//------------------------------// // The past // Story: Blood ravens: Crashlanding in Equestria. // by ThatRarityIsaSpy //------------------------------// "Orks." Cyrus said to all the ponies in the area. "While they may be numerous and strong, keep in mind that Orks are not very intelligent and their organization is terrible." "The leader of this ork wagh is called Gorgutz" Angelos said. "You'll probably know him because he is the biggest ork. When it comes to these savages, whomever is the largest is normally the one in charge. If you find any ork slightly larger than the other ones. Kill him first. It'll cause some carnage in the ork ranks." They were done for now. And so, the ponies got up and left to go and do whatever they had to. Thule got up and walked to Angelos. "I've probably said this a trillion times by now, but are you sure this is a good idea?" Thule said looking around in paranoia. "Are we honestly going to have to trust these xenos? We've been aiding them for far too long! This is almost heretical!" "Yes, and why not kill them all? All they've done is cause more trouble for us. Killing them would end all our problems for the time being." Avitus said. "What do you mean it'll end our problems?" Tarkus asked. "The only thing that'll do is deprive us of any potential help we can get." "Indeed." Cyrus said. "I'll be honest with everyone and myself, I am not too comfortable standing by a bunch of xenos. Only Angelos here would have any experience in that." "Why would anyone here doubt Captain Angelos?" Thaddeus asked. "We all know by now that we should trust him. When was the last time that we listened to his word and something bad befell us? Never." "Well said, Thaddeus." Tarkus said. "I don't think the ponies could be of any major threat to us." Martellus said. "I think our best course of action will just to see how this plays out." Jonah said. Murmurs of doubt and agreement were heard around the space marines as they once again got into a heated debate. "Look at them, sister." Luna said. "I never thought I'd ever meet beings of such...... despair." "Hate and violence seem all to natural to them." Celestia said in agreement. "But it's not like we could judge them." \ "We can't. But do you think we can convince them of... better ways?" "As much as I want to say yes, we all know the answer to this question." Celestia took another look at the arguing space marines and shook her head. "Now they're having an argument over killing." "These humans must love violence." Luna said. "What in the whole wide universe could make anyone like that?" "Maybe it's the same thing that made the orks so violent." Celestia said. "Nevertheless, humans don't seem to know harmony too well." "Maybe most of us don't. But there was one of us who a vision." Both Princesses nearly jumped out of their skin from the voice behind them. It was Jonah Orion. "The Emperor once sought to guide humanity to a new age." Jonah said. "It almost succeeded." "What happened?" The two princesses asked. "It was the damned traitor Horus. He was once the Emperor's most favored son. However, the forces of chaos corrupted him like none other. It was then our great Imperium was plunged into civil war. In the end, the Emperor slew horus, but at the price of his own body. His body is physically dead by now. But in the warp, his soul remains constant, battling the foul gods that reside there." "About this Horus...." Luna said interested. "What was he like?" "Just like you." "I beg your pardon?" "I can read your mind, Luna." Jonah said. "I know of what happened. Your betrayed your family and friends out of jealousy and resentment. As did Horus for the same reasons. Both of you were corrupted by something out of your control. Horus never realized he was being manipulated. He never will. But at least you have a second chance. You should be grateful for that." Luna was speechless and was comforted by Celestia both knowing that the librarian was right. Horus had been killed and Luna was still alive and kicking. She hung her head for a few moments before once again looking up. "Can you tell me more about Horus?" "As a matter of fact, I can and I will." Jonah said. "Let's begin." "About ten-thousand years ago." Jonah said beginning his story. "The Emperor had managed to reunite humanity under his rule. However, even before that we had already taken to the stars. So the Emperor set off on the great crusade where he sought to reunite humanity. His plan was to create twenty legions of space marines, soldiers that he himself would create. They would be his shield against terror, they were his space marines. To lead them, he also created the primarchs, These great men were his own children. They were however scattered across the stars which he ended up embarking to find them and then went on his great crusade. To put everything in a nutshell, the great crusade ended in success. After a while, the Emperor wished to complete his final project. Which no one really knows. However, he had left Horus in command. Horus out of jealousy and resentment later was corrupted by chaos and rebelled. The war that followed ended with brother fighting brother as the primarchs each picked sides in the conflict. In the end however, Horus was killed when he tried to attack holy Terra itself. The Emperor had destroyed him completely, to the point that not even his soul would remain. The Emperor himself however had been mortally wounded in the battle with Horus and we had to place him in the golden throne which keeps him alive at the cost of 1,000 souls everyday. Only a small price to pay however as without him, warp travel would be impossible and the vile powers of chaos would be unleashed upon the galaxy. And..... I'd be surprised if this doesn't sound awfully familiar to the both of you. If a both of you were to die, this planet too would also be dead." "It does..... I was just like Horus....." Luna said. "Well, luckier that is." "1,000 souls?" Celestia asked. "So 1,000 people are sacrificed everyday?" "It's a tiny price to pay." Jonah said. "Look up into the stars at night. In just the few viewable stars you may have already seen trillions upon trillions of us. 1,000 souls is nothing." "So your civilization has been around for 10,000 years?" "More. Human civilization had been around for as much as 45,000 years. You know... on ancient Terra there used to be things like you." Jonah said waving Martellus over. "Equus ferus caballus." Martellus droned. "Was used as a pack animal and a beast of burden by our ancestors. They had gone extinct during the 27th millennium though some may exist in the Emperor's garden. And not just the equines in general, almost everything on this planet once belonged to Terra. Whether it's actually of existed or in stories and legends." "A great honor it is, to have seen ancient Terra unspoiled by the scum that would sacrifice even their own brothers for the sake of power." Jonah said. "It is by far, tens of thousands of more times dangerous than these brutes we call orks. Our moon is referred to as Luna." Luna and Celestia looked at each other finding this rather humorous. "And..... what's your stance on others?" Celestia then asked. "What do you mean?" "You seem to have a tendency to call things not human. "Xenos" "Ah.... yes." Jonah said. "It's very complicated." "Librarian...... I need your honest opinion. What are you views on this planet and it's inhabitants?" Celestia asked. "I think I don't mind it too much...." Jonah said slowly. "Captain Angelos, Martellus, Tarkus and Thaddeus share this. Cyrus, Avitus and Captain Thule however..... aren't too trusting. Cyrus is simply uncomfortable with xenos around, Avitus flat out hats xenos and the same goes for Thule." "And what do you intend to do after you leave? Are you going to kill us too like how you do with most of your enemies?" "I have no say in this." Jonah said. "And that question really makes me feel uncomfortable." "I was only teasing." Luna said giving a friendly smile. Jonah nodded and played alone trying to lighten the mood as the other natives shot them fearful glances. "Librarian." Cyrus voxed. "The orks are still in disarray. We're going to need your help to advance." "I will make my way there." He said as he ran to the direction of where Cyrus was. Time to stop a wagh.