He remained silent, his eye closed. The sounds of hissing filled his ears, the tearing of flesh. Everything was clear as he could remember, especially the screams.
“Sir? Admiral Arche!”
He opens his eye, around him are several stallions and mares. The huge conference room was filled with some of Equestria’s finest, from fellow military leaders, to squadrons of soldiers from the other branches. Representing the Eastern Branch, Arche was to speak his report. Seems his mind had wandered.
“Are you still tired from your long trip from Canterlot, Admiral?”
There were faint sounds of chuckles and whispers. Arche knows better than to lose focus on such a delicate matter. Sitting in his chair, his guards beside him for protection, though it wasn’t necessary under such humble conditions.
“Apologizes….in my recent findings, my forces and I have successful decimated over five changeling hives around the Hayseed swamplands. Sadly they knew nothing of the sorts regarding the location of their queen. Seems these changelings focused mainly on establishing a steady breeding ground and raise their young. My team didn’t hesitate to fix the problem.”
“Fix the problem, you say? You killed them? Even the infants?”
There was a short silence before Arche spoke up.
“These creatures were responsible for one of Canterlot’s most darkest hours, I shouldn’t have to remind you all. Mercy is the last course of measure retaining to these….things. The search for Chrysalis is still the main priority for the Eastern Branch. Eventually a hive will confess the whereabouts and she’ll be brought to justice for her crimes.”
“Admiral, you said so yourself that this is just a breeding ground. And that the changelings knew nothing of the sorts where Chrysalis is. Why bother even continuing investigating the swamp?”
“The threat of changelings is a far greater issue than the princess has claimed. Though I managed to force most of them into hiding, my success proved otherwise pointless since the disaster at the Royal Wedding. But I assure you, by the end of the year, changelings will be nothing more but an inferior fallen race, and it will be Chrysalis who shall take the blame.”
“Admiral Arche, you talk of a greater issue, but what of King Sombra’s recent return? It has brought nothing but panic all across the lands.”
Arche sighs, looking over his notes. What use was it to speak of a fallen foe when there was still one free among the lands?
“Sombra is no more, the Crystal Empire has returned to its former peaceful ways. Though my prayers go out to the Princess, the matter has been dealt with. Chrysalis is still out there doing who knows what. We need to focus on the here and now, mind you.”
“Oh please, you’re so full of it, Arche.”
He looks up to see an older stallion at the end of the conference table. His uniform similar in design to Arche’s, a faded orange coat, bags under his eyes.
“Do you have something you wish to say, Admiral Blitz?”
“You’re only interested in the changelings because of personal reasons. The fact Celestia hasn’t court-martialled you for your obsession is mind blowing.”
“I assure you, Admiral, that all I do is for the safety of all of Equestria. Your failed attempt to insult me is just wasting everypony's time here, and far more embarrassing for you."
“You’re reckless, Arche, I’ve seen how your branch…how you say…’handles'….the changelings. A bloody massacre is what it is. And I’m not insulting you, just stating the facts. By the way, weren’t you suppose to retire? Quite a surprise you changed your mind after the wedding.”
“I could say the same for you, Blitz. I’m quite surprised you even had the strength in those fat legs to even show up today.”
“Now listen here you degenerate psychotic-“
“GENTLECOLTS…..if you would please….”
“Agreed, this bickering between you two is pointless. Now then, regarding the status of Equestria after its current disaster, it would be best to increase forces on-“
The two simply couldn’t pull away each other’s menacing glares. It was like this for the rest of the meeting. As it came time to depart for Canterlot, Arche was stopped by none other than Admiral Blitz. Arche was prepared for whatever the blowhard had to say, and dismissed his guard to wait for him on the train. Best to get this all out of the way now.
“You had no right to make a mess of yourself, Blitz.”
“Oh please….don’t act like you’re better than me simply because you became admiral at such a young age. I know all about what happened that day, Arche. This isn’t some typical bickering between two ponies. No, this is to decide how Equestria will survive in the coming years. I’m only telling you this because as much as I hate to admit it, you worry me. A soldier surviving what you had to endure can’t just be erased or forgotten, and the wedding only made things worse. I’m asking you just this once Arche……let….it…go. This obsession of yours will only eat you alive. If not by the fangs of a changeling…than by your own mistakes, and I don’t want you bringing down all of Equestria along with it. Do we have an understanding…..admiral?”
Arche looked Blitz square in the eyes, and formed a small smile.
“Always good to see you, Blitz.”
He slowly trots away from him, a confused expression formed on his face. He then leaves himself, his own guards following.
“Send a letter to the princess. Inform of her that moron’s intentions before he gets us all killed.”
The train back to Canterlot was a peaceful one. As he did on the ride to the meeting, he studied everything to know of changelings in the book he obtained from Ponyville. Which reminded him to stop by there in the coming days to return it. He had just learned all there was to know in the book about the changeling threat. Wouldn’t be surprised if he could identify the creature before any other pony could. One of his guards informs of that they’ll be entering Ponyville within the next few hours. He simply nods, returning to his book.
“Sir, if I may ask, why return to Ponyville just for a book? I’ve heard that nothing but disaster happens there, and surely your presence is better needed in Canterlot."
Arche remembers his time at the library, meeting that nice young mare and her owl. It pleased him that there was still good ponies to speak with, to calm one’s thoughts of the ways of violence and war. Something he desperately needed after that ridiculous encounter with Blitz.
“I made a promise, young one, and I always keep my word. It shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes. Fret not, the latest intel our scouts have acquired for the princess will still be given on time.”
However, part of Arche had wondered if Celestia would even bother to hear him. It was nothing short of a rumored pathway unbeknownst for trade routes among farmers. Any indication that it could be a secret changeling hunting route is no short of a miracle. It could seem Arche was getting desperate for any more leads at this point, but he didn’t care. Chrysalis had to be found for her crimes, no matter what it took.
“Sir, we have a situation!”
Another one of Arche’s guards quickly trotted to him, out of breath. Before he could even utter a word of the manner, the train comes to a horrific stop. Strangely, vines began wrapping around the train, as seen from the outside the windows. Arche quickly gets up from his eat before the vines shatter the window, wrapping around the train cart. Two of Arche’s soldiers were grabbed by the vines and lifted off their hooves. Another pushed Arche out of the way before the vines capture him as well.
“ADMIRAL! RUN!”
The cart began to shake, forcing Arche off his balance as he tumbles out of the train through a shattered window. He began tumbling down the hill the train was currently halted on, crashing into some rather painful thorn bushes. Arche growls in pain, pulling himself free from the push, ignoring the small thorn cuts on his face and body. He looks around the train in confusion, noticing that the vines were constantly extending from the forest several feet from where the train tracks aligned.
“The Everfree Forest…..what in Equestria is happening in there?"