The Changeling Princess

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.