Barrage after barrage came from the Spirit of Mother’s Will, but Custos Aeternam’s shields continued to hold against the onslaught of heavy fire. When the Imperator Titan got a chance, it swung the Hellstorm Cannon around and unleashed a volley of its own! The high powered energy blasts slammed against the right side forward leg, tearing away at the outer armor and vulnerable insides behind the armor. When the destructive weapon went higher, several more gun platforms were destroyed by its wake. However, the city sized mobile Battle-Station stood its ground against the Imperator Titan, even going so far as to unleash volley after volley from its gun platforms.

A volley detonated against the void shields, causing them to go offline, and allowed a second to strike against Custos Aeternam’s armored haul! The explosions and heavy caliber rounds caused the War God to stagger backwards, but managed to stay up right. Once the haul stopped shaking, the ponies and Primarch on the command bridge quickly looked to the onboard controls. “All stations, damage reports!” Konrad ordered, pressing the keys at his tactical mainframe.

“This is Engineering, my lord. The shields are down, the reactor powering them has overloaded! It will take a few moments before we will be able to get them back online!” A Techmarine answered, as the entirety of Custos Aeternam’s body appeared in red, showing that the shields were down and it was vulnerable to fire.

Twilight looked back at Scootaloo, the filly looking like she’s in a bit of pain from the head on attacks. “Sweetie, you will have to be careful for a few moments, until they get the shields back online! Try and avoid what you can!” She said, her daughter giving a nod.

“On it, mom… Hopefully I can avoid those missiles.” She strained, over the speakers, as the group felt Custos Aeternam moving again. “Those things freaking hurt… It felt like someone was throwing decent sized rocks at me, but I know the best option to scare this guy back a bit.” A grin appeared on Scootaloo’s muzzle, as she swung Custos Aeternam’s Plasma Annihilator Cannon around to bare. “FIRE!” She yelled, over the speakers, before the high powered plasma cannon fired, arching over Spirit of Mother’s Will’s form and striking its back! The explosion ruptured the Battle-Station’s entire body, causing several areas around it to catch fire from plasma.

However, that did not stop the Battle-Station from attacking, allowing its gun platforms to continue its barrage… Except, Darth Various added a new attack in trying to damage the Imperator Titan’s body, swinging the still functioning right leg and slammed it against Custos Aeternam’s form! The Titan slammed both primary weapons against the heavy leg, trying to stop it, and started to slide. Its godly metal form shook and strained, the gears and joints grinding in attempts to keep the giant appendage from crushing them.

“Scootaloo!” They all yelled, hearing the Imperator Titan’s body starting to give under the pressure.

“I-I’m fine!” She replied, her nose starting to bleed, but the filly caused Custos Aeternam’s right foot to lift up and step forward. This gave the godly machine a better brace and starting to hold against Spirit of Mother’s Will’s leg. Though, with the primary weapons occupied in trying to keep the Battle-Station from crushing them, all the filly had to use against Spirit of Mother’s Will were her smaller arsenal weapons, allowing bolters, lascannons, and heavy defense cannons; to open fire against the larger war machine.

A rift suddenly opened within Custos Aeternam’s bridge, as Xeron quickly stepped through and looked around. “How are you all holding up here? We have everything not targeting those mechs and tanks, hitting that Battle-Station with everything we have.” He asked, looking around at the ponies now manning the stations and his Gene-Father working the Tactical Mainframe.

“We’re holding, for now, partner… Scootaloo is doin’ everythin’ she can ta hold that there monster off.” Applejack answered, her eyes scanning the Engineering Mainframe, seeing all the mechanical alerts starting to appear on it. “The legs are startin’ ta overheat, tryin’ ta hold that leg back is pushin’ the big fellah over his limits.”

Xeron gave a nod, activating the vox within his helmet. “Malachiorn, order all heavy vehicles to open fire on the leg pushing the Imperator Titan… Its legs are starting to overheat, and the main guns cannon fire.”

“Acknowledge. All Predators and Vindicators changing target vectors. Firing… Now!” Malachiorn replied, before they all heard heavy cannon fire from outside the Titan’s bridge, then watched as the Spirit of Mother’s Will’s leg get struck by several heavy cannon rounds! This destroyed the underside’s weakened haul, knocking some of the gun platforms off from below their positions.

The Battle-Station reared in what looked like pain, as it backed off from Custos Aeternam, but the Imperator Titan could not continue an attack just yet. The entire body was overheating, and needed a bit of time to cool off along with get their void shields back up. “Engineering are reporting reactors overheating all over the legs, and require time to make repairs… The Night Lords aboard are doing their best to handle the more hazardous situations, while everpony else is helping the best they can with spells.” Twilight said, looking back to Xeron. “Think you all can hold that monster back, until Scootaloo is able to push her attack again?”

The Night Raptor looked at the filly, he could see her breathing heavily within the capsule, blood leaking from her nose and eyes. Scootaloo’s body was under a lot of strain, but was proving rather resilient for her first link with an Imperator Titan. With a nod, Xeron readied his rift opening claws. “We’ll do our best, but those giant mechs and walkers are giving us a lot of trouble down there… If she can keep them off of us, we’ll focus all our firepower on to the Battle-Station.”

“I’ll do my best, Dad…” Scootaloo’s voice said, over the speaker, as her attention went to the Titan itself. “Custos, focus on their mechs and walkers! Let’s give our boys downstairs some cover.”

“Acknowledge, Scootaloo. Aiming all available weapons at mechs and walkers. Lighter weapons will be targeting the infantry.” Scootaloo felt all of her turrets and missile platforms adjusting to the new vectors, taking aim at those below her hulking form. “Firing now.” Her entire body shook, as every weapon aboard Custos Aeternam, excluding the overheated primary weapons, open fired at those below! The Armored Cores and AT-ATs were decimated, unable to withstand the constant barrage, while the infantry were being torn apart and slaughtered by the anti-personnel weapons aboard. But, as Scootaloo felt her body starting to cool off, an alert suddenly started to blare within her ears. “Alert! Alert! Alert! High Speed Hostile Signature approaching! Unable to target! It’s moving far too fast for me!” Custos Aeternam alerted, as Scootaloo scanned everything below.

She caught a glimse of what her A.I. partner was talking about, seeing a giant trail of dust speeding towards them. From what she could tell, whatever this Armored Core was, it is built for high speed combat rather than all-out battle. “Dad! We got trouble! One of those mechs is moving far too fast for Custos and me!” She blared through the speakers, drawing the attention of those below her.

Xeron’s eyes narrowed, seeing the oncoming trail of dust, before turning to the Land Raider Crusaders nearby. “Open fire! Bring it down! No way it could possible withstand a barrage from the front!” He ordered, as the Land Raiders turned their focus on to the high speed target. In seconds, they opened up with a hellstorm of bolter fire! Trying to take down whatever this thing was… But, the moment their volley closed in, an explosion of dust went up where the target had been, making them all raise an eyebrow when the bolter barrage disappointed the dust cloud and revealed nothing there.

They all looked around, not seeing another trail, and went wide eyed as a shadow passed over head. “Above us!!!” One of the Night Lords yelled, as every one of them turned their weapons to the sky, seeing a thin shaped Armored Core sore overhead! They open fired, but it moved far too fast for their reaction time, almost like the pilot of this thing was artificial and already calculated the perfect route and speed to avoid them! “Take it down! Take it down, now, damnit!” Jago yelled, having his spear’s own reloaded stormbolter roar to life and send up a volley. However, this thing was too fast, even for him, and had continued its dash towards the remnants of the Twin Peaked Mountains!

“W-Where is it going?” Mercutian said, confused by the sudden change in targets.

Though, Xeron had realized where already, and began to rush forward. “It’s going for Galaxia! We need to move, now!” He yelled, causing the Captains to all scramble towards the ruined mountain.

Magic Shield had finally caught up with Galaxia, breathing heavily. She did not join the others aboard Custos Aeternam, choosing the moment it woke to rush towards her current charge. Next to her, the Sangheili Commander Aythai’Vadam eyed everything around them, watching out for any more Imperial Commandos that may have survived him and Konrad. “G-Galaxia… Seriously, with all this running and I’m really going to have to get a shorter mane.” The mare said, noticing the bodily change that said filly had gone through. “Whoa… What happened to you, dear?”

Galaxia, who was gently rubbing Fluffy’s tired head, looked back at the navy blue mare and Sangheili Commando, rubbing the back of her head. “U-Um… Well, I kinda opened up a bit of my power. Emotions getting the better of me, and summoned one really powerful brother.” She admitted, smiling a bit, before the mare looked around.

“Got to admit… That CA knows how to make a mess of things.” Magic Shield said, before smiling at the filly. “Seems like things are going to be alright now, huh?” Galaxia gave a nod, as she went back to rubbing Fluffy’s head. The Forgefiend had earned his rest, still badly injured from the blow he took for Galaxia.

However, a heavy stomp caused them all to look towards the battlefield, seeing a gun metal gray Armored Core Raven towering over them, its T-Visor head glowing an orange-red color while staring down at them. In its right hand, it carried a machinegun like weapon, while the left hand an energy-blade generator. It slowly started to reach towards the filly, but several plasma rounds slammed into its head, causing it to raise its left arm up to deflect them. “Get away from that thing, now!” Aythai’Vadam ordered, as he unloaded his plasma repeater at the giant mech. “Go, go, go! Hurry!”

Before the two could move, the Raven turned its machinegun towards the Sangheili, who went wide just before the heavy weapon open fired on his position! They heard his roar of pain, over the thunderous gunfire, but could not see him through the dust and rocks being thrown up from the spray of bullets. But, they got their answer of what happened to the Sangheili, when a beam of light slammed down, dispersing the dust and sending him back to his story. “A-Aythai!” Galaxia yelled, looking back up at the gun-metal gray Raven as it looked back at them.

When it reached forward again, Magic Shield stepped in this time, her mane extending out like wild vines preparing to wrap around some unfortunate prey. “Run, Galaxia! I’ll hold him off!” She yelled, as vines started to whip out from the ground, her eyes glowing with white light.

However, the Raven did not make the mistake of allowing Magic Shield a chance to attack, and quickly back handed her with its left hand! The mare flew off to the side, before crashing against the rock and rolling away. Her body ravaged by the harsh landing, brusing and blood staining her navy blue coat… Weakly, she tried to stand back up, but fell to the ground from the pain and possible broken bones within her body. This caused Galaxia to push herself up against Fluffy’s armored body, the injured Forgefiend too hurt and weak to do anything but that didn’t stop him from giving a threatening growl towards the mech.

Though, as she leaned against her guardian’s wounded body, a memory suddenly appeared within her mind… One, that she somehow forgot until this very moment, seeing the Raven’s metal hand reach towards her.

“Hey, daddy, who is this?” Galaxia asked, holding a picture frame within her magic. She had seen this picture within her father’s study many times before, but couldn’t really see it that well until recently. It was of two knights, one much older than the other but they threated the younger like they were the eldest of the two. “He looks a lot like you.”

The Black Knight using a towel to draw off his gauntleted hands, having just finished washing that night’s dinner plates and is preparing to tuck Galaxia back to bed. When he heard her call for him, the author walked into the study, towel still in his hands, and looked at the picture she inquired about. “Oh, that? Heh, that is your eldest brother. The picture was taken, shortly after he had earned the title ‘Deathbringer’ and I showed up for his ceremony. I have to admit; I was really proud of him… Still am.” He reached down, and took the picture into his hand before picking Galaxia up. “Surprised I didn’t tell you about him before, Silver.”

She looked at him, then to the picture, then back up to the Black Knight. “He looks a lot like you, but older, daddy.” She said, confused by what he had told her.

The response made him chuckle a bit, nodding. “Yes, he is supposed to have that seasoned veteran look about him. He is around fifty, yet still acts like he’s thirty.” The Black Knight answered, gaining an even more confused look from the filly. “He is considered one of the deadliest beings in his universe. A Death Knight, warriors who wield such a power at their fingertips… He leads a Cultist and Traitor Hunting Organization, also considered one of the most remorseless killers his faction has.” He gained a nostalgic look, staring at the picture. “But, no one cares more about family, then your eldest brother. He would throw himself into hell, if it meant rescuing a family member, then come back with the devil’s blood upon his sword, and said family member tucked in his arm. So, if you ever are in need of him? Just call for him, and your eldest brother will be there to the rescue… Even tearing through the very fabric of the multiverse, so that he could arrive in time.”

Galaxia looked back at the picture, eyeing the black and crimson clad figure next to her father, along with the massive blade in his right hand. The two look like they had a powerful bond between them, one that could never be broken and it made her want to ask one last question, before going to bed. “W-What is his name, Daddy?” She asked, the Black Knight nodding.

“His name is…”

“Darethel!!!!” Galaxia screamed, loud as she could in hopes that the Dark Crusader could hear her. Both of the filly’s eyes were closed, not wanting to see what would happen if her words failed to be heard…

SHHHIIIIIIIINNNNNK!

The sound of metal slicing through metal caused her eyes to open back up, just in time to see a crimson cloak, with a black cross threaded into the center. Galaxia soon saw the black armor, with the icons of skulls melded into its black armor, as the knight knelt in front of her, his massive blade sliced into the stone ground. It was far bigger than any mortal man, no matter how strong, could possibly wield and yet… This knight looked like he had just swung a short sword with both hands. The blood red runes flashing upon the blade, the edge glowing with the same color. Galaxia looked up at the Raven, the mech frozen in a state of reaching towards her. Seconds later, a thin line started to appear going down its very center before the Raven split apart!

The Knight slowly stood up, before canting his head back and looking at Galaxia with his Lich Fire glowing eyes. “You called, my beloved baby sister?” Deathbringer Darethel Bloodscythe, Lord of the Dark Templari, asked her… Soon shouldering the massive runeblade with one hand, and staring back at the Raven, noticing that its right arm flinched a bit. “Still alive, are you? Not for long… Enter Death’s Embrace!” He yelled, throwing his left hand out and caused several spikes of crystalized blood appear out of thin air, spearing the agile mech and sent it flying back! Both halves going in different directions of each other.

Before Galaxia could say anything to him, Night Reaper suddenly landed next to her, placing his free hand on to the anthro filly’s shoulder. “Sister, are you alright? Are you hurt?” He asked, eyeing her Zeon Pilot Suit covered body. “Did they harm you?”

Her eyes went up to the darker twin of Xeron, seeing his bone war-scythe leaning in the crook of his shoulder. “I-I’m fine, N-Night Reaper… But, how did you know we were in trouble?” She asked, her eyes going back to the black armored knight, who looked a lot like her father, standing defiantly and staring down the Spirit of Mother’s Will, the giant Battle-Station turning to face them.

“Father told me, then sent me after our two eldest brothers.” He answered, Galaxia looking up at him in shock. There was a second eldest!?

Before she could say another word, Darth Various voice blared over the Spirit of Mother’s Will’s speakers. “Black Knight!? But how! I rammed your sword through your heart! No way you could have possible survived that!” He yelled, the giant Battle-Station turning every gun platform towards the dark knight, his long crimson cloak flowing within the wind. “No matter, I will end you, here and now!” Every weapon opened fired! Sending volley after volley towards them, but Darethel didn’t budge. In fact, in actually snickered at the attempt.

Lifting his left hand back up, the blood spikes melting to their liquid form and returning to its master’s feet, he stared up at the incoming attack. “So mundane.” With his words, the Death Knight flexed his fingers, causing a massive barrier of crystalized blood to appear before him! The missiles and heavy rounds collided, destroying a great deal of it but never penetrated fully! All turned, even Custos Aeternam, to see the display of pure power and how a single being had deflected an onslaught of a barrage. “You must be Darth Various? Interesting that you call me by my father’s title, guessing you have never heard of me?” He taunted, walking forward with the runebade still slung over his shoulder. “Well, hardly unexpected. I am his executioner, his wild card, the one thing he has to defeat any foe.”

Darth Various narrowed his eyes, yet another interruption had appeared and stopped his victory dead in its tracks. “So, you’re another of his mysterious sons? I wonder how many he has created… So, who are you? Some grand warrior or something?” He asked, placing a hand on to his hip.

“You could say that…” Darethel slammed the runeblade’s tip into the ground, holding his hand out towards the Spirit of Mother’s Will, palm up and fingers flexed. “I am Deathbringer Darethel Bloodscythe. Eldest Son of the Black Knight, Lord of the Dark Templari Order, the Reaper of Blood, Dark Crusader of the Alliance, and Master of the Dark Citadel! I am the first character the Black Knight had ever created, from his first days of writing and bear the responsibility of caring for those who came after me!” The entire area around him suddenly liquefied, revealing the giant pool of blood that now drenched the ground beneath his armored feet. “This ground is stained with the blood of my father’s children, and those you have brought here, Darth Various… Kindling to the Inferno that is my Wrath, and his Vengence. Prepare yourself, have come for your soul, and shall show no mercy!”

The moment Darethel lifted his runeblade off of the ground, swinging it out to his right, every single mortal and Astartes upon the battlefield, all the way to where Darth Various stood aboard the Spirit of Mother’s Will, suddenly felt a crushing energy take hold of their bodies! The force of pure Runic Energy even creating massive ripples within the pooling blood before his feet, causing waves to form and areas to shoot up in pillars. Darth Various, even from the point he stood, could see the anger within Darethel’s lich fire eyes, the barely dammed up fury he was holding back… This single character really wanted to kill him, and the Sith feared that he was far more than capable of achieving such a goal.

“H-How did… The Black Knight… Dare to make such a m-monster?” Darth Various asked no one in particular, before his eyes widened.

Behind Darethel, as if it were some Specter of Vengence, the Sith saw an ethereal form of the Black Knight towering over the battlefield. His red eyes were upon Darth Various, narrowed and zeroed on to his prey. This was the truest Harbinger of Wrath that the Black Knight had been waiting to play against him, and Darth Various feared one thing… Did he come alone? Did he only bring the rogue son, Night Reaper? Or… Are there others that Darth Various not know of.