Eight – The First Strike
For the first time in years, sunlight washed over Bad Horse Lane.
As Princess Celestia landed on the cobblestone street, she waited while a phalanx of royal guards assembled behind her. Pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies—all chosen for their bravery, loyalty, and honesty. Overhead, the three Wonderbolts were circling in patrol routes, ready for an aerial incursion by the changeling horde.
“There will be no bloodshed today,” Celestia declared. “You are the finest ponies to defend the realm. Now, you may begin your search!”
“No need!” a voice hissed out from the shadows. Celestia reared back as changelings burst out from every door and window of the neighborhood, surrounding the phalanx.
She was not the least bit surprised to see every changeling transform itself into the splitting image of a royal guard.
“Protect the Princess,” said her lieutenant Black Storm. “That is your first priority.”
“No, Sergeant.” Celestia glanced up, trying to sense the true heart of the malevolence she felt. “Though I appreciate your concern, I can defend myself. Your first priority is to find and defeat the changeling queen.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.” Black Storm adjusted the plume on his new helmet. “Find the queen and hold the horde back! For Equestria!”
“For Equestria!” the guards cried and charged.
And so the Battle of Bad Horse Lane had begun.
For Twilight, the banquet could not be over soon enough. She led her friends out as soon as Cadance finished her closing remarks. With her new wings, she could fly straight to her private room, with Fluttershy close behind her. The others took a while to catch up, but that was fine.
Twilight took advantage of the moment to lean in and kiss Fluttershy. “Whatever happens, you know me and you know who our real friends are. Okay?”
“Okay,” the pegasus whispered, wearing a determined smile.
When the remaining four entered the room, Twilight cast a spell to lock the door behind them and close all the windows. There was no point in letting another impostor escape like before.
“Girls, we’ve got a problem,” said Twilight, putting on her best princess tone. She hated using it on her best friends, but they had to know how serious she was. “Fluttershy and I were attacked by a changeling earlier tonight. We think they’re trying to replace us one at a time.”
The other ponies gasped and muttered amongst themselves, looking wild-eyed at one another. That was what Twilight expected. But she kept her focus right on Applejack.
“Darling, you can’t expect us to believe you think one of us is an impostor?” asked Rarity. She put a hoof to her head and moaned dramatically. “Oh, how terrible!”
Applejack frowned. “Now how’re we supposed to tell who’s real an’ who’s not?”
“I’m glad you asked, AJ!” And before anyone could respond, Twilight’s horn fired a magenta bolt that struck the earth pony square in the chest.
Everypony cried out as Applejack dropped onto her hooves. Their shock only grew when the magenta light turned green and Applejack’s eyes flashed up at Twilight with emerald rage.
“C-clever p-p-princess,” the changeling hissed in a darker, more masculine voice. As he spoke, he reverted to his true nightmarish form, though he still wore Applejack’s hat. “Very clever—”
Rainbow Dash cut off the rest of his tirade with a body slam. The changeling howled as the blue pegasus pinned him to the ground. “One more word outta you and it’ll be your last, creep!”
“Twilight,” Rarity cried, “however did you figure out it wasn’t the real Applejack?”
“Fluttershy and I were checking up on everyone at the banquet,” the princess said proudly. “We asked things that only our real friends would know. And ‘Applejack’ here didn’t remember that Smarty Pants used to be my doll, even though we talked about it just the other day!”
“Confound that doll,” the changeling hissed.
“What was your plan?” Rainbow Dash demanded. She pressed a hoof into the creature’s side until it flinched. “What did you want with us?”
“Why, the Elements, of course! Why else bother with you blasted ponies?”
“The Elements of Harmony can only be wielded by us,” Twilight challenged. “Only our friendship can power them.”
“Ah, but who says the real ponies have to wear them?” The changeling grinned. “Imagine six changelings disguised as the Elements of Harmony, acting on behalf of Queen Chrysalis. Who would stand against the might of the Changeling Nation then?”
“You can’t fake friendship.”
“Can’t you?” The changeling shrugged despite the pegasus holding him down. “I see you’ve already made your first mistake.”
“Which is?”
“Trusting me,” said Fluttershy.
Twilight barely had time to turn around before she felt a pair of hooves kick her in the back. She fell onto her wings, tumbling right into Rainbow Dash. The changeling leapt into the air on his gossamer wings and buzzed in triumph.
“With enough practice,” the false Fluttershy buzzed as she hovered over Twilight, “you can fake anything.”
Twilight groaned. Through tear-filled eyes, she watched as Fluttershy and Applejack stood together, wearing the cruelest smiles.
I shouldn’t have sent her alone after Rarity, she thought bleakly.
Then the entire room was covered in green fire and she remembered nothing more.