In the jungles of Salika, near the edge of a cliff, Captain Helios Philosophies stood, without his helm, looking over the forest. Next to him stood TechDrake Spike. They had a mission at hoof that has dragged out for a whole decade. Now was the time they accomplished what they had to complete.
"For ten years Skarsend and his coven of cowards have run," said Helios, "and for ten years we have given chase. Now our quarry has gone to ground. We shall see that Salika becomes not their sanctuary, but their tomb."
"Captain, our advance forces are reporting contact with Discord Pony Marines." Spike said as they turned and headed into the jungle. "They have engaged the enemy."
"Then let us advance, siblings." said Helios. "With blood and fire, we shall cleanse this black stain from our Chapter's honor."
They moved on. Helios had a Power Sword and a Plasma Pistol, while Spike had a standard Bolter.
"Skarsend is close, now." said Helios. "These traitors will meet the Empress's horn before long."
"I have infiltrated the enemy vox channel, Captain," said Spike, "the rabble claim to have felled a sibling Blood Phoenix."
"Then let us dispatch these heretics and make haste." said Helios. "It may not be too late to aid our fallen sibling."
They spotted a squad of Cultists surrounding a Pony Marine wearing a white helmet. Helios took to the sky with his wings and slammed into the squad, killing and sending them flying. Anyone who survived the attack was either slashed by the Captain's blade or shot by Spike. When they were all slain, Helios approached the downed marine.
"By the Empress's grace, our sibling still lives." said Helios. He looked to Spike. "Revive her. Her experience will be needed if we are to crush these Discord scum."
Spike gave the fallen Blood Phoenix medical treatment, and the Pony Marine was back on her hooves. Helios recognized this marine to be the one known as "The Ancient", who was fighting to make amends for past sins.
"Your reckless desire to atone will get you killed, Sergeant." said Helios. "What have you to say for yourself?"
"You know very well she will say nothing." said Spike. "She keeps her silence in penance for deeds committed. Regardless, her armor may have been compromised. Initiating proper rites can prevent this from happening again."
They stood still to recuperate and recover, but an explosion came from up ahead, and more cultists came after them.
"An ambush?" said Helios, somewhat surprised by this act, but not that much. "I suppose the dregs of Discord do possess some measure of cunning." He took up his sword and charged. "At them, Pony Marines! Show them the folly of their actions!"
Helios charged at the squad. Spike and the Ancient fired their Bolters. The heretics were soon nothing but torn up pieces.
"Traitor blood has only begun to run." said Helios. "Forward, siblings, Skarsend awaits us."
The Blood Phoenixes moved forward. But more Discord forces, with heavy weapons, awaited them.
"Engage the enemy from cover." Helios said to Spike and The Ancient. "Our armor is formidable, but not infallible."
Spike and The Ancient got behind an old, decaying feeding tube from the Paranid war. They fired their Bolters while Helios went in and struck them down. Discord Marines attacked Helios, but were no match against him. When the coast was clear, they proceeded onward. Spike spotted something ahead.
"Captain, this is a relay beacon." He said. "If we capture this structure, we can use our teleport arrays to rapidly deploy reinforcements."
They approached the beacon. Spike quickly began the capture process. When the process was complete, three Scout Pony Marines appeared.
"Scouts are our basic infantry choice." Spike explained. "They are competent marksmen, though their light armor makes them vulnerable. They are best used in missions of stealth, and can be equipped in the field for either close or long-range support."
Fortunately, there were supply and weapon crates near the beacon. Each of the scouts received Sniper Rifles, and would be deadly from afar. The Pony Marines continued along the path, but Discord Marines with Heavy Bolters stood atop a ledge and opened fire upon them.
"The rabble has deployed heavy weapons." said Helios. "As the Codex demands, flank their position and avoid their lanes of fire."
They managed to get past them, and traveled up a hill back towards their position. Helios took to the sky and slammed into them. He then slashed and stabbed them to ensure their deaths. Spike and the others regrouped with him and they moved on. They heard more gunfire in the distance. When they got a better view, they could see a band of Hogs near a destroyed ship attacking the Discord Marines.
"A Hog ship." said Helios. "Pigskins are obsessed with salvage. Perhaps there are resources here that could be of use."
"What they have not already desecrated with their looting..." said Spike.
They went in and surprise attacked the Hogs, who were now in real trouble. Pony Marines on their left, Discord Marines on their right. They were all slain from both sides. Then the Blood Phoenixes attacked the Discord Marines, who met the same fate as the Hogs. The Pony Marines kept marching towards their objective, and came to both a holdable position and another relay beacon. Spike captured the beacon in ten seconds.
"A Devastator squad would be ideal here." said Spike. "Their Heavy Bolters can lay down suppressing fire that slows and debilitates the enemy."
Immediately, a squad of Devastator Pony Marines appeared. They and the Scouts garrisoned the shrine. With a combined firepower of Heavy Bolters and Sniper Rifles, Nothing would get close.
"The Dark Legion would never allow us to keep such a hoof hold." said Helios. "Expect a counterattack!"
Spike and The Ancient also went into the shrine. Helios, being a Pegasus Marine, remained outside. Spike had deployed some Firagun Turrets in openings around the shrine and in blind spots where he and the Pony Marines could not shoot. After a minute of waiting, the wall that was on the left of the shrine exploded, and lesser daemons of Khorne came sprinting towards the Pony Marines' position, as well as a splinter group of cultists. The daemons lunged over the barricaded moat and attacked Helios. The Captain hacked and slashed at the abominations with skill and steel, not once backing down against the terrible monsters. Meanwhile, Spike, The Ancient, and the other Blood Phoenixes shot at the cultists. The heretics tried to get into their blind spots, but the Firagun Turrets Spike deployed said otherwise. Helios had managed to hold his own, and the last daemon fell to his blade.
"The way is open!" Helios called. "While they are licking their wounds, forward once more! There shall be no mercy, no respite."
The Pony Marines exited the shrine, and they moved onwards. Skarsend waited for them up ahead, Sure enough, when they descended the hill, he came trotting towards them with a smug look on his face.
"Ah, the Puppet-Captain joins us, siblings." said Skarsend. "See how merrily he dances, blind to the Dark Gods who pull at his strings?" Helios and the Pony Marines approached. "Welcome, sibling. Know your decade-long hunt is all for naught. I will slay you here, and your souls shall be devoured."
Helios stepped up. "Save your words, cur." He said. "Our Empress will see us victorious this day."
There were two empty structures near the battlefield. Spike and the Scout Marines garrisoned one, The Ancient and the Devastator Marines garrisoned the other. Helios readied himself for combat against the Discord Lord, and Skarsend continued to look arrogant against the Royal Guard Captain.
Helios and Skarsend clashed. Their Power Swords surged with electrical conflict as they struggled to cleave each other. They broke from their struggle and clashed again, and again, and again. The Blood Phoenixes fired away at the Discord Lord from their vantage points. The two leaders kept striking each other's blades, but Skarsend was receiving the worse of the fight.
"You are slowing, Scourger." said Helios. "Gone is the cunning that troubled the Blood Phoenixes. This battle will be your last."
Skarsend bared his sharp teeth in anger. "I shall not be stopped!" He shouted. "Again and again I shall rise, as I always have!"
Discord Marines appeared and took cover behind sandbags. Spike deployed more Firegun Turrets near them, and the sentry guns tore them to pieces. Helios and Skarsend still clashed blades, neither one willing to give in. Helios had had enough. He struck Skarsend's blade hard enough to break it in two. He then pierced the Discord Lord through the chest, shot some Plasma rounds into his body, and then kicked him off his sword.
Skarsend lifted his head up off the ground and still gave the Captain a smug look. "Know this puppet..." He said, struggling to speak. "Even with my death here, the Dark Gods still hold you Blood Phoenixes in their grip..." He coughed up blood. "Soon the Gods will have your Chapter's loyalty. And you, good puppet, are still too blind to see this... Hmm ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA-UCKGH!" He choked on his own blood and went limp.
"LIES!" Helios yelled. "... all lies..."
Helios stood, anger burned inside him from what Skarsend said. The Discord Gods have no hold on him or his Chapter, he thought, and once the Dark Legion was wiped off the face of the Sub-Sector, their names will be clear of any dark stains and deeds.
"Well done, well done..." came a voice through Helios's comm link. "It was wise to send our Chapter's greatest champion to scour the Legion from the subsector! You, Philosophies."
Helios was surprised from the voice. "My Lord!" He addressed, "Chapter Master Traytus, I-I was not expecting communication with you so swiftly."
"As both Chapter Master and Chief Unicorn, my reach is long Captain." said Traytus. "I watched your victory unfold. See to it that Salika is secured while you await further orders... and, again, Helios, congratulations..."
"I... Thank you, my Lord." said Helios. "You honor me." Helios heard the familiar light hoofsteps through water approach from behind. "Are you satisfied?" He asked the Scout Sergeant.
"I am not." Pinkie stated. "I am, however, disappointed." She approached Helios, outraged towards the Captain. "With just a few honeyed words of favor, you discard all that we revealed to you of Arctika in an instant!"
"Enough!" said Helios, "The Dark Legion has routed! As for you, I will see that your fates are decided shortly."