half bird, half eagle extends a taloned leg out to you. “Gilda the griffon. Half eagle, half lion and ALL awesome.”
>You extend your hand to shake her’s but she pulls away, running her taloned hand through her mane of feathers instead. “Haha, too slow…”
>Such petty displays of bravado hardly deserved a response from you.
>You bite anyway.
>”Tshiva keln, poorschant ist hann…” It had truly been a long time since you had told someone “Eat shit and die, leprous tramp,” in your native tongue, but there it was. A smug smile crosses your porcelain pale features.
>”And what’s THAT supposed to mean, hissy lips?” Gilda responds, a slight edge evident in her voice.
>How childish.
>”It means, ‘Eat the best of the fruits and live long, exalted one.”
>”Oh. That’s cool. Hey Dash, your friend’s alright. Maybe he could pull some of those cool stunts of his with us sometime.”
>”I’d saw that’d be pretty cool, Gilda. It’d be good to have some competition after I wiped the floor with you last time…” Rainbow Dash responds nonchalantly.
>”Oh just you wait Dash, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve for next time. So what do you say, Black Eyes? Wanna fly with us sometime?”
>You had no desire to fly with the braggart, but It was another excuse to practice your skills with your jump pack. Besides, there may be more to this griffon than just the preening glory-hound before you. Gotta practice that forgiveness somehow.
>”It’s Chosen, and yes, I’d like that.”
>”Good. I’d better get going Dash. I gotta work early tonight. See you around, Chosey”
>With a half lidded gaze she turns from you, shakes her rear in your direction, seemingly tensing to leap into the sky. Gilda jumps up and soars off into the clouds.
>”Alright, see ya Gilda!” Dash calls after her, waving goodbye.
>”That was less than pleasant,” you say to Dash once Gilda is out of earshot.
>”I think she likes you, Chosen.” Rainbow Dash teases.
>”Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
>You part company with Dash and grab a mug of cider, letting the cool, sweet liquid wash away your agitation and unease.
>You chat with a few more ponies, a brown stallion with an hourglass is especially curious as to how you got here, a grey mare with blonde hair spouts unceasing, nonsensical questions about “muffins”, or something or other.
>Your talk is interrupted by a thumping you feel in the ground, ever so slight.
>It soon grows closer and louder, like a roiling thunderstorm moving its way toward you.
>You make your way to the crowd in the direction of the sound.
>What meets your eyes and assaults your ears are the absolute last thing you expected.
>Though it wore the blue and white of the Ultramarines and bore their crest, the creature that strode into the town was definitely NOT Astartes. It carried a blade as long as you were tall. Your eyes ached to look on the beast’s towering form. Yet, somehow, it looked familiar.
>”I WILL END YOU, TRAITOR! YOU AND YOUR DAMNED XENOS HORDES! FOR THE EMPEROR!”
>Such sweet irony in those words.