Twilight Sparkle's eyes twitched. She looked to the illusions of her friends, knowing even a bit in her mind that they weren't really there.

“It's so nice of all of you to come see me, I can't even begin to thank you enough but you must forgive me there are things I must attend too.” spoke Twilight towards the illusions. Of course they didn't actually answer her. She went off into the court room, today she was scheduled to meet with the nobility again but this time she was going to have the final say.

“Hello Princess Twilight it is so good to see you again.” smiled Amira as she bowed towards the Princess. “We were wondering if you could break away from your busy duties to come out to Saddle Arabia, it would be good for our citizens to meet you.”

“Oh sure I would love too really, but I'm just so swamped, how about you just bring them here?” she smirked a grin as her ears and eyes twitched. Her hair wasn't looking as good as it usually did.

“Twilight are you feeling quite alright?” asked Amira concerned.

Me? I'm fine, why wouldn't I be fine? Now leave me alone, I have many others I need to see and concerns to address. I don't have time for fun.” replied Twilight Sparkle as she shooed the two nobles off. Amira had seemed a bit concerned but Twilight wasn't even fully aware of it either.

They left and Twilight Sparkle was left once more alone with not a single friend by her side. Twilight Sparkle didn't feel as alone though, she still thought her friends were right there with her even though they weren't really there, she thought they were.

“It's so good to be with all my friends and to not have to worry about every pony's problems.” began Twilight when she heard a voice at the door.

“Um...Twilight are you busy?” questioned Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy?” she questioned looking right at Fluttershy not understanding how she could be in two places at once, unless one of them was a fake. She knew the Chrylasis might be testing her to see just what she would do if she tried to fake being one of her friends, well she wasn't about to fall for it! She went to the door and let the “fake” Fluttershy in, making it seem like everything was normal, but she wasn't about to let this fake get away, she was going to show her just why Celestia had trusted her to take on the rule of Leader of Equestria after her own reign.

“Twilight, I had a lady come to my cottage the other day, she was having trouble with a groundhog problem, and you sent her to me. Well those groundhogs really didn't mean to cause any trouble, they were just looking for shelter with the winter coming in a few weeks, so I found them a lovely little place for them to lay their heads and they won't trouble the nice lady anymore but I wanted to come and see you, after all you have been busy with being a leader that I was beginning to worry about your health. Are you sure you can handle this?” asked Fluttershy softly. She knew how hard Twilight must have it, she couldn't even imagine having to have to deal with all of the things Twilight Sparkle would have to deal with, and having to solve every pony's problem could be quite stressful.

“Me? Oh Fluttershy, I'm touched that you are worried about me but this is nothing I can't handle. I mean I've saved Equestria a dozen times and now I get to sit on my ass all day long helping the citizens of Ponyville, what more could I possibly wish for?” questioned Twilight.

“Um...time for yourself?” answered Fluttershy nervously. She really didn't want to upset Twilight, but she also wasn't going to lie to her either and this made things harder for her because she was Twilight's friend and wanted the best for her and she wasn't sure this was the best thing for Twilight, she still remembered how upset she had been the day her old library had been destroyed and now here she was living in Celestia's castle rather than her own.

“What? I have plenty of time for myself. Fluttershy you really shouldn't worry, besides all of my friends are right here with me and that's why your little act is fooling me one little bit Chrysalis.” spoke Twilight.

“What? I don't even see anyone Twilight. I'm not Chrysalis, it's me Fluttershy.” began Fluttershy and before she could further explain herself Twilight was on top of her, pinning her wings to the floor and not allowing her to move from under her. Fluttershy trembled beneath her, and the look on her hues was a look of terror, but more than that she was terrified of her own friend and that was something she had not expected. She had to do something but she couldn't even speak let alone try to move.

“You aren't fooling me Chrysalis, you may think you can act just like my friend, but Fluttershy has been here beside me all morning so I know more than ever that you are an impostor and I'm not about to let you get away.” replied Twilight as she used her magic to stun Fluttershy from moving.

The next thing Fluttershy knew was when she awoke in the dungeon, her hooves chained together against the wall, she felt a collar around her neck that had this little red light on the front that was blinking every few seconds. She nervously looked around and let out an eek of a shriek when she saw a few skeletons of past prisoners whom had been trapped here. Princess Twilight stood outside of the cell as she looked in towards Fluttershy.

“So what's your plan this time?” she asked.

“Twilight, I don't have any plans, I'm not Chrysalis, I'm your friend Fluttershy, element of Kindness, I just want to help but I'll understand if you don't trust me but I'm not an impostor. Please you have to believe me.” she begged.

“Humph, as if, I'm not about to believe you, so until you are willing to talk you will be my prisoner, now if you change your mind and tell me your plans then maybe I might let you go, and if you try to escape this cell if you go even five steps beyond the dungeon area, I will be the first to know, that's a tracking collar I placed on you and don't even try to take it off, I hid the keys, so that only I knew where they are.” replied Twilight Sparkle as she turned her flank towards Fluttershy and walked up the stairs and locking the door to the dungeon behind her. Twilight Sparkle smirked as she looked towards the illusion of Fluttershy.

“Can you believe it Fluttershy? She actually thought she was the real one, like I would ever believe that when you are right here with me.” smiled Twilight Sparkle as she hugged the illusion close and even though it was just air, it was like to her she really was there and felt her hugging her back, and giggling with the Fluttershy like charm. She smiled to herself as she returned to her throne, when she returned she was surprised to find Spike waiting for her.

“Twilight! I've been looking all over for you.” began Spike. Twilight Sparkle looked to her friends, noting that all of her friends were with her except for Spike but if Rarity was with her then why hadn't Spike been?

“Where have you been hiding Spike? Rarity has been with me all morning and yet you were nowhere to be found, did you have to go take care of something with the dragons again?” she asked nervously hoping he had the answers she sought.

“Well...Rarity worked all night and even to lunch working on those outfits for Ra Ra, wait Rarity is here? Where?” asked Spike as his eyes got hearts in them as he looked around for her, looking even behind Twilight and not seeing them.

“Twilight, are you sure Rarity is here?” he asked nervously.

“Oh course she is, do you need glasses Spike? She's been with me all morning.” replied Twilight Sparkle with confidence.

Spike knew this wasn't good, it was never good when Twilight Sparkle started to have a mental breakdown and he certainly didn't want her to go into the future or something to try to fix it.

“Twilight I'm worried.” began Spike trying to remain calm even though he knew that she was anything but calm.

“Spike what's wrong?” asked Twilight not wanting Spike to worry about her or think that she didn't know what she was doing.

“I'm worried this is too much for just one pony, you know Celestia always had Luna to help her but you don't have that. Let me help you, after all we've always been a team why change things now?” he asked nervously to see if Twilight was okay, he would know if she responded positively.

“Oh Spike, I'm touched you are concerned for me really but I'm fine, I can't drag you into this, I am glad to have you as my assistant and that has meant more to me then you will ever know.” she smiled as she pulled Spike into a comforting embrace.

Spike was still worried if she really thought her friends were with her, was she really okay? He couldn't deny he was concerned for her but at least if he was here she would be more calm and he could help her but if she didn't think she needed help then he wasn't really sure what he could do to help her, it left Spike in a very unsure position, he wanted to do something but what could he do?

Twilight Sparkle began talking to her friends about Chryslasis and how she had tried to sneak into the castle as one of her dear friends Fluttershy and how she had her locked up in the dungeon now to think about her crimes and once she was willing to talk and not pretend to be someone she wasn't, only then would Twilight free her from her chains.

Spike was listening to Twilight Sparkle talk to nothing, there was no signs of any of the mane six, including Fluttershy, which could only mean one thing, Fluttershy was the one locked up in the dungeon. Spike had to do something but he couldn't let Twilight find out what he was up to. This was going to be tricky but he was Twilight's number one assistant for a reason and he had to make Twilight see the light literally. He had to convince her that she was not really with anyone. He understood that she must feel alone being trapped in this castle all the time but even he knew he couldn't be there all the time.

He looked towards Twilight taking a deep breath.

“Twilight!” he shouted to get her attention.

“What is it Spike?” she asked like everything was normal.

“I'm the only one here, none of the others are here, and that includes Fluttershy, I saw her heading here once I was done helping out Rarity, she was coming to see you.” began Spike.

“Spike you really do need glasses, she's right here unless you are just another changeling. Yes that's it, you are trying to free your leader. Well I'm not about to fall for it, I know your tricks and I won't be fooled. Now you will be my prisoner.” spoke Twilight as she put a barrier around Spike and brought him beside her as she smirked a devilish grin towards Spike whom was now trapped within the bubble begging Twilight to let him go. She couldn't help but wonder how she could prove that he was a changeling, she would need to force his change of his form. She had done some research on Changelings but the best way was to actually experiment and if he really was telling the truth then he wouldn't be hurt by her experiments. She laid him on a medical table strapping him down tightly and locking it shut. She picked up her tools.

“I've always wanted to use this book on medical knowledge, and I've never preformed this kind of experiment either this is going to be so much fun. Wouldn't you agree Spike?” she smirked as she picked up her scapel and began to fool around with it, Spike cringed in pain and couldn't believe this was the best friend and sister he had known for years. What happened? He had only been gone for a day and now he feared for his own life, and not just that but Fluttershy was in danger too.

“Someone help.” he shouted but he knew Twilight had a bubble around them so that no one would hear his screams of pain. Though he knew that Twilight wouldn't kill him and he was a dragon so yes it hurt but he would heal with time but he didn't deserve this kind of treatment and he was in awe that Twilight Sparkle didn't trust him he looked up towards her looking right into her eyes, and he wished so much that she would realize what was going on and return to the Twilight he had known but deep down he knew she might be gone forever and that was more scary then any tool or pain he might endure, the terrifying thing was losing his good friend and his sister. He wasn't sure what to do or how he could help her but as her loyal assistant he wouldn't give up he had to find a way, to reach her. After all he knew if he didn't get through to her no one else could after all he had been with Twilight ever since the two were young, while she was still attending magic school. Oh sweet Celestia, these tools really hurt but he couldn't even move let alone escape, he just hoped he could find a way to reach out towards her, it was just figuring out how to do that while enduring the pain of her “experiment.”

Author's Note

Few! I finally got A Derpy Princess and now this updated. Warning: It gets a bit dark near the end. I hope you guys are enjoying this and thank you so much for all of your support! Let me know what you think might happen next. mwhahhaha.