The Changeling Princess

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.