Princess Aurora, The Blood Rose

This is a time of trial, Aurora thought. Not just for me, but for the Blood Angels as well.

She looked out across the vast red plains that was the surface of her adopted homeworld, and the home of the Angels of Blood. Baal. It is here that I have found strength, strength to fight my old enemy, long since returned.

Tis true, for an ancient evil has brought back her old foe from death. Maleficent, the evil fairy that had cursed her, was back in the land of the living, more powerful than ever before. But all that power had been given to her in return for the evil fairy's soul and her eternal servitude to the Blood Angels' greatest enemy, though she knew not of the devil's bargain she had made to take her revenge against Aurora.

Chaos. That was the ultimate evil of all sentient beings, not just the Blood Angels. It was the greatest enemy Aurora and her kingdom had ever faced. Far older than Maleficent, Chaos came down upon her kingdom, destroying all in its path. As for Aurora, she was swept away by foul powers to a world of red, one which had a race of noble warriors, bound by blood. It was here, on this planet, that she would find the strength needed to resist Chaos and to fight her resurrected enemy, for her love Philip had been captured and taken away. Only she was left to lead her kingdom. Only Aurora could fight.

But to do so, she had to learn the ways of war. And on this world, she discovered the ancient legion of blood warriors that would become her new-found kin. Her blood-brothers. The long-lived Blood Angels.

From them I have learned much, but I have inherited their age-old curse as well. she thought, feeling the bloodlust of the Black Rage burning in her heart, demanding to be released. But she let it not. Her love for Philip, combined with the iron will she had developed under the guidance of the dark angel Lemartes, kept the Rage at bay. For more than two centuries, through the injections of the sacred blood of their Legion and life-extending elixirs, Aurora has remained the beautiful woman of ages past, never aging and growing stronger. Though still a small, beautiful woman, Aurora boasts strength and endurance three times that of a normal man, made possible by the many enhancements and injections of holy blood that now course through her veins. Like all Blood Angels, Aurora has become a child of the Great Angel himself.

A daughter of Sanguinius, the ancient progenitor and father of all Blood Angels. And now, she is about to receive a gift. A most holy gift, for it will unite all Blood Angels to her side and give her the power she needs to vanquish Chaos........and her old foe........



"Aurora." a voice called out to her. Aurora turned to see a shining angel, clad in armor of brightest red, walk towards her. His beautiful, fine-boned face was directed at her, eyes of emerald green staring down at her, golden hair shimmering with a halo of light. In his hands he held a golden chalice encrusted with skulls and blood drops. Aurora's eyes widened as she saw the holy relic in all its glory, and who it was that carried it.

Immediately, she bowed in respect. "Lord Corbulo." she said. He merely smiled. "Rise, my Princess. No need to genuflect before me."

He held out the sacred chalice, the legendary Red Grail, before her. "Drink." he told her, and Aurora's eyes widened even more. Her? Permitted to drink directly from the holy chalice, that most sacred relic of the Blood Angels? No mortal had ever been granted such a privilege!

"Why?" she asked, incredulous at this great occurrence. "Why me?"
"Because you will need it." Corbulo answered, his calm voice soothing. "Your enemy is more powerful than ever. The foul Maleficent is cursed with all the evil of Chaos. Even now, she comes to our world with an army of daemons to raze our home to the ground. She comes to destroy us, Aurora, but more importantly, she comes for you."

"She loathes me." Aurora said, to which Corbulo nodded in agreement.
"All the more reason why you must accept this honor. Maleficent has the power of Chaos flowing through her. You will need the blood of our primarch flowing through your veins. You need his ancient strength. So do we grant you this privilege of drinking from the grail."

Once more, he extended the Red Grail towards her. "Drink, my Princess. Feel the power of Sanguinius coursing through your veins. Become blessed with his strength."

Needing no more convincing, for she knew Corbulo was right, Aurora knelt before him, hands extended to accept the grail. Corbulo surrendered the Red Grail over to her, and Aurora drank from the oversized chalice, letting the blood within flow down her throat and into her heart. The moment the blood touched her lips, she felt a powerful strength flow through her, and when it reached her heart, she felt his presence.

Aurora had the vital essence of a once-living god burn within her, and it gave her such strength she knew what was going to happen next. Looking up at Corbulo, she returned the grail to him, before saying, "Thank you."

And she fell into a deep sleep.

Despite all attempts to wake her, Aurora could not be roused. Her sleep was exactly like that of the enchanted sleep she was cursed to endure in her younger years by Maleficent. But this sleep was calm and untainted. But it mattered not; no force could awaken Aurora from her slumber.

And then the skies split, and a horde of monsters poured through into the realm of the living. At their head, bloated with the power of Chaos, Aurora's old enemy. Maleficent.

"They come." said Dante, master of the Blood Angels. "They come to destroy us, brothers. We must correct their error." He hefted his silver axe in preparation for battle, and all stared in awe as the Baalite sun reflected off his golden armor.

"But, my lord," asked Mephiston, his second-in-command, "what of the Lady Aurora? She will not wake."
Dante looked down at the fair, sleeping form of the princess. She looked so beautiful, her golden hair shining in the sun, her pale face flawless and calm.

"There is nothing we can do for her. We must look to ourselves." he finally said, tearing his gaze from the sleeping maiden and towards the gathering horde. In a clear voice, he shouted, "Hear me, Blood Angels! My blood-kin, hear my cry! These fools seek to burn our home, to desecrate the resting place of our primarch!"

"We cannot allow that! This world shall their tomb! To me, Blood Angels, to me! For the Emperor and Sanguinius! DEATH! DEATH!" And with that cry, the Blood Angels charged. Tens of thousands of warriors, against a horde of daemons. The red fields of Baal became a battleground.



The battle was long and violent. Blood Angels fought daemons. Across the battlefield, many were the heroes that led their brothers to ever-greater acts of valor.

The grim, black-winged form of Astorath, leading cursed brothers in black against endless tides of daemons.
Mephiston, the mighty second-in-command and powerful psychic of the Blood Angels, glorious lightning spilling from his fingers, his barbed sword a bane to all.
The black form of Lemartes, his skull-like face a mask of death to all who saw him.

And in the midst of battle, Dante, lord and master of the Blood Angels, fought the evil fairy herself. Maleficent.

"You will die here, witch!" he cried, swinging his axe at her, the blade imbued with energies that would destroy her. In response, Maleficent thrust out her staff, a blaze of evil power striking Dante and wounding him. She cackled in delirious pleasure.

"You are no match for me, mortal." she told him. "I am gifted with the powers of creation! I am blessed by Chaos, that force which brought me back from death! Forever will I be grateful to it! I serve Chaos faithfully!"

Coughing up blood, Dante just laughed. "Fool. You know not of the pact you have made. You are damned, Maleficent. By swearing allegiance to Chaos..........you have damned your black soul."

"Small words from a weak-minded man." Maleficent spoke back. "You're afraid of Chaos. You fear the boon it offers you: eternal power and immortality! Who would dare give that up!?"

"You are blind, witch. Chaos is a mercurial master. You will not get the power you so crave. In the end, for all your power, you are just a slave to Chaos. You are forever damned!"

In rage, Maleficent screamed, "Fool! You die!" And with that, she raised her staff in preparation to kill Dante. The lord of the Blood Angels closed his eyes, awaiting death.

But it never came.

As the black staff of Maleficent came down to smite him, a silver blade intervened, stopping it. A silver blade that had thorns. And engraved in its very metal, a blood rose.

"Aurora." Maleficent said with glee. Dante saw it was true; the princess had awakened, and she had saved his life. She stared at her enemy with anger.

"This ends now, Maleficent. Your day is over. Here you die." Aurora said, and Dante was shocked at the strength and power that emanated from her voice. The energy, the strength that was coming from her, it was so powerful! It was as if Aurora was imbued with the very energy of Sanguinius himself!
Maleficent just cackled. "We shall see. You should've died all those years ago; you only have that fat idiot Merryweather for lessening my curse to that of eternal slumber! Well, I'll see to it that you die here."

Aurora raised her sword in readiness. "We'll see who wins." she said, and charged at the fairy. Dante noticed a growing bulge in her back, but paid no more heed as he returned to the battle.



In a battlefield, atop the highest hill, two fought without cease. One imbued with the foul power of Chaos, the other imbued with the very blood of a mighty angel.

Aurora and Maleficent fought long and hard, each summoning every iota of their strength to vanquish the other. Even Maleficent saw Aurora was more than a match for her. The drinking of the sacred blood had given Aurora remarkable strength and reflexes, levels almost equal to that of a Blood Angel. It was all she needed to defeat Maleficent.
"They taught me well." Aurora explained, as if reading her foe's mind. "From the Blood Angels I have learned all I need to defeat you. You won't survive this fight."

"Really?" Maleficent sneered. "Then if you kill me, you won't know how your true love died." At that, Aurora faltered, missing Maleficent with a blow that would've ended the fairy's life.
"Philip?" Aurora said, a hint of fear in her voice. Maleficent smiled evilly. "Yes. You know that I captured him. Oh, it was so glorious to see him tortured, especially since I did all the torturing! It was so exquisite!"

"Liar!" Aurora shouted, her anger coming to the fore. "Philip is still alive! I know he is!"
"How do you know? True love?" Maleficent mockingly replied. "True love is nothing but a weak power. It can't compare to the glory of Chaos! You are weak, just as he was. He cried like a little boy."
Snarling in anger, Aurora began to swing her blade clumsily. Maleficent saw her taunting was having its effect; Aurora was no longer focused as before.

"He begged for mercy, begged me to end his life! And I refused, preferring to leave him in tortured anguish. All the more pleasing for me, and all the more terrifying for you."

Aurora lost it. In anger, she kept on fighting recklessly, giving Maleficent the opening she needed to seriously wound Aurora. Many were the Blood Angels who saw the princess at the mercy of the evil fairy and they sprang to her aid, but the hordes of daemons prevented any help coming to Aurora. She was on her own.

Having gained the upper hand, Maleficent prepared to deal the final blow to a wounded Aurora. "Say hello to your prince for me." she said gleefully, and swung her staff down for a killing blow. It never came.

Aurora's hand suddenly thrust out and caught the staff an inch from her forehead. Maleficent was startled. "What?" she asked just as Aurora raised her head to look Maleficent in the eye. What the fairy saw made Maleficent cringe in fear. Real fear.

Aurora's face was contorted in a mask of rage. Rage. Hate. Anger. A desire to spill blood. Her violet eyes became flecked with veins of red. A feral growl emanated from her throat, and she opened her mouth, revealing newly-grown white fangs. Maleficent now gasped in shock.

"What....what are you?" she said, and with incredible strength, Aurora yanked the staff out of her hands while rising to meet her foe. Her now-growling voice said only two words. "Hate...you...."

And in a fit of blood-induced rage, Aurora roared and charged straight at the evil fairy, grabbing Maleficent and biting the base of her neck, her fangs puncturing deep. For the last time, the Black Rage had returned, giving Aurora all the power she needed to defeat her hated enemy.

Maleficent shrieked in agony as the princess's fangs pierced deep, black blood issuing forth from the wound. With the Rage, Aurora growled in frothing anger, becoming a feral force of nature as she struck Maleficent again and again with her bare hands. She was like the vampire of old, feral and blood-hungry. Maleficent could barely hold her own, the violent rage of the princess surprising her with its intensity. But she still had her powers, and with them she was able to subdue Aurora, getting ready to kill her again. Aurora, even with the power of the Black Rage, was too uncontrollable to use it against her foe, giving Maleficent another opening, one which the evil fairy quickly took. But she was denied her chance yet again.

A golden shaft of light suddenly erupted out of nowhere, and for one moment, the battle stopped, every combatant staring in wonder at the light. Dante and the Blood Angels stared in amazement, for the golden light came directly from their fortress-monastery over the tomb of their fallen leader, the angel Sanguinius.

From that light emerged an object, far away to the eyes. From that object a blaze of red energy spread forth in waves, straight towards the battle. Maleficent watched in shock as the energy completely annihilated almost her entire daemonic army in one swoop. The energy destroyed the bodies of each daemon and monster, sending their corrupted souls back to wherever they came from in howling anger. She was even more enraged as she saw the energy pass harmlessly through the Blood Angels; not one of her foes was harmed!

Its task done, the object flew through the air, heading straight for her. Maleficent let go of the crazed Aurora, just in time to avoid being impaled by the object, but she still got struck by a side blow and the pain was excruciating, like nothing Maleficent had ever felt before. The long object came back for another pass, but this time it landed right next to Aurora, who became sane again, freed from the grip of the Rage. In that moment, Maleficent beheld the object that had destroyed her entire force in one strike.

It was a spear. A magnificent spear. The shaft was made of golden bronze-like metal, the base of the spear shaped in the form of a hooded angel, its wings outstretched. A piece of ancient parchment fluttered beneath the angel, and the blade of the spear itself was shaped to resemble a drop of blood.

"He favors me." she heard a voice speak, and saw Aurora rise and grasp the spear. "Do you realize what is happening, Maleficent?" she said, now looking Maleficent in the eye. "Your doom is at hand. This spear, the gift of an angel, is the weapon upon which you die."

With that, Aurora took the spear, even though it was massive for her to wield. But amazingly, Aurora used it as if she had fought with the weapon for decades. Every strike against Maleficent was flawlessly executed. Maleficent once again cursed and spit in anger at being denied her chance to kill the princess she hated. And with this strange spear, Aurora was more powerful, a real threat.

Maleficent had one last trick to play. Summoning black energies from her staff, she lashed out at Aurora, who barely resisted its foul touch, the energies of the spear doing battle with those of Maleficent's staff. But Maleficent screamed, a scream of hate, of anger, that overran the princess's defenses and incapacitated Aurora. Aurora doubled over in pain, screaming in agony, the pain so strong she released the spear. Maleficent walked over, believing her evil power to be the cause of Aurora's suffering. She believed that so much she did notice the growing bulge in Aurora's back, which had become larger than before. Maleficent saw the hateful spear that now lay on the ground; apt that Aurora die beneath its blade. She picked it up and aimed it at Aurora.

"Die by the weapon of your so-called angel." she hissed. "Where is he now? He can't help you. And his memory will forever be stained with your blood encrusted on this weapon of his." With that, she lunged the spear at Aurora's heart.

It stopped immediately. "What?" Maleficent cried, incredulous as she saw the spear itself act and prevent Aurora's death. She tried again and again to kill her with it, but no matter what, the spear refused to kill Aurora. It was as if the spear had a mind of its own.

"You will kill her!" shrieked Maleficent at the spear. "You will kill Aurora!" But the spear disobeyed, and in retaliation, the shaft became white-hot, melting her hands and leaving her in such pain that she dropped the spear. Enraged beyond reason now, Maleficent grabbed Aurora by her hair and dragged her to a precipice. With her staff she conjured a forest of poisoned thorns below.

"Since I can't kill you with my own hands," Maleficent growled at Aurora, who still lay in pain, "it is fitting that you die like this. I once conjured this same forest of thorns to be your true love's tomb, but he broke through and freed you from my curse. So then will this place be your tomb!"

With that, she threw down the princess below, Aurora falling towards the forest of thorns. Maleficent saw the spear lying on the precipice, and she kicked it down, the spear falling along with the princess. Maleficent smiled in evil glee. At last, Aurora was dead!

"I'll be sure to tell Philip of your "heroic" stand against me. He will beg me to kill him so that you may both be joined in death." she mockingly called after Aurora, who was gone beneath the thorns. "I doubt it." she said quietly.

Her revenge complete, Maleficent now turned towards the assembled Blood Angels, who readied themselves to fight the witch. She merely sneered at them.

"And now for you. My masters have deemed you too dangerous for their plans. So am I tasked with the annihilation of your Legion. Mark my words: the Blood Angels will cease to exist." She raised her staff in preparation of a spell, one that would harm every Blood Angel in pain.

A shadow fell over the battlefield, the shadow of someone high in the sky. Every Blood Angel gasped in amazement.
"It can't be.........Could this be true?..........How is this possible?...." were the many questions that came from their lips. Maleficent didn't understand; what was going on?

The answer came in a voice. "Maleficent."

Maleficent froze in horror. No. she thought. How can this be? She died!
In fear, the evil fairy turned and beheld her foe. High in the sky floated the Princess Aurora. But she was changed. Her raiment, once the pink of a princess, was now the rich red of a Blood Angel, the symbol of which she proudly wore on her chest. Fine transparent lace and pink ribbons flew from her arms and waist, flapping in the breeze. Her golden tiara gleamed brightly under the Baalite sun. Her long hair was like fluid gold, unbound and beautiful. The spear that fell with her was wielded in her right hand, the blade now glowing with powerful energy. She seemed to be taller, as tall as a grown man. Her skin was deathly pale, yet it shined with an angelic glow. Aurora's eyes were no longer the cool violet they once were; now they were the rich shade of red. Her face no longer bore the innocence of youth, but was older, more regal and magnificent in its bearing, as if made from the finest marble, though still young. She seemed to have matured.

But what shocked Maleficent and all the Blood Angels that beheld her were the wings.

A pair of wings had emerged from her back, gleaming pearl-white, the feathers flapping in the breeze. It was incredible. Aurora had achieved apotheosis. She was now a living angel.

Again she spoke, and her calm maturity and vitality poured through every word like warm honey, though filled with strength and the promise of retribution.

"You have signed your own death sentence, Maleficent. By swearing yourself to Chaos, you have damned yourself. By sending me to my death, you have damned yourself, for I emerge reborn. This is the end for you. By my hand you will die."

Maleficent's shock gave way to anger, and in a hate-filled cry she blasted foul energies in vain at Aurora, trying to kill her. With one wave of her hand, Aurora dissipated the energies with a golden radiance that shined forth from the spear she wielded. Again and again Maleficent conjured all the foulest magic she could from her staff, but nothing harmed Aurora, who effortlessly weathered all the fairy's attacks.

Finally, Maleficent frothed in rage and transformed herself into a dragon, breathing hellfire from her mouth. It enveloped Aurora, but the radiance of the spear shielded her from the flames. Aurora took the spear in her hands and aimed it at the dragon. "My turn." she said.

With a flap of her new wings Aurora flew straight at Maleficent, embedding the spear within the dragon's chest. Maleficent howled in pain as the spear burned through her flesh. Aurora flew around the dragon, continuously wounding Maleficent with the purity of the spear. Maleficent tried in vain to kill Aurora with flame and talon but it was all for naught; Aurora, through the power of the spear, was healed from her injuries and freed from the Rage as well as enhanced to a higher power. She fought as if she were Sanguinius himself.

Finally, Maleficent transformed back to her feminine form, though she bled from countless wounds. She was too weak to continue fighting, and like the coward she was, Maleficent fled the battle, a mist of black oozing out over her body. Aurora followed. "You will not escape my wrath." she told her.

Aurora threw down the spear, where it embedded itself in the ground, the blade pointing upwards. Aurora redoubled her speed and caught up to the fleeing Maleficent, snatching one of her prominent horns. With a powerful blast of her wings Aurora sped upwards into the sky, the cursing Maleficent caught in her grip. The fairy tried to free herself to no avail, Aurora firmly holding Maleficent in her grasp.

High up in the sky, a cry of righteous anger was heard. With remarkable strength, Aurora lifted Maleficent two-handed, and in a resounding crack of breaking bone, the princess broke the evil fairy's back. It was over. Maleficent was defeated. Her foe beaten, Aurora threw Maleficent back down to earth. Below, the spear moved of its own accord, positioning itself to strike the fallen Maleficent. The evil fairy was impaled directly in the heart by the spear. She screamed and howled in agony as the spear's energies destroyed her very essence. The creature's body was ravaged by the energies, and in a final cry, Maleficent was gone from this world, her body exploding into fragments. She was gone.

The battle over, every Blood Angel stared up at the sky to see the princess return to them. Aurora hovered over them all, but something was different. All could see another form over her body, the ghost of a golden angel staring down at his sons.

Dante strode forward, awe in his eyes. "Aurora?" he asked. She answered, but it was not her who spoke. "Not quite." a booming male voice said.
Everyone stared in amazement. Somehow, they all knew who it was.

"My lord?" Dante asked. The angel above stared down at him with a peaceful expression. "Sanguinius?" He shuddered as he spoke his lord's name. "Is it really you?"

The golden figure nodded. He then spoke.

"My sons, I am proud of you all. You have upheld my legacy and the history of the Blood Angels throughout this time. Truly you are worthy of the name Blood Angel, all of you. But you are still cursed with the Rage and the Thirst. Forgive me, my sons, for it was my death and my foolishness that created these twin banes that curse you to this day. But you have persevered, facing down foes of every stripe and the cancer that destroys us from within. You have emerged stronger because of these trials."

"Now you are in need of a messiah, a savior to guide you in these dark times. You need a symbol of hope that I will always be with you."

The angel extended his arms, revealing the body of Aurora in shining luminescence.

"For that, I have chosen her to become my avatar. Aurora will bear my essence. She shall inherit all my abilities, all my memories, all my strengths. She will be the shining paragon of our Legion, the Sanguinaria. Honor her as you have honored me."

"I must leave you now, my sons. But I tell you this: when the end comes, I will return. Death will not stop me from returning to you. This I swear."

The light of the golden angel intensified, touching all with its radiance. Every Blood Angel wept as they felt their father's touch. The light then dimmed and shot up into the sky, leaving a changed Aurora floating gently to the earth. Dante was there to catch her in his arms. "Aurora?" he asked.

The princess opened her eyes. He immediately noticed the change in them. She was imbued with the very essence of the primarch himself. "What do you remember?" he asked. Aurora smiled, a tear of joy falling from her eye.

"Everything." she answered.


Since then, Aurora has remained the chosen avatar of the Great Angel himself. The very essence of Sanguinius now flows within her, granting her ageless youth, boundless energy, and the strength of a primarch. She has inherited all of his memories, all his charisma, all his power. But she does not acknowledge herself to be the reborn Sanguinius, knowing all too well the trap that had ensared the Legion when the false angel Arkio claimed himself to be the primarch reborn, only to discover it was a ruse by Chaos to lead the Blood Angels into civil war and eventually into the worship of Chaos.

"I am no goddess." she has said, her words recorded for posterity. "I am no divine being. I am flesh and blood, like all of my brothers. I only possess his power because the Great Angel chose me. For of all his children, I alone was the purest of heart. My love and my gentle heart are what made me pure, what held me together through the dark times. Do not worship or venerate me in any way, Blood Angels, for I am not Sanguinius reborn. I am only the Princess Aurora, the Blood Rose. Remember me as your friend, your sister. But do not blindly follow me. Uphold your loyalty to the primarch and to our leader, for Dante is the one who must lead us on, not I. He is filled with millennia of experience, whereas I only carry the soul of our Legion. I am no goddess, my brothers. Always remember that."

"One day, I will return to my kingdom and free it from the grasp of Chaos. All will become green and whole again. Philip and I will be reunited, for I will storm the fortress of my enemy to save him. I will also forever remain vigilant.........for I feel that Maleficent will return. I have not vanquished her as I once believed, for I feel her black soul still lives."

"Yes......she will return, and I will be there, waiting."


The final artwork I will do of the Princess Aurora, the Blood Rose. Now the chosen avatar of the primarch Sanguinius himself. She is a woman changed, achieving a state of apotheosis the likes of which have never occurred. A woman, not a Space Marine, chosen to be the avatar of a mighty angel. To become a ray of hope and light for a dying Legion. That is what she is now. The Blood Rose. The Sanguinaria.

The story I've written is the same one I wrote in the previous submission of Aurora [link], but now in much clearer detail. Enjoy.

The Blood Angels and all subsequent information belongs to Games Workshop.
(c) Games Workshop 2012
Princess Aurora belongs to Disney.
(c) Disney
The artwork is mine. Enjoy.
(c) terraluna5