Author's Note

Hey every pony, I am awfully sorry it has taken so long for me to update this but between christmas, work and Second Chances I've had quite a bit on my plate but I felt I should give you an update to this. The update to A Derpy Princess will be coming hopefully in a few weeks as I'm still working on the rough draft of the fifth chapter. As always eager to hear feedback, please constructive criticism only!

Chapter 5: Illusion of Reality

It felt like it went on forever and every bone in his body ached but Twilight had dashed off in a hurry when she heard a familiar voice from outside the room he was currently locked in. Now that Twilight was gone from the room, he could actually get out of here. He had to hurry, there was no telling what she might do next, and he was more worried then usual because that voice was all too familiar to him. Rarity....he couldn't let Twilight hurt her. He'd risk his own life if he had too.

********8

Twilight Sparkle walked straight up to Rarity whom had entered the Canterlot Palace.

“Oh I absolutely love how you have decorated this place, quite fitting if I do say so myself. Twilight are you okay? I know this hasn't been easy on you and both Spike and I are rather worried for you. Is there anything I can do to help?” questioned Rarity.

“Oh I'm fine. Perfectly fine, why wouldn't I be fine? Is not like being the leader of all of Equestria is hard! No it's easy, you both worry too much.” replied Twilight with a bit of a twitch in her eye.

“Dear, no offense I know “fine” and you are certainly not fine. Come on you know you can tell me anything.” spoke Rarity as she put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, wanting to show her she was there for a good friend.

“Well...I guess it couldn't hurt to talk about it but not here. I've been seeing changelings disguised as our friends, I'm worried Chryalsis might attack at any moment. Come with me to my chambers, I'm sure no pony will hear us there.” replied Twilight as she couldn't help but glance back and forth with worry. Then she realized something she hadn't thought of, what if Rarity was a changeling? She seemed like her normal self but changelings were very good at acting. She had to find a way to see if it truly was Rarity, but first they needed to go to her room where she'd have privacy from the changeling attack or what she thought was a changeling attack. She was starting to see double Rarity's almost like there was two of her. She quickly shook her head then seeing only one of them. Why was this so gosh darn complicated? All she wanted was answers and right now not even her books would help her. She had to get to the truth of the matter and she knew exactly how to do it.

Rarity decided to go with Twilight, she wasn't sure why Twilight thought Changelings were invading her Kingdom, Chrysalis hadn't been seen since Starlight and her friends defeated her and Thorax had become the leader of the Changelings. Rarity couldn't help but notice how some of the ceilings seemed a bit dusty, it was unlike Twilight to not be organized, she wouldn't miss such a crucial detail. She decided she would ask her once she figured out what was wrong. Twilight wasn't herself and she also couldn't help but wonder where Spike was, he was rarely ever not with Twilight so the fact he wasn't here wasn't right. She didn't want to assume things, but if it really was a changeling attack, who was to say that Twilight wasn't a changeling, either that or Twilight simply wasn't herself. Rarity was really worried now and was more determined than ever to get to the bottom of things.

“Alright, we're here.” smiled Twilight as she opened the doors to her personal chambers. A master bed was in the center of the room, covered with a lavender blanket, with two lavender pillows to match on each side of the bed, then to each side of the bed posts was two dressers, each with a lamp on it, one was in the shape of Discord, probably a gift and the other was simply a normal lampshade. The carpet wasn't lavender but a nice shade of dark blue which complimented the purple splendidly so. On the walls were pictures of Twilight with her friends through different periods of time. She couldn't help but smile seeing a picture of her with her friends after she had become a Princess. It was truly a spectacle to watch. She was getting distracted by all the details of this room, she had to focus. Focus Rarity, Twilight might be in trouble! She took a deep breath as she looked towards Twilight with care and love in her eyes.

“So tell me how do I know you are the real Twilight?” began Rarity. She couldn't help it, if she was being accused of not being herself, then she could throw it right back, she wasn't about to let Twilight assume that everyone was a changeling, especially when it was her whom wasn't in the right state of mind, it was clear as crystal and she wasn't afraid of speaking up about it. Tough love, that's what it was.

“What? Of course I'm the real Twilight. Why wouldn't I be?” questioned Twilight defensively. She was Twilight right? Now even she was wondering, she couldn't even trust herself? Or was this simply a trick by the changelings to get her to let her guard down. No she wouldn't, she had to show that she was a strong leader, even if it meant she'd have to do it alone.

“Dear, listen to me I know you and I know that Twilight wouldn't be acting like this way unless something was wrong or unless she had been replaced by someone else. And in all honestly I wish you were a Changeling, because I don't wish to fight such a good friend but if I have too I will.” spoke Rarity. She really wasn't much of a fighter, she was a lady but for her friend, she'd do just about anything...even if it meant getting her hooves dirty and muddied.

“Rarity....I...” began Twilight. She really couldn't disagree with her there, fighting a changeling was easy compared to having to fight her friends. Her ears drooped down and a frown appeared on her face. But a small part of her kept saying it was all a trap just a game to get her to lower her guard....she wasn't sure what to do or what to think.

Rarity walked up towards Twilight, once again putting a hoof on her shoulder and leaning her head against hers.

“You aren't alone dear, we are all here to help you. All you have to do is ask. I know how busy I can be with three bontiques but I'm never too busy to not help out a friend in need.” explained Rarity. She truly wanted to help Twilight but she really wasn't sure what was wrong, the only thing she knew was that something was clearly bothering her. Rarity was wishing she had a change of costume at this moment for this was one heck of a puzzle and how she did love her mysteries.

Twilight sighed to herself. What was she going to do now? Did she truly know that this was Rarity? It seemed like she was normal but on the other hand she knew how good the changelings were at mimicking someone else, but they didn't have this kind of care. A changeling wouldn't offer this kind of support, the support that Rarity was giving. A very slight smile form on her lips as she embraced Rarity in a hug, her wings spreading out.

“Oh thank goodness, it's actually a real friend.” she smiled.

Rarity of course returned the hug but couldn't help but wonder about Spike. She looked towards Twilight.

“Dear....if I may ask where is Spike?” she asked curiously.

“Wasn't he with you? I mean I did find a changeling that was trying to be Spike earlier but I took care of him.” smiled Twilight.

Rarity looked really concerned now. “What pretell do you mean dear by “take care of”? She didn't want to think the worst but right now it wasn't looking good. The only good thing was Twilight seemed to believe that she was who she said she was. At least she had that much going for her. I mean how was it possible for anyone to mimic her? She was beyond fabulous and no changeling could compare to her.

“Well he came back from your boutique and something didn't seem quite right so I decided to lock him up and do some experiments. Oh course if he is Spike he's fine but if it's a changeling I imagine he's in quite a bit of pain right now.” smiled Twilight proud of her work.

“Dear that was Spike. You can't just go locking any pony up because you think they are a changeling. Chrysalis is gone, you have nothing to fear, Starlight defeated her remember?” questioned Rarity wanting to get through to her somehow but it was like this Twilight was different than the Twilight she knew and loved.

Twilight blinked and her eyes twitched. She shook her head. She wasn't sure what to do or what to think, she had been sure that both Fluttershy and Spike had been changelings but if Rarity was right she had just imprisoned her friend and her assistant was in pain because of her. She felt horrible...absolutely horrible. But then she felt that twisted grin it was almost like her mind couldn't decide what to believe. In her confused, she grabbed Rarity forcing her down onto the bed.

“What is WRONG with me!?” she questioned her pinning her shoulders down and making sure she wasn't able to squeeze out from either side.

“Twilight...please calm down. I have no idea what is going on here but do you really think this is a solution? Imprisoning your friends, hurting Spike and now pinning me here...to your bed.” replied Rarity with a very faint blush. If this had been normal Twilight it might not have been so well frightening. But she truly didn't know what was wrong. All she knew was that just the other day, Twilight had seemed fine and now it was like she was crazy. Not quite insane but certainly not herself.

Twilight didn't know what to do... she felt so lost. She had tears in her eyes as a slight teardrop landed on Rarity's cheek. If she really did do all this then she should be the one locked up, especially if she had hurt her friends but if this was all just a trick of the mind then why couldn't she seem to snap herself out of it? She felt so lost and so confused and then in the midst of her confusion she laid down on top of Rarity sobbing...

“Please....help me...” she begged.

Rarity wrapped her hooves around her and tried to soothe Twilight into regaining some assemble of herself, Rarity only hoped it would work because if it didn't who knew what would happen next.