Argel Tal remained standing, his helmet removed. The seats were far too small for him, and sitting on the floor was demeaning. It was pleasant to see the world without the taint of his helmet lenses, to say the least. He kept his weapons close at hand. Not because he feared for his safety-he could kill any threat with his bare hands, after all-but because he did not want anything other than him touching the weapons that deprived him of those closest to him.

The ponies had been expecting a longwinded monologue on how Argel Tal’s religion was superior. Then, Twilight would tell him why he was wrong in the most gentle way possible. After all, that was how everything worked, right? He had insulted Princess Celestia, claiming she wasn’t a deity, the nerve! Argel Tal started with a question.

“Where does magic come from?” His primary voice was neutral, his daemonic voice was mocking.

Twilight, ever the academic answered, “Magic is in all things. It surrounds us, and all ponies can draw from it. Magic is the result of the first Princess, our supreme deity. She ascended to a higher level in her pursuit of knowledge and gifted us with it. Magic is the light that illuminates all things. Without it, we would die. Magic is not evil as you have said before.”

Argel Tal laughed. It was the furthest from warmth that one could get. The harsh undertone did not help. It sounded like the grating of bones against each other; the screams of a thousand souls each dying in various agonizing ways, hurtling through the warp, daemons feasting upon them for eternity. Of course, the ponies didn’t use that exact description. Just as well, Princess Celestia would be disappointed by that somewhat sadistic comparison.

Twilight was annoyed by what she assumed-correctly-was mockery.

“What is so funny?” She snapped.

“You truly believe that? You truly believe that this so called ‘magic’ is the light of all things? No. Magic comes from the immaterium. Or, as it is more commonly known, the Warp. ‘What is the Warp?’ you ask. The Warp is the truth, the dimension behind it all. It is a dimension of psychic energy. All death, hatred, hedonism, disease, rage and scheming empower it and stem from it. Within the Warp dwell four ‘gods’, for lack of a better word. They sit back, and watch all of our wars, murders and debaucheries, and they laugh.”

“How horrible!” gasped the white Unicorn identified as “Rarity”, “How could you believe in something like that?”

“This is beyond mere believing. This is truth.”

“Go on,” Twilight urged.

“The Warp is Chaos manifest,” Argel Tal stated simply.

The ponies tensed at that, thoughts of Discord coming to mind. Was Discord in some way affiliated to this so called immaterium if it truly existed. That, naturally, led to another issue. How did they know that Argel Tal was telling truth? It was possible that he had been brainwashed to believe something so…off. Then how did they explain the transformation that had turned him into a ravening beast.

“How do we know you are telling the truth?” Twilight asked, hoping that he would admit that it was all a lie, and that his transformation was a result of strange magic. If what he said was true, then everything she had believed in was a lie.

“Why do you think I have a daemon wrapped around my soul, xenos?” Argel Tal snarled.

***

Dear Princess Celestia,

We have received two very odd visitors. They are aliens from space. Both are obviously from a military foundation of some sort, based upon their armor and weapons. Both are eight feet tall, and are bipedal. They have hands, which they use to manipulate their technology, which is extremely advanced. They killed a hydra earlier today, something that many find to be disturbing. Killing, after all, is wrong.

The first one is named Argel Tal, which he claims means “Last Angel” in his language. He belongs to a so called Seventeenth Legion, or as they are more commonly known, “Word Bearers”. The second is named Kharn. I haven’t really talked to him. He is a berserker and is probably nuts. He belongs to the Twelfth Legion, the “World Eaters”, a disturbing name to say the least. Both are officers.
They deny the existence of magic, and worship a so called “Pantheon” of dark gods who rule from an alternate dimension called “The Warp”. They claim that all magic stems from the warp, and that it is Chaos manifest. Argel Tal claims to have two souls, and can transform into a…monster.

I think it may be best if you came here, just to see them. They are beginning to make everypony very nervous.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle

Author's Note

Sorry that the chapter isn't that good. I have had a busy schedule and damn near lobotomized myself. Worry not. Better will come soon.