Deep within the Amazon, life was teeming from every possible angle. No matter where you looked, you can see something alive moving with purpose here.
In this particular case, a wave of death moved with only one purpose in mind. Survival of the colony. The name of this wave of the death? Eciton burchelli or more commonly known as the Army Ant.
Only half an inch in length, they truly bring meaning to the phase, "There's strength in numbers" as colonies can number in the thousands. These fearsome killers have made their mark in the Amazon, dominating wherever they go. Many insects try to run but they are caught within minutes, cut apart by massive, powerful and sharp jaws and are brought back to the colony. The smart ones simply stay where they are, completely motionless as the ants passed them. Against these ants, staying where you are is the best, and often only, option left that won't get you killed.
Suddenly a bright flash occurs and just as quickly as it happens, it disappears. A quick look make seem like nothing was different but anyone with a good enough eye will see what was different. The complete lack of Army Ants swarming the jungle floor for one.
Everfree Outskirts
Sandy the snake enjoyed a nice simple life here on the outskirts of Everfree. The other animals were very friendly, aside from a certain rabbit, and the daily meals she gets from that yellow pony were nice. Sandy curled tighter around the branch she hung from, enjoying the sun.
Suddenly a flash of light blinded her, getting a startled hiss from her, and died down just quickly. Shaking her head, Sandy saw that several other animals had come out of their homes to see what happened. A quick look around showed that nothing had changed.
Then Sandy looked down and her jaw dropped at what greeted her.
The lush green grass were no longer visible, replaced by a moving floor of red and black...ants? Never in her life had she, or any other animal here for that matter, seen so many ants in one place. Rodney, a squirrel that knew some pretty good jokes, climbed down his tree to greet and, if needed, help them.
What happened next horrified every animal watching.
The ants simply spilled over him like a wave of death, hundreds upon hundreds of small sharp mandibles cut off bits of flesh with frightening ease. Rodney's screams of pain and terror only enhanced the horrible scene as he tried to run but his efforts were in vain. No matter where he ran, the ants where there and in minutes, he was brought down. They continued their barbatic actions still, mutilating his body for whatever reason.
It didn't stop there as thousands more spread out, countless small animals and insects caught and cut apart by these murderers. Their screams of mercy falling on deaf ears. Not even the birds were safe as the ants climbed the trees to get to their nests, forcing many families to flee or become victims. Throughtout all this Sandy watched with wide fearful eyes and her body frozen stiff like it would always do whenever something bad happened. Then she felt tiny feet across her body. Sandy waited for them to bite, to bring her death in the form of hundreds of tiny mouths ripping her apart.
But it never came.
Sandy, moving as slowly as possible, moved her head to look and saw that they were moving over her body ignoring her completely. It didn't make sense! Why would they butchered so many others but leave her alone? She didn't have the answers and Sandy doubted these- these killers were going to just give her one.
So Sandy kept perfectly still as the massarce went on below, countless dying as she watched with tears in her eyes. Friends she knew her whole life becoming little more than food for these things.
Hours Later
Fluttershy humm'ed a tone as she made her way to Everfree's outskirts where some of her animal friends stayed. Due to room issues, the timid pony had no choice but to move some of her friends to other places. Fortunately none of them put up too much trouble and eagerly picked out their new homes nearby. This one was the furthest so was often the last one on her trip but she always made sure her friends gotten their meals for the day.
Finally reaching her destination the yellow pony called out, "Time for lunch everyone." Her voice was gentle and small but her animal friends always managed to hear her and never missed a chance to eat the food she makes for them.
Except this time not even one came to greet her.
Worried, she tried again. "Hello? Rodney? Andy? Kyle? Salty? Anyone there?" Fluttershy flew around to look for them but nothing. At least until she spotted a familiar snake hanging from a branch.
"Sandy!" Fluttershy quickly flew to her and saw that the snake was coiled tightly around the branch, tears visible in her eyes. "Sandy? Whats wrong? Where are all of our friends?" The snake lifted her head and hiss'ed what happened back to Fluttershy in detail.
Fluttershy's eyes went wide as tears appeared in her eyes, body visibly shaking as Sandy told her what she was forced to witness. A wave of ants, numbering in the thousands, ruthlessly slaughtering all of their friends through thousands of bites. They didn't care who they killed whether they were old or young, newborns or elders. They just killed them without mercy and ate their bodies on the spot before finally moving on once everyone was dead.
Fluttershy took Sandy down and went back to her home to drop her off before heading to the library. Twilight must have a book to explain why ants, who were so cute with their little homes, would do something like this. Any creature that would do something like this couldn't be doing it willingly! It was simply unnatural even by Everfree's standards.
Meanwhile a colony of ants moved with purpose as a trio of fillies play not to far away.