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.
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.