Disclaimer! I do not own anything from Warhammer 40,000 or My Little Pony. This was a challenge from a friend, to get back at me for a similar challenge and now I am hating her for it! I choose these characters because I was told a tragic "villain" and one of the main six, and figured these two would be a great match for them. Buuuuuuuuut I hope you guys enjoy this, I've thought long and hard on it, took me about a week and a half just to think of a story plot for it! Please, give reviews and comments! I love getting feedback.

Chapter Seven: Hero of the Night

Soul Hunter smiled, watching everyone, while the young filly just sat right next to him. For some reason, just sitting next to him, made Scootaloo feel like she was next to some father figure. "So, tell me, Scootaloo… Where are your parents?" His gaze looked down at her, a worried look was found in them. "I saw your two friends with Applejack and Rarity. They share enough resemblance, to allow me to assume they are related in some way…. But you, only Rainbow Dash seems to act like she is… But clearly isn't?"

Scootaloo instantly looked down, a sad look in her eyes. "To tell the truth, Mr. Hunter… I never knew my mother or my father." The moment she said mother Soul Hunter instantly thought of what Fluttershy said, and smiled. "But Rainbow Dash, despite not being so, has been like my big sister! I'm also her biggest fan!" She said, giving off a look of confidence in the statement.

"Is that so?" Soul Hunter chuckled, before nodding. "How intriguing. It is good to have a sibling figure around, to help you." Soul Hunter looked out into the crowd. "I had several thousands of brothers… But, only one in that many was truly my brother." A tear slowly flowed from his eye, before the alicorn wiped it away with his hoof.

"What was his name?" She asked, looking up at the large stallion, tilting her head. "And… What happened to cause even you to shed a tear?"

Soul Hunter took a second to gather himself up, before he replied to her. "His name was Xarl. He and I grew up together, we also became initiates of the Night Lords together. Ironically, the two of us worked so well together, that we were placed in the same Claw. Making us all the more deadly, though we often butted heads like brothers do." He looked down at her, the second question took some time for him to actually say. "There was an incident on our ship. We faced off with some Loyalist Space Marines, fighting them with everything we had. A Champion came from their ranks, wielding a deadly hammer in his hands. We fought hard as we could, but our Claw was out matched. At that time, we wished Xarl was with us. When the Champion was about to claim victory…."

Scootaloo looked up at him, in astonishment, as he told her the story. He could tell the filly was on edge of the story, she knew something good happened because of the fact that Soul Hunter was still there.

"All I remember, was that Xarl appeared from the shadows, and clashed his blade against the hammer. After that, I lost consciousness." Soul Hunter said, looking out towards the window, into the dark night sky. "When I regained consciousness, Xarl had defeated the Champion, both his body and armor damaged severely, he also shattered his blade in the process. I grabbed the hammer, and gave it to him. Saying: 'You have earned the honor of wielding the weapon, it is your claim.' Xarl said he wished to speak with me about something. I told him that it needed to wait… I then got a dreaded wakeup call."

"W-What happened?" Scootaloo asked, looking up at Soul Hunter, as he looked down at her.

He suddenly opened his wing, and wrapped it around the young filly. "Xarl… Fell limp into my arms, a split second allowing me to catch him from falling to the ground. I stared, in horror, as his life signs flat lined. Showing, that my brother… Had died." He shook his head, fighting those tears again, he noticed Scootaloo was on the verge of doing so as well. "At the end of it all, I took him to our Apothecarion…. And did the one thing I was swore never to do, as an Apothecary… I burned his remains, with his armor, and didn't harvest his gene-seed. I gave Xarl the burial he deserved, a hero's death."

Soul Hunter suddenly felt Scootaloo nuzzle into his side, making him look down at her. "T-That's awful!" She said, wiping the tears on to his fur. Soul Hunter didn't mind, he just allowed it to happen.

"Yes… Though, you and I share something, Scootaloo." He said, the filly looking up at him. "I didn't really know my real father… And due to my training, I forgot who my mother was. The only father figure I had, was the gene-father we Night Lords had… Who I lost not long after I became a true Night Lord." Soul Hunter looked down, smiling at the memories he did have of the Night Haunter.

"So…. You didn't have parents either?" She asked, eyeing up at him.

He gave a slight nod, "You could say that. But, I had slight memories of my mother, while I slept. Hidden memories. That is how I remembered that, when I joined the Night Lords, I wanted to be a hero for her. Her Hero." He smiled at the memory, of the dream that came every once in a while.

Scootaloo looked down a bit, thinking about what Soul Hunter told her. "Sometimes, when I'm asleep at the orphanage… I dream of my own mother." She muttered, Soul Hunter looking down at her, in interest. "I could never really get a good look at her, but her voice is just so sweet. It relaxes me every time I think about it. Though, I could hear words 'my baby' clear as day." She looked around for a second, before looking up at the stallion. "Keep a secret?"

Soul Hunter gave a nod, "Of course, Scootaloo." He said, smiling at her.

She motioned for him to come lower, so she could whisper it into his ear, and he did as she liked. "I think she's one of the Elements of Harmony! They're all so nice to me, and their voices were all so familiar, but… I can't seem to figure out which, because I haven't heard any say those two words." She whispered, making Soul Hunter give quite the grin.

"Well then, you may need to pay extra attention then, hm?" Soul Hunter said, smirking at the young filly. "Who knows, she may be one of the six."

Scootaloo looked up at him, in excitement. "Really!? You think so?" She asked, a wide smile on her.

He gave a slight shrug, "You're talking to the gene-son of a god… Anything is possible, Scootaloo? And who knows, even if you do not find her, another family may come along and show you the every ounce of love she could have?"

That last comment actually made the young filly bounce up and down, before nuzzling into Soul Hunter's side. "Thanks, Soul Hunter!... Wait… How will I know?" She asked, looking up at him, in confusion.

He leaned down, to whisper into her ear. "Take the advice from my mother… Try your hardest, in everything, and shine brightly as the stars in the night."

Scootaloo smiled and nodded. "Alright! I'll do my best, Lord of the Night!" She said, giving a mock salute, like she was some sort of warrior.

Soul Hunter nodded, as he got up. "You do that, and who knows what'll happen. Your future, can only be captured by you, and you alone." He leaned over, and nuzzled her a bit. "Go and join your friends… Thank you for talking with me, little one." She nodded, rushing off back to her friends to talk about her chat with the newest hero of Equestria, and Lord of the Night.

While she did so, Soul Hunter made his way over to Fluttershy, who was watching the exchange for a while but couldn't really hear a word. "What was that about, Soul Hunter?" She asked, looking up at the large stallion.

"I gave her some words of encouragement… From one orphan to another." He glanced down at her, with a wink. "And that maybe, one day, she may find her real mother…. But not to give up on the possibility of having loving new ones." He admitted, turning to see the young filly bouncing up and down.

"You... Didn't tell her, or anything, did you?" Fluttershy asked, starting to look rather embarrassed.

Soul Hunter shook his head. "I didn't breathe a word, actually… Though, she does suspect one of the 'Elements of Harmony' being her mother. But, seeks two words to find out truly if one is."

That revelation made Fluttershy shoot up, sort of worried now. "What are the words?" She asked, eyeing him.

"I gave my word I would keep a secret….. I edged it a bit, by admitted to the Elements of Harmony part. I will continue to keep it, by keeping the two words a secret." He said, nudging her a bit, whispering into her ear. "Though… You'd make a great mother."

This made Fluttershy blush a bit, nudging him back before thinking about Scootaloo…. Eyeing the young filly as well. I wish I knew for sure, myself.

The party suddenly came to a sudden halt, as a Royal Guard rushed in, completely out of breathe. "Princess Celestia! We have trouble up north!" He yelled, rushing up to the Princess.

Celestia shot up, looking at the worried guard. "What is the matter? Has something happened to the Crystal Empire?" She asked, eyeing the guard.

"Princess…. It's King Sombra. We-We don't know how, but he's back! His body restored." The Guard said, looking around. "He's attacking the Crystal Empire, attacking any who leave!"

Princess Celestia was awe struck about the revelation. "H-How can this be? He was destroyed!" She looked around, "Every pony! Don't panic! We'll send a force to end King Sombra once and-" She was suddenly cut short, but an outburst.

"Princess! Do not send an army… Keep all you need here." Soul Hunter shouted, walking up to the Princess. "I'll go, for it is the duty that I have just sworn to do." He said, kneeling before her. This made Fluttershy gasp, she remembered the dreaded tyrant, and how he was barely beaten the last time they fought.

"Soul Hunter… I fear it is more than you can handle, even in your new state. King Sombra is ruthless, lethal. He'll destroy any pony that he crosses." Celestia looked at Twilight for a moment, before looking back at the new Lord. "Any normal pony from our Kingdom wouldn't stand a chance. His darkness is too great."

That last remark actually made him give a twisted grin. "Then it is a good thing, I'm not a pony from here, nor a normal one." He slowly stood up, looking up at the Princess. "And while the others cannot handle the dark… I was born in the darkness!" At that moment, a relapse in the magic that made him so occurred, and Soul Hunter's eyes suddenly turned to nothing but black before returning to normal.

"Soul Hunter… Are you sure?" Celestia asked, tilting her head at the stallion.

He opened his wings wide, allowing all to see how wide his wing spread was. "I am the Lord of the Night, Princess… My duty is to safeguard your lands, as I swore." He looked around for a moment, before his gaze returned to her. "But, I am nothing without a Claw to hunt with. I may need a Royal Guard or two to soar through the skies with me."

The Princess gave a nod, "It is done… I'll be sure our very best fly with you…. Just, don't underestimate him." She asked, as Soul Hunter turned to leave.

"A wise hunter, never underestimates his prey, no matter how feeble they are." He looked back at her. "If he underestimates me, it'll be the last mistake he'll ever make." With that, Soul Hunter left the room… Everyone watching, many in a panic to hear that the dark king had returned, but Fluttershy couldn't help but worry about them.

Without saying a word, the yellow Pegasus rushed after the Lord of the Night, catching up to him by actually flying instead of running. "Soul Hunter… I helped defeat Sombra last time. He is a monster, it took an ancient artifact to defeat him." She warned, walking next to him.

A Royal Guard rushed over, carrying Soul Hunter's helmet that changed with the rest of his body. His horn suddenly glowed, and the helmet soon started to flow next to him. Hm… Kind of like using my arms and legs. Guess surviving those blasted visions did something. Or… The Princesses allowed me to do this with ease. He thought, before turning his attention to Fluttershy. "Do not worry, Fluttershy. I'll return, victorious. After all, it takes a Monster to defeat another Monster." He said, making Fluttershy give him a worried look.

"But… You aren't a Monster, remember? You're a Hero." She reminded him, making Soul Hunter suddenly stop.

"While you are right about that…. There is still something deep within me. I feel that old Monster, the very thing that allowed me to do what I could back in my world." He looked down at her, allowing the helmet to slowly set on the ground. His head suddenly hugged around hers. "So long as you're not watching, I'll allow him out. That helmet will be the thing that'll tell you I am allowing him out." He assured, smiling down at her. "But no matter what, he'll never harm you." Soul Hunter suddenly wrapped his wing around Fluttershy. "I'll be back soon... Then, the two of us can talk more about Scootaloo." He said, the helmet suddenly floating up again, and following him.

"Wait, huh? What about Scootaloo?" She asked, watching as the stallion walked off.

He looked back at her, smirking. "One dream every great warrior has, is to have a family… And I can think of no better mother. I also see this as a test." He looked back forward, he could feel the weight of Aurum on his back. "A test on whether or not I truly deserve this life." With that, he left the hallway, leaving Fluttershy where she was… Suddenly sitting on the ground.

Soul Hunter slowly walked outside the castle, before noticing a group of six Royal Guard Pegasi, all wearing black armor. He raised an eyebrow at the squad assembled in front of him. "Well then… Word does travel fast, doesn't it?" He said, the six squad members snapping to attention.

"Sir! During your incarceration, Princess Celestia forged our armor and weapons, along with hand picking all of us. She said, the day where you are judged, we will be led by an Alicorn of the Night… To fight any enemy of Equestria! She even gave us a name, to prove it." The Pegasus on the far end, whose coat was a gray color, his mane was white.

Soul hunter just eyed them, rather interested by the comment. "Oh? And what is your Squad's name, then?"

The gray Pegasus spoke up once more. "She called us…" It was that moment they all shouted the squad's name. "First Claw!" Which put quite the smile on Soul Hunter's face.

Of course you are…. He thought, before speaking up. "If you are going to be First Claw, then stand at attention, and declare your name! Claw, report!" He demanded, feeling the moment he did on the Echo of Damnation.

"Sir! Royal Guard Pegasus, Silent Strike!" The gray Pegasus shouted, Soul Hunter noticed a long blade on his back that reminded him of Xarl's.

The second Pegasus answered up then, who had an axe on his back, and his fur was a dark red color mixed with a black mane. "Sir! Wind Breaker, reporting!" That one reminded him of Uzas, which made Soul Hunter hope he wasn't as blood thirsty.

The third, who had a white fur and green mane. This one's weapon was a crossbow, with a quiver filled with bolts. "Sir, Rapid Rain, at your service." He shouted, in a rather privileged voice. Mercutian…. Soul Hunter suddenly found himself naming off his old squad mates.

The next Pegasus actually had a night shade blue color to his fur, with a purple mane. "Night Shade, reporting as requested, sir." He said, gently. Cyrion.

The next one was rather bulky, his hoof armor was actually armed with rather sharp looking claws. His fur was royal blue color, with a black mane. "Cloud Shimmer, reporting loyally, sir." He said, that one looks like Malek

The last Pegasus to speak up, seemed more like the proud type. A battle hardened one at that, who had a black sword at his side. His fur color was a deep brown with a gray mane. "Sir, Sergeant Iron Heart reporting with Squad." This actually made Soul Hunter smirk. Adhemar….

Soul Hunter gave a nod, using his magic to place his helmet on. The moment it latched on, connecting to the rest of his armor, the red eyes suddenly lit up like it had been activated. "Alright then…. First Claw! DEPLOY! For the Princess!" He ordered, before exploding into the sky, with his bat-wings, and his squad right behind him.

The next few words, to come from behind him, actually filled Soul Hunter with pride. "Ave Dominus Nox!" Each squad member roared out, like it was their battle cry now. It made him smirk, before suddenly repeating it himself. "Ave Dominus Nox! Cower in fear, enemies of Equestria, for the Lord of the Night comes for you!"