Faith was his shield, faith in a being that had not walked for ten thousand years. Who sat entombed upon an archeotech life support system dubbed The Golden Throne. There his Emperor had sat since the thirty-first millennium, a silent guardian to his Imperium, their guiding beacon across all time and space his light touched.

Were other chapters placed their faith in false-science, pseudo-magic and the ideals of propping long dead heroes up as gods, Elyas and his Brothers of the Dark Angels were driven by reason and the ideals of fellowship. An ancient belief structure dating back to a time before the Emperor had found his Primarch. Elyas was no different from his Brothers in this regard, he saw his Emperor not as a god but as a true and pure testament to the will of humanity. An embodiment of all mankind could, and very well shall achieve with the right guidance and shields against the abhorrent horrors that lurked in the stars.

To Elyas there was no greater honour than to serve the Emperor or his chapter. For nearly four decades Elyas had done his duty and brought the divine might of the Imperium to bear against the Xenos, Mutant and Heretic. His faith guided him, no doubt nor idleness abated him, and his devotion had been rewarded.

Yet still his body was still wracked with pain, a pain that originated from his chest. A pain he had only felt once before, it reminded him of the day his life changed. Near four decades ago Elyas had been one of several initiates taken from the surface of his home world, Mendrion’s world, he’d been chosen as specific gene markers made him a prime candidate to receive the Gene-seed of Nomadic fleet based chapter of the Dark Angels. For three decades Elyas served within both tenth and seventh companies respectively, years of battle experience had harden Elyas into an uncompromising warrior.

His throat was dry, the pain restricting beyond what it should. Elyas could not find his voice or he’d cry out in an attempt to relieve the pain that gripped him, gasping for breath Elyas resolved that he would endure the pain. It would not break him, finding his voice Elyas three his head back and let out a deep throaty roar of pain, finally after enduring the pain for as long as his Emperor had deemed Elyas was flung from the golden vortex, into the physical world once again.

The Everfree forest was a mysterious place, a well known source of chaos and evil to all Equestria for its untamed wilds held many secrets that had been lost when One of the two Royal Sisters had fallen to madness. Such great secrets were forever lost now within the dark roots of the Everfree, but one such secret had survived for far longer than anypony could comprehend a true marvel of engineering.

Built by a race who ruled the galaxy for Millennia before even the progenitor species to Ponykind had even discovered fire, yet this structure stood vigil below the Everfree itself kept sealed by the six souls of its creators. Though this had changed only two thousand years ago when a pawn of the Prince of Excess had forced its way into existence on this world to rule, it was a threat the six could not ignore even with their psychical forms long since turned to dust their souls still remained bound to six stones that kept the structure they had created active, linking them to the Infinity circuit which now housed the souls of their kind they would make the ultimate sacrifice to stop this spawn of their most hated foe.

They would give their souls to the stone that house them, their very essence to power six devices capable of great power when wielded by the pure of heart. Six devices Ponykind came to know as the Elements of Harmony, yet they were more than conduits for righteous power, they were beacons forever linked to the structure below Everfree sending a signal to the Nexus beyond calling to those of significant psychic might to reopen the gate and return the souls of the six to the Infinity circuit.

Yet that would not happen for the six had given too much of themselves to save this world time and time again, they had become one with the Element they created when they chose to save this world for the first time, but one being had use for them still a use that would protect Equestria in its darkest hour. They would give the last of themselves to bring forth the final Guardians Equestria would need.

With a golden arcing bolt of warp energy the structure stirred form its long dormancy, slowly but surely it crackled to life golden bolts arcing across its surface in a majestic pattern, swirling and twisting with each other almost as if they were alive. As quickly as the bolts appeared they vanished in a spectacular explosion light blinding light leaving a single bulky figure in its wake.

His lungs burnt as air rushed into them once more, the sensation let him know he had returned to the material world and for that Elyas was grateful. He glanced around the chamber he now stood in, it was ancient and to him something of grate disgust, Elyas sneered inwardly at the script upon the chambers walls and Xenos artefacts littered about the place.

“I shall not question the Emperors choice to deliver me to this world but I cannot stomach these Xenos creations” Elyas spoke threw gritted teeth, yet stayed his hand for within the back of his mind he knew his Emperor would need to twist the will of such Xenos technologies again, but for what Elyas could not be certain.

He turned to face the only exit to this hidden chamber, a dark cob-webbed covered corridor leading to somewhere Elyas did not know. Hefting his bolter to his chest Elyas began his lone trek forward into an unknown world...

Into Equestria.

...............................

Luna sniffed gently as she rested her head within her left hand; to say the Psychic backlash of contacting her father was not severe would be wrong. Her regal coat of midnight blue was scarred and singed with black patches of skin showing; her eyes were blood shot with speckles of dried blood just underneath them.

Luna shivered slightly and sucked in a lung full of air in several short ragged breaths as her mind slowly coming to grips with how wracked her body had been, each breath she took hurt for her lungs themselves were victim to the warp flame, as here the muscles of her body.

“Erm Princess?” Luna slowly looked up as Twilight timidly asked her question taking a tentative spent towards her.

“Yes young Twilight?” Luna responded, her voice horse and scratchy.

“Are you alright?”

Luna smiled at Twilights concerned and nodded. “I am fine. This was expected from what I asked of my father.”

“Hold up!” Rainbow Dash spoke her voice full of surprise and anger “Your own father did this to you?!”

“Not intentionally I assure you.” Luna responded her voice calm, she raised her right hand in order to cut Rainbow and her shocked friends off from responding. “My father is neither alive nor dead, directly entering were his mind and spirit exist to gain his aid is not without risk.”

“Princess I know it is prudent for somepony to ask but.” Rarity bit her bottom lip, worried for how the princess might take her question. “But who is your father?”

“RARITY!” Twilight yelled turning to face the white unicorn. “That is not something you should just out and ask somepony! Especially one of the Princesses!”

“It’s quite alright Twilight.” Luna smiled gently at Twilights over reaction to Rarity asking a question she had clearly set the bait for to be asked. “I know that you also wish to know.”

Twilight blushed in embarrassment and nodded slowly. “Well I can’t say I don’t want to know who he is, but it’s not something anypony should ask of a princess.”

Luna chuckled and nodded lowly agreeing with her, “Very true young Twilight, yet I feel you need to know of who mine and Celestia’s father if we are to continue.” Closing her eyes Luna took a deep calming breath before continuing. “To describe my father is impossible, to understand his will even more so but his dream is one I share. His radiance is one that has touched all his children be they us or our cousins across the stars he guides us and protects us.” *Luna smiled gently pausing momentarily. “My father brought into existence his angels. He crafted and sculpted them from the bodies of mortals; he willed them to be to stand high and noble as the sword and shield of the innocent... Of you” Luna cast her gaze across the element bearers, her eyes filled with warmth and pride. “And to lead his angels he crafted my brothers, eighteen of the greatest being to exist each proud to be entrusted with my father’s dream.”

“The tale of the Primarchs.” Twilight whispered, shocked to learn that such an old ponies tale was true. “But that can’t be right, its thousands of years older than the myths about Discord!”

“I assure you Twilight that the tale is true.” Luna sighed, her voice filled with sorrow as she continued. “As is the tale of Sutekh and Heru, I trust you all know the story?”

Twilight and her friends slowly looked at one another with uncertain expressions clearly having heard the tale Luna was referring to but not for some time, she places a reassuring hand upon Twilights shoulder.

“Worry not Twilight I shall recant the tale to refresh your memory.” Luna spoke smiling gently before clearing her throat before speaking in a soothing yet regal tone. “When one fire of life had sizzled out another would spark for it is the way of things no one fire would burn forever all would fade in time, yet that was before Sutekh rose. A dazzling golden god who sought to bring the flames of all together to create the eternal flame, for many turns of the birth rock Sutekh worked to bring about his vision breaking and moulding all life upon the birth rock within his image. Yet the birth rock alone would not hold the eternal flame for all the lost flames most be found and tended to, and so with this knowledge Sutekh scooped up the dirt and crafted his fellow gods, each with a role to play and each in part like Sutekh. Yet for all his wisdom and spirit Sutekh could not protect his fellow gods in their youth, for they were stolen by the darkness and scattered amongst the flames lost to him. But Sutekh persisted and from what was left of his fellow gods he created angels to search for the flames and his young gods, the first to be found was the god Heru Sutekh’s favoured son.”

Luna briefly paused as she was the looks of astonishment and amazement in the bearers eyes before continuing. “Soon all but three of his gods were found, though this broke Sutekh’s heart he knew his vision was near and thus he renamed Heru as Kemwer his chosen to find the final flames while he returned to the birth rock to full-fill his role. Yet during this time Kemwer became plague by the darkness and sought the flame for himself, and so Kemwer twisted the mind and spirits of eight of his fellow gods and stuck against Sutekh shattering the eternal flame forever but not before Sutekh himself duelled with Kemwer over the slain corpse Angelus Sanguinem, yet Sutekh could not bring himself to slay his favoured creation no matter how far he’d fallen and thus Sutekh was wounded and awaited his sons killing blow were it not for on brave mortal who stood between Sutekh and Kemwer with only the duty to protect his god could Sutekh summon the strength needed to slay is way ward creation but not without cost to himself. Now entombed upon the birth rock Sutekh’s body slowly fades while is spirit guides those of the birth rock to continue his vision of the eternal flame.”

“Oh... my.” Fluttershy gently whispered being the first to rbeak the stunned silence that had taken the room.

“Princess I take it Sutekh is your father?” Twilight tentatively asked.

Luna replied simply by nodding once as she brushed a tear form her eye, the memory being painful for her. “Which is why I have asked for you all to help me, six of me fathers angels are trapped in the space between realities fighting alone to save him, they are selflessly going to give their lives for my father and all life but I can’t bear to see another of his angels fall!” Luna clasped her hand over her heart as tears formed upon the corners of her eyes. “I have seen it all I have seen brother turn on brother angel become demon, and it’s too much I can’t watch it happen again I simply can’t!”

“It’s ok princess we’ll halp ya’ll anyway we can rait girls?” Applejack responded placing a reassuring hand upon Luna’s shoulder as she glance at her friends who all nodded.

“Thank you.” Luna replied softly giving them each a warm smile as she wiped her eyes. “The last time I had to watch such angels die was when the last of my sons... my angels gave themselves to bring an end to the greatest threat to all life. My sons whom I never got to meet they never knew their Primarch!” Luna wiped her eyes again as fresh ran down her cheeks. “Such was my sorrow and despair that my sons were gone I left darkness take hold and I became one of the worst creatues Equestria has ever known...”

“You became Nightmare Moon because you lost your sons?” Twilight asked although she already knew the answer.

Luna nodded slowly before she was wrapped in a tight hug from a certain pink earth pony who’s tears at such a sad story were leaving her eyes with such force it was like a burst water pipe. It did not take the other five long to join the energetic earth pong in embracing the princess.

Luna smiled and returned their gesture before speaking, “Thank you girls but I fear I have wasted much time with explaining mine and my sisters past, quickly gather your elements and follow me we have to reach the arcane gate in time.”

“Arcane gate?” Twilight asked as saw Luna begin making her way towards the door.

“there is no time Twilight I’ll explain once we are there.” Luna glanced back as she slowly opened the door to Ponyville only to stop as she head a deafening sound, one which left her know her father had done as she had asked.

“AD CAESAREM!”

Elyas had not soon exited the cave network that held the Xenos structure than he wished he was still within the caverns. Though like all space marines Elyas knew no fear that did not mean there were things he particularly enjoyed and one such thing was swaps. How he hated them from both a tactical and personal point, they slowed you movement, made it easier for enemies to hide in and they stank.

He grunted and pressed on into the bog his bolter raised, fully expecting an ambush of some kind. Elyas glanced around the area slowly, he saw nothing but trees thick deep purple trees as far as his enhanced vision could see. Yet something was amiss within the forest stared back watching him with ancient eyes far older than Elyas could know, a single entity of a long forgotten species whose very bodies where sifted and pulped until only that which was required remained.

It studied Elyas with a detached intelligence for it had not seen a being quit like him in some time, for Elyas was a threat. It circled Elyas being sure to keep its distance, lest it be spotted and destroyed before a warning could be sent to its slumbering masters. Once again the being tried to establish some form of contact with the control matrix of its master’s crypt, yet like the previous attempts made there was no response.

Though no response came from the crypts matrix something did react to the beings signal, fifteen return pings echoed within the beings head. Though they were responses each response was from a damaged unit that would fall in single combat. But this was none of the beings concern its concern was the safety of the master it severed, with no further thought it sent out a return ping to bring the fifteen nearby units online to bring this threat down.

Elyas paused once again his bolt raised, he knew something was not right and that he was being watch. He dropped into a combat crouch and waited for what was coming. A horrid metallic grinding noise echoed threw out the bog as they shuffled forth, rising from the murky water with long talons flexed. They were tall slender figure resembling human skeletons with long slender claws for hands, they were all damaged in some way be it missing limbs or blast holes from projectile weapons not one was within working condition.

“Flayed ones.” Elyas spat as he glanced around taking mental note of how many there were before bring his bolter leave with the closest one. With his shot lines up Elyas fired.

As the mass reactive shell flew towards its target the Flayed Ones made no sound, they only began to rush forth towards their victim the Flayers curse over taking them. The shell impacted its target and detonated gutting the Flayed One in mere moments, yet it did not phase out Elyas failed to notice this as he began to open fire on those that still stood.

“FOR THE EMPEROR!” Elyas road as he ducked under the swing of a set of claws before he stitched a three round burst into his assailant’s chest turning it into a charred wreck.

Elyas spun round grabbing the hilt of his power sword and wrenching it free from its scabbard embedding it within the chest of another Flayed One, before pulling it free merely to use it to bisect a second one. With three down only twelve remained, Elyas rolled back away from the Flayed Ones as they attempted to form a kill circle. He rose back to his feet and slung his bolter on his back. Elyas glared at the reaming Flayed Ones once more and gripped the hilt of his power sword before he charged.

Within moments Elyas was within the mist of the Flayed Ones like a whirling instrument of destruction he became one with his sword, a true instrument of war. As he dispatched Flayed One after Flayed One Elyas noticed something off about them, they were not phasing out it was something that trouble him greatly. Had the Emperor not save him and was this all a warped spawn illusion moments before his death? Or was this real and in fact he stood upon the surface of a world where the Necrons could truly be killed? He did not care, that was a chain of thoughts for another time as now only one of the Necrons remained standing before him.

Elyas thrust forward with his power sword embedding it within the torso of the Flayed One before wrenching it upwards and threw its metallic head. As the Flayed One fell backwards Elyas caught sight of a group of seven other humanoid shapes emerging from the tree line.

Elyas narrowed his eyes as he watched them each emerge, the first six were unimpressive to him. Clearly they were Ad-humans of three separate species and clearly all female. He cared not for them nor there colouring it was the seventh one that caught his attention, for she radiated power, discipline and held herself higher than the rest. Elyas looked her up and down taking his measure of her trying to figure out, something about her felt familiar to him hard wired into his altered body. It was a similar feeling he would feel when operating with Astartes from other legions.

Elyas raised his sword and points its hilt towards the group. “You will kneel in the Emperors name and answer my questions!”

Author's Note

Yep after a few months of not posting anything I am back to posting. It took em three goddamn rewrites to get this chapter to a level I felt was right and postable.

Now as always please point out mistake I do enjoy the help and enjoy.