The Changeling Princess

Chapters

Lost
Honesty and Kindness
A Life of Regret
Mistakes
Laughter And Loyalty
A Catch-Up With Old Friends
Tricks And Traps And Allies
Memories
A Second Meeting
The Crystal Gorge
Attack And Retreat
The Seer's Hideout
Hope

Lost

Joker's eyelids felt like lead, she wanted to keep sleeping, but her body was urging her to wake. She was surprised to find herself still wearing her armour, her helmet included. She was even more surprised to find herself in the middle of a forest. Joker was on her hooves in a heartbeat. She glanced around. The alicorn took in every inch of her surroundings.

The trees seemed different to those that grew in Equestria and the Everfree Forest. The clouds above seemed to move different, there were no pegasi moving them. The calls of the creatures seemed different. In fact, those calls were the only noise along with the faint rustle of the leaves as the breeze touched them. The entire place seemed to scream danger.

"Okay," Joker tried to calm down. She started pacing, muttering to herself as she went. "Okay, think. What happened last night? The changing of the guard, my shift ended. I was taking to Captain Armour and . . ."

"Can you keep the noise down?" a sleepy voice asked. "Dawn is far too early."

Joker scanned the sky. Indeed it was the crack of dawn, as far as the white pegasus could tell. It took a few moments before the voice registered, her senses still recovering from whatever happened.

"Spike?" Joker frowned at the purple dragon curled up in the grass. "Hey, long time no see."

"Joker?" Spike then glanced around. "Where are we?"

"If I knew I would flying back to Canterlot as we speak," Joker sighed. "But I have got no idea."

"Great," Spike muttered.

"Wait here," Joker ordered, convincing herself it was only a training exercise. "I'm going to see if I can my bearings."

Spike nodded. Joker spread her wings and shot into the sky. She shot through the canopy of the trees and landed on a small cloud. She glanced around. A chill went up her spine as she recognised the sinister mountain terrain with the patches of emerald forest. She leapt off the cloud and folded her wings against her body. When she was close enough, Joker pulled out her wings to stop her crashing into the ground.

"I have good news and bad news," Joker announced as Spike walked over. "Good news; I know where we are and how to get back home."

"Where?"

"That's the bad news," Joker bit her lip unwilling to tell. "But the sooner we move and get out of here, the less you have to know."

"Can't you tell me?" Spike asked as Joker explored the little patch of forest they'd somehow been dumped in.

"We're in the Changeling's Realm," Joker admitted.

"How do you know what this place looks like?" Spike frowned.

It had been a few minutes ago the duo were panicking. Joker had calmed herself down and now was leading Spike to where, hopefully, they can get home.

"Um," Joker hesitated, her mind reaching back to the cover story she usually used. "I accidentally slid through a portal when I was younger and found myself here. I memorised the landscape in case I accidentally came through again or got lost. I believe there is a portal nearer the ground that has been used recently. If we find it we can get home."

"Don't you find it curious how we ended up here?" Spike frowned.

"I have a theory," Joker said, looking straight ahead. "But my top priority is to get out of here and then figure out what caused this. Had I been alone, I would have started looking around, but because I am with a civilian, my first job is to make sure you are safe."

"What if we aren't the only one's around?" Spike asked. "What if others were also transported here?"

"Good point, Spike," Joker stopped. "We'll travel from forest to forest as we get back. When we do, you are going to find Princess Celestia and tell her what happened while I come back and search the rest of this place."

"I want to search with you," Spike frowned. "You can't just stroll around here like you own the place."

"I'm sorry, Spike," Joker sighed. "If you get injured or killed and it was your fault, I get the blame because I 'failed to protect the defenceless.' Besides, I kind of do own this place."

"Then I'll do my best not to get killed," Spike said, leaping onto Joker's armoured back. "Please?"

"Fine," Joker sighed, her eyes rose to the sky. She had feeling she was going to regret this, but she didn't like travelling alone.

"What did you mean when you said you kind of own this place?" Spike asked.

Joker bit her lip, but hid her expression from Spike as she pulled off her helmet and tucked it under a wing.

"So, you gonna answer my question?" the baby dragon pestered.

"I will tell you and the six later," Joker sighed, closed her emerald eyes. "Just not now. I need you to trust me like you did when I was in Ponyville. Promise me that?"

"Pinkie Promise," Spike said, mimicking the actions, finally glad he'll be getting some background info on a mysterious mare.

"I don't know about you, but I didn't eat last night because my shift had just ended when I somehow ended up here," Joker glanced around. "How about we find something to eat?"

"Yes, please." Spike grinned, licking his lips.

"But first, I do not need heavy little dragons on my back making me use more energy than needed," Joker smirked as she stood on her back legs before throwing herself into a cart wheel.

The dragon couldn't react fast enough and found himself on the floor, blinking, trying to figure out what just happened.

"We should make bags to carry food," Joker said as she explored. "The gaps between the forests can measure from an hour's journey to a week."

"But we don't know what is edible and not," Spike frowned, glaring at a colourful flower.

"That one isn't poisonous," Joker trotted over. "But I wouldn't recommend it. The colours are warnings meaning that it is not suitable for eating."

The white pegasus took wing and grabbed some large leaves. She landed and glanced over at Spike. The baby dragon was preoccupied. She ground her teeth together. A twisted black horn slipped through her disguise and the pupils of her eyes turned dragon-like with a dark green oval second pupil. Her iris was emerald green and the whites of her eyes turned pale green. Her horn charged with sickly green energy. The same green appeared around the leaves, making them into a makeshift saddlebag with a spell to stop them breaking. When she was done, she activated her disguise that made her horn disappear.

"Why not ditch the armour?" Spike asked, making the pegasus jump. "It would make it so much easier."

"Do you want to know how much trouble I could get in?" Joke stood up. She replaced her helmet on her head and set the makeshift saddlebags on her back. "Captain Armour would have my head!"

"Oh," Spike never knew Shining Armour had such a reputation as Captain of the Royal Guard, but, then again, he new little about Twilight's older brother. "Are we getting food now? Do they have gems here?"

"They have gems alright," Joker chuckled. "But they are scattered around. If we are lucky, we may find a few. Plus, there is a gorge full of gems, although I don't think you'll be able to eat them . . . "

Spike did not hear; he was too busy eating a gem he found and fantasising about this gem-filled place.

Joker smiled and shook her head, but something inside of her had been reawakened when she awoke and it was desperate to escape.

Princess Celestia paced in her tower. She nervously bit her lip, anxiously waiting news. It was never like Joker to do things like this, especially when it came to her job. It was also never like Twilight to delay replying to her letter. Shining Armour had pulled a few guards off duty earlier this evening to search for Joker. The guard he had taken had long since returned. Shortly after he departed to see if his sister and her friends were okay. As he left Celestia made sure he didn't tell anypony. She didn't want the disappearance of a member of the royal guard getting out and causing panic.

"Princess Celestia," Shining Armour galloped into the chamber, breaking the solar princess out of her thoughts. "Twilight and her friends are missing!"

"All of them?" Celestia frowned. "Joker; one of the best guards I have and who can predict any enemy's next moves. Twilight and her friends; holders of the Elements of Harmony. They're connected to keeping me and Equestria safe. Someone must be planning an attack."

"But we can take them, right?" Shining Armour asked.

Celestia didn't answer. She was thinking. Her theory could be wrong. Joker could have been found out and some ponies decided to abduct her or something. She only prayed that, wherever they were, the seven ponies were safe.

"Maybe," Celestia replied after a few moments of dead silence. "But we do not know whom our attacker is. It could range from a small group of changelings to Nightmare Moon herself."

"Oh come on!" Spike complained what seemed like hours later. "Why can't you tell me?"

Joker groaned. It had been a full day since they left their little patch of forest and were heading for another. Since then Spike never stopped pestering her about how she knew where she was, where to go and what to avoid. He obviously didn't believe Joker's story about accidentally falling through a portal to this world.

"Because if I tell you, you will blab and I'm technically dead!"

"Please?!" Spike begged. "Please tell me!"

Joker glanced around, nervously biting her lip.

"Alright, fine!" Joker snapped, silencing the baby dragon and stomping her hoof on the rocky ground. She was never normally persuaded easily, but this was just one exception. "I know this place because it's my old home. I am a changeling. I should be the princess, but when Chrysalis decided to take over Equestria, I tried to stop her so I got banished! And to be perfectly honest, being banished was the best thing that happened to me!"

Spike was shocked. He just stared into the sunset, taking in everything he just heard.

"Then you're the reason I'm stuck here!" He gasped.

"No, the reason I am here is either for revenge or because they are trying to take Equestria again!" Joker snapped.

"So you are helping us?"

"If I wasn't, I think Celestia might already be dead." Joker said bluntly as she pulled off her helmet to let the air get to head.

"But she will be," a bone chillingly familiar voice hissed as the sound of buzzing wings surrounded the duo.

Joker flinched at the sound. Green flames danced around her as she transformed, dropping her helmet as she did so. Her armour stayed the same. Her pure white fur coat changed into a black exoskeleton with a green blue chitinous, similar to Chrysalis. Her tail and her mane turned blue-green and grew in length. Her horn grew in length and twisted. Her feathered wings turned into blue, slightly transparent tatters. Her fangs grew until they protruded from the sides of her mouth. Her eyes turned dragon-like and their colour was identical to Chrysalis's, marking her as the rightful heir to the changeling throne. Her height increased by a few inches.

Spike bit his lip and slid off Joker's armoured back. Joker shot a brief smile at him before a she turned towards Chrysalis, a cold hard look on her face that could turn even the hottest fire into ice.

"What did I say would happen if you came back here?" Chrysalis approached Joker, a look of disgust on her face.

"I did not come back here willingly," Joker growled. "You teleported me!"

"Smart," Chrysalis smiled slightly. "But it all goes to waste. Had you followed in my hoof-steps, Joker, you would have made a very fine queen. But, since you chose to betray me, I have no choice but to destroy you."

"Yeah," Joker scoffed. "Good luck with that."

Spike looked around nervously. They were surrounded by the changeling army. There was no way out, so he wondered why Joker felt so confident.

"You challenge me?" Chrysalis hid her surprise.

"You forget that I am one of the most powerful changelings to ever live," Joker smiled, her wings buzzing, lifting her off the ground, so she was eye level with Chrysalis. "My power is a threat to that of even Celestia and Luna."

Spike knew that every word Joker just spoke was a lie, but the changelings seemed to believe it.

"Is it enough to rival that of the Elements of Harmony?" A changeling captain asked, eagerly.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Chrysalis snapped, hitting the changeling over the head with her hoof. "She is a traitor. It matters not how powerful she is! Destroy them!"

Joker smiled nervously, her hooves touching the ground and her wings becoming motionless by her sides. Joker backed away from the advancing changelings, but not in fear of her own life.

They got too close for Joker's liking. In a flash of her green light, she grabbed Spike with her magic, threw him onto her back and teleported away. When the green light vanished and Joker and Spike could see again, they found themselves on the edge of the forest that had been their destination.

"I don't think she'll hesitate to kill us next time we meet," Joker couldn't stop her smile. To her, it was funny when she got on her mother's nerves.

Spike tried to fight a yawn and lost. Joker walked into the forest, trying to find a place to rest where the changelings that Chrysalis would send to find her wouldn't go. She could have teleported to the mountains, but the previous teleporting spell had used up quite a bit of her magic and energy. She needed real food, not food that she and Spike could scavenge for in this world, to boost her energy so she could use more magic.

Soon, she gave up searching, her body begging for energy, and decided to use two small trees with fallen branches to create a cave of some sort. It wasn't ideal and didn't hide them in the light, but it stopped aerial patrols from noticing them.

Spike, when Joker was done, was snoring softly on her back. She gently lifted him off with her weakening magic and placed him on the floor further back to hide him in the shadows.

Joker smile before trotting back out of the cave to find some wood that would burn to make a fire. She knew that Chrysalis would be enraged that she got away, but Joker had a duty to keep Spike safe and see if anypony else was trapped here and she wasn't about to let Chrysalis and the rest of the changelings get in the way.

The creature deep inside her was still trying to escape, no matter how many times Joker tried to restrain it. The creature had been there all her life as it was part of her. Long ago, she used this monster to her mother's advantage. She had learnt to restrain the beast when she found the portal to Equestria. Her return to her kingdom had awoken the beast and it was threatening to consume her.

The changeling took a deep breath to help her stay in control as she used her magic to lift the sticks she found and pile them up, waiting for her to take them back to the shelter. It wasn't until she accidentally got her mane caught up in a particular spiky twig that she realised she was still in her changeling form. She sighed as she managed to pulled her delicate, blue green mane free from the twig.

She trotted back to the cave. Spike was still sleeping. Joker wasn't surprised; he had been awake for a long time. She got the fire started before transforming back into a white pegasus. The noise awoke Spike.

"Sorry," Joker smiled apologetically as Spike crawled closer to the fire.

"No problem," Spike assured her. "I wanted to ask a few questions anyway."

"Like what?" Joker forced her expression blank, to hide what she was really feeling. She didn't want to mention particular things.

"Like, if you're a changeling, how come the princesses allowed you to be a guard?"

"They both know that I'm a changeling," Joker was slightly relived. If these were they type of questions he was asking, she'd be in the clear. "Princess Celestia heard rumours about me when I was in Ponyville briefly. She got suspicious and transformed me in front of the guards. It took me forever to tell them that I had and wanted no part in the changeling's invasion of Equestria. My armour is different compared to the other guards. The helmet is similar to that of the changeling captain's. In battle, I normally stand next to Shining Armour, because he is the captain of the royal guard."

"And you're second?"

"Sort of," Joker levitated her helmet to examine it, a lie already forming in her head, based on what she had said earlier. "Because of what I am and how powerful I am I guard the most important things, like the Elements of Harmony, and fight the big fights, like if the changelings did a full scale attack."

"Is that what they are planning to do?" Spike asked worriedly.

"Let's see," Joker frowned, thinking. "They teleported me here with you. No doubt you were with Twilight and she got teleported too." Joker gasped when something clicked into place. "How didn't I see it before?"

"See what?" Spike was sitting up, his eyes alert. "What's going on Joker?"

"The changelings teleported me and you here," Joker began to explain, making sure all the pieces fit together. "They teleported me because I am the only one who can predict the changeling's next move. They teleported here because they are going to take Ponyville first and you can send a letter to Princess Celestia warning her of what is going on! They must have teleported Twilight and her friends here because they are the holders of the Elements of Harmony!"

"So they are going for a full scale invasion?" Spike asked, stifling a yawn. "No disguises?"

"One huge full scale attack, leaving here empty," Joker was trying to think but her runaway brain was running wild. "We need to hurry up and find them before the attack. But if we're all here, why are they waiting?"

Spike shrugged.

"You can worry about that," Spike yawned as he curled up. "I'll worry in the morning."

Joker sighed as she managed to clam her thoughts down. She knew Spike could send messages with his magical fire, but he hadn't received any. Joker knew the princess would have sent something by now. His magic fire must not work over such great distance. If his fire was capable of sending and receiving messages over great distances, then they could forewarn Celestia of the incoming attack. However, luck seemed be against the white pegasus, as usual. Joker laid her head on her fore hooves, waiting for sleep to come.

Honesty and Kindness

When Spike awoke, Joker was sitting just inside the entrance to their cave. She bore the signs of lack of sleep and a recent fight. She looked over her shoulder as Spike walked past the long dead embers of the fire. The young dragon stared in surprise at the deep looking cut on Joker' face. It ran from a spot hidden by Joker's mane that covered the left side of her face, across the centre of her face, over her right eyelid and cheek, before coming to a stop along her jawline. It had healed over slightly, probably with help from a little bit of magic. She wasn't in her pony form, the form Spike had seen her in last night, she was in her true form.

"What happened?"

"You are one heavy sleeper," Joker smiled slightly. "We were attacked. It was only a small patrol, but enough to cause trouble. They were tough. Chrysalis must've toughened up their armour. I managed to get rid of them, but one somehow evaded me and attacked me while I was recovering. Where he got the blade I don't know, but it was sharper than even those of a doctor back in Equestria."

"Why didn't you awake me?" Spike frowned, rooting through Joker's make-shift saddle bags for something to eat.

"They weren't after you," Joker looked straight ahead. "If they were, the one who evaded me wouldn't have hesitated in killing you. Moth-Chrysalis must have been specific."

"Why you?"

"Did or did I not tell you that I am the next in line for the throne?" Joker said flatly. "The moment Chrysalis dies, the changelings loyalty will be trained upon me, whether or not I like it because I am still bound to the throne."

"But, the queen banished you," Spike frowned, his mouth full of flowers. "That should undo the bound."

"It should have done," Joker nodded. "But the bound is different here to Equestria. I'm still bound it because I am the only heir. There is no other changeling who can take the throne. And if Chrysalis does perish any time soon, they still fear me. They probably just sit around, waiting for some-pony brave enough to take control, or for me to return and claim the throne as my own."

"But you don't want to be queen," Spike stated. "So it'll all fall into shambles."

"Hopefully it'll all fall apart so they'll depart in their different clans," Joker sighed, a smile on her face. "I can only dream. You done scoffing your face?"

Spike nodded.

"We best start searching this patch of forest," Joker stood up and looked around for her helmet when she remembered she had left it when she had teleported the previous day. "The sooner we move, the better. Especially now they know we're here."

Spike watched as Joker levitated the make-shift bags onto her back before following her out of the cave. He never uttered a word; he was thinking. This didn't escape Joker's notice.

"You're strangely quiet," she observed. "Something wrong?"

"If your theory is correct, then Twilight and the others are here," Spike bit his lip. "I'm worried for them."

"You should be worried about us," Joker sighed. "We're the ones Chrysalis is after. No doubt if they stay out of the changelings way then they should be safe. But the sooner we find them, the better."

"That's what I'm worried about," Spike leapt onto Joker's back causing the armoured changeling to stumble slightly. "If they know what the changeling's are planning then they'd do anything but stay out of their way."

"Then we'd better quicken the pace," Joker stopped and eyed the cloudy sky. There was enough cover to hide them. She spread her tattered wings and began to climb into the sky. She punched a hole through the thin layer of clouds.

"Isn't there a bigger chance we could get spotted?" Spike wandered as he scanned the ground through the fog like clouds.

"Not unless anypony is looking directly at me," Joker shook her head, her emerald eyes fixed below her as she searched the terrain for any life except changelings. "There's also more cloud blocking the sun so my armour won't gleam as much."

Spike squinted, hoping to make out more figures than just blobs of black.

"Wait a minute," Spike frowned looking at Joker. "How can you see? I mean, I read somewhere that you only see blurs. You rely more on your senses than anything else."

"The drones do," Joker hovered a moment before continuing her steady pace. "I can see the same as anypony, only further. I rely on my senses if I cannot see for whatever reason. A changeling uses their other senses to hunt, not just sight."

"Can they sense us?"

"No, we're too high up. They'll only be able to sense us if there is a aerial patrol and even that'd be brief."

Spike nodded and returned his gaze upon the ground. Joker kept doubling back, to make sure she hadn't missed anything. They were back over where they took off that morning when Spike finally spotted something that wasn't green, brown or black.

"Hey, Joker, what's that down there?" Spike pointed at the two blobs.

Joker hovered mid-air, slowing down in next to no time. She followed the young dragon's pointing claw. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to make them out.

"Spike, you're amazing," Joker grinned. Without much warning, Joker dropped into a dive, letting gravity pull her to the ground. Her wings beat steadily, speeding up her progress.

Spike dug his claws into Joker's armour. He was leaving behind claw marks, but, as long as he was holding onto something, he didn't care.

Joker landed in the clearing behind the two ponies they had seen from the sky. Before she made her presence known, she changed into her pegasus form and folded her now white wings against her armour. It wasn't comfy, but it would do

"Are you alright, Spike?" She asked as the baby dragon jumped off her back and staggered around for a moment.

"No," Spike muttered. "Warn me next time."

"I might stick to the ground here on out," Joker smiled slightly, readjusting the saddle bags that had been moved during her flight. "Flying takes a lot of energy, especially wearing armour and carrying a baby dragon."

Joker slowly proceeded through the forest and into the clearing Spike had spotted the two ponies. She was hoping they didn't freak out and attack them. When she and Spike made it through the tangle of bushes, they came face to face with an orange earth pony and a yellow pegasus.

"Hey, Applejack, Fluttershy," Spike broke the tension as Applejack's glare hardened at Joker.

"And who are you?" Applejack glared at Joker.

"Joker," Joker returned the glare. "I am a member of the royal guard in Canterlot. We never met before I moved."

"I've never seen you before," Applejack noted.

"I did stay in Ponyville briefly," Joker said flatly. "But I became a member of the royal guard and left."

"Joker has a theory as to why we are here," Spike said, ignoring Joker's warning glare. "She knows this place like the back of her hoof as she used to live here. She thinks that her moth- Queen Chrysalis is going to invade Equestria."

The disguised changeling groaned, her ears dropping backwards and her head bowing. Spike covered his mouth, but it was too late. The damage had been done. Applejack looked angry and Fluttershy cowered behind the farm pony.

Joker never saw the attack coming until Applejack bucked the mare like she could an apple tree. Something cracked, but Joker was on her hooves and in defence mode. Applejack was fast and strong, but Joker was trained as a Royal Guard and a murder, so the farm pony stood no chance.

With minutes, Applejack collapsed with exhaustion. Joker stood on the other side of the clearing, breathing heavily. Her back left leg had been injured when Applejack first attacked.

"Will you please listen to me?" Joker asked.

"Why?" Applejack growled. "I value honesty and you are a changeling! Changelings lie! For instance, your disguise!"

"My disguise is what I would look like if I was a pony!" Joker took a deep breath, trying to keep her dark side in check. "I am half and pony half changeling! That is why I can eat food!"

"Your father is a pony?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, was," Joker nodded. "But forget that. The most important thing is to find the rest of you so we can stop the changelings."

"Why?" Applejack frowned.

"We had a run in with some of them," Joker explained. "They teleported us all here because we are the defence of Equestria. They are planning to invade but, the longer they delay, the better for all of us."

Joker turned to head North West.

"Why are you going that way?" Fluttershy asked.

"There is a patch of forest this way that I think we'd better check out," Joker hesitated slightly, indicating her lie. "We can double back later."

"You're lying," Applejack frowned at Joker. "I reckon there's another reason why you don't wanna go this way."

"That relates to what I'll tell you later," Joker bit her lip as she eyed the forest that Applejack wanted to go. "I really don't want to take a trip down memory lane. Well, that specific part of it."

"Um, guys," Fluttershy said quietly, her eyes shrinking in fear.

"Well, I wanna know now," Applejack advanced on Joker, making the white pegasus back away. "I wanna know why you're tryin' to avoid this part of this forest."

"Girls," Fluttershy was barely heard.

"You're just going to have to wait!" Joker refused to back down.

"Why do you know so much?"

"Guys?"

"I just do!"

"Joker," A voice that sounded like two people slightly out of sync silenced them all. "You can lie to yourself and the ponies, but you cannot lie to those that'll risk everything to serve you."

Joker's eyes narrowed as the others froze.

"Well, well, well," Joker snarled, stepping around Applejack and trotting up to the changeling that spoke. "Look who it is. Weren't you the first to betray me when I was princess? And now that I am back and ready to destroy Chrysalis, you are willing to betray her to follow me?"

"You are the most feared, Joker," The changeling backed away slightly. "No changeling would stand in your way to Chrysalis. Well, maybe the prince that wanted your hoof in-"

"Do not remind me," Joker turned her back on the changeling. "If you are on my side then I want you to carry out a little task for me. Do not tell any changeling else about it. I have a few friends scattered around. All of them are ponies. If you'd be kind enough to locate them and report back to me, I'll make a mental note to let you live."

"Of course, Joker," the changeling nodded, shaking slightly before shooting into the sky and vanishing above the thin layer of cloud.

Joker took a deep breath and turned to face Applejack.

"I guess I have some explaining to do," Joker smiled weakly, but nervousness gripped her like ice.

A Life of Regret

The day was drawing to a close, so Joker lead the dragon and two ponies to a cave that was partly hidden by a strange plant. On the way, she picked up any sticks or twigs that would burn. When they settled down, Joker arranged the twigs and leaves so they were ready for her to ignite.

"So, are you gonna tell us?" Applejack eyed Joker.

Joker sighed as she removed her armour, revealing her cutie mark of a black and green jester hat.

"I suppose I have no choice," Joker stretched out before sitting down. "I'll have to repeat myself. It's only normal for you to be curious. Anyway, you have the right to know.

"I am a changeling. Not just any changeling, the princess. When I was a foal, my mother, Chrysalis, trained me to kill. In clashes with other changeling clans, I would kill without second thought. After the first few clashes, as our clan expanded, rumours ran through the remaining clans. I was feared. Even now, the mere mention of my name strikes fear into the hearts of changelings.

"Some clans joined us to avoid fighting us. Many thought the rumours false but kept their distance. And very few fled to Equestria and other worlds.

"One day, or night, rather, I was wandering around this patch of forest. I was hunting something. This was the first moment of my life I do not regret."

The young princess could sense her prey. It was in pain so it wouldn't be going anywhere in a hurry. Joker peered at her prey from behind a bush. It was a pegasus. The young stallion held one wing as if he was in pain. Joker licked her lips. It was rare when she found a pegasus so close. It was even rarer to find one that can't fly away. He was facing away from Joker, which made it even easier than the young changeling could have ever dreamed.

Joker prepared herself to jump the stallion. He was about to turn around when she chose her moment. Her aiming was slightly off, but she still pinned the surprised pegasus without much trouble.

"Ah, the Angel of Death, right on cue," the pegasus smiled before closing his eyes and waiting.

Joker had no idea what to do next. She had her prey right where she wanted it, just she normally fed of the fear before killing them. Here, there was no fear to feed off.

Joker retreated into the shadows, her life playing before her eyes as she, for the first moment in her young life, thought for herself. She remembered every creature that had fallen victim to her monstrous self. Guilt crashed down on her like a ton of bricks, threatening to crush her small frame.

"Why did you spare me, Joker?"

"H-how do you know me?" Joker growled, instinct taking control as she got defensive.

"Are you kidding?" the pegasus sat up, grimacing at the pain in his wing. "Even Princess Celestia fears you!"

"Yeah right," Joker scoffed. "I doubt that."

"No, I'm serious," The pegasus got to his hooves. "I have a friend who works as a royal guard for the princess and he told me that when the rumours first spread throughout Equestria, Celestia panicked. When the rumours where confirmed a few days later when a carcass was found, Celestia doubled the guard. But ever since you've neither been seen or attacked."

"The portal from here to Equestria closed," Joker shrugged. "I have the power to reopen them, but there were easier targets." Joker's eyes fixed upon the damaged wing of the pegasus. She charged her twisted black horn with her green energy.

The pegasus frowned at Joker, wondering what she was trying to do. The light around his injured wing caught his eye. His damaged wing was glowing the same colour as Joker's horn.

"Don't m-move, it'll make it harder to heal," Joker warned, her voice strained as she pushed her magic further than it should. The green light soon vanished from her horn and the pegasi's wing. "I'd move it a bit, before it stiffens."

The pegasus slowly folded it against the side of his body. He gasped when he felt no pain. To make sure it was no illusion, he shot into the sky, but stayed below the canopy of the trees. He landed, the same bewildered expression on his face.

"H-how in Equestria did you do that?" he asked.

"I am stronger than Chrysalis," Joker grinned. "Even if she just stopped feeding off love of ten different beings. Which reminds me..."

Joker's horn powered up again with her green energy. Mist, of many colours, began to swirl in front of her. Joker bowed her head and ground her teeth, trying to rip a hole in the very fabric of space. Her magic flickered a few times before going out. The portal in front of her looked unstable, but if it was a away back home for the stallion, Joker was happy.

"What is that?" the stallion trotted around the portal, next to Joker.

"It's a portal back to Equestria," Joker looked up at him with innocent eyes. "Go home, live your life. Don't waste it like I have mine."

The stallion smiled down at the young princess before putting his hooves around her in a hug.

"There's something about you, kid," he said as he was about to step through the portal. "I don't know what, but I know, one day, you'll do something amazing. I can only hope I'm there to see it. Thank you."

Joker paused for a moment, her mind running through every last detail of the night.

"We became great friends. I kept coming back and watching him live his life. Sometimes, when I had more time, I would get his attention and we'd have a conversation. These frequent visits to Equestria were what stopped me falling even further into the monster Chrysalis wanted me to be. But, it wasn't long before she caught on. She tried to take Equestria, knowing I'd stand against her and the other changelings."

Joker waved once more to the stallion she had known for years before she turned and galloped through the portal. She was nearing adulthood, but was still a teen. The portal took away her disguise of a white coat and black and green mane. The moment she was on the other side, she took to the sky, hoping Chrysalis hadn't notice her disappearance. She noticed the queen changeling outside a cave with a few others. Joker changed her course and headed for them.

"Hi," Joker said, dully. "Did I miss anything important?"

"Yes, in fact," Chrysalis scowled at Joker, a cunning smile on her face. "I am planning to take Equestria. It has enough love to give us more power than we dreamed of!"

"Equestria?" Joker panicked, but expertly hid it. "You're kidding, right? I mean, the portals all closed years ago."

"Or so we thought," Chrysalis grinned. "A changeling within our clan has been making frequent visits there. What she does there, I have no idea."

Joker gasped, catching on instantly what Chrysalis meant.

"I will not let you!" Joker practically roared, making birds take wing in fright of the princesses rage. "There is no way I will let you pass through the portal!" Joker's horn charged with green energy as she closed the portal she frequently used to travel between worlds.

Joker didn't notice Chrysalis casting her own spell until she had finished her own, but by then, it was too late. A jet of light burst from Chrysalis's horn at Joker. The light hit Joker and the force threw her backwards, knocking her out cold for hours.

"When I awoke, I went back to Equestria, only to find it the same way I left it," Joker grinned. "I found the stallion I helped and asked him what happened and he told me Chrysalis had tried to take Equestria, but failed. I was relieved. Now, however, I find it hilarious that she misjudged the power ponies had.

"I tried to get back at them a few weeks after Chrysalis's failed attack on Equestria. I crossed horns with Chrysalis and half the changelings. I knocked them out without breaking a sweat. But there were changelings hidden. They attacked me at the same time with the same spell Chrysalis used before and threw me through a portal. I was knocked out for hours.

"When I regained consciousness, the stallion I mentioned before had taken me into his house, despite having a wife and two foals, and was taking care of me. He had already explained to her everything and she was willing to help. I told them what had happened to me and they allowed me to stay for as long I needed. I thought I'd get in the way, but he or she was always busy and the colt and filly needed looking after. It was cheaper for me to remain because I didn't mind looking after them. I soon found a cottage on the edge of the Everfree Forest. I brought it but kept to myself, only leaving to grab food.

"Princess Celestia, after I had tried to take on Chrysalis and the rest of the changelings and failed, heard about my strange behaviour and paid me a visit. I told her, and showed her, what I was and why I was there. She offered me a place in the royal guard. I accepted. I didn't know back then why she wanted me there. Maybe it was to keep an eye on me because, no doubt, she had heard the rumours. I later on discovered it was partly that and my powers. If anypony or thing launched an attack on Equestria, I would be the first to sense it and I could then alert the princesses.

"I had just finished my shift and was talking with Captain Armour when I found myself here and no memory of what I did after talking with the captain. We were travelling here, to this patch of forest, to look for the rest of you when we crossed Chrysalis. I shouldn't be surprised she still wants me dead."

Joker sighed.

"Now that I have found Honesty and Kindness, I know that Generosity, Loyalty, Magic and Laughter cannot be far away," Joker rested her head on her hooves, her emerald green eyes watching the dancing flames.

"You were a monster, your mother's pride and joy, and then you came to your senses and your mother practically sentenced you to death?" Spike frowned, making sure he got his facts right. "That's--"

"Barbaric? Insane?" Joker offered. "Yes, especially when I am the only heir to the throne."

"So, if Chrysalis dies, you take the throne?" Fluttershy said quietly.

"Even though I am technically banished, the moment Chrysalis cannot rule any more, I am the queen," Joker sighed again. "Whether I like it or not."

"No offence, Sugarcube," Applejack spoke for the first time since she had heard Joker's story. "But you changelings rule a lot different to Celestia and Luna."

"Non taken," Joker assured the orange mare. "Besides, I don't want to rule. I just want to be a normal pony in Equestria. Well, as normal as I can be."

"Who else knows?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"The guards, Celestia, Luna, the stallion and his family and now you," Joker mentally counted in her head. "You might want to rest. We need to move across open ground tomorrow and we'll have to be quick to avoid being spotted."

"What are you going to do?" Applejack asked, picking up the 'you' Joker used instead of 'we'.

"I'm keeping guard," Joker stood up and sat near the entrance. "I'm not risking another sneak attack."

Fluttershy and Applejack looked at Spike questioningly.

"We were attacked," Spike quickly explained. "They're targeting Joker, but I wouldn't surprised if they went for one of us."

Fluttershy curled up into a small ball, clearly terrified. Applejack calmed her down and comforted her before they both fell asleep. Spike wasn't far behind.

She waited until she was sure everyone else was asleep.

Joker stepped out of the warm cave and into the cold dark clutches of night. The breeze wound it's way through her black and green mane, blowing it gently across her face. Joker stood there for an immeasurable amount of time, silently gazing up at the starry sky. They where the same stars Equestria saw, just from another angle. Most nights when she would guard were like this; silent but the sounds of nature.

Buzzing wings snapped Joker out of her day dreaming. She retreated back slightly, casting herself into shadows, ready to attack the changeling by surprise.

"Joker?"

Joker relaxed. It was the changeling she sent earlier to find the rest of the ponies that were stuck here.

"Back already?" Joker asked, allowing no emotion to creep into her voice. "I thought it would take the best part of two days."

"You and your friends are lucky," the changeling replied. "You all were transported to this side of the mountains and it's harder for Chrysalis to keep sending patrols. There is a pegasus and an earth pony in a forest a little further north, a little way up a mountain. And two unicorns west, too close for comfort to the castle. I suggest you get them first before getting the pegasus and earth pony."

"I understand why you would," Joker said. "But I want you to tell the unicorns to stay out of sight and trouble. The rest of their friends are on their way."

"From who?"

"Me, Applejack, Fluttershy and Spike," Joker replied flatly. "Make sure they stay safe. Fake orders that you are patrolling that area or something."

"Yes, Joker," the changeling bowed. "And thank you."

"For what?" Joker frowned, confused.

"Not killing me," the changeling smiled knowingly. "I could sense that you wanted to."

"I have better uses for my subjects instead of killing them," Joker smiled back. "Now go. The sooner they get out of sight, the better. We don't want any more trouble than we have got. But, whatever you do, don't tell them about the invasion of Equestria."

"Why not?"

"I know what both unicorns are like, the moment they catch wind of the invasion plan they will stop at nothing to stop Chrysalis," Joker returned her gaze to the stars. "I don't want them putting themselves in danger."

The changeling only nodded before shooting into the sky once more. Joker used all the restraint she had left to stop herself turning and destroying the changeling as it flew into the distance, the buzzing of wings fading with it.

Joker closed her eyes and bowed her head. She knew if she was going to defeat Chrysalis, she was going to have to forget her reputation in Equestria and step up to her reputation here. It was a long shot, but she knew if she was feared by Chrysalis's army, then they may think twice about trying to take Equestria. Or if she took out enough patrols to worry Chrysalis then the Queen might halt the preparations for the invasion and turn her attention to Joker.

An insane smile, the exact same one she wore when she was younger, crept onto Joker's face as green flames danced around her, transforming her into the monster she was so long ago. Although she looked the same, there was a sinister gleam in her eyes that made even a heartless changeling warrior shiver.

Joker straightened up after her transformation was complete. She sniffed the air, ignoring the scents of the ponies and the dragon she swore to protect. Instead, she focused on another scent. She licked her lips hungrily as she slipped into the bushes, after a small patrol of changelings not too far away.

She had all night before her friends awoke and they were safe; hidden in that cave.

It was time for Joker's rein of terror to begin.

Mistakes

Spike stretched out and yawned. He stood up and wandered over to where Joker's makeshift saddle bags sat. Half asleep, the baby dragon reached in to grab some form of food to satisfy his growling stomach. When his claw reached in he heard the buzzing of wings, a crash and a groan from outside. The noise awoke him properly.

It was then he noticed Joker was missing. He withdrew his claw, forgetting about food, and crept to the concealed entrance to the cave. He pulled back the hanging plant, that seemed to be covered in some strange liquid, to see what all the noise was.

Joker was standing outside the cave, her left wing torn even more so than usual, blood made parts of her wing opaque instead of it's usual transparent blue. The way she held her wing was a clear indication it was painful to move it. However, Joker's body language made Spike edgy. She wasn't nursing her injury. Instead she was tensed. Her eyes narrowed towards the opposite side of the clearing.

Spike followed Joker's hate filled gaze. He almost screamed in fright at what he saw.

What seemed to be an entire battalion of changelings stood surrounding the clearing. They all had the same menacing look on their face. It took keen eyes like Spike's to noticed the fear they felt.

"Spike," Joker whispered without turning around. "Awake the others."

"We only want Joker," A changeling growled. He was clad in dark blue armour, announcing his position as the captain of the guards. "The others are to be left."

"You mess with Joker, you mess with us," Applejack, flanked by a cowering Fluttershy came to Joker's aid.

"Then you will die along with her!" The captain roared, charging forwards with the other changelings.

Joker saw the hesitance the other changelings had. The captain was the closest one and closing the gap fast. The captain had stupidly charged too fast and had no back up. Joker saw the mistake and, with a crooked smile, she charged towards the captain. When they were close enough, Joker used her height to her advantage and leapt clean over the changeling.

The others, including the captain skidded to a halt. The captain, however, spun around and was about to charge again when a burst of green energy hit him in the head. He crashed into the side of the cave with tremendous force. There was sickening snap as he collided with rock and his still form slid to the ground. The armour and exoskeleton had done nothing to save him from the blast and the crash.

The other changelings now looked at Joker, their fear evident in their bright blue, pupil less eyes. Few still had their gazes upon their fallen leader in shock, but quickly turned towards Joker, fearful of their own lives.

"Let me guess," Joker sighed. "Chrysalis sent you to kill me?"

"Actually to take you to the castle," one changeling said hesitantly. "And kill your friends."

"What is the progress of the invasion?"

"It has been halted on account of y-you," another spoke, shaking where he stood.

"Thank you," Joker said flatly. "If I see any of you again and you are after me or any of my friends or in Equestria, I will kill you. Now leave, before I change my mind."

"Thank you, Princess, for sparing us," the changelings spoke as one before simultaneously bowing. They then turned around and took off into the sky.

Joker waited until they were out of sight before she collapsed, a groan escaping her lips.

"Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked timidly, trotting over to Joker.

"Wing almost torn off, in agony, loosing blood, but I'm fine," Joker rounded off. She tried to sit up, but a firm hoof just pushed her to the ground again.

"No you don't," Fluttershy frowned. "You are staying right there. Applejack? Can you find something to help stop the bleeding?"

"Like what?" Applejack frowned, pulling her gaze from the dead form of the changeling's army captain.

"Leaves?" Fluttershy shrugged, picking up the saddle bags and walking back to Joker. "Take Spike with you, he might be able to help. Make sure they aren't poisonous."

"I'll see what I can find," Applejack nodded before trotting off with Spike in tow.

Fluttershy picked up some leaves and put them in the bag that held the water. She picked out a large leaf out of the water and used it to clean away the blood.

"How long has your wing been like this? I can't say I noticed it yesterday," Fluttershy asked as she used one hoof to hold the wing in place while she clean the blood as gently as possible.

"Last night," Joker closed her eyes, ignoring the pain. "After you went to sleep I stepped out."

"Why?"

"I needed to think," Joker muttered. "Oh, the changeling I sent to find out where your friend's where came back. We'll head north from here to get Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, then we'll head west to get Rarity and Twilight."

"That's nice," Fluttershy smiled. Her smile turned into a look of horror when she saw the extent of the damage done to Joker's wing. "Joker, what did you do?!"

"Oh, um, I sort of attack a small patrol of changelings. One got behind me and nearly ripped my wing off," Joker tried to make it sound casual.

"He was almost was successful," Fluttershy's eyes were wide. "It is literally held on by a bit of . . . whatever your wing is made of."

Joker glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes widened in shock.

"Whoa!" Joker leapt to her hooves, making Fluttershy jump. "He did that? I-I didn't realize it actually was hanging on by a thread!"

"Sit down!" Fluttershy roared, her dark side showing for a moment.

Joker did as she was told and had a look that a filly in trouble would have on her face. Fluttershy smiled weakly before tending to Joker's wing.

"The last thing you want to do is transform back into your pony self," Fluttershy commented. "It would make it a whole lot worse."

"I could heal it," Joker muttered. "But it comes with complications in this form. I'd probably heal it wrong and won't be able to fly."

"That's strange coming from such a powerful changeling," Fluttershy noted.

"Too much power sometimes can be as helpful as leaving it," Joker sighed, laying her head on her hooves.

Fluttershy didn't say any more. She only concentrated on getting the wound as clean as possible. An infection wouldn't help in their current position. Not when Joker was the only thing stopping the changelings from killing them.

"Hey, Fluttershy! We found something!" Spike called from Applejack's back.

"It feels just like normal bandages but it's a plant," Applejack explained as she trotted towards Fluttershy. "It should help."

"Is it dangerous?" Spike leapt off Applejack's back and showed the leaves to Joker.

"Shouldn't be," Joker picked the leaves up with her magic and examined the leaves. "The medics would use these leaves to stop bleeding and prevent infections if changelings got injured in battle. They do have some negative side affects, but nothing to worry about."

"Like what?" Fluttershy frowned. She didn't trust the plant. Who could blame her when they were in a different world?

"Sometimes it would cause itching, rashes or spots if it rubs too much," Joker explained. "But, it's very rare. There shouldn't be any side effects if it's fresh."

"You know, you could have told us earlier," Applejack sighed. "Shall I go get some more?"

"Yes," Fluttershy answered as she took the large leaves from Spike. "We may not need them all, but we need to keep Joker's wound clean and that means changing the dressing for the wound. Grab some extra, just in case anypony else gets injured."

Applejack nodded before trotting off. Spike followed the orange farm-pony, leaving Fluttershy to work on Joker's wing.

"How do you know what to do?" Joker asked.

"I take care of animals," Fluttershy smiled. "I take them in and look after them. Some leave, but come back every once in a while. Others I share my cottage with and others live in bird houses and things outside. Many I help and they become my friends."

"The world I know, Fluttershy, needs more ponies like you," Joker smiled. "It needs more kindness."

After Fluttershy had bandaged Joker's wing and was happy that it would heal without much trouble, the changeling, the two ponies and Spike set off to find Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie; Applejack carrying the make-shift saddle bags that had been filled with fresh water and food.

Joker had put her armour back on but decided against transforming in case it did more damage, like Fluttershy said. She, as usual was leading the way.

They had been, for an hour, in the gap between the small forests. An easy target for Chrysalis's patrols, especially now that Joker was injured. Three patrols had soared over them, but never made a move to attack.

"What did you do last night?" Fluttershy asked Joker, noticing the patrol flying overhead speeding up to get to wherever they were supposed to be.

"I have a reputation here as a monster," Joker watched them, sensing their fear. "I thought I should live up to it."

"Why?" Spike asked, catching up to Fluttershy and Joker.

"Chrysalis would see me as a threat and pull all her army off the invasion scheme to kill me," Joker eyed the sky. "Her plan isn't working because they are too afraid to approach me. Sometimes you get a stupid changeling, thinking they can take me on."

"What about the patrol this mornin'?" Applejack asked from a few paces behind Joker. "They seemed pretty hostile."

"To you, maybe," Joker's emerald eyes scanned the area. She could sense something far more dangerous than a changeling. "But they were terrified of me. Except the captain."

"So I noticed," Applejack muttered. "Why kill them?"

"Here, to get noticed you have to have a very loud, long-lasting voice or become a mass murderer," Joker stopped, her ears upright and alert. "I am neither. Here I am considered a monster. To be honest, I like being feared."

"Are you okay?" Spike asked Joker.

"Shush!" Joker hissed, drawing herself to her full height and allowing her senses to do a more thorough search of the area.

"We should keep moving," Fluttershy whispered.

Joker nodded and took the lead once more, setting a faster pace. Spike was having trouble keeping up with their fast trot, so using her magic, Joker lifted him off the ground and sat him on Fluttershy's back.

They were running out of energy. Applejack and Fluttershy were hungry. Joker knew they couldn't keep this up for much longer. She thought for a moment, not paying much attention to where they were going.

Joker skidded to halt and allowed her friends to pass her. But not too far away they stopped themselves.

"Go!" Joker smiled reassuringly. "I'll catch up, I just need to do something."

"You sure you'll be alright?" Spike asked.

"I may have new cut or two, but they maybe it," Joker lied, sensing the creature approaching. "Go!"

Fluttershy hesitated for a moment before following Applejack and leaving Joker behind. Joker smiled before she turned and glared at the approaching creature. It towered over her. The scar on it's shoulder was a sign of the last fight the two had, years ago.

"I knew I recognised that scent," it growled. "Long time, no see, Joker."

Joker didn't respond. She only hardened her gaze. Last time they fought, Chrysalis had to lift Joker away with her magic because she almost got sliced to ribbons. This was an old grudge that needed to be settled.

A normal manticore, to Joker, seemed like an overgrown kitten compared to monster that stood before her. It's wings were huge, it's teeth and claws sharp enough to tear through bone and exoskeleton, it's jaws were powerful enough to crush a huge tree to splinters in one bite. It's tail was that of a scorpion, except twice at sharp and poisonous than that of a normal manticore. Even if it skimmed across Joker's body, she would be dead within the hour.

At the moment, Joker looked like she stood no chance of winning.

Applejack couldn't believe it. She had turned away from a pony who was willing to help them to defend them against . . . who knows what and not even offered to help. Then again, there was something in Joker's voice that made her move. It was instinct and fear that made her and Fluttershy leave.

"Should we help?" Spike asked when they finally came to a stop in the shade of a forest at the base of some mountains.

"I don't . . . think we'll be of . . . much use," Applejack panted. "Let's hope Joker . . . knows what she's doin'."

"We should probably go and help," Fluttershy said, catching her breath. "She looked really really frightened."

"She is probably scared for our lives, not her own," Spike muttered. "She seems to care about us more than herself."

"That's what I'm worried about," Fluttershy said, her quiet voice seemed loud in the silent forest. "If she is more worried about us than herself, she could get hurt."

"She'll be fine," Spike assured them. "Her armour is practically everything proof."

At that moment a scream pierced the silent forest. Three heads whipped towards the sound as Joker crashed to the ground in the clearing just behind them. Her armour had been destroyed and, as she stood up, it fell off her black body.

"Joker?"

"I-I'm fine," Joker winced as she moved her injured wing trying to stay on her hooves. "We n-need to move, now!"

"But we can't go much further," Applejack spoke for her and Fluttershy.

"It's either run like the devil's chasing you or get ripped apart by a giant, hungry, angry, magically enhanced manticore!" Joker shouted in fear. "There should be another forest further up the mountain. There's something up there that'll stop it following us!"

With that Joker galloped off. Spike quickly leapt onto Fluttershy's back, seeing as she wasn't carrying anything or had a wing injury. Applejack brought up the rear, ready to lend Fluttershy a hoof if she needed it. It seemed that Fluttershy didn't need it because the moment she showed signs of slowing, she used her wings as an extra boost. Joker would have done the same if her wing wasn't injured.

Joker was speedy and had the stamina to outrun most creatures. Fear told her to gallop as fast as she could, but a more reasonable part of her told her to keep to a pace her friends could keep up with. It didn't take long for them to leave the forest, but they were fast running out of energy and the manticore, now soaring overhead, if he looked in the right direction would spot them.

"Joker, it could see us!" Applejack called.

"We need to pick up the pace!" Joker called back. "Spike! Hop onto my back!"

Spike did as he was told as Joker slowed down to match Fluttershy's speed. Joker sped up again. Applejack must have been thinking the same thing and, despite already carrying the saddle bags, she carried Fluttershy on her back. Joker sped up once more. Applejack used her strong legs to keep pace.

"How much further?" the farm pony panted.

"Not too far," Joker winced as Spike hit her injured wing.

"Sorry," Spike muttered, realising the pain he caused Joker.

Joker didn't say any more. She couldn't. Every muscle in her body was screaming for her to stop. But they couldn't, not if the manticore could spot them. Joker could sense Applejack was growing tired. It was a relief to both of them to see the forest up ahead.

"Joker, I think it spotted us!" Spike wound his claws through Joker's short mane to hold on.

"Hang on!" Joker gasped. "No much further!"

The manticore was about to swoop down and grab Joker when they entered the forest. The manticore roared in defeat and decided to go after a changeling patrol that just soared past.

When they were sure he was gone for good, Joker and Applejack collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.

Fluttershy and Spike decided to go and collect some firewood while the two ponies recovered from pushing themselves beyond their physical boundaries.

"Remind me never to do that again," Joker whispered, still catching her breath five minutes later.

"I agree," Applejack nodded. "My muscles are gonna ache in the mornin'."

"At least we are safe from it here," Joker sighed. "That thing is worse than Chrysalis on a bad day."

"Is Chrysalis really that bad on bad days?" Spike giggled. "So bad you compare her to that monster."

"Don't get me started," Joker warned, finding the energy to move.

"You two rest," Fluttershy said, dropping some sticks in the fire to keep it burning. "You'll need it. Joker, I'll examine the wing injury and see what else I can do."

Joker yawned and rested her head upon her hooves before closing her eyes and drifting into a deep sleep as Fluttershy tended to her wing.

Laughter And Loyalty

The next morning, Joker was the last to awake. Fluttershy had done all she could to help her wound heal faster and to eliminate the pain. It wasn't brilliant, but the make-shift splint Fluttershy had made would help the wing re-grow properly and, hopefully, without any complications.

Joker yawned and stretched out, alerting her friends that she was awake.

"Hey, Joker?" Spike grinned. "I couldn't help but notice your cutie mark was a joker's hat. I noticed when you took of your armour before you transformed."

"Yeah," Joker raised an eyebrow as she levitated the make-shift saddle bags over so she could eat. "So?"

"Do you know any good jokes?"

"You misunderstand," Joker smiled. "My talent is to pull pranks. I can tell jokes, but they aren't that good. My pranks are way better."

"Demonstration?" Spike asked. "On Applejack."

"Fine," Joker sighed, getting up from the forest floor and trotting out of the clearing. Her twisted horn glowed green as she went, picking up anything Joker thought would be handy.

"It won't be that good," Spike scoffed.

Fluttershy only smiled, not offering her opinion as she ate some flowers from the saddle bags.

Hardly five minutes had passed before Joker was back, a satisfied smirk upon her face.

"Take Applejack to where I marked on the ground and watch," Joker instructed. "I just need to do one more thing."

Her glowed green once more as she cast the duplication spell upon herself. When the light faded, two Joker's stood next to each other. Only one didn't have a wing injury.

"Right," both Jokers said as one. "Fake me only lasts an hour, so, Spike, while we get into position, you go and find Applejack. Fake me will lead you to the spot in the other form and watch as the fun begins!"

Joker charged her horn and aimed at her clone. The clone became a white pegasus with a black and green mane and a green and black jester hat as a cutie mark. The only difference was the shade of green of her eyes.

"Go," the real Joker hissed before galloping into position, out of sight, her horn glowing as she used a similar spell to alter her appearance slightly.

Joker hid in a bush. It was harder now she had changed herself slightly. She had altered her height so she stood as tall as Chrysalis and looked almost exactly like the Queen of the changelings. She focused so she was more in control of her clone.

"Hurry, Applejack!" the fake Joker shouted. "They're over here!"

Applejack galloped next to fake Joker. The real Joker grinned and aimed her glowing horn at the bank just under Applejack's hooves. The bank gave way and Applejack shouted in surprise as she skidded down the bank. Joker had made sure it was safe. She waited until Applejack was close enough before bursting from the bushes.

"BOO!!" the real Joker, who looked like Chrysalis, hissed before bursting into laughter.

Fluttershy and Spike, laughed from their position on the bank above. Joker released her disguise and returned to her normal height and self. Her clone laughed with her.

Applejack, after recovering from the shock joined in the laughter. As did two other ponies as they walked from their hiding place to meet their friends.

"Oh, Joker, that was priceless!" Pinkie Pie laughed, high hoofing the changeling. "One question, though. How come there are two of you?"

"Oh," Joker grinned and raising her eyes to her clone. "Duplication spell."

She aimed her glowing horn at the clone, zapping it away in a flash of light as Spike and Fluttershy edged their way down the steep slope.

Rainbow Dash glared at Joker before deciding to take action. She shot at Joker like a bullet and pinned the changeling to the floor.

"OW!" Joker screeched in pain as she landed heavily on her already damaged wing.

"I'll put you in more pain if you harm my friends!" Rainbow growled.

"If I wanted to hurt your friends, I would have killed them already!" Joker hissed in pain and rage.

As suddenly as Rainbow had pinned her, the rainbow-maned pegasus was dragged off of Joker by the tail.

"Thanks, Applejack," Joker winced as she got to her hooves.

"Rainbow!" Applejack said, spitting out the rainbow tail of the cyan mare. "She is helping us!"

"She's a changeling, Applejack! Can't you see that?!"

"I ain't blind," Applejack glared at her friend. "But she has saved me and Fluttershy more than once!"

"And yet, no matter what I do, no matter how great the deed, I will never be able to make up for what I did," Joker sighed. "I see your reason to despise me, Rainbow Dash, but wait and maybe you'll see something different underneath this exoskeleton. I know they do."

Rainbow Dash looked around. Spike, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Applejack were defending a changeling. She was the only one to act the way she did.

"Why do they trust you?" Rainbow asked.

"They know," Joker answered simply. "They know my past and my regrets. They know why I joined the royal guard the first chance I got. They know that I prefer to be a common pony than the princess of the changelings."

"What?" Rainbow's jaw dropped. "You have all that power and yet you prefer to live as an average pony?"

"Chrysalis lied to me," Joker turned to face the cyan mare. "She told me to kill whenever I had the chance because if I didn't kill them, they'd kill me without a second thought! I believed her and, in any conflict with other changeling clans, I would do just that. They would then surrendered and become part of Chrysalis's clan. That is why she is a Queen, because of the size of her clan. Her clan. That I fought for. That I killed for."

"I knew she was evil but-"

"Evil?" Joker scoffed. "She's diabolical! She didn't care whom I killed just as long as her clan and territory expanded! That meant I probably killed my own friends!"

Joker flinched away from her own words.

"You killed your own friends?" Rainbow exclaimed taking to the air.

"You have to remember that I couldn't control myself half the time because Chrysalis sometimes controlled me," Joker sat down.

"Why didn't you say anything before?" Spike asked.

"It didn't come up as important in what I was telling you," Joker cast her eyes to the floor. "I was telling you how I changed. Not really what I was. I tend to avoid the subject."

Fluttershy walked up to Joker and gave the changeling a comforting hug. Joker smiled and returned the hug.

"We'll tell Rainbow and Pinkie everything later," Fluttershy assured Joker as she pulled out of the hug. "For now we need to find a way to Twilight and Rarity."

"Avoiding the manticore, I guess?" Joker grinned.

"Preferably," Fluttershy nodded.

"This forest stretches around the mountains. It'll take two days to reach the edge of it. From there we'll used the small patches of forest to move around unseen from above," Joker thought aloud. "It will take longer, but, hey, if we miss the magically enhanced manticore then we'll live."

"What?" Rainbow Dash asked, sharing a confused look with Pinkie Pie.

"Applejack, Fluttershy and Spike will update you on what you need to know," Joker informed her. "First, I need to eat. My stomach needs something other than fear and blood."

It was midday when the four ponies, the changeling and Spike finally started their journey once more. Joker was, no surprise, leading the way as she used to live here. Rainbow Dash wasn't far behind Joker, asking her questions about whether or not they should alter their course slightly because the rainbow-maned pegasus had got a good view of the mountains when she arrived.

"Okay, okay," Rainbow Dash frowned as yet another idea was turned down by Joker. "Instead of travelling until we're almost level with their location and then going to find them, we could cut off that huge corner if we cut across the open ground in a day and a half."

"Rainbow," Joker sighed. "I understand you want to find the quickest way to your friends, and that is the quickest way, but it involves resting in open ground. I don't want to do that because we will be easy targets for changeling patrols, or worse."

"Oh," Rainbow Dash looked at the ground.

"I would let you go ahead, but the only thing stopping the changelings killing you is me," Joker looked over her shoulder to see Spike picking up a strange green gem.

"Then what is stopping them from getting to Twilight and Rarity?" Rainbow asked.

"Spike, put the gem down!" Joker called before answering Rainbow's question. "I have a changeling on the inside. He is patrolling the forest under fake orders from Chrysalis. Any changelings to stumble upon him will be redirected and told there is an emergency on the other side of the mountains that requires their immediate attendance."

"And what's going to happen when we find Twilight and Rarity?"

"After that, we regain our strength and get rid of Chrysalis once and for all," Joker said, smiling. "With her gone, the clans should split and go their separate ways."

"But we don't have any weapons,"

"I'm doing the killing," Joker rolled her eyes and came to a stop. "If Twilight happens to have the Elements of Harmony with her then, I'll let you use them. But let me tell you; the Elements will only prolong her invasion. The elements don't kill or stop them returning to wherever they got kicked out from. It will only be a matter of time before Chrysalis returns and wants revenge."

"She won't come back," Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Not if she knows what's good for her!"

"She came back after Shining Armour and Cadence used that love spell!" Joker snapped, her voice echoing off the trees. "All the changelings regrouped and came back! Discord was turned into stone! I promise you he will return! Nightmare Moon, after being taken out of Luna by the Elements, was fused into the moon! I know she will return! No matter what you do, the Elements of Harmony cannot stop someone from coming back! This is Chrysalis's home! She will return, whether it takes weeks or months, and we will know about it because she'll probably kill us!"

Silence greeted Joker's outburst. She sighed softly.

"Then again, I could be wrong," Joker said before walking on.

Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Applejack glanced at each other while Spike stood there in a state of shock.

"No wonder they made her a royal guard," Spike muttered. "She's absolutely terrifying when she's angry."

The four ponies and the young dragon ran to catch up with Joker.

"Why did they make you a royal guard?" Pinkie Pie asked, bouncing along.

"I'm a changeling," Joker replied. "Celestia wanted to make sure I was no threat and I was some place she could keep an eye on me. That and I really want to make up for what I did when I was younger. I know that I can't, but there's nothing saying I can't try."

"Joker can you stop a moment?" Fluttershy asked quietly. "I would like to take a look at your wing."

"Sure," Joker came to a stop and sat down so it was easier for Fluttershy to examine her wing.

Fluttershy carefully took the bandage like leaves off the wing. There was still a lot of blood, more that she would have liked, but at least it was healing.

"How fast do you normally heal?" Applejack asked for Fluttershy.

"Depends," Joker shrugged. "It can vary from a few hours to a few months."

"What are you?" Rainbow Dash frowned. "Changelings shouldn't heal that fast, should they?"

"One thing I forgot to mention," Joker smiled. "I'm half pony, half changeling. That is how I can eat food and other changelings cannot."

"Wait!" Pinkie Pie stopped bouncing. "That means your father is a pony!"

"Was a pony," Joker corrected. "I never actually met him because Chrysalis, mother, killed him."

"Who was he?" Applejack asked.

"I heard only rumours of who he was," Joker winced as Fluttershy cleaned her wing of blood. She changed the topic. "If I was Queen of the changelings I would order the destruction of the magically enhanced manticore. I would probably get Pinkie Pie to come up and throw a party so I don't die of boredom."

"Changelings don't throw parties?"

"They do," Joker smiled. "But they are boring! I've been to the Grand Galloping Gala, I was one of guards making sure everything went well and the highlight of the entire night was when Fluttershy burst through door behind a load of animals, screaming, "You are going to LOVE ME!!""

Fluttershy blushed at the memory but giggled along with her friends.

"And that was twenty times more fun than any changeling party I've been to!" Joker said, while laughing.

"Before Fluttershy or after?"

"Before," Joker admitted. "Your arrival made it forty times better."

"You must attend one my special parties when we get out of here!" Pinkie Pie was bouncing in place once more. "I never had the chance or honour of throwing you a welcome party because you stuck to yourself and then were accepted by the royal guard."

"Yeah," Joker felt guilty. "Sorry about that Pinkie. That sounds like a wonderful idea. But, no princess or changeling stuff. I'm not sure how the ponies will react."

"Most will be scared," Applejack said. "Few would probably-"

She was silenced by Fluttershy's hoof. Applejack glared at Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus just shook her head.

"I know what she was going to say," Joker laid down. "Some will react violently and I could get hurt or killed."

Fluttershy removed her hoof from AJ's mouth and went back to Joker's wing. An awkward silence fell over them. Except for Pinkie Pie who was bouncing around them in circles talking about plans and what to do for the party. No pony was really listening to her, except Spike who would occasionally throw ideas in.

The silence, excluding Spike and Pinkie Pie, continued as they made their way west along the the base of the mountains.

"Okay, this silence is making me depressed," Pinkie Pie snapped the ponies back to their current position. "Someone say something!"

"Did I hear you mention tiaras for the party?" Joker raised an eyebrow, speaking for the first time in what seemed like ages.

"Yes!"

"I said nothing that has anything to do with me being a changeling or a princess," Joker urged the point. "I am just a normal pony. That's all I ask."

"Okay!" Pinkie Pie started bouncing around them once more despite them moving. "So that means no tiaras, no changeling piñata-"

"Changeling piñata?" Rainbow Dash giggled.

"Yes," Pinkie Pie frowned. "I was wondering about how they would react so I'd give them a choice for piñatas. A changeling one or a normal one. I will also see how much more violent they are with it."

"Pinkie," Joker sighed. "Most ponies hate me. The guards, in Canterlot, fear me. Out of hundreds of ponies, only nine actually like me. Well, minus two because we have no idea how Rarity and Twilight will react."

"Then who's the other one?" Applejack frowned, mentally doing the maths in her head.

"No wait, thirteen," Joker corrected herself. "You six, Spike, the princesses, the pegasus I saved, his wife and his two foals. Oh, and Thunderlane."

"Fourteen out of hundreds like you," Pinkie Pie thought. "You're right. More will want to hurt you for trying to take Equestria."

"That is where you are wrong!" Joker's voice suddenly grew loud as she stopped. "I got banished because I refused to take Equestria with the changelings at that wedding! I got attacked by the changelings and practically left for dead! I was found by the pegasus I saved and he returned the favour! But when then the invasion failed and Chrysalis and the other changelings were blasted away because of that love field thing, I was almost killed again because I was so weak!"

"Simmer down, Joker," Applejack stood in front of the changeling. "Pinkie didn't say that you were responsible. She was just saying that every changeling, no matter if they helped or not, gets blamed."

"But I should have done more to protect Equestria," Joker sighed and walked on along side Applejack and Rainbow Dash soared overhead. "I was the only one who knew about the portal. But Chrysalis saw me change and she got guards to follow me. Had I been smart, each time I came back I could have closed the portal behind me."

"Small details like that no pony cares about!" Rainbow Dash glided above them. "The moment they see the resemblance between you and Chrysalis, they will turn."

"It's the undeniable truth," Joker sighed. "I cannot hide behind disguises for much longer. If only I could get the princesses to back me up."

"Wait, did you mention Thunderlane?" Rainbow froze.

A Catch-Up With Old Friends

"Wait," Rainbow Dash stopped. "Did you mention Thunderlane?"

"Yes," Joker replied, coming to a halt further up and looking over her shoulder. "Why?"

"How do you know him?" Fluttershy asked.

"He's a guard," Joker forced her voice to sound casual. "A great one at that. He got promoted rather quickly. He's a Lieutenant now. The annoying thing is, all the other guards know this too. In a fight where I had no magic, he could easily beat me and they know it. As a result, they try and keep him away from me, in fear I'd kill him."

"You mentioned her found out about the changeling thing," Applejack tried to keep the smirk off her face. "How did he react?"

"Shocked and he didn't believe it," Joker giggled. "I changed to show him and he was stunned for days."

"Typical Thunderlane," Rainbow smirked.

"So, how close are the two of you?" Pinkie Pie asked, bouncing along side Joker.

"We're just friends," Joker answered too quickly.

"Totally," Rainbow Dash said sarcastically, alerting Joker to her mistake.

Pinkie gasped loudly before smiling hugely.

"You love him, don't you?" her smile dominated most of her face.

Joker nodded, unable to help her own smile.

"How long have you known him?" Applejack asked.

"He signed up just before the Royal Wedding," Joker thought. "So, about three and a half years."

"And, how long have you been dating?" Rainbow Dash was dying for an answer.

"About half a year," Joker tried to fight back her smile, but it was a war she was destined to lose before it began. "He asked me because I was shy about admitting my feelings."

Rainbow Dash burst into laughter at this, but Joker's smile vanished and a cold looked replaced it.

"I am a changeling!" Joker silenced Rainbow with her powerful voice. "I am supposed to feed off love! I could easily feed off his love for me and if I'm not careful I could kill him!"

Joker walked on, leaving the ponies and Spike surprised in her wake.

The conversation, thanks to Pinkie's change of topic, stayed off things Joker didn't want to think about. But she knew, one day, she would have to face those thoughts she shoved to the back of her head.

The sun was setting when they decided to rest for the night. Joker, Rainbow Dash and Applejack went looking for anything that would burn of was edible while Fluttershy and Spike tried to make the ground softer to sleep on. The best thing they could think of were some weird looking leaves that were pretty soft to the touch. Still, it was better than nothing.

Spike was exhausted, so he was the first to sleep. The mares stayed up a bit longer, chatting.

"Changelings can feel love?" Pinkie Pie frowned. "I thought they didn't feel emotions."

"Most don't, like the drones," Joker corrected. "But they feel basic emotions like happiness and fear but Chrysalis trains them to ignore their own emotions. But fear is just too powerful."

"How does Shining Armour act towards you?" Fluttershy asked. "I mean, after what happened at his wedding."

"Let's say he blames me and I sped half my free time wondering how I can make it up to him," Joker sighed. "I have told him my side of events but he doesn't believe me. Maybe if I get you all out safe then he might stop being so . . . hostile. Ha! I'm being a wishful thinker once more."

"He might," Fluttershy comforted Joker. "He just doesn't want to be fooled again because that did look a little bad for his reputation."

"I suppose," Joker thought. "But he won't believe the story about my armour with the magically enhanced manticore. That is one thing he'll use as an excuse to stay mad at me."

"The magically enhanced manticore," Rainbow Dash frowned. "How did it become magically enhanced?"

"A mad changeling who happened to be a friend of mine," Joker giggled at the memory. "We combined our powers and magically enhanced a manticore. We wanted it to be our pet, you see. But . . . my friend got killed and it has been after me ever since."

"You were one strange foal," Pinkie Pie giggled. "Although, it was pretty stupid."

"I agree," Joker nodded at Pinkie. "But, hey, we were just kids. We had no idea it would turn on us."

"Magic users," Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Did you have any magic surges?"

"Um," Joker frowned, reaching further back into her mind for memories. "Once. I accidentally changed my personal guard into a para-sprite. I turned him into a few other things before I changed him back."

"What else did you change him into?" Pinkie said laughing.

"A toad, a mushroom, a-"

"A MUSHROOM!!" Pinkie Pie was rolling around, laughing her head off.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash joined in. Fluttershy giggled almost silently. Joker laughed herself, at the memory, but not as loud as Pinkie Pie.

"Shut up!" Spike groaned. "Some one of us are trying to sleep!"

"Sorry, Spike," Joker chuckled, getting to her hooves. "Although it might be wise to get some sleep. I would like to make sure Twilight and Rarity are safe."

"And where are you going?" Applejack frowned.

"Hey, if I'm going to be feared I need to have reasons why," Joker twitched her good wing. "Besides, if I stopped, Chrysalis would send her army back out to take Equestria. I need to stall them as long as possible."

"But wouldn't that just lead them to our location?" Rainbow asked.

"It would, but I'm going further north," Joker looked up the mountain. "It'll take a few hours, but I should be back by sunrise."

"And if you aren't?" Fluttershy asked, not wanting to know.

"Go on without me," Joker glanced at them all. "I should catch up. Or if the worst should happen then you should continue. Although, it won't happen."

"Be careful," Fluttershy said quietly.

"I normally am," Joker began to walk away.

"Oh, yeah, I bet you weren't careful when it almost ripped your wing off!" Rainbow Dash called after Joker.

"Two changelings advancing on you from two different sides is hardly fair!" Joker called back before breaking into a gallop and vanishing from view.

"She'll be fine," Applejack said comfortingly. "Now let's get some shut eye."

The four mares laid down. It wasn't long before three of them drifted off into sleep. One mare opened her eyes. She examined the area and made she her friend's were asleep before she got up, tiptoed away from her friends. Once she was out of sight, Rainbow Dash shot into the sky in record time and flew after Joker.

Joker cornered a group of changelings. They shook in fear of the princess. One leapt at her, closely followed by two more. Joker hit one with a powerful blast of green energy from her horn. It hit him in the chest, blasting him backwards into a tree. The tree shook with the force. When the changeling made contact with the tree there was a sickening snap.

The other two changelings didn't seem that bothered that their comrade was killed so easily. Their fangs bared as they drew closer, their wings speeding them up and closing the gap between them and Joker.

Joker grabbed the closest one by the throat, her jaws crushing the exoskeleton before she dropped it at her hooves and knocked the other one off course with her magic. She saw it only had been knocked out, trotted over to it, stood on her hind legs before throwing her front hooves to the floor with deliberate force that crushed the changeling's head.

Two other changelings tried to flee Joker's wrath, but the changeling needed to vent some rage and she caught them not too far away. One she skewered in the stomach with her sharp, twisted horn as it leapt at her from above. The other was far more slippery. It dived, ducked and dodged all attacks from the grounded changeling.

Joker eventually got fed up and pinned it down with her magic while she ripped it's wings off and then, still using her magic, she threw it further down the mountain, seeing the unmistakable figure of the manticore.

The princess of the changelings couldn't sense any more changelings here. She set a faster pace to another part of the forest, ignoring the blood that ran down her horn and her legs from her attacks.

"How do you sleep at night?" Rainbow Dash asked, flying just above Joker's head.

The cyan pegasus made Joker jump.

"Bloody-" Joker growled. "What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you don't do anything stupid," Rainbow grinned landing in front of the changeling.

"I can take care of myself," Joker sighed. "And at the moment you are the one do something stupid."

"Oh, there are no more changeling's here," Rainbow Dash said as Joker skirted around the cyan mare and trotted off. "I did a little scout of the area."

Joker's horn glowed green and eyes glowed green for a moment as she amplified her sense to double check the area.

"You're right there," Joker sighed, disappointed, as the glowing ceased. "I suppose there's no point of being here."

"Nope," Rainbow Dash smiled as turned to head back to where their friends slept. "So, are you coming or not?"

"There's no point staying here," Joke admitted, following Rainbow Dash. "You can fly, so why are you walking with me?"

"To stop you doing anything stupid," Rainbow smirked.

"Coming from the very pegasus who decided to follow me in the first place," Joker sighed. "That was pretty stupid, in its own right."

"I'm trying to make up for earlier," Rainbow muttered. "I acted on instinct."

"Not the first time it's happened and surely won't be the last," Joker smiled. "Every pony reacts that way. One time, I got my head smashed against marble flooring. I had a headache for hours afterwards. They admitted afterwards they were trying to crush my skull."

"Ouch," Rainbow flinched.

"I've heard worse," Joker shuddered. "Far, far worse."

"Like what?"

"I don't want to say," Joker looked at the forest floor. "Each time I remember one of the incidents I remember how close I can be to being found out and what could happen to me then."

"If any pony does find out, you know where to find us," Rainbow Dash smiled weakly. "We will do what we can to stop anything happening."

"I spend most of my time at the castle, so I'm hoping if anything does happen the princesses will back me up," Joker sighed. "I only pray that if some pony does find out I'll have some pony to defend me."

"Are you incapable of defending yourself?" Rainbow frowned, stopping.

"No," Joker frowned at Rainbow, stopping a few paces ahead of her rainbow-maned friend. "Against unicorns, their magic is different and even the simplest spell could effect me badly. Earth ponies are strong and could probably crush this exoskeleton as easily I can. Pegasi . . . are fast and have great stamina. If I were to be chased by them, they would catch me up. If three of you worked together you'd be able to kill me, easy."

"We can?" Rainbow frowned, processing this new information.

"The pegasi could wear me out, the unicorn then weaken me so I cannot defend myself or attack and the earth pony . . ." Joker drifted off.

To explain Joker transformed herself into an earth pony. She stood on her hind legs as a hologram equivalent of herself appeared sprawled before her. She threw her hooves to the ground. The moment they made contact with her holographic self, there was flash of bright light and Joker returned to normal.

Rainbow Dash shuddered.

"I hope that never happens," Rainbow whispered as they continued walking.

"Let's just hope no pony figures it out," Joker agreed. "I would rather die of old age than being killed just because of what I am and not what ponies know me as."

"It's annoying when they judge you by looks, isn't it?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Not that I ever had that problem because no pony really messed with me."

"A changeling; a reason to start accusing," Joker sighed. "I admit; I have killed before and I regret every moment of it. I only wish to make up what I did wrong, the guilt is too much to bare at times."

"And that makes you worthless queen!" Two familiar voices snarled. Two voices that made both the changeling and the pegasus freeze in surprise.

Tricks And Traps And Allies

Joker and Rainbow Dash retreated a few steps in surprise as Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy stepped out of the shadows. They looked normal, except they had evil glares on their faces.

"Um, are you two alright?" Joker asked perhaps the stupidest question of the century.

"Oh, we're just fine!" Fluttershy snapped sarcastically, almost nose to nose with Joker. "Thanks, Joker for leaving us when we needed you!"

"What?" Joker frowned.

"So much for the Element of Loyalty," Pinkie Pie sneered at Rainbow Dash. "You weren't there when the changelings attacked us! You don't deserve the title!"

"She does deserve the title!" Joker growled. "I was the one who left! Rainbow only followed me! Had I not left then maybe we could have helped!"

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie's attention was firmly focused on Joker.

"Rainbow, GO!" Joker shouted in fear.

The rainbow-maned pegasus shot into the sky and, as fast as she could, flew back to where, hopefully, her real friends lay asleep. Rainbow could have flown faster, but she knew if she did, she would run the risk smashing through the sound barrier and cause a sonic rainboom. Not helpful when you are trying to stay under the radar.

The cyan pegasus landed heavily next to the fire that still burned brightly. The noise of her landing awoke Fluttershy and Applejack.

"Rainbow?" Applejack glared at the rainbow maned pegasus. "What do you think you are doing, makin' all that noise?"

"Joker's in trouble," Rainbow panted. "Two changelings. I know she's tough, but I don't think she'll be able to take them on!"

"Pinkie Pie!" Applejack awoke the pink mare as she put one of the make-shift saddlebags Joker made on her back. "Joker's in trouble."

Pinkie Pie was awake in an instant.

"Where?"

"I'll show you, but some-pony needs to take the other saddlebags and awake Spike!" Rainbow bit her lip, hoping Joker was alright.

Pinkie Pie took the other saddlebags while Fluttershy awoke Spike. When the baby dragon was finally up and sitting on Fluttershy's back, Rainbow Dash lead the way to Joker at a gallop.

Joker charged her horn with energy before casting her spell. The green light stripped away the yellow coat of the fake Fluttershy and the pink fur of the fake Pinkie Pie. When the light faded Joker looked at the two creatures that stood before her.

Their coats were black as a starless, moonless, light-less night. They had wings as big as Celestia's that they held up proudly. Their horns had a sharp point, like Joker's, perfect for impaling creatures. They both had the same silver cutie marks; a fanged skull and cross bones. The older's mane was dark blue and waved slightly although there was no breeze. The younger's mane did the same, but instead was a dark shade of purple. Their eyes were like Spike's, only bright red and seemed to glow in the darkness.

One of the creature's horns began to glow blue. Joker found herself unable to move, unable to look away from the creature. It smiled, revealing curved fangs, similar, though not as long or sharp, as Joker's.

"JOKER!" the voice sounded distant and Joker could do nothing more but let the spell take over her.

Rainbow Dash lead her friends into the clearing. They watched as one of the two cast the spell upon Joker. The other turned around to defend it's friend.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack took the creature on. Rainbow shot in the sky and floored the creature casting the spell. There was crunch and the creature moaned in pain. Rainbow must've damaged the spine because each time it moved it groaned in agony.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack had pinned the other to the floor. Fluttershy galloped to Joker.

"What are they?" Rainbow Dash asked, examining the creature she still pinned.

"I am not too sure," Joker shakily stood. "I've seen them around before, but they've never posed a threat. Sure, they would take out a lone changeling every now and again, but that was it."

"The princess doesn't know?" one hissed.

"She doesn't know?" the one Rainbow Dash floored said through it's teeth. "Chrysalis never told? I told you she was trouble!"

"What are you two talking about?" Rainbow growled.

"The princess is in danger," the one pinned by Pinkie Pie and Applejack spoke up. "She is destined to be a great queen. If she does not take the throne, rival clans will take over the land and take Equestria."

"Danger? What danger?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"That we cannot see," the other spoke up. "We see a lot of things, the future among them. But what will be the death of Joker, we have no idea."

"What we do know, however, is that the one who holds the key to her destruction, is a unicorn."

"Rarity or Twilight?" Fluttershy asked, unable to believe it.

"We no not of the names," the creatures chorused. "We have said too much. Too many have heard! We best be going now, before the changelings make their move!"

Six eyes fixed upon Joker. They all asked the same question. Joker nodded once and the three ponies let them stand.

"A few questions, before you go," Joker said as they got to their hooves. "Why the disguises of my friends and the mind control spell?"

"We didn't recognise her highness for it has been so long since we last met," one bowed. "We only pray you accept our apologies."

"Forgiven," Joker nodded once. "One more; who's side are you on in this conflict?"

"Yours, your highness," the second one couldn't bow because of the damage to its spine. "We are against Chrysalis! That tyrant drove us from our world and destroyed our race! Us and a few more all that's left!"

"If it takes my entire life, I will get vengeance on Chrysalis from my own suffering, the ponies of Equestria and you. Victory will be ours!"

"May the Lord of Victory help you," the creatures chorused once more, their horns glowing with magic. "May the Lord bring victory to us all!"

Joker smiled as the creatures galloped before shooting into the sky.

"What are they?" Applejack asked Joker.

"An old ally of the changelings," Joker recited from her childhood. "They used to be great allies. Until Chrysalis betrayed them. In her grab for power, Chrysalis invaded their home and destroyed them all. Or so she thought. They aren't the last two. I'm guessing there are four of them at least to have that power. We should be thankful they are on our side, not Chrysalis's."

"Why the hostile reception?" Rainbow asked, watching them go.

"My bet is that they are looking for a lone changeling they can ambush to control them and get inside Chrysalis's operation," Joker explained. "They watched their home fall. Everything they knew, destroyed. They know what that pain is like and they will do anything to stop it happening to other worlds. Even if it means being on losing side, they'd do it. Come on, we should get back to camp and sleep."

Joker lead the way back to camp, her eyes could see better than the ponies in the little light. Her mind trying to get around what the two creatures had said. She knew she wasn't the only one. Spike confirmed this.

"What do you think they meant when they said a unicorn will be your downfall?" Spike asked.

"They are the best fortune tellers you can find," Joker replied. "I think they meant either Twilight or Rarity might kill me. I know Twilight is the Element of Magic, so I'm guessing she'll be the one."

"They don't happen to be Seers, do they?" Pinkie Pie asked, frowning.

"They are Seers," Joker nodded. "Their sight is amazing. They can predict and alter one's life. That's why they are considered dangerous. But only the Seers that are really powerful and have studied seeing in depth can do this. I have reason to believe Chrysalis destroyed all the documents and killed those capable of it."

"Why?" Applejack asked before Pinkie Pie could speak.

"She was afraid," Joker replied. "The Seers had been the downfall of Kings and Queens before her. She knew I would make a better Queen than her. She knew the Seers did too. So she was scared. She decided to grab as much power and land as possible. In the process she attacked the Seers home, destroying anything that would allow the Seers to alter someone's life and killing any Seer capable of it."

"But in superstitions, Seers are evil!" Pinkie Pie blurted.

"Superstitions," Joker sighed. "Yes, some Seers are evil. You need to be wary of them. Most evil Seers travel alone because if there are too many evil beings in one place then they are found easily by other Seers, changelings or the princess of Equestria."

"But there was this one I remember well!" Pinkie Pie argued. "There was a Seer that came around at night and killed anypony who wasn't sleeping!"

"Those superstitions helped turn Luna into Nightmare Moon," Joker said sadly. "They came around thousands of years ago. Everypony locked themselves away in fear of the Seer. Luna thought they were ignoring her wonderful night. It transformed her."

"So, there was never a Seer who killed anypony who wasn't sleeping?" Pinkie Pie frowned.

"There was," Joker admitted. "Only it killed a few hundred before the other Seers got rid of it."

"What do you mean 'got rid of it'?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"Killed it," Joker said without emotion. "Once a Seer had been corrupted by evil they cannot redeem themselves. The only way to deal with the problem is to kill it."

"That's not . . . nice," Fluttershy said, failing to find a better word.

"I know," Joker looked over her shoulder at Fluttershy and smiled. "But it's life. It's the way the Seers evolved and the way they deal with these things."

"Not as bad as changelings," Rainbow smirked at the back of Joker's head.

"Don't go there," Joker didn't look at Rainbow, the threat clear in her voice.

"Especially Joker," Rainbow Dash continued. "I mean, have you seen her kill?"

"They will do in a moment when I kill you!" Joker hissed.

"You wouldn't kill me," Rainbow scoffed. "You are a wimp!"

"A wimp?" Joker turned around, her loud voice echoing off the trees. "A wimp? Would a wimp tell you what they really are when there is a possibility you could have killed them!? Would a wimp have betrayed Chrysalis and then spat in her face!? Would a wimp face an entire army of changelings knowing they could be killed!?"

"No," Rainbow Dash was surprised at Joker's reaction.

"Then you just proved your own point wrong," Joker said, turning around and leading the shocked ponies and baby dragon once more.

They walked on in silence for a while. No one knew what to say.

"How powerful are Seers?" Spike asked, more to break the silence than to get an answer.

"Quite powerful," Joker replied. "Guessing by how effectively they disguised themselves as Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy that Chrysalis didn't successfully eliminate them and their magic. But I could be mistaken. Some Seers are part Echo, so disguising themselves is pretty easy."

"Echo?" Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy frowned.

"A strange creature that resides in the Everfree Forest," Joker explained. "Some came here when the ponies settled in Equestria. They reside on the other side of these mountains. They are called Echoes because they can echo some-pony's life. It's creepy. They can mimic they way you look, walk and talk. While Seers and changelings have to learn about the subject beforehand Echoes can just pass through some-pony and know everything about them."

"Wait, did you just say pass through?" Applejack asked, her green eyes wide.

"Yes," Joker said solemnly. "They are phantoms until they transform themselves. No-pony knows what they look like because those they pass through are knocked out for two hours. When they awake they have no recollection of what happened. Two hours is long enough to mess up some-pony's life."

"Are they dangerous?" Fluttershy whispered.

"No, just a nuisance," Joker smiled slightly. "Their power is similar to my own and easy for a changeling to detect. If they did become a changeling they would get confused and give up."

"How would they get confused?" Rainbow Dash asked,

"Have you seen what changelings look like?" Joker raised an eyebrow. "Aside from me and Chrysalis, every changeling looks exactly the same to every other creature!"

"Enough of your stupid superstitions!" Rainbow snapped. "There is no such thing as Echoes! Seers are just frauds who tell you some stupid lie that will never happen!"

"Seers have real talents!" Joker rounded on Rainbow for the second time that night. "Unlike you! All you dream is to join the Wonderbolts! That'll never happen! The Wonderbolts may look good, but they have no talents! They only have high expectations so no-pony else can join!"

Rainbow Dash was shocked into silence for the second time that night, as was everyone else.

"We need to move," Joker said, flatly. "Tiredness had bad effects on me."

Rainbow Dash shot ahead, not waiting around. Fluttershy, after allowing Spike to hope onto Applejack's back, flew after her. Spike curled up and fell asleep on Applejack's back.

"Are Echoes real or not?" Pinkie Pie asked casually.

"They are," Joker never turned around and her voice was emotionless. "I had the misfortune of meeting one when I was a filly. Trust me, you do not want to meet one."

Pinkie nodded as she mindlessly changed her walk from a trot to a bounce.

"What's up with Rainbow Dash?" Joker asked, her voice still emotionless.

"You just shattered her dreams so I don' blame her for shootin' off like tha'," Applejack sighed. "But this place is makin' her act tha' way. It's takin' a negative toll on us all."

"Except me," Joker's ear twitched. "I've lived here so, it's understandable."

The trio of ponies fell silent there and no-pony spoke until they reached the camp. Rainbow Dash was already asleep. Fluttershy had stayed up to wait for the others. When they arrived she smiled and fell asleep next to Rainbow. Applejack and Pinkie Pie took off the saddlebags before falling asleep next to their friends.

Joker looked at them before she curled up on her own and closed her eyes. There was something about the way that these friends stuck together that reminded her of her own friends she lost. One was killed by the magically enhanced manticore; another was killed by Joker; and one Chrysalis killed for betrayal.

That was one thing out of many times in her past that she wished she could forget or go back and undo. Unfortunately, she couldn't and now she had to live with the regret.

Memories

"Hey, Joker!" A changeling called.

A young Joker looked up from the strange flower she had found to the topmost branches of a tall tree not too far from where she stood. In those branches sat two changelings, the same size as Joker.

"Come here! Look what I found!" Emerald Flame sat up the tree with Poison Leaf. She was urging Joker to come up.

Emerald Flame and Poison Leaf were both converted ponies, changed by Chrysalis herself. Emerald Flame had a deep green coat with a bright green mane and tail. When the wind blew, her mane and tail looked like green flames. Her eyes were a green-blue. Poison Leaf was Emerald's older brother, so he also had a green mane and tail. The green was far darker than the colour of his sister's mane and tail. His body was a similar shade of blue as the petals of Poison Joke and his eyes were more blue.

However, both had features typical of a changeling. They had holes in their legs, manes, tails and wings; they had a blue chitinous on their backs where two, delicate, light blue wings were attached.

"What did you find?" Joker asked, her blue wings buzzing as she hovered next to two of her friends.

"Look!" Emerald bounced on the branch, her hoof pointing to a village in the distance. "It looks nothing like the hive! Shall we explore?"

"And get into even bigger trouble?" Joker frowned before cracking a smile. "Sure! I would love to explore! You in, Poison? Or are you chickening out again?"

"I'm in," Poison growled, not wanting to look weak in front of the two girls. "But you might want to ditch the tiara."

"He makes a valid point, Joke," Emerald sat still, her green pupil and iris-less eyes looked concerned. "If any thing caught you and saw with that, they may use you to bargain with Chrysalis."

"True," Joker sighed. She took her black tiara from her head and placed it carefully on the branch in the tree. "It'll be safe up here. Mother will kill me if I lose it."

"You won't!" Emerald Flame took off from the branch and was bouncing excitedly in the air, her emerald wings a blur of green. "Now, come on! I wanna explore!"

"Be careful, Emerald!" Joker shouted as she and Poinson shot after the young changeling. "We need to catch her or something before she gets caught and killed."

"I agree," Poison nodded. "How does she even bounce in the air? It's impossible!"

"Not for Emerald," Joker smiled. "When it comes to impossible, the definition changes for Emerald."

A scream caught the duo off guard. It was Emerald Flame. The young changeling had been caught.

"HANG ON, EMERALD!!" Poison and Joker shouted as they followed the sound of the scream.

"Follow her fear, Poison!" Joker ordered her friend. "It's easier!"

"JOKER! POISON!!" Emerald screamed. "HELP!"

Poison charged his stumpy horn with green light as he saw the ground. Joker's eyes scanned the ground. She spotted her friend being crammed into a cage by a group of colts, not much older than they were.

"Stop that," Joker ordered. "A trio of colts. We can take them."

Poison stopped charging his horn and angled himself so he and Joker would land right behind the colts. They only held out their wings to slow their descent, wanting to have the element of surprise on their side. They landed silently as the colts turned their eyes skywards.

"Looks like her friends abandoned her," one said. "Pitty, we'll lose out. But, hay, one is better than nothing."

"I have a question, boys," Joker said softly. "How about a trade? I trade the normal changeling for the princess."

"Joker," Poison hissed. "What are you doing?"

"Taking a risk," Joker whispered. "The moment Emerald is free, get back to the forest. I'll meet you there."

"Promise?" Poison asked.

"Promise," Joker smiled comfortingly at Poison before her gaze turned upon the colts and into a hard glare. "Well?! The changeling for this princess?"

"Let it out," one colt gestured the cage Emerald Flame had been locked in. "Grab her!"

Joker's plan meant she would fly away the moment Emerald was free. This had bummed that plan. But she always had a backup plan, even if it meant random biting and shooting spells.

The colts grabbed her while Emerald and Poison fled. Joker hissed, baring her fangs. They literally threw her into the cage and slammed the door shut. The slamming made her flinch as the noise hit her sensitive ears. Joker charged her horn and aimed it at the cage door. When she gathered enough power, she released it. The cage door burst open. Joker shot out and hovered over the stunned colts.

"Rule one of a changeling clan; never leave anyone behind!" Joker growled before shooting after her friends, who were giggling at the colt's stunned faces.

". . . never leave anyone behind . . ."

Joker's eyes snapped open. She sat up and glanced around. It was dawn and she was the first to wake. They did have a late night, so Joker was hardly surprised.

"It has been so long," she whispered to herself as she got to hooves, deciding she was going for a walk. "Why are the memories coming back to me now?"

"You'll never forget us, will you Joker?" Insanity asked as the manticore cornered the two of them. His wonky silver eyes bore into Joker. "No matter what happens, you'll never forget me, Emerald Flame or Poison Leaf, will you?"

"Of course not," Joker assured the slightly insane changeling with a smile. "I promise I will never forget."

"That was all I needed to hear," Insanity smiled before charging the manticore.

Joker bit her lip. So much time had passed since she made the promise. So little time has passed since she broke it.

"Oh I have been such a fool, my friends!" Joker cried no one. "I locked my memories away in fear of what I would become! Now I only see that if I lock away those memories, I become what I fear! I'm such a fool! I broke the promise. I forgot."

"You forgot because you thought it was the way forward," Emerald Flame's voice echoed inside Joker's head.

"You broke the promise because it hurt to remember," Poison Leaf's voice echoed not long after.

"Stop beating yourself up about it," Poison said softly. "You're forgiven. It was my fault, not yours."

"Your mother found out about my betrayal and you couldn't do anything to change her mind," Emerald assured Joker.

"As for me, well, I should have thought about what was going to happen before I decided to magically enhance that manticore, not after," Insanity said, putting aside his insanity for one moment.

"Remember the other promise?" Emerald asked. "The one we promised?"

"I sadly cannot recall," Joker sighed.

"We promised, that in life or death, we would protect you," Three voices chorused at once.

"Deep down, you still remembered us . . ." Emerald began.

". . . You always remembered us. You never forgot . . ." Poison continued.

". . . That, combined with our promise, is what allows us to protect you," Insanity finished off.

Their voices echoed until they became nothingness. They were gone from her head, but Joker could still feel their presence. Somehow she had ended up on the edge of the forest further south. She glanced at the sky and knew her friends would be awaking soon. She turned and headed back, her memories feeling no longer like a burden or something she should keep locked away.

When Joker got back to her friends, they were all up,eating and chatting. A certain cyan pegasus glared at Joker as the changeling sat away from the rest of the group.

"And where have you been?" Rainbow Dash sneered. "Killing ponies?"

"You should know that I cannot fly and that the nearest portal to Equestria is two day's walk from here," Joker said matter-of-factly. "Besides, changelings don't eat ponies."

"Then why do you have fangs?"

"Sometimes we use it to transform ponies into changelings," Joker said flatly. "It's a lot easier than waiting for-"

"I don't think I want to know," Rainbow Dash went back to eating.

"Hey, if you want to hold a grudge, I'm fine," Joker said. "But I forgive and forget."

"Forgive and forget?" Rainbow frowned, looking up from her food. "Forgive and forget you crushing my dreams like an apple? Sorry, Jokes, but I don't roll like that."

"Jokes?" Joker raised an eyebrow. "Out of all the nicknames possible, you choose Jokes?"

"Is there a problem with that?" Rainbow asked.

"I prefer to be called Joker," Joker said through her teeth. "No-pony abbreviates my name."

"No-pony, huh?" Rainbow smirked. "What does mummy call you then? Jokie? Joke? Jokester?"

"Excuse me," Joker growled through her teeth. "But I'm going to leave for a few moments before I snap a certain pegasi's neck!"

Joker turned and walked out of the clearing. The moment she was out of sight and sound of the ponies and Spike, she broke into a gallop. She didn't stop until she was in a clearing further up the mountain. Even on her own, Joker fought it back. Those names were the names her friends called her. The last one was what her mother used to used if she was pleased.

"Hey, Jokes!" Emerald called from the edge of a murky pond.

What's up, Jokie?" Poison smiled comfortingly, showing his fangs.

"Joke! Over here!" Insanity called, his eyes looking in two different directions.

"Good work, Jokester," Chrysalis smile proudly.

"Damn it!" Joker cursed.

"Joker?" Applejack was standing further back. "Are y'all right?"

"Honestly?" Joker asked, her good wing twitching.

Applejack nodded, sitting next to the changeling.

"Those names Rainbow said aren't insults," Joker sighed. "They were what my friends called me and what Chrysalis would when she was proud of me. It brings back memories I locked away. Only now do I realise how stupid that was."

"Maybe talkin' 'bout it would make you feel better?" Applejack wondered.

"Talking about my friends and how they were killed?" Joker sighed. "Well, Emerald Flame was the first. When I found the stallion and the portal to Equestria, I told my friends. They came with me to Equestria a few times. I told them that if they came through without me there to be careful on the way there and back. Emerald was caught. She was taken back to the castle where she was killed for betrayal by Chrysalis.

"Poison was the second. He knew I wouldn't back down from a challenge. He said I would be able to attack him. Back then, I didn't have the restraint I do now. I attacked him and ended up killing him. It was a mistake! He never knew I really would!

"Then there's Insanity. He was insane and every changeling knew it. He would always be asking me for help when he was experimenting on something. We knew one day our experiments could kill us, but being that young, we didn't really care. One day, Insanity said he saw a manticore had come through the portal. We went to find it. Being as young as we were, we wanting it as a pet, after we magically enhanced it. When we did, it went on a rampage. But it was only after us. Insanity, staying true to his name, attacked the manticore and ended up getting ripped to shreds while I escaped."

Applejack wasn't expecting that.

"I could have saved them all had I thought," Joker sighed sadly. "I could have persuaded Chrysalis to let Emerald live. I could have stopped myself from attacking and killing Poison. I could have helped Insanity defeat that manticore or saved him from getting mauled by it. All these things I could have done to make sure they lived. And yet I just stood by and watched Emerald die because she kept our secret. I watched myself kill Poison because of a stupid dare. I watched as Insanity got ripped to shreds because of a stupid mistake."

Silence fell between the two.

"Sound like you have a lot on yer mind," Applejack placed a hoof on Joker's shoulder. "When we get back to Equestria, you need to talk to some-pony 'bout it. Don't keep it locked away, it won' help."

"I guess you're right," Joker got to her hooves. "It'd probably be for the best."

"Now, we need to move," Applejack said, walking back to where they left the other ponies and Spike. "Each time we delay, the bigger the chance that Rarity and Twilight are in danger."

"I agree," Joker nodded, following Applejack. "The sooner we move, the better."

Applejack glanced around. Joker did the same, her sensitive ears listening intently for any noise that didn't belong to them.

"Do you get that feeling that some thing else is here besides the two of us?" Joker asked, forcing her voice to sound casual.

"Eeyup," Applejack nodded, doing an impression of her brother, Big Macintosh.

"Nice impression," Joker giggled, but her ears still listened. "Maybe we should quicken the pace."

Applejack nodded in agreement and sped up. Joker kept pace easily, her senses scanning the area, trying to figure out what was making them edgy.

A Second Meeting

"Y'all ready to go?" Applejack asked as she lifted a pair of saddlebags onto her back.

"Yep!" Pinkie Pie grinned, bouncing in place, as if the saddlebags she wore weighed nothing.

Fluttershy nodded as she finished checking Joker's wing injury and changing the bandage-like leaves.

"I haven't eaten," Spike moaned.

"Well, you should have gotten up sooner," Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry, Spike," Joker smiled at the young dragon. "We pass through a gorge where crystals and gems grow out of the wall and floor. If memory serves correctly, it's not too far south of our current position."

"Can we go there?" Spike asked. His face had practically lit up.

"Sure," Joker nodded. "It runs along these mountains, so we can use it to get to the edge without getting spotted." Joker suddenly remembered something. "If, that is, the Seers will allow it."

"The Seers?" Spike asked.

"They use the crystals and gems there for magic purposes," Joker explained as she stood. "They have special documents there that somehow survived Chrysalis's onslaught and they would kill to keep them safe. I'm not entirely sure if they'll let us pass or where they are."

"I'll go and have a look," Rainbow Dash said and before Joker could protest, she shot into the sky and towards the gorge.

"Do y'all reckon they'll let us pass through?" Applejack asked Joker.

"Should do," Joker scanned the sky. "They can be hostile when defending themselves, their young or scrolls and other artefacts. Ponies and dragons don't pose much of a threat but they do prefer it if they didn't snoop around. Changelings are a different story."

There was a whoosh as Rainbow Dash landed not too far away from Joker and Applejack.

"I only mentioned your name, Joker, and they gave us passage through," Rainbow then glanced over her shoulder. "But we have to be escorted."

"Not surprising," Joker said as she lead the way. "They probably have something there they don't want us stumbling across."

"It's not the escort I'm worried about," the cyan pegasus caught up with Joker. "It's who's escorting us."

"Let me guess," Joker sighed. "The two that attacked us."

"Yeah," Rainbow nodded.

"Let's hope, then, they aren't going to hold a grudge."

"I have a question," Fluttershy asked quietly, approaching the changeling and the cyan pegasus. "Why do they look the same?"

"They don't," Joker replied. "If you actually look at them, you'll see things that make them different to another. Comparing the two we encountered last night; one's mane didn't ripple as much and seemed heavier. One cutie mark wasn't fanged. One of them was older."

"Why did the cutie mark have fangs?" Spike asked.

"The fangs, to some creatures, shows who's in charge," Joker explained. "The longer depends who's in charge. The sharper is for captain of the guards. Short; for lords, ladies and servants to the leader. Dull are mostly experienced farmers, foragers or hunters."

"That's just the cutie mark, right?" Pinkie Pie bounced along, as usual.

"Yep," Joker nodded. "They usually aren't silver, like the two last night. Their's were silver because-"

"We can practise magic that the rest of us cannot," two voices chorused, creepily in sync.

Joker stopped dead, a frown on her face as the two Seers glided effortlessly down from the sky. They pressed their wings to their sides as they bowed.

"Enough with the bowing," Joker groaned. "That is one of the reasons why I hate being a princess. Everyone puts me above themselves. It drives me crazy."

"Sorry, Joker," the younger one smiled weakly, her coat was dark purple instead of black. "It's natural."

"I fail to see how considering I wear no tiara or crown," Joker allowed the two Seers to lead the way.

"Sorry about the attack last night," the elder looked back at Joker. His coat was navy blue. "But you were venturing too close for comfort to the gorge. We thought you were coming to steal our scrolls and destroy us. We were going to see if we could use you against Chrysalis, but when told who you were we realised we made a terrible mistake."

"No problem," Joker dismissed. "Mistakes happen and the best thing you can do is learn from them."

"One thing Chrysalis hasn't seemed to grasp." the younger sighed.

"Over the past few days she has been trying to steal the scrolls we hide in the gorge," the elder explained. "She is determined to get her hooves on them. We know she knows that these scrolls are different to the ones she destroyed years ago."

"How?" Rainbow Dash asked. "How are they different?"

"That is one thing we aren't allowed to tell," the elder replied. "I believe an introduction is in order."

"Oh, right," the younger looked back for the first time. "I'm Mystic Crystal. I was named after I was chosen to become one of the higher ranking sorcerers."

"I'm Rune," the elder winced slightly from Rainbow Dash's attack the previous night. "I was named when I was chosen to be entrusted with secrets and to protect the secrets of the Seers."

"I'm guessing, because your cutie mark is silver, that you were taught quite a bit of magic to defend those secrets." Joker picked up.

"Nothing gets past you," Rune smiled at Joker. When he turned away, it disappeared. "Your guess is correct. I wasn't the only one. I was born before Chrysalis's ruthless attack and, like most Seers at the time, we knew our oldest ally was planning something. More of us were chosen to protect the scrolls but the majority of them were useless. They broke down in Chrysalis's very shadow. Those, like me, who took our job seriously, already had a strategy worked out. We each assigned ourselves certain scrolls to save. Once these scrolls were in our possession, we fled with other Seers. Ever since we have guarded those scrolls with our lives. Indeed, we have suffered casualties when a changeling patrol gets too nosey or their Queen gets greedy, but we're doing well so far."

"So, Mystic," Rainbow Dash was gliding effortlessly alongside the younger Seer. "Why were you chosen to be a sorcerer?"

"Well, we're Seers," Mystic said, ruffling her feathers. "When born, the father predicts what they'll be, what they'll be good at so they can be trained from a young age. However, when Rune was born, they were desperate for protectors so they would use those like me and Rune as well as those who would be better off at something else, like those who were good at finding resources. The closer the day came to Chrysalis taking over, the less hunters/forgers and finders were sent out. The Queen ordered sentries and scouting parties to keep lookout and warn them if the changelings attacked."

"We gave it our best, back then," Rune sighed. "But it wasn't enough."

"If I keep Chrysalis's attention focused on me then she'll leave you alone," Joker was already scheming. "If you can defend yourselves and take down a few changelings in minor conflicts, she wouldn't send any because if I decide to attack the castle/hive, she wants her army to be at full strength."

"We are gonna take Chrysalis on, aren't we?" Rainbow Dash asked, slowing down and flying next to Joker. "I mean, they transported us here and we're gonna leave here without teaching her a lesson first?"

"Of course!" Joker rolled her eyes. "If Twilight happens to have the Elements of Harmony with her then I'll leave the honours to you. It might be better if she lived so the changelings have a ruler. I don't fancy becoming Queen."

"One day, Joker, you will change your mind," Pinkie Pie warned.

"I know I will," Joker sighed. "Right now, I just want to go back to Equestria. If you think about it, they have no idea if we're alive or not."

"Yeah and I cannot send or receive letters," Spike moaned. "Which means when I get back, however many letters Celestia or whoever sent me, will be coming through all at once."

"I know, I'll just randomly open a portal from here to Equestria and you can send a letter to Princess Celestia saying we're fine but we have no idea what's up with her prize pupil yet," Joker said sarcastically.

There was no reply to her words from the four ponies and the young dragon. The moment Celestia's name was mentioned, the two Seers froze.

"Y'all alright?" Applejack asked the two Seers.

"Yes, yes," Rune nodded, nudging Mystic. "We're fine."

"Oh," Joker smiled awkwardly. "Sorry about that, I completely forgot about that."

"No problem," Mystic forced a smile.

"What are you talking about?" Rainbow asked, falling behind with Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, all sharing the same confused look.

"It's something the Seers aren't comfortable with," Joker answered. "I am forbidden to tell you."

"Not forbidden," Rune corrected. "Just, not allowed to mention it in front of Seers. It just reminds us of how untrusted we are."

"I understand." Joker nodded once.

An awkward silence fell over all eight of the creatures in the group. It was less awkward when it came to the four ponies. They were confused; they had no idea what the previous exchange of words was all about.

"This is the Crystal Gorge," Mystic Crystal announced, breaking the silence that fell over them all as they stepped out of the forest and near the edge of the gorge.

"Whoa." five voices gasped in unison.

The Crystal Gorge

The Queen of the changelings paced in her throne room in anger and stress. Once more, reports had come in of changelings being attacked and killed. The strange thing was that there were about two or three attacks at one time. Chrysalis knew Joker was fast, but she knew it was impossible for her to kill two different groups of changelings with about ten seconds between to get from one place to another.

Chrysalis also knew Joker had a damaged wing, so Joker killing twice within ten seconds in two locations about a day's ride away was out of the question. The only other conclusion the Queen could draw was that some of her own changelings had been following Joker's example or the Seers had picked up on Joker's recent kills and decided to join her.

"If I continue on my quest to take Equestria I run the risk of Joker killing even more patrols and maybe even killing within the hive itself," Chrysalis muttered to herself. "But if I send my army out to find her, it'll be a waste of time because, even with four ponies, Joker still moves fast. Why couldn't that blasted manticore kill her?!"

"Your highness!" The captain of the guard galloped into the room. "Joker has been spotted with four ponies, two Seers and a baby dragon heading for the Crystal Gorge."

"Perfect," Chrysalis smiled evilly. "We ambush her there. How far is she away?"

"Today she and her companions will enter the gorge," the captain recited from a changeling patrol. "If we ready and depart within the hour, we should catch the group in the gorge where we will have an advantage."

"Prepare your finest soldiers!" Chrysalis ordered. "We fly within the hour."

The captain bowed before galloping top speed out of the throne room.

"Joker, my dear," Chrysalis spoke to no one. "When running and hiding, you never make mistakes. You just made the biggest mistake that will be the end of you, the Elements of Harmony and those Seers!"

Princess Celestia paced in her castle. Almost a week had passed since eight of her subjects had vanished into thin air. Every corner of Equestria had been searched, from top to bottom, every cave and crevice, but there was no trace of them. The only place left was the other side of the portal in the Everfree Forest. She hadn't slept and it was showing clearly. Luna was currently out searching with some of her own guards. She, too, wasn't sleeping.

"Your Highness," a guard bowed, panting slightly. "Captain Armour and Lieutenant Thunderlane have reached the portal. They passed through it about fifteen minutes ago."

"How much are they going to search?" Celestia asked.

"Captain Armour will search a mile radius around the portal while Lieutenant Thunderlane does a quick scout from above," the guard reported. "The Captain prays you accept his apologies for planning behind your back."

"I understand why he wants to go but not why he felt the need to keep it secret," Celestia sighed, closing her eyes. "How many are on this side of the portal?"

"Me and one other," the guard informed. "I'll need to return to the portal, you never know what might come through."

"Very well," Celestia nodded once. "Go back. If they do find them, I want an instant update. That means your fastest flyer is to see me here."

"Lieutenant Thunder is the faster, your highness," the guard said. "But he'll be worn out from searching."

"Then you'll have to come, unless Captain Armour knows a way to send messages to me directly with his magic."

The guard bowed once more before leaving in a gallop.

In his haste, he nearly ran into Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. The crystal princess stepped aside just in time to let the speeding pegasus past.

"Sorry, your highness," he called over his shoulder as he took wing.

"Still no luck?" Cadence asked Celestia.

"No," Celestia sighed sadly. "I'm sorry about Shining Armour, Thunderlane was persistent."

"So that's why he went," Cadence smiled. "I was wondering why he was helping out. I mean, after the wedding incident he's hated Joker even though she had no part in it."

"I also believe that his sister was also one of those who vanished," the sun princess bowed her head. "The bearers of the Elements of Harmony, gone. Joker, the only one who could accurately predict the enemies next move, gone. If it was Chrysalis's doing, then she would have attacked by now."

"But, remember that Joker is feared there," Cadence reminded the older alicorn. "She might be boosting their fear of her to stop Chrysalis's attack."

"I know," Princess Celestia looked at the pink alicorn. "I can only hope she is keeping Twilight Sparkle and her friends safe."

"She will," Cadence pressed the point. "If anything, that changeling values others lives before her own. I'd bet she'd be willing to die if it meant Equestria would be safe from Chrysalis and the changelings forever."

The white alicorn only nodded in silent agreement; her mind was elsewhere.

Lieutenant Thunderlane glided silently and effortlessly above the strange land that belonged to the changelings. His gold eyes scanned the world below him as he searched for six ponies, a changeling and a young dragon. It was a bright sunny day, so his job was made ten times easier.

However, his task was harder than it first looked. Three times, already, he had to double back to check he hadn't missed anything and twice he had almost been caught by an aerial changeling patrols. He had expected them, but not to be this frequent.

Thunderlane had lived in Ponyville, but when Rainbow Dash kept getting on his back about being lazy when other pegasi barely showed up on time for work, he got fed up and left. Turns out it was the best thing that happened to him. He had to leave his family behind, but he'd met Joker when he first joined the guard. In fact, she was the first guard he had his first round of shifts with when he passed his training.

There was no doubt he had fallen in love with her.

The moment he became Lieutenant he was informed about Joker's secret. He was surprised, but not horrified about it. He didn't fear or despise her. Unlike Captain Armour. But, then again, who could blame the unicorn for hating changelings?

He listened intently for another patrol, the last two had come within five minutes of each other and it had been about that much time since he almost got spotted by the second aerial patrol.

Thunderlane hovered in place for a moment, the distinctive buzzing of wings getting closer. The dark grey pegasus soared higher, to avoid the patrol. As they zoomed past, Thunderlane silently flew after them, keeping his distance. He finally got a good look at the patrol. However, there was something about their armour that didn't look like they were patrolling. It seemed more like they were getting ready to attack.

The changelings were unaware of their silent follower, so they kept on course. They descended not far from where Thunderlane began following them. The guard allowed himself to drop a few feet in altitude, but he stayed above the thin layer of clouds where he could see what was going on down below.

The two other patrols he had seen where already there. They were lined up along the edge of the start of a huge crystal filled gorge. The new arrivals landed and joined the growing army. They all wore the same dark blue armour that protected their head and bodies.

Thunderlane studied the gorge. There was another patrol coming into land. It was the same size at the one that just landed, except this time they landed along the gorge. A thin line of changelings ran part of the length of the gorge. It stopped a few dozen feet away from another changeling group that blocked whoever they were ambushing retreating down the gorge.

The Lieutenant spotted Queen Chrysalis. She wore no armour, unlike her minions, and stood tallest and furthest forwards. Thunderlane flew lower still, but stayed out of sight, as his keen eyes scanned the gorge and the surrounding areas for any life form that wasn't changeling.

"No," the shocked gasp left his mouth the moment he spotted them. Two earth ponies, two pegasi, a young dragon, a changeling and two black alicorns, descending into the gorge, unaware of the changelings surrounding them. Where the unicorns where, he had no idea, and he didn't care.

He had two options; return to Captain Armour who was no doubt by the portal or warn Joker and her friends. He chose the second option. Half folding his wings to his side, Thunderlane angled himself towards the group. The sunlight gleamed off his shiny armour, catching a small group of changeling's attention. They took off to counter the pegasi's attack.

Thunderlane saw a flash of green light of the corner of his eye. Joker had seen the threat and was attacking. The changelings saw no reason to hide and swarmed them on all sides, forcing the strange group to run towards Chrysalis's waiting masses.

He had done what he could, but he knew it wasn't enough. This mission, as emphasized by Captain Armour, was a search only. Thunderlane saw the changelings still heading for him. At the last moment her broke out of the dive and shot towards the portal, making the changelings collide with each other and fall to the ground with no chance of surviving the drop .

Shining Armour was finishing the last of his searching. He had tried to search for energy traces left by Joker, Rarity or Twilight, but he had only found some strange magic that must be preventing Joker from closing the portal.

"Captain Armour!" Thunderlane shouted as he crash landed.

"What is going on, Lieutenant?" Shining Armour asked, frowning as the pegasus got to his hooves and stood to attention.

"I found them!" he panted. "Two pegasi. Two earth ponies. Spike and Joker. They were travelling with two black alicorns. I couldn't see Twilight Sparkle or Rarity, sir."

The relief that spread across the captain's face that had appeared with Thunderlane's first three words vanished.

"Where were the heading?"

"Into a crystal gorge, sir," Thunderlane reported. "If I remember correctly, Joker said it was the fastest way from the mountains to the hive."

"So she plans to take on Chrysalis?" Shining Armour frowned. "What about my sister? Isn't she going to find her?"

"If they survive the clash with Chrysalis," Thunderlane relaxed his pose slightly. "The changelings where going for a surprise attack. I managed to get one changeling to reveal the entire plot by taking off. They seemed outnumbered."

"Joker can handle herself," The armoured unicorn sighed. "Can you head for the hive and castle to see if my sister is alright?"

"Can do, sir," Thunderlane saluted once more, taking flight. He stopped and hovered in mid air. "Sir? What if Joker doesn't make it?"

"She will, Lieutenant," Shining Armour knew Thunderlane liked Joker more than he should and vice versa. "We had a battle with a small group of changelings keen to rip her apart. She took them on alone and destroyed them all. If Rainbow Dash is with her then she should win."

Thunderlane nodded. He saluted once more before flying off to find Twilight Sparkle and Rarity. He didn't care for them, he only cared for Joker who may be dead by the day's end.

"Whoa." four ponies and Spike gasped.

They stood on the edge of the Crystal Gorge. It dropped about two miles down and one mile wide. The light that hit the bottom was small part sunlight and most part the many hues of light that reflected off the crystals and gems that were embedded in the walls and floor. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of crystals and gems, of many different colours, to Spike, flavours and, to the Seers, with varying magical properties. Almost every gem in Equestria and beyond were here. Some gems none of the group had ever seen before, except the Seers who had been studying them.

"If Rarity was here, she'd be running around grabbing all the crystals and gems she could," Applejack said in awe as the black alicorns lead them down a slope into the gorge.

"She wouldn't be able to take them," Rune said, leading the way. "We have Seers who have enchanted the crystals and gems we want to keep so no one can pick them up or eat them."

"Why don't you move them?" Pinkie Pie asked, bouncing along as usual, her blue eyes taking in every detail.

"You can't feel it, can you?" Joker asked.

"Feel what?" Pinkie stopped bouncing.

"This gorge is filled with pure magic, which is rare here," Joker explained. "If you move the crystals and gems, their magical capabilities slowly vanish. So, the Seers have to work outside in the sun and in sight of changelings in night or day to study and use them. Although, some don't work as well as they should."

"We normally have sentries posted around here," Mystic slipped in. "But because you are passing through, we needed the sentries to help with the enchantments."

Joker picked up a few gems with her magic. She studied them and passed two over to Spike and carefully placed the rest where they belonged. Spike smiled gratefully at Joker before devouring them.

Fluttershy accidentally walked into Joker, who had frozen, her eyes fixed on a point in the sky. Pinkie Pie stopped before she crashed into Fluttershy. Her sudden stop had made Rainbow Dash walk into her and then Applejack into Rainbow.

"Joker," Rainbow growled as she took off. She was about to moan at Joker when she noticed the changeling's confused expression. "What's going on?"

"Is that Thunderlane?" Joker frowned.

Eyes followed Joker's gaze to a diving speck not to far away. The sunlight gleamed off his golden armour.

"A dark grey pegasus in golden armour," Rune informed Joker, his eyes able see further but unable to see through the armour's disguise.

"Not helpful," Joker squinted. She saw right through the armour's disguise. "It is Thunder."

A small group of changelings shot up from the edge of the gorge straight for the diving pegasus, giving away the plan. The pegasus, the moment the changeling drew near, changed direction and vanished, leaving the group of changelings falling to the ground with no hope to live.

"We're surrounded," Mystic panicked, her wings fluttering nervously.

Joker saw the changelings. She powered up her horn and tried to knock a few out.

"Follow me!" Rune shouted over the buzz of changeling wings as they descended into the gorge.

Rainbow Dash could have flown away, but she was loyal to her friends and each changeling that got too close, she would fly into with amazing speed. Joker and the Seers sent blasts of energy at any changeling who dared to attack.

One of Mystic's blasts bounced off the armour and hit her wing.

"They have armour?!" Mystic screeched in rage and pain. "Spell deflecting armour?!"

"This must be some big deal," Joker helped the younger Seer. She failed to mention what was really going on.

"They aren't after the crystals," Rainbow Dash glided along side Joker for a moment. "They're after us!"

"No," Joker shook her head. "They're after me. Try and go for the wings, Rainbow, they are the most sensitive part of a changeling."

"Got it," Rainbow saluted and disappeared into a wave of charging changelings. A few seconds later she burst out of the changelings in a sonic rainboom that rumbled the very ground.

The colour from the sonic rainboom and the crystals was spectacular, but Mystic, Rune, Joker, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike couldn't waste the time the sonic rainboom had bought them by staring at the scenery. They used Rainbow's distraction to run out of sight of the bewildered changelings.

"I'm guessing they've never seen the sonic rainboom," Pinkie Pie smiled hugely.

"No, they haven't," Joker smiled. "But the added colour of the crystals made it better. I couldn't look back at it because I have never seen a sonic rainboom and if I did look, I would have stopped dead."

"I know that," Rainbow Dash landed gracefully next to Joker. "That was so cool!"

"The changelings you didn't blast with the sonic rainboom were stunned into not moving," Rune was about to add something else when he noticed something not too far away and closing the gap. "Um, Joker?"

His voice silenced everyone, even an excited Pinkie Pie who stopped dead while babbling rapidly to Applejack. They all followed the older Seer's gaze and froze in mixtures of shock, fear, frustration and anger.

Mystic quickly healed her wing, her eyes fixed on Joker who had stepped forwards and was now between Chrysalis and her friends.

"You do realise, Chrysalis is probably going to kill you, right?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Probably," Joker nodded. "But she's after me. Mystic, Rune, you lead Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Spike to the forest where the two unicorns are. Find a changeling who goes by the name of Theridiidae and he'll take you to the unicorns and then to the portal."

"We want to take on Chrysalis," Rainbow Dash frowned, speaking for her, Pinkie Pie, the Seers, Spike and Applejack.

"If you want to take her on, go ahead," Joker shrugged. "But, today, she's after me."

"Your wing!" Mystic gasped, only just noticing. "Shall I heal it?"

"That would be better, given our current situation," Joker nodded. "My magic could easily mess it up."

Mystic's horn glowed dark purple as she quickly removed the bandage-like leaves around Joker's damaged wing. The glow brightened as the Seer began to heal the wound.

"There," Mystic panted. "It's not perfect, but that is the best I can do. That spell is very complicated."

"It's fine," Joker said as her wings buzzed for a moment. "A bit painful, but if I can fly, it'll be great."

"What are you planning?" Spike frowned suspiciously.

"Chrysalis is after me," Joker repeated. "I make a distraction, the Seers lead you away and I catch up later or, depending on how things go, not at all."

"You'd better show up," Rainbow Dash threatened, flying so she was eye level with Joker. "Or I'll get Chrysalis myself."

"If I can't beat her, then you stand no chance," Joker saw Chrysalis's army closing the gap, clad in dark blue armour. "I'll be there. Pinkie Promise."

"And don't even think about breaking it," Pinkie Pie growled, her mane momentarily loosing some of the bounce.

"That is one promise I don't plan to break," Joker assured the party pony as her smile turned into a death glare, her eyes fixed upon Chrysalis and her advancing army.

Attack And Retreat

Chrysalis stopped about ten feet away from Joker. Her army stopped two feet behind her. Joker didn't have to look to know that some of her mother's army feared her. It had grown in size since she was last here, which was hardly surprising.

"Six days, Joker, you have been here," Chrysalis's double voice echoed around the crystal embedded gorge, breaking the eerie silence. "Already it has turned you back into the monster you fear to be."

"No," Joker disagreed, holding her death glare firmly in place. "It was a plan. A carefully constructed plan to kill enough patrols to get you to pull all soldiers off the Equestrian invasion and after me. It worked."

"Until you made a fatal error," Chrysalis hissed. "You teamed up with Seers and walked into the open. You should know that because of that wretched manticore, the mountains are the most heavily patrolled area! You were seen by my patrols and I used them to plan an ambush, along with my army."

"You are only after me," Joker growled. "Leave the others."

"You have no authority here," the changeling queen took a step forwards. Unlike her army, she wore no armour. "You betrayed us too many times, Joker."

"No authority?" Joker couldn't stop the slightly insane giggle that left her mouth. "I'm afraid, mother, that you are incorrect. I am, being the only heir to the throne, still princess of the changelings. No matter how many times I betray you and the changelings, I am still princess. Remember?"

"Normally you would cower behind your armour, like last time we met," Chrysalis neither confirmed nor denied what Joker had just said. "But you no longer bear the armour of one of your many betrayals."

"That manticore, need I say more?" Joker smiled slightly. It soon disappeared and a confused look appeared in its place. "Many betrayals?"

"Where shall I start?" Chrysalis snarled through her teeth. "The pegasus, the portals, sneaking away under my nose, failing to help us invade Equestria, attacking us and the royal guard!"

"You missed one, I do believe," Joker's smile returned, but it wasn't a nice smile. It was sinister and her horn lit up with green energy. "The killing the changelings."

Chrysalis barely had time to act when Joker released the energy. Is was a foot away when Chrysalis had a chance to block it with her own blast. Both changelings willed their magic forwards, forcing more power into the blast. Chrysalis came out on top. Her magic hit Joker with amazing force that threw the younger changeling into the wall of the gorge. The force knocked her out with blood trickling from a wound in her head.

The changelings had seen how easily Joker fell. They had a lot more confidence now than they did a few moments ago, but were still a bit nervous.

Mystic glanced around. There were changelings behind them, in front of them and on top of the gorge on each side of them.

"We're trapped," Rune said, stopping Mystic's desperate search for an escape.

"We can't be trapped," Pinkie Pie frowned, it was almost frightening to see the party pony so serious. "There has to be a way out."

"There is one way," Rainbow Dash said softly as the changeling closed in on Joker, ready to finish the changeling off. "But not all of us would be able to flee unless. . ."

"Good plan, Dashie," Pinkie grinned.

"There's just one fatal flaw," Mystic butted in. "We'll have to leave Joker behind."

"Anypony noticed how Joker could probably be able to take them all on, but now we're here she can barely take on one?" Applejack asked.

"She tries to multi-task," Rune sighed, stretching out his wings. "So she can only take one enemy at a time where as when she's alone she can take on about four, or so rumours tell. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Mystic, grab a none flyer and fly them to the the edge of the forest."

"And what are you doing?" Mystic asked as she and Fluttershy hovered a few feet off the ground.

"Going to led Joker a hoof." he smiled before blasting three changelings out of his way.

Joker lifted her head to look around. Everything was in double vision. She groaned in annoyance as she waited for her vision to clear. It didn't take long. Joker slowly got to her hooves to find herself being swept off them.

"Huh? Wha-?"

"Don't worry," Rune said as Joker began to struggle, fearing the worst. "It's just me."

Rune landed before the others who had been flown to safety. He ushered them into the forest and out of sight of the changelings before Joker was allowed to stand on her own hooves.

"So," Joker looked at the ponies and Spike. "Now what?"

"We were only trying to get out of harms way," Mystic admitted. "We didn't think we'd get this far without being injured or worse."

Joker tapped a hoof on the ground, her scheming mind ticking away. She could only see one way out as the changelings were looking for them. It could cost Joker dearly, but she didn't care as long as the others were safe.

"What are you going to do?" Mystic eyed Joker suspiciously as the changeling walked away.

"It doesn't matter," Joker said casually. "But you need to get them away from here. I'll distract the changelings. It'll take a few days to shake them off, but it shouldn't be too hard."

"Are you crazy?" Pinkie Pie asked. "I mean, Chrysalis is a really mean pony! I mean really mean. She'd probably kill you if she got the chance!"

"I'll be fine," Joker lied to everypony present, including herself. "I know how to handle my own species. Now, go!"

It was an order Mystic couldn't disobey. She nodded once before turning to Rune. The older Seer seemed to be elsewhere mentally, but he must have sensed Mystic's gaze on him.

"Be careful, Joker," Rune warned. "The queen may not react to your tricks like she used to or in a way you may expect."

"In other words, Chrysalis is deceitful," Joker said as she got ready to attack a small group of nearing changelings. "I already know that. All changelings are deceitful."

Without any warning, Joker leapt from the forest and grabbed a changeling by the throat. She had killed it by the time the alarm was raised and had switched targets. Eight changelings dropped from the sky and floored her before she could attack. Joker used her anger and forced it into her magic. Green light exploded from her horn. She didn't waste time as the changelings were blasted away. Joker took to the sky, half of the changeling army on her tail.

The group of seven watched until they were gone from view before Mystic and Rune led them away from the gorge at a slow trot. Changelings were still hanging around, but they weren't after them.

"So, we're just going to leave Joker to fend for herself?" Rainbow Dash asked the Seers, flying effortlessly alongside them.

"She wants us to," Mystic said. "She is taking a great risk to get you and your friends reunited and back home."

"That's probably programmed into her from the Royal Guard," Spike spoke up. "And her wish to repay what she did when she was younger. She knows it could take her entire life or could kill her, but she's willing."

"There's one thing that we are thankful for, however," Rune said quietly. "That is the fact Joker never attacked us. If she had, we probably would have killed her the other night."

"Wait a moment," Rainbow frowned. "I busted one of your backs, how are you running and flying?"

"You saw how easily I healed Joker's wing," Mystic replied. "I managed to heal Rune's back. It took more effort because spines are practically bone while wings are just muscles and nerves and easier to repair, especially changeling wings."

"What are changeling wings made up of?" Fluttershy asked. "I mean, I haven't seen anything like it."

"They're kind of enlargements of insect wings, although tougher," Mystic explained. "The wings are amazing but they're a nightmare to heal."

"Hold up," Rune stopped dead, almost causing Pinkie Pie to walk into him. "What if the others got attacked?"

"We need to see if they're alright," Mystic hovered next to Rune for a moment. "And, with the army's attention on Joker, they'll be mad to attack us when we're at full strength, we could rest here and move tomorrow."

Rune nodded in agreement and changed direction back toward the gorge.

"Will they be friendly?" Fluttershy asked quietly as they walked down a narrow ledge running up and down the side of the wall all the way along the gorge.

"Yes," Rune replied, his eyes carefully studying their surroundings. "Just don't mention anything about your princesses."

"Why not?" Applejack asked, frowning.

"I'll explain on the way," Rune said as the reached the bottom of the gorge. "It's a very touchy topic amongst us."

"'Touchy' is an understatement," Mystic snorted as she fell to the back of the group. "Those that remember, which are very few, aren't afraid to use their magic, which will leave one visible mark for years." As she said this her eyes darted to her right wing which she hastily folded away, wincing slightly as she did so.

"You brought it up, didn't you?" Rainbow Dash picked up.

"I was young foalish," Mystic blushed, slightly embarrassed. "I read something that mentioned Princess Celestia. I went to ask one of my teachers, he froze and accidentally released powerful magic at me. I couldn't deflect it in time and I used my wing to shield myself. As a result I lost my feathers on that wing. I still have the scar where it impacted."

"So, what happened to make them react so when our princesses name is mentioned?" Pinkie Pie asked, curiously.

"It's both Celestia and Luna whom we cannot talk about," Mystic and Rune spoke in sync. "We will tell you the tale we have heard from those older than ourselves of why."

The Seer's Hideout

"So, what happened between the seers and the rulers of Equestria?" Spike asked.

Since the question was first raised, the two Seers had conversed very quietly. The ponies had no chance of overhearing, but they talked among themselves. The seers had been silent for about ten minutes.

"Celestia was interested in our magic and wanted to teach the ponies about our talents," Mystic explained, slowing her pace slightly. "Our ruler is named Mystery. She refused because if everypony was taught how to use our magic and to See, they would all call themselves Seers. But there is more to a Seer than their powers. Mystery didn't want 'pretenders', as she called them, running around and shaming us. Celestia then asked to be taught how to See. Mystery held an emergency meeting with the higher sorcerers, those like me and Rune, to discuss the topic. It took a few weeks before a decision was finally reached. Mystery, once more refused. This time she had the support of most of the Seers. Celestia was a bit annoyed, but not discouraged. She taught some of the fillies some of her magic. She then tried to get them to teach her their powers. Somehow she had taught the higher level sorcerers, but they had already been sworn to silence. She tried twice more with different ages. But every Seer who was taught the higher level magic was sworn to silence."

"This ticked Celestia off a bit and she thought we were going to betray her," Rune picked up. "You have to remember that this was shortly after Luna was sent to the moon. Celestia thought we were supporters of Nightmare Moon, so she attacked our city and erased it from the map. She then in our cities place she built a town. I cannot recall the town's name, but the higher level seers saw it coming and we left, taking everything of value. Celestia was enraged and sent her army after us. We also foresaw this and found a portal. We slipped through it and found a land untouched by anything before us. We made a new home, and from there on in, we taught almost every Seer the basic powers and swore them all to secrecy."

"Celestia somehow found out about out departure and, from the words of a spy, she threatened any Seer to go back will be killed for treason against the crown," Mystic giggled. "It sounds silly when almost all the Seers left have done nothing wrong."

"Can you see if Joker will be okay?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"We could," Rune answered before Mystic. "But we aren't aloud tell you what we See. It's against the rules and we broke them last night when we spoke to Joker."

"So?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Break the rules again."

"No," Rune shook his head. "Not when we're this close to the others."

"So, as far as you know, Princess Celestia is still after you?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Well, none of us have had the guts to return," Mystic explained. "We have too many enemies all because of the secrets we keep. They all fail to see that our secrets cannot destroy nothing except the delicate society we Seers live in."

"Maybe we could do something to get you back into Equestria?" Fluttershy said quietly.

"We would be thankful, but we are fine here," Rune spoke before Mystic got a chance to answer. "Hiding from the changelings seems to be the more preferred option amongst the Seer community."

"Rune? Mystic?" A third Seer landed and joined the group. "Who are they?"

"Friends of Princess Joker's," Mystic explained. "They wanted passage through here, but the changelings trapped us and Joker managed to divert their attention away from us. We think it maybe wise to rest here and set off tomorrow. We need as much rest as possible and as much resources as we can carry if we can make it to the location of their friends."

"Certainly, Mystic," the Seer turned his attention to Applejack and Fluttershy who both carried the only saddle bags they had. The magic bounding the leaves and sticks together seemed to fade. "Are those the only bags you have?"

"Yes," Applejack nodded. "Joker's magic seems to be fading now she's not around."

"Changeling magic is strange like that." Rune muttered.

"Keep them with you, when we get to the hideout, I'll re-fix them with a spell more permanent," he smiled, folding his wings against the side of his body that seemed navy blue. "I'll give another set of saddle bags to carry. I'm not sure if Rune or Mystic would carry anything."

"I would," Mystic offered. "I don't use my wings as much as Rune. He probably won't want to carry saddle bags."

"I'll make sure your are properly equipped and supplied for your journey ahead." the Seer bowed his head and led the group onwards.

"I am not carrying anything," Rainbow Dash stated. "I prefer flying to walking."

"I'll bear that in mind," the Seer nodded once. "You are aware that you cannot talk about the rulers of Equestria, right?"

"Yes, they do," Mystic sounded slightly insulted. "I'm not stupid. It's only right they know so they don't make a mistake."

The Seer only nodded at this. His eyes were on the afternoon sky. He seemed preoccupied with his thoughts but he didn't trip over a gem that jutted out of the ground. Instead, each time he approached one, he side stepped it at the last moment.

"Joker doing something stupid?" Mystic asked.

"As usual," he replied. "Let's hope she can get out of the tight spot she's got herself into."

"What's going on?" Fluttershy asked, her voice slightly louder. "Is Joker in trouble?"

"She'll be fine, that much we can assure you." Rune replied without looking back.

The three Seers led the four ponies through a gap cleverly concealed by a few rocks that anypony could have missed, even in broad daylight. The moment the darkness swallowed them up, the Seers charged their horns with energy, creating light that bounced off the gems. The group was cast into a multi-hue light.

"Wait a moment," Mystic stopped and looked at Pinkie Pie, Spike and Applejack. "The only way to get there is to fly. We have three non-fliers with us."

"You'll just have to carry them." Rune smirked at the younger Seer.

"Fine," Mystic sighed, she learnt long ago that there was no point in arguing with Rune. Her horn glowed brighter than the others as she carefully picked up Applejack and Pinkie Pie while Spike hopped onto her back. "This shouldn't be too hard. Say something if my grip is too much."

When they got to the cliff drop, the two male Seers flung themselves off the edge and flew gracefully down. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash followed them. Fluttershy nervously flew off and down while Rainbow copied the stallions. Mystic came last and flew just below the two earth ponies to catch them if her spell failed. She glanced down and up frequently, making sure she didn't injure herself or the ponies she carried.

"This is fun!" Pinkie Pie giggled.

"Please don't distract me," Mystic pleaded. "I don't want to drop you."

Thankfully for Applejack and Mystic, it didn't take long to reach the bottom of the cavern. When they touched the ground, Mystic let go of the ponies, allowing them to move around.

"Take your time." Rainbow Dash sighed, tapping her hoof impatiently.

"Sorry, but I wasn't born with wings," Applejack retaliated. "Unlike some of us."

"I think we may go the longer way on our way out," Rune suggested. "It'll save the waiting."

Mystic and Applejack shot a glare at the Seer. Pinkie Pie was skipping around the group. She calmed down when they set off again. They followed the tunnel they were in until they reached a tower.

The tower filled the cave that the tunnel led to. It was huge and made out of stones and rocks and whatever else the Seers could find. This included huge crystal and gem rocks. It looked pretty impressive, even with magic. There were balconies here and there where Seers studied scrolls, practised magic or just chatting to other Seers. High above the tower, in the ceiling of the cave they never reached there was a hole that let sunlight shine down upon the tower. There was a second cave, just to the left of the tower. The ponies could see that through it the roof of the cave had been destroyed, making the area suitable for farming.

"Welcome to the Seer's Hideout," Rune smiled. "It's not much, but it's home and safe."

"Safe?" Rainbow Dash frowned. "Safe when there's a hole above the tower and the farmland?"

"We work together to make sure everything works in our favour," Mystic explained. "The holes are there, but only if you are below. You cannot see them from above and not even pony magic can reveal them."

"You magic seems to be above and beyond that of-" Pinkie Pie was cut off by Applejack who clamped a hoof over the talkative mare's mouth.

"You cannot mention them here!" the third Seer hissed as another Seer clad in silver armour approached them.

"Mystic Crystal, Rune Stone and Star Gazer," his voice was flat and dead, changed by the armour's disguise. It worked in similar ways to Celestia's guards armour. "Glad to see you've returned." His eyes wandered to the ponies. "We have pony guests?"

"From Equestria," Rune knew there was no point in lying. "They are to stay here for the night before we set off tomorrow morning to locate their friends and, hopefully, meet Princess Joker within the forest not too far from the Queen's castle itself."

"Will you require escorts?" the guard asked.

"No," Mystic answered. "They have made it this far with only Joker to defend them. We should be fine."

"I wasn't asking you, child." the guard snapped at Mystic and glared her down.

Mystic, however, didn't melt at the older Seer's stare. Instead she threw a just as intimidating glare back. The duo were locked in the glare until Rune coughed meaningfully, making the guard look over at him. Mystic kept her glare firmly in place.

"As Mystic correctly pointed out, they have made it this far with a changeling leading them," Rune spoke calmly, but all the ponies could tell it was forced. "Even that changeling wasn't as powerful as one of us. We will be fine on our own. Star Gazer will stay here."

"That is true," the second male Seer nodded. "I'll be staying here and checking everything is in order by means of the stars."

"And you?" the guard glared at Mystic.

"Me? I'm going with Rune," Mystic's voice was hard and cold. "Princess Joker ordered me to. I cannot disobey a direct order."

"Then you'll obey this from your Queen," the guard's voice was cold. "She wants to see you and your pony friends, now."

"We were just heading there," Rune forced a smile as he grabbed Mystic and moved away. "Follow me. Good to see you, sir."

Mystic held her tongue until she was inside the tower and heading into a cave hidden behind it.

"Can you believe him?" Mystic spread her wings and flew into the air in agitation. "My cutie mark is different compared to all the younger Seers. It's silver! No other Seer the same age as me or younger has a silver one! And yet I'm treated like . . . like . . . aaaarrrrgggggg!!!"

"Calm down, Mystic," Star Gazer bit his lip nervously. "Remember what happened last time you got this annoyed?"

Mystic took a deep breath and landed. She fell in step beside Fluttershy.

"I understand how you feel," Spike smiled. "I'm treated like a baby when in dragon years I'm the same age as them."

Rune and Star Gazer led the group into a huge room. It's walls weren't smoothed down like the walls of the tower, giving it a rough and hurried look. The floor, however had been smoothed so it was flat and impossibly shiny.

"Rarity would go crazy for all the gems if she was here," Applejack chuckled slightly. "I don't think even she could get gems to look this 'bedazzling'."

Sitting on a raised part of the floor was a throne. It was made of crystals that in the light from the sun above gleamed many hues. Sitting upon that throne was a mare. Her coat and wings weren't black or other dark colours like the other Seers, instead it was similar to the blue of the crystal ponies crystal coats. Her eyes were like the other Seers, however her eyes weren't the reoccurring red, or the rarer purple or blues and the odd green, instead they were amber. Her mane was made of energy, but hung limp like a normal mane and instead of dark purples and dark blues, it was teal blue with a silver streak. Atop her head, resting just behind her horn, sat a tiara. It was dark blue and purple in colour with an amethyst embedded near the top of the central point.She wore armour similar to the guards, only she wore no helmet and the armour was simple in design, revealing her cutie mark. On her hooves she wore shoes, the same silver as her armour.

"What is she doing?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"Seeing." Mystic replied.

The mare's horn was glowing as well as her eyes. Her pupils and irises faded from view as the light grew. Her horn was sheathed in a light blue glow. Her mane waved weakly, displaying moving pictures of what she saw. She picked one, but the picture moved too fast for the ponies to see.

"Was that-?" Rainbow Dash frowned at what she saw. After a few seconds she shook her head. "Don't worry."

"Your highness?" Rune nervously stepped forwards. When the light faded from her eyes, he slipped into a bow, as did Star Gazer and Mystic.

"Ah, Rune Stone, Star Gazer and Mystic Crystal," Mystery smiled slightly, standing and walking towards them. She was older than any Seer the ponies had seen and had a slight limp. "Good to see you."

"And you, your highness," Rune straightened out of the bow. "Am I allowed to know why you feel it necessary to wear your armour?"

"I predict danger," Mystery replied simply. "The source is unknown, undetermined, but I do know it rests upon whether Joker succeeds or fails with her plan. Fails, the danger happens. Succeeds, the danger passes. At the moment Joker's failure is inevitable, but, alas, the future isn't set in stone."

"Your limp is back, I thought Remedy had that sorted out?" Star Gazer frowned.

"He did, but magic cannot heal even greater magical wounds," Mystery's eyes were fixed upon the four ponies. "They are the ponies that travelled with Joker, correct?"

"Correct." Rune nodded.

"And the dragon." Spike coughed.

"Welcome, ponies, and dragon, of Equestria," Mystery smiled warmly, spreading out her wings and stretching them out. "We are glad you don't see us in the same light as your princesses."

"We thought you were a threat when we first saw you, but I guess there is nothing to fear." Rainbow Dash tried not to look afraid.

"You where told why you cannot mention your rulers here, right?" Mystery's smile faded a bit.

"Yeah," Applejack nodded. "We were told."

"Good," Mystery nodded once. "Want to see some Seer magic?"

"But, your highness, that is going against your own rules!" Star Gazer protested as Mystery used her magic to close the doors.

"My rules," Mystery emphasized the 'my'. "I can break them if I want to. Besides, I think these ponies want to see if Joker's alright."

"At the moment she seems to be the only thing standing between the changelings and Equestria." Pinkie Pie nodded.

"We would fight for Equestria, but we have our own problems and need to stay out of sight and detection of the changelings." Mystery explained as she went back to Seeing. This time she pulled the moving picture from her mane and enlarged it so the three Seers, the four ponies and Spike could see it.

The three Seers had seen it before and weren't as impressed as the five watched in awe. The light around them faded and concentrated upon the moving pictures in front of them. The Seers just wanted to know of Joker would be alright. It had been just over three hours since they last saw Joker in the Crystal Gorge and, by the looks of things, she was, or soon will be, in big trouble.

Joker was flying over who knows where. The changeling army, led by Queen Chrysalis herself, was closing in on her. A changeling shot out of nowhere. He grabbed her wings, refusing to let go no matter how much she struggled. They began to fall at frightening speed. They were about three feet from the ground when the changeling let go. Joker had no time to readjust her angle of descent before she smashed into the rocky land below her.

Hope

"We have to help her!" Spike broke the silence.

"You can't," Mystic sighed. "She is miles away and that may not happen. Even if we get there in time we might get ourselves injured or worse."

"What are the chances of that happening?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Even chance, at the moment," Mystery informed. "But Joker normally has two plans but never thinks about the second until she's carrying it out. Like I said before, the future isn't set in stone, it can, and will, change. That might happen tonight or early tomorrow morning, depending on how much energy Joker loses, how quickly she looses it, the amount of ground covered by the changelings and many other factors."

"Let's hope it doesn't happen," Applejack said. "For Equestria's sake."

"Advice!" Mystery called, opening the doors with her magic.

A Seer, younger than Mystic, with a messy mane and tail and a dark blue coat galloped into the room.

"Yes, your highness?" he bowed.

"Take our guests to their rooms," Mystery ordered. "Make sure they are properly fed and are entertained. They've had a long day."

"Of course, your highness," he bowed again before walking out the door. "Follow me."

"Mystic and Rune, I need a word with you." Mystery called softly as they followed the ponies and the baby dragon.

The two Seers glanced at each other, exchanging confused looks, before returning to their Queen. Fluttershy looked back curiously, but hurried to followed her friends.

"I need a good rest," Applejack yawned. "I haven't trusted Joker enough to sleep under the stars."

"Joker is a good liar, but if you look closely, you can tell when she lies," Star Gazer commented. "Plus, if she wanted you dead, she would have done it herself, being so skilled in it and all."

"That frightens me." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Knowing that Joker was once a monster and killed anything she could when Chrysalis nodded her head?" Star Gazer thought for a moment. "That is quite chilling."

"Being in the changeling princess's mere presence does a number on me," Advice muttered. "If you ask me, we shouldn't be putting all our trust upon her."

"The Queen thinks we should have faith in Joker," Star Gazer said coldly. "I will serve the Queen until the day she dies."

"Which should be any day now," Advice smirked. "Judging by the fact she is over a thousand years old."

Star Gazer hurled himself at Advice to the shock of everyone present. He floored him.

"One more word out of your mouth about the Queen and I'll buck you from here to the Changeling Hive! You got that, child?" Star Gazer hissed.

"Yes, sir." Advice nodded once.

Satisfied, Star Gazer let Advice stand and lead the way.

"What was that for?" Pinkie Pie asked quietly as Advice put distance between him and Star Gazer.

"Advice, and most Seers in his generation, act like they know everything," Star Gazer sighed sadly. "Only Mystic can claim she knows as much as the older generations and most of those that have seen, and taken part in, a fight against the changelings. However, the rest like to try and be better than us. They have suggested making peace with Equestria and Chrysalis but us older Seers know why that won't work."

"Why not?" Fluttershy asked, her voice slightly quieter than normal.

"None of us really trust Princess Celestia," Star Gazer said flatly. "You should know why after they told you."

"Why does she want that power?" Spike asked. "Seeing?"

"She wants to prevent what happened to her sister happening again," Star Gazer closed his eyes. "We all saw it coming, we all tried to warn her, but she didn't listen to out plea. We sided with Luna before it was too late. She will never forget her promise to us."

"What promise?" Applejack asked as Advice opened a door that led them to living quarters.

"Is there anything you require?" Advice asked.

"No, thank you," Star Gazer said. "You are dismissed."

When the Seer was gone, Star Gazer replied to Applejack's question.

"We tried to stop her, but she was too consumed by her hatred. There was no mare taking control of her, unlike what everypony thinks, it was just Luna's actions. Luna let them believe it because it gave her a second chance. The promise was to protect us, if we came into Equestria, from her sister's wrath."

"But none of you have gone back?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"We do not know if she is willing to stand by her promise."

"We will see if she will," Rainbow Dash said seriously, becoming the Element of Loyalty. "After everything we have been through, I'd be more than happy to get you out of this place."

"One little problem," Fluttershy spoke up. "Perhaps you didn't notice on our way here, every Seer that saw us glared at us. Some smiled, but mainly glares. They resent us. If we take them to Equestria, it would end in disaster. Not just for the ponies there, but for the Seers as well."

"Fluttershy is right," Mystic said as she and Rune entered the room. "We all know it will end in disaster."

"What did the queen want?" Star Gazer queried.

"We are forbidden to say," Rune said. "However, the queen grows weak and has no heir. "

"We aren't to meddle with that kind of thing, Rune you should know that." Star Gazer warned.

"I know, I know," Rune sighed, sitting down. "But if we have no ruler we will fall apart, like the changelings."

"Joker is a bit stupid, no offence," Mystic said as a thought occurred to her, earning a glare from Spike. "I mean, she is willing to kill Chrysalis, but she is the only heir. She will become queen, like it or not."

"Never thought about it that way," Applejack muttered.

"You lot might want to rest," Star Gazer commented. "You will have to sneak past a changeling post East of here and you'll need all the energy you can get."

"I'll go and tell the kitchen to bring up food," Mystic said as she left.

The two other Seers watched her go, taking in every movement and twitch from Mystic. When she left, they stared after her, listening. It was a while later when the two Seers heard the galloping of hooves on the floor. Rune nodded at Star gazer. The younger Seer galloped away.

"What was that all about?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"It doesn't matter," Rune dodged the topic. "Do you know anything about a pegasus called Thunderlane?"

"Thunderlane was on my weather team in Ponyville," Rainbow Dash said proudly. "He had the highest wing-power, besides me, of course, of the entire team. He told me he had left for a change of scenery and then I found out he joined the Royal Guard!"

"Why did you ask?" Fluttershy queried.

"He and Joker like each other, a lot," Rune stared into space. "He likes her enough to risk his life to save hers."

"That dive earlier!" Applejack gasped. "It was to show us the changelings! He didn't do that for fun! I just thought it was a coincidence!"

"Me, too," Fluttershy nodded, but her expression turned sad. "If Joker dies, then his efforts would go to waste."

"Forget that!" Spike said. "What would we tell him?"

"The truth," Applejack said seriously. "This is something we can't lie about."

Rune's eyes widened in shock and the world fell silent. The Seer's ears fell backwards as he eyes shrunk to pinpricks. Spike was the first to notice the change that came over the Seer.

"Um, Rune? Are you alright?"

"Rune?" Pinkie Pie bounced in his face.

"No," he gasped. "No!"

"What?" the four mares and Spike asked worriedly.

In response to their question, Rune's horn began to glow. A pool of light appeared before them and an image took shape. It was Joker. She was in her pegasus form, her injuries visible. She was barely able to out-fly the mass of changelings chasing her. In a desperate bid to stay alive, she dived into the forest below at amazing speed. She was five feet from the ground when she pulled out of the dive and flew back the way she came. Out of nowhere a changeling appeared and dived for the unaware pegasus. He grabbed the pegasus and they began to fall. In his desperate attempt to get free as Joker angled her fall so her broke it, his stubby horn passed through Joker's throat, killing the mare. When Joker and the changeling hit the ground, the vision faded.

"No!" Rainbow Dash snapped, taking flight, not believing what she just saw.

"Has this just happened?" Applejack asked.

"Another gift we have," Rune nodded. "We can see the present, no matter where it is happening. All of us have been keeping an eye on Joker for a month now as we have all had a vision of her death."

"It's can't be true!" Rainbow Dash shook her head.

"The word of a Seer is as honest as the element itself," Rune stared Rainbow down.

"Not that honest, then, as it can be twisted," Rainbow snapped, making Applejack recoil, picking up on what Rainbow was hinting.

"I suggest, that if you want to keep your friends, then don't bring up things that they wish to forget," Rune said before he fled from the room, leaving the stunned mares in his wake.

Spike had retreated to a room and was scribbling away on a piece of parchment. He doubted Rune as much as Rainbow Dash, so this letter he wasn't going to send.

Food was brought up, but none of them felt like eating. Even Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were able to stay still for a prolonged period of time. Time itself passed slowly as the ponies tired to get their heads around Joker's death. To pass the time, Pinkie Pie was party planning with Rainbow Dash who was also considering some new moves. Applejack and Fluttershy quietly played games, talking to only alert the other of their turn or to break the silence. Spike had wandered back into the room with the others. He had found some books lying around and picked them all up. Currently, he sat on a chair, reading away, not caring about the outside world, but not caring about what he read.

The ponies, what seemed like hours later, decided to retire to bed. None of them felt like being alone tonight, so they fetched some pillows and blankets and stayed in the main room. They talked and laughed, trying to keep the mood light, but there seemed to be an invisible weight pressing down on them so they all tried to sleep, but it proved difficult.

Rainbow Dash was the first to drift off, not surprising when she pulled off a sonic rainboom. The others soon followed suit.

Queen Mystery, of the Seers, had her head bowed and her ears pressed against the sides of her head. She was still in her armour but without her helmet. Before her stood only the highest level sorcerers of the Seers all clad in silver armour, they all looked navy blue with purple manes and ultramarine blue dragon-like eyes. Their wings were pressed against their sides and their cutie marks were all silver with sharp fangs. Mystery's was the only one slightly different as there was a silver crown atop the head.

"The world has lost a hero," Queen Mystery raised her head. In the past few hours it seemed she had aged a decade or so. "Joker wouldn't like me saying this, but if it wasn't for her none of us would be standing here and our secrets wouldn't be safe. If it wasn't for her, six ponies and a young dragon would be dead! If it wasn't for Princess Joker then Equestria would be Chrysalis's! Joker has saved more than she realised and we will not let her effort go to waste! Tomorrow we begin what Joker never finished! We will destroy the changeling Queen and stop her invasion of Equestria!" Mystery paused. When she began speaking again, her voice was soft. "My days are numbered, as many of you are aware. The magic that allows us to see the future will chose the next ruler, but please, no matter what, stick together and fight for our and the pony's lives. It is time to repay Joker for the things she has done for us. Leave and rest up. Tomorrow we begin."

The Seers bowed as one and walked out in perfect unison. They separated in perfect order, not one uttering a single word or walking into anyone else. This seemed well rehearsed.

Mystic, Rune and Star were making their way up to where the ponies were staying for the night. They were silent, not one word was uttered between the trio. In her magic grip, Mystic carried three saddle bags for them to use. More than enough food was better than not enough.

When they entered the room, they were greeted with a heart warming scene. The four mares had taken the covers and pillows from the beds and laid them out next to one another. The slept practically next to each other, almost as if they feared that one of them would be taken from them. Spike was curled up under Fluttershy's wing. In that moment, they looked so peaceful and one could tell by simply looking at them that they were best friends, almost sisters with a younger brother.

Mystic carefully placed the saddle bags down and silently removed her armour, as did Rune and Star Gazer. Once that was done they did the same as the ponies, only they moved to the other side of the room. They watched the ponies for a moment. Sometimes one would stir slightly, but not awaken entirely, and slowly reach out a hoof to touch the pony next to her, to make sure that they weren't alone. A fear they must all share.

The three Seers laid down their heads and closed their eyes. For all three of them, tomorrow would be a long day for different reasons, but every creature in that room all held onto on flame of hope that shone brilliant and bright in the darkness of the world that now surrounded them.