The Changeling Princess

"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.