Luna loved the suit. She wanted to sleep in it, wear it in the bath and go to parties in it. The 'Liberator Victor' pattern Imperial power armour' was a relatively new product released from the space marine forges, designed to be compatible with 'mortals' that stand around seven feet in height. This particular suit had been custom made down to the finest detail, especially for the princess of the night. Luna finished her spell, throwing her moon up from behind the horizon and into the inky blackness of the evening sky. Once finished she gave a mental 'twitch', as instructed by the Mechanicus fabricator. The attempt proved unsuccessful, forcing Luna to try again. With a satisfying clicking sound her helmet unfolded from her power pack behind her as well as her chest-plate. Her mane had been tied in a tightly woven braid and tucked under the seal around her neck, ensuring it wouldn't become trapped within the metallic segments of her helmet. Her vision went dark for a moment as the mask slid into place before her, a moment later a bright light filling her eyes as the armors HUD came online. Ammo readouts, heat radar, tactical painters and a compass came into clear view, the neon blue of each tool hard to miss if she ever needed their assistance. She flexed her thick arms and neck, hearing the suits fiber bundles hum genlty in synch with her muscles as they stretched taut. Luna looked about the confines of the Thunderhawk, double checking what forces would be landing alongside herself and her sister.

First were the thirty pony conscripts all locked into flight harnesses, armed with a range of imperial militia weaponry. Two of these conscripts happened to be bearers of harmony, a fact that wasn't sitting particularly well with her darker alter-ego. Nightmare had been something of an annoyance ever since Luna had taken her larger, more powerful form in order to do all she could in combat. Her voice was little less than a siren in her own mind, always blaring her unwanted thoughts and feelings into Lunas mind; the shadowy mare had even 'possesed' Luna once since the fighting had started. Such an event, however, Luna decided to overlook as Nightmare taking over her mind and body was the only reason she was standing right now. For this reason Luna endured Nightmares' consistant ramblings and lectures, even now mentally cringing as her darker side mumbled about her suspicions over the element bearers.

In between the two rows of ponies stood twelve space marines from the Star Lords chapter, the giant warriors checking their weapons and war-gear whilst humming alien hymns and whispering ancient litanies. Among them was Captain Phebus, his bulky frame marching down the ranks of his brothers, checking they were all fit for the coming battle. Five of the marines seemed to be some form of veteran or honored brethren, their helmets a blazing orange as opposed too the usual snowy white.

"Are you ok sister?" Celestia asked all of a sudden.

"Yes, just, uh, 'getting in ones zone' as I have heard some of the guard say." She chuckled back.

"You don't have to do this you know-" Celestia started.

"We've just been over this Tia." Luna shot back with a frown.

"Ok, ok. But you know to be careful. And stay close to me."

"Please sister, I'm not a filly." Luna replied, rolling her eyes behind her visor.

"If you two are talking about heading back I'll boot you out myself. No turning back at this point." Phebus announced from behind the princesses.

"Hey, we haven't been in flight for more than ten minutes. Why couldn't we turn back?" Celestia called back.

Fate had a funny way about it, and was ever ready to prove itself as a great mystery. One such time was not a second after Celestia had finished her sentence a deep thunderclap shot through the warm air within the gunship as a vicious shudder rang through its hull. Phebus did not reply, obviously hoping the disturbance had answered the princesses question. The captain seemed to be listening to a radio transmission as he brought his hand up to the side of his helmet and nodded.

"This is Chapter Master Toron! All forces prepare for assault! Assault brethren, ensure those gun-posts are silenced quickly! Brothers, let none escape! Show them Imperial fury; take no prisoners! Planetary Militia, the Emperor watches over your souls! Bring him victory or die trying! For the glory of the Imperium!" A loud voice blared from the internal speakers, ringing in Lunas' ears with such volume.

"We are making our decent now Captain!...Brace for evasive action!" The pilot announced right before the gunship seemed to do several barrel rolls, sending the princesses and even space marines stumbling about the deck.

"Captain! Desecra squad has been forced into a retreat! The gun posts ahead are still active! Orders?!" The pilot announced in an alarmed tone.

"Crew, all weapons free! Pilot, charge that gun-line! We will require all your skill Felosta, just get us to the base of that carrier!" Phebus barked over the comm-link.

"Aye sire! For glory!"

The gunship continued it's vicious movements whilst still taking what felt like tidal waves of enemy fire. The militia members cried and screamed as their bodies were shaken over and over by the punishment the gunship was put under, several washing the deck with their vomit.

"Captain, twenty seconds until touchdown! I think she's going to ho-GURGH!" The pilots abrupt and frightening finish to the transmission was made more terrifying by the clear sound of flesh bursting apart.

"Captain! This is co-pilot Cuvix! Felosta is dead, but I think I can land the ship safely! Just need a few more seco-AERCK!" Again, the same sound of bones cracking and flesh popping was heard over the vox speaker.

"Brace for impact!" Phebus roared as he went to one knee and grasped the edge of a weapons rack.

Lunas heart was beating at a frightening rate, seeming to have a mind of its own and determined to escape the doom that awaited the dying Thunderhawks' crew. A few seconds passed, filled mostly by the whimpers of terrified ponies who clutched their heads in the brace position. Without warning Luna was thrown forward, sliding down the gunships' deck to come crashing into the inside of the crafts frontal boarding ramp. A split second after her collision Celestias enormous rump slammed into the side of Lunas' helmet, damn near crushing it. Luna clenched her eyes shut as the screeching sound of grinding metal rang through the hull, dulling in pitch as the craft slowed. A sharp slamming sound came from behind Luna, as if something had hit the ships' bow, bringing their deadly ride to an end. Luna took a second to thank the heavens that she hadn't received a speeding space marine to the skull before pushing her sister aside and rising to her hooves.

"Hetros, check the pilots and crew." Ordered Phebus to his apothecary as Luna helped her sister up.

The white armored Astarte thundered down the deck, his helmet covered face darting left and right to check the militia on the way down the ships length. He took a ladder up to the bridge, not two seconds later calling out to Phebus.

"Both pilots are dead Captain! I can salvage Cuvixs' gene-seed...Felosta...there isn't much left!"

"Understood! Commence the rites and join us when you're done!" Phebus replied as he marched to the front of the Thunderhawk and hammered his fist on the boarding ramps' release switch, but no response came from the mechanism.

"Something is blocking the bow of the ship. Marvos, Tellix, head to the port-side door and check our status."

From the ships upper level jogged two marines, one hefting a bulky heavy bolter. The heavy bolter braced himself in front of the door while his brother pulled the release switch beside the door, the locks responding with a loud clunk and hiss sound. The door fell open and hit the ground, but not before a hail of bright blue lasers washed over the marine that stood before the doorway. The Astarte responded in kind and let loose with his heavy bolter, large spent shells littering the deck. Cries and squeals could be heard as the weapon rang with metal hatred, stopping only after the tortured sounds had long been silenced.

"All clear!" Sounded the marine.

What sounded like Rainbow Dash yelled an order and all the militia ponies unlocked themselves from their harnesses and scurried down the metal steps to wait behind the space marines. The marines cautiously stepped out of the ship, followed closely by the militia. The two marine dropped out the door and down the ramp below, Luna and Celestia taking place at the front of the pony formation. From what Luna could see, the marine had dealt with their welcome party, the metallic floor smeared in a lake of blue gore. The passengers disembarked, the apothecary the last to leave the crashed ship. Luna observed the wrecked machine and was amazed to find that it's bow had been plunged straight into the giant cannon that had most likely shot them down.

The pilot used his last moments wisely

Don't forget what we agreed Moon, no talking until this is all over unless it's of the utmost importance

Don't worry, you're not being shot at yet

"Militia teams, head through the trenches leading to the second line of defense guns. We shall cover your advance from above. Celestia, you and your sister are to keep you soldiers movement solid, no wavering shall be tolerated this day. Benedictor squad, keep that heavy bolter in clear sight of the militias' route and provide fire where needed. Squad Victor, we head for the nearest gun and try and silence it so that the militia may enter the belly of the carrier." Phebus ordered while jabbing a finger at each team he mentioned.

Without the need for any further information the squads split apart and headed to their objectives. Celestia and Luna thought it wiser to lead the platoon themselves, the number of ponies tripling as more gunships touched down near them. The squads fed into the trenches, keeping a steady pace as they jogged towards the tower-like gun emplacement. As they closed in on the gun Luna picked up on the sound of barked orders and the chatter of troops. The sisters carefully approached the edge of a trench corner, the rust colored soil smearing against their power-packs as they pressed their backs against the earthy wall. Luna was the first to reach the corner and dared a peek to see what they faced. As she peered round she heard a panicked cry from a couple dozen meters away while she barely managed to catch a glimpse of scurrying troops dug in behind metallic barricades. Luna pulled back and considered her options for a moment.

"Princess Luna, this is brother Dorthor. I can see down the trench line, looks like you're up against over fifty hostiles armed with an assortion of ranged weapons." Lunas' earpiece buzzed with the sound of the Astartes' deep voice.

"Can you and your brothers cover us long enough to advance to the first barricade? There's too much distance between us and the enemy for our weapons to be little more than a distraction." Luna asked over her radio.

"Consider it done, we can provide three seconds of fire to allow your troops to move forward...wait...Captain, Have you a way to connect to my helmets' vid-feed?"

"One moment brother...Yes, I have a comms servitor here, syncing to your armour systems now...By the Emperors' grace! What foul monstrosity is this?" Phebus replied through the three way radio connection.

"Captain, this looks like mutation of a demonic nature." Dorthor said.

A sudden thundering howl brought gasps and a couple of frightened cries from the militia force. A line of bright violet energy lanced through the air just under a mile away from them, the beam of destuctive energy colliding with the side of the gargantuan carrier. The blast had come from a warlord titan that was on the march towards the grounded ship, the mechanical god-machine firing another lance of light at the ship as it dropped its enormous foot down to the ground; a shudder running through the earth a moment later. The shots fired seemed to hit a barrier of honeycomb shaped, blue light that fluxed and rippled at the lasers' impact.

"Celestia, Luna, get ready to advance. Be warned, some kind of hideous mutant breed has been enveloped into the enemies ranks. They appear to be primarily close combat orientated, and bear some form of chitinous armour fused to their-LOOK OUT!"

Dorthors' warning came just as Luna heard a growl unlike any she had heard before. The clacking, rumble of some otherworldly predator came from right above her, atop the trenches edge. Luna shot her gaze up to find it robbed of her as something large hit her face. She was thrown to the dusty ground as something pinned her down with an unnatural strength, a painfully tight grasp rapping around her arm and shoulder. Her sight cleared as the creature on-top her reared its head up, flexing its muscle-bound chest out as it took a snarled breath in. It looked like a Therunorian, only one that had been genetically fused with a dragon and an insect. It's face was stretched by it's sharpened features that jutted out like stunted horns, leaving its lips stretched unnaturally far apart and showing off its rows of needle-like teeth. Its grey fur had fallen out in clumps, replaced by black scales that held a bright orange glow around their edges, as if his flesh was on fire underneath. On his back sat clusters of bony spines that flexed up and down as it drew sharp breaths. Worst of all, its arms had twisted into enlarged talon bearing, reptilian claws.

"Luna!" Screamed Celestia as she kicked the creature in the side of the head, sending its flying off of her sister.

The creature scrambled to its feet quickly, bracing itself to pounce at the princess. Its mouth opened terrifyingly wide and let out a gut-crushing screech. The militia covered the sides of their helmets in an attempt at blocking the sound out, Luna was forced to wince at the horrible sound. Celestia shot a burst of fire from her wrist mounted weapons, catching the mutant on the arm. The creature stopped its scream and reeled back, starting to writhe and struggle as if it were having a seizure. Luna soon noticed how its injured arm began to swell irregularly, the flesh bursting apart in a gory spectacle. From the limb shot out clusters of thick, worm-like tendrils that flailed and slithered as if they had a mind of their own. The mutant threw its arm wide, the tendrils shooting forward and wrapping around a pony conscript. The dark blue coated mare screamed in horror for half a second before the tendrils assaulted her mouth, forcing their meters of length into her. Her squad-mates cried out in horror and fell back as their friend was pumped full of slime covered tentacle.

Luna marched forward quickly, burying the disfigured alien in hails of fire. The creature screeched and flailed as it was torn apart by projectile fire. After a frightening amount of fire the creatures head finished disintegrating along with the rest of its upper-half. Its mangled corpse oozed an orange blood that looked like a miniature lake of lava. Lunas attention was drawn to the fallen pony who still had a mouthful of hideous tendrils. Her body began to twitch and spasm until her waist seemed to explode. Her body stretched at the fountain of gore that had come to life, her spinal cord lifting her torso into the air. Her legs split apart in a bloody display and twitched wildly, burying into the ground like roots. Her torso then burst apart in a terrifying shower of gore and guts, her rib cage, lungs and intestines being pulled out by some malevolent force. Soon the horror was over, the body of the conscript mare having been grimly transformed into some form of corpse-tree.

"W-w-what...what?! No! Why!?" Celestia screamed.

"I am sorry princess, but there is nothing you can do. The daemons of the warp will ever look to demoralize their opposition. Do not let their damnable theatrics lead you to grief, focus on avenging your soldier." Phebus said over the comm-link.

"I-I-I...I can't...can't...I can't do this! none of us can! This is crazy! Why is this happening?!" Celestia fell to her knees, clutching at her helmet desperately as she attempted to grasp what she had gotten herself in to.

"Celestia, listen carefully. They want you to fear them by any means, don't let them. If you do not fight the fear within your heart you cannot face the enemy in battle." Phebus replied calmly, trying to ease the princess' mind.

"No Captain! No more! We cannot face an enemy such as this, we cannot face such a horror! We must leave Celestia!" Luna yelled back.

"Captain...this is...too much. We...we cannot stand beside you. I cannot let any more of my subjects die in...in such a way" Celestia sobbed deeply as she relayed her message, Luna holding her sister by the shoulders soothingly.

There was a pause, a long one at that. Luna looked up beyond the top of the trench and spotted the Captain and his marines in the distance. The squad were firing down upon ranks of enemy soldiers, aside from Phebus, who Luna could tell was staring right at her.

"Very well, princess. Return to the gunships and keep them safe. Set up defenses and hold out until we get back."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Cowardice!" Growled Damon.

"The retreat has my sanction, sergeant!" Phebus barked back.

"Retreat is never an option-"

"Not for us! These creatures deserve our pardon; they do not know war as we do." The captain said with finality.

Phebus returned his attention to the battle at hand and raised his bolter to eye level. The Phobos pattern bolter blared and bucked with healthy strength, its ancient machine spirit having been fed a great deal of death in its age. The round cut through earth, metal and rock, but mostly flesh. Dark blue fountains spurted up from the enemy ranks like a firework display, limbs and giblets bouncing about almost in a comical fashion. Blue laser fire hissed through the air, occasionally catching Phebus' armour here and there. The shots did little more than bite penny sized craters into the ceramite plating that encased the captain, while Phebus' bolter turned a heretic trooper into a puddle of guts in the blink of an eye.

"Shiiak ter viuen! Tarker tisch keymen!"

The Crivtos transmission buzzed into Phebus' ear a second before the tell-tale whistle of an incoming airship was heard. The aquatic looking craft swan through the air before the captain and unleashed it's firepower in a criss-cross fashion across the battlefield. As it sowed its fiery salvo a cluster of Crivtos foot soldiers dropped from the crafts hull and drifted to the ground on anti-grav jets.

"Willian! Do our Crivtos allies know the enemy is using demonic units?!" Called Phebus.

"Not to my knowledge Captain!" Replied the veteran.

"Get them on the radio, brief them as swiftly as you can!"

"Aye, Captain!"

Phebus let out another burst of fire from his bolter, catching a couple of heretic soldiers as they attempted to dive for cover. Phebus' brow furrowed in frustration as a possessed Therunorian took far too many bolts to die than Phebus was comfortable with.

"Advance to the barricade!" The Captain cried out.

"Captain, the Crivtos seem to be holding their own. However...it would seem every other Equestrian unit has suffered severe moral depletion. No squad is willing to push further." Said Willian as he jogged by the captains' side, the whole squad making for the makeshift battlements.

"Can't say I'm not disappointed."

"Desertion I say!" Damon called out again.

"As much as your gusto is admirable, Damon, it is equally irritating!"

"Captain, another fourteen Imperial ships have entered the system along with twelve Verluthian battle cruisers and frigates!" Called Willian over his bolters fire.

Phebus had also raised his bolter to cut down a trio of rampaging possessed. The barricade sped closer to Phebus as he advanced, finally allowing him to ready himself beside the walls breach.

"Grenade!" Cried Volkov as he tossed a frag grenade into the gap, detonating just a few seconds after in a puff of dust and loose dirt.

The squad hastily slipped through the breach and skidded down into a shallow trench. Phebus couldn't help but gasp as a possessed pounced on top of him, flailing a pair of bale-flame washed axes it had instead of arms. A pair of blows cut deep into Phebus' artificer armour with frightening ease, the ceramite cracking apart at the edge of each scar. Phebus gave the monster a quick jab in its twisted face before leveling his bolter to its eyes and destroying the creatures head. Phebus got to his feet to find his brothers were in similar situations, most throwing the remains of fallen possessed off of themselves. Around the squad approached more of the foal things, maws dripping luminous saliva and claws scratching at the dry soil beneath them.

"Form up!" Phebus called as he rallied his squad together.

The marines had barely enough time to shuffle into formation before the first of the demon creatures lunged at them, quickly followed by the rest. Over a dozen of the things were on them, wielding a wide variety of damned blades, vicious claws and hideous tendrils.

"Charge!"

Phebus was the first to hit back at the possessed, his power axe 'Skytalon' swooping from above to come crashing down on the monsters' heads. The first was slain in a heartbeat, its malformed brain smashed from its skull in a mess of mangled flesh and bone. The second was sent flying as it took a blow to the ribs, yet still seemed to live on. Skytalon hissed with bright orange energy, each blow landed cutting red hot wounds into the enemy. Power sword and chainsword both hacked into the demonic ranks as the Captains brethren put their might up to the screeching monsters. Gore of various hues spattered the earth beneath the marines as blade met twisted flesh with tremendous force. Bone shattered with sickening audible ques whilst the dying screams of the slain shook the very air around the Captain.

Mere seconds had passed by since the first blow had been struck and already the battle was over. Phebus kicked away the last headless corpse before checking his brothers. Each had slain at least a couple of the warped monstrosities, their armour and cloaks stained with the dirty blood of daemons. Phebus looked about himself, checking his surrounding in the expectation of finding more barricades or clusters of heretic infantry. To his surprise no such thing was seen.

To his horror, he spotted something much worse.

A field. A indigo field that stretched about half a kilometer up to the belly of the grounded carrier. It was a field of what looked like alien fauna, a glistening sea of deep blue foliage. Phebus' eagle-like eyesight confirmed that such a theory was wrong. Bone, tendon, sinew, entrails and flesh made up the hideous forest that stretched before the Astarte. It looked as if the bodies had been frozen in time just as they were being blown apart by an anti-vehicle mine. Phebus was greatly disturbed by how not even he could tell were one body ended and another began, their forms so twisted and mangled there was no sense in even trying.

"Captain...The daemon host wishes to-" Started Damon.

They both looked down to find a cluster of red roots, appearing much like muscle fiber, slithering towards their boots. The hideous plant spread into mass like a fire, growing and dividing as it advanced.

"Willian, call in every flamer unit from ever ship. Ready Redeemers, Terminator squad and any squad member holding a flame based weapon and get them to this position. Have them start cleansing as soon as they get here...We're heading inside." Phebus said as he trod a foot down on the advancing root.

"I can't imagine it being much fun approaching the carrier with an inferno at our backs." Replied Hetros.

"Then we'd better put our efforts to hastening to the ship. Dorthor, Threndris, Calrus, Marcus and Fredoris, you stay hear and ensure nothing comes in or gets out of this...'Gorest'," Phebus replied, raising an eyebrow at his pun.

"Very clever Captain." Stated Damon in a sarcastic tone.

"Aye sir, we'll ensure the support units get the job done while your inside." Dorthor replied.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"No wonder there was so little infantry presence. Most the heretic forces must be part of this mess." Hetros said as his studied a trunk made from a heretics torso.

Hetros prodded the fleshy mass that still had clumps of fur clinging to it, his scalpel cutting the skin open. In response the tree-like creation twitched and spasmed, generating harsh gurgling noises.

"Perhaps a form of sentience?" The apothecary added as his drew his blade away.

"Nonsense. This filth is no more than a cheap display to terrify the weak." Spat Jeremiah as he hacked away a branch formed from a heretics leg with his chainsword.

The tree the leg belonged to writhed madly, its branches flailing as if in a terrible pain. The trunk seemed to swell in a hideous fashion, almost as if it had become pregnant in a matter of seconds. From within Phebus could see what looked like hands trying to push out of the cage of flesh. A tear started working its way up the bloated mass, blue gore trickling from the lengthening wound. An arm coated in messy fur slick with alien blood burst from the wound, followed by a second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth, all tearing at the painfully taught flesh that held them. The trunk burst apart, a choir of brain-shaking wails and screams erupting along the fountain of blood.

"Why didn't you save us?!"

"Where's my baby?! She needs her mother!"

"Why do you hate us so much?!"

"I just want to go home!"

"Help us! It's burning!"

A trio of Therunorians had erupted from the trunk that was now composed of their bodies twisted together at the waist, their spines hideously stretched around one another. From their backs sprouted the branched of limbs and guts that continued to writhe and twitch. The aliens continued to plead and beg feverishly, with no sign of stopping.

"Put them down!" Phebus yelled as he raised his bolter, followed quickly by the rest of his squad.

Bolt round blared for no more than a second, but in half that time had already blown apart all of the deformed creatures.

"What horror is this?!" said Damon from clenched teeth.

"The dark powers will forever be as vile as they are elusive. Be on your guard." Phebus replied before carefully marching off, the others following his lead and treading as carefully as they could.

Progress was slow, but thankfully undisturbed. Although the twisted forest of gore and body parts was ever an assault on every marines sight it was more welcome than a cluster of screaming aliens soaked in agony. Phebus had accidentally caught a pauldron on a branch, stirring the thing from its slumber but a little before it gurgled back to sleep. For now all close combat weapons had been holstered, lest anything sharp disturb the forest. Phebus questioned his motive in the caution he took; did he do it to ensure his squad would be sparred the sight of such a hideous display, or did he take caution with the aliens pain in mind? Was the pain even real? Where the aliens even real? Most likely they were just puppets in elaborate theatrics, but the possibility of causing one so small so much agony was something Phebus was not comfortable with whatsoever.

"Seventy meters to nearest airlock, we're nearly there." Announced Jeremiah.

"Very good. Once inside we head for the bridge. We still need to eliminate the heretic leader and any priority assets he may wield. Willian, as soon as we hit the bridge I need you to make a full systems breach and scan for anything of import, after that we're clear to evacuate and call in the fleet to clean up." Phebus ran through their plan once more, ensuring everyone knew what to do once the mission was active.

The gargantuan craft loomed over the space marines, its dark grey hull like an obelisk of lifeless onyx against the bright rays of the early morning sun. The brightness of a new day illuminated something that would have over-wise gone utterly unnoticed by the Captain.

"Hold."

The squad froze as Phebus held up his fist before lowering it slowly while turning to investigate the anomaly. Against the glistening blue of gore and giblets stood a patch of deep crimson. The dark red grew ever larger as Phebus approached it, he blue body-trees moving out of his sight to reveal something new. More trees. Yet these were strange, very strange compared to the others he had seen up until now. Instead of blue they were slick with red gore, and in place of the grey fur of the Therunorians was a variety of brightly colored coats. Phebus approached the trees and found his gloved hand reaching out to touch the trunk of the nearest.

"Captain? Captain what are you doing?!" Hetros called out.

"I have to know...But it's impossible." Phebus half said to himself.

His finger touch the sickeningly soft exterior of the tree, pressing against its fleshy wall. He recoiled when something pushed back from the other side. With a second to consider what the possibilities where Phebus abandoned sense for the gnawing curiosity that ate away at his mind and raised his axe far behind himself.

"Captain, no!" Hetros cried.

With a single, swift motion Phebus cut downwards with his blade, biting a large gash in the tree before him. The tree instantly started spewing gore like a waterfall, its form bloating and swelling for a second before the flesh was ripped apart from the trees' inside.

"It hurts so much!"

"Please, make it stop!"

"You promised to save us!"

"Scootaloo! Where are you honey?! Scoots it's me! It's daddy!"

Bolter and axe hit the floor in sync, followed closely by Phebus' knees.

"This...isn't possible." Whispered Phebus.

"Fire!" Called a voice from behind.

"NO!"

Bolter fire rang about the captain head, the deformed Equestrians bursting apart until nothing was left.

"Get up Captain. We have to go, now!" Damon said as he scooped Phebus up by the arm.

"I saw them leave. I saw them head back to the ships!"

"We all did, Captain. But the question as to what happened to them will have to wait for now." Damon added as he put a hand to Phebus' shoulder.

"My gut tells me we'll find the answer in there." Announced Willian, the squad turning to gaze up once more at the heretic carrier.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The corridors were dark as there were silent. Nothing moved and not a thing could be heard, just the creeping dark lay beyond ever door and after every corner. Jeremiah took point, his bolter raised and ready with his sights locked down the weapons scope. The squad traveled at a consistent jog, the loud clanging of their heavy armour drowning in the utter nothingness before them.

"Auspex?" Asked Hetros.

"Nothing. I've had nothing since we entered the ship. I think we may be alone here." Stated Willian.

"Unlikely. That forest out there...I think it was made with a deeper purpose in mind than to simply scare off the weak minded." Phebus added.

Another corner growing nearer got the squads hearts racing yet again, only to slow steadily as they turned it to find the hallway before them empty.

"How far?"

"Two hundred meters."

A sharp, high pitched wail of something sharp scratching against Phebus' pauldron caught the attention of the whole squad as they swung their bolters around. Phebus could just about make out something slithering into the shadows, something that looked a lot like a malformed arm. Phebus blinked on his thermal overlay only to find nothing but the cold blue of the metallic corridor.

"I think we should pick up the pace, I have a feeling we're being followed." Damon said.

"Aye. To the bridge, quick." Phebus replied.

The squad turned and broke into a heavy jog, taking no caution when it came to corners or doors. Willians' auspex gave quick chirps that grew closer together as they neared their objective. Another scratch came from Hetros who turned to see the same misshaped limb clawing at his shoulder; he paid it no heed and simply continued running. Rasping moans began to emanate from the very walls themselves as several clawed limbs reached out to the space marines, scratching at their armour as they rushed by. Jeremiah gave the creatures a burst of bolter fire with a mild effect as the limbs were blown apart, yet more seemed to take their place mere seconds later. Soon enough, skeletal faces, twisted and broken began appearing from the inky shadow, lip-less mouths snapping and gaping as long arms continued reaching out. Bolter fire rang from every squad members hands, daemons bursting apart all around them, yet their number ever increasing.

"Quickly! To the bridge!" Damon barked.

The squad broke out into a full sprint, their boots beating furiously against the cold metal beneath them. Phebus dared to look back only to find that the creatures were dragging themselves out from the shadows. Some stood on two very thin, shaky digigrade legs while others dragged their legless forms forward by their lengthy claws. In under a second the hallway had become choked by a tidal wave of the grey-fleshed creepers, all as hungry as the next for bloodshed. Phebus turned back to see the blast doors leading to the bridge not only close, but very much open.

"Damon, close the doors! Get them shut!" Phebus yelled at Damon as he was the first to pass through the doorway.

Damon nodded and slammed his fist into the emergency lock switch, a bright blue light running rings around the doors edge as it began to slide the thick doors together.

"Hurry Captain!" Called Hetros.

Phebus put all his effort into running as fast as he could, both hearts beating as fast as they could. The Captain leapt through the air and dived through the half-closed doors. Skidding a while before rolling over onto his back, Phebus snapped his bolter up to face the ever thinning opening the door had left. The hissing sound of un-dead specters grew closer by the second, and it looked like they'd make it to the door before it closed. Dozens of clammy paws shot through the door and pulled them apart, more of them joining in a blink of an eye. The squad let loose with their weapons, fire erupting from the shadowy gap. The creatures were losing their grip and it wasn't long before the doors came to a sudden and messy close, severed arms slapping wetly to the floor.

"This whole ship is a damned sacrificial circle! The country will be awash with daemon filth by the dawn of the next day!" Hetros exclaimed.

"We need to kill the cult leader before he can summon any more daemons! Brothers, fresh mags, blades at the ready! May the father see our glory this day!" Cried Phebus as he raised his thunder hammer forward and sprinted to the bridge.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Gods of anarchy, fear and death, I am Geraniyelle. Since the dawn of time itself have I offered up blood, flesh and souls for your appeasement, yet none have been sweeter than these that lay before me. This world, and it's population, shall be the greatest offering any of your servants will have ever offered you. There innocence, there hope and the dread they feel now shall sate your glorious hunger for a thousand centuries! I give up this prize in the promise that I may continue to serve under your ultimate rule, and may be allowed to offer ever more fleshling whelps to your malevolence!"

Luna stirred again. She knew her bonds were far to strong to break and to tight to slip from, but her primal instinct was having trouble accepting her imminent demise. She looked up once again to see her sister, the two elements and around twenty other ponies all tied up helplessly, stripped of their armour and clothing whilst painted with black ink in the form of symbols that she did not understand. The ink barely showed up on her current physical form, the black ink simply reflecting slightly more light than her black coat. A large hand grabbed her from behind the shoulders and violently pulled her unto her back. The possessed alien forced its blazing orange eyes right up to her own, a stinking roar exploding from its jagged teeth. Nightmare Moon practically charged right through Lunas' mental barriers and took full control, delivering a feral hiss back at the creature who gave a manic chuckle in response.

Stop! You'll get us killed!

We're going to get killed anyway, I'd like to die knowing I at least tried biting back a little!

"Luna...t-they'll -ungh-...they'll be here. I know they'll...they'll be here." Celestia said weakly, her strength spent after being beaten by the pack of possessed that had ambushed them on the way back to the shuttle.

Celestias' body was bruised and bleeding, a result of being distinguished as the biggest threat against the ambush that had been set against them. The other ponies were all in varying states of dread and despair, many had tears flowing like rivers down their dirty faces, other in an unshakable shock.

"Keelyak sheebath!" The lead creature bellowed at his servants.

The possessed scrambled about the ponies madly, finally gathering about Celestia and started dragging her closer to their master.

"Not her you maggots! Would you spoil the dark ones with our greatest prize?! One of the small ones!" The leader barked in a dark voice.

The possessed coward before their masters wrath and whimpered away, scuttling about the ponies. The creatures viciously pulled and pushed the ponies about like play things, inspecting them as a child would inspect a new toy they wished to buy. The equestrians squirmed and squealed in fear, even Rainbow Dash and Applejack clung to one another with eyes clenched shut. Finally after much hissing and growling among themselves the mindless beasts seemed to pick out one they deemed preferable. The possessed pulled out a young mare, no older than nineteen, with a light blue coat and bright yellow mane. The slim girl thrashed in desperation as she screamed wildly, her fellow ponies all shrieking in protest, urging that they be taken in her stead.

"No! Thou shalt taketh me foul wretch! Or doth thou laketh the nerve to handle me?!" Luna bellowed in her royal announcement voice.

The demonic host turned slowly, as if in a mixture of amazement and disgust, to face Luna with eyes burning bright with malice.

Great, now you've gone and done it!

Hey, you where the one who was feeling eager to die earlier.

Well now that's it's staring us in the face...I guess I've had a change of heart.

"Yes...YES! This one is perfect! Take her, leave the other!" The leader exclaimed in delight.

The foul creatures leapt over and seized Luna by her limbs and dragged her up to their leader, all the while Luna tried her best to block out her sisters screeches of terror. The princess composed herself, not resisting for a second, no matter how hard her instincts gnawed at her. She let out a grunt as she was thrown to the floor at the leaders clawed feet. Something grabbed Luna by the throat, something powerful yet utterly invisible to her. She was lifted off the floor, struggling as she levitated into the air in front of the daemon.

"Yes...most satisfying!" The daemon hissed as it ran its obscenely long tongue over Lunas' breasts, the princess cringing in disgust as the feeling of wanting to vomit crept up her throat.

Luna wanted nothing more than to at least give the monster a swift kick, yet was utterly robbed of the hope of even being close enough for a headbutt. The daemons face, its bony, scaly, dark face began to light up, as if a fire was rising from behind its eyes and within its maw, the bright orange escalating to a blinding white. A noise similar to rushing water built up within the creature and its mouth distended unnaturally wide.

Luna...I'm sorry...for everything...I'm scared.

I am too, Moony...but don't worry, I'm right here.

...You remembered...you remembered the name you gave me when we were fillies.

I'll never forget-

Before Luna could think another word the daemon leader coughed a volcano of white hot energy into Lunas' face. The pain was like being washed with an intense fire, only it felt as if it were draining something from within her at the same time. Luna roared in pain, her whole body thrashing, until there was no more. It felt as if she had been torn from out of her own mouth, her very being, everything she ever was ripped away in one violent act. Luna opened her eyes to find herself on the floor, only something was terribly wrong.

The floor wasn't cold, nor did she feel the heat of her own heart racing desperately in her chest. Everything around her was drenched in a dark blue veil, as if she had been drowned in an ocean of blue ink. Looking about in utter bewilderment er attention was finally caught by the sound of her name being called. Luna turned to see Celestia on the floor, tears streaming down her face, screaming her sisters name. But her sister was not how she remembered her, she was distorted by a deep blur that chopped and changed as if some vicious wind was about her. Luna turned her head up to find the most horrifying sight she'd ever witnessed before in her life. Her body hung loosely in the daemons grasp, her lifeless form dangling before her very eyes. The moment seemed to last for days on end as Luna picked herself up, wept enough tears to fill every ocean on Equis, screamed rage that could have split a world in half and had spent what felt like hours pleading her sisters forgiveness.

A light shone from above Luna, and a heat rose at the back of her head and shoulders. The princess turned to find a sight every mortal being dreaded. A devil, a behemoth of pain, a titan from the depths of hell itself loomed over her; a goliath daemon that consumed her vision and blotted out all other things from her mind. The creature was wreathed in an angry flame that flickered a thousand colors, its mass was a collection of hideous armour plate, cloth made from ten thousand faces and a deathly grey flesh that wrapped around impossibly swollen muscles. It's face was that of a bulls, only skeletal and somewhat reptilian in form. Its mouth, large enough to swallow a house whole and lined with razor-like teeth as tall as a pony, dropped wide open to let out a roar that tore at reality itself. Luna couldn't help but sink down in fright, wanting to turn away but finding her sights locked onto the monster that stood before her. The daemon raised a gigantic claw up and brought it down upon Luna like a meteorite.

A flash of light forced Luna to look away for a second, its rays so bright she felt them hit her face like rainfall. The princess looked up again, hand raised as a shield to see a figure of golden radiance so beautiful tears began to flow down her face, even though she didn't fully understand what had just happened. Before her stood an Astarte, clad in shimmering golden armour, wielding a sword forged of the brightest metal and shield adorned with divine engravings, a pair of brilliantly white wings sat spread wide upon his back. The Astarte swept his shield across himself, throwing the daemons blow off and away from Luna. The marine threw his shield back around and brought his mighty sword far above his head, bringing it crashing down upon the daemons giant wrist. With a roar of agony the daemon recoiled, its striking hand half cut of its wrist and gushing a dirty black gore. The daemon shrieked as its brought a fist down on the Astarte with devastating force, only to find the warrior had brought his golden shield up to block the incoming attack. The daemons fist shattered, unholy bone splintering out its grey flesh with spouts of black blood bursting out from within. Again the daemon was thrown back, in response the Astarte drew his sword by his hip and with one fluid motion thrust it towards the monster. The marine was far too far away from the daemon to ever hope to hit it with any direct attack, but such was not the intent of the golden warrior. A spear of dazzling white lightning burst from his swords tip, white hot rivers of energy dancing up to the face of the horror above. As if hit by an enormous fist the daemons face broke into a bloody mess, teeth shattering and flesh pulping as the lightning tore at its mouth and eyes.

The Astarte abandoned his battle and turned to Luna, his golden hair flicking about his marble-like features. As if surfing on the wind itself his feet glided up to Luna, his large, armored hand scooping her up into the warmth of his arms. With one strong burst from his wings they soared into eternity, a hail of technicolored light raining down upon them both. Luna forgot her despair, forgot the pain and sorrow of losing all she had once loved. But she would never forget...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nightmare Moon coughed life back into her lungs, still feeling the vicious, invisible grasp of the abominations' paw around her throat. She struggled and flailed as best she could, making an attempt to do any act of retaliation. The foul creature turned and looked at her with a look that could rend the flesh of any mortal pony. It seethed at her, its' eyes burning with unnatural anger and hatred.

"How are you alive?!" It roared.

Nightmare Moon wouldn't play into this creatures mind games and simply continued her struggle. She was forced to stop as the daemon shook her like a toy with it's telekinesis, the mare growling like an animal in response.

"I ripped out your SOUL!"

The black mare was confused for a moment, then suspicious for another before grasping what terrible thing may have happened.

Luna? Luna are you OK?! Luna where are you?! Answer me Luna!"

Nothing. The normally youthful voice of her alter-ego was not to be heard. The warm part of her heart, the part that Luna rested within had grown cold, empty and ruined. Moons' breathing became heavy and staggered as she came to realize what had just happened. Luna, the pony that had created her, nurtured her, allowed her to take full control of her body and spared her after she had been sorely weakened was gone. Dead. Moon felt tears build up in her eyes as the daemon pulled her right up against its vile face.

"What are you?" It hissed.

A possessed not two steps away from the lead daemon was struct in the head by something, a deep thud sound bursting into the air. A choir of metal bells chimed from the doorway Moon had been brought through earlier that day, a sound she immediately recognized as footfalls.

"Begone foul beasts!" Roared an Astarte voice, deep with hatred and authority.

The mutant that had been struck in the head by a thrown blade slumped to the ground in a messy heap, half a second later having an Astarte boot smashed down upon it as the marine collected his blade. Nightmare Moon was dropped to the floor, were she lay sobbing softly.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Phebus would check the status of the captured natives later, but now there was a good degree of slaughter to be handed out. Damon had caught first blood by landing a well placed hit by throwing his power blade, achieving a silent kill and allowing the squad that fraction of time to close in on the enemy. Next Jeremiah scored a killing blow with his chainsword, swinging his blade so fast it cleaved a possessed head clean off. The lead possessed, now fully in demonic form dropped an equestrian and summoned a warp blade. Damon thrust his power sword at the daemons gut just to have it parried away, causing him to stumble to the side. Next Willian struck a skyward blow down on the daemons head, but once again was knocked away by the creatures swordsmanship. Phebus raised his power axe and roared a cry that shook the air around him, his sights set of the daemon leader. A possessed threw itself at him, as did many other throw themselves between the daemon and his squad.

With a twirl and throwing his axe around him Phebus slammed the weight of his weapon into the gut of the mutant, who fell into two perfectly neat halves. Pivoting of the spot and bringing his axes blade down from above Phebus sent another possessed into the floor were it became little more that a bloody paste. His squad showed equally impressive skill at carving the creatures apart, their blades hissing and roaring with hunger as they bit through the dark chitin of the mutant assailants. Phebus turned to test his metal against the daemon to find he had fallen for the fiends plot.

"Now now, space marines. You wouldn't want me to slip and hurt your precious princess now would you?" Cackled the daemon as it clutched Celestias mane in its clawed hand, its blade level with her throat.

"Your weapons! Drop them!"The daemon demanded.

Phebus hesitated a moment and looked to his squad, who all held the same expression of resentment he had. With a loud clang of metal his axe hit the floor, soon followed by his bolter and his squads arsenal.

"I fail to understand! Since when did the galaxy's' mightiest warriors become so fond of pretty little ponies?! Perhaps the years have finally made you all soft? Perhaps you are beginning to devolve into the children you really are!" The daemon taunted, jabbing a talon at the marines.

Phebus had been called a many things: Savior, saint, warrior, captain, murderer, freak, alien. Yet 'soft' and 'child' was one of many things he would never stand for in his life. The Captain reached round to his shoulder links in his armour and released them both, pulling apart a series of locks that held his armour together. With a shrug his threw the armour around his arms to the floor along with his pauldrons. Next her dislodged his chest plate with a loud hiss as the hydraulics released, the large metal slab also falling to his feet with a bang, exposing the armors' inner systems and fiber bundles and leaving his stomach fully exposed and his chest poorly protected. The marine spread his arms wide in the call for a challenge as he marched forward towards the daemon. The creature, amused by the display before it sent his minions forth with a grunt.

With lightning fast reflexes Phebus threw the first possessed into the air by taking its legs out from under it, only to throw his spar arm down on its chest to force it down onto his knee, its back splitting in two with ease. The next received a quick backhand followed by a relentless series of uppercuts to the stomach causing the monster to vomit its own guts onto the metal floor. For the third Phebus went low and pulled his fist back to his own shoulder, every muscle on his wide torso tensing into steel-like toughness. His first hammered forward, the mutants wrist smashing to blood and splinters with no hope of slowing the Captains blow that continued on into the beasts face, then brain. His thick, muscle-bond arms and rock-like fists were covered in daemon blood, dripping the thick gore before his boots.

"Very impressive human!" Hissed the daemon as it circled round the captain, blade dragging behind its feet.

"Lack the stomach to meet me in hand-to-hand combat? Then again such a thing is expected...from one so frail." Phebus exclaimed, his orange eyes burning into the daemons own feiry gaze.

The daemon thrust its warp blade at Phebus with otherworldly pecision and speed. Phebus clapped his hands together to trap the blade in his grasp, his mind doing its best to ignore the searing agony his palms were going through. With a sharp twist he threw the daemons weight to the side by the red hot blade it held, forcing the creature to stumble before delivering a swift and devastating kick to its gut.

"Captain!" Called Hetros from behind him.

Phebus turned to see his squad being crushed under the weight of dozens of possessed, their limbs being restrained by several mutants each. A swarm of the beats charged Phebus, leaving just enough time to smash ones face inwards before the other were ontop of him, pulling him violently to the floor, their claws scratching deep into his arms. Phebus resisted to the best of his abilities, yet found his efforts no match for the rabble of monsters clawing at his bloody arms. The daemon leader strode up to the Captain, bringing the greatsword to his throat.

"You claim to have heart human, yet were was your heart when that alien captain came to this world?! He begged for your help, pleaded for mercy and aid, and you wished to excecute him for a petty crime!" The daemon barked, "Yet I showed him heart...I even gave him my own! I gave him my still beating heart, in exchange for his own."

Phebus let out a shout of frustration as he struggled against the grasp of the mutant at his sides.

"After you're gone, every heart on this entire planet will be offered up to me!"

A deafening crash blasted through the dead air within the hall-like bridge of the ship as the thick glass of its wide cockpit shattered into a hail of diamond tears. Through the glass shot a marine clad in blue and cream armour, a jump pack rocketing him through the air. The marine smashed into the deck like a missile, throwing the daemon and his minions to the floor. His chainsword roared with metallic fury as it was thrown into a mutants chest, splintered bone and great streams of gore spattering the grey walls of the bridge. Turning about the marine kicked another in the chest, sending it flying before burying it half-way into a control terminal. A couple of bolt shots rang out and struck the two creatures nearest to Phebus, giving him the chance to get to his feet along with his squad who took the diversion as a chance to break free. Fists were thrown with lethal force before the squad collected their weapons, Damon throwing Phebus his power axe and bolter.

"Brother!" Phebus called to his savior in a thankful tone.

"Ajax Urien of the Halo Skulls, I noticed a disturbance in the carriers bridge and diverted from my original course to investigate!" Ajax called back while slamming him chainsword across a mutants face.

The marines swung their weapons with the force of twenty mortals, their blades cutting through chitin, gut and bone with colorful results. The possessed fell by the dozen, smashed to pulp or cut in twain, and it wasn't long until the last monstrosity fell to the floor in a heap of broken flesh and spilled innards. The sound of tortured metal and an Astartes agony rang out from behind Phebus who turned as fast as any could blink. The young astarte was on his knees, a blazing blade of technicolor spearing through his chest with deep red blood running a river from the wound. Ajax dropped his sword as his arm went limp, his other clutching his bolt pistol tight. The daemon stepped out from behind him as he wrenched the warp blade from the back of the marine, its clawed feet clicking against the metal floor sharply. The daemon gripped the base of Ajaxs' helmet viciously before ripping it off his face in one swift motion. Beneath was the young face of the assault marine, his soft features, freckles and green eyes ruined by the blood he had coughed into the inside of his helmet.

"Do you have the heart to beg for your brothers life?!" The horror screamed with what sounded like a hundred slightly different voices.

"Save the mortals Captain!" Ajax spat out along with a mouthful of blood.

"Beg for me to spare him Phebus Diomedes! Beg me to let you save him!"

"After you!" Ajax roared as he raised his bolt pistol to the Daemons face.

Before Phebus could think the creature had swung its blade up and dismembered Ajaxs' arm, robbing him of his pistol. The marine shouted his agony to the world for less than a second before the daemon struck again, cutting Ajaxs' head clean from his shoulders. The marines' lifeless body fell forward to the deck as the daemon let out a screech of what sounded like anger and frustration, its mouth dropping wide and glowing a blazing orange. As Ajax had hit the floor Phebus had already thrown his combat blade half way across the bridge, the knife reaching the daemons head mid-way through its own verbal protest. The blade cut clean through the monsters skull and throwing it back to be buried into a nearby wall. On que the creatures flesh and guts melted away into a hideous pile of purple fluid that mixed with its bleach colored bones, its shining skull still pinned to the bridges wall.

"AJAX! NO! NO!" Screamed Celestia from across the room.

The squad breathed deeply and muttered prayers of thanks before jogging over to tend to the hostages. Phebus, however, slowly marched over to the limp, bleeding form of Ajax, his head sitting closed eyed next to his armoured body.

"Willian...hail for a gunship," The Captain fell to his knees and placed his bare, bloody hand on Ajaxs' power pack, "Get us home."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Two days later

Phebus held the deep, dark blue helmet in his armoured grasp, his gaze peering deep into its bright green lenses. He wished nothing more than to be peering into the eyes that once fought behind them, than to be granting his blessing upon the young Astarte who deserved nothing less than utter veneration for his heroic acts.

"Did he die well?" Freadium asked, his tone low with sorrow.

Phebus took another moment to peer through Ajaxs' helmet lenses, his mind still holding the imaginary universe where he stood before Phebus in a ceremony in recognition of his acts of valour and unmatched skill.

"Most will not be skilled enough to die in such a way he did...I regret not having known him better." Phebus replied as he handed the Halo Skulls chapter master the blue helmet he held.

"He had a heart of fire, and a mind as strong as steel. He was reckless as he was brave, but examplary all the same." Freadium stated.

"Did he know Celestia and Luna?"

"The matriarchs? Ajax was the first to make planetfall, the first to see and talk to the natives and their leaders."

Phebus looked down at his own hands, digging into his own memory and tried remembering how he was at Ajaxs' age. All phebus knew was that Ajax did a better job at representing his Imperium than the Captain ever could.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Celestia had never felt so empty in all her life, so cold, hopeless and un-living. Her tears had flowed for longer than any could have ever thought possible, ever since she had seen Luna being plucked up by the otherworldly horror. She had prayed to every star in the sky that somehow her beloved sister had been saved, that whatever the daemon had planed for her had failed, but such a hope had turned out to be far too much to ask for. Instead Lunas body had been hollowed out, her soul stripped from her flesh, leaving it stuck with Nightmare Moons' form and the wretched alter-ego. Celestia was normally flawless in composure and poise, never wavering onto the path of despair and loathing, yet her heart held nothing but the deepest contempt for the black mare that had been left behind instead of Luna. She had asked herself why it had to be Luna, why her sister and not the sinister anomoly she had fought against a thousand years ago. The princesses features tensed in anger as the thought of Nightmare Moons psychie hiding behind Lunas' in cowardice, leaving her sister to bear the fate that should have been for her. Celestia still clutched her sisters black crown in her hands, the porcaline soaked with her own tears.

"I...wanted to know if you were going to raise the moon...Or if you want I-" The dark mares voice asked timidly from one of the many shadows cast in the throne room.

"Get out." Celestia hissed through clenched teeth.

There was a long pause, yet Celestia somehow knew Nightmare Moon was still present. Such a suspision was soon to be confirmed.

"I lost her too." The voice said, held on the edge of tears.

"I SAID GET OUT!" Celestia screamed, standing up and throwing Lunas' crown into the nearest shadow.

Celestia sank to her knees, her sorrow making life feel ten times as heavy as it ever had before. Her hands shakily raised to her face as she fell into a fit of deep sobs. Losing control of her body Celestia fell to her side, laying helpless and alone on the floor.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Applejack fell ontop of Dash, exhausted yet utterly satisfied. Dash immediately began nibbling AJs ear softly while stroking her hands down the orange mares sides. AJ started chuckling playfully, responding by gently scratching up Dashs' thigh while raising her face to meet Dashs' lazy eyed gaze. The two of them were panting heavily through clumsy smiles before finally sealing the blissful moment with a passion filled kiss. Dashs' hands went wild through AJs mane, running her fingers through it as if searching for some hidden treasure. AJ took them moment to give Dashs' female attributes a fond amount of attention. Dash gripped the silky covers of AJs bed as pleasure washed through her body. Applejack started to notice Dash was pressing her muzzle against her own uncomfortably hard, her breathing growing heavy with what seemed like panic instead of exhaustion. AJs eyes went wide as she pulled away, her face in utter shock at the sudden escalation. She looked down to find Dash sobbing deeply, her hand shooting up to cover her mouth in a vain attempt to hide her hysterics.

"Oh Dashie, it's ok. It's ok girl, ah gotcha. Ahm right here sugarcube." AJ shushed as she rolled over to bring Dash into a tight hug.

Dash buried her face into AJ chest, just above her breasts, still sobbing feverishly. The two lay locked in their embrace for the rest of the day and night.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Phebus stepped through the titanic doorway of his fortress monasteries brand new reclusiam inner sanctumn. The reclusiam was an enormous structure, large as a metropolis, the titanic roof held up by pillars as large as skyscrapers. Each pillar was, in fact, an individual chapel tower; a honeycomb of scibe stations, libraries and temple chambers. Within this city-sized labyrinth sat the central temple, and at its centre was the inner sanctumn. The sanctumn was a hall the size of Canterlot royal palace, bathed in the dim light that the stained glass window offered in a variety of cold colors. The majority of illumination was set on the altar to the rear of the hall, giving the plinth an ethereal glow that seemed very fitting in the Captains eyes. Next to the altar stood two figures, one his size, the other clad in the bulky mass of cataphractii tactical dreadnought armour.

"Ah, Phebus. Come." The larger figure beckoned.

The captain strode forth, his posture strong as stone.

"How're the arms?"

"Healed, my lord. Thank you for asking." Phebus replied.

"I shall see to the scribes." Announced the smaller figure who Phebus knew to be the High Reclusiarch of the chapter.

"Of course, have the report sent to me by the next dawn." The giant replied.

The head chaplain bowed low before marching off and out the sanctumns' doors.

"So," The collosal figure continued, "Another transmission has been intercepted by our librarians."

Phebus gave an understanding nod.

"Are you ready to get to work?"

"With pleasure chapter master," Phebus replied, "What would you have your Captain do?"

(Please see authors note)

Author's Notes:

Hello everyone!

I'd like to first say a huge, heartfelt thanks for reading this fanfic. You guys have really made this experience highly enjoyable, and helped shape the story as much as I have. Your input and feedback has been invaluable, thanks a lot! The fact you guys showed an interest, let alone actually enjoyed my story made writing this worthwhile. Thanks for remaining patient with me as I've crawled through the writing of each chapter, and I really hope they've been worth each wait.

First I'd like to apologize for the missleading introductory info that lead many of you to believe that this story was a Warhammer 40,000 crossover with MLP, when in fact it wasn't. I made up an alternate fan-universe and stuck space marines in it for a human element. I honestly tried my best to come up with my own 'human empire' head-canon but whenever I did they were always ultimately overshadowed by the 40k space marines and the flavour of character and action they offer. So sorry, but this is and always will be a noble-bright fan-universe with an alternate version of space marines, sisters of battle and adeptus mechanicus as well as fan made alien races. (Also I did try to commit to an actual 40k crossover, but if you follow the canon accurately every race and army in 40k would have somewhat 'unsteady' interactions with the MLP world.)

Second, I'd like to announce a sequel, hooray! The sequel to Faith and Fire: Equestrian encounter is under its initial development and will be released after the finish of the current MLP season. I would greatly appreciate the same level of responses and feedback you all gave with this fic, as I always love to hear of ways I can improve my writing. I realise how including the 'extras' content in this fics page made the flow unsteady, as a reader pointed out, so I will be making a seperate fic page for all the background info and Q&As I'll be holding (may do these in video form).

And lastly I'd like to announce that I'll be holding auditions for OCs, one of which I will include in the next story. I repeat, I will be including ONE outside character in the next story. The character must be either an earth pony, pegasus or unicorn (sorry, no alicorns or space marines NO EXCEPTIONS!). Submit your OCs info anywhere you want, in the comments, on my profile or PM me. I look forward to hearing from you guys!

So, thank you all once again! Can't wait to get started on the next fanfic, Faith and Fire: Ashen Tears.