//------------------------------// // Fires of Insanity // Story: The First Changeling-Pony War // by MlpHero //------------------------------// The group sat at the table, looking at each other. The tension between them created a warm vacuum of air. Foresight tapped his hooves nervously, looking at the ponies. They stayed silent. Celestia cleared her throat. “So.” “Yes, let’s get to business.” Chrysalis leaned forward. “You have built forts on my land. I am here to see if they’ll be removed.” The two alicorns stared at each other. “Well um… you don’t use the lands, Chrysalis,” Luna stated. “We didn’t really see a problem with—” “By your logic, I have every right to build on Forever Fields,” Chrysalis rebutted. “I am simply asking that you remove your fortresses from my borders and that we may live in peace.” The sisters exchanged uneasy glances.  “Well?” Chrysalis asked, growing impatient. Celestia spoke up. “We will remove the fortresses as fast as we can.” Luna blinked. “Now hold on-” “Perfect! We shall resume as normal then.” Chrysalis began to get up from her chair. “Wait, Chrysalis!” Luna announced. The Queen looked at her, raising a brow. “Yes?” “May we ask what you’re using the lands for?” she asked. “I mean, if you’re not actually going to build anything… What are you going to use them for?” Chrysalis stared at her, as if silently saying, “you wouldn’t want to know”. But, Luna was persistent. “Tell us, or we won’t remove our fortresses.” Celestia looked over, staring at her sister. “Now, Luna, we must comply with her wishes if we are to stay at peace.” Luna sat back down, staring intently at the changelings. There was no use to arguing. Celestia knew they weren’t ready for war. But Luna was still so curious. What would they use the lands for, if not to build? Chrysalis sat back down. “Well, if you’re curious… I could show you the files…” The sisters looked over. Now, they were both interested. Chrysalis chuckled. “There it is…” She murmured, reaching over to Vertex, who handed her some files. She nodded, taking the files from him, before opening it. She then set it on the table, and slid it over to them. They sisters hesitated, before turning it around. Their eyes widened as they saw the files contents. Inside, there were a few pictures. The first few were of a desolate field, completely devoid of life. The trees had been ripped out and sent what seemed like miles from the stumps, and dead animal skeletons lay in some of the shots. The lakes were completely empty, and fires were burning in the distance. The next few showed a massive crater in the ground, it too seeming to be home to several flames. These were labeled “Impact”. However, the last one was what caught their eyes. A giant cloud in the shape of a crude mushroom. It was big, and seemed to produce a shockwave that ripped the trees out of the ground. They stared at the picture, before sliding the files back to the mad Queen. She stood, tucking the files neatly back into the folder. “So, I’m sure we have an understanding?” Luna looked at her sister, then back to Chrysalis. “May me and my sister discuss this privately?” Chrysalis nodded. “You may.” The two stood, leaning the room. They stepped into a seperate room, a study. Celestia sighed, looking at her sister. But Luna got the first word. “Listen, if we kill her now, we can—” “Luna, no,” Celestia cut her off. “This is not our battle to win.” “But… Sister!” Celestia levitated a book over, handing it to Luna. The younger alicorn examined it. “This is the book on Hearth’s Warming that Star Swirl used to read…”  Celestia nodded. “If the three leaders before us didn’t compromise, we may not be here today.” She sat down, looking out of the window, watching the ponies outside. “As much as a threat Chrysalis may be, we must obey to her wishes if we want our style of life to remain the same. Otherwise, it may crumble completely.” Luna opened her mouth to argue, but knew her sister was right. She sighed, nodding. “Yes sister.” Celestia levitated the book back to the shelf, leaving her sister. Luna sighed, before falling behind.  ~~~ Outside, the changelings had been sent outside. Foresight sat in the wagon. Baxter climbed in beside him, followed by Curvature and Lyce. Lyce stretched. “Do you think Chrysalis will settle this whole thing?” “More than likely,” Curvature replied, adjusting his glasses. Foresight leaned against the wooden wall of the wagon. They waited for the Queen. Foresight sighed, looking over to Curvature. “Hey, I’m gonna take a nap,” he said, yawning. “Wake me when we’re home.” Curvature nodded. “Alright.” Foresight yawned, falling asleep. ~~~ Foresight awoke to the smell of burning ash and flesh. He was laying on the strangely hot ground of the forests that surrounded the hive, although now, they were barren and burnt. The few trees that stood had no leaves, and there was no foliage to be seen.  Although, he himself wouldn’t be able to tell, as his vision was pointed up at the sky. Above, he saw a weird circle formation. Possibly smoke? Foresight tried to move, but couldn’t. His head was able to move however, and he looked down at his body. His body was intact, but it just wouldn’t budge. He felt… tired. Between his legs, he could see remnants of the trees, only now, they were engulfed by small flames. Foresight wished he could move his forehooves, if only to cover his nose as the smell of ash and burning flesh almost made him vomit. He hadn’t even smelt burning flesh. He wasn’t present in the megaspell tests either. However, when he looked to his right, he almost felt his heart fall to his stomach. The hive, the grand tower of the Queen, up in a raging fire. He stared, not being able to react at all.  He then heard hoofsteps. “Help me! Help me— augh!” He heard something fall to the ground a few meters to his left. He looked over, noticing a changeling crawling along the ground. Behind them, what appeared to be a pony followed behind. They rolled the changeling over. “No! No—” Foresight watched as the pony’s bolt thrower sent a bolt into the changeling's head. He tried to close his eyes, but couldn’t. The ground beneath him began to tremble. “We got a live one!” “Torch the bugger.” Foresight looked over, just as the flames engulfed him. It was at last, he began to scream and flail as the fire melted away at his chitin. It burned. He began scratching everywhere on his body, trying to put the flames out. “Ahhh! Arghhh!” “Foresight! Wake up!” ~~~ Foresights eyes immediately opened and he panted. He was staring at the wagon's roof. Above him, the others stared in a mix of shock and worry.  “Foresight? You okay?” “I… What happened…?” Curvature helped him up. “Well, you were mumbling in your sleep… then you all of a sudden began screaming and thrashing like you were being swarmed by a colony of fire ants.” Foresight panted, standing. “I’m uh… I’m fine… bad dream.” He sat up, rubbing his head. They stared at him, before the wagon came to a stop. “Is everything alright back there?” Vertex called. “Sounded like someone screaming like they were on fire.” “It was me sir!” Foresight replied back. “Had a bad dream!” There was silence. Then Vertex called back, “Alright! We’re almost at the hive, meet me in the nursery after dinner! And bring those military toys you used to play with!” Foresight blinked, but answered. “Uh… Yessir!” The wagon began moving again. Foresight sighed, leaning back against the wooden wagon. He was afraid to close his eyes this time. ~~~ The wagon finally arrived at the Hive, which, to Foresight’s relief, was still intact. Foresight felt the air pass through his lungs safely again.  “Alright, everyone out,” Curvature said, hopping out of the wagon, the rest following. Foresight sighed.  “I’ll see you idiots later,” he said. “I guess I’m going to see Vertex.” Lyce chuckled. “Good luck.” “Yeah. Real damn encouragin’.” Foresight rolled his eyes and left, heading for his room.