The Song of the Warp

The Imperium. All things considered, it wasn’t a bad place. In fact, it would have been a utopia if it had not been for the Emperor’s lies. The Imperium had seemed perfect in every way, shape and form. Mankind was finally taking his place among the stars. It was a great tragedy that the Emperor had betrayed them all, then. The Imperium would have to fall for it to be perfect. The Emperor was a fool.

But so was Horus Lupercal. Did he honestly believe that the pantheon would really care about the petty empires and conflicts of man? Did he truly think that they supported him for his own sake? This was all about their vengeance against the anathema. The Emperor. They had given him the power to create the Primarchs, and he had not given them the thanks they deserved. By all regards, the Emperor was a heretic, a traitor to man. However, Horus was no better.

Horus sought to be a second Emperor, better than his father. He wished to dominate the galaxy. He claimed that it was for the good of humanity. That was a lie. Mankind’s first thought is always for himself, and Horus was no different, never would be. The Primarchs were better than humanity, but they were also weaker. They fell to petty quarrels and hatreds, and were so deeply divided among themselves.

Throughout history, brother had always turned upon brother, son upon father. History was doomed to repeat itself for all eternity until the stars burned out, and all things died. This was not restricted to humans, truthfully. It applied to every species that existed and ever would exist. In the end, they were flawed, and they would all die. It was inevitable. It was a sobering thought, perhaps even terrifying. But it was the truth. The truth could not be denied.

It was an invariable fact of existence that there would be war upon Epona. The ponies were abject pacifists, not yet corrupted by the power that beckoned to them. Though they did not fight among themselves however, they would always fight others. They were surrounded by other species who wished to kill and annihilate them.

Lorgar swore that through their trial of fire, they would see the primordial truth. If they did not, he would slay them himself. They were destroying the song, and the song would be made whole. The deaths they would bring or the deaths of themselves were the only things that would make the song right. The song had to be made right. At what cost? At any cost. It was for the truth.

The ponies remained painfully oblivious to the war that spiraled in the heavens above them. They were unaware of the billions who were dying now at this moment. People, consumed in the flame of the warp, screaming as daemons tore at their souls. That was the song, and it was good. The song, played with such passion was the only thing that Lorgar could fix his eyes upon. His father was dead to him, and the man he though a god merely a shattered idol at his feet.

Lorgar was aware that he was likely insane in the eyes of others. What was insanity? What was truly insanity? Was it going against social norms, violating what people thought was right? Was it to be an amoral killer, delighting in one’s work? Was it to betray your own species? Insanity, Lorgar supposed, was simply a matter of perspective. Nevertheless, where did one draw the line? At the truth, naturally. That was where the line always had to be drawn. The truth was of paramount importance. Nothing else mattered.

The song would be complete.

***

Celestia had offered Argel Tal and Kharn a ride in her chariot to the capital city of Equestria, Canterlot. This offer was hardly logical. A Space Marine alone would be impossible to lift, never mind two in full battle plate with full load outs. The concept would have been laughable for a mortal. Argel Tal and Kharn took it all in stride. A Stormbird was dispatched from the Lex, and within moments, they were streaking after the Chariot.

Argel Tal stared over the windows as the Stormbird approached a castle built into the side of a mountain. It would have been an amazing feat of engineering had humanity still been a medieval society. Things like this were seen everyday throughout the Imperium. This had great grandeur, though. Its grandeur was even impressive. Stained glass windows peaked out of buildings, the sun glittered off of marble. Argel Tal was briefly reminded of the temples on Colchis, or the glorious city of Monarchia. At that thought, Argel Tal clenched his eyes. His failure to save Cyrene burned bright in his mind.

Ponies stared up at the crimson behemoth that roared over their city. The nobility even dropped their act of superiority to gaze in awe at the massive construct. Awe quickly became fear, for awe is only an inch and a half away from fear. What was this beast, and what did it want? Why was it chasing the Princess’s chariot? Alarms were sounded, and the Royal Guard were gathered.

When the Stormbird landed, and the hatch was lowered, Argel Tal and Kharn emerged to a wall of spears. To their disgust, they noticed that they were primitive wooden weapons, easily destroyed and inferior. The ponies that stood before them were clad in gold, much like the Custodians. Argel Tal was certain that their armor was not very strong, however. Easily twisted and annihilated. He grabbed one in amethyst armor by the throat.

“You dare?” He roared, his daemonic voice seething violence and taking predominance, “We are envoys of humanity, and we are rewarded with hostility. You had better watch yourself whelp, for I would not hesitate to kill you for your insolence!”

The pony attempted to speak. All that emerged was a series of chokes and gasps. The white stallions face turned a very alarming shade of purple from the iron grip. Terrifyingly enough, Argel Tal wasn’t even holding hard. He had only to tighten his fist, and the pony would die a violent and bloody death. It wouldn’t really matter either way.

“Control yourself Argel Tal. The daemon is asserting itself,” Kharn’s voice was low, and surprisingly smooth, considering the legion from which he hailed.

“Damn it,” Argel Tal hissed, his voice returning to its normal dual tonality. He dropped the pony as he spoke. The spears began wavering.

“STAND DOWN!” A voice roared across the palace courtyard.

Celestia strode from her chariot, flanked by a midnight blue “alicorn”. Immediately the trembling spears were raised. Kharn and Argel Tal fixed her with amused stares. She certainly did use words to fight. A mortal human would likely be on his knees clutching his ears.

“Captain Argel Tal, Centurion Kharn, I must speak with you.”

The amethyst armored unicorn raised himself up, “I will leave you be Princess.”

“Stay, Captain Shining Armor, for this regards you as well.”

She lowered herself into a bow towards Kharn and Argel Tal.

“We are going to war, and we need help. Please, I beg you, help us.”

The things creatures will do on the brink of annihilation. Even so called deities will debase themselves if there is no other way. Mortals are pathetic.