The Wolf and the Rainbow

Chapter Seventeen

The train passed into Canterlot’s train station, those of the Royal Guard quickly getting into position. They had been told that a high class royal is arriving today, their commander wanting to put up a display of power for them… After all, news about the abomination’s attack on Ponyville travelled quickly to Canterlot, Celestia ordering all Royal Guards to be on high alert. Each one of the Royal Guards had been informed that this noble is not what most would expect, and those with him are to be guarded with extreme care… And to also expect unusual bodyguards with him, when they arrived.

What did not count on, were the five Timberwolves that suddenly leapt down from the train’s car and surrounded its door. “T-Timberwolves! Stallions, prepare for-?”

“That will not be necessary, Sergeant.” The Royal Guards turned around, seeing a fully armored Shining Armor walking up to them. “I am sure that you were briefed on the unusual bodyguards, correct?”

“We were, Prince Armor, sir!” The Sergeant saluted.

“This is actually them.” He informed, walking up to the wooden beasts, those of the Royal Guard becoming dumbfounded that somepony actually tamed five of these violent creatures. “I have been told that they will heed their Alpha’s instructions. So, this means these five have Princess Celestia’s permission to be here.” Shining Armor looked at the Timberwolf Beta, then nodded to it.

The Timberwolf Beta looked down at him, growling a bit. After a couple of moments, the wooden beasts moved away and the train doors started to open up. All eyes went to the doors, as Rainbow Dash walked out with the largest stallion any of the Royal Guard had ever seen before. His savage looking armor and fetishes reminding them of some tribal warrior, even his black furred pelt being used as a coat matched the look. Though, their eyes also went to the large blade at his side, the kind that only champions would wield into battle.

The stallion made them nervous, even as Twilight walked out of the train car next. Though, Shining Armor only smiled, walking up to the three. “Welcome to Canterlot, it is good to see you three… Just wished your visit was under better circumstances, rather another crisis being on our hooves.”

Twilight practically galloped up and hugged her older brother, smiling. “Us too, BBBFF.” She replied, backing up to the others. “But, at least we got to see each other, regardless.”

“You have a point there.” He smiled, before Shining Armor looked at Moon Howl. “I have to admit, Moon Howl… You are quite the intimidating warrior, I can hardly believe you were that stallion I had been drinking with some time ago.”

“That is the intention of who I am, Prince Armor.” Moon Howl chuckled, smirking, before he looked at the Timberwolf Beta. The Pegasus Charger gave a low growl, while motioning towards Ponyville. This caused the wooden beast to look at Shining armor, before nodding and sprinting off, with the others behind him.

Shining Armor watched the five Timberwolves sprint off, heading towards the small country town. “What was that about?”

“They are going back to Ponyville, in case that ‘Chaos Star’ decides to attack again, while we are gone.” Moon Howl looked at the prince, smirking. “Now, I believe your Princess is waiting for us?”

Shining Armor gave a nod. “Right, follow me.” With that, the three were escorted to Canterlot Castle.

-Canterlot Castle, Sometime Later-

A pair of large ponies walked through Celestia’s personal wing of Canterlot Castle, one being Moon Howl, who had just debriefed Celestia on what had happened. His companion being the Solar Princess, herself, who sported a look of dreadful concern. The stallion spared no detail, explaining what could have happened and how much of a threat Chaos Star is. This caused Celestia to sigh, and lower her head.

“Tell me, Moon Howl, what do you suggest I do about him?” She asked, looking at the ever stalwart stallion.

“He is not your average foe, Princess.” Moon Howl started, the two stopping at a large double door. “We do not know where he could be, and aimlessly scoring for a Thousand Sons Sorcerer is dangerous.” Celestia gave the stallion her undivided attention. “Fighting one, like that, requires at least two of my kind… They are nothing to shrug off. Only reason why I defeated him last time, was due to him using up majority of his power and me going into a near Wulfen State.”

Celestia sighed again, closing her eyes. “So, we require another for this?”

“That is correct, Princess. I’m strong, but even I will require help against this ‘Chaos Star’.” He looked up at the princess, seeing her suddenly smirking. “Uhh… What?”

“Well then, we best fix those odds and get you some support.” With no warning, her magic forced the doors next to them open, revealing a rather large archway. “Come, Moon Howl, you have a friend to call forth.”

Celestia went into the room first, followed by a confused Moon Howl. “Princess, with all due respect, what do you mean by that?” He asked, as the two stopped before the large archway. “I do not know what friend I could call forth, while here.”

“Easy, Moon Howl.” She turned towards the stallion, having a rather devious smirk. “I will use this archway and my magic to summon another warrior from your home, to help defeat this ‘Chaos Star’. One that can be in sync with your attacks.” Her features turned serious. “I can only do this one more time, best not waste our last chance at this.”

Moon Howl just looked at her, rather surprise by the revelation, before giving a nod. “I understand, Princess.”

“Then close your eyes and think of those that will be able to help us.” Celestia’s horn began to glow, as Moon Howl did what she instructed.

Carefully, the alicorn placed her horn on to his forehead, causing images to flow through Celestia’s mind. Many of them were of other Space Wolves, howling into combat or wading through enemy ranks like ravenous beasts. A few were of massive bipedal walkers, that carried honorable fallen within their metal tombs. But, what really caught her attention, were four Astartes adorning black armor and a metallic I on their left shoulderguards… Yet, the right shoulderguards all had different colors and icons on them.

She zeroed in on their leader, whose right shoulderguard was blue with a white Ultra symbol. The fact he wielded a long range weapon, and was strict on orders, made Celestia smile at a high quality leader. However, his image became distorted and shifted into a royal blue unicorn stallion, with a white mane. Obviously, she could not claim this one for herself.

Her attention went to the one with an emerald green shoulderguard, and a white roaring dragon. A champion of the people, who wielded a flaming blade and refused to give their foes any ground. This would be a perfect choice for this task, however… The image shifted to the warrior standing before an army of bipedal Changelings. Prepared to fight them with his blazing sword. Another she could not summon.

The third concerned her, he bore a pure black shoulderguard with a white dragon on it. This Astartes had strange spines coming from his arms and head, not to mention standing a foot taller than the others. This caused him to give off the feeling of some monster, that he could be more of a threat to her subjects. So, when this Astartes shifted into a black and white dragon, Celestia gave a sigh of relief. She didn’t have to pick him.

Her eyes widened, seeing the fourth’s crimson shoulderguard bearing a black blood drop with angelic wings. Despite having a much larger right fist and a strange contraption on his back, the Astartes gave a strange aura of rightlessness about him. The kind a hero and noble crusader would have, the likes Equestria could use against “Chaos Star”. A smile formed on her muzzle, when the image did not distort or transform. He is up for grabs right now.

“Gotcha.” Celestia whispered, drawing her horn back, a crimson orb of light with it.

The act caused Moon Howl to stumble into a daze, but quickly snapped out of it. “W-Who did you choose, Princess?” He managed to ask, placing a hoof against his head.

“A perfect protector, that can double as a Royal Guard.” She simply stated, aiming her horn, and crimson orb, at the archway. “Now, stay back, this is the dangerous part of it all.”

Before anything else could be said, the magic shot out like a cannon! For a second, the portal appeared with a crimson glow to it, then shifted into a golden one. Their eyes managed to make out the silhouette of some Assault Marine, armed with a powerfist, and it looked like they were flying… Straight… Towards them? Moon Howl’s only indication of who this could be, came in six words.

“By the Blood of Sanguinius!”

“Son of a-!”

A crimson blur, causing the two to separate, cut him off. The Blood Angel Vangaurd slamming square into a nearby wall, before falling backwards. In their daze, the Blood Angel’s body started to glow and morphed into a crimson armored Bat Pony Charger. While Celestia held a surprised look about her, no longer able to use the Royal Guard guise for them, Moon Howl gave a look of pure annoyance.

“W-What in the E-Emperor’s name just happened?” The stallion leaned up, rubbing his helmeted head with a hoof. “Talk about strange occurrences, what kind of door opens up in the sky?”

Shaking her surprise off, Celestia smiled and approached him. “Greetings, Noble One, I am Prin-!”

“Xenos!” The stallion shouted, getting on to his hooves and flaring both wings. “I demand that you tell me what it is you have-?”

“Oh shut it, Azress! You show boating bastard!” Moon Howl snarled, suddenly stepping between the two. “No one cares about how you present yourself.”

The bat pony’s eyes widened, in surprise, recognizing the voice. “Ayden Wolfhowl, is that really you?”

“Of course it’s me, you attention seeking hot head!” This time Moon Howl’s wings flared open, but out of annoyance.

“Then give me proof of your claim, and that this is not a xenos’ trick.”

With an annoyed sigh, Moon Howl used his wing to pull out an onyx skull amulet. “You and I stole Augustus’ codex, when he wasn’t paying attention, during training, and slipped a false page into it. This ended up with him reciting that he was a ‘pretty little princess’ instead of a squad maneuver, by accident.”

After a few silent moments, Azress fell back on to his flank in a roar of laughter. “B-By the E-Emperor, Ayden! W-What happened to you!” He managed to say, between laughs, pointing a hoof at the pegasus. “Y-You’re a horse with wings, brother!”

“Pegasus.” Celestia corrected, smiling.

Moon Howl narrowed his eyes at the bat pony. “How about looking in a mirror, before laughing at another’s appearance, huh!?” His wing pointed to a nearby mirror, prompting Azress to look at it.

“I’m a… Bat Horse?”

“Bat Pony.” Celestia corrected, still smiling.

“Uh, thanks.” Azress removed his helmet, allowing the black mane, golden eyes, and enlarged canines; to be revealed. He just stared at the reflection, giving a side glancing grin of confidence. “Damn, I look good as a ‘Bat Pony’.”

Moon Howl face hoofed, while Celestia giggled at the statement. “Moon Howl?”

“Yes, Princess?” He groaned.

“Would you mind taking Lord Azress and catch him up on our current situation, along with things he may need to know? I will pass the knowledge needed later, after I speak with Rainbow Dash.” Celestia asked, kindly.

“Will do, Princess.” Moon Howl walked over to Azress, who just now got a second take on Celestia.

An even more confident smirk appeared on Azress’ muzzle. “Heeeeeeello, Beautiful! I must know the name of such an angel.” He purred, wiggling both eyebrows.

“Come on, you!” Moon Howl growled, promptly snatching Azress’ tail with his teeth, and proceeded to drag the purring bat pony with him.

The act caused Ceelstia to giggle even more, placing a hoof over her muzzle. “Oh, he is an incorrigible one. Makes me wish I was a century or two younger.”

“Nonsense, my lady. No matter what, you radiate with beauty that would make angels weep.” A calm, serene, vice spoke up, as a heavily armored Unicorn Charger walked out of the shadows, the scarab red armor gleaming within the light. His golden mane cresting the helmet, his emerald eyes visible through its thin visor. “Though, is that all you feel?”

An even wider smirk appeared on Celestia’s muzzle. “Oh, behaaaaave… Wait until after I have finished with today’s schedule.” She gave a sultry, half lidded, stare at the stallion. “Which reminds me, mind sending someone to get Rainbow Dash? I get finished and see to… Other matters.”

The Unicorn Charger bowed his head. “Your wish, is my command.” With that, he disappeared into the darkness.

A shiver went down Celestia’s spine, causing an excited look to appear about her. “I just love it when he does that!”

“Oh really?”

“Eeep!” Celestia’s cheeks burned red, in embarrassment.