“Just grass. That’s it.” Angelos said as he described the place. “I am not sure how far the whole place stretches and frankly, I am fine staying by the gate.”
“That the reason why she is drinking up that stream?” Tarkus asked.
“Yep. No water save for any moisture in the grass. Spending slightly over six days hardly drinking any water is pretty bad for your health.” Angelos said looking at Fluttershy. “Surprisingly she was actually hesitant at eating grass. Apparently grass while being edible, isn’t eaten very often. Just hay.”
“So what exactly did you for six days straight?”
“Spoke of anything that could come to mind with that small alien there.” Angelos said pointing at Fluttershy was still drinking up the stream. “That ranged from her animals to my battle with Kyras.”
“So... but the question is... would this be considered a piece of technology?” Solomon asked.
“Unlikely. The Doctor mentioned this to be something he found.” Cyrus said. “Though I am more than willing to bet that someone out there will be accusing us for heresy.”
“Again.... it seems washing the stains off our chapters honor will be long and difficult.”
“So... why not massacre all these xenos?” Solomon said. “We have all that we...”
“No we don’t. I believe I did mention some time ago, maybe you weren’t there I think. The bodies of these aliens repel the ruinous powers. Perhaps may even......” Cyrus sat down for a moment and began to think. The space marines merely just looked around at each other.
“I suppose it’s time we resume our duties. In a matter of weeks, we may be able to rebuild our chapter to full-strength assuming that there are enough able-bodied recruits to go around.”
“Then we can once again go back to doing our important tasks.” Cyrus said. “When shall we go deliver Aramus?”
“Whenever Angelos intends.” Solomon said. “Understand that a journey to the eye of terror will take many lives.”
“I understand that all too well.” Cyrus said glumly.
“There is hope. Perhaps Aramus is only NEAR the eye of terror, not IN the eye of terror. After all, when Kyras sent him away.”
“Or... perhaps he would not be there at all.” Diomedes said. “I was there when Kyras gave his sentence. He merely said to go on a crusade of penance to fight CHAOS. Never mentioned the eye once.”
“Then.... how do we find him and Thaddeus? If I recall correctly, they were sent away together.” Martellus said. “For all we know, he could be... anywhere!”
“Then...... we let him come to us.”
“What are you saying?”
“Aramus had long been bitter over the black legion. He even suspected of Kyras’s corruption and dealings with the black legion long before.” Tarkus explained.
“So... you want us to lure an entire black legion warband? You have any idea....”
“No. We’re are not bring them here or sub-sector aurelia. We find a place and challenge the damn traitors. If they take the bait, then so will Aramus.”
“This is going to be risky.” Cyrus warned. “It’s better for us to spend a hundred years in fruitless search then risk more.”
“Waaaaiiiiittttt!” Fluttershy said done from drinking up the entire stream. “Maybe Twilight can help you!”
“Drag someone straight out of anywhere in the galaxy? Yeah.... that’s going to totally work.”
“No... she can! She really can.”
“Worth a try at least.” Someone said. “Let’s get going.”
“I really don’t believe this.” Solomon said watching the intense light in front of him. “I do not comprehend this in one bit.”
“No one does.” Martellus said watching the bright light take shape and form. “Who knew it’d be this easy?”
“Thank Starswirl the bearded!” Twilight said in between grunts. “He had made a spell which could transport anyone from any place to anywhere you want! Only catch is, you can’t know where that person is.”
Solomon’s lips hardly moved as he said the word “Perfect.” About a minute later. He could make out in the light, a face, hair, and a body shape. It was Thaddeus. Another moment later, and the space marine was on the ground, looking a bit confused... but from his eyes, everyone could tell he was happy.
“Holy.... Terra.....”
“That’s just the beginning. We’re getting Aramus too.” Angelos said watching Twilight do her spell again.
“Twilight I presume her name is?” Thaddeus asked. “It’s been a while. Almost fifteen years.”
“Thanks. Good to see you’re not type that likes to smash everything they see.” The purple unicorn joked as the form of Aramus began to manifest.
One moment, Aramus was fighting daemons with his hammer. The next moment, Thaddeus disappeared, and the one after that, he did too. Perhaps after what seemed like eternity, he found himself in a rather odd looking room with all of his brothers, Thaddeus included as well as a lavender colored equine.
His first instinct had been of roughly grabbing the small horse and strangling it. Only did his brothers giving him a hint that he had stopped, much to the delight of Twilight. After only a very thorough explanation of what was going on did he finally sit still and not going about like a monkey on crack.
Looking up at the night sky. He admired the beauty of it. Something that he never had the opportunity to do. He noticed the dark blue alicorn descend down.
“Enjoying the night, stranger?”
“Compared to the ones I’ve gone through. This one’s perhaps the most gorgeous one I’ve seen. The moon shines brightly today.” Aramus said making sure to speak in a tone he normally reserved when speaking with other members of his race. When he had heard this planet had “friendly xenos” he thought it was some kind of joke. But no, his brothers were serious about that statement. The aliens indeed were friendly, most of them seemed glad to see him, some giving him compliments, a certain white unicorn telling him that his “mane” made him a hero of fashion. And of course, a certain pink horse then asking him to go to some celebration which he had to admit, he had some of the best food he had in a long time. But nevertheless, he felt rather..... confused. While his brothers had made it clear he was wanted, and that Kyras was dead. He found it rather odd that Angelos seemed to be rather close to these aliens. True, their benevolence was a rarity in the entire galaxy but still.... strange that his brothers were a bit too comfortable when around them. Cyrus especially, Deathwatch yesterday, friend of xenos the next.
Angelos was known for his pacts and dealings with aliens, but this.... this was a bit much. Yet at the same time, he had a feeling... one that made him feel warm on the inside. It was hope. Deep down, he wished no harm for these aliens. They cared for his well-being almost as much as they would for their own kind. In fact, he almost wanted to say, out loud to everyone, that within hours of meeting some of them, he felt a genuine care and compassion for them. Strange. He wondered how the inquisition was feeling about this.
“Art thou thinking of something?”
“Too much for me to say.” The newly promoted captain of the 4th company said. It was a rank that he was supposed to have gotten earlier for his loyalty to the Emperor. Only delayed when he was sent away by Kyras. Now that he was in command, he had a great responsibility to carry out.
“I heard you can move the moon with something you call......magic.” Aramus replied.
“Why, art thou intrigued by our powers?”
“No. I am only interested why you feel the need to yell when I am right next to you.”
“Sorry. A habit of mine.” Luna said. “This night truly is lovely. I made sure of it personally. Perhaps it may mean more to people who spent their entire lives in their toil.”
“I don’t normally have the time to go stargazing.” Aramus replied. “I merely have the time now because.... my chapter is not going to be in much action until we have fully rebuilt. This night truly is wonderful though...”
“Just for you.” Luna said smiling benevolently. “And for your brethren.”
Aramus may of just snorted from that statement. But decided against it and minded his manners. Something however ended up catching his eye.
“You see that over there?” He asked pointing at the sky which became awfully bright for some reason. “Are you doing that?”
“No....... oh..... my....”
“Emperor save us.”
The warp rift that was opened to reach Equestria had all of a sudden grown larger threatening to swallow the entire planet. In a few moments, that’s what exactly happened. Equestria disappeared and reappeared once again. Right in the domain of humanity.
“Welcome to Sub-sector Aurelia.” Aramus said shaking his head when he saw the all-too familiar stars and planets.
“You don’t happen to have anything to do with this do you?” Celestia said asking Solomon. The librarian shook his head.
“I was actually going to ask you. There is none among us who have the strength to move entire celestial bodies. I see however the sun and moon had been brought along.”
“Yes... it would've been bad news for any of us had the sun not been taken.”
“That’d be the second planet in the sector encased in ice then.” Angelos said dryly. “What do you think caused this?”
“I don’t know.” Solomon said. “It’s not like the warp can be predicted.”
“Well, we must be vigilant on what happens for now.” Angelos said. “I think I may have a clue, but it’s not worth sharing.”
“Whoa, you don’t think he has anything to do with it do you?” Celestia asked referring to Discord.
“I am still going to slay that foul beast as soon as I see one hair on his head.” Diomedes said.
“If he does, then the moment we all lay eyes on him, he will be dead.” Angelos said furiously. “I merely hope this does not become a problem for you.”
“It won’t be. If Discord is behind it... I beseech you not to harm him unless he had clear malevolent intentions.”
“Very well. My men and I will continue to investigate. By the way... expect my kind to be a... well...”
“Common sight?”
“I wasn’t going to say that, but that works still.”