Diplomatic Incident

The desolate border between Equestria and the Badlands, home of the changelings was very rarely home to anything of interest, neither species having use for the territory. The fact that it was not inhabited, and in the middle of nowhere made it perfect for negotiations with one of the more dangerous species alive.

At least that's what Princess Celestia's reasoning was, when she told Twilight that the Changelings wanted to negotiate a formal treaty of friendship between the two opposing nations. The negotiations were taking place in a no ponies land, both sides held claim to the land, yet neither did at the same time, having no presence there.

That was until recently, when the Changelings decided they wanted to negotiate some treaties with Equestria. Then they moved in and constructed a small outpost halfway between the nearest changeling hive and the nearest Equestrian city, Appleoosa. The diplomatic outpost was constructed by standard Changeling bio-molecular-organic construction techniques. Basically, they grew it out of their bodily secretions.

Fortunately, they had the common sense to decorate and furnish the structure with items not made from changeling secretions. While the material was strong, odorless, and resistant to magic, knowing where it comes from leaves much to be desired.

Twilight looked at the clock on the wall opposite where she was sitting. The negotiation room was large, rectangular, well lit, and furnished to resemble the Canterlot throne room. The walls, however, were green, and organic looking. Though Twilight initially looked at the clock, checking the time, she quickly became lost in thought, pondering the substance the wall was made of.

"Ugh, Twilight how much longer do we have to wait here."

Twilight's attention was drawn back to the clock, it read two twenty-seven, then she turned to Rainbow, "The Changeling Diplomat should be here in a few minutes."

Rainbow quickly dropped her head onto the table and sighed.

At the time, when discussing the negotiation envoy with Princess Celestia, bringing Rainbow Dash, a wonderbolt, seemed like a good idea. The terms which were agreed to for initializing the negotiations were each representative would be allowed an escort of ten ponies, or changelings, respectively. When Twilight and Princess Celestia discussed her protection detail, Princess Celestia suggested and recommended taking a team of wonderbolts, being Equestria's foremost special forces.

Twilight thought it would be a good idea to bring Rainbow Dash. She was quickly regretting this decision, the impatient pegasus was having no shortage of problems waiting patiently.

Rainbow Dash... Private Rainbow Dash sat to Twilight's left side, with Captain Spitfire to her right, serving as an adviser, along with being on her protection detail. Two other wonderbolts stood back behind and off to the sides of Twilight, who sat at one end of the table. The Changeling ambassador would take the opposite end of the table.

Another minute passed, Rainbow Dash huffed.

The clock hit two thirty, right on cue the Changeling Ambassador and guards walked in from the opposite side of the room. The four changelings stood off to the side as their Diplomat sat down and levitated a satchel off the floor and put it on the table, then took out a document from it to review it.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle." he acknowledged after putting the document down to his left, beside the satchel.

"Ambassador..." Twilight paused, realizing she did not know the changeling's name. "I'm sorry, I don't recall being told your name?"

"You were not." he curtly replied.

Twilight awaited an answer for his name for a few seconds, before realizing one was not forthcoming, "May I ask what your name is?"

"You may not." he firmly answered, as if the alicorn he was negotiating with was an insubordinate.

"Well, it's just that... If we're supposed to become friends, it would help knowing each other's names." Twilight awkwardly attempted to convince the ambassador.

"Your name is Princess Twilight Sparkle. You are the Equestrian Diplomat engaging in negotiations with the Changelings."

Twilight blinked, sighed, and rubbed her temple, realizing this would be a long, stressful negotiation.

"I already told you, Ambassador," she said that name with no small amount of disdain, they had been negotiating for eight hours straight. The ambassador had rejected every request for a recess, due to their late start. "We cannot simply provide the Changelings with love. It's not that simple."

The changeling quickly made a mark on the previous document with a quill, and stuffed the document into the satchel, "What about the ambient love of the Crystal Empire?"

"You don't seem to understand, we can't store love and just give it to you." Twilight paused, "It just doesn't work that way for us."

"The radiant love energy flowing from the Crystal Empire could be harnessed by changelings in proximity to the Crystal Heart."

Rainbow perked up slightly at the mention of the Crystal Heart, she started to open her mouth, but Twilight closed it with her magic and shot her a glare.

For Rainbow's part, she had been surprisingly well behaved after the negotiations started. Normally it seemed that she couldn't stand still if the fate of the world depended upon it, however Twilight had only had to prevent her from interrupting eight times in the past half hour.

"Ambassador, the Crystal Heart is a vital part of the Crystal Empire's national defense. Surely, you must know we would never let changelings near it." Twilight paused having noticed the changeling considering something. Something not very friendly, judging from his expression, "And the Crystal Empire is an allied nation of Equestria, an attack against them would constitute another declaration of war against Equestria."

"Princess Twilight Sparkle, changelings don't take well to threats."

"Nor do ponies, especially alicorns." Twilight rebuked him with a moderate amount of anger in her voice.

"Your alicorn status is questionable as a threat to the changelings. We defeated your supreme leader with ease." the ambassador said with no small amount of pride.

Rainbow Dash was fidgeting in her seat, it was easy to tell she was getting quite mad about the insults being thrown around. Twilight was worried she would have to restrain her with her magic to prevent something bad from happening, not that they couldn't handle eleven changelings, however the repercussions would be very bad.

Spitfire leaned over to Twilight, "He's baiting us, Princess." she whispered.

"I know." Twilight whispered back.

"We both came here to negotiate friendship, did we not?" Twilight asked, the changeling grimaced ever so slightly for the briefest period of time, something Twilight did not notice, however Rainbow Dash did.

Rainbow Dash leaned over to Twilight, "Twilight, something feels off, I don't trust them."

"Rainbow, you're just assuming the worst."

"Twilight, didn't you see his reaction when you mentioned 'friendship'?"

"You're imagining things, Rainbow." Twilight replied, Rainbow sighed.

"Perhaps we should adjourn for the night, Ambassador?" Twilight inquired.

The changeling ambassador glanced at a clock, and pondered for a moment. "Perhaps we should, Princess."

The ambassador's words were music to Twilight and Rainbow's ears.

"What do you make of it, Spitfire?" Twilight asked, having adjourned to the Equestrian section of the compound.

The diplomat's chambers were only slightly larger than the other rooms, aside from the meeting hall, somehow still able to provide comfort. The room was decorated in an assortment of Equestrian banners, depicting sun and moon, Celestia and Luna, respectively. It wasn't until recently she had ever taken notice of the lack of any representation of herself in official Equestrian decor. That thought was lost when Spitfire responded.

"It's kind of hard to tell, Princess." she paused to think, "Although the ambassador sure is a friendly guy," Spitfire's response was soaked in sarcasm, "He does seem to be attempting to instigate something."

"I noticed that too..." Twilight trailed off with a frown, before smiling, "But, we know they don't know much, if anything, about friendship."

"That's a good point, Princess...." Spitfire trailed off at a knock on the door.

"Enter." Twilight commanded.

A changeling walked in bringing a tray with a kettle of tea, and two teacups in his magic.

"Thank you." Twilight acknowledged and took the tray and tea out of the changeling's magic, and levitated it onto the table, the changeling promptly left.

"Would you like some tea?" Twilight asked.

"No thank you, Princess."

"Well okay then," Twilight paused to take a sip, "Mmm, it's good too."

"I'll take your word for it, now, if they had coffee..." Spitfire trailed off with a smile.

Twilight giggled, "I take it you're not much of a tea pony then?"

"Never did suit my style, Princess."

Twilight took another sip, and refilled her cup. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Twilight spoke up again. "If this is what Princess Celestia has to put up with on a daily basis..." Twilight shook her head, "I don't understand how it is Princess Luna became Nightmare Moon."

"You glad you don't have to run a country?"

"Very. Although if I did I could delegate tasks to others." Twilight mused.

"I must say I'm surprised you didn't back out already, Princess."

Twilight looked at Spitfire with surprise, "We're here to make friends, and I'm the Princess of Friendship!" Twilight responded exasperated.

"I know, Princess, but even Princess Celestia would've threatened to leave negotiations at some of the stunts he pulled."

"Maybe I'll keep that in mind tomorrow, if we don't get any recesses..." Twilight mumbled.

Spitfire glanced at the clock, "It's late, I should probably leave you now, Princess." Spitfire stood and saluted, Twilight returned the salute, and nodded.

"Good night, Spitfire."

"You too, Princess."

Spitfire walked out the door and saluted the two wonderbolts standing guard, before turning to the right and disappearing from sight.