“FASTER!” Fluttershy shouted, “We're almost there!”
In another life, Fluttershy might have been a more reserved and introverted mare. In this life, however, she flew quickly through the thick and ever-growing vegetation of the Everfree Forest; her friend Pinkie Pie bounding along behind her with all the power and grace of a gazelle from Zebrica. Their pursuers were a squad of changelings, buzzing maliciously. For years now, they lived with other ponies in secret, mounting whatever resistance they could against the forces of Queen Chrysalis, who had long ago conquered most of Equestria.
“They're gaining on us!” Pinkie shouted, “Gimmie a boost!”
Fluttershy knew precisely what to do, catching Pinkie Pie as the earth pony leapt into her embrace. Quickly, Pinkie pulled out an almost comical-looking device: A spraying device with a plunger handle on one end and a sideways canister near the spray nozzle. A warning in bold print could be seen on the device: WARNING-ARSENIC-POISONOUS!
Both ponies took a deep breath and held it, as Fluttershy turned in mid-air to face the oncoming changelings while hovering backwards as fast as she could. Pinkie pulled back the plunger, then pushed, swiftly repeating the process multiple times as a chemical spritzed out of the sprayer like a semi-mist. Many changelings couldn't avoid the chemical, beginning to crash into the ground, coughing and choking. The other changelings, fearing the chemical weapon, broke off pursuit.
Fluttershy dropped Pinkie, and the two moved farther away before gasping for air once more, just in case; after all, Arsenic was very poisonous. The irony of the chemical formerly being used as an insecticide was not lost on the ponies; in fact that’s why it was being used as a weapon in the resistance. Still, despite the advantages of using Arsenic against the changelings, such chemical warfare was a double-edged sword for the same reason pony farmers stopped using Arsenic on their crops...the element’s unfailing ability to poison ponies and other animals as well as insects.
As the pegasus and earth pony concluded that they weren't being followed any longer, the two of them slowed to a walk, using the enchanted tribal markings on their bodies as added camouflage; which, admittedly, worked as well as it could for a pair of bright pastel-colored ponies against the lush green and brown backdrop of the Everfree. The markings weren't just there for show; rather, they made the two of them stand out as their true selves rather than changeling pretenders...the enchantment of the markings able to reveal if one was a changeling or not.
Just as Pinkie and Fluttershy were about to reach the village, they heard a stallion’s voice croak out, “Help...help me…”
The two ponies looked suspiciously, Pinkie quickly drawing the sprayer once again, as a pegasus landed hard in front of them, his wings having given out. His blue hair was disheveled, his orange coat filthy with dirt and plant stains from the forest.
“Who are you?” Fluttershy asked with narrow eyes and venom in her voice.
“F-Flash…” the seemingly exhausted pegasus responded, “My name...Flash Sentry.”
Pinkie inched closer. “Okay, ‘Flash,’ IF that is your name...do us a favor and BUZZ OFF!”
She sprayed a blast of the arsenic pesticide at “Flash,” causing him to leap to his hooves, coughing...and transforming into a changeling. He flew away quickly, still coughing.
The two ponies returned to the village, greeted by many of the others there painted with similar tribal patterns...including a familiar pegasus with blue hair and an orange coat. “Hey, Fluttershy! Hey Pinkie!”
“Hey, Flash.” The two mares replied politely. Pinkie then commented with a smile, “For a race dedicated to deception and spying, the changelings have really bad intel.”
“Nobuggy’s perfect.” Fluttershy replied with a wink.