The Changeling Princess

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.