just what is peace? Some believe it is a state of wellbeing that is free of violence, stress, war. Others would call it a state of tranquility or wholeness. To be 'at peace with yourself' would be to feel whole, calm, acknowledging of yourself. In politics however it is the absence of war in a nation. In this sense, Equestria has been 'at peace' for a thousand years. No official sources of government having actually attacked them. Yet is it peace when a small forgotten race invades the capital of such a nation?
Some would say it is war. But war is between nations, groups of nation vs. nation. Not an entire race. Thus, while these... Equestrians. Hunt down my guests, would one say, they are still at peace? Is it just pest control? No, this is what the mind would call stress and violence. In which case, there hasn't been peace in over a thousand years within equestrian territories with the predators hunting their prey, the constant change in economical systems. Peace is to be free. Freedom, is the sad equivalent of anarchy to a government system. So to answer the question. Equestria hasn't been at peace since those sisters took the throne.
The world itself however... Hasn't seen peace ever since it was created. Why should they expect it to change now?
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A clearing had been set aside for the changelings, already few of the less injured ones were wandering through the masses applying their meager reserves of magic in order to save their kin. Chrysalis had only taken a mournful downcast look as we passed the rows of those who hadn't made it. The caretaker only watched as she seemed to put up a barrier between herself and the outside world. Mourning those who had died in the crash.
He didn't get it, why should one feel sad about the passing of others? It was common, everyday a predator would hunt down it's prey. Did the family of the prey mourn? No... It puzzled him why, though he knew deep inside the reason. She had cared for her hive. From an ash-wood tree he arose and coughed quietly, trying to draw her attention away from the bodies, "Little Cocoon, I assume you're friends and family are in no fit state for travel."
There was no response from the Changeling queen, minutes passed as she mumbled a jagged reply, "Why would you care?"
The Caretaker chuckled deeply again, "Because Cocoon, we both have something the other wants. You want a sanctuary to recover and rebuild in peace, and I am rather curious to what your people are, as well as needing a way to relieve the boredom of living alone in a forest I have known since it began. The only thing you'd need to do besides that is to follow a few simple rules."
"and what, pray tell, would those be. If, I were to consider the offer?" Chrysalis shot back wearily, while leaning on her less injured right hoof.
The Caretaker smiled behind her, "Glad you asked, rule one: If I give an order, it is to be done. This is for your own sake as well as my forest's. I don't want to tell you, 'Don't go into that cave!' and find out you angered the Ursa major or dragon living in there into a rampage from your trespassing. Got it?"
Chrysalis rolled her eyes, "As long as you don't order us to serve you there won't be a problem. What else?"
The Caretaker droned on, "Should be obvious for rule two: No harming the forest's ecosystem. It's delicate enough keeping everything in check without a balance between predators and prey. Speaking of which what does your species strive on?"
Chrysalis sighed, "We are an omnivorous species though we need... a rarer material... in order to use magic and reproduce."
The Caretaker rolled his eyes, "I'm assuming that this material component in some way is the reason your kind was flung from that city of stone?"
She nodded, confirming his suspicions, "It seems we both have an interest with the same target. What that means however is up to you. Though there is one last rule you must follow in order to live in this forest."
She blew an rogue strand of hair out of her face only for it to fall back where it was, "and that is?" she asked.
"Under no circumstances, whatsoever, are anyone within my forest to use fire." The Caretaker scowled at the last word.
Chrysalis gave a growl in return, "Kind of need it if we're going to survive the incoming winter season, cook meals, or sterilize bandages."
"No," The Caretaker snapped back, "you won't need a fire. If something needs to be cooked, warmed, or cleaned with heat. I would prefer you to use burnweed instead of making an enemy of my forest."
She balked at the sudden anger, the Caretaker sighed returning to his normal tone, "Everything in this forest despises that...thing. We do not forget those who have burned us, and have no desire to be burned again. I'll provide the needed plant in order to compensate. Though I'll need your help if you decide to stay here long term."
"Why would we do that?" Chrysalis remarked, an eye twitching in presumable disbelief.
As though to a child he explained, "Little Cocoon. There has already been... scouting parties... of armed ponies searching for your survivors. Nothing too deep, those who wander in too far are reminded of the reasons their kind fear my forest. But it is too dangerous for you to leave in the meantime when half of your injured are too weak to even walk."
The caretaker trotted up to her, surprising the Changeling queen with his appearance, holding out a hoof to her, "So is it a deal?"
Chrysalis looked at him, her expression a mixture of emotions ranging from shock, to disbelief again, though what else she would of displayed was hidden behind a serious mask as she considered her options. With a sigh of defeat she bumped her hoof against his, "Since there isn't another choice it seems. Agreed."
The caretaker grinned, the wood around his hoof separating and encasing hers before withdrawing, a wooden band remaining on her hoof, she withdrew her hoof and gave a curious gesture to the bracelet, he explained, "your free to wander among the forest to an extent with that, the creatures of my domain will recognize you as another citizen though I still wouldn't provoke them if I were you."
"so basically I'm under house arrest in your forest, and my kind is basically stuck here as much as Discord is a statue." Chrysalis remarked with a roll of her eyes.
"Who?"
She sighed, "Nothing, he's just an..." she struggled to find the word, settling for an simpler answer, "Rival... in a way."
"Interesting, is he a Changeling like you?"
Chrysalis deadpanned, "If he was one of us, we'd all be made of cheese."
Now it was the Caretakers turn to look confused, "Pardon?"
She rolled her eyes, "He doesn't make any sense in any sense of the word sense. In other words he takes logic and throws it out the door. Literally."
The Caretaker imagined that and let out a chuckle, "I'll take your word for it. Now, lets handle the housing and food issues shall we?"
"Got an idea in mind?" Chrysalis asked curious, no doubt, to the wooden pony before her, "Several. Though like I said, I'll need some help in order to get it started. I need one of your less injured changelings for the food issue. He or she needs to leave the forest and bring me back something."
"What is it?"
"An Apple."