//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 - Meet More Chaos // Story: A Gamer In Equestria // by The Dark Brony //------------------------------// Unknown POV Today, I decided to move out and about to explore the Badlands. The cultists had already made a map, but I wanted to see it with my own eyes. So, after leaving the underground base, I chose a random direction, and started walking. After about an hour of walking across the desert, I came upon a strange structure. It reminded me of the Tyranid Hive Fleets, but grounded. And as black as a shadow. Curious, I stepped towards the peculiar structure. Then the Bug ponies showed up. They almost looked like they appeared out of the ground, because suddenly, I was surrounded by at least a hundred of the horrid things. I quickly charged my energy into my staff, but it was knocked out of my hand by an armored bug, and their spears all leveled at my head. Thinking quickly, I fed power into my hand, and it shot out, disappearing into a small portal. When I pulled it out, in my hand was the sword Amulet with the strange message. I grunted. Now or never, I guess. I fed some power into the Amulet, and felt a connection to it in an alternate realm. My powers quickly latched onto the other end, and pulled. Seconds later a white light began to glow and a human in a dark blue chestplate appeared in front of me holding it’s head. it then said “I hate it when people force me through portals” he then stood up and looked around to see the creatures surrounding us. he then turned to me and said “what the heck have you done?" "I simply walked towards the strange building when they popped up out of nowhere. Now then, should we just stand here arguing while they try to tear us to pieces, or are we going to break out." I replied. He sighed, nodded, and braced for combat. I remembered a basic levitation spell from a book I read during the war, and my staff flung back to me. Gripping it, I fed it a large dosage of power from the Warp. While I could use some of my warp powers without the staff, I used it to amplify my power tenfold. I slammed the blade edge of it into the ground, resulting in a massive shockwave. The Bug things reeled from the blast, but while most of them were swept away, some remained, clearly stronger than the others. I grinned from within my helmet. "That should even the odds a bit." I told the newcomer, to which he rolled his eyes. The rest of the bug pony things charged, mostly focusing on me, since I released that shockwave. I raised the staff, then, thinking better on it, placed the staff in my pocket dimension. Instead, I drew my Bolter Pistol. The Tyranid copycats, because, I mean seriously, look at them. All they need now are some big giant Carnifex's and they would be a complete ripoff! Anyways, I voxed in my report of the Tyranid wannabe to my other brothers, telling them to meet me at these coordinates. I then shot lightning at a bug, frying it instantly. I had too many on me to see how the sword guy was doing, but I was too preoccupied to care at the moment. Irritated, I raised my bolter into the air, and fired it once. The bugs all flinched. "Okay, now that I have your attention, cease all hostilities and take me to your leader before anyone gets--" a groan of pain emanated from one of the downed things. "--Anyone else gets hurt. I only came for an examination of your apparent home, and this is the welcome party? I'm not impressed. My brothers will be here in but a moment, and trust me when I tell you that they will not show mercy like I am. Do I make myself clear?" I yelled, and the bugs nodded. I looked over to my new 'partner'. I could tell from the moment I looked at him that he was one of those 'Heroic' types. And I could tell that he sensed the bone chilling powers of the Warp I unleashed earlier. "So, should we head in, or do you want to wait here for my brothers?" I asked. He shrugged, and so we waited, the Bugs eyeing us warily. After about thirty minutes, Khârn and Zhufor came into view. Another ten, and they were close enough for communication. "Khârn. Zhufor. Welcome to the Tyranid Wannabe school. This is.... forgive me, I forgot to ask your name. I assume it's Craig, as the amulet suggests?" He nodded. I turned back to Khârn and Zhufor. "This is Craig, a human from an alternate world as far as I'm aware." I told them. They both looked at him and nodded in greeting. Craig then look at them both and says “It’s a pleasure to meet you” "The pleasure is ours. I am Khârn, Chaos Space Marine and Champion of Khorne. This is Zhufor, also a Chaos Space Marine, and a Khornate. And I see you've already met Ahriman, our brother sorcerer. So, Ahriman, what is this? It looks like a miniature Tyranid Hive Ship crash landed and burned into a black husk. And what are these bug creatures? I admit, they look a little like Tyranids, but there's more bug than 'Nid. For example, 'Nids don't have cheese legs." Khârn said, turning to me. Craig then smiles and say “these things are called Changelings they a pony like creatures that can fly, use magic and shapeshift. They also follow a queen and are all connected as if they were one mind.” I nodded. "I see. Well then, let's go meet the Queen of these... Changelings. I would like to discuss a few things with her. Oh, also, Khârn, Zhufor, don't forget to later make your own tokens." I replied, before marching into the hive. Khârn looked at Zhufor, then at Craig, shrugged, and followed. After a few minutes of wandering through the hive, we arrived at what appeared to be the Throne Room. A few guards took up positions, guarding their queen. I looked up at her, then bowed. "Your majesty." I said sarcastically. The queen scoffed. "Who and what are you, and why do you intrude upon my hive?" She asked, glaring at us. "I have come with a... business proposition. If you will hear me out without your guards attacking me or my friends here." I replied. She looked at me, then to Craig and the two Khornates. "Are they some sort of honor guard? If so, they aren't much." She told me, to which I just looked at her. "No, they aren't. And even if they were, just one of us could defeat your entire hive singlehandedly. So, I suggest you not make any of them angry. Just in case though. You guys should wait outside the throne room. Any bugs give you trouble, you know what to do." I smirked, but also sent out a small burst of Warp energy, too small to notice even by a magic user, and sent it in a wide area to scan the entire hive. Craig's POV As we walked out out the room I threw a small device into the corner of the room and then said “You realise you don’t own me but I will leave you two in peace” I then smirk and say “have a nice date” with that I follow Khârn and Zhufor out of the room. Once we get outside I then ask “What is your brother hiding? I’m not that thick there’s something wrong with him” "Oh, he's always hiding something. Ahriman's a follower of Tzeentch, God of Change, 'magic', schemes, and more." Khârn replied, glancing at the doors. “But you still trust him I don’t not one bit” I then click my fingers and say “lets see what your brother sent us away for.” I then throw a small projector onto the floor that brought up a screen showing an image of the room. "So, strange creature, what business brings you here?" The queen asked. Ahriman leaned on his staff. "I honestly doubt you know about this, but do you know of what the ponies call, 'The War of Darkness?" He asked. She nodded. "Yes, I remember. I was a part of it." She replied. "Well, I don't care which side you were on back then, but do you remember who Luna's Top Librarian, as well as her Right Hoof, was?" She looked to be thinking about it. "I believe his name was... Ahriman? Why do you ask?" She replied. "Oh, that's right. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Ahriman The Exiled, once Chief Librarian of The Lunar Guards mage squadrons. I lead the armies of the Night in the Siege of Manehattan. I summoned and controlled the Deamons that finally claimed the Keep. I am Champion of Tzeentch, God of Change, Sorcery, Knowledge, and Strategy. In the final battle between Luna and Celestia, I, along with my brothers, were banished to the Warp, a Realm of all emotions and thoughts ever made by any creature in this universe. The remnants of my Librarians brought us back from it. For us, it was a century. For them, it was a thousand years. And I want you to join me. We are going to give them a taste of revenge." Ahriman declared. To this I just sigh and say “always hating Celestia but still another Displaced I meet being banished seems to be a running trend with the alternate celestia’s.” Khârn looked at me. "If you were just banished, with feelings feelings of hate towards her, into a Realm that contained every emotion ever felt, for a hundred years, trust me, you would be angry too. Granted, our feelings were probably heightened due to the emotions, but still." He told me. I then smile and say “I understand what you mean, even though what happened to me was different I still understand what you must feel. However I have forgiven the one who caused me pain and now he is a trusted ally maybe the best thing you could do is to just forgive her.” Khârn snorted. "Sure, if you're a normal human. For one thing, normal Humans who look into the warp will go insane, and they can't even see its true horror. The only way we survived with our sanity intact was because we were Space Marines, and also, we are used to it. We Chaos Space Marines spent more than a thousand years in the warp before we came here. And normal Space Marines are bred Xenophobic. We see a creature that is not human, we get the urge to kill it." He stated. I then smile and say “Wouldn’t say i’m completely human anymore either but oh well.” I then turn to see a changeling lunging towards me and I sigh as a blue tendril flies out of my back and spears the Changeling straight through the body then just as quickly as it appeared removed from its body and disappeared. "Impressive. But we are made to fight. You are not. We can't do peace. We can be diplomats, sure, but peaceful civilians? Nope. Impossible. Our entire purpose in life is to fight.” “Then you will struggle in the upcoming years the world is at peace... Well mostly.” I then look back at the screen and continue to listen to the conversation. The queen looked at him, smug. "Prove it." She ordered. The temperature in the room dropped suddenly. "As you wish." He replied, before focusing his magic onto his staff. It began to glow a dark red, and a portal made out of every color, even some that didn't exist, appeared in between the two. A horrendous creature stepped out. It's skin was a bright red, with razor sharp teeth and a forked tongue for a mouth. It's tail was ablaze with fire, as was the massive sword it carried. Upon it's head rested a strange glyph. With a snarl, it lunged at the queen, only to be held back by a chain, which ended at Ahriman's hand. "This, your highness, is a Bloodletter. A Deamon of Khorne, and denizen of the Warp. It is with these that the Keep of Manehattan fell. Normally, it takes a lot more to summon, but as this is only an example, it will die off and return to the Warp in but a moment." As he said that, the beast screamed, before disintegrating, and returning to the portal, which closed afterwards. "Believe me now?" He sneered. The Queen nodded. "Well, Ahriman, I am Queen Chrysalis. I believe it is in our best interest to work with you. After all, I too have a bone to pick with Celestia. But what of Luna?" She asked. "Her? I have no reason to serve her anymore. Even if I did, they would try to kill me on sight." He replied. "Well then, I guess I can consider your offer. Where should we meet?" Chrysalis asked. "We will meet at the mountains. Three o'clock PM, on Sunday." He replies, then marches towards the door. I then quickly switch off the screen and pick it back up off the ground just before Ahriman came back out the door. "So, are you all ready to leave?" He asked. To this I just nod my head and say “Ready when you are” "Then let us be off." With that said, Ahriman and the other two began walking towards the exit. When we exited, Ahriman turned to me. "As a gift of thanks, I give you this." He reached his arm out, and a portal sprung up. He reached his hand in, and pulled out a massive gun. "It's a Bolter pistol. I don't know if you can use it, but if you can, then it won't be just an ornament. It has infinite energy ammunition. It should serve you well." I then reach out picked up the gun and said “Thank you” I then brought it up in line with my sight and pulled the trigger as the gun instantly fired and my back leg moved backwards to compensate for the sheer amount of force the gun released. I then looked at them in surprise and said “That's got a lot of power behind it.” I then look at them and say “Is there anything I can do for you?” "I doubt it. We got pretty much all we need at the moment. Khârn controls an entire tribe of Dragons, I lead the remainder of the Librarians, and Zhufor.... he doesn't need an army. His Terminator armour is like a tank." I then smile and say “Well let’s hope I never have to go toe to toe with any of you.” I then take my necklace off and place it in my right hand, close my eyes and my hands begins to glow. As I open my left had two perfect copies of my token appear, I then toss the copies of my token to Khârn and Zhufor and say “If you ever need my help don’t hesitate to give me a call” "Alright. If that is all, then you are free to leave. Let's see, how do you do this again? Oh right." Ahriman told me. "Craig, our contract is complete." He recited. He then tossed me a staff. "That's my token. If you ever need my powers, give me a call. Just send your thoughts into it. It will also unlock a being's ability to look into the Warp, and control it's power. But only if you want it to." Once I returned home I muttered “Idiot he thinks I don’t understand what he is doing, he thinks I didn’t know he knew about my device” I then laugh and say “Fool, I know that man is evil” I then look at ari token and say “This controls the warp, what was the things he did, he opened a portal maybe to a pocket dimension and said I could see the warp at the cost of my sanity… definitely don’t want to risk that.” I throw it over my shoulder and it attaches to my back. I then look up and sigh as I realise what was likely to happen “If any of them find out about that war they will be there without a shadow of a doubt… I need to be ready in case their on the opposite side of the war” I then grab the bolter Pistol I was given and look at it once again and sigh “as great as this is, am I sure it’s right to wield the things that monster gave me.” with that I place it near my hip as it connects to my clothes. I then placed my hand on the Scabbard and it changed back into my guitar making it seem like I hadn’t received the weapons. I then begin to walk down the street however this doesn’t last long as within second I feel a strong pull begin to affect me as I think “Not again best prepare for another headache” with that I disappear from the area around me.