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// Prologue: 10,000 Years Ago 
// Story: Ponyhammer 40,000: Adepts of Harmony 
// by Jordan Lego Comix 
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Prologue: 10,000 Years Ago


Empress Celestia stormed the corridors of The Vengeful Spirit. Clad in Her golden armor and armed with Her flaming sword, the Empress of Ponykind charged forward, striking down all who would dare to oppose Her. Guardsponies and Space Marines who had dared to betray Her and the Equestrian Imperium met their end with a searing swipe from Celestia’s burning blade. To anypony else, Celestia seemed to cut down all the traitors with ease. But to the Master of Ponykind, it was anything but easy. She never wanted this. 
Years ago, Empress Celestia had ruled Eques Terra with benevolence. She had always been a kind alicorn who wanted the best for Her subjects. When She had learned that pony settlements had been established in outer space, many of which had been threatened by monstrous aliens, Celestia had declared the Great Crusade. She had vowed to liberate Ponykind from the forces of evil. She had created twenty legions of genetically-modified ponies called the Eques Astartes, more simply known as Space Marines.
During the Great Crusade, Celestia had led armies of Space Marines and Equestrian soldiers into battle against numerous threats, like the monstrous War Pigs and the deceitful Eldeer. Along the way, Celestia had recruited twenty ponies, Prime Ponies, to each lead a legion of Astartes. And She had started with Her own sister, Luna. Luna had been given the Fifth Legion, the Lunar Wolves. 
After years of liberating countless worlds and welcoming them into the Equestrian Imperium, Celestia had to return to Eques Terra, to give Her subjects one final gift. Before She left, She had bestowed upon Luna the title of War Master. Luna had been given command of the entire Equestrian Imperium military. But little had Celestia known that this had been a mistake. Soon, Celestia had learned that Luna, and eight other Prime Ponies, betrayed Her. Celestia’s heart had shattered. The Equestrian Imperium had been divided and engulfed in a galactic civil war. Brother and sister had fought brother and sister. Legions had fought legions. The Crystal Empire had fallen to King Sombra and his Space Marines, the Shadow Crystals. Chrysalis and her Changelings had been transformed into monsters. And worst of all, Luna had been transformed into Nightmare Moon.
Now, Empress Celestia galloped into the bridge of The Vengeful Spirit. What She saw next broke Her heart. The last time She had seen Luna face to face was on Ullanor when She had bestowed the title of War Master unto Luna. What Celestia saw now, it just couldn’t be Her sister. It shouldn’t be. And yet, She could not deny that the black alicorn with dark blue ethereal mane and tail, clad in black and pale blue terminator armor, the Alicorn that had become known as Nightmare Moon, was her sister.
Lying in front of Nightmare Moon was another alicorn clad in golden armor. She had been another Prime Pony. She had led the Seventh Space Marine Legion, the Blood Alicorns. She had crimson fur, golden mane and tail, and large wings as white as snow. Her name was Sanguinevere. She had been known as “The Angel”. She had been best friends with Luna. And Nightmare Moon had just killed her.
Celestia held back Her tears as She looked into the monster that was still Her sister. She tried desperately to convince Luna that she had to fight the darkness that was plaguing her mind. But Nightmare Moon refused to listen and claimed that Luna was dead. But Celestia fought to try to get through to Luna. 
Their swords clashed throughout the bridge. The duel could be heard throughout the entire ship. Celestia fought to prevent herself from killing Her sister and from Her sister killing Her. Enough pony blood has been shed throughout this civil war. 
Nightmare Moon eventually found an opportunity to strike, once Celestia had let Her guard down. Nightmare Moon fired a beam of magic from her horn, knocking Celestia off Her hooves and onto Her side. Nightmare Moon laughed sadistically as she walked around her sister. She pressed a hoof down on Celestia’s back, and she smiled a fang-filled sinister grin. Nightmare Moon grabbed Celestia’s wings with her own magic, and she slowly ripped them off of Celestia’s back.
The Empress of Ponykind screamed in pain as She felt Her wings being removed from Her back. Nightmare Moon laughed sadistically as she threw the detached wings aside. Then, she walked over to the window of the bridge. She looked out to see the planet of Eques Terra below. For over fifty days, she had been leading a siege on the capital planet of the Equestrian Imperium. For over fifty days, she had commanded legions of Space Marines, Equestrian Guard Ponies, and Trojan Titans against those who remained loyal to Celestia. 
Nightmare Moon then grabbed Celestia’s blade with her magic and ignited the flames. Then, she looked back over at Celestia - beaten, broken, and weeping. Nightmare Moon smiled sinisterly as she slowly walked over to Celestia, about ready to deliver the final blow. But she was interrupted by a Guardspony who stepped in. It was a light blue pegasus with a white mane. Her eyes showed that she was blind. And yet, this pegasus mare looked towards Nightmare Moon with pleading eyes. 
Nightmare Moon recognized this mare; she had once met this mare when she had been a little filly. Even back then, the pegasus had been blind. But while she had not been able to see physically, she had great respect for things that were underappreciated, like winter and the night. During the Great Crusade, Luna had felt that her night was unappreciated, having been overshadowed by Celestia’s light. But upon having met this pegasus, Luna developed a friendship with her.
Now here she was, standing in front of Celestia’s broken body. Standing in the way of victory. Nightmare Moon raised the Burning Blade to strike down the pegasus. But then she just froze. Nightmare Moon stood there, the Burning Blade held up high, ready to be swung down upon the Guardspony. 
Celestia winced in searing pain, but She looked up, past the Guardspony that was protecting Her, and looked into the eyes of Nightmare Moon. Celestia saw a single tear run down Nightmare Moon - no, Luna’s - face. She saw that Luna was still in there. There was still good in Her sister. Which made what She was about to do hurt far more than having her wings ripped from her body.
In a saddlebag that Celestia had on Her Armor, She brought out with her magic six magical stones, one of which was magenta and shaped in a six-pointed starburst. Celestia then looked out the window of the bridge and saw the moon. Finally, She commanded the Guardspony to get out of the way and channeled what was left of Her magic into the Stones. The five other stones circled around Celestia, while the magenta stone levitated right in front of Her. With tears in Her eyes, Celestia focused on the monster that Her sister had become and fired a beam of rainbow magic at Her.
Now it was Nightmare Moon’s turn to scream in agony, as she was taken off her hooves and sent flying backward. The rainbow of light from the stones, channeled by Celestia’s magic, sent Nightmare Moon on a one-way trip directly to Eques Terra’s moon. Then, the moon’s surface became covered with craters that made up the shape of a mare. 
Celestia wept as She fell to the floor. Now Her sister was truly gone. But the war was now over. The traitors would be forced to retreat and the loyalists would gun them down. The Equestrian Imperium was safe. 
But the cost was too high.