Pyro poked at the holed creature standing before the hole in the wall that led to the throne room. It flinched, shook itself, and resumed standing at attention. He poked at it again.
"Stop it" the guard grunted, his insectile wings flitting.
"Mmpmm" he responded, poking the changeling in the side once more.
One of its wings batted his gloved hand away, and sneered, revealing his fangs, as he did his best to keep at attention.
Pyro shrugged, and turned, leaving the guard to his own devices. The changeling snorted, and flitted his wings, shivering the tiniest bit as he watched the blue demon glance at the walls of the hive.
"Have you made your decision?" Chrysalis asked, her teeth gritted in an attempt to keep a somewhat friendly tone.
The blue-suited creature gave a signal with the hand not situated on the firey instrument of death, the other holding its fist clenched, a single digit on the end sticking up.
"Good" she replied, grinning like a cheshire cat.
"Mrrah?"
"All in good time," Chrysalis said, still grinning like a madman "for now, we prepare, then- there shall be nothing to stand against us"
The dark queen cackled, her fangs flashing in the dim light as Pyro rolled his eyes, not caring for her theatrics. She finally managed to finish, and turned to the pyromaniac, a devious gleam in her slitted pupils.
"The hive must take time to prepare, I will send for you when the time comes"
And with that, her gossamer wings buzzed, and her hooves left the ground as she flew past him, and across the room. She passed her throne, carved from the dark rock, and into an opening off to the side, presumably her chambers.
Pyro stood in the throne room, alone. The luminescent green moss glowing like kryptonite as water droplets fell from the ceiling from god-knows-where, splashing against the semi-wet rock and stone of the cavern floor. The index finger on his right hand gently squeezed at the trigger on the nozzle-like line feeding into the front of the flamethrower. He felt the urge- the need to burn something, his own sanity dissolving and forming again as the battle raged on inside his mind.
'No,' he decided.
His index finger released the trigger altogether, and he turned and left the expansive cavern, the need still gnawing away at his mind.
As he walked, he pulled his pack, and zipped it open, wondering what he could use to pass the time. He unholstered his Detonator, and shoved it into the bag, stowing it away for the time being. One gloved hand then lodged itself into the bag, and he let his mind wander, letting it decide what to summon. A handle soon found its way into his grasp, and he removed his fist from the bag, a long white handle stemming from his black, gloved fist. A circular object soon followed the handle, the pink-and-white swirl pattern staring back at him. He shrugged, accepting it, as he slung his back back onto its place on his belt, near the back, almost next to the tank connected with the nozzle of the flamethrower. He tossed it back and forth as he continued walking, a bit happy at the achieved goal of finding something to occupy himself with.
The sounds of a struggle found him, and he followed them, the distinct sound of chitin and hooves scraping against rock leading him on. He stopped at a cave, and found a group of changelings, all circled around two of the dueling insects. He discreetly stepped in, staying close to the mouth of the cave, as he watched the two snap their jaws at each other. The one to the right tackled the other, pinning him (or was it her? It was kind of hard to tell...) to the ground. A distinct buzz filled the air, and the two released each other, before backing into opposite sides of the circle.
All the changelings in the room turned to stare at him, clapping his hands like an idiot. The room went deathly still, and he waved at them.
"And just what are you doing here?" the one to the left asked, its voice filled with venom.
"Mumpha?"
"You...you want to spar?" the other asked, one of its tattered ears flipping down as the other remained up.
"Mm mmmph"
The 'ling regarded him for a moment, before hesitantly consenting, motioning for him to step into the circle. He complied, and walked forward, the changelings stepping back, as if he carried the plague.
'Some things never change...'
He soon found himself alone in the circle, all of their attention focused on him.
"Who has the courage, to spar with the fire spirit?" the same changeling announced.
They looked at one another, uncertain of what the outcome might be if they chose to duel with the creature. A larger changeling stepped forward, his hoof raised.
"I'm not afraid," he announced "I accept"
'Dammit...'
Pyro found himself staring into the empty, luminescent eyes of the challenger, his stance revealing he was prepared to pounce, if need be.
Just as he assumed, the changeling jumped, charging him. Pyro raised the Lollichop, and swung. The weapon connected with the side of the insect-equine's head, forcing him to rear back as he cried out.
They watched, in stunned silence, as the blue-skinned creature stood over their compatriot, shouting out in victory.
"You ever seen something like that?" one asked, looking to her friend.
"No...I never saw somepony beat another with a giant lollipop..."