The Changeling Princess

Joker and Rainbow Dash retreated a few steps in surprise as Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy stepped out of the shadows. They looked normal, except they had evil glares on their faces.

"Um, are you two alright?" Joker asked perhaps the stupidest question of the century.

"Oh, we're just fine!" Fluttershy snapped sarcastically, almost nose to nose with Joker. "Thanks, Joker for leaving us when we needed you!"

"What?" Joker frowned.

"So much for the Element of Loyalty," Pinkie Pie sneered at Rainbow Dash. "You weren't there when the changelings attacked us! You don't deserve the title!"

"She does deserve the title!" Joker growled. "I was the one who left! Rainbow only followed me! Had I not left then maybe we could have helped!"

Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie's attention was firmly focused on Joker.

"Rainbow, GO!" Joker shouted in fear.

The rainbow-maned pegasus shot into the sky and, as fast as she could, flew back to where, hopefully, her real friends lay asleep. Rainbow could have flown faster, but she knew if she did, she would run the risk smashing through the sound barrier and cause a sonic rainboom. Not helpful when you are trying to stay under the radar.

The cyan pegasus landed heavily next to the fire that still burned brightly. The noise of her landing awoke Fluttershy and Applejack.

"Rainbow?" Applejack glared at the rainbow maned pegasus. "What do you think you are doing, makin' all that noise?"

"Joker's in trouble," Rainbow panted. "Two changelings. I know she's tough, but I don't think she'll be able to take them on!"

"Pinkie Pie!" Applejack awoke the pink mare as she put one of the make-shift saddlebags Joker made on her back. "Joker's in trouble."

Pinkie Pie was awake in an instant.

"Where?"

"I'll show you, but some-pony needs to take the other saddlebags and awake Spike!" Rainbow bit her lip, hoping Joker was alright.

Pinkie Pie took the other saddlebags while Fluttershy awoke Spike. When the baby dragon was finally up and sitting on Fluttershy's back, Rainbow Dash lead the way to Joker at a gallop.

*

Joker charged her horn with energy before casting her spell. The green light stripped away the yellow coat of the fake Fluttershy and the pink fur of the fake Pinkie Pie. When the light faded Joker looked at the two creatures that stood before her.

Their coats were black as a starless, moonless, light-less night. They had wings as big as Celestia's that they held up proudly. Their horns had a sharp point, like Joker's, perfect for impaling creatures. They both had the same silver cutie marks; a fanged skull and cross bones. The older's mane was dark blue and waved slightly although there was no breeze. The younger's mane did the same, but instead was a dark shade of purple. Their eyes were like Spike's, only bright red and seemed to glow in the darkness.

One of the creature's horns began to glow blue. Joker found herself unable to move, unable to look away from the creature. It smiled, revealing curved fangs, similar, though not as long or sharp, as Joker's.

"JOKER!" the voice sounded distant and Joker could do nothing more but let the spell take over her.

*

Rainbow Dash lead her friends into the clearing. They watched as one of the two cast the spell upon Joker. The other turned around to defend it's friend.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack took the creature on. Rainbow shot in the sky and floored the creature casting the spell. There was crunch and the creature moaned in pain. Rainbow must've damaged the spine because each time it moved it groaned in agony.

Pinkie Pie and Applejack had pinned the other to the floor. Fluttershy galloped to Joker.

"What are they?" Rainbow Dash asked, examining the creature she still pinned.

"I am not too sure," Joker shakily stood. "I've seen them around before, but they've never posed a threat. Sure, they would take out a lone changeling every now and again, but that was it."

"The princess doesn't know?" one hissed.

"She doesn't know?" the one Rainbow Dash floored said through it's teeth. "Chrysalis never told? I told you she was trouble!"

"What are you two talking about?" Rainbow growled.

"The princess is in danger," the one pinned by Pinkie Pie and Applejack spoke up. "She is destined to be a great queen. If she does not take the throne, rival clans will take over the land and take Equestria."

"Danger? What danger?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"That we cannot see," the other spoke up. "We see a lot of things, the future among them. But what will be the death of Joker, we have no idea."

"What we do know, however, is that the one who holds the key to her destruction, is a unicorn."

"Rarity or Twilight?" Fluttershy asked, unable to believe it.

"We no not of the names," the creatures chorused. "We have said too much. Too many have heard! We best be going now, before the changelings make their move!"

Six eyes fixed upon Joker. They all asked the same question. Joker nodded once and the three ponies let them stand.

"A few questions, before you go," Joker said as they got to their hooves. "Why the disguises of my friends and the mind control spell?"

"We didn't recognise her highness for it has been so long since we last met," one bowed. "We only pray you accept our apologies."

"Forgiven," Joker nodded once. "One more; who's side are you on in this conflict?"

"Yours, your highness," the second one couldn't bow because of the damage to its spine. "We are against Chrysalis! That tyrant drove us from our world and destroyed our race! Us and a few more all that's left!"

"If it takes my entire life, I will get vengeance on Chrysalis from my own suffering, the ponies of Equestria and you. Victory will be ours!"

"May the Lord of Victory help you," the creatures chorused once more, their horns glowing with magic. "May the Lord bring victory to us all!"

Joker smiled as the creatures galloped before shooting into the sky.

"What are they?" Applejack asked Joker.

"An old ally of the changelings," Joker recited from her childhood. "They used to be great allies. Until Chrysalis betrayed them. In her grab for power, Chrysalis invaded their home and destroyed them all. Or so she thought. They aren't the last two. I'm guessing there are four of them at least to have that power. We should be thankful they are on our side, not Chrysalis's."

"Why the hostile reception?" Rainbow asked, watching them go.

"My bet is that they are looking for a lone changeling they can ambush to control them and get inside Chrysalis's operation," Joker explained. "They watched their home fall. Everything they knew, destroyed. They know what that pain is like and they will do anything to stop it happening to other worlds. Even if it means being on losing side, they'd do it. Come on, we should get back to camp and sleep."

Joker lead the way back to camp, her eyes could see better than the ponies in the little light. Her mind trying to get around what the two creatures had said. She knew she wasn't the only one. Spike confirmed this.

"What do you think they meant when they said a unicorn will be your downfall?" Spike asked.

"They are the best fortune tellers you can find," Joker replied. "I think they meant either Twilight or Rarity might kill me. I know Twilight is the Element of Magic, so I'm guessing she'll be the one."

"They don't happen to be Seers, do they?" Pinkie Pie asked, frowning.

"They are Seers," Joker nodded. "Their sight is amazing. They can predict and alter one's life. That's why they are considered dangerous. But only the Seers that are really powerful and have studied seeing in depth can do this. I have reason to believe Chrysalis destroyed all the documents and killed those capable of it."

"Why?" Applejack asked before Pinkie Pie could speak.

"She was afraid," Joker replied. "The Seers had been the downfall of Kings and Queens before her. She knew I would make a better Queen than her. She knew the Seers did too. So she was scared. She decided to grab as much power and land as possible. In the process she attacked the Seers home, destroying anything that would allow the Seers to alter someone's life and killing any Seer capable of it."

"But in superstitions, Seers are evil!" Pinkie Pie blurted.

"Superstitions," Joker sighed. "Yes, some Seers are evil. You need to be wary of them. Most evil Seers travel alone because if there are too many evil beings in one place then they are found easily by other Seers, changelings or the princess of Equestria."

"But there was this one I remember well!" Pinkie Pie argued. "There was a Seer that came around at night and killed anypony who wasn't sleeping!"

"Those superstitions helped turn Luna into Nightmare Moon," Joker said sadly. "They came around thousands of years ago. Everypony locked themselves away in fear of the Seer. Luna thought they were ignoring her wonderful night. It transformed her."

"So, there was never a Seer who killed anypony who wasn't sleeping?" Pinkie Pie frowned.

"There was," Joker admitted. "Only it killed a few hundred before the other Seers got rid of it."

"What do you mean 'got rid of it'?" Fluttershy asked quietly.

"Killed it," Joker said without emotion. "Once a Seer had been corrupted by evil they cannot redeem themselves. The only way to deal with the problem is to kill it."

"That's not . . . nice," Fluttershy said, failing to find a better word.

"I know," Joker looked over her shoulder at Fluttershy and smiled. "But it's life. It's the way the Seers evolved and the way they deal with these things."

"Not as bad as changelings," Rainbow smirked at the back of Joker's head.

"Don't go there," Joker didn't look at Rainbow, the threat clear in her voice.

"Especially Joker," Rainbow Dash continued. "I mean, have you seen her kill?"

"They will do in a moment when I kill you!" Joker hissed.

"You wouldn't kill me," Rainbow scoffed. "You are a wimp!"

"A wimp?" Joker turned around, her loud voice echoing off the trees. "A wimp? Would a wimp tell you what they really are when there is a possibility you could have killed them!? Would a wimp have betrayed Chrysalis and then spat in her face!? Would a wimp face an entire army of changelings knowing they could be killed!?"

"No," Rainbow Dash was surprised at Joker's reaction.

"Then you just proved your own point wrong," Joker said, turning around and leading the shocked ponies and baby dragon once more.

They walked on in silence for a while. No one knew what to say.

"How powerful are Seers?" Spike asked, more to break the silence than to get an answer.

"Quite powerful," Joker replied. "Guessing by how effectively they disguised themselves as Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy that Chrysalis didn't successfully eliminate them and their magic. But I could be mistaken. Some Seers are part Echo, so disguising themselves is pretty easy."

"Echo?" Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy frowned.

"A strange creature that resides in the Everfree Forest," Joker explained. "Some came here when the ponies settled in Equestria. They reside on the other side of these mountains. They are called Echoes because they can echo some-pony's life. It's creepy. They can mimic they way you look, walk and talk. While Seers and changelings have to learn about the subject beforehand Echoes can just pass through some-pony and know everything about them."

"Wait, did you just say pass through?" Applejack asked, her green eyes wide.

"Yes," Joker said solemnly. "They are phantoms until they transform themselves. No-pony knows what they look like because those they pass through are knocked out for two hours. When they awake they have no recollection of what happened. Two hours is long enough to mess up some-pony's life."

"Are they dangerous?" Fluttershy whispered.

"No, just a nuisance," Joker smiled slightly. "Their power is similar to my own and easy for a changeling to detect. If they did become a changeling they would get confused and give up."

"How would they get confused?" Rainbow Dash asked,

"Have you seen what changelings look like?" Joker raised an eyebrow. "Aside from me and Chrysalis, every changeling looks exactly the same to every other creature!"

"Enough of your stupid superstitions!" Rainbow snapped. "There is no such thing as Echoes! Seers are just frauds who tell you some stupid lie that will never happen!"

"Seers have real talents!" Joker rounded on Rainbow for the second time that night. "Unlike you! All you dream is to join the Wonderbolts! That'll never happen! The Wonderbolts may look good, but they have no talents! They only have high expectations so no-pony else can join!"

Rainbow Dash was shocked into silence for the second time that night, as was everyone else.

"We need to move," Joker said, flatly. "Tiredness had bad effects on me."

Rainbow Dash shot ahead, not waiting around. Fluttershy, after allowing Spike to hope onto Applejack's back, flew after her. Spike curled up and fell asleep on Applejack's back.

"Are Echoes real or not?" Pinkie Pie asked casually.

"They are," Joker never turned around and her voice was emotionless. "I had the misfortune of meeting one when I was a filly. Trust me, you do not want to meet one."

Pinkie nodded as she mindlessly changed her walk from a trot to a bounce.

"What's up with Rainbow Dash?" Joker asked, her voice still emotionless.

"You just shattered her dreams so I don' blame her for shootin' off like tha'," Applejack sighed. "But this place is makin' her act tha' way. It's takin' a negative toll on us all."

"Except me," Joker's ear twitched. "I've lived here so, it's understandable."

The trio of ponies fell silent there and no-pony spoke until they reached the camp. Rainbow Dash was already asleep. Fluttershy had stayed up to wait for the others. When they arrived she smiled and fell asleep next to Rainbow. Applejack and Pinkie Pie took off the saddlebags before falling asleep next to their friends.

Joker looked at them before she curled up on her own and closed her eyes. There was something about the way that these friends stuck together that reminded her of her own friends she lost. One was killed by the magically enhanced manticore; another was killed by Joker; and one Chrysalis killed for betrayal.

That was one thing out of many times in her past that she wished she could forget or go back and undo. Unfortunately, she couldn't and now she had to live with the regret.