The lands of Equestria are always filled with magic of all varieties, ready for the benefit of everypony to live in peace and harmony.
But, some exist who vie not for the happiness of others but for their own gain.
The terrifying and majestic creature flies over the landscape, her wings buzzing with insectile glee over the volcanic region. She lands upon one of the many tall rocky outcroppings. She smiles as she scans over the smokey stacks, her horn blowing the smoke away to reveal the fiery village beneath.
“Ah yes, the village of the emberites, one of the four species of magical power, hidden and waiting for someone to rule over them. Of course, they would require someone as great as I, Queen Chrysalis, to make them their leader. It is but a simple tactic to take over their town. Their feeble, fiery minds cannot comprehend what wonder they shall do as my new army! Mwahahaha!”
She hops down from her perch, the changeling magic swirling around her. A moment later, the being that flies out of the sky is that of burning radiance and elegance. She trots up along the town square, all to the sight of astonished emberites.
“Oh, what horrid things,” she growls, “perpetually on fire, yet never burning? How do they manage such an existence? No matter. They are pony enough to fulfill my needs, and once they come to love me, I shall feast on that love as the queen that I am!”
The town of emberites surrounds the new arrival with her flaming mane and her bright body. She swishes her tail and trots along in the square, speaking up. “Emberites—for too long have your people been subjugated to a purposeless existence. You’ve been walled off from the world beyond, unable to spread your love to all the other elements. But for no longer, for I, Queen Inferno, shall grant you the satisfaction of fanning your flames beyond this little dome to the lands beyond. Everypony shall know about you and the fires you love to share with them all!”
She raises her front hooves to enjoy the ponies' adoration, but the emberites all look at each other, muttering and murmuring.
One of the emberites steps up, her head held high, her snout pointing upwards. “I’m sorry, miss, but we recognize no queen here. Our way is our own, and we’re happy burning in the caldera of our birthplace.”
“Oh, and you speak for all of your fellow villagers?” Chrysalis says, leaning in, a sneer spreading across her face.
“I do, as has my mother before her and her mother before her.”
“Very well, then.”
With a flash of ghastly green light, Chrysalis zaps the speaker, binding her and making her collapse upon the floor, muzzled by the changeling magic into silence.
The attack drops the changeling’s disguise, showing her off in insectile glory.
“Does anyone else deign it necessary to go against my will? Does anyone challenge me?”
There is silence among the emberites, many looking to their bound speaker, and others shaking at the presence of Chrysalis.”
“Very good,” she says, turning and blasting one of the buildings with her horn. It crumbles to dust before her. “Now, tell me where you have hidden the secret power of your flame, or I shall do the same to the rest of your homes!”
There is a clamor among the emberites, and many of them rush around. Chrysalis zips up into the air, throwing back her head and laughing. “Yes, that’s it, swarm in fear! It may not be as nourishing as love, but it is quite a delicious junk food! Let it nourish me and my changelings forever, hahahaha!”
“No!”
Chrysalis narrows her eyes, scanning the panicking public. There upon a rooftop is an emberite, slightly smaller than the speaker but with cheeks puffed and hooves dug into place.
Chrysalis zips down to hover before her, chuckling to herself through her sharp teeth. “Oh, do you dare to defy me now that all your fellows are panicking? Who do you think you are to stand up against me?”
The emberite stares at Chrysalis, her eyes fiery and focused, but her lips trembling.
“That’s what I thought,” Chrysalis says, spinning around, standing with her haunches turned toward the emberite.
“Now, I shall cease attacking your little village if you all just bow down to me!”
As she proclaims to the people, the emberite who would challenged her remains where she is, seething with the knowledge she can’t do anything.
Warmth spreads along the changeling’s cheeks, even as Chrysalis spews out hot air to the people around her. It takes a moment before she sniffs the air, looking about this way in that.
“What in the world…? What’s that smell? It… it… h-hey!”
Finally, the heat of the emberite being so close to the changeling’s butt has radiated enough to leave her with a aching burning throbbing pain that makes her jump! “Ow ow owwww!”
Chrysalis leaps up into the air, fluttering haphazardly before crashing into the ground, rubbing her butt and groaning. It throbs and stings, the flesh reddened and warm by the ambient heat.
The fiery pony leaps off the roof, staring at the downed changeling and snorting. “Are you ready to leave us alone now, you evil, evil mare?”
Chrysalis’s eyes glow green as she snaps at the pony. “Oh, you’ve asked for it! Prepare to feel my wrath!”