Chapter 2

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of falling through the snaking, ever changing tunnels of the hellish warp space that the Sorcerer had flung them into; Mekrail and Nitronus were vomited forth from the immaterium's shadowy depths. Both still unconscious as they fell from the skies toward what appeared to be a city of sorts set into a mountainside. Unceremoniously, the two both crashed into what appeared to be a large labyrinth maze of hedges inside of a massive courtyard of a grand castle. Mekrail barreled through a fountain after skidding through the paved ground and several hedges before finally stopping under the fountain's gentle trickle of water. As the water forced him to stir, his eyes fluttering before opening drearily and looking about. His vision blurry, he was still able to make out Nitronus's body laying half over a hedge that he'd crushed nearby. Groaning as he tried to shake himself fully awake and rise he felt the immediate pain in his side. Looking down, he realized it was that of a wedge of the masonry of the fountain itself embedded within. His blood mixing with the water and giving the fountain a ghastly look.

Without hesitation, Mekrail raised his bionic arm and with a swift yank he removed the impaling stone with only a grunt of pain before rising to his feet. His injuries healing quickly as the larraman cells in his blood clotted the wound before moving to Nitronus and rousing him. When Nitronus was up as well, Mekrail finally gave much more careful consideration to their surroundings as much of it seemed familiar to him. Nitronus was looking about as well, yet only when Mekrail saw the castle and observed it more closely did he realize just where they were.
His expression grew angry, his body falling to the ground and smashing his fist through the paved ground as he cursed loudly. "Why in the Emperor's holy name must I be in this cursed realm again! Why Emperor why couldn't it have been anyplace else but this blasted place!" He'd put at this point a large hole in the pavement before looking up to see Nitronus's questioning expression.

"Where is here, that you refer to Captain Mekrail? And what about this place is making you angry?" He asked as he collected his sword from the nearby hedge where it had been deposited by the warp portal spewing them out.

"Here....is Equestria. More specifically the city of Canterlot." Mekrail answered, bile in his voice as he rose once more and retrieved his sword as well.

His look told Nitronus that the other question was off limits for now as he looked around to see several ponies staring at them in shock. They seemed to be of noble look, dressed finely and well groomed as Mekrail spat a few quiet curses again before looking to Nitronus to him reacting with alarm. Merely shaking his head in response as he sheathed his sword Mekrail moved to Nitronus and forced his blade to lower before looking back to them. "Those fools aren't our enemies Champion Nitronus....hmpf....rather I know just who shall be soon enough once her guards arrive." He muttered angrily.

"Thanks again for the book Temp, though I still don't know how you knew about the Traders Exchange incident." Rainbow Dash said as she blushed to the dark grey pony in shining silver armor standing in front of her.

"No problem Dashie, forget I mentioned the exchange, and enjoy your book." Tempest said before snorting red flames from his nose and smiling, his red crystal pony eyes glistened at the smile that broke across his closest friend who he hoped someday would be more than that.

Tempest turned and spread his dragon wings as he caught air and flew away, if not because he had duties to perform for Princess Luna he would have stayed longer, but alas with Celestia missing and King Sombra's forces growing, Equestria needed the extra firepower. He looked down below his wings at his newest invention, a fully automated armor piercing grenade launcher strapped to the sides of his flanks, Luna had said that they may be able to save our homeland, but to be honest Tempest had his doubts that they would be all that effective against magic.

Tempest's thoughts were interrupted when he collided with what appeared to be a Royal Guard pegasus. Both of the heavily armored ponies plummeted downward before Tempest managed to pull out of the dive and grab the pegasus before he became a splatter mark on the ground. Tempest set the pony down on the side of the road and took a closer look at him, since he was wearing Royal Guard armor and all of the fabled guard had vanished alongside Celestia.

The pony was cyan colored with an eye patch over his right eye, his mane and tail were blonde in color, Tempest went to inspect him further but a broadsword impaled the ground between them as the mystery pony opened his eye and pinned Tempest to the ground before his eye went wide.

"Whoa there buddy, watch the temper!" Tempest growled as he threw the guard off of him and levitated one of his swords using an ancient arcane device built into his armor.

Dashing looked at this mysterious armored pony with confusion as he backed away from the sword that levitated close by. His composure returning quickly as he shook off the vestiges of the daze that the warp travel had left him with, Dashing's eyes returned to the pony as he spoke up. "My apologies sir, I didn't mean to act aggressively but I've just come from the warp after heavy combat with Chaos Marines and......" Dashing trailed off as his eye widened both in surprise and alarm.

Quickly his powers returned, the dark aura stretching forth and drawing his broadsword from the ground before sheathing it on his back once more as he looked around. "By God....I'm home again." He whispered. "After so many years....I'm finally brought back to the planet that so many memories reside upon." Dashing's expression was hard to read, but it was a mix of happiness and sadness and even anger before he finally looked back to the other pony.

Snapping out of his thoughts as he noticed his perplexed look as to what he'd said Dashing apologized. "Sorry...just a little caught up in memories is all sir, but I do sincerely apologize for crashing into you and being so aggressive." Taking a step closer to the pony once more, Dashing added. "Why don't we just start over. My name's Dashing Jackson Hardin. Former Captain of Canterlot's Guard. What's yours sir?"

Tempest looked over this pony who called himself Dashing, he then sheathed his sword and pondered on the name, though he didn't think for too long before speaking for himself.

"I am Tempest Knight General of the Equestrian Army." he said placing his hoof on his chest and unfurling his light grey wings with red sparkles throughout them.

"Ah so I see Equestria is at war again isn't it?" Dashing asked.

"With Sombra's army on the rise and the eminent threat of expansion I thought you would know." Tempest said as a question popped into his head. "Did you say former captain, and what is this warp you speak of?"

"Its a long story, lets just say that I've been gone for awhile." Dashing said as he looked up at a house made of clouds.

Maximus rolled out of the warp and stopped on both of his feet, observing his surroundings he deduced that he was in the Crystal Castle in the Crystal Empire on the planet of the ponies. But he had focused on putting them back on the battlefield, guess there is a limit to his abilities. Another difference he noticed was that the castle wasn't as colorful as normal, wait, hadn't Luna told him about a pony of shadows that controls others by fear?

His thought process was interrupted by the Dark Angel Librarian plowing through the warp and past Maximus, he quickly got up to his knees and began cursing under his breath. Trayclian then noticed he wasn't alone, the Blood Raptor Holy Chaplain was walking up to him at a brisk pace before stopping a foot away and looking towards a large chair. A pair of green and red eyes glowered at them.

"Who dares enter my throne room!" a disembodied voice boomed through the crystal halls.

"Sombra, but how are you alive, we killed you?" Trayclian said, earning a glance from Maximus.

"I do not know what you mean fowl creature, but I assure you that you will join whoever you believed you killed!" Sombra's voice boomed.

Maximus opened a warp and threw Trayclian through it as black crystals pierced through the ground where he was standing, Maximus then jumped through the same warp gate and combat rolled to a halt in the middle of Ponyville.

Rekriel cursed as he was spit from the warp, his voice echoing out across the forest that he was hurdling toward. His armor was steaming, almost catching fire at the speeds he was falling before he smashed into a large tree that slowed his descent. When he finally hit the ground, he made a great crater in the forest floor and decimated the local wildlife and flora around. His armor merely dented and scratched, he rose and prayed for forgiveness to the armor spirits and servo-harness's as he looked about. Seeing the destruction he caused, he cared not. Even though he saw the animals dead around him, he merely kicked their steaming corpses aside and moved into the forest. Cutting through thick brush and trees, he stopped when he reached a hut; thinking it surprising anyone would live in such an Emperor-forsaken place as the thick brush infested forest filled with wild animals. However, deciding it might be of use to seek assistance as he finally recognized that he had wounds his body couldn't mend naturally; Rekriel moved to the hut's door and knocked. His voice was static filled and machine-like, yet there was pain in his tone as he spoke. "Hello? Is anyone home? I am in need of medical assistance immediately.

Zecora opened the door and took a few steps back from what she saw, a massive bipedal creature that was made of metal and bleeding in many places.

"You do not look well, so help you I shall." Zecora stated as she looked him over and vanished into her hut, reemerging with a green goop and rubbing it on the Tech Marine.

"What is this you put upon my wound?" Rekriel asked, eyeing the glowing green goo.

"A potion to help you with all your woes, all the way down to your toes." Zecora replied, going back to her hut and returning with a cup of water.

"Many thanks." Rekriel said, observing the potion as it regrows his missing flesh.

Rekriel sighed in relief as his armor senses ceased giving him notification of his injuries. He was grateful that this zebra had given him aid, despite not knowing anything about him nor understanding what he was as he nodded faintly to her. Quickly though, he set out to working on his bionics that were leaking and damaged; repairing them with the skill and speed that only a master of the machine could do as his hands worked and caressed the wires and parts back into their proper places and sealed any leaks with a welding torch arm on his backpack. Seeing Zecora eyeing him as he worked, he paused after cauterizing a leaking tube on his left arm before speaking again.

"Again I must thank you young Zebra, for helping heal me of my injuries. Not many would assist one such as I, yet you do it without hesitation. For that I am truly in your debt." Rekriel finished adjusting the zoom-able lenses on his helm back to correct focus so he could see clearly before adding. "I owe you my life, and for that I can never repay except by offering my humble services as a priest of the holy Omnissiah to assist you in whatever endeavors of the machine or of battle and protection as a Space Marine." Rekriel calmly waited for Zecora's answer as he added finally. "My name is Rekriel, should you desire to call me by it."

Upon exiting the warp, Telios uncurled from his ball form and angled himself as his eyes took in the possible landing areas below him. Cursing as he saw few that were close, Telios was bracing to have a hard landing in the deep swamps below when he remembered that he'd heard someone emerge with him out of the portal. His gaze cast behind him for a moment, he saw that the Battle Sister Elizabeth was still falling unconscious toward the ground. At the speeds they were going, likely impacting would severely injure or even kill her since she wasn't awake and alert enough to ease her descent. Deciding that it was now or never, Telios drew his rifle and aimed to the swamp before firing. He knew the powerful recoil of the Exitus rifle, how when wielded in a standing stance and not braced it could send one flying quite a distance in the opposite direction. He'd made that mistake many centuries ago, and now that mistake was going to help him spare the Battle Sister's life as he fired toward the ground in quick succession. Each round boosted him back up into the sky, a little closer to Elizabeth until his rifle clicked empty. Shouldering it, he knew he was within arms reach now as he leaned as far up as possible and caught hold of her arm. Using as much strength as he could, Telios pulled her to him and held her tightly as he flipped around just before they plowed into the ground. Hot spikes of agony shot up his entire backside as he impacted upon the ground and began skidding past tree roots underneath thick murky water and through lilies floating on the surface. However, when he finally stopped he was laying on the shallows with blood pouring into the water around them. Releasing Elizabeth, Telios tried to push her off him but was unable as his vision swam from the agonizing injuries he was subjected to from the back of his feet to his head. Instead, he sagged back and let everything go to black before she could awaken.

Elizabeth started to move and found a great pain in not only her left shoulder, but her left arm as well. She looked around and found that she was in a swamp of some kind, and that the Assassin had broken her apparent fall but had been knocked unconscious in the process. That was when she heard the low growl from behind them, as she turned she drew one of her chainswords from her back and revved it up. Gazing at the beast she noted that it was green and black with, wait eight heads? Since when do Fire Drakes have more than one head? Her thoughts were blasted apart when it breathed fire and she shielded her only companion with her own body remembering that he wasn't wearing a helmet and that she had landed on top of him.

"What kind of xeno are you fowl beast?" Elizabeth yelled as the beast closed in to bite her.

She quickly jumped to the side and cut one of its heads off only to see two more grow from the stump.

"What in the name of the Emperor?" Elizabeth questioned as she was knocked down, her chainsword flying out of her hands and her left arm making a loud crunching sound before the beast ripped it off and swallowed it as she screamed in agony.

Upon hearing Elizabeth's screams, Telios awoke from the pain induced unconsciousness that had claimed him. Lifting his head, he looked with blurred vision to where she was and saw just how hurt she was before his eyes drifted to the creature that had caused the vicious injury. His expression, though still incredibly pained was full of hate that the beast he'd hunted long ago had harmed yet another under his watch as he forced himself to rise to a sitting position through the agony. His back felt broken, his legs useless for now as his hand reached instinctively for his Exitus rifle and found it almost immediately. Drawing it to his shoulder and looking down the scope, he whispered, "Incendiary rounds." before hearing the rifle click and whir as it changed the ammunition.

Without hesitation, he instantly began firing for the heads of the massive Hydra. He knew that with each blast, not only did he bring it closer to death but also closer to him as it bellowed in rage and snapped down at him. Yet every time its heads slammed into the ground, he'd forcibly rolled his body away with grunts of pain resounding from his broken back being forced to smash into more tree roots and get the dirty thick mud deeper into his injuries. Eventually, when once more his Exitus rifle clicked empty he found that the hulking creature was toppling over, all its head stumps cauterized from the rounds burning the flesh.

Rolling one last time, he dodged the Hydra as it landed in the water before finally collapsing back onto the ground next to Elizabeth. He didn't however, succumb to his injuries this time as he lolled his head to look at her before reaching down and retrieving a flare from a pouch at his waist. Lighting it, he whispered in a pained voice. "This is going to hurt a lot...but It'll help."

Reaching over, he held her still before holding the searing flare under her flesh and systematically cauterized her stump. He ignored her screams until the wound ceased bleeding and quickly he doused the flare in the water. His hand remained on her shoulder as a faint smile masked his agony before he passed out again. "You'll....be okay....now."

Elizabeth forced herself up with her one arm and retrieved her chainsword, the pain of where her left arm was still eating away at her. She sheathed the blade upon her back next to its twin before approaching Telios and lifting him over her right shoulder to carry him, despite the fact that she was two feet shorter than he was, and began carrying him in the direction she hoped would lead them out of this Emperor forsaken place.

Nitronus in response to Mekrail's anger drew his blade and held it to Mekrail as he spoke sternly. "Stop destroying the grand scenery around us more than we already have, and tell me why you hold such anger against these Xenos who appear peaceful."

Mekrail gave him a look that told him he didn't believe that Nitronus would dare harm him, yet after an intense glaring match Mekrail sighed and finally gave in as he raised his gauntlet up and gestured for him to remove the blade. "I harbor such a deep resentment, naturally as a son of Caliban for any of these snobbish high class fools who do not deserve the power and privilege they wield such as the ponies present in this very courtyard." He paused, as though memories were flooding through him that seemed to bring out a much darker general aura that Mekrail radiated as he continued. "But, there is one such pony that I hold such anger and rage at, and she lives under this very castle's roof. Her name, is Celestia. She and I used to be friends, until she betrayed my brethren and I and destroyed all that I held dear before casting me into the pits of Tartarus to rot."

Mekrail decided not to explain further, feeling his answer sufficient as he heard the distinct clank of armored guards approaching. Instead of letting his anger get to him however, Mekrail sheathed his sword and in an instant forced the anger to dissipate to the depths of his mind as he always did in these situations. "Best to appear as non-threatening as possible for now I suppose." He thought to himself as he gestured for Nitronus to do the same for when the guards would arrive.

"Thank you Captain, upon meeting this, pony, I shall have a nice chat with her." Nitronus said as he sheathed his force sword and removed his helmet, tucking it under his right arm.

"Her guards should be arriving any moment now." Mekrail stated as he turned towards the clanking sound that the heavily armored ponies were making, though they wore silver armor instead of the gold he remembered of the Royal Guard, and each one had a weapon that resembled that of a bolter.

Nitronus looked at Mekrail who was still balling his fist and decided that it would be best if he spoke first.

"Greetings ponies, we bring you no ill will and will be on our way as soon as possible back to which we came." He calmly stated, showing his hands to prove that he would not strike.

"We are here under orders to bring the two of you to the Princess, any refusal will deem you a hostile and we will terminate you on the spot. Is that understood?" A mare clad from head to hoof in heavy pony armor stated loudly as her unit surrounded them.

"Mekrail?" Nitronus whispered to the Dark Angel next to him.

"We will follow you guard." Mekrial said, nodding once to Nitronus before following the mare, Nitronus instantly followed Mekrail as he didn't want to start a fight.

Dashing's expression was conflicted as his memories again fought for control of his consciousness. "Mom?"

Tempest raised an eyebrow as he continued looking over his equipment before saying. "I'm not your mother."
Dashing turned to him, confusion in his eyes as he spoke up. "What? No you're most definitely not my mother...My mother's up th...." Dashing paused, his eye growing large with surprise that he'd dared utter what he'd sworn to never speak of with anypony else besides his closest friends.

Tempest looked him over and shook his head, saying. "There's no way she could be your mother. Dash's my age." Taking in the weathered look on Dashing's face, his older armor and the patch over his eye he guessed. "You look like you're in your forties anyways, and you're dressed in Royal Guard's armor."

Dashing nearly lost it as his memories roared to punish those who dared challenge his past and who had been his parents. Yet he held restraint from allowing his powers to release as he shook his head vehemently. "I'm in my late thirties to be exact General, and secondly this armor was bestowed upon me as a final gift from my Father as recognition of my achievement as Captain when I was twenty-one back on my...." Dashing trailed off, as he knew he was about to open a Pandora's box of questions from Tempest as he looked away with a faint trace of anger on his face.

Dashing's response left Tempest confused, though he decided not to dwell on it, instead he figure that he would find out what exactly a Royal Guard Pony was doing way out here when they were all supposed to be missing.

"So I would like to know where the rest of your unit is Captain Dashing." Tempest inquired.

Dashing's expression grew angry and full of regret as he answered with a razor sharp tone in his voice. "They're all dead. They've been dead ever since the Las-Pegasus incident fifteen years ago when we were on a mission from the princesses to capture a particular pony and bring him to justice." Dashing didn't let on, but he was biting back tears as so many of his fellow guards had died on a mission he'd actually fabricated completely out of his desire to save his father from a terrible fate. But he didn't want to tell Tempest that, it was so full of pain and anguish as he'd watched the spirit of his grandfather that had seized Death from his father and used it against his entire unit.

Tempest was now confused, but before he could take this pony named Dashing to the closest hospital for mental medical treatment a blast of blue light spread across Ponyville. Dashing also saw is because he started galloping towards it, which confused Tempest even more than Dashings response.

"Whoa, hold up, you need a doctor!" Tempest cried as he took off after the Royal Guard Pegasus.

Joshua and Reginald were falling through the warp, the latter of the two completely at ease as he chanted softly to himself while falling feet first toward the portal opening. Joshua was still spinning somewhat, but he'd gained a semblance of control over his fall as he too fell fast toward the exit. Reginald came through first, landing out of the portal into an icy tundra that was currently under the effect of a heavy snowstorm that immediately covered the Chapter Master in a thin layer of white.

Joshua emerged next, rolling out of the portal and somehow coming out crouched before he rose and looked to Reginald, whose only traits that could be seen where the glowing eye lenses in his helm and the Inqusitorial insignia on his chest plate and shoulder guard. Joshua laughed quietly to himself before saying. "Now you look much more like a Grey Knight, Chapter Master if I may say so."

"Once a Grey Knight, always a Grey Knight." Reginald replied.

Quickly though, Joshua's expression grew serious and shook off the snow layers forming already. "So what in the Emperor's name just happened Chapter Master? Do you have any clue?"

"From what I can tell, we were just thrust into the warp by that Sorcerer. Besides that, I am clueless as to where we are or the specifics." Reginald answered.

"Damn, well that does us no good here." Joshua said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "However I suppose we can venture a guess we're close to one of the poles of whatever planet we're on currently." As his breath frosted in the air.

Suddenly, Joshua and Reginald both noticed two objects flying at a rapid pace through the air.

"What was that?" Reginald asked.

"That looked like...." Joshua said, his eyes widening slightly at the thought. "But that's not possible...what're the odds I could be here again."
"What do you mean Lord Inquisitor? Have you seen whatever those things were?" Reginald inquired.

Joshua gave a deep sigh of exasperation as he eyed where the two figures had come from before he spoke. "Yes Chapter Master Reginald....I do know what those two things were." Pausing for a moment, he allowed Reginald to ask again.

"So what were those things Lord Inquisitor?"

"Those 'Things' were Pegasi, Chapter Master. They are Pegasi ponies, like my friend Dashing." Joshua explained.

Maximus rolled out of the warp and got to his feet, looking about he saw Trayclian laying flat on his face but beginning to stand. Maximus also noticed that he had stopped just in front of a small orange pony with metal wings and a solitary gear as her cutiemark, he waved at her and the crosseyed grey pony next to her who was also spooked by their sudden appearance.

Trayclian finally rose from the ground, his expression annoyed as he felt the rough, skinned patches of his face that already were healing. Looking at Maximus first, his hand charged only slightly with a fireball and he tossed it at him. When it hit, he knew it would do no effect but let the Holy Chaplain know how annoyed he was as he spoke up. "As much as I appreciate your concern for me Holy Chaplain Maximus, I'd prefer it if you'd refrain from tossing this old Librarian willy nilly in the warp."

After his piece was spoken, Trayclian turned his attention to the two ponies and finally put two and two together about where they were. His expression at first shocked, but quickly returning to one of calm that he was always known for wearing as he called out to them. "Hello." Deciding it was best not to reveal what he knew about them for now, he added. "I'm terribly sorry to trouble you two but perhaps you could tell us your names? Mine is Trayclian."

The orange pony spoke up first while the grey pegasus eyed both of us simultaneously, "The names Scootaloo, and this here is my buddy Derpy Doo." Scootaloo said cheerfully, as she had gotten over her surprise near instantaneously.

"Might we know your name mr. umm, glowing eyes?" Derpy asked.

Maximus looked over to Trayclian and nodded once hoping that the librarian would get the hint.

"This is Holy Chaiplain Maximus of the Blood Raptors, he doesn't speak." Trayclian said as Maximus did a show mans bow towards the ponies and procured flowers from thin air.

Trayclian gave Maximus a look before shaking his head and saying. "That's just Emperor's level bullshit right there..." Giving a sigh, his eyes returned to Scootaloo and he gave a faint smile. "I'm glad to meet you young Scootaloo, Derpy. As is Maximus."

Watching Scootaloo's expression as she looked at the flowers Maximus held, he mentally chuckled at her raised eyebrow before catching Derpy's eye. "Don't be so surprised young ones about the Holy Chaplain's affinity for the warp. It's strange I know what he just did, but actually it's quite normal." Knowing Maximus likely was about to continue his answer, Trayclian stepped back just a bit to give him room as he heard a third pony beginning to walk toward them from down the street behind the two young ponies.

Maximus turned around after Scootaloo took the flowers from him in her mouth and saw a lavender pony with matching mane and tale that had pink and blue stripes in them approach. Giving a nod to Trayclian, who's face had fully healed, he approached this new mare who had both wings and a horn. Maximus knelt to her, showing the proper respect to a Princess of Equestria, which raised an eyebrow from Trayclian who believed that Maximus hadn't had experience this planets customs, though he did get over it rather quickly considering it was Maximus.

"And who might we have here?" The alicorn asked, giving a 'is everything okay look to Scootaloo' before waving a hoof at Maximus who was overdoing it a bit.

"Um, yeah, these guys just popped out of nowhere." Scootaloo replied.

"Though they seem to be rather friendly." Derpy added, at which the alicorns from turned upside down.

"Oh good, my name is Twilight Sparkle, what is yours?" the lavender pony said grinning.

Waking once more from his pain induced unconsciousness, Telios found his back was still killing him but not as much as before. He felt that he was laying on something soft, and when he placed a hand on the ground he found it was a pelt that had been skinned from a wolf and lain out for him to rest on. There was no water, but his body still felt damp and slightly cold as he raised his head faintly to take in the surroundings. They were on a raised area above the swamp lands around them, a fire burning likely for warmth as well as light keeping the twilight that streamed in small shafts through the thick canopy of the trees around away. Wolves, seemingly ripped apart by what appeared to be chainswords were lain about. His Exitus rifle leaning up against a nearby tree. There was the scent of blood, Telios noticed, and the scent of meat being cooked as his eyes fell back to the fire and he saw Elizabeth sitting next to it; a large femur bone in her hand, just tending the fire.

She wasn't wearing her helmet this time, and Telios finally was able to drink in her full features as he looked her over. Long, red hair that fell to her shoulders, freckles that dotted her young face and piercing green eyes that focused intently on the fire. A single cross tattooed on her left cheek. Telios almost forced himself to do a double take, as he was unsure what he was seeing was true. However instead he merely let out a groan of pain as his already injured body protested the movement of adjusting himself slightly so he could see better.

"Oh that's smarts." Telios grumbled to himself before looking to Elizabeth and asking. "Sorry Battle Sister...What happened while I was out?" His expression despite the pain was concerned as he was reminded of her arm stump "Are you alright?"

"I will be fine assassin, tis just a flesh wound." Elizabeth replied not even looking her way, her face had the look of deep thought upon it.

"As for what happened?" Telios asked, resting his head down and trying not to move.

"I don't know how you killed the beast that took my arm, but afterwords I carried you to higher ground and set up this camp. Not long after we were attacked by these wolves which I slew without a problem." she said, gesturing to the pelts about them.

"Incendiary rounds, the beast was a Hydra, they won't grow heads if you cauterize the flesh." Telios said before looking at the meat on the fire.

"Do not fret, I am using the bodies of the wolves for other purposes than food, this meat belonged to a large lizard that attempted to eat me when I was picking berries." Elizabeth said as if reading his mind as she pointed over to a rock like pelt which looked as though it was being tailored to fit her as a shroud.

Telios nodded before gazing upwards at the tree tops and at the twilight sky while Elizabeth attached her new shroud to her side and back.

"Rekriel...A strange name indeed...for a strange creature of lands where your sight has never been." Zecora replied as she continued to watch Rekriel tinker with his bionics with intrigue as to what he was doing. She was also thinking to herself about what he'd offered. She found herself asking aloud to him. "Why are your legs of metal and wire? Your body of steel, cold and hard?"

Rekriel's helm turned to Zecora, although she couldn't see it she was sure his eyes were glaring at him as if she'd asked something over the line. "So sorry am I to ask of this, instead I shall request what you wish to do now."

This time, Rekriel's body language seemed to soften as he replied. "Of the best defense I shall gift, made of the finest technology that I of my craft can build and then afterwards I mayhaps shall seek out my brethren that I have lost."

"Of which I cannot deny, your friendship proves that no matter your exterior you are good." Zecora said, smiling faintly at him as she added. "My name is Zecora, Rekriel sir."

Rekriel gave a slight nod before rising and moving to the door. "I shall set to work immediately. Soon, your home will be as well defended as a Forge World." This thought left Zecora baffled as to what he meant for defenses and what a Forge world was. Nevertheless, she decided to allow him to work as he'd promised before she'd send him on his way with directions out of Everfree Forest.

The guards led the two space marines into the castle, they walked through many grand hallways and stained glass windows depicting many moments that Nirtronus assumed were historical moments in their past. Finally they come to a massive set of golden doors that have more guards standing at attention.

"We have the two the Princess Luna requested." the mare said to the guards who parted ways and opened the doors.

"What is happening Mekrail?" Nitronus whispered.

"Do as I do." Mekrail stated in a hushed tone.

"Princess Luna, we have recovered the two who fell from the sky." The mare who had led them here announced in a booming voice before bowing before a dark blue pony with wings and a horn.

Luna looked down at these bipedal creatures who didn't bow before her, but stood tall peering directly at her. One was a dull red and bone color, while the other was in a dark green armor scheme.

"State your business in my country aliens." Luna said calmly.

Mekrail, though he respected Luna, would never bow before her for that would suggest that he recognized she was superior to him. Instead, he stared at her, his eyes devoid of emotion as well as his expression as he spoke up in an icy tone he reserved for such occasions. "Princess Luna, though we wish that we could giveth thee our purpose for being within thy domain and realm, however we art just as confused as thee art." Pausing as though considering his next words carefully, Mekrail continued after several moments of silence. "We beith no harm to thee or thy subjects Princess Luna, though we assuredly do understand thy distrust of us, as thee likely has not seen our kind before."

Mekrail calmly waited for Luna's response, without making any movement he at the same time was ready to draw his sword and defend himself should it be necessary.

Luna stood and the guards closed the doors with a loud clank, Nitronus looked towards the doors before turning his attention once more on the princess as she walked over to them.

"I will not be lied to!" Luna yelled, her voice echoed in the massive room.

Mekrail seemed as though he was about to draw his sword, so Nitronus stepped between them with his bionic arm in front of the Captain.

"Fair Princess, Brother Mekrail speaks the truth. One minute we are locked in combat with hoards of Tyrinids and a faction of Heretic backed by Daemons." Nitronus said as he walked to the wall and set his storm shield against it.

"I find that highly irregular." Luna's voice sounded as sharp as Nitronus's own sword.

Removing his helm and putting himself on her level by taking a knee before her, but not daring to bow his head. "If we had come to cause you harm Princess Luna, you and all you know would be dead." Nitronus calmly stated.

Luna taking this answer into account after getting a closer look at the two battle tested Space Marines decided to believe them. Nitronus stood and looked to Mekrail who wasn't expecting this of him merely place his Corvus helm back on and retrieved his Storm Shield.

"I wish to speak with the two of thee in private." Luna said, no longer reverberating off the walls as she quietly dismissed her guard and retreated into another room that was hidden from sight.

Mekrail and Nitronus looked to one another before setting off to join the alicorn in her secret room.

Dashing kept running, knowing that his long years of pushing himself both in flight skills and running would have him reach his friends whom he'd just witnessed emerge from the warp. His eye was alight with happiness at being reunited with any of them drawing him out of his shadowy memories hold and his conversation with Tempest forgotten temporarily as he raced toward the town that had started it all so long ago. Without even being out of breath, he was already at its outskirts and quickly entered the town. He slowed to a slower trot, knowing that he didn't want to raise any attention as he moved through the winding streets. He smiled and greeted everypony who passed him, getting similar greetings in return but also hearing some odd comments about the fact that one of the 'missing' Royal Guard was here. Eventually, Dashing came upon Trayclian and Maximus, whom he grinned at and ran at full gallop to join before greeting them in a hearty tone.

"Trayclian my friend!" He called out, catching the Librarian's eyes off Twilight and now focusing on him. Trayclian nodded and returned his smile before extending out a hand and pointing to him past Twilight and the others.

"This Princess Twilight, is my old friend Dashing." He said as Dashing held up a hoof to be taken in a warriors grip before nodding to him.

"I was so worried about all of you Trayclian, I didn't know what happened when we were sucked into the warp by that Sorcerer's attack." Dashing said, concern in his voice.

"As was I friend, but I'm glad you're okay and here with us." Trayclian said, dismissing his concern before motioning Dashing to Twilight.

With an instinct only found through many decades of service under the Princesses, Dashing bowed immediately in respect before rising and saluting smartly. "Captain Dashing Jackson Hardin of the Canterlot Guard retired, at your service Princess Twilight."

Maximus gave a nod to Dashing before turning around to the two pegasi with another one in silver armor galloping up behind them. Maximus tapped Dashing on the shoulder and then pointed at the dark grey pony who had given chase after him and come to an abrupt halt.

"Wait, Royal Guard?" Twilight said, a look of confusion on her face.

Dashing looked back to her and explained how he had gotten to Equestria as he had done for Tempest, that just left her more confused. While Dashing and Twilight spoke Maximus approached Tempest and gave a friendly salute, which Tempest gladly returned before looking the Holy Chaplain up and down before sitting on his haunches and whistling.

"Perhaps I should just go check into the nearest hospital and figure out what the hay is going on." Tempest muttered to himself only to turn around and walk clean into a large black pillar that had a golden two headed eagle detailed into the knee pad.

Maximus picked Tempest up and carried him over to where the others were.

"Oh hey Tempest, this is Trayclian and the guy holding you is Maximus." Scootaloo said flying up to his height.

"Welp, guess I'm not dreaming." Tempest said as he wiggled his way free of the massive beings grasp, just to find that Maximus had vanished into thin air.

Trayclian gave Tempest a knowing smile as he nodded faintly. "I've been in the exact position you're in right now Tempest. So I understand just how difficult this may be for you to accept as real." Knowing Maximus vanished for some reason or another back into the Warp, and both he and Twilight were confused about how and why they were all here Trayclian decided to clear everything up as he gestured for both of their attentions.

"Alright, now that I've got your attention, I'll explain to the best of my abilities what my friend Dashing is trying to tell you." Trayclian took a deep, preparatory breath before explaining. "The Warp, in its most simple essence is a soup of endless creation. It is constantly changing, a never-ending landscape of nothing and everything. It coexists with our universe as we know it, and as such of an overlap we of the material realm and venture into its depths as a sort of system of travel. We can also use it for special abilities, provided that one like myself and Maximus are attuned to the Warp can capable of controlling it. As such, we were brought here due to one such person, a Sorcerer of Chaos. He used all his psychic might and prowess with the Warp to force myself, Maximus, Dashing and many of my other friends and Battle-brethren through those 'tunnels' in the Warp. Why we ended up here is unknown exactly, however I for one am not the least bit worried that we did. For at least it's a place I'm very familiar with as well as much of my brethren and friends."

Trayclian finally ceased talking as he turned to see Maximus emerging from a warp portal with a chalkboard of sorts. Puzzled slightly by this, Trayclian raised an eyebrow before returning to normal as he watched what Maximus was writing about.

Dashing nodded as he was happy somepony was able to explain and understand how they had gotten here before looking to Tempest and saying. "So do you understand now General? At least how I and my friends arrived here?"

"Okay then, I believe you now. But why here?" Tempest asked, also looking at the diagrams that Maximus was drawing out on the chalkboard.

"On that we don't know General." Dashing said coming out of his conversation with Twilight who most likely had dozens of questions more than what Tempest had.

Maximus then tapped his chalkboard three times rather loudly to get everyone's attention. On the chalkboard were diagrams with mathematical explanations behind everything that Trayclian had explained, including an explanation of how Maximus opens the warp and walks through it like it was a normal everyday activity.

"Well then, perhaps you could teach me a few things Chaplain." Trayclian said as he memorized Maximus's method of 'warp walking' before Maximus erased everything and began writing again.

Telios had stared up into the twilight sky for a long time, his mind on many things all at once as he gazed into the stars and reminisced about the last time he'd done the same thing on his homeworld so long ago. He smiled faintly at the fond memory as it came and passed, followed by so many others which he had long thought forgotten. Eventually, his eyes came back down and he was brought back to reality as the pain that seemingly had vanished returned fully. He grimaced for a moment at the pain before focusing his attention to Elizabeth.

"Who were you Elizabeth?" He inquired. Seeing her look, he added. "I meant before you became a Sister of Battle. Who were you before you joined their ranks?"

Elizabeth looked to him and stroked the fire, her eyes unfocused and glazed over, she calmly finished stroking the fire and set the femur down next to her before pulling out her bolt pistol and inspecting the sigil upon its side.

"I was an officer Cadian Shock Troopers during the Twelfth Black Crusade." Elizabeth said in a passive tone while checking the load on her pistol.

Telios gave a faint nod as another memory emerged from her mention of the Twelfth Black Crusade. "I remember that Crusade well. Abaddon's forces were overwhelming the entire sector." Seeing her give him a confused look, he added. "I was there, my mission at the time from my master was to assassinate any of the leaders of the Warbands." Telios gave her a dark smile. "The notches on the barrel of my rifle tell of how many great Chaos leaders died in that Crusade by me." Pointing to his rifle, the marks were numbered in dozens.

Sighing, Telios returned his eyes to the sky above before he began. "I was once a Guardsman in the Calthian Regiment before the Horus Heresy happened." Ignoring her strange look, he continued. "I served as a marksman, was the best arguably in the whole Ultramar system. One day, an Assassin of the Vindicare Temple came to our world, looking for a new recruit. He found me when I was practicing my skills, and in those moments he chose me to be that one. After that, I trained for centuries to become the best and it was my skills that allowed many of Horus's commanders to be slain." Telios paused, as he once more remembering his civilian life. "I was also a proud husband and father, raised two sons who became great soldiers of their own." A single tear came to his eyes, as the last memories of his homeworld came into sharp focus. "But then, the Heresy happened. And my world was destroyed by the Word Bearers. Everything...my friends, brethren of the army...family." Telios shook himself as he knew that Elizabeth didn't need to hear or see him so depressed as he reached up and wiped the single tear away. Making a quick decision, he avoided talking about his time in Equestria and instead said. "I was eventually found by Lord Inquisitor Joshua when he was a young aspirant for the position of Inquisitor. He's the one who brought me eventually to Mekrail and the others and now I serve him as my new master."

With his tale finished, Telios laid back and closed his eyes as he felt the nightmares that were dredged up from the dark recesses of his memory of every bad thing that had happened to him.

Elizabeth did't realize that she had moved next to him and left her bolt pistol by the fire, her eyes locked with his as he shed a tear.

"I never had a chance to start a family, everyone I knew died during the Black Crusade." Elizabeth said, feeling the stub where her arm used to be.

Telios listened, just as Maximus and Reginald had, she had never told anyone else who was among the living of her past, as all her sisters are dead.

"Aside from the Black Crusade there isn't much left of me to tell, I joined the Adeptus Soritus, went on one deployment, all of my sisters were killed by heretics belonging to the Emperor's Children, Maximus saved me, and I joined the Blood Raptors alongside of him." she said leaning back on a tree with her legs laid down in front of her, her eyes in sorrowful remembrance.

Telios felt that he and Elizabeth had both went through the same things. Both had lost everything to Chaos, both had been saved by those they now called friends. However for Telios he had learned one thing that lived with him for the rest of his life.

"There is one thing I carry in my life to remind me to keep going, to stop myself from often times believing I'm alone in the universe and ending it all." Catching Elizabeth's eye, Telios gave her a serious look before he continued. "Joshua, Mekrail, Trayclian, Rekriel, Dashing, all of them. They are closer than friends to me now, they are my family. My new family. We've lived through good times and bad, weathered the storms of fire and trials of battle and held each other together through thick and thin. To them I have a devotion that defies my own desires to simply die, for I cannot leave them now when they need me most and when I need them." Seeing Elizabeth wasn't quite getting it, Telios decided to point it out. "Maximus, Reginald, Nitronus, all the Blood Raptors. They are your family now. All of them, they stand by you as you to them and together you can overcome any obstacle, weather any storm. Face any fear, defeat any enemy."

Telios sighed as he now remembered all the good times he'd had with his friends and brethren. "Chaos may have taken everything from me, but that was only in that my past and my old life. Now, I do not let the past rule my mind, let it dominate my thoughts and plague my actions by its negativity. Instead I remember it all, the good and bad, and use that to look to the future with blind hope and ambition. Ambition, to protect my family wherever the road takes us, and if it happens to be by the Emperor's will a new family member or more will join us in that journey."

Elizabeth looked away from him and at the fire which was now dying down, standing she looked back to Telios and smiled.

"Thank you for this talk, now get some rest, your back needs to heal." She said as she walked back to the fire and began tending it with the femur again.

Rekriel moved with speed and efficiency as his servo-saws sliced through thick tree trunks, his bionics determining what was the strongest and would last the longest as they scanned to the tree's very core. With ease, his servo-arms collected the trunks, carrying them behind him. When they could carry no more, he would pick them up by hand. The weight of the logs however, were nothing to him as he'd carried far heavier machinery all his life and his bionics gave him strength far superior to even his fellow space marine brethren. When he felt he had enough, he turned on his heel and began the leisurely trek back to Zecora's home. What he left behind was a clearing all around her house for several dozen feet, this would provide him all the space he needed to work and build what he'd promised as he laid all the logs down in a perfect, stacked order.

The first log he took, he grasped tightly with his servo-arms and had it held out in front of him as he did the calculations rapidly in his head. With a speed few of the Mechanicum could claim to match, he cut the log into three separate pieces first before hollowing them out with his servo-drills. Placing them down, he moved on to a large trunk that would serve as the base for his design. Slicing it quickly, he shaped it into a hollow rectangular prism before placing it on the ground. Next, he took several logs and carved them so they would enable the three-hundred-sixty degree rotation he desired. Working fast, he took the rest of the logs and incorporated them by making joint work to connect all the pieces. Lastly, he took the pieces he'd carved and hollowed and put them together, taking the scrap logs and working a miracle with their inner fibers that allowed him to make ductile wiring for the innards.

Each piece he put together, the four legs supporting the work, the prism body supporting the barrels, he made sure they were properly wired to work off of another project his idle servo-arms and tools had been working on behind him. Once the first of its kind was assembled, Rekriel cut inscriptions and sigils of the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus into its frame before stepping back and blessing the machine with a prayer to the Omnissiah. What stood assembled before him, was a fully functional tarantula gun turret. Now, it only waited to be powered as he'd managed to also make the ammunition for it out of yet more of the strange wood that Everfree forest was plentiful with.

Turning to his back, he kneeled down and took from his backpack a single reserve power cell. This cell, while only capable of powering his armor's functions for a year or two at most, would power these turrets for decades without pause as he inserted it into the armored form of the generator's power slot. Watching the generator come to life, hearing its soft hum as wires that spread to the turret he constructed began to power it as well. The turret responded by activating, its gun barrels rotating with a well-oiled ease on its frame a sit began to do its duty and scan for threats that Rekriel had programmed it to respond to.

Within hours, several more turrets were built around the perimeter and performing the same job of protecting Zecora's home as Rekriel's servo-flamer burned the remaining refuse of his work to bits before returning to her hut.

"Your work is fast, there is no denial, but I wonder does it work or is it idle?" Zecora said as he entered. She'd been watching him work on the machines, a natural curiosity as to what their function was.

"The tarantula gun turrets will work I assure you Zecora, my craft has never failed me in my long years of service to the Omnissiah."
As though proving his point, several Timberwolves began to emerge from the treeline that had been cut back from Zecora's hut. The turrets around quickly trained their barrels upon these wolves, first identifying friend or foe, and then recognizing the threat the wolves posed as they detected aggression levels against the facility they were to protect. Without hesitation, the guns opened fire. The wooden rounds having just an equal amount of destructive effect for their shape was designed to be far more penetrating and once they penetrated the rounds would shatter and cause massive internal injuries. Within seconds, the gun barrels were smoking and about seven wolves were dead on the ground.

Rekriel nodded faintly to Zecora as he turned on his heel and moved to the door. "I bid you farewell for now Zecora friend, but I must go to seek out my brethren."

Zecora smiled faintly as she waved him goodbye. "May your travels be fair as your craft is out there Rekriel friend."

As he shut the door behind him, Rekriel immediately set out into the treeline, his greaves sloshing in water about knee high as he entered the swampy part of Everfree forest.

Reginald had taken point silently, Joshua didn't complain as the wind began to tear at his skin, having a Terminator walk ahead of him and block most of the wind and snow was preferable to having his face torn up. But Joshua's thoughts were on the two pegasi, and the planet it suggested that they had been transported to. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he walked into the back of Reginald when he stopped, it didn't help that the former Grey Knight's armor was as white as their surroundings.

"What is the matter Chapter Master?" Joshua said as he came up to Reginald's side.

"Something is off." Reginald said as he slowly turned his head from left to right before stopping on a faint light to his right.

Joshua followed his gaze, "Shall we investigate?"

"Let us go." Reginald said as he began to walk again.

Joshua followed the Terminator Marine but instantly stopped when Reginald vanished. The snow had picked up and Joshua had placed one of his hands before his face as he walked forward. Yet upon his second step he found himself falling down a long twisting tunnel when he flew out of a shaft into a cobblestone catacomb filled with partially frozen water that was waist deep.

"Inquisitor are you all right?" Reginald said walking through the water with ease as it only came up to his knees.

"I am fine." Joshua replied taking another look around.

"We must get out of this before our armor freezes to our bodies." Reginald said as he pointed his lance, "This way."

Joshua followed, but a question had been eating at him. How did a Grey Knight Terminator Captain end up becoming the Chapter Master of a lost Chapter? Joshua looked again at Reginald who was weakening the ice with his Power Lance because he had gotten stuck, looking down Joshua realized that he too had been encased in the ice, following Reginald's example he drew his power knife and melted the ice.

"Tell me, how did you find yourself with the Blood Raptors Reginald, it has been pestering my mind since we met." Joshua said as they began moving again.

"I was part of a kill team sent to a remote planet to eliminate Chaos." Reginald said stopping a moment to stab the ice ahead of him before moving on. "At first there were no problems, but upon a week into our campaign a Daemon Prince arrived with a legion of Greater Daemons belonging to Khorne, I was the last one of my brothers left when the Blood Raptors Champion alongside a Sister of Battle, a Reclusiarch, and that Holy Chaplain came down alone and helped me kill the heretic." He turned around and removed his helmet, his breath frosting in the icy air, "Since then I have determined that they are a worthy chapter, and if they are to ever be considered loyal to the Emperor they will need someone of a high stature to champion them." Reginald finished before stepping out of the ice and onto powdered snow.

"Highly interesting Chapter Master." Joshua said as Reginald picked him up out of the ice.

"They are my brothers, I have known none better." Reginald stated before turning around and placing his helm back upon his head.

"I understand." the Inquisitor stated before suppressing a gasp of horror at the sight before him.

All around them were frozen dead bodies of Royal Guard ponies and Crystal ponies who looked as though they were not just killed but torn apart or tortured.

"What happened here?" Joshua said a grim expression across his face.

"They happened." Reginald said pointing to a massive army of Khorne daemons and the Chaos Warband known as the Knights of Blood.

Author's Note

DeathAngelWolf-

Hello once again audience, this is authors Tempest Knight and DeathAngelWolf here with the next chapter in our story. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed the first chapters of our little collaboration and that you'll continue to read and enjoy this story until its completion and even afterwards. Remember that your feedback is appreciated so please comment about it with your thoughts to help us do better.

Tempest Knight-

Hey all, second installment complete, feel free to let us know what you think, and remember that we are just getting started.

Stay Brony everypony!