Prologue

Crusaders And the Night Angel

The snow was thick upon the rocky ground, nearing one foot in depth it was treacherous for anypony to travel through. But it was a journey that needed to be made, up Smokey Mountain they went to the last bastion of safety they had been told of.

The three small fillies struggled to climb up the rocky surfaces, their size proving to hinder their progress, something they were reluctant to admit. The three had travelled far to reach this place together and would tough out whatever the natural elements could hurl at them, for they knew they had to make it to find salvation and aid from the visitors that fell from the stars. The very same ones their older sisters and the Princesses had been convinced were nothing but villainous by a second group of visitors, yet their words had proven false and now they had taken Equestria. They had bent its once peaceful lands and free ponies to their dark and vile will.

One of the three fillies, a unicorn filly, stopped and sniffled her cheeks wet, not from the bitter chill in the air but from the tears that still flowed freely from her eyes. She shivered hugging the tattered red cape close to her body, it was a reminder to her of a life that was now lost to her and her friends, a time she wished they could go back to where they lived care free with a simple goal, to gain their cutie marks and remain true friends.

“Come on Sweetie Belle ya can’t stop now, we gotta find them!” uttered a small orange Pegasus filly with a purple mane, who like Sweetie Belle wore a tattered red cape. “They’ll help us I know they will!”

“How do you?” Sweetie muttered in response, her head hung low tears streaming from her cheers. “My sister, her friends and the Princesses help those monsters hunt them down.” He voiced cracked as she fought back fresh tears form the memories now filling her mind.

“But they just gotta!” The orange filly shouted, her voice full of desperate hope.

“Scootaloo is raite!” the third filly interjected, a small yellow earth pony who, who like her friends was also wearing a tattered red cap, her main however was free flowing having lost whatever had held it in place “Ah jest know we’ra goin’ ta find em!”

“But what if they won’t help us!” Sweetie responded, stamping her left fore hoof upon the snowy ground “I mean think about it Applebloom, they have no reason to trust or help us.”

“Ah wouldn’t say that. One of em was nice tah us.” The yellow filly responded.

“Yer Sweetie see they’ll hel...” Scootaloo however was cut off by a deafening sound, like that of thunder, echoing from bellow.

The three fillies gasped and huddled together was they slowly peered over the edge of the ledge they were on glancing down at what was below. And there they saw it, a huge black armoured figure was bellow its weapon raised towards them, it had been sent after them and it was getting closer. They knew outrunning such a brute was not possible yet still they needed to try, they had to find them, they had to get help.

So they redoubled their efforts increasing the rate in which the climbed upwards, all the while the black figure below followed only to pause every so often in which to fire more shots up at them before continuing upon his climb. Slowly but surely the figure began to close the distance, its deep throaty laughter echoed from its grilled helmet.

“You think those bastards can help you Xenos!” its voice was deep and grated the fillies ears, yet still they climb desperate to get help. “We made sure they would not! Your Princesses blindly followed our words to aid us in hunting them down to all but a few men!” The figure laughed as it sighted Sweetie Belle within its weapons sites. It levelled its weapon towards the ledge she was on and fired.

The shell left the barrel of its weapon and slammed home into the small ledge, turning the rocky surface Sweetie Belle and climbed unto into nothing more than rubble. With her footing gone she began to fall, letting out a desperate scream of both fear and dread she flailed her hooves hoping beyond all reason somepony or something would save her.

“SWEETIE!” Both Applebloom and Scootaloo yelled in unison struck with horror at the sight of their friend falling to a certain death.

As she fell Sweetie Belle remember the last time she had seen her sister, it had been only three days ago when Equestria was taken from ponykind by those huge armoured beings. She had seen not only her sister but the other elements of harmony struck down and imprisoned within their own minds, it was a sight she could not forget nor the last words her sister had manage to say. She had told Sweetie to run. To run and never look back.

Bracing herself for the impact with the ground Sweetie Belle was surprised it never came for something had caught her, she prayed it was not the black armoured thing but her friend. One of the good visitors named Armati, with her eyes closed still Sweetie Belle was only able to hear what has happening and what she heard was something she was glad she didn’t see.

Nine thunderous staccatos rung out from close by, followed by the gurgling noises of a dying figure. Sweetie shivered hoping it was not her savour that was dead or her friends but instead the Black Armour one, being brave she gently opened her eyes and a smile sprung upon her face. For it was Armati who now held her within his grasp, she flung her arms around her heavily armoured gauntlet burying her face into the cloak draped around him.

Armati chuckled glancing down at her before up towards Scootaloo and Applebloom, he holstered the bolt pistol he held within his left hand and then gently lowered Sweetie Belle to the ground fixing her with his gaze.

“You are brave to come searching for us young one.” He began never taking his gaze from Sweetie Belle as Applebloom and Scootaloo made their way down to join them. “So tell me why do you seek to find us?”

Author's Note

Well new story new adventures and what not. This is also the first time I have and probably onyl story in which the CMC will be major characters (since I hate them... well apart from sweetie belle shes super adorables)

This prologue is short yes but it figured it'd be a good way to introduce the direction i wish to take this story.

As always feel free to point out flaws since I am still looking for a proof reader/ editor to help.

and don't worry I have not forgotten about deathwatch equesrian deployment and will update them both (hopefully) alternately.