Pinkie Party and the Bad News
by neorenamon
Princess Celestia looked over the edge of the chariot with a little apprehension. Sources within the Guard informed her that they had detected a possible changeling infiltration of Ponyville that might lead to a full blown invasion. But since no source is perfect, she didn't wish to cause undo panic by announcing things before the possible events were fully known.
With Cadence pregnant and well on her way to her first born, she couldn't be dragged from the Crystal Empire down to Ponyville just on a chance. Shining Armor was keeping his hooves full with matters of the Crystal Empire as well, so she felt it was best to leave those two alone. She could hardly fault Cadence for ever wanting to tangle with the likes of Queen Chrysalis again in any event considering how things went for her the last time they met.
She didn't even want to cause a stir by sending a message via Spike-mail. Twilight was known to be a little edgy and Celestia couldn't even begin to imagine her freak out if she thought for a moment that changelings were up to no good again in her own town. Perhaps even within her own castle. The best way to keep her calm was to give her the message herself.
The Crystal Castle of Friendship was coming into view. After all, the thing was large enough to be seen for miles around. That was just what could be seen above ground. She was sure the castle had more laying below ground. Things she wondered if even Twilight was aware of by then. She was a bit busy just to go exploring the whole place herself as she had only just moved in a couple of weeks earlier. She even had a report from Discord saying the Twilight had just spent 3 whole days reorganizing her book collection.
"Look," she told the Guards towing her chariot as they approached, "I'm just getting off here and flying down. Why don't you both go right back to Canterlot and take a nice long break?"
"We obey," they replied without question.
So Celestia launched herself from the chariot as it began turning back to Canterlot. She began gliding down towards the highest parapet so the minimum number of Ponyville ponies would see her coming to the castle. Even with her keen sight, she couldn't see anyone standing out while looking towards the castle.
As she flew in, she wondered for the first time why no Royal Guards had ever been assigned to protect Princess Twilight. She was after all just as important as Cadance and perhaps even Luna. But Twilight was always the kind of mare who looked after herself, and never bothered to petition her for any Guard of her own. It made Celestia proud and a little nervous at the same time. If there was a changeling invasion over the horizon, it seemed best that Twilight have her own Guards to help control the situation.
But she needed to leave Luna behind in case it was a diversion. She would put such tactics past the Queen of the Changelings and she had to make sure somepony was looking after affairs back home. Discord still couldn't be fully trusted with such matters as of yet considering the fit of jealously he threw back at the last Grand Galloping Gala (no matter how amusing Discord and his Smooze friends made things). In fact, she hoped he was just hanging out in his own dimension rather than hanging around the Castle of Friendship.
She landed delicately on the crystal tower and began walking towards the stairs heading down into the castle itself. It was a simple matter for her to open the door with her magic as she went. She figured she had to talk to Twilight later about getting proper security for the castle if she could just waltz in as she was doing right then.
As she made her way down the stairs, strange noises came to her ears from someplace down below. A combination of cello and synth music that she could have sworn she had heard someplace before. Then she remembered the music from the wedding of Cranky Doodle Donkey and his new wife Matilda. She thought the names of the musicians were Vinyl and Octavia... or something. Their spin or traditional wedding music was both refreshing and excellent at the same time.
Since there was no one in the hallways, she decided it was best to move quietly. She didn't want to be seen any more than she had to before she had a chance to speak with Twilight. But since there was a party going, she figured at the very least that Pinkie Pie was there. It also seemed like a safe bet that Rainbow Dash was there was well, as she seemed to be a bit of a party pony in her own right. She noticed the door was cracked open, so she felt free to sneak up to the door and take a peek inside.
The sight that met her eyes was disturbing: Twilight was trying to dance again. She wondered how she could make dancing look like she was having a seizure of some kind. She felt pity that Twilight didn't take dance as seriously as some of the other nobility did. But then she was never really into big balls. Some of the most noble stallions in Canterlot were known for their big balls after all. They were quite casual about how they let their balls swing although most citizens were never really invited to these affairs. But as the head Princess, Celestia was almost required by law to look over each and every one of these balls.
As she suspected, she could clearly see Pinkie Pie, Octavia and Vinyl. The later two were taking care of the musical needs of the party while Pinkie and Twilight were dancing out on the floor. However, she couldn't see anypony else from her vantage point. She couldn't hear much of anything over the sound of the music either. While she hated to intrude, she really didn't want to hold off on an important much any longer than she absolutely had to.
But as she magicked the door open to waltz in, the music suddenly stopped. First Octavia stopped fiddling and then the scratch records stopped as well. Everypony but Twilight: She was still dancing with her eyes closed and shaking her forelegs as if she didn't have a care in the world. She was in the zone as it were. It was then that she saw the other Mane Six at the buffet table.
Rarity was using her magic to keep her plate at a distance as if it were something toxic, but then the Princess figured she made a special and valuable dress for just such an occasion and really hated even the notion that her dress could be soiled.
The sole exception was Fluttershy. She was in the corner looking at some really large dog that the Princess had never seen before.
Rainbow saw the Princess first and got Applejack's attention with an elbow to her shoulder.
"Howdy Princess!" called Applejack in her neighborly way, "No one told us all ya was comin ta visit a spell!" Apparently she said it loud enough to get Twilight's attention as she suddenly stopped and looked around.
"I told you that Princesses have a party sense!" said Vinyl as she looked at the skeptical face of Octavia.
Just then, Starlight Glimmer walked into the room from the other side.
"You didn't really have to go to all this trouble to make a dress for me..." she said until she saw Celestia and stopped in her tracks.
"Sorry to intrude," said the Princess at last, "But... I need to speak to Twilight... privately. Hopefully this won't take long." Twilight suddenly looked apprehensive. She paused a moment before adding, "And no, it has nothing to do with how Twilight handled the last Grand Galloping Gala."
Twilight sighed in relief. The dog looked at the Princess and gave a long low growl.
"It's alright," said Flutters to the dog, "That's Princess Celestia and she's a good pony."
"A new friend?" asked the Princess as she raised an eyebrow at the dog.
"Oh yes," she replied, "I found him coming in from the Everfree Forest... and since he had no tags... well I didn't think anypony was taking care of him... if you don't mind..."
"That's very kind of you," replied the Princess, "Have you named him yet?"
"ROOBY ROO!" exclaimed the dog.
"I guess that's his name," she said, "That's about the only name he responds to."
She then looked at Twilight as she asked, "Perhaps we need to withdraw to your quarters to speak more privately?"
"OH!" said Twilight, "Of course!"
Celestia turned and left the room as she heard Twilight rushing to keep up.
"You'll have to show me which room is yours," said the Princess as she looked up and down the long hall.
"OH!" said Twilight as she moved ahead, "Of course!"
'I haven't even mentioned that something is wrong and she's already this nervous,' thought the Princess.
She moved ahead and opened the first door she came to. Pausing, she glanced back over her shoulder as Celestia approached. She looked inside the room and judged by the wall hangings, posters and flight paraphernalia that it was Rainbow Dash's room.
"Twilight?"
"Oh... uh... My room is such a mess right now!" she said suddenly, "I've got unsorted books everywhere! I... just thought it would be better to use Rainbow's room instead!"
"You really shouldn't be so nervous," said the Princess evenly, "But the room of a Wonderbolt Reservist will do fine."
Twilight sighed in relief.
"As much as I'd like to say this is just a social call," she said as they walked in and used her magic to close the door behind, "I have a matter of great importance to speak with you about."
"Oh my," she replied as she paced around.
"There's... rumors... that Ponyville has had an increase in changeling activity."
Twilight blinked.
"But I didn't want to risk having a message sent by Spike-mail being overseen by somepony other than you," she continued, "I want to keep a lid on things until I'm sure that there really is changelings in this area."
"Any idea if anyone's been replaced yet?" she asked as she started walking in circles.
"Nothing definite," she replied, "That's why I've come here in person. Cadance is pregnant as you know, so I can't just have her come down here to Ponyville and have her cast her shield spell unless I'm sure that there's a changeling infiltration in progress."
"So there could be one changeling running around," she mused, "or dozens."
"I know that at Canterlot, there's precautions against another changeling infiltration, but we just couldn't afford to use that level of protection all across Equestria. It's just too large."
"So Queen Chrysalis is sending her troops to a place she figures is weak security wise..."
"And yet is the home to the fourth alicorn Princess of Equestria," finished Celestia.
"Knowing changelings," said Twilight, "They could replace just about anypony."
"Yes," she replied, "That's why you need to keep an eye open for anypony acting suspiciously in Ponyville. You also need to keep an eye open for newcomers in case they haven't began replacing local ponies yet."
"We have to keep this quiet as long as we can," agreed Twilight.
"We should start with the rest of the Mane Six," she said quietly, "Have any of them acted oddly?"
"Besides Pinkie's normally oddities?"
The Princess nodded.
"Not really," she answered softly.
"Knowing Chrysalis, she may well start by replacing Mayor Mare. It's best to control town from the top down. Since you already have experience with the Queen and her changelings, I doubt she would be brash enough to try for them first."
"Hmmm... but perhaps we shouldn't tell..."
"You think Pinkie or Rainbow might spill the beans about changelings?"
She nodded.
"While I'm sure you could get Pinkie to Pinkie Promise, it may well be for the best to just tell them to look for ponies acting suspiciously until we actually find the Queen or one of her changelings."
Twilight nodded.
"But we should start with couples," continued the Princess, "It's most likely that a changeling would insert themselves into a loving relationship in order to get a free love interest to feed off of."
She nodded again.
Suddenly the Princess' ears twitched. She heard something move. It came from a closet door. "What was that sound?"
"What?" she asked as she looked about, "I didn't hear anything."
But the noise happened again.
"No, there's something going on in here."
"Oh," said Twilight, "That must be Tank. Rainbow has been keeping him in her closet... when he misbehaves... He tried to eat one of the table clothes thinking it was lettuce!"
"Ah... That makes sense," she replied as she moved closer to Twilight. She put her neck over Twilight's as she stepped up beside.
"Princess?"
"But the Queen doesn't know about our little secret?" asked the Princess quietly, "She surely doesn't know."
"Oh of course not," blurted out Twilight.
"And since we're here alone," she continued as she whispered in Twilight's ear, "Let's take advantage of this moment."
"Is this a really good time? For that?"
"Oh you're such a tease," she said as Twilight suddenly floated into the air. The glow from the Princess' horn moved with the slight turn of her head and the smaller alicorn Princess floated over the bed. "Still acting surprised after all these years."
Twilight laughed nervously as she landed on the bed on her back with her legs splayed out. Then Celestia stepped up to the side of the bed and looked her over.
"Now give momma some sugar," she purred as she kissed Twilight on the lips. Placing her forelegs over Twilight's barrel, she pinned her down to the covers.
Twilight moaned into the kiss as she felt Celestia's love wash over her. She blushed as they kissed. Minutes passed as they kissed. Then the Princess finally broke it off.
"Mmm..." she purred, "I love you so much."
"I love you too!" she blurt back.
"Now tell me what you really think about me."
"You're my mentor and I'll love you forever!" she replied.
"Like the first time you met me in my chambers all those years ago," sighed the Princess.
"Of course!" she replied, "How could I ever forget that night?"
She lean close to Twilight's ear as she whispered, "Now tell me what your real mission here is... changeling."
Twilight suddenly looked panicked, but found she couldn't move.
"Don't bother," she replied, "I put a paralysis spell on you while we kissed. You can't do anything to me now."
"How did you know?"
"I suspected something when you took me to the wrong bedroom and then made up an excuse. The real Twilight wouldn't care about how messy her room is. Especially if it's books."
Suddenly, the door was kicked in. Applejack strode in followed by the others of the Mane Six.
"Never send an underling to do a queen's work," she muttered.
"So the Queen shows her hoof already?" asked the Princess as she looked.
"I defeated you once!" she cried as she changed back into Queen Chrysalis, "I can do so again!"
"Last time, you were charged up an the love of Shining Armor!" she retorted, "Whose love are you feeding on now?" The closet door flung open to reveal Rainbow Dash and Applejack hogtied together in the closet. "Or do I even have to ask?!" They were tied quite tightly and both muzzled as well.
"So you knew about that too?"
"Yes. It was too loud to just be a tortoise scratching at a door."
"Well you're too late!" hissed the Queen, "I've already replaced all of the Mane Six besides that weakling Fluttershy!"
"She's not nice!" called Fluttershy from the hall, "GET HER!"
The Queen had no time to react when a large dog suddenly jumped her. Celestia nailed the others in the room with bolts of magic energy making Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie change back into changelings. Only Twilight the changeling wasn't blasted and stayed in form.
"Good boy," said Fluttershy.
Chrysalis' horn glowed green as Fluttershy floated in the air under a sick green glow. "Surrender Celestia!" called the Queen as she pointed her horn at the floating yellow mare, "Or the Fluttershy gets it!"
"You shouldn't have done that..."
"DISCORD!!" screamed Flutters.
"What?!" asked the Queen as she looked about.
Celestia used that split second to blast the Queen herself with great force. With her pinpoint precision, she managed to easily avoid hitting the dog in the process. She flipped through the air by the surprise attack to land on her back hard.
"Payback," hissed Celestia.
"You haven't won yet! Hundreds of changelings are coming here even as I threaten you!"
"Nopony is coming to save you," said a voice from everywhere in the room at once.
"Took care of the reinforcements, did you?"
"Nopony threatens my sweet Fluttershy!" said Discord as he appeared in a flash of light, "NOPONY!!" Then he turned to Flutters as he said, "Are you alright, snookie-wookums?!"
"I'm fine," she replied as she looked into his eyes, "Don't forget tomorrow is the day we meet for afternoon... tea."
"Of course," he replied, "afternoon... tea."
"Please secure the Queen and her changelings... first."
"I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you meddling ponies and your dog!" hissed Chrysalis.
"Now if I could only express how I love Twilight..."
"What was that?" asked Discord.
"Nothing!" she replied quickly.
"So this is where you all went off to," observed Octavia from the hallway.
"They left in the middle of my song," added Vinyl.
"Sorry," said Celestia, "There was... party crashers."
"Can I blast them with by BASE CANNON?!"
"That... won't be needed."
Octavia just shook her head.
"Untie Applejack and Rainbow Dash while we search the rest of the castle."
"Wow," said Vinyl as she started untying Rainbow, "I guess you really were having a party back here."
Octavia just face-hoofed herself before she set to freeing Applejack. "I wonder if what I'm getting paid for this is worth it," she sighed.
"We're getting paid for this?" she replied, "Awesome!"
'I guess this party was planned in advance,' thought the Princess, 'It surely isn't the style of the Changeling Queen. I guess it would have looked too suspicious if she just cancelled it now.'
"Thanks fer savin us an all, Princess," said Applejack now freed.
"Yeah," agreed Rainbow, "Being tied to AJ was starting to cramp my style."
AJ just shot a glance towards RD.
"Well it's just lucky that changelings aren't mind readers," said the Princess, "or they might have deceived even me... again."
"Don't beat yourself up too much. They can deceive some ponies some of the time, but they can't deceive alla the ponies alla the time."
"Thank you," she replied, "But I've been the ruling Princess of this land for more than one thousand years. I should be better than this by now. Sometimes I wonder just how I got by without the Elements of Harmony all these years."
"I heard the way you were carrying on with 'Twilight' here," said Applejack, "What all was that about?"
"Nothing!" said the Princess as she blushed.
"Uh-huh."
"Right," said RD as she kissed AJ on the cheek, "Nothing at all."
"Sugar cube," she sighed.
The Princess smiled.