MLP / WARHAMMER 40,000 : THE INDOMITOUS CRUSADE

Starlight continued on her path merely a few feet away, when a sound echoed through to Roboute’s ears. He quickly turned back to notice that alone arrow was hurtling towards Starlight. However, she notices the arrow enough to cast a protective spell for herself, deflecting the arrow.

But more arrows flew towards the ruins, as she heard loud multiple howls, and growls coming from the forest. She could see clearly the trees was a battalion of Diamond Dogs, armed with various clubs, hammers, and weapons charging forward towards her. “THERE IT IS!!!” The commander cried, pointing at the pony. Starlight knew she would stand a better chance with these unknown warriors than with the Diamond Dogs. She quickly turned tail and bolted towards the ruins. She was just a few feet from making it inside when one of the Diamond dogs pounced up her, ready to drop a battle axe upon her. She closed her eyes, ready to embrace her fate.

That was until she heard the clang of metal against one another. She opened to see a large flaming sword had countered the axe. Starlight looked to see the sword belonged to none other than Roboute Guilliman, who proceeded to grasp hold of the beast’s head with the hand of dominion and crushing its skull. The blood dripped from the crevices of the fingers, as he discarded the carcass, as more came charging in.

But upon reaching the two, the horde was greeted by a barrage of bolter, and plasma fire, as the task force of Space Marines open fired upon the now present Xenos threat. The horde continued to fall in bloody bursts, as limbs were separated from torsos, skulls were fractured from puncturing bolt shots that have passed through clean. Starlight looked on in amazement as The Lord Commander swung down his blade against the Ork like beasts, who were merely heads of wheat to this reaper of the Imperium. With each warrior slain by this warlord’s blade began to discourage the beasts, as Imperial forces began driving back the Diamond Dogs. The two sides clashed as The Ultramarines fought the diamond dogs with tactical parlays, and the Space Wolves’ ferocity hacked and slashed, and shot their way through the battle lines against this somewhat disappointing foe. “Come on, ya pissers! Give me a real fight!” Sigfast boasted as he brought his Chainsword upon a much larger Diamond Dog, slicing the head clean in half in a bloody spill.

On the other half of the battlefield, the Diamond Dog commander looked on in horror to see many of his kin slaughtered under the harsh tactics of these strange warriors. “Commander, The Ponys has help!” The commander growled in frustration. “Get her now! She knowses the one who took it!” The diamond dog saluted and ordered more to enter the battle. The space marines continued to fight on as a second wave of Diamond dogs approached. However, a loud barrage of rounds struck down the majority of the beasts. They looked to see that one of the Dreadnaughts, Odysseus of The Imperial Fists.

The Venerable Dreadnaught continued to fire his storm bolter into the creatures, driving them back in a fit of fear. Starlight saw in the looks of their eyes utter fear, one that they were all alien to until this battle. The Proud sons cheered and taunted the fleeing Diamond Dogs, as victory was assured. “No! Come back, ya buggers! We were just getting started!” Sigfast shouted. Once the smoke had settled, Starlight shimmer analyzed the damage.

While the Space marines suffered little damage, the vast bodies of diamond dogs lying across the, bleeding out from various wounds. From Bolter shots that pierced straight through their bodies, hacks, and slashes of their Chaninswords and power axes, even bodies crushed by the boots of the battle brothers, or by the head of Thunder Hammers. There were even piles of ash of the poor beasts caught in the blast of Plasma weaponry. The grim sight was enough to sicken her, though it was not the first time she saw such carnage. Guilliman took notice of the vomiting pony.

“Is this your first taste of combat?” he asked. Starlight merely shook her head. “I’ve seen bloodshed before. But nothing to this scale. This was a slaughter on them.” She was truly shocked that humans would be able of such carnage, despite having little knowledge of the race as a whole. “I have seen many horrors in my life to know that our actions here were just as protocol here as it were anywhere else. There are far worse powers in the galaxy at large than the mere defeat of an insignificant planetary faction. Though I do not expect you to understand that soon.” Starlight then looked back to Guilliman. “But, why…why help me? Didn’t you say you shouldn’t interfere with our affairs?” “That I did.” He replied. “But, then I remembered something…something my father taught me. They are my space marines, and they shall know no fear.”

He gestured her to walk with him back into the palace towards the library. “Where we come from, our empire is much like your village. Besieged on all sides by forces seeking to destroy it. For us, many alien races scheme and plot our Imperium’s demise, and foul Daemons seep into our reality from the Torment of the Warp. We are what stands in their way. We are more than mortal. We are steel, and we are doom. If the situation calls for us to give our lives for the emperor, so be it. But, while we stand we will not allow any harm that would come in pursuit of us destroy you instead. Because of this imposing danger. It would wise to remain in your world to help build your defense when the time comes. But, all will be explained in time. Now is the time to strategizes.”

Starlight’s eyes grew wide. “You mean…” She started. “After careful consideration…It may prove more beneficial to provide support to you, and your people. Besides,…we’re unable to leave anytime soon.” He spoke. Guilliman than turned to the Chief Librarian, and the captains of each company. “Captains, prepare your forces to be ready. At Dawn, we are at war.”

Some hours had passed, as Roboute, and his captains gathered to strategize on how to approach the coming battle near Ponyville. Starlight Shimmer began pointing out all four sides in which the Diamond dogs would attack from. “The Dogs will attack from the West, near Sweet Apple Acres here…Near Carousel Boutique coming from the south here…Near the Castle of Friendship to the east here…and lastly near Sugar cube corner north of here… Last time I checked, there was at least two thousand strong on the Diamond Dogs front compared to our five hundred strong defense. The majority of the threat is targeted towards the northeast.”

Guilliman analyzed the map and markers. “There’s a strategy to this attack.” Guilliman then took hold of a pen nearby and began marking the enemy’s attack. “The reason there would be a vast number of these …Diamond Dogs is to try and intimidate your defenses forces, distracting them from defending more vulnerable positions. Such as the acres or the boutique.” Starlight had thought examined his notes to find that this was airtight. “Then…then we had walked into a trap. We’ll be overrun if we…” “To rush in so blindly will only hinder our task than ease it.” The now distressed pony sat back down to continue with the planning.

“Acheran, have your second company acquire these apple acres here. Maluan and The Imperial fists will acquire the area near the boutique. From there, we will provide reinforcement to the defensive lines while Kor’sarro Khan and Lord RedMaw will force the enemy forces back.” The captains then nodded in compliance and then departed to prepare for the coming battle. “You sure this will work, Mr. Guilliman?” Starlight questioned. “Your people are running out of time and options. We need to make sure their defenses hold.” He coldly replied. “You have seen what has happened here. This was just a minor incident to the grim task that will come to pass. Your people must be ready to face such a harsh but necessary act.” The unicorn then nodded, fully aware of the dire situation at hand.

-Ponyville, near the defense lines north east.-

As the storm raged on, as thunder clasped in the sky, hooves trotted in the wet, soggy mud as soldiers both intact and wounded struggle to repair the defensive lines as quickly as possible. Hammers bashed in nails to support the already damaged walls, all the while nurses, and doctors tended to the wounded. Many having bits and pieces of them torn from them. Legs had been either chopped, or bitten off from recent attacks, many became gravely ill from any lack of medical attention, or some were beyond saving, and ultimately perished. Those who had died were brought to a massive pyre, to be cremated on the spot, as to prevent any disease from spreading to the populace.

Though the situation was grim, this did not mean all was grim, for there were those who sought to keep the spirits lifted. Ponies such as Ponyville’s own pinkie pie managed to keep putting smiles on everyone’s face, even the sick and dying laughed at her antics and gestures. Even the food was still not completely drained, for Applejack continued providing the troops with fresh apples, and apple pastries and ciders to them to keep up their strength.

“Wowie, this storm’s not letting up. My hair’s as spongey, and soaked as a soaked sponge.” Pinkie joked. “I know it ain’t pretty, Pinkie. But, we got to do our part to keep the morale up. Shoot Starlight’s bound to have found help by now.” Applejack reassured. “You think they’ll be big bulky aliens with their own plastic figurine line?” Pinkie asked. Applejack simply shook her head in utter joy.

“Pinkie, you always say the weirdest things.” Voice poke from next to a barrier. Sure enough, Rainbow Dash was helping the soldiers our with repairs. “I mean seriously, what is with you?” “Well…” “Oh Rainbow Dash, let her be.” Rarity said, approaching them under an umbrella. “Be it as it may that she is a bit odd. Pinkie is still a vital asset in this grim time.” “I know,” Dash said. “Besides, I doubt things could get any worse than…”

Rarity was cut short as the sound of the alarm bell went off, indicating an incoming attack. “By Celestia’s beard, those varmints are back again! I got to hold down the farm!” Proclaimed Applejack as she sped off towards her family farm. Followed closely behind by pinkie bouncing her way towards Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked over to see that a large number of Diamond Dog soldiers were readying themselves. Rarity could only look on with horror. “It’s all my fault” she whispered. This caught Rainbow’s attention. “What was that, rare?” “Oh, nothing!” Rarity exclaimed.

The two then heard the horns of battle echo, as the guards, and soldiers took their positions at the barrier, ready for the enemy attack. Many looking frightened at the mass horde before them, knowing their fate was sealed. Many of them began saying their prayers as the dogs roared and charged at them in an assault that could mean the end of all of Ponyville as they and the Elements knew it. Rainbow looked to Rarity. “I wish the egghead was around, instead of Canterlot.” “Her presence here would’ve been most useful.” Replied Rarity, just as the enemy reached the walls of the makeshift barrier.