Avatars of Chaos
A My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic/Warhammer 40k crossover
by Jonathan "WTF are you thinking" Spires
Chapter 1: Divine Dysfunction
All characters copyrighted to their original owners. I don't own anyone save the characters created by me. Comments, compliments, and constructive criticism is both appreciated and encouraged. If you like my work, please consider supporting me on . Even a dollar donation helps.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Equestria...
Canterlot Palace...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Four alicorns sat in the silent, empty throne room, discussing the problems they had been having recently. One, tall, white and majestic with a mane like a flowing sunset, sat nearest the throne. Sitting near her was a mare with fur as dark as night and a mane like the starry sky. With them was a candy-pink alicorn with a colorful mane, although one that didn't flow like the elder two. The youngest among them was a small purple alicorn with a nervous expression on her face. The cutie marks of each, a sun, moon, blue crystal heart, and starburst respectively, were all slightly faded.
This was bad, as it confirmed fears all of them had been having.
"So it's true then..." Celestia said softly. "We've been getting weaker."
Luna nodded. "Indeed, dear sister. 'Tis harder for me to move the moon that it has been. And mine dream magic be not as powerful either."
"I can feel my connection to magic starting to falter," Twilight said, fidgeting nervously. "Plus my connection to the Rainbow Power has been getting weaker."
Cadance looked ashamed. "I've begun to rely on the Crystal Heart to bolster my magic," she said. "No one in the Empire has noticed yet, but still..."
Celestia nodded. "And it has become more difficult for me to move the sun," she said. "Which brings us to the reason I asked everypony here this evening."
"You said you had a solution, sister?" Luna asked, the younger alicorns giving her a hopeful look.
Celestia looked uneasy, her astral mane flowing to an unseen wind. "Not a solution... but maybe an answer," she said. "In the heart of Canterlot there is a well of purest Harmony magic. If revealed itself to me after your fall from grace, Luna. If we commune with it, we might be able to discern the reason for our waning powers."
Twilight frowned. "Why didn't you tell Cadance or I about this, Celestia?" she asked.
Celestia was silently pleased that her former student had finally stopped referring to her as 'Princess' all the time. "Because, my dear Twilight, the Well of Harmony told me not to reveal it to you unless it was in a time of great need."
"Such as the four of us losing our powers," Cadance said softly.
"We are not powerless yet," Celestia said firmly. "We still may find a solution."
"We hope..." Twilight said softly.
Celestia frowned, but said nothing. She motioned for her fellow alicorns to follow her, opening a hidden tunnel underneath the throne, removing the panel welded over it with a spell.
"So that's the reason you insisted there be but one throne during court," Luna said.
Celestia nodded. "The throne hides the entrance," she said. "The panel has a locking spell and a perception filter spell. Most won't even look at it." She set both throne and panel aside, a stairway forming. Celestia started down the stairs, the other alicorns following into the darkness. Four horns glowed with light when it became too dark to see, although the spells were extinguished quickly as they approached the bottom of the stairwell.
There, glowing with sheer might, was a pool of rainbow-colored liquid, one that swirled constantly in random patterns. The four alicorns could feel a sense of peace and well-being overcome them, intermixing with awe for the three encountering the well for the first time.
"Whoa..." Twilight said.
"So this..." Luna started.
"This is Harmony Incarnate," Celestia said. "The Lifeblood of our world, the source of all its magic. The random songs, the abilities all the races have to control the world around us... all of it stems from here, entrusted to our kind ages ago. A drink from the neverending waters of this Well shall show us the truth of why we are getting weaker."
As if on cue, four goblets filled with waters from the well appeared. Each alicorn brought the cup to their lips, the younger three watching the eldest. Celestia took a deep breath, and drank, the others doing the same.
Almost immediately after the first swallow, all four alicorns were overcome with a vision. In it, a monochrome Equestria moved along in unending, almost robotic patterns, looked over from the castle by four alicorn guards, all of them the same in appearance save for their coloring. The pattern never changed save for when one of the alicorns decided it would change, moving ponies together according to their will and whim. When a pony tried to break from the patterns set by the alicorns, a quadruple beam of power would erupt from the castle, annihilating the pony that dared break the peace.
And Equestria was at peace. Where nothing ever changed. Where everypony had their role, and never deviated from it. Where there was ORDER...
The vision faded, the force of it leaving staggering the alicorns.
"What... What was that?!" Luna said, distraught.
"There was no true emotion in that world," Cadance said, shivering. "No real love, no real happiness..."
"Everything was the same. Over and over again, the same forever... Like Starlight's village, only worse..." Twilight said, visibly shaken.
Celestia closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face "That is what Harmony thinks we are becoming... Tyrants of order... Harmony thinks we are becoming tyrants of Order..."
Twilight shook her head. "No! No, we wouldn't do that! ...Would we?"
The four alicorns traded worried looks, each one trying to remember the decisions they've made over the past few months, the laws they've passed. They had seemed like good ideas at the time, but..."
"It seems, my fellow Princesses, that we are neglecting the other half of Harmony. We have been neglecting Chaos..."
"Well I could have told you that," said a smarmy voice. The other princesses turned towards the source of the voice, seeing Discord floating in the pool on an inflatable raft, a margarita in one paw and sunglasses on his face. "You never call, you never write..."
Celestia fumed. "Stop floating in the most SACRED SPOT IN EQUESTRIA!" she demanded.
Discord just smirked, taking a sip of his drink. Luna, in even less of a mood for Discord's games than her sister, popped Discord's raft with a magical beam, sending him sinking into the pool of Harmony. Sputtering, his eyes glowing from accidentally swallowing the liquid, he scrambled out of the pool, coughing.
"Okay, okay, I'll get to the point. Now stop telling me how much I suck..." Discord muttered, the glow in his eyes fading as the visions he had been given went away. He dusted himself off, and said, "All right. The reason, my little ponies, that you are losing your powers is simple: you're no longer as Harmonious as you used to be."
The four alicorns frowned, trading worried looks. "So it seems," Cadance said softly.
"The question is how can we get back to full power? If we cannot do our jobs because Harmony is punishing us for our sins..." Celestia said.
"Calm down, I have a solution," Discord said, smirking. "As the most harmonious being in Equestria at the moment, I'm more than willing to help you poor lost lambs back on the path of righteousness."
The draconequus giggled at the irritated expressions the princesses gave him. "You should see your faces right now..."
"Get on with it!" Luna shouted.
"Party pooper," Discord muttered. "Anyway, the answer is simple. You are becoming extremes of Order. To counterbalance this, I suggest becoming avatars of extremes of Chaos. I just so happen to know four evil Chaos gods who are having similar problems to the four of you."
All four princesses were alarmed by this. "Become avatars of Chaos gods?" Twilight said uncertainly.
Discord nodded. "Specifically, bond with the God that is your antithesis," he said. "I firmly believe that your personalities will balance each other out, and restore you all to full power as you become more harmonious, embracing aspects of yourself that you have let grow stagnant."
The alicorns turned to each other, each concerned about Discord's plan.
"...Anypony have a better idea?" Cadance almost pleaded.
"I'm... completely at a loss, I'm afraid," Twilight said, frowning.
"It is a mad plan. Sure if our personalities are the issue, therapists could help?" Luna asaid.
"Unfortunately, our personalities might prevent us from seeing the truth of what's wrong with us until it is too late and we are rendered completely powerless," Celestia said. "I'm well aware of our various personality quirks, and ridiculously stubborn applies to all four of us. Discord's plan is... drastic, to say the absolute least, but to balance out such extreme opposites in personality could force the issue quicker. In addition, controlling the powers of chaos in addition to our own abilities might also solve our problem."
The other three could see the logic, such as it was. "So we suppose we must accept Discord's solution..." Luna muttered.
Cadance nodded. "I guess we have to..."
Twilight nodded in agreement, turning to Discord. "Tell these chaos gods we'll accept them," she said. "Up to a point."
Discord nodded. "That works," he said. "I just hope they'll go for it..."
He snapped his fingers and vanished before the princesses could yell at him again, taking the still half-full cups of Harmony water with him.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The Eye of Terror...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"RRRRRARAAAAAAAGHHH!" Khorne roared, the massive, red-skinned, spiked and horned demonic god thrashing about in frustration. "WHY!? WHY WHY WHY HAVE MY FORCES BEEN UNABLE TO BEST THE ACCURSED IMPERIUM!?" He thrashed about the unholy, twisted landscape, slaughtering demons left and right, bathing his armor in blood.
His three companions glared at him disdainfully. The many-eyed, many mouthed, vaguely avian Tzeentch rubbed what was currently his temples, sighing. "Will you please be quiet, Khorne? I can barely think with your bellyaching."
Khorne snarled at him. "DO NOT MOCK ME, CHANGER OF WAYS! I CAN BARELY STAND YOU ON A GOOD DAY! AND IT HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD DAY!"
Tzeentch sneered. "Let me guess. 'Oh woe is me, my army of rampaging whackos hasn't been able to beat the big bad Imperium and their false god of an Emporer? They've been spanking my widdle wed booty all over the Warp!'" he simpered.
Slaanesh snickered. "You should come to me if you want to get spanked," she said, tracing a finger over his chest sensually. "It'll be MUCH more pleasant experience."
"Do you ever stop?" Nurgle gurgled, the obese, antlered plague lord glaring at Slaneesh. "Also, PLEASE just pick a gender and stick with it."
"Not for you or any mortal alive," Slaanesh said firmly.
"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!" Khorne roared. "I AM GETTING TIRED OF YOU! TIRED OF ALL OF YOU! IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU FOOLS, THEN I WOULD RULE THE WARP AND ALL THE UNIVERSE!"
Tzeentch laughed at him. "Idiot! You cannot destroy us! We always were, and we always will be! We're stuck with each other FOREVER!"
"A more horrifying fate I couldn't imagine," Slaanesh muttered, glaring at Nurgle.
"You could try being a little nicer," Nurgle muttered.
"It's all about me, fatso," Slaanesh sneered, hands on her hips. "You're a fool for caring as much as you do. It's why Isha never accepted you and tried to destroy you after she escaped."
Khorne and Tzeentch suddenly stopped their argument, flinching. Slaanesh immediately realized his mistake as Nurgle began to sniffle, and the sob uncontrollably.
"Isshhaaa..." he moaned, crying putrid tears into his hands. "I loved you so much... Why did you leave me?!"
"Brilliant," Tzeentch muttered. "Thanks, Slaanesh."
"I forgot, okay? He got me mad!" Slaanesh protested.
Khorne facepalmed, shaking his head. "This... this is just sad..."
"Now he's going to be whining for hours..." Tzeentch muttered.
"You COULD try comforting him," said a voice.
The four gods looked up, in the direction of the voice. When they saw the mismatched, dragonlike entity before them, all previous enmity was forgotten.
"MALAL!" Khorne roared, throwing his axe at the dragonlike creature. Slaanesh, Tzeentch, and Nurgle responded in similar fashion, firing a blasts of pure heat, magic, and pestilence at the newcomer.
Malal just took the attacks, which splashed off of him harmlessly. "Speaking of just sad..." he muttered.
Khorne, furious beyond all measure, kept of the attack, charging Malal and picking up his massive axe in the process. He slashed at him over and over, Malal easily parrying each of the vicious attacks, grabbing Khorne and kneeing him in the crotch, sending him sprawling with a roundhouse kick.
Slaanesh tried to attack from behind, growing tentacles from her back tipped with poisonous spikes, but Malal just grabbed the tentacles and used him as a bludgeon against Tzeentch, preventing him from casting stronger spells.
Nurgle, for his part, just narrowed his eyes and sat back on his rotted throne, picking at an open sore. "...Why are you here?" he asked.
"Glad one of you is smart," Malal said, sneering. The other three, slowly picking themselves up, glared at Malal in response to the comment, but didn't further their attack. Each summoned their thrones as Nurgle did and sat down, waiting for Malal to continue.
Malal looked them over and nodded. "Okay. As you all may have noticed, you've been losing your powers. Growing weaker. In response, your followers have been losing power as well, being driven away by the Imperium, the Necrons, the Eldar, and the various other threats of the universe. Correct?"
"Where have you been all this time?" Slaanesh asked, narrowing his eyes. "You disappeared for over a thousand years..."
"Correct?" Malal insisted. Reluctantly, the four Chaos gods nodded. Malal smirked. "As for your question, I'll answer that in a moment. First, another question. Would you like to know WHY you've been losing your powers?"
Tzeentch immediately became fascinated. "Admittedly, we've been distracted with our deteriorating empires..."
"IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON..." Khorne muttered.
Malal grinned, and held up four cups, each filled with a glowing rainbow liquid. "This, my dear devious neighbors, is water from the Source of All Harmony." The four Chaos gods grimaced at the mention of 'Harmony.' Malal continued, ignoring them. "Situated in a world protected via the strongest of magics, a world immune to the threats of the Necrons, the Tyranids... even the Warp itself.
Now Tzeentch was REALLY interested. "A world of magic so potent that it can repel US?" he said. "Amazing..."
Nurgle looked uncertain. "You've been to this world?"
"Indeed," Malal said. "I am unable to manifest in my full power on that world, so I was limited to causing mischief. They know me there as Discord, and... well. I've been through a bit of a journey of self-discovery while there."
"What's with the rainbow juice?" Slaanesh said, swirling the waters around in the cup.
Malal grinned. "Drink that, and Harmony will reveal why you are becoming so weak," he said.
The four Gods traded worried looks. "...It can't hurt," Nurgle said.
"I'll try anything once," Slaanesh said, chuckling.
Khorne just grumbled, while Tzeentch had a thoughtful look on what was currently its face. All four drank... and all four were overcome with visions, their eyes glowing.
In it, they saw a dead universe. A world where nothing grew. No life, no hope, no Chaos... all was destroyed. All was nothingness. All was gone... save for four gods locked in eternal, futile struggle, their only company each other, each of them alone with their hated foes...
The vision came and went in mere moments, but all four understood.
"Our chaos has progressed too far..." Tzeentch said, shaken.
"IF WE DO NOT TEMPER OURSELVES, WE WILL BECOME DESTRUCTION. WE WILL HAVE NOTHING," Khorne said, growling angrily.
"This is madness..." Slaanesh said, frightened. "It goes against everything I believe in, to restrain myself... but I can't see any other way to do it..."
Nurgle frowned at his cup. "Our power loss... It's in response to us losing focus to the more virtuous parts of our natures?"
Malal nodded. "Harmony, a force even greater than us, is draining you four in response to you becoming more destruction than chaos."
Khorne growled. "WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT IT, THEN!? WE CANNOT CHANGE WHO WE ARE!"
Malal smirked. "I do have an idea," he said. "On the planet I mentioned, there are four minor goddesses who are undergoing a similar weakening, only in response to them becoming extremes of Order. Bind yourselves to them. Make them your avatars. Make their strength yours, and give your strength to them. You will balance each other out, and become all the stronger because of it. Especially if you bond to one who is in some way your antithesis."
The Chaos gods all traded thoughtful looks.
"It makes some sense," Tzeentch said. "Harmony is, in essence, balance. As distasteful as we find the precepts of Order, in the past we have embraced what some mortals would consider virtue. Khorne, for example, you always favored valor, and killing warriors instead of innocents."
"OF COURSE," Khorne said, nodded. "BLOOD IS WORTHLESS IF IT DOESN'T COME FROM THE BUTCHERED BODY OF A WORTHY FOE."
Tzeentch nodded. "Slaanesh, Nurgle, each of you also have shown favor to nobler things as well." When the other two nodded, Tzeentch continued. "To clarify, Malal, you are suggesting that we join with these minor goddesses not to reform, but to embrace the better part of our natures that we have apparently been neglecting?"
Malal nodded. "Yes. Do this, and all eight of you will have your powers fully restored. And believe it or not, the philosophy of these goddesses I'm asking you to make your avatars is actually highly accepting. So long as you don't thoughtlessly harm those under their care, they will pretty much let you be who you are."
"You have been changed..." Slaanesh said softly, going wide-eyed. "I can sense it... The pleasure from your thoughts every time you think of the creatures of this world..."
Malal grinned. "They've been a good influence," he said. "So are you in?"
Tzeentch nodded. "Indeed. I'm rather excited to see a world that's safe from the Hell that the universe has become," he said.
Nurgle looked thoughtful. "If nothing else, this world might have some new diseases for me to learn. And besides, I always like making new friends."
"You'll fit in there better than you think, Nurgle," Malal said. "Slaanesh? Khorne? What about you?"
Slaanesh looked thoughtful for a moment, and shrugged. "Oh, hell with it. Sounds like fun. I'm in," she said.
Khorne grumbled. "IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING I AM TO AGREE WITH TZEENTCH... BUT I AM AT A LOSS FOR BETTER IDEAS. TELL YOUR GODDESSES WE WILL GRANT THEM OUR BLESSING," he said.
Malal grinned widely. "Superb. I'll tell them. Be ready to come to them in a week. We'll have a party introducing you and everything."
"What do the goddesses present themselves as?" Slaanesh asked.
"Winged unicorns," Malal said. "They call their race Alicorns."
The four Chaos gods stared at Malal. "WHAT," Khorne said.
Malal giggled, collecting the cups. "And while there are other races, such as griffons, changelings, and dragons, the dominant race of the planet is colorful ponies, pegasi, and unicorns! It's a joyously happy place, full of love and song! You'll love it!" he cackled, snapping his fingers and vanishing.
The four Chaos gods glared at the spot where Malal disappeared. It was later agreed that Khorne said it best. "I REALLY FUCKING HATE THAT GUY."
TO BE CONTINUED...