//------------------------------// // The Forsaken Forest // Story: The Dragon and the Changeling // by PrometheusDark //------------------------------// “Its not wrong, its nature.” Chrysalis informed. On their patch of grass by the side of the barn, the changeling attempted to defuse whatever situation she had caused. “Oh my.” She had said quietly, the realization striking her. Here was a child who was conflicted inside. His natural instincts suppressed by years of pony culture telling him eating meat was wrong. What did he live off of then? Surely a carnivore couldn't eat these grasses and flowers like those ponies. “I think I should go.” Spike said, his voice sounded detached. She could even feel the fear coming off of him in small waves. He was afraid of her. Why did that feel wrong? Before Spike even took his second step, she stopped him. “Wait,” she sounded a bit desperate there, better adjust her tone. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Wait, Spike. You can't think that eating meat is wrong, can you?” She needed confirmation on this. Spike looked up at her, he didn't even need to think it over. “Of course it is, its murder.” His voice was strained. He thought he was a murderer, a killer, and the worst part? “I just can't help it, I need to eat and the food Twilight feeds me, it makes me feel sick now.” He couldn't control it. “Listen, Spike. Take me into Everfree Forest after we finish this barn. I'll show you that it is just nature's way.” She ordered, not knowing why she really cared. That seemed to be a growing theme with her now. Hunting was a vital part of survival for a dragon, and it was with much despair that Spike himself would need to partake in such a ritual. The dragonling was at that age where he was to begin hunting and finding their own food. Gems could not sustain him, they were more like a treat then a meal. Meat was the only option left. So he went to find it. The Everfree Forest was a prime hunting ground, despite its various dangers. Small woodland creatures and larger carcasses he found would make up his diet. It had been a month since he first started doing this, and it disgusted him every time he was forced to kill. However, it was this or die of starvation. He chose the first option. He had company on this foray into the forest, however. Chrysalis had reverted to her true form after leaving Ponyville, it felt good to be back in her old body again. He wasn't sure how he felt about this whole thing. He had found someone else who shared his diet, sort of. But she had a completely different view point on it. While he considered this all to be a crime, she thought of it as nature's way. Maybe it was and he just wasn't seeing it, but he decided he really didn't want to see it. This was kill or starve. Chrysalis was struck by that feeling of strangeness again. Why was she bothering to go so much out of her way to help him? Was it because he was trying to help her? That couldn't be it, she didn't care if she owed him. Spike stopped walking and stood stock still. Chrysalis was pulled from her thoughts by the sudden motion. Ahead of them, just through the trees, was a clearing. A beautiful field of grass and flowers this deep in the Everfree Forest? That wasn't why they stopped moving, however. On the edge of the field was a rabbit hole with a tiny bunny sticking his head out of it. Spike was on the move again, this time he walked on all fours. He moved faster then Chrysalis expected of him as he wandered through the underbrush, around the field and behind the rabbit hole. The small bunny never saw him coming. He thrust his arms down into the rabbit hole and tore the bunny from it. It struggled in his grip, but he wouldn't release the small creature. Spike closed his eyes, what came next was the hardest part. With a quick jerk, and a pop like a stick just broke, it was over. The bunny was motionless in his claws. Chrysalis was amazed at how efficient a hunter a dragon could be, even one so young. She had merely come along to spectate, but her stomach growled, telling her she hadn't eaten since the meat Spike had given her earlier that day. “Psst, your highness?” She hadn't heard anyone call her that since those few days ago, which felt like a long time now. Her heart leaped for joy when she saw him, buzzing just above the tree branches. The chitinous form of a changeling drone. They weren't all dead! “I've finally found you.” He seemed relieved, flying down to her. She quickly composed herself. “What news of the rest of my subjects.” She questions, looking back at Spike, who was breathing fire into the rabbit hole now to scare out any other bunnies. “Quickly now.” “They're gathering in a large cave in the Everfree, my queen. We've sent search parties out for you-” He was silenced by a hoof to his mouth. “Take me to this cave, now.” She ordered in a strong tone, she didn't want to leave Spike behind, but her people needed her and they were more important then a dragonling with some pony problems. With that thought in the back of her mind and her heart heavy, she spread her wings and flew, allowing her minion to take the lead. By the time Spike realized she was gone, it was too late. The cave was alive with activity. Changelings buzzed this way and that, all attempting to get ready for whatever their queen would require of them. The air was thick with the acrid stench of decay and rotting meat. The cave wasn't glamorous and had a lot of off-shoot tunnels, but it would do for the time being. A long table had been setup, where they found it she did not know, and it was covered with a wide assortment of dishes. Roast boar, crow-kebabs, and fish stew were just a few of the woodland delicacies that she had relentlessly tore with her fangs. “Ah, this is much better.” She sighed in contentment, even if this wasn't a meal of royal proportions, it was a start. Much better then trying to survive off of any emotion that came her way, or whatever Spike could cook up. She wondered if he was okay, she did leave him all alone in the middle of Everfree Forest. He probably just went home when he discovered she had disappeared. She felt a bit bad for leaving him out there, but there were more important things to attend to. She didn't have time for friends anyway. “A message, your highness.” A drone approached, bowing before her. She waved a hoof absentmindedly, to busy with her meal to really care. “Your counsel has sent a detachment of drones to to the small village on the other side of the Everfree Forest. They, or he, requests your presence for the next course of action.” She nearly choked on a piece of steak at that. Sending soldiers to Ponyville? Without her consent!? Those old fools! Normally she wouldn't get this worked up over something like this. They usually did things like this without telling her first anyway. But something about this time made rage flare in the pit of her stomach. She shot up from the table, causing the lone messenger drone to cringe. Paying him no heed, Chrysalis took off at a gallop. The changelings that saw her were dumbfounded by the sight of their queen, dashing through the cave's tunnels and eyes burning with anger. The councilor, that is to say the only one left, was thin for a changeling and slightly taller then a drone. He went by the name Alate. “Alaaate!” And when Chrysalis found him, all hell broke loose. The changeling councilor stopped in his tracks, looking back at his ruler with confusion. “Whats this idea of sending soldiers to Ponyville!?” She screeched, fangs bared and wings flared out behind her. A natural effect of anger, trying to make herself seem bigger and more menacing. “Ponyville?” He asked, still dumbfounded by his queen's anger. “You mean the pony village? Why?” He didn't know how deep a hole he was digging himself. “Tell me!” She roared, drawing the attention of every changeling in the tunnel, which is to say a lot of them. “Food, your highness.” He responded with a calmness that gave her an eldritch feeling. “They were sent to take prisoners so we could extract their emotions.” He was cold and the air stunk like old gym socks mixed with fish guts. That was the first thing that registered in his mind. His eyes opened to darkness, slowly adjusting to the low lighting, what he saw through the shade was definitely not his library home. Ponies shivering, chained to the walls and floor of a cell made of stone. There were no bars, but he could tell this was a prison. A black pony rubbed up against a blue one and signed in contentment, as if taking a sip of a nice, cool drink on a hot summers day. At first he thought this was just somepony comforting another, but then he noticed the hard shell that took the place of fur. A changeling and there were more of them, they were feeding on the ponies. He wanted to scream for it to stop, maybe to distract it, but he rarely thought these things through. It was then that he noticed he had green slime covering his mouth. “The dragon is awake.” A changeling drone hissed, and any who were feasting stopped, all turning to look at him. “Mmm, smell that fear.” There was nothing he could do but shudder as they converged on him. He felt weaker then before and his muscles seized in his limbs. “I've never had dragon fear before.” One of the changelings said with delight clear in his voice. To them, the most accurate description of the taste would be beef tenderloin. “Ah, do I detect a hint of despair?” They relished the meal. Spike's mind was foggy, he could barely form coherent thoughts. Darkness started to over-take his vision. Then he heard a familiar voice.