She sprinted through the halls of the castle, stopping not once to acknowledge anypony whether they were her night guard or the staff employed to keep the radiant beauty of the castle. Reaching a large pair of silver doors, each engraved with depiction of her radiance, Luna pushed them open continuing her sprint.

Luna kept up her sprint, the corridor slowly widening as the beauty of her moonlight shone in through the stained glass windows bathing her in a wondrous mixture of light, similarly the pure silver glow of her moon shone in from the very end of the corridor, the opening she was sprinting for. Reaching the archway leading out onto a balcony overlooking all of Canterlot, being high above the ground only two pony types could leap from such a height and survive, Pegasus ponies and alicorns. Luna smirked nearing the balconies edge, her elegant wings unfolding from her back, she flexed them once the feathers bristling in a rhythmic motion much like the waves of the ocean lapping against the shore line.

Nearing the edge of the balcony Luna closed her eyes smiling as she jumped, her legs close together with her arms out spread Luna entered a free fall. The wind rushed past her as she fell, it was exhilarating an experience few ever felt and one even fewer appreciated it the way she did.

Closer and closer to the castle gardens she fell, waiting and enjoying the feeling of the air rushing past, a split second before what would be a fatal impact for anypony she beat her wings once in a single fluid motion propelling herself upwards and to the south. The smile across Luna’s face grew, the sensation of flight being one she enjoyed a great deal to say the least, one she sadly rarely got to enjoy most days. But her enjoyment of this blissful experience was not something Luna could indulge herself in, her face hardened as the realisation sunk in that to save those five noble titans of war time was something they did not have. With another powerful beat of her wings Luna increased her speed towards Ponyville, hoping that she would save all five of the noble titans.

The world of dreams, such a blissful name, a name given to this rolling tundra of chaos and abomination by those who know not of what horrors lurk within, a name given by my youngest daughter.

My nineteenth creation, a child I only found through spirit and mind never in body, for that I am both mournful and glad, she and my second creation were spared the horrific tragedy that befell my sons, my people and myself.

I watch over all now, all who share my genetic linage, guiding them through this realm of uncontrollable energies. I endure this realm for the betterment of my people, I am their beacon in the dark, their guiding light and though it pains me to such lengths to witness it, the aspect of their devotion. But I have talked long enough soon I shall play my part, the part any father must do to keep his children safe. With the aid of my Angels, my Astartes they shall be saved.

Ponyville was small unsuspecting town, one home to ponies that enjoyed the simpler things in life not like the ponies of Canterlot. Though the moon hung in the sky the town’s tranquil therapeutic beauty still shone to all who saw. Some believed this was due to how closely the town was tied to Equestria’s past, while others fated it to the Elements themselves.

Luna smiled as she gazed down at Ponyville spying the home of one pony whose aid she needed, the home of Twilight Sparkle. Luna found it humorous after everything she had been told of young Twilight by her sister, that she would choose the Ponyville library as her place of residence.

Gently Luna landed upon the upper balcony of the libraries second for, as to avoid drawing the attention to herself from anypony still up and enjoying her night. Gently Luna tapped the glass door leading onto the balcony, every tap she increased the force applied slowly raising its volume to ensure should Twilight be asleep she would wake in an almost natural manner.

But Twilight was not asleep, she was in fact partaking in her most favoured of pass times, something she treasured to do from her fillyhood, the very thing that had ensured her seclusion and lack of friends at such a young age, Twilight was reading.

Twilight smiled contently to herself, having chosen a book she had not read since before Celestia sent her to Ponyville, a book of the myths and legends that surrounded Equestria. Humming to herself Twilight read content in the knowledge that should many of these myths prove true then she and her friends would halt them, like they had done so many times before.

Sadly her reading was cut short, a tapping upon the double glass doors leading to her balcony was too distracting for her to continue, letting out a slight huff of annoyance, closing the book Twilight gently placed it on her bed before making her way towards the doors.

Nearing the doors twilight gasped upon seeing one of the princesses standing there, gently tapping the door. Quickly she unlocked and open the doors, once open Twilight began rushing around panicking at one of the princesses turning up.

Luna chuckled as she watched Twilight panic over her unexpected arrival, taking slight joy in seeing her so flustered. Slowly Luna entered the library and reached out grabbing Twilight by the shoulder to stop her frantic panicking.

“Calm yourself young Twilight. This is no visit that you should worry yourself about.” Luna smiled speaking with calm comforting words. “I have come to ask for the help of you and your fellow element bearers.”

Twilight’s eyes widen in the realisation that Princess Luna would only come at such a late hour unannounced if her cause was a dire one, opening her mouth to ask what it is Twilight is cut off by Luna raising her hand.

“Please Twilight questions are something we cannot afford right now, I ask you gather your friends to meet within the hour.”

Twilight nodded frantically and took off down the stairs heading for the libraries main door, upon hearing the door slam Luna sighed, sitting down upon the bed.

“I just hope we are not too late.”

Closing her eyes Luna once again began to return to the Realm of dreams, though unlike before were she viewed the state the five beings had found themselves in, this time she was to view how they came to be in such a situation.

It was cramped; a narrow tube barely wide enough for a single Battle-Brother, yet this cramped space served a vital role. To deliver the fury and might of its masters, to bring them thundering into the belly of the enemies ships.

Crackling filled the tube, a red light blinking on filling the tube bathing the six Battle-Brother within in its dim glow. Each stood ready waiting for the moment the front ramp dropped, their weapons primed ready to bring the holy might of the God-Emperor against the most hated of foes they would muster to fight.

“LISTEN UP!” Elyas roared from the front of the tube turning his head to meet the red optics of his Brothers behind him. “Our mission is clear, this Space Hulk needs cleansing and we have been charged with breaching the Xenos nest. Echo, Lima and Romeo squads will not be supporting us!”

“The codex Astartes does not support such an action Dark Angel.” Elyas snorted glaring back at the battle brother standing at the very end of the tube.

“You are a fool Quintus. The Codex Astartes does not apply to the Deathwatch.” Elyas turned back fixing his gaze on the drop ramping, waiting for it to drop.

“Elyas speaks the truth Black Shield. You are almost as bad as the Red Scorpions in your love for the Codex.” Yngvar chuckled being second in the tube. “I mean if you have such high admiration for the book, why not marry it? I am sure the inquisition won’t judge you heretical.”

Laughter erupted from the tube as three of its occupants caught the humorous side of Yngvar’s statement.

“Oh. The days on Fenris must be dull for lack of your wit Yngvar.” Xavier chuckled patting his brother’s pauldron.

Yngvar chuckled nodding, before he could respond Elyas had thrust his right hand into the air fingers extended outward, at the sight of this action all six Battle-Brother primed their weapons.

A loud clank of four charging handles being pulled back echo within the tube. Yngvar and Kestyr having primed their bolters raised them ready waiting, Chaplain Khordel slammed a clip into his bolt pistol before he drew his Crozius gripping it tightly.

“Where there is uncertainty, I shall bring light.
Where there is doubt, I shall sow faith.
Where there is shame, I shall point atonement.
Where there is rage, I shall show its course.
My words in the soul shall be as my bolter in the field.”

“I see even now you recite battle prayers of your chapter Brother Chaplain.” Xavier chuckled checking that his heavy flamer was securely strapped across his back and the charge of his Atomizer Cannon, an upgraded Multi-Melta many chapters deemed too dangerous for deployment, Xavier’s parent chapter however were like the Deathwatch in the regard did not, but for different reasons. Where one saw it as a tool to be turned against the abhorrent Xenos horde with zeal and fury only an Astartes could truly muster, the other saw it as an extension of their Promethium Cult combat doctrine. Xavier relished in the chance to use such a weapon, a feeling that only he and the Battle-Brothers of his chapter could truly understand.

“I pray in order to shield US all from the Xenos and their intolerable influence.” Khordel retorted looking ahead.

“Show some dam respect Xavier.” Quintus spat the words though not intended with hostility as he pulled back the charging handle on his heavy bolter.

Before Xavier could respond with a comment of his own, alarms filled the tube as the scrapping and grinding noise of metal upon metal echoed within the tube, a green light next to the assault ramp at the front of the tube flashed rapidly, signalling the ramp was moments from being dropped. Looking back at his Brothers Elyas nodded once more seeing they were all ready. Pulling back the charging handle on his own bolter Elyas raised it aiming forward.

With titanic sound, akin to that of a small explosion the assault ramp slammed down revealing the dark interior of the Space Hulk, and the chittering mass of Xenos clambering over the walls.

“BROTHERS! SHOW THE XENOS NO QUATER!” Elyas roared as he charged forward out of the tube and into the Xenos infested corridor, bolter firing a steady chatter of mass reactive rounds. “PURGE THE UNCLEAN!”

Clearing a Path for his Brothers to exit the tube, Elyas swiftly empted the first clip from his bolter into the writhing mass of Xenos, they screeched in response, a horrid noise reverberating form inhuman lungs with a mixture of pain and rage. Ripping a fresh clip from his belt Elyas slammed hit home.

“Un-armoured targets, metal storm rounds now!”

“A wise choice Brother-Captain. Wish I’d thought of such a thing!” Yngvar barked as he exited the tube opening fire one another writhing group of Xenos.

Ignoring Yngvar’s jibe Elyas brought his bolter to bear on another group of Xenos rushing down the corridor towards them. He opened fire; the metal storm rounds did not detonate inside target like standard issues bolt rounds but instead exploded a few metres from the target, showering them in white shot shrapnel.

A cordon now secured within the entry point from the bolter fire of Elyas and Yngvar down opposite sides of the corridor the rest of their brothers soon joined them. Kestyr threw himself against the fair wall gripping it tight as he poured bolt rounds into the Xenos horde with Elyas. An ungodly roar of rage erupted from Khordel as he charged past Elyas and Kestyr, screaming in high gothic hurling himself into the charging mass of Xenos.

“SUFFER NOT THE ALIEN TO LIVE!” With a mighty swing of his Crozius Khordel pitched several Xenos into the ceiling, cracking their protective carapace, splintering it inwards into vital inhuman organs.

“Kestyr, higher left vent, down those Hormagaunts!” Elyas raised an armoured finger pointing out the vent in question, nodding Kestyr swung his bolter round and loosed off four shots, turning the Tyranid organisms in question to nothing more than bloody pulp dripping from the vent hatch they had ripped apart in around to gain another attack angle at the Space Marines. “Quintus suppressing fire, support Yngvar!” Quintus nodded swinging his heavy bolter around and unleashing a full barrage of storm rounds down the right side of the corridor, they had breached, aiding Yngvar, stalling the Tyranids rush towards them.

“Xavier what are you doing!” Elyas spun his head around locking gaze with Xavier, who had dropped to one knee his Atomizer Cannon aimed squarely at the far wall.

“Making us an exit route, this chamber is too crowed to fight our way through!” the pulsating glow of his Atomizer cannon rippling into the darkness revealing the true scope and number of the Tyranids within the chamber, were their boarding torpedo and delivered them was nothing short of horrifying.

Though only outlines of the Tyranids could be made even with their enhanced vision it was clear the chamber was bristling with Hormagaunts, their cold yellow predatory eyes all focused upon the six Marines. A horrific screech from one Hormagaunt was soon responded to by each and every one signalling the start of their uncontrollable swarming towards the Marines.

“Taste the Breath of Kulshedra you Xenos scum!” With a squeeze of the trigger Xavier unleashed the full power of his Atomizer Cannon.
The pulsating blast of heavily radiated particles slammed into the far wall, buckling under the intense heat and explosive force of the particles the wall exploded outwards. Molten metal rained down around Xavier and his Brothers sizzling harmlessly upon the ceramite of their power armour, the Hormagaunts were likewise protected by their carapace but not to the degree of the power armoured Space Marines, for the molten metal droplets would over several minutes burns its way through their carapace.
“That’s one new doorway.”

Elyas jerked his head once towards the exit route Xavier had created, nodding Xavier sprinted through the exit he had made, followed close by Kestyr.

“Khordel break and fall back I’ll cover you!” Elyas ripped a fragmentation grenade from his right thigh and pitched it into a crowd of Hormagaunts rushing towards Khordel. The grenade exploded scattering the Hormagaunts far and wide, the shrapnel from the grenade embedding itself into the bodies and skulls of, at a quick glance twelve Hormagaunts.

Seizing the chance Khordel rounded from the swarm he had been engaged in close combat with and sprinted for the exit, storm rounds from Elyas’s bolter sawing past him dropping each and every Hormagaunt foolish enough to give chase.

Yngvar was the next to break from combat, his bolter still churning out shots, while he roared praise to his Primarch for granting him such a boon of Xenos to slay.

“Quintus go next cover me from the hole!” Nodding at the order from his Brother-Captain, Quintus stood and made his way towards his fellow Brothers inside the exit hole before turning and laying down a wide arc of fire allowing Elyas to effortlessly break from the combat.

As he turned breaking from combat Elyas nodding once to Xavier who had begun the charge his Atomizer for a second shot. Angling the weapon upwards at a support beam it was clear Xavier aimed to seal the opening he had made once Elyas was across the thresh hold.

“INTO THE FIRE OF BATTLE, UNTO THE ANVIL OF WAR!” with the battle-cry of his chapter Xavier let loose another shot, his target a support beam bulked under the damage caused bring the ceiling of the entry chamber down upon the Hormagaunt horde sealing the exit hole shut, with the snort Xavier turned to his Brother who each into bashed one of his pauldrons in respect for such quick thinking.

“Astute thinking Brother, it is an honor to serve with you” Elyas patted Xavier’s shoulder before turning to face the four other marines. “We still have a mission to complete Kestyr take point Quintus cover our back, it will not be long before the Tyranid hive realizes we are aboard and moves to muster a true defense.”

Moving into position Kestyr on point Elyas and his Brother began to move through the bowels of the Space Hulk.

Author's Note

Well here you have the first (second if you count the prologue which I suggest you do) Chapter. I do still lack a proof reader to help pick up on all my little errors here and there but I have proof read this chapter myself and much like the prologue your feed back is always welcome and helps point out what I miss.

Yes I figured I better revealing abit more about our lovable cast of super human Xenophobic Space Marines, mainly in chapter of brother Xavier (I will be astonished if people don't figure his chapter out), the make of the squad itself and introduce the possible sixth member of our Deathwatch hero.

Yes I realize the actions of the Deathwatch take place earlier than the prologue, but within the warp the past present and future all exist at once, so do not worry we'll soon reach the point were we met our lovable marine.

And yes I also know that in 40k marines cannot wield both a heavy flamer and atomizer cannon, but if you have played the Deathwatch RPG by fantasy flight games you'll know crazy stuff happens and Xavier is more then capable of wielding both.

Now i feel this should be clarified as to how anthro the Ponies are in this story. Using shepherd0821 wonderful artwork showing the varying levels of Anthro ranging from full human to full pony I am going to say the ponies lie at number four on the provided link.