The Changeling Princess

"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.