Chapter Duck
The group of mares watched as Twilight finally walked out, having spent all her breath yelling about how great an annoyance and frustration this afternoon had been. She never had to deal with an argument that was so one sided despite history regarding the topic.
Spike, after several politely requests, and one or two thinly veiled threats, left the pool and followed after her.
Rainbow Dash was at the window and once she saw Twilight walk over the hill, turned to the others.
“Alright, all clear.”
With a sigh of relief and a few chuckles, the group of mares burst into flames. Standing in the room were five changelings. They were laughing and hoof-bumping each other.
“Ha ha! Did you see the look on her face?”
“I know right? I was sure she was going to burst into flames!”
“Kevin was right, these ponies are crazy!”
“In a good way.”
“Yeah!”
“Do you think we over did it?”
“Nah! I mean someone had to knock her down a few pegs. Did you hear what she called us?”
“Scummy love suckers.”
“Pssh! Figures.”
“To be fair, their capital did get invaded.”
“So? We didn’t have anything to do with that. And anyway, a prank is a prank.”
One of them was looking around, poking some of the furniture.
“Say, did anyone make sure Fluttershy was out before coming here?”
One at the couch raised his hoof. “Right here! I saw her leave for the store.”
“How long ago was it?”
“Uh….”
There was a pause.
“Two hours ago?”
“Wait, two hours ago? Does that mean she’s likely to be here any-”
They heard the front door open. They looked over to the door and saw Fluttershy standing there, staring at the five changelings in her room. One on her couch, another on the ceiling, another with a duck on his head, one with an afro, and another in a box. They looked at her. She looked at them. They all stood staring.
“Uh,” The one in the box spoke. “Quack?”
Fluttershy squealed and fainted on the spot, stiff as a board.
“...”
The changeling on the ceiling looked to his compadres. “Bail?”
They nodded. “Bail!”
They promptly hustled out of the cottage, leaving the fainted pegasus to wake up after a few minutes.
“What...oh my did I just see...”
Fluttershy looked around, noticing she was thankfully alone.
“Oh dear. I thought for sure I saw a bunch of those scary changelings in here.” The pegasus breathed a sigh of relief, gathering up the groceries that had spilled from her saddlebags and heading into the kitchen to store her purchases. By chance she looked out the window, pausing as she noticed the scene in the backyard.
“Wait, why is the pool full of toys, and boats, and floats...and is that a tiki bar in the center?”
Now completely confused, the pegasus walked out into her backyard, staring at the impromptu party set up, complete with freshly made exotic drinks.
“Was Pinkie planning to throw me a party? But, it’s not my birthday or anything...” Fluttershy paused as she heard someone knocking at the front door. She quickly dashed back inside her cottage and opened the door to receive her second shock of the day.
“Wha...P-Princess Celestia?” The pegasus gasped at the sight of her diarch, staring at her with a confused expression.
“Good evening Fluttershy,” Celestia responded. “I just got an alarmingly strong worded letter from Twilight that you’ve had a changeling in your pool today. Could you, perhaps, talk to me about that?”
“Changeling?” She asked her eyes widening as she connected the dots between the changelings she thought she saw in her house, as well as the pool toys and party supplies littering the area.. “Oh my...”