A Thousand Son in Equestria, part 28 (Vengeance Epilogue)

You float in darkness for what could be a moment, could be an eternity.
>The sus-an membrane implanted in every Astartes has frozen your body, locking your injuries in stasis, so that you will not bleed out.
>You hover on death's doorstep, trapped in a trance from which you might never awaken.
>Between the fever dreams and the silence, you despair and you rejoice.
>You rejoice, because your friends succeeded. The Elements fired. They were safe.
>They had to be safe.
>You despair, because you know how long a sus-an coma could last.
>The average brother, when wounded on to death, as you were, had spent decades before recovering without the aid of an apothecary.
>Some lasted centuries.
>You recall a tale of an Astartes, trapped in sus-an coma for 10, 000 years, frozen in stasis as the Horus Heresy raged around him, only to pulled from his stasis by brothers who had changed allegiance in his sleep.
>Was that to be your fate?
>Trapped in a frozen coma, left as a corpse as your friends aged and died around you? Until only Luna and Celestia were left for company?
>Ditzy....
>The fever dreams take you, and you are swept away into oblivion once more.


>Your thoughts unscramble later in time, a minute or an hour or a year or a decade or a century later.
>You have no way of knowing.
>But you feel....something.
>Something has changed.
>You can feel it as your primary and secondary hearts begin to beat at a quicker rate.
>As your blood warms, and feeling slowly returns to your limbs.
>They are all asleep, and it is agony.
>You inhale, shifting.
>Whatever you are lying on, it's not the cold stone of the Palace of the Royal Pony Sisters.
>You're lying on something warm, and soft, and comfortable.
>You don't feel the enclosing coolness of your helmet, or the enclosing protection of your armor.
>You feel the thin comfort of your bodysuit, and a thick layer of cloth on top of you.
>You inhale again, and you hear a sharp gasp as your hearing returns.
>"S...Sister....Tia! Tia! He's coming back around!"
>Your eyes open slowly as you regain control of the lids.
>You see dark blue....everything. Walls, covers, windowpanes...and alicorn.
>Luna leans over from your right, smiling.
>You look down, and notice the covers of a vast bed covering you, with dark blue covers.
>You exhale slowly and close your eyes again.
>"Anonymous!? Are you alright? Did our healing magic fail?"
"Luna."
>"Yes?"
"Sssshhhh. Headache."
>Just then, you see a flash of light behind your eyelids as Celestia teleports into the room.


>You grimace as the light sends a spike into your headache, but do not voice a complaint.
>You have to let the sus-an's influence clear before you can think clearly.
>Celestia fusses over you as you breathe and recover.
>"Anonymous? Are you absolutely sure you're alright? We don't know much about....human anatomy, but you had a massive wound in your shoulder, a cracked rib...plate...thing...and massive internal bleeding. We thought we'd lost you for good."
>You open your eyes, looking into the worried face of the white alicorn.
"Celestia. I'm fine, truly. Just recovering. In a minute or two, I'll be back on my feet. For now, tell me what's happened. You are well, I see. What of my friends, Ditzy Doo? How long have I been out?"
>You catch the glance the two alicorns give each other, and your breath catches in sudden fear.
>Celestia whispers something to her sister, and Luna stiffens before walking outside of the dark blue room.
>Celestia turns her gaze on you, her face grave and sad.
>"Anonymous.....It's been more than a century....our magic...you resisted us, and it took us so long to heal you...."


>You feel.....hollow.
>Your friends?
>Ditzy?
>All of them, gone? Lost to the years.
"Celestia....how long do your people live for?"
>She trots closer to you, placing a sympathetic hoof on your shoulder.
>"Not long enough, my friend, not long enough."
>You sit up, staring at your hands as your mind races. You couldn't...it couldn't end this way.
>After all you had fought for, all you had faced down for the sake of your fr-
>Wait.
>Your eyes glance up and you notice the Celestia's face twitching as she struggles to hold back a smile.
"....How long was I REALLY out for, Celestia?"
>She giggles at you, one hoof still on your shoulder.
>"Two weeks, my dear Anonymous. You missed a wonderful awards ce-"
>You punch her in the face.


>The alicorn topples like a felled tree as you swing your legs over the side of the bed, fuming.
>She lands on her back, holding up one hoof in the air, either shocked or in pain.
>Probably both.
>You had a mean right hook.
>"....I deserved that."
"Yes, you did."
>"Honestly, though, Anonymous, you must learn not to be so severe all the time. Things work out. Now help me up, before one of my subjects see me."
>She shakes her upright hoof, and you clasp it in your hand and pull the Princess to her feet.
>She works her jaw experimentally as it heals up from your blow, before smiling.
>"There. Now that that's do-"
>You punch her in the face again.
"THAT'S for telling Twilight to turn me into a xenos."
>She lies on her back for a minute or two, shocked, all four legs in the air.
>"....Ow."
"You'll live."
>"But....ow. Why do humans hit so hard?"
"Genhancements. Now come on, let's get you up."
>"Are you going to punch me again?"
"Probably not."
>You grab her hoof and hoist the white princess back on her feet, as she shakes her head and glares at you.
"Don't give me that look. You deserved that second one as well."
>And that's all it takes to get the both of you laughing.


>As the pair of you finish laughing, Celestia makes her way over to Luna's chamber doors, pulling the door open with her teeth.
>And there your friends are.
>Six colorful ponies trample towards you, tackling you back onto the bed with the force of their hugs.
>A seventh, Trixie, is a bit more refined, only smiling at you as she trots in.
>And the eighth...
>Ditzy Doo flutters in after Luna, looking worried and scared, as if afraid to face you.
>Can't have tha-
>As you open your mouth to talk to her, you find it suddenly filled with a cupcake, as your friends all jabber into your ears at once.
>And then the Chaos Crusaders arrive, and you have three heavily bandaged fillies crawling all over you.
>You are elated to see them, and you encircle them in your arms for one mass hug, chewing the cupcake and swallowing as they all laugh and speak at once.
>This is how you sit, nine ponies all over you, laughing and smiling, as the Eldar Autarch enters the room.
>"Celestia, the last of my people are ready to dep-"
>He stops upon seeing you, staring.
>"The mon'keigh has awakened? Have I come at a bad time?"
"What in the Warp is HE still doing here?"


>The Eldar shifts on his feet, but Celestia interrupts him.
>"He's fulfilling his part of our treaty, of course."
>You raise an eyebrow at the Eldar.
"You signed a treaty with "beasts" Eldar?"
>"They are surprisingly persuasive."
"I was not aware that Eldar Warriors were even capable of doing such a thing."
>"There comes a time where every warrior must know to put down his sword. It is something that humans have not yet learned."
>Clever jab, Eldar. Clever indeed.
>He turns back to Celestia.
>"As I said, Princess, we have secured the Dawnlight Blade, and we return to our Craftworld. Our people will trouble yours no longer, not unless you wish us here."
>He turns to leave, and you gape in shock as Celestia's wing smacks him on his ass.
>"Come back and visit again, will you?"
>To your shock and mounting horror, the Eldar pauses and turns back to Celestia, a smile in his voice.
>"Perhaps I will, at that. You know how to reach me."
>Celestia giggles, and the Autarch leaves the room.
"B-wha....huh?"
>Rainbow Dash leans down and whispers to you.
>"I know, it's gross, right?"


>Twilight shoots a look at Dash as Celestia studiously ignores her and prances out of the room.
>Luna rolls her eyes and follows her sister, leaving you with your friends.
>Fluttershy, surprisingly, is the first p0ny to speak up.
>"Oh...Anon, are you sure you're feeling better? You were so hurt...and we thought you wouldn't make it..."
>Her eyes start tearing up, and you give her a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine, Fluttershy. Just fine. I had to...sleep ...for a while, to recover."
>Pinkie giggles.
>"Silly-filly, I told you he'd be fine! He was breathing and everything!"
>Twilight speaks up next.
>"Anon, when we're done, you have so much you owe me. The Eldar, those big Necron thingies, heck, you havn't even told me how the Warp works!"
>Trixie smirks.
>"Anonymous has already taught Trixie about the Warp, along with....other things."
>Twilight's cheeks grow red, and you sense an argument brewing in the air.
>But that's not where your concern is.
>You look over at Ditzy, who's still been hanging back.
>Applejack follows your gaze, and then clears her throat loudly.
>"C'mon y'all, let's not do this here. Anon probably needs to grab some more rest, and y'all ain't helpin' his case none."
>She hops off the bed, and the others follow her, Trixie and Twilight still arguing.
>Until they close the door, leaving you alone with Ditzy Doo.


>Silence stretches on between you two for a long moment, filling the air between you.
>She's there, but not there, the burgeoning spark you planted in her weakening her aura.
>It is no longer agony to be near her, but you still feel on edge, uneasy.
>And that doesn't help you with what you feel you need to say.
"So. Hello Ditzy."
>She gives a small smile.
>"Er. Hi."
>You both lapse into silence once more, before speaking at the same time.
>"We just....it doesn't make any sense for us..."
"We're not even the same species..."
>"And you're big and strong a...."
"I don't want to hurt you, even if...."
>"I really do lo-"
"I do lo-"
>You both stop, lapsing into pensive silence, before you both smile nervously.
>You were out of your depth.
>"So we both..."
"It might be...."
>"For the best if we.."
"Right."
>"Right."
>She smiles at you, and you smile back, even as you feel your insides crystallize and crack.
>You swear you see a tear form in her eye, and then she slowly turns and trots out the door.
>You sigh, looking down at your hands as you rise from the bed. Might as well find your arm-
>A pink hoof slams into your jaw.


>You open your eyes in surprise as Pinkie's hoof hits you in the cheek, and you turn your head to regard the pink mare, who is glaring up at you.
>"Anonymous, what the BUCK are you doing!?"
"How did you even get in here, Pinkie?"
>"I hid in the pillows."
"I saw you get up and leave the roo-"
>"NOT IMPORTANT. What IS important is what YOU'RE doing."
>You frown at her.
"I'm going to go find my armor, is what I'm doi-"
>Pinkie makes a loud buzzing sound.
>"WRONG. What you're doing is letting a mare you obviously care about, and who cares about you, just walk out."
>You sigh, annoyed at having to explain this to Pinkie Pie.
"Pinkie, of course I care about Ditzy, but it's not that simple. She's a pony. I am Astartes. We are not anywhere near close to physically compatible. I c-"
>"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING!? Honestly, Anon, who taught you about love!?"
"A Space Wolf."
>"Well Space Wolves are terrible at teaching, then! Let me ask you this. How do you feel when you're away from Derpy."
>You frown.
"Bad, I suppose. But that doe-"
>"Do you think about her? Do you worry about her? Do you want to keep her safe? Does she make you smile?"
>The questions go on and on and on, and to your rising frustration, your answer is always the same.
>Yes.
>Pinkie glares at you.
>"Then go AFTER her, silly-filly. Let all that other stuff work itself out. Right now, just go be happy!"

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DSVDcw6iW8
>Damn this mare.
>A true battle-brother even outside of battle.
>You smile, and Pinkie smiles back as she sees you get it.
>"Well what are you waiting for! Go!"
>You rise from the bed, walking towards the door, that smile still on your face.
>It all makes sense now.
>You open the door and spot her immediately, head held low, as she walks down the ornate hallway.
"Ditzy!"
>Her ears perk up, and she turns around to look at you, eyes for once focused on the same target.
>"Anon!?"
>A slow smile stretches on her face as you begin to walk towards her. And you both speak at once.
"I was wrong, Ditzy, none of th..."
>"I don't think it ma...."
"..at is what's important. I want you with me even if...."
>"Even if we don't...
>The next moment, she's hovering at eye level with you, and you're both talking a mile a minute, until your speech runs it's natural course.
>"I love you, Anon."
"I love you, Ditzy Doo."
>You both freeze, terrified and aware of what you've said.
>And then she embraces you, and you return her embrace as her nose nuzzles your cheek.
>And for that moment, you are filled with a warmth that you have never known in your centuries of life.
>And for the both of you, that moment lasts forever.

IN TARTARUS
>They called it the Skull King.
>A monster, a great giant of black metal and burning green hatred.
>It had returned, battling the Griffinfather, above the Wastes.
>The Griffinfather had called his hosts, his legion of centaurs, to his aid in vanquishing the newcomer.
>And he could only watch as it killed them all.
>It never tired, never rested, never stopped.
>It only killed, and killed, and killed, the black metal of it's faceplate holding no expression, no fear or anger or hatred or laughter.
>It killed, and it kept killing, until at last Tirek was driven away before it, and it claimed his black tower as it's own.
>There it brooded on Tirek's stone throne, brooded before the mountain of centaur skulls it had amassed.
>It's masters would be most displeased with this development.
>But it was not finished yet.
>Not by a long shot.
>For the first time in more than sixty million years, emotion stirred with the Necron Lord's metal chest.
>Hatred.
>And a desire for vengeance.
>The Sorcerer would pay. The Lord would burn this trap of a sub-dimension to the ground, and then it's fires would spread to Equestria above.
>Vengeance would belong to the Necrontyr.

IN THE WHITETAIL WOODS

"OH FOR BUCK'S SAKE, WOULD YOU JUST WAKE UP ALREADY!"
>Eris slams her eagle talon on the Justicar's metal chest, wincing and shaking her hand as it makes contact.
>He had fallen into a deep, deep sleep after that fight with the Eldar Autarch, and he hadn't woken up.
>Eris was scared.
>More scared then she'd ever been.
>She didn't know what was wrong with him.
>He was hurt, she knew that. Wounds were written in every inch of his body, but he'd already gone through worse.
>Maybe he was....
>Eris gives a disturbing, not-quite-sane laugh, before sobbing and pounding on his chest once more.
>She had been teleporting him over the past two weeks, running, always running from Canterlot.
>From the ponies who had left his body lying on the floor.
>Justy had been right.
>She couldn't reason with them. Not Luna and Celestia. She had to fight them.
>For him.


"Justy...you need to....cut back....on the carbs..."
>She'd been dragging him for the last few yards, too tired to teleport the both of them again.
>All she knew was, she had to find civilization. Civilization as far away from Canterlot as possible.
>She needed a healer, someone who could fix him.
>Who could make him better again.
>But what if he was-
>Eris quashes that thought as soon as it surfaces, furious at herself.
"C'mon Justy. You're gonna make it, I promise. We're gonna get you fixed up, and then we're gonna go looking for my Dad. And then the three of us will make things right again."
>She looks at him, worry in her red eyes, before clasping his hand in her talon.
"I swear we will. Just hold on."
>Eris drags him further, struggling to reach the road. She can follow it to-
>"WHOA, WHAT THE!? Who...what the heck are y.....why do you have one of THEM with you!?"
>Eris turns and spots her head, and freezes up as she sees a pony pulling a massive cart, nearly empty with the exception of a mass covered by cloth.
>It's a big cart.
>Maybe big enough for Justy.
"Wait, don't be scared! I won't hurt you! We're...we're in danger. We need help."

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-aexLJKwME
>The pony stares at Eris and Justy, scared and on edge.
>Eris pleads with her, desperate.
"Please, we won't be any trouble for you. I just need help transporting my friend. We're....we're trying to get away. We don't want any trouble."
>The pony appears to deliberate for a few moments, frowning, before her face splits in a tired smile.
>"O...okay. Alright, fine. I'm trying to avoid some trouble myself. Put your friend in the back and you can both come along."
>Eris sighs, relieved, as she drags Justy to the back of the cart and uses the last of her magic to levitate him into it, beside the long lump covered by a tarp.
>The massive cart, reinforced my magic, manages to hold his weight, although it does groan in protest.
>As Eris works to put him in there, she looks at the unicorn pulling the cart, curious about the glowing gem tied around her throat, beneath a black hoodie.
>The unicorn notices.
>"Er...don't take this the wrong way....but what ARE you?"
"A draconequus."
>"Like Disc-"
>Eris' exasperated sigh shuts the pony up as she walks over to stand next to the mint-green pony.
>"Okay, message taken. Will you at least tell me your name?"
"I'm...I"m Eris."
>The green pony smiles.
>"My names Lyra. It's nice to meet you."