Enchantè

                                                            Pyrrhic Victory

“Fluttershy” was growing rapidly more impatient by the minute. Not for the first time, she scanned the crowd, looking for that fool who was impersonating the unicorn.

Standing near the stage, a pony was trying to engage her in conversation, which she had a hard time hearing over the music. She managed to smile and answer back, but it was all she could do to keep from screaming in frustration and rage.

For months, months she had watched all those wretched mares, mere ponies that had beaten her before by nothing more than dumb luck. Learning their lives’ details had not been much of a challenge, as these inferior beings were so open and trusting! Fooling that simpleton Discord had been the only real obstacle, for though a fool he remains he is still the Master of Chaos, and not one to be left out of her plans.

She still couldn’t believe how easy it had been after that once the gears had been set in motion. And now, NOW that imbecile impersonating the unicorn is late! The party had been going on for well over an half an hour, so she’d been forced to make small talk, dance, even hug a few because some of these ponies just didn’t make do with ‘hello’. In short, be the sweet pony she needed to be to pull this off. But it had become unbearable, especially so close to her victory.

She and the unicorn were supposed to meet at the party and be seen talking to each other quietly, laughing together, sharing each other’s plates, etc. all to fuel speculation about their intentions. Then, when the moment was right, and the unicorn was supposed to be introduced, she'd walk up next to him and they would announce their “engagement.” Her mouth involuntarily watered just thinking about the emotional wave, and she had to discreetly dab her mouth with a napkin.

She looked around once more. Still no sign of him, curse it, but all the other mares she hated were there, along with what looked like most of Ponyville. The only one missing was that insufferable “Princess!” No, wait…there she is, off in the distance. She seems to be looking for someone too…

Twilight’s first stop had not been to the party. She knew she had to let Princess Celestia know Changelings had broken the truce and were now in Ponyville, so she had teleported to the Library and wrote out the quick facts on a scroll.

Now to find Spike.

Porting herself to Applejack’s farm, she quickly began searching for him. It looked as though the whole town had turned up for what was supposed to have been a simple ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party. Once Applejack and Rarity had gotten involved, though, it had turned into this.

Wherever Rarity was she knew Spike couldn’t be too far away. She couldn’t find them from the ground level, so she took to the air and scanned the crowd.

Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity had outdone themselves. There were colored lanterns in all the trees, streamers and banners, balloons on all the tables, and a stage where a DJ booth with laser lighting had been set up. Some ponies were lined up in back of the open stage, preparing for the fashion show. Right now a dance was in session, with the music almost deafening as ponies danced in the area just in the front of the stage.

Expecting to find Rarity near the fashion ponies Twilight swooped down. It was her, adjusting some of the gowns she’d designed, but Spike was nowhere in sight. Pulling Rarity unceremoniously aside, she said, “Where’s Spike?!”

“I saw him over there by the buffet. Is something wrong?”

“Get the other girls together except Fluttershy and meet me over inside the barn!”

“Fluttershy? Whatever is the matter with her?”

“I can’t explain right now, just please do as I say! I have to find Spike!” Rarity looked at her as if she was going to ask another question, but then she nodded to Twilight and ran off. Twilight took to the air again. She had to thread her way through some pegasi that had decided to do some intricate dance numbers in the air, but there he was! She zoomed down, just in time to see him stuffing what looked like an entire jewel cake in his mouth.

“Spike! I need you to send this letter to the Princess!” she shouted.

“Mmmf?” said Spike. Holding up one claw in a “just a sec” gesture, he swallowed the last of the cake and said, “What?”

“Send this to the Princess! NOW!”

“Oh! Right away, Twilight!” As he reached for the scroll, he was jostled by some other ponies around the buffet table. He almost dropped it, but he managed to grab the scroll with one claw and then took a deep breath and shot out flames, sending the letter. The ponies in the area “oooo’d” and “ahhhh’d” at the sight of the fire, thinking it was all part of the entertainment.

“Now get on my back!” said Twilight. As soon as he did so she took flight.

Once they were above the crowd and away from the music, Spike asked, “Where are we going in such a hurry? The party is just getting started!”

“No Spike,” said Twilight. “I’m afraid it’s over.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll explain later.” Quickly she searched for Fluttershy from the air. Then Twilight froze. There she was, surrounded by other ponies.

Twilight thought quickly. If I confront her, there’s no doubt she’ll fight me, and ponies will get hurt. Also, she’s probably not alone! Sweet Celestia, what do I do?

The Princess was certainly on her way, hopefully with the entire Royal Guard, but Twilight had no idea how many Changelings there are, nor who they are. She could use the same spell she used to expose the fake Pawise, but that would take too much time, as it had to be done for each pony.

These were the thoughts that filled her head and her heart with anxiety, but she hovered there a moment too long.

The fake Fluttershy looked up and saw her, and as their eyes met she knew she’d been discovered. But HOW?! All the planning, all her success ruined! Everything is ruined! With nothing more to lose, the Queen grabbed the first pony she could, dragged her around the neck and flew up to the stage.

“Fluttershy!! What are you doing?!” the pony yelled.

“Shut up!” she screamed. “You!” She pointed at the DJ. “Turn that blasted noise OFF!!” As the music died everypony screamed as the Changeling Queen changed back to her true self.

“Let her go! Don’t hurt her!” cried Twilight as she landed on the stage. As Spike jumped off her back and stared in shock, Twilight took a step forward. “It’s over! Princess Celestia is on her way.”

Gripping the struggling pony more tightly the Changeling cried, “Fool! It’s over when I say! MINIONS! ATTACK!!” To Twilight and the other ponies’ horror, a mighty horde of Changelings erupted out of the trees surrounding the party area, and began to swarm the stage.

“Spike! Get out of here!!” cried Twilight as she blasted as many Changelings as she could.

“I won’t leave you, Twilight!” yelled Spike, as he inhaled and then sent a flume of fire towards the swarm, causing a few to scatter out of the way.

It was complete pandemonium with ponies running for their lives. Soon, Twilight and Spike found themselves surrounded by Changelings. Spike’s fires were spent, having never used so much at one time before, and he fell to his knees panting. She cast a protection bubble around herself and him, but didn’t port away for fear of what the Queen would do to her hostage. She could just see the Queen past the mass of Changelings throwing themselves against her barrier.

The Queen was laughing, still tightly holding onto her hostage, when a noise like a missile sounded behind her. Rainbow Dash! Dash swooped in and grabbed the pony out of her startled hooves, set the pony down on the ground and then spun back towards the stage.

“Hang on, Twilight! I got this!” she cried.

“Yer not alone, Rainbow!” yelled Applejack. The Changeling horde turned as one to see Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, Big Mac and even some other ponies join the fight.

The Queen took to the air and screamed “Get them! GET THEM! I WON’T LOSE AGAIN! I WON’T!!”

Now the two sides met like waves crashing upon rocks. The Queen concentrated on Twilight, shooting beam after beam down at her. Twilight blocked the attacks from her and the many Changelings still surrounding them while protecting Spike. But she was joined by Rainbow Dash, who was a multi-colored blur knocking Changelings from the air. Applejack and her brother fought side by side, bucking Changelings left and right as if they were trees.

Rarity’s hooves flashed as she spun and kicked, much to the surprise of the others, Changelings and ponies alike. “You ruined my gown AND my fashion show, you monsters!!” she cried.

The only one who looked like she was truly enjoying herself was Pinkie, who danced and dodged between the Changelings, moving just in time for them to smash into each other, even if they tried to strike her from behind.

“Missed me! MISSED ME!” she laughed, as some fell unconscious after smacking headfirst into each other. Soon there was a pile of dazed and incapacitated Changelings around her, all the fight knocked out of them. Even the town ponies did their best, fueled by anger at the invasion.

Now the tide had turned against the enemy. Twilight, freed from worry about Spike, joined the fight in earnest. Blasting the few that remained near her, she flew up to the Queen and encased her in a force field.

“NO! NO!!" the Queen screamed. Beneath them, the fight was drawing to a close as more and more of her number fell defeated to the ground. Then she laughed.

“Haven’t you forgotten somepony?” she sneered.

“Fluttershy!” said Twilight. “Where IS she?!”

“Release me, or you’ll NEVER see her again!”