Crimson Sunrise

972 ALB, Changeling Lands, Vraks, Vraks’ Hive

Vraks, where the hope of a peaceful changeling nation, was fighting its end.

It was early night, yet the sky was painted in dark grey because of the smoke from chimneys. It was autumn, but no leaves were seen falling, not even seen on the ground, not even seen on the trees.

Landmarks was alongside Quehlanx on the roads that surround the hive of Vraks, which was visible from kilometers away.

They both were walking to the house of Quehlanx’s family, since she had to pay a visit sometime each year, and Oxford and Tinted Pages were in a diplomatic meeting with the Queen of Vraks, Landmarks couldn’t stay in home alone.

Quehlanx looked at the little foal bouncing by her side, “Aren’t you excited, young Landy?”

“Yes ma’am, I always wanted to see how were the lands of the changelings!” – He stops jumping and takes a moment to look his surroundings – “Pretty darn grey!”

“It is pretty grey… and I used to say that Equestria was too colorful for my taste,” – As they walk over a hill, a house on the road becomes visible, made out of wood, mud and hay on the roof – “Look! that’s my family’s house! Looks exactly as I remember it.”

When we arrived to the house, the changeling let Landmarks knock the door, behind the door they could hear the boards creaking, both of them moved away from the door and then, an old changeling would open it.

"Rallis! It's been forever since we last saw each other. How's the family?" The old changeling pierced his eyes into Landmarks

“Hello, Quehlanx, it’s been like a year… What is doing that little foal with you?” Said as he pointed at Landmarks, who didn’t understand a word they were saying.

“Ah! this is Landmarks, I’m taking care of him for a while, his family had to do a diplomatic meeting in the hive with the queen.” – She would alternate between languages for a second – “Landmarks, this is my… let’s say brother, Rallis.”

“Why would some ponies hold a meeting with the queen of the Vraks hive?” Asked with a tone of disbelief

“As I said, they are diplomats, after 2 years discussing matters with Princess Celestia, they can finally talk to the Queen about the changelings who want Equestrian citizenship and live there.”

“With the Vesapolis hive lurking, I don't think the queen will let her changelingpower escape to Equestria.” – He steps away from the door frame, letting them both pass – “Come in, it’s cold outside.”

The floor of the house was made of loose wooden planks, the walls were made of mud with some logs being the structural base of these, the lights were nothing more than candles and the bonfire in the small living room, from which in the hallway the shadows of Quehlanx's younger relatives could be seen.

“Younglings! say hello to your sister” – The little changelings who were warming themselves by the fireplace turned their heads to their sister, unnecessarily slowly, their eyes shining in the shadows, which alternated between light blue, purple and green, “Quehlanx!!!” They shouted, then pounced on their sister and exchanged hugs with her, Landmarks stood there awkwardly, debating whether he found the situation terrifying or loving.

Rallis walked through the kitchen and stood next to the little pony, “Younglings, this is Landmarks! He's a pony!” – He shouted, the little bugs get near the pony, amazed by the new creature – “He’s our guest for tonight and we’ll bring him to hunt with us.”

Quehlanx stood up, “Hunt?! I don’t think he can handle that...”

“Don’t worry Quehlanx, they call me a Jaeger for a reason, I’ll take care of him, I promise.”

“Fine, but I want no scratches.” – She turns to Landmarks and kneels – “Landy, these are my closer relatives, they will go hunt in a while and they are inviting you to come with them, or you can stay here with me…”

“I’ll go with them, Miss!” He said with excitement.

“Okay, but you have to be very, very careful alright? It’s not an activity that you do for fun, but to survive.”

“Sure, Miss! I’ll be just fine” – He smiled at her, even though he had no idea how to hunt.

“Rallis! When are you guys going out?” – She asked, raising her head towards him

“Like… Right now, Quehly,” – He raises his hooves and buzzes his wings to stay standing, – “Younglings! Time for hunt!”

The little changelings rush out the place flying, the foal follows them, trotting out the house.

Rallis led the hunting, the little changelings played with Landmarks as they followed their leader, the language barrier didn’t matter.

After a pair of hours of lurking in the forest, Rallis stops the march raising his hoof. He began to crawl on the ground towards some bushes, the other changelings and the pony followed him, “Omukade…” beyond the bushes, a giant centipede, not taller than a pony but longer than ten of them, the creature sparkled fear and adrenaline inside Landmarks.

Rallis shined bright, and an aura of magic surrounded him, he had turned into a giant centipede, though a bit tinier than the one behind the bushes.

Landmarks gasped, wanting to scream his soul out, but the other little changelings prevent this from happening.

Rallis crawled through the bushes, everyling and Landmarks sat inside the bushes, hidden from the giant centipede. They saw Rallis, doing some sort of movement to lure the other creature, which works.

Then, Rallis strikes, calling his army of little changelings to cover the monster in some sort of goop, capturing it.

Changeling bellies were roaring with hunger, they made a line in front of the monster and began to consume his love, but before everyling could get some love, it would have been depleted, leaving some hungry.

“I’m sorry younglings… I guess you’ll have to eat organic tonight… Let’s go home,” Rallis said sadly, the little changelings portrayed disgrace in their faces. They walked through the forest back to their home.

Quehlanx was reading a book by the warmness of the fireplace when his sibling arrives home, she started counting the little changelings as they got inside the house, they were all here, Landmarks jumped at her and gave her a hug, He had a face of fear and amazement, “There was a giant centipede! Mr. Rallis turned into one and they all captured it!”

“Thank Celestia it was the normal hunting… Did you have fun young Landmarks?” She asked while holding the foal in between her hooves

“Yes, I did! But I’m pretty weary right now, and a bit hungry, is there something to eat?”

“No… I don’t think there is anything to eat… why don’t you go to sleep in my old bed? It’s upstairs, through the white door.”

“Sure Miss!” Landmarks hopped off her and trotted upstairs, slowing down as he approached the white door.

The room was tiny, just a little more room for a bed the size of Quehlanx and a little table on its side, he climbed on the bed, and he wrapped himself into the sheets.

He fell into a profound dream, though it would not last for long, his sleep was interrupted by the warm light of the little hallway outside the room.

Then, the door closed, rapidly, he heard little hoofsteps climbing the dark walls, and bright eyes were seen on the roof, he began to feel weak, tired and emotionless, he felt how his love and happiness was being taken out of him.

The door knocked, and the eyes hide in the shadows, “Young Landmarks… your family is here, is time to go,” – He doesn’t respond – “Poor little thing…” She carried him, taking him outside.

He saw his family on a carriage, but he fell asleep, once more.