In An Instant

It was pretty convincing.

The changeling got the yellow coat, the pink mane, the Cutie Mark...Even the mud mask. It smiled so genuinely at Pinkie Pie.

Although, probably too convincingly.

Fluttershy didn't move. She didn't exactly know how to react. What could she possibly do? Run in and kill it? Was that most likely the best option? Yes. But...Would that most likely traumatize Pinkie? Maybe.

Even so, Fluttershy knew she couldn't. She felt weak. She stared at Pinkie, who looked beautiful.

And happy.

A grin was stretched across her face. Tears welled in her eyes. I don't even think she's ever looked at me like that.

Pinkie wore a dress made of dead grass. On her head, she wore a veil that was made of some sort of thin fabric. Her hair wasn't braided, just combed through and left blowing in the wind. She and the changeling's mud masks were done into intricate designs, Pinkie's consisting of spirals and suns, and the changeling's made of sharp thorns and spikes. The changeling wore the same dress and veil, and wore its hair the way that Fluttershy had wore it on her wedding with Dumbbell.

Dumbbell? Oh Celestia. I haven't even spoken to him in half a year.

Once again, Fluttershy looked to Pinkie Pie. She sighed.

This is what she wanted. And I just had to leave. And I'll just end up ruining this incredible day in any mare's life. Fluttershy sighed.

No. I won't let this happen.

"Stop! Stop the wedding!"

Pinkie Pie turned, squinting into the forest. "...Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy stepped out of the trees. "Pinkie, you're not about to kiss who you think you are."

Pinkie looked to the changeling, and then back to Fluttershy, and back to the changeling. "I...I..."

The changeling cackled. "Ya got me," it hissed. In an instant, it changed from Fluttershy back into it's hideous ink black form.

But it wasn't just any changeling.

"Queen Chrysalis?"

The whole camp gasped and realized together. Chrysalis howled with laughter. "Wasn't it obvious?"

Fluttershy ran to the Queen, and prodded her spear towards her throat. "Where are your children, you putrid monster?"

Chrysalis smiled. "I'm the last one."

Pinkie grabbed her spear. "That's impossible."

"Are you kidding? Don't you think I would've sent my drones here by now if I had any?" Chrysalis pushed Fluttershy the ground.

Fluttershy groaned. Her front left leg was definitely broken. She saw the grass stain covering the leg. Quickly pushing herself to her hooves, Fluttershy yelled, "Kill her!"

The Queen flew into the air before anypony could lay a hoof on her. She laughed and laughed as ponies threw their spears and daggers.

Fluttershy flew up to the Queen, grabbing wildly, trying to catch onto something. They raced around in circles for minutes. Fluttershy could hear the ponies below her screaming.

"How could you?" Fluttershy screamed at the changeling queen. "You are filth! You don't deserve to live! You would've taken her from me? How could you?"

Chrysalis screeched, "It's not personal!"

Picking up speed, Fluttershy was able to grab Chrysalis by the head. She twisted her neck, causing the Queen to roar with pain. She pulled the Queen to the ground, where they were crouded by the rest of the camp-ponies. Fluttershy began beating Chrysalis' head into the ground. She was soon bruised. When the Queen was still, Fluttershy prodded Chrysalis' skull with her spear, deeper and deeper...

Instead of howling in pain, Queen Chrysalis laughed. "You simple ponies."

"You came here for love. Don't you know that your life is useless? What do you contribute to Equestria? Love is special," Fluttershy growled, twisting the spear.

Pinkie kicked the Queen's still body. "It belongs to ponies."

Chrysalis' cackle slowly died. The ponies in camp began kicking the Queen's body. Foals jumped on her, screaming and yelling, enjoying the pain they caused Chrysalis. From a distance, Zecora watched the madness.

Fluttershy ripped her spear from the Queen, before her body turned to dust and blew off into the wind.

Fluttershy is in love.

She is a married mare. She and her wife, Pinkamena Diane Pie, were married on the first day of the new year. All of the past was to be forgotten.

They, along with the rest of the camp, moved to Ponyville. Together, they rebuilt the town. Fluttershy and Pinkie live in Fluttershy's old cottage. Animals that lived deep underground and in the hollow, dead trees now thrive, thanks to the mares.

Food is plentiful, thanks to the earth ponies. Life is bright, thanks to the pegasi. The Unicorns are training to bring back the moon.

And they are happy. Even Zecora, who has decided to continue her life alone in the Everfree Forest.

Fluttershy now knows what love and happiness mean. Nothing happens in an instant. Love takes time. Happiness can last forever, if you take the right paths in life.

And Fluttershy looks forward to her new life in Ponyville. Someday, she and Pinkie will have a foal. Somehow. The Unicorns are working on that, too.

They have no regrets. They may have no rulers, and the Equestrian population is less than one hundred. But things are looking up. The buildings are built. There's no blood.

Fluttershy enjoys her world. The plant life: all the flowers, the trees, the grass. The animals. The sky.

Sometimes, they wonder if the changelings will come back. Or...hey, maybe Chrysalis is still alive. But things are too great. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie have been through much together. They know that the worst for them is over.

And if anything comes their way, they'll be able to face it.