High above the icy tundras a carriage made of chitin and wood soared through the skies at a steady space. A small squad of drones were escorting the flying carriage with utmost care as an attack by enemy pegasi was likely. They came to a very steep mountain and found a place to land carefully. A small bump was felt as the carriage made contact with the frosty surface and slid to an abrupt stop. With great precision and care, the other drones landed next to the carriage and took positions around the area.
"My lord, we have arrived at the peak you wished to oversee the battle from." A Changeling drone pulling the carriage said in order to inform the noble.
With a swing of its doors Lord Shiftwing and two of his personal guards exited the large carriage quickly. The lord trotted swiftly to the edge of the mountain ridge with his guards in tow to survey the terrain around the mountain. He quickly took note of the other large mountain range further away from them as he knew that the Ponies' hideout was located near it. The rest of the area was tundra, and was unimportant to the lord as he trotted away from from the edge of the ridge.
"It's rather ironic you know, how it used to be us living in a wasteland with barely enough love to sustain our hunger. And now look, they're facing nearly the same situation and environment we had, albeit a lot colder." The lord thought out loud before hearing the sound of buzzing nearby and turned to face the source of the sound.
It was another group of Changelings which flew in formation while heading towards them. At the front of the formation appeared to be a heavily armored Changeling soldier whom Shiftwing knew all too well. He trotted with his guards to an area in the center of the ridge and waited for the battalion of soldiers to land. The leader landed swiftly and stoutly first, crashing into the ice with his hooves and causing it to emit a loud crunching as it shattered where the soldier landed. The rest of the drones did the same as multiple green colored impacts of soldiers crashed onto the ice in a neat hexagon pattern and awaited orders to move. The leader however arose from the small crater he was in and trotted forward to meet the lord.
"My lord Shiftwing." he said as he took a bow before the lord. "It is an honor to meet your acquaintance yet again my lord. I suspect that you have an important task for my troops again?" The officer asked.
"As always, Colonel Web. Your troops have always completed the missions I've assigned to them efficiently, I see no reason why I should bother to ask another officer whom I have no reassurance that he will get the job done." The Lord overlooked the officer and saw that the squad of drones accompanying the Colonel had still kept their hexagon-like formation and wondered if they ever tired of waiting so long.
"It is no joke to serve the "Lord of Lies" without consequence my Lord. My troops already know full well what became of the last few who failed to meet your expectations." The Colonel visibly shuddered at the image of a Changeling officer pinned to a wall with several long knives with expression of pure terror on his face. He shook the image out of his head and returned to the task at hand. "My soldiers are currently waiting a few miles north of this position, and are awaiting the orders to march on the ponies' hideout."
"Excellent, I expect you to crush that small shelter with ease. With that out of the way, we may move on to the next steps of our scheme." Shiftwing finished as he removed his hat and shook it to remove some of the snow that had been gathering on the the rim.
"I understand, but what if we encounter the Element Bearers that you have told us about? I have also heard reports that the Aurorian Prince and Princess are also present as well. Shall we take the opportunity to eliminate them?"
Shiftwing hesitated as he knew that the Bearers were a perhaps a major problem in his plans, but wondered if they really needed to be taken out of the picture. He also knew that if used correctly the Aurorian Royal siblings could be valuable pawns in the war and the chance to take them was right in front of him. There was silence for a few seconds before he decided to give his opinion on the matter.
"Capture if encountered, you may use any force necessary but do not kill. Any fatalities among the bearers or the Royals and you will answer to me. Do. You. Understand?" Shiftwing asked darkly.
"I-Indeed my liege, but one more question just to be exact. What of the other civilians taking shelter within the hideout?"
Shiftwing again hesitated before chuckling madly. He turned to the Colonel with a gruesome smile on his face and a crazed look in his green-tinted eyes.
"Kill them all. Simple as that Colonel. Hunt them to your heart's content."
Web grinned evilly as he bowed again to the lord and gestured to his drones as he took to the air. The drones under his command followed him as they shot off from their positions and flew in formation behind the Colonel. Once the Officer was out of sight Shiftwing's smile grew as he turned and started to trot back to the carriage.
"Oh Web, if you weren't such a dim witted moth you would have proven much more valuable to me. A shame." Shiftwing laughed as he continued to trudge through the thick layer of snow on the ground.
"Sir, I fail to see your motive here. You forgot to mention that there is an army of Aurorian soldiers defending the enemy hideout. With their numbers I doubt the Colonel will even be able to lay a hoof on that blasted cave at all." One of Shiftwing's guards spoke.
"It must have slipped my mind. Oh dear oh dear." Shiftwing replied sarcastically.
"But Colonel Web and his forces will be slaughtered won't they? Why give them false hope when you expect them all to die only a few hours later my lord?" The guard questioned.
"Please, I've seen Parasprites that are smarter than that lump of waste, and his troops fare no better. Besides, what better way is there than to die smiling?" Shiftwing was now almost completely insane-looking as he gazed upon the slightly anxious pair of guards with him.
"I see, it is your will to have him die and I won't go against it."
"See to it that you won't ever again Nightwind."
Shiftwing reached the carriage and opened the door with his magic while the guards took position outside. Once the lord was in the privacy of his carriage he used his magic once more as he tinted the windows and soundproofed the walls so as to prevent anypony listening in on his conversation. He then reached into a pocket of his and took out a small green gem and focused his magic into it. After a few seconds an image of Chrysalis appeared and Shiftwing bowed slightly.
"What is it Shiftwing! I'm in the middle of feeding here!" The Queen replied angrily.
"The Colonel has been given the order to attack."
"Good, my plan has finally been set in motion. Excellent work Shiftwing, I'll also be sending you a few "playmates" so as to help you in your mission."
"I would prefer to work alone my Queen. So I advise you to rethink your decision."
"I'm sure you'll get along just fine. In fact, I think you've already acquainted yourself with one of them haven't you?"
"Oh, very well then, as long as they don't get in my way then I have no problem with partners." Shiftwing said.
"I expect a report in the aftermath of the battle. Good luck." Chrysalis said as the image of her faded along with the magic circulating around the gem. Shiftwing rolled his eyes before hearing a loud boom and exited the carriage quickly to the surprise of his guards. Another boom was heard as he hurried to the edge of the ridge and saw the Colonel's forces laying siege to the fortified cave.
"It has begun. The fall of Aurorian Empire."