Diplomatic Incident

Once again Princess Twilight Sparkle found herself sitting at the negotiation table across from the Changeling Ambassador. One who she would much rather negotiate with her bare hooves. Yes, she was an alicorn. Yes, she was the Princess of Friendship. No, she was not perfect.

"Surely there must be something we can give you other than love..." Twilight trailed off exasperated. "We don't have the means to store and trade love to you..."

"We have no use for anything other than love. Changelings could share the knowledge required for you to store and utilize love magic."

Twilight shuddered at that idea. The idea of taking and storing love magic for latter use... To say it sounded wrong was an understatement. Twilight sighed, "Okay, maybe we could come to another agreement... How much love is it you want?"

"I do not know the specific amount of love magic we would require before we could come to any agreement. However, ten-thousand changelings should be more than enough to gather as much love as we would need."

Twilight's mouth was hitting the table at hearing that. "T-ten... Thousand?" Twilight's hooves came up to rub her temples.

"Yes."

"Okay, let's say for just a second that we would allow that. How long would it take them to gather the amount of love magic you would want."

"You misunderstand. Changelings would become permanent addition to Equestrian society."

Twilight moaned. "We can't accommodate that many changelings."

The ambassador paused, and made another check on the document he had been checking yesterday. Twilight was surprised that document was still in use simply due to the number of times she had seen him make a mark on it. The changeling suddenly jerked up and looked around. Twilight noticed this.

"What's wrong, Ambassador?" Twilight knew that changelings were bound to a hivemind, each changeling had a direct mental connection to every other changeling. The Changeling Queen, Queen Chrysalis, could easily command the entire Changeling army from across the planet.

"Nothing is wrong, Princess." he quickly replied.

Twilight's face furrowed in contemplation, she easily realized the reply was too quick. Captain Spitfire leaned over to her.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Princess."

'Keep her occupied. Princess Twilight Sparkle must not be given any time to react.'

'She noticed something is wrong. She may start to realize what's happening.'

"It would take far fewer changelings to harness love magic from the Crystal Empire than Equestria."

'The poison should kick in soon.'

'Her detail hasn't been neutralized.'

'Equestrian military encampment sighted ten clicks out.'

'What? How did they manage to avoid detection for so long?'

"As I have stated before, the Crystal Heart is a vital part of the Crystal Empire's national defense. We can't, nor will we, allow changelings near it."

'The moon princess is here.'

'That would explain their avoiding detection.'

'Scouts spotted us.'

"It would take only a couple dozen changelings to harness enough love from close proximity to the Crystal Heart for us to come to agreeable terms."

'We're being engaged by a pegasus wing.'

'Lead them away from the main force.'

'Moving into ambush position.'

"Maybe... We could keep the changelings under guard at all times... It would take quite a few guards, however." Twilight paused to think, "How many changelings exactly would you need."

'Moving into flanking position.'

'Main force move into attack position.'

'The ambush has been sprang.'

The ambassador paused to think, or more correctly, to buy time. "I believe eighty changelings would be enough."

'Scouts spotted us. Moving to intercept.'

'The pegasus wing is retreating, they suffered heavy casualities.'

'Moving on the princess's detail now.'

'Make sure not to disturb the negotiations room.'

"Okay... Assuming four guards per changeling... Three-hundred and twenty guards... That might be acceptable."

'Engaging the princess's detail.'

Spitfire's ears perked up. She leaned over to Twilight, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"I thought I heard a bang."

"It's probably... Nothing.." Twilight's voice slowed down as she spoke.

"Princess are you alright?" Spitfire asked with concern.

Twilight coughed, "I don't... I... Don't feel... Well..." Twilight put both her hooves forwards on the table to brace herself as she started to fall out of her chair. The changelings perked up at this sight, but the Wonderbolts were quicker to react and were by her side immediately.

'The poison has taken effect.'

'The cyan pegasus is giving us problems. I'm the la-'

A second later Rainbow Dash broke through the doors trailed by a couple changelings. All of them bore wounds of battle. Spitfire saw the state Rainbow was in, and the changelings, and immediately put two and two together.

The changelings did not have to put two and two together, they knew what was happening, as such they reacted faster, quickly downing one of the two Wonderbolts that had rushed to the princess's aid.

'Princess Luna is leading the equestrian army into battle at the forefront of their offensive.'

'Delay her.'

'Our forces aren't yet in position.'

'Whatever it takes.'

Rainbow Dash sped across the room, catching the changeling Ambassador as he took a fighting stance from leaping out of his chair. Her front right hoof connected with a sickening crack, impacting, and promptly shattering the changeling's jaw. The chitin exoskeleton was unable to protect from the force of the blow, and shattered.

With the sudden events that had happened, Twilight had jumped to her hooves. Or had tried to anyway. She promptly collapsed over, having to use a wing to remain standing in the slightest. Three magic blasts from the changelings impacted her body in varying spots, sending her flying into the wall. Spitfire reacted and immediately took out the changeling nearest the princess.

'We could use some backup here, the princess's detail was more prepared than we realized.'

'Breaking off.'

The pain flowing through Twilight's body made evident several broken bones. It was easy to tell that she had broken her wing, and she had broken a rib or two. Her left rear leg was also broken. The effects of the poison were slowing her down and limiting her magic significantly, she couldn't focus on using her magic due to the throbbing pain in her head.

The poison was being attacked by her alicorn magic, however. The poison would be cleansed from her system in a few minutes, but it was taking a lot of her strength and magic to keep her alive.

'Princess Luna was hit. She's still in the fight. Taking heavy losses.'

Rainbow Dash slammed into another changeling, knocking it out of the air, and throwing it into the wall. She wasn't sure if it was dead, however it was at the very least unconscious. While Rainbow took out that changeling, Spitfire and the other Wonderbolt, Sergeant Quail Call, had dispatched the remaining changeling. Rainbow Dash quickly flew over to Twilight and landed, Spitfire and the sergeant quickly joined her.

"Princess?" Spitfire shook Twilight, while Quail Call checked her pulse.

"Pulse is erratic. Breathing steady."

"Private Dash, watch the door."

"Yes, ma'am." Rainbow saluted and flew over to the door to keep watch. She had ponies counting on her, and she would not let them down.

Twilight's head slumped against the wall.

"She's unconscious."

"We need to get out of here."

"I don't think that's an option, Captain. There's only three of us left, the changelings must have taken out the rest of the detail."

"Private Dash, what happened to the rest of the detail?" Spitfire inquired.

"They didn't make it."

'Approaching.'

Twilight opened her eyes and moved her leg to rub her eyes, then gasped at a sharp pain.

"Princess?"

"C... Captain? What happened."

"The changelings attacked us." Spitfire paused, "The rest of your detail is dead, just us four are left."

Twilight grimaced, and tried to stand up, but decided against it when she felt several sharp pains.

"Stay still. You broke several bones."

"We've got company!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she rain over to the trio.

"Buck..." Spitfire cursed. "Princess, can you teleport us out of here?"

"I'm sorry, the poison weakened me too much to teleport us all out of here... I could maybe teleport two of us... And even then, I can't teleport us far..."

Spitfire thought for a moment, considering her options.

'Breach in three...'

"Private Rainbow Dash, you will accompany Princess Twili-" a magical explosion cut her off, fortunately the smoke shielded them from view for the moment.

"GO NOW!" Spitfire ordered.

"But-" Twilight started to argue, but a green bolt of magic hitting the wall above her head cut her off. Twilight lit her horn and teleported Rainbow Dash and herself away.

"Sergeant."

"Captain."

"It's been an honor to serve with you."

"Likewise ma'am."

The two remaining Wonderbolts of Twilight's protection detail engaged the changelings.