Part three of my mini Lover-is-Doomguy series. Don’t know if this will be my last part or not, depends on how much I can cram into this post. Also, a big thank you to u/Prophet_XV for the artwork. Now then, hold on to your seats, cause Lover’s gonna get his, so get outta his way…there’s gonna be (gonna be)…gonna be Hell To Pay!!!
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Juno would’ve tried getting Lover to stay on Terra, but she knew well enough her father wouldn’t be willing to rest. He was on a mission. And that mission was to get his and Neah’s daughters back. And that meant all of them. Fulgrim, Atalanta, Magnolia, and Petra all still remained under the influences of the Chaos Gods, and with Regalia, Corvia, Lyana, Hestia, Alakhai, and Leona’s whereabouts being unknown to the Imperium, Juno was more than happy for her father to go out and find the rest of her sisters. In the mean time, she welcomed the return of her sister’s Lover had already found. Ferra and Sanguinia received their new bodies first, with Dove and Ironheart being eternally grateful to Lover for bringing their wives back, but Lover had to cave-in more than a few Inquisitor’s skulls to bring Hathor, Kassandra, Aurelia, Mortaria, and Alpharia back. Some of the Custodes were more than a little distrusting of the idea about letting five traitor Primarch’s be revived within the confines of the Imperial Palace.
But despite all the criticism and accusations, Dove with Lily’s help after the Death Guard Doctor’s revival in his new body, managed to bring back the four and a half Primarchs. The first question that plagued each of the newly returned Primarchs was where their husbands, even if they hadn’t officially married, had gone off to. The seven daughters sat, wrapped up in towels after getting extracted from their new body’s incubation chambers, their father sitting by with them with his helmet off for the first time since arriving on Terra. Dove tended to each of the Primarchs to help them adjust to their new bodies, even if they were carbon copies of the bodies they had ten thousand years ago. “Now I want all of you to take it slow with your movements. Given enough time, you should all feel your old strengths come back soon enough. That means no extreme activities until you get your most basic movements back.” Dove instructed to each of the revived Primarchs as he also gave each one a mug with some hot liquids inside.
“Hey Robb. Do you want something to drink?” Lily offered to the Daemon Slayer. Lover glanced up and simply shook his head, with Lily just nodding in understanding. Juno had been watching, and while she hadn’t had the greatest of relations with many of the sisters she now had with her, she was honestly beyond glad at having some her family back. “Dad.” The Avenging Daughter finally spoke up, getting the man known as Doom’s attention, “Are you…sure about going back into the Warp to-“ “Juno. You’ve already asked me that same question five times. And my answer has not changed. Yes. I’m going back.” Lover stood up, gently rubbing Kassandra’s back in an expression of fatherly love. “I spent ten thousand years in hell. In all the literal senses of that word. Half of it I spent killing. The other half I spent trying to find and bring my girls back home. I’ve only got eight of them here.” Lover trailed off as he looked at the faces of his revived children. “I’ve fought for too long and bleed too much. And I made a promise to myself and your mother. And that was to bring all our children home.”
The mortal father looked over at his shivering daughters, a look of fatherly love, while tainted with the rage that burned in Lover’s tempered heart and soul, still carrying its warmth to his children. Juno already knew she wasn’t going to change her father’s mind, so simply accepted her father’s decision. “Then I ask that you keep this promise. Not just to me…but to all my sisters…” Juno knelt down to Lover’s level before continuing, “…promise that you’ll bring yourself home when this is over.” Juno embraced her father as tears started falling from her eyes. All the stresses of leadership being let out as she allowed herself this emotional release. “I won’t tell you not to cry. But I will tell you this. Make sure there’s still an Imperium for me to return to.” Juno couldn’t help but let a laugh escape, even if Lover was being serious in his statement. “Me and Lily will stay on Terra once you bring back the other souls.” Dove stated before showing four more vats with the bodies of Atalanta, Petra, Fulgrim, and Magnolia. “Wh-Wa-Wait. What…What about us?” Mortaria quirked up as she still shivered.
“All of you will remain here, and considering your new bodies, all of you will need to try and regain your old sense of movement. Though, if necessary, we’ll have you transferred to Macragge incase the Inquisition gets too…suspicious shall we say.” Juno stated to her sisters. Lover wanted to give all his daughters one last embrace, but he still had a job to do. Without so much as a sound, Lover disappeared through his portal.
•••
Leona El’Jonson, Primarch of the 1st, had reawakened from her slumber, and immediately set about getting what she could under her control, starting first with her Gene-Children and her Brave Warrior. Her Squire. He had remained ever vigilant over her slumbering body, even while the Rock was attacked. Now, Leona had reunited with the Blood Angels and Chapter Master now turned Warden of Imperium Nihilus, Lord Commander Dante. Leona had been informed by the Lord Commander that Juno had also returned, but the Lioness was unaware of her other sisters currently on Terra. But she wouldn’t have much time to think on that, as Abaddon the Warmaster of Chaos, Vashtorr the Archfiend, and Atalanta were coming to the head of a massive Chaos Armada. Vashtorr had already attacked the Rock only to be repulsed with Squire banishing the Daemon back to its infernal depths from once it came.
Atalanta and hordes of Berzerkers were ready to sweep across the blighted world of Wyrmwood. Azrael and Dante with their accompanying forces of Blood and Dark Angel detachments stood in the path of Leona’s rampaging Daemonic sister and her bloodthirsty Khornate Legions. Squire was also there…against Leona’s wishes. But the Squire of Caliban believed his and Leona’s children would fight harder and better knowing their father would stand with them. Squire maintained a strong grip on his sword as he cut down assailing Khorne Berzerkers, Daemons, and Cultists. Tank’s roared with their firepower, bullets flew past or into the ceramite of Marine armor as Squire and his Marines held their ground. Dante bounded from the skies to either blast or cut down these infernal Hell Legionnaires before bounding back up into the sky. “HOLD YOUR GROUND!!!” Azrael shouted as another wave of Berzerkers charged at the battered Marines. Chainaxes revved before cutting down into ceramite and flesh. Intercessors were dragged down as the World Eaters didn’t let up their assault, even as the Blood Angels continued their devastating counter attacks from the sky. Squire didn’t let his fatigue stop him as he continued killing the Khornate warriors without relenting. “Make the traitors pay with their blood!” Squire’s voice crackled through his helmet’s vox, blood weeping from several wounds he had suffered, yet the Little Knight continued swinging and felling foes with every strike of his blade.
But then the ground shook. The skies turned blood red. The frenzy and fury intensified. And a roar of truly bloodcurdling proportions rose up above the noise of battle. It was HER. Atalanta descended upon the Dark Angel’s battle lines, crushing everything and anything in her way. World Eaters, Blood Angels, Dark Angels, or otherwise. It mattered not to the Daemon Primarch, as all she wanted was the chance to kill, even if only for the briefest respite from the relentless burn of the Nails. The hordes of bloodthirsty monsters broke open the battle lines, forcing Squire and his marines further back. Dante and her Blood Angels came soaring down once again, cleaving through Khornate mortal or daemon. But even this devastating assault from the Marines of the IXth couldn’t stall the reinvigorated bloodlust of the Khornate legions.
Dante charged at Atalanta, the Death Mask of her mother hiding the grim determination of the Chapter Master. Atalanta’s mouth curled into a hideous snarl, “SANGUINIA!!!” The Daemon Primarch roared, recognizing the mask from her sister’s helmet. Cleaving through a dozen Marines in one swing, Atalanta strode forward, crushing the dead and dying while still smashing through more Marines, uncaring if they were friend or foe. Dante’s Axe bit into Atalanta’s neck, but not far enough to take the hulking monster’s head off. Atalanta struck back, a single blow from Spinegrinder shredding through the golden armor of the Chapter Master. Azrael looked on in horror as his sister Chapter Master was nearly cleaved in half, with Dante getting sent flying into a patchwork of what once had been a building, now just a pile of rubble. Squire leveled his blade, prepared to fight against the hulking beast that was once his sister-in-law. “KILL!!!” Atalanta roared as she strode forward. Squire went to swing, but suddenly, a golden shield came to block the strike from the daemon.
Leona stepped out from the forest to shield Squire, Fealty gripped firmly in her other hand as she slashed at Atalanta. “SLAY!!!” The Daemon Primarch screamed as she hammered her blades against Leona’s shield. The Lioness kept her Daemon sister’s attention on her as she lead her further into the refinery, “HAS THE LIONESS LOST HER PRIDE TO FIGHT!!!” Atalanta roared, yet her rage and fury blinded her to Leona’s true intentions. “At least I haven’t devolved into a Dark God’s lapdog.” Leona goaded, adding further flames to the fires of rage. “I’LL CRUSH YOU JUST AS I CRUSHED THIS PLANET!!!” Atalanta screamed. Leona blocked, parried, or evaded the powerful blows, while managing to land several sword-strokes of her own. But the bloodshed of combat meant none of the Lioness’s attacks were mortal, as even with a powerful artifact like Fealty, Leona couldn’t permanently hurt Atalanta. Suddenly, several large bolts slammed into Atalanta’s back, causing the Daemon Primarch to turn around to see a strangely armored figure standing strong with a large looking rail gun.
Leona utilized this distraction, jumping onto Atalanta’s back before embedding Fealty straight through her daemon sister’s neck. Atalanta thrashed out even as more bolts thudded into her from the Marine, with Leona smashing the Empress’s shield into Atalanta’s face. The dazed Daemon Primarch still struggled, but Leona quickly smashed her shield straight through Atalanta’s neck, decapitating her daemonic sister. The headless daemon’s body froze before falling to the floor, yet her body still fumed and twitched in rage, with death not helping to stop her fury. Leona quickly retrieved her weapons before turning her attention to the strange Marine, though he was already tearing his own path of destruction through the hordes of bloodthirsty monstrosities. Azrael and Squire were surrounded by Sanguinary Guard and Deathwing Knights, the pair attending to Dante with an Apothecary as a Tempestus Scion clutched tightly to the Lord Commander’s hand. Dante clung desperately to her life as she refused to pass while her Pigeon was present. Leona ordered the remaining Marines and Guardsmen to maintain defensive positions before turning back to the other Marine.
A grenade stuck itself to a Khorne Berzerker’s face before detonating, shotgun shrapnel shredded cultist and daemon alike, and when more firepower was required, the Marine pulled out what could only be described as a big fucking gun to obliterate any of the hellish engines of destruction. Leona still couldn’t tell if he was friend or foe, but she could ask later as she joined the strange Marine in battle, Fealty scything through ceramite and flesh, while the Empress’s Shield deflected any blows back at the attacker. Without Atalanta’s presence and the unrelenting force of the Marine and the Lioness, the World Eater assault stalled, before breaking apart. Once the bloodthirsty horde dissipated, Leona turned her full attention to the Marine. “You…” the Lioness’s commanding voice found itself as she started questioning the man. The Marine slightly turned his head in Leona’s direction, indicating that he was listening. “Who are you?” Leona demanded, Featly twitching in her hand as she stood wearily of this possibly new foe.
The Marine fully turned in the Lioness’s direction, his large visor blurring his full face from Leona. Soon, his helmet’s vox crackled, and a familiar sounding voice spoke. “Glad to see my girl has finally grown up. You were still that lost little girl in the forest when I last saw you.” Leona paused. Little Girl? Lost in the Forest? How did he know something like that about her? “Who…Who are you? How do you know who I am?” Leona demanded again. The Marine stepped closer until he was stood in front of the Lioness while looking right up at her helmeted face. “The last words I said to you were ten thousand years ago. I had told you to shape up and quit being so childish.” The voice spoke again, taking Leona aback again. “As for your question. They call me Doom. But you…”, the Marine paused as his hands went up to his helmet before taking it off, revealing the last person Leona ever thought she’d see, “Knew me as father.” It couldn’t be. It was him…her father. Lover.
Leona’s helmet hid it, but the shock on her face was very much present as she looked at the unblemished features of her father. He looked no different than he did ten thousand years ago, with age not having affected his face or body. There was only one difference, and it was the killing instinct in his eyes mixed with the look of a man who’d fought through hell. Yet despite that, Leona could still see it as much as she could feel it. That same, fatherly, loving look Lover always had for his daughters, even when he was clearly upset by them. Leona couldn’t take it as she sank to her knees, discarding her helmet in the process before embracing her father. “I…I. I-I missed you!” Leona had been holding back her tears, but seeing her dad again after she’d been told he was lost in the breaking of her mother’s Webway broke the Lioness’s ability to remain her stalwart self. She clung to her father as if he might vanish without warning, never to be seen again. Lover felt surprised, as Leona had only ever told him ‘I love you, father’, or had given him a simple peck on his forehead. Never had she sank down to his height and hugged him.
Lover however, just smiled to himself before returning the embrace. “I missed you, too. My Little Lion.” The Doom Slayer responded as he let his daughter sob into his armor for a moment. But the Doom Marine was here for someone else, as he soon had to pull away from his daughter. “Leona, darling. There’s something I need to take care of.” Leona’s teary eyes look fearful of what Lover meant. “Wha…where are you going?” Leona asked. A portal opened behind Lover before a couple Bloodletters jumped out, only for the two Khornate daemons to have their faces smashed. Lover turned back to Leona with a steely look in his eye. “There’s Gonna Be Hell To Pay.” The Doom Slayer growled before placing his helmet back on. Leona soon understood what her father meant, and so stood back up, “Come back with her. She deserves to know peace.” Leona stated as she placed her helmet back on. Before Lover stepped through, he turned on last time, “Leona…” he spoke, getting the Lioness’s attention. “Don’t forget to visit your mother and sisters.” And without another word, Lover vanished through the portal.
On the other side, Lover stood in an Arena as the center of the Blood God’s Citadel, where the blood of numberless victims still stained the walls and ground. “Welcome. Mighty Doom.” A voice spoke in a quiet grumble. “YOU HAVE COME FOR YOUR DAUGHTER!!! HAVEN’T YOU!!!” The now unmistakable voice of the Blood God roared from atop his throne of skulls. Lover didn’t speak, but his silence gave Khorne his answer. “WELL…IF YOU WISH TO TAKE HER BACK!!! YOU CAN!!! ON ONE CONDITION…THAT YOU FIGHT HER!!!” Khorne roared out before the blood from the walls converged together, mingling and shaping until it bore a resemblance to a statue. Then the Blood Statue shed its red shell, and what stood before Lover…was his Daemonic daughter…Atalanta. Her weapons soon manifested into her hands as her gaze burned with barely restraining fury. Lover simply cramped two shells into his super shotgun, ready to face another of his daughters again. “As I had just said to another…There’s Gonna Be Hell To Pay.”
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This one’s running a bit long, and it feels like it’s been an eternity since I’ve posted another one of these. But the next part will pick up with an Arena pit fight between Atalanta and the Doom Slaying badass that is Lover. Also, once again, thank you to u/Prophet_XV for the pictures, and incase you didn’t know, the title of this post is a line from a Doom song called ‘Hell To Pay’ by Miracle of Sound. But until the next post, guys and gals.