//------------------------------//
// Combustible 
// Story: The Pyro 
// by The Infinity Doctor 
//------------------------------//

Pyro stared out at the bug-horse Queen through his mask as he followed her through the dark, winding passages of the underground city. He held his Flamethrower at the ready, just in case there were...*ahem* 'complications'. Namely, RED spies hiding in the shadows, ready to jump him at a moments notice. His actions however, didn't go unnoticed by the Queen, as she peered back to be sure he was keeping up. Her horn became encased in a green glow, and the Pyro suddenly found the hand not clutching his flamethrower being tugged forward by the same glow covering his hand. The Queen seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere, if her quickened pace was any indication. He glanced around at the walls of the drab tunnel boredly as the Queen led him to wherever they were going. The walls slowly stared to blend into a more grey-ish color as the glowing moss and mushrooms shifted into a light pink. The Pyro's transition into his own little world went unnoticed by the Queen as they came upon a large room, directly across from them being a magnificent throne cut from the rock jutting up from the floor. The bug Queen crossed the cavernous room, Pyro following closely, he rolled his eyes as the Queen sat upon her throne, and stared down at him condescendingly. 

"I suppose you're wondering why I have summoned you" the Queen said "I am Queen Chrysalis, queen of this hive"

Pyro rolled his eyes once more, waiting for the Queen to continue.

"To put it simply, my hive is dying," she said, pausing "there are too few of us as it is, and there's barely enough food- one of the main threats is starvation"

"Mmmmph mmph mm mmm?"

The Queen cocked an eyebrow, unable to understand his muffled speech. Pyro waited a moment, then face-palmed, this world was going to kill him if he couldn't even get a simple sentence out- even his teammates had some idea of what he was saying! So, for the moment, he performed a universal shrug. 

"We changelings feed on love, as well as other emotions," she explained "in our pursuit of nurishment, love is the most potent, but others such as happiness and joy can do as well"

"Mmm mm mmmph?"

"Yes" she said, not missing a beat, though at the same time having no clue as to what the fire-bug just said "Of course, the rest of the world isn't so...shall we say...accepting..."

Pyro muttered something that could've been understood as 'Oh really?'.

"Oh, we attempted to be civil, of course" Chrysalis said, over-dramatically laying her hoof across her eyes "but alas, they drove us out, and we have suffered ever since"

"Mm mmm mm mph?"

"To put it simply, I need you to join me, and help me...'convince'...the ponies to give assistance" 

'So she called a mercenary to do it?' Pyro wondered. 

Chrysalis stood, and stepped down from her throne, her hooves clicking against the stone floor as she approached him. 

"So, fire-demon, do we have a deal?" she said, raising her hoof.
"Mm mmm mumph" he said, before turning to leave the room.

"Ah, yes..." Chrysalis said, gritting her teeth "...of course, think about it as much as you'd like..."





Pyro wandered the grey halls of the hive, and took into account everything there was to see...well...as much as there was to see in a place like this...

What he saw, aside from his own delusions here and there, was that Chrysalis had, in fact, spoken the truth- what few of these 'changelings' he could find, were practically starving, their ribs showing through. It saddened him to see them like this, even if all of this was possibly just a severe 'episode', and he'd wake up any moment, lying in the desert sun. He shuddered at the thought, and continued walking, his boots squeaking as green (or in his case, pink) goo dripped from the ceiling. Well, at least he wasn't getting shot at...