WAR?

Shutter Shot had read that headline at least a thousand times. His eyes dropped down to read the rest of the article, a feat made difficult by the many bumps and jolts created by the obsolete train running on tracks in ill repair.

It had been six months since the changeling attack on Canterlot, and even if every last changeling had been expelled from Equestria, the populace was still uneasy. The article detailed strange pillars of smoke billowing from what was assumed to be the changeling homeland, along with strange noises being reported along the border. Nopony dared venture any closer, for fear of being captured by the insect-like monsters and hauled off to some some horrible fate.

The article continued, speculating whether or not these reports meant mounting troop movements and the possibility of a full-scale invasion against Equestria:

“We are therefore left with only one possibility: these towers of smoke reported by the good subjects of Equestria are the fires of camps, and the strange noises are enemy scouts, poking our border crossings for weaknesses! What now will we do, in the face of these blood-suckers who threaten our very way of life? What must we do?”

Saber Rattler’s article extrapolated, as per her usual style. Shutter Shot sighed; even though she was his colleague, he could barely tolerate her alarmism.

The light gray unicorn pony looked out the window of his cramped cabin. The train was well into the desert now, and only the very edge of the horizon Shutter Shot could just barely make out the cracked brown surface that marked the beginning of changeling territory.

Shutter Shot inspected his camera, checking the film. It was the same camera he carried when he was the first on the scene to the brief rebellions of Discord and Nightmare Moon, and the same camera that had stolen images of Canterlot in the aftermath of the Changeling attack. This little machine, though meaningless to anypony else, had earned him his once-unattainable job at Stomp and his nomination for a Golden Sun.

Despite his notoriety as a journalist, he often caught himself stewing over how this trip felt... different. He considered himself an investigative reporter, sure, but he had never once ventured outside Equestria proper. Sure, Discord had turned half of the country into a freaky wonderland and Nightmare Moon threatened to plunge the entire world into eternal darkness, but at those threats were at least Equestrian in origin. The changelings were just weird.

As he turned the camera toward him to inspect the lens, his cabin suddenly lurched forward and the screech of grinding metal permeated the entire train car. The locomotive quickly slowed and stopped, still quite a ways from his destination.

He had just exited his cabin when he spotted the conductor walking down the aisle.

“Sorry son. End of the line.” he said flatly.

“What!? We're not supposed to reach our destination for another hour!” Shutter protested, pointing at the clock.

The conductor grimaced, “Yeah, about that. All the tracks beyond here are beaten to Tartarus. You're welcome a free ride back if ya want.”

Shutter Shot shook his head, “No way. I've probably got the story of the century on my hooves here.”

The conductor paused for a moment, confused. “Where did you say you were goin' again?”

Shutter Shot pointed out the window, “The Changeling Kingdom. If a war breaks out, I'm going to be the first one there!”

“Your funeral,” the conductor laughed as he headed back to the rear engine.

Shutter Shot followed the conductor to the back door of the car, and jumped out onto the ground. The conductor peeked back outside.

“Are you sure about this, sonny?” he asked, genuinely concerned.

Shutter Shot simply nodded. The conductor shrugged and disappeared into the car. After a few moments the train roared to life once again, slowly picking up steam and chugging back to the train station in Fillydelphia.

As the chugging of the train faded into the distance, Shutter found himself looking at a lone line of railroad tracks, and beyond that no traces of civilization whatsoever. Little tendrils of regret began to creep into his thoughts, but he immediately squashed the uncertainty they brought by tossing around potential names for the tropical island he would buy if this job paid off. “Shuttertopia” had a nice ring to it.

With that thought in mind, he laid one hoof in front of the other and trotted toward his final destination: the dark and mysterious land of the changelings.

~

His walk toward the changeling homeland was very uneventful for the first night, his only companion being a lone tumbleweed that happened to be rolling the same direction as he was walking. As the sun sank into the horizon, he took that as his cue to set up camp. Using some sticks he had gathered along the way, he telekinetically rubbed two of them together at blinding speed, setting the hot points on fire and throwing them into the stack. The fire was bright and warm, a welcome relief to the cold desert air that seemed even worse than the ones he had experienced while reporting on the Buffalo Crisis in Appleloosa.

With nothing else to do, he pulled out his camera and took a handful of quick shots of the surrounding area, capturing a few dark mountains that haunted the horizon. Nothing else caught his interest, so he unpacked the supplies he had been carrying in his backpack and set up the portable tent. The small shelter provided much-needed relief from the bitter cold of the outside, and the unicorn went to sleep.

~

He was greeted the next morning by the pestering glare of the sun. He held out one hoof to block out the rays, and squinted on the horizon to estimate the distance from his destination. The barren landscape of the changelings was closer, but still at least a few more days travel away. He put out the smoldering remains of the fire, packed up his belongings, and headed on his way. Had he not been humming, he may have noticed that very low buzzing of insect wings some distance behind him.

Shutter Shot was a bit more liberal with his camera usage that day, snapping photos of the surrounding desert and the slowly approaching desolation of the changeling kingdom. As he stopped and prepared his camera for a full panoramic series of photos, he noticed the same tumbleweed that had blown alongside him the day before was only about a dozen feet behind him. He shrugged, finished his panning shot, and stowed his camera away. If nothing else, a stalker tumbleweed would make for a mildly funny story.

Soon enough, the night had settled upon the desert once more, and Shutter Shot had set up camp before the stars even became visible. The tumbleweed that had been behind him was now nowhere to be seen.

Shutter Shot's sleep on that night was also uneventful, save for when he woke up later that night to what he could have sworn was a hiss. He looked around, thinking he may have rolled over on a snake, but found nothing. After his nerves had steadied, he yawned and fell right back into dreamland.

As the third day dawned, Shutter saw what appeared to be a settlement on the horizon . Closer and to the right of the apparent village was a small hill, and Shutter decided that would be his next waypoint. The journey to it took most of the day, and by the time he had made his way to the top of it, the the sun was already setting.

Whatever fortunes this town once possessed had long since withered. Half the buildings were already falling apart, and the wooden ones looked completely rotten. Several shanties also dotted another nearby hill around a mine shaft, probably the source of the town's wealth until it dried up.

As he snapped photos of the dilapidated old town, he decided that sleeping with a roof over his head was preferable to the stinging cold of the night. Shutter began to silently search the town’s buildings for the one that looked least likely to cave in on him. Deciding that the local inn seemed more promising than any of the alternatives, he trotted in with a cautious eye.

The hotel interior was completely caked over with dust and a practical jungle of cobwebs was spread throughout, but it seemed that all the actual furnishings were still there. Tables, chairs, even a small bar with a full selection of drinks, aged with time but otherwise untouched.

Shutter was too exhausted to contemplate why the owners would leave in such a hurry, so he began looking for a room. They all turned out to be on the second floor, much to Shutter’s annoyance, and he entered the first one he found as he went upstairs. Entering the room, he found the entire place covered in mold and Celestia knew what else, but it least it was a bed. Finding himself completely uncaring towards the filthy state of the bed, he gave himself to the gentle pull of unconsciousness as he flopped into the mattresses’ soft, indiscriminate embrace.

~

Ssssssssss...

The irritating sound pierced his skull, causing him to frown and swipe a hoof at the source of the hiss.

SSSSSsss...

Shutter grabbed his pillow and stuffed it over his head, hoping to drown out the noise.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrgh!

He lifted his pillow, his eyes wide open. Not an inch from his face was a very angry changeling, its wings buzzing and its body trembling.

Shutter's eyes went even wider as he ducked out of the way and the changeling chomped down where his head was a moment prior. He plunged under his covers and jumped out of the opposite side of the bed, kicking up the blanket and covering the changeling.

He ran toward the staircase only to find two more changelings waiting for him, both of them sporting manic smiles of glee and buzzing excitedly. He skidded and ran the other way, jumping over the changeling that stumbled out of his room, still struggling to get the blanket off. With no other options, he charged full speed at the window at the end of the hall. The moment before impact, he quickly withdrew his camera with his magic and took a shot behind him, capturing the changeling that had just escaped his blanket prison and was now chasing Shutter with full fury.

Shutter smashed through the window, using what little magic he knew repel the ensuing shards of glass away from himself. He rolled as he hit the ground, grunting with pain as he did. Another changeling appeared over the roof of a nearby house and bolted toward him, loosing an unearthly scream as it flew.

Using what little time he had to recover, the unicorn ran for the general store, hoping to find something in there to arm himself with. He dodged the attack of a dive-bombing changeling and sprinted toward the building, weaving past several more changelings who narrowly missed their goal of crushing him. As he ran inside he quickly closed the door behind him and barred it with a chair. Shutter immediately heard hooves banging against the door.

Shutter Shot quickly surveyed his options. Old bread? No. Walking stick? No. Broom? Yes! He grabbed the broom with his mouth, turning toward the entrance. With his weapon ready, the door flew open and a group of changelings charged in, surrounding the unicorn.

He swung the broom a few times in defiance. One of the changelings gave an annoyed glance as it shot a bolt of green magic at the broom, turning it to dust.

His options exhausted, Shutter Shot closed his eyes and took one last picture. As he heard the shutter click, he heard a smashing sound, followed by a shriek. He opened his eyes to see that the number of changelings had somehow doubled, and that his attackers were in a full melee with a group of newcomers, who were wearing some kind of green band around their arms.

With both groups of changelings distracted, Shutter bolted past the brawl and outside, desperately acting on the first idea that came to mind. He took a picture behind him as he ran into the ruins of what was apparently the town’s bank, capturing a fight between two groups of changelings that had enveloped the whole town. He leaped over the counter and into the vault, using every ounce of his magic to close the heavy vault door behind him. It pulled shut with a loud clang, and Shutter Shot sat there, listening to the battle that raged on the other side.

It went on for hours. It was impossible to tell what time it was inside the vault, but eventually the screams and cries died down, and he could hear nothing.

This did not last however, as a loud bang came from the other side of the vault door, followed by several more bangs. Shutter scooted into the very back of the vault, readying his camera for what he was sure was his actual last photo.

The bangs ceased as the vault door turned green, and then red. A searing heat filled the vault room, and the center of the vault door began to melt. The molten metal quickly oozed down onto the floor, cooling rapidly, leaving a precise 'o' shape where there had once been a foot of iron.

In walked a very large changeling with a green scarf wrapped around its neck. One of its chitinous wings appeared to be missing, and he looked down on the cowering pony like one would regard an irritating spider.

“You,” it hissed, its eyes squinting, “You know nothing, do you?”

Though quaking with fear, Shutter Shot managed to squeak, “What?”

The large changeling said nothing in response, lowered his head and shot a blast of green magic directly at the unicorn. Shutter Shot flinched when the projectile hit him square in the forehead, and his world went to darkness.

~

When he awoke, he noticed he couldn't move his body. Also, he wasn't dead, which was a plus. He could still move his neck, and used this freedom to get his bearings.

Shutter was wrapped in a prison of sticky goo. He was suspended from the ceiling of the first floor of the hotel, and all around him changelings with green armbands buzzed about. Some were marching in formation outside, others appeared to be talking. Most were gathered or buzzing above a table, where the large changeling that appeared to be in charge was poking at a map, pointing out locations with some incomprehensible clicking.

One of the changelings next to the leader noticed that Shutter Shot had woken up. It nudged its leader, who looked to where it was pointing. The changeling leader gave a harsh hiss and all the changelings dispersed. He walked up to the suspended Shutter Shot, who was still struggling to break free.

“Changeling silk. You won't escape it,” it said.

“What do you want from me!?” Shutter Shot angrily shouted back, ignoring the changeling's advice.

“Answers.” it replied plainly. It took a few steps closer and its horn lit up with green power, the very tip of it only a few inches from Shutter's face.

Now was not the time for Shutter to be making demands. He took a deep breath, “I'mareporterandmynewspaperthinksthere'sgoingtobeawarsoIcameheretofindifyouguyswereabouttoinvadeEquestriaandifsoI'dbethefirstonetogetthescoop!”

As Shutter panted, the large changeling raised his head a bit and zapped the unicorn's gooey prison, dissolving it and dropping Shutter onto the ground face-first. As he rubbed his head and looked up, the changeling leader was looking directly into his eyes.

“No war with Equestria. Go home and tell them that,” it said before turning around and heading toward the exit.

“Wait!” Shutter Shot called, holding his hoof, “What about the fires? And the noises near the border? What is Queen Chrysalis—”

As soon as he uttered the changeling queen's name, every changeling inside the hotel turned toward him and hissed, before returning to their duties.

Shutter Shot looked around, confused, “What just happened?” he asked.

The changeling stared at the unicorn for a bit, before motioning for him to follow. “Come, I'll show you what's happening.”

Shutter followed the big changeling outside, and into a practical hive of activity. Everywhere around him, changelings wearing green armbands walked, buzzed, and talked amongst each other. Some gave Shutter a warning hiss, but did no more. He also spotted the town's water tower, which now sported a flag.

The flag was tattered, but appeared to have a solid black background, with a bright green 'X' in the foreground. As he followed the leader around the building, he came across a most puzzling sight. A few dozen changelings were tied up, most of them covered with nasty bruises and cuts. They were guarded by another small group of changelings, who kept undivided attention on their imprisoned brethren.

Both Shutter Shot and the leader changeling shared a moment of silence before the unicorn broke it.

“Okay,” he said, gesturing toward the prisoners, “now I'm officially confused.”

“Servants of the Usurper.” he hissed.

Shutter tilted his head. “Chrysalis?”

The changelings guarding the beaten army turned their heads and hissed at the unicorn before returning their attention toward the prisoners.

Shutter opened his mouth to ask another question, but the changeling leader had already begun talking.

“Two cycles ago, the Usurper attempted to seize control of your homeland, with her most devoted soldiers.”

The leader spat on the ground, which began to bubble and dissolve away, “She returned with no food, and a scattered swarm. Her lies could stand no longer, and those truly loyal to the collective have begun the glorious return to the rightful head of the horde!”

One of the changelings passing by lifted a holey appendage, “All hail Queen Vertex!” it screeched.

Every changeling within earshot raised a hoof and shouted the same: “ALL HAIL QUEEN VERTEX!”

“The rightful heir!” the changeling leader boomed, shaking his hoof.

Shutter tapped the Changeling Leader’s leg, timidly requesting his attention, “Sorry, I'm not too versed in changeling politics. Who is Queen Vertex?”

The changeling leader looked at flag that flew over the water tower, “When our beloved Queen Nodus went to her ancestors, our rightful queen stood to become our rightful mother!  But she was betrayed!” he said as he kicked the dirt, “Overthrown by her putrid sister! That foul beast used her wiles to trick the loyal subjects into believing she was the voice of the swarm, and imprisoned the rightful queen!”

The leader laughed, “When the Foul One returned with nothing, those still loyal to the true queen used the chaos to release her from the deepest dungeon of the Usurper's palace. She has returned to her subjects, and now we fight to restore her to the Black Throne!”

A civil war? Civil wars were always juicer than normal wars! Shutter Shot smiled, “Good for you!”

The leader smiled, “I am glad to see even the mammals know who the true queen is!” he said as he pointed back toward Equestria. “Go! Go spread the word of the legitimate heir!”

“Actually...” Shutter replied, taking out his camera, “I have a much better way of telling people the truth.”

The leader stooped down to look at his camera, and then at him. “What are you saying?”

Shutter used his magic to bring it onto one of his hooves, “This little number is the Quick Catch XB-2. Very rare, only ten ever made. I could capture Luna on the other side of the moon with this baby!”

“And?”

He picked up the camera once again and levitated it right in front of the leader's face, “I take some pictures, write some kind words about your cause, and you let me travel around with you. Fair trade, huh?”

The unicorn was met with silence, so he began to draw in the dust. “I've already got it figured out,” he said as he draw a very poor imitation of a changeling with one of his hooves, “when I have enough pictures and a good paragraph or two, you get one of your boys to turn into a pegasus. Then he delivers my article and photos here,” he said as he drew the basic skyline of Phillydelphia, “and let them run the story. You get support, I get my scoop.”

There was another period of awkward silence, before the changeling leader spoke up once again, “how long would it take you to write one of your...articles?”

“No time at all! Give me an hour, and I'll have something that'll get every prissy pants in Canterlot to start a charity drive!”

Without even bothering for a reply, Shutter Shot dashed into the local bar, and began feverishly writing his his recent experience on a couple of napkins he found and an ballpoint pen he discovered on the floor. In thirty minutes he was finished, and he rushed outside to find the commander, who was standing in the exact same place he left him.

He picked up roll of film containing the pictures he had taken and the napkins, “Here! Get this to Phillydelphia!”

The leader studied it for a moment before calling on a nearby changeling. It stood at attention, and the leader gave it some kind of order in a series of clicks and hisses. The changeling drone transformed into an inconspicuous orange pegasus pony with a cloud cutie mark, and the leader nodded. The changeling boss then took the roll of film and napkins from Shutter and gave them to the transformed changeling, and gave it another series of orders. It saluted and took off toward Phillydelphia, slowly shrinking in size as it sped away.

As the changeling courier completely vanished from sight, an entire chorus of screams came cascading over him. Shutter Shot turned around to see a giant swarm of loyalist changelings flying toward the town. The leader gave a deafening roar in response, and took off toward the attackers as every other changeling took to the skies to greet their foes.

Shutter Shot put in a new reel of film and began clicking. Regardless of whoever won, this war was going to make him very, very famous.

~

SHATTERED SHELLS: ON THE GROUND REPORT OF THE CHANGELING CIVIL WAR

by Shutter Shot

is what greeted most readers of the Stomp as it landed on their front porch or in their mailbox. One affluent unicorn pony in Canterlot took the paper inside to read the entire article, which detailed the opening blows of the conflict.

“I say!” Prissy Pants declared, his monocle popping out from his eye.