Asylum

by Daemon of Decay

Chapter 8

Asylum

Chapter 8

Everything was just as Twilight remembered it. The dark oaken walls had been sculpted by powerful magics, creating a living structure perfectly suited for work as a library and a house. Her eyes ran over the bright covers of her beloved books that decorated the walls, each one in immaculate shape. The air was rich with the heady scents of paper and books, ink and parchment, learning and life. Beneath them all were the more subtle accents, the reminder of last-nights dinner and the familiar odor of a well cared for home.

Everything was perfect. Absolutely perfect. The sights, the smells; everything was as she remembered. Even the same patches of dust Spike never quite managed to deal with lay undisturbed atop the highest shelves. It was her home, just as it was in her memories.

“I’m home. I’m home. I’m home. I’m home,” Twilight repeated rapidly under her breath. She clutched her sheet tightly to her chest, her breathing growing ragged as she tried to keep from hyperventilating. The warm and gentle caress of the morning sunlight did nothing to fight off the tendrils of ice sliding up her neck. Her frightened eyes danced erratically around the room. She shivered.

I’m home. I'm not at the hospital anymore. Why am I home? This can’t be real. Am I free? What happened? Her thoughts raced around her head like a carousel spinning out of control. She struggled to make sense of them all, trying to bring order to chaos, but the questions soon blurred together into a single impenetrable mess of mental confusion. Beneath them all, a single word throbbed with a heartbeat of its own.

How?

Twilight had always considered herself a scientist. Reason and logic were ideals that she could draw comfort from. They offered reasonable explanations for how the world operated, creating meaning from what would otherwise be anarchy. While others saw the unknown as an impassable wall, she saw the unanswered questions as gateways to further understanding. Every time she dove into a new magical tome, she was helping to pave the way for further discoveries.

Most ponies misunderstood Twilight’s scholarly ambitions and assumed she was just a student of magic. It was a common misconception. Magic was the arcane lifeblood of the natural world, but it was only one small aspect of the wider universe. To claim Twilight just studied magic was to claim a painter just studied brushes, or a baker just studied flour. She examined it all, for to properly understand the arcane she needed to master what it is woven into. Uniting the two brought clarity, revealing the rules and laws that bound everything together.

Which is why Twilight Sparkle, chosen student of Princess Celestia, bearer of the element of magic, was frightened by her own home. The rules had been broken. She shouldn’t be back in Ponyville. She couldn’t be back in Ponyville.

Natural law could never be broken. They were inalienable, inviolable, and unchanging. Even Discord had never actually broken the rules; he had subverted them with powerful magics. The ideals of logic and reason that she cherished so much dictated that her presence in Ponyville should be impossible.

Twilight found herself floundering as she sought an explanation. Her thoughts were slow and hazy. She turned her head to examine her surroundings as she had a dozen times before, searching for some clue that she must have missed. There has to be something here. Everything has a logical answer. Just because I don't have one now doesn't prove there isn't one to be found.

She ignored the fog that had settled over her mind as she began running through possible explanations, considering any illness or curse she could think of and applying it to her situation. When those failed, the theories she had crafted while back in the hospital were dragged back up to be examined once again, all in the name of due diligence. Even the foes she had defeated over the years were judged, each unlikely candidate discarded as being incompatible with what she knew.

Her frustration surpassed fear as a logical solution continued to elude her. Desperate to find reason somewhere, the theories grew more complex, rapidly spiraling into the absurd. It was only when she realized that she was seriously pondering the likelihood of changelings utilizing the stolen elements of harmony to bring about the return of Nightmare Moon did Twilight accept the futility of her activities. She groaned in defeat.

“I can’t... there isn’t an explanation for any of this! Why is this happening to me?” Twilight demanded, daring the world to answer her. Silence mocked her. She buried her face in her hooves, her voice dropping to a hoarse whisper. “Nothing makes any sense anymore. It’s like I’m stuck in a nightmare that just won’t end.”

She froze. “A nightmare...” she repeated, lifting her head as realization dawned on her. Twilight’s fears began to drain away, taking with them the host of ludicrously overengineered theories she had been trying to justify. “Of course: Hockam’s Razor! In lieu of any evidence to the contrary, the simplest answer with the fewest assumptions should be accepted! This is all a dream!"

Her face split into a lazy grin. “Wait. Oh yes, yes, yes! The hospital has to have been the dream. What’s a simpler answer: that I had one nightmare, or that all my memories are just fantasies? This has to be real. It’s the only answer that makes any sense. Which means I’m home!” Twilight leapt from her bed with an undignified cry of relief, which was quickly followed by an even more undignified – and equally uncoordinated – dance of joy. “I’m home! Oh sweet Celestia, I’m really home!”

“Twilight? Are you back already?”

Twilight stumbled. Unbalanced by her awkward movements, she barely had time to shout before slamming into the nearest bookshelf and collapsing. Dislodged by the impact, books began raining down upon her, each thump eliciting a soft "oof!" from the stunned unicorn.

“Twilight!” the voice called again as the soft click of claws upon wooden floors drew closer. Shrugging off her encyclopedia sarcophagus, Twilight lifted herself up on unsteady hooves. Her body hurt, her head was ringing, and everything swayed like a ship in a storm, but Twilight's smile stretched from ear to ear.

The moment a purple and green blur entered her fluctuating field of vision she lunged forward with all the grace and coordination of a drunkard slipping on a patch of ice. Beating the odds, she managed to connect with her intended target. "Spike!" she shouted as she tackled the surprised dragon. The awkward landing was certainly going to leave a bruise, but she didn't care.

"Twilight!" Spike gasped, his warm scales grinding into her fur as she caught him in a massive hug. "What's gotten into you?"

She ignored his attempts to free himself, squeezing him even tighter. "Oh Spike, you don’t know how much I’ve missed you!"

Spike blushed as his adopted big sister nuzzled him, increasing his squirming. "C-Come on, that's enough. This is getting embarrassing," he protested weakly. She responded by crushing him into her coat.

"I was so worried, and I didn't know what had happened, and I was so afraid that I'd never see you all again, and–"

"You're squeezing a little tight, Twilight."

"-I was so scared! Everything was wrong, and I didn't know what was real! They just–"

"Twilight... trouble... breathing..."

"-kept telling me my whole life was supposed to be a lie! They were saying I made it all up, and–"

"Twilight!" Spike shouted hard enough to send a tuft of dragon-fire shooting into the air, narrowly missing Twilight's mane. Her grip slackened as she jerked back from the bright flash of green heat, allowing Spike to finally free himself with an audible pop. He tried to give her a stern look as he gasped for air, although it was clearly evident he was playing up his discomfort. "I love you too, Twilight. But seriously, can we avoid the big death-hugs in the future?"

"I'm sorry, but I was so relieved to see you, I just couldn’t help myself," she apologized happily, beaming down at him. "I was, I mean, I had this absolutely terrifying nightmare. You don't know how relieved I am to see you. It's... it's good to be home."

Spike brushed some purple hairs from his scales as he looked over at her, concern replacing annoyance once he realized the sheer sincerity in Twilight’s voice. "Wow. It must have been a pretty bad nightmare."

"The absolute worst!"

He tapped a claw against his chin thoughtfully. "Was it the one where you forgot to send a letter to the princess?"

"What? No, of course not."

"Fail a test?"

"No!"

"Show up late to a class? Forget an overdue library book? Break a Pinkie Promise?"

"No! None of those."

"So, it was..." Spike's eyes widened. "Oh Twilight, I'm so sorry." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You haven't had the Magic Kindergarten nightmare for months. I didn’t know.”

“It wasn’t anything I’d ever had before,” she declared, unable to decide if she was more disturbed by the long list of nightmares she had endured over the years, or the ease in which Spike had been able to run through them all off the top of his head. “It was new. I was, well, I was in this hospital, and...” her voice trailed off again as Spike watched her expectantly. “You know what? It’s not important. It’s over now.”

He shrugged. “Okay, whatever you say. I’m a little surprised that you had time to fall asleep again. I swear I thought you left an hour ago. Oh well, maybe you weren’t the only one dreaming stuff up. Breakfast is ready, by the way.” He glanced over at the small mound of fallen books. “So, I guess I should get to work putting those back while you eat?”

Twilight shook her head. “Nope. I want my number one assistant to spend some more time with me right now,” she told him as she affectionately nuzzled his cheek, causing the small dragon to blush again. “The mess can wait. But before we eat, I have a letter to Princess Celestia I need you to send.”

“Really? Is it about the nightmare?”

“Yes, it is,” she said as she trotted down the stairs, making a beeline towards her writing desk. “And it’s urgent, too.”

He jogged after her. “Doesn’t that seem kinda odd, sending the princess a letter about a nightmare? I mean, it was just a dream.”

Twilight hesitated. “It was just a dream. But...” she frowned, “well, I can’t explain it. The dream was so vivid, so real, it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.”

“What about that door? You know, the one back in the Crystal Empire?” asked Spike, shivering slightly at the recollection. “That was pretty real.”

“Sombra’s spell was different. It used dark magic to draw out your worst fears and created mental illusions to sap your willpower and happiness. However, its power was dependent upon the victim believing in its deceptions. Once you helped free me, I could sense the energy behind the spell. I’m certain I could defeat its illusions if it happened again,” she explained with firm resolve. Twilight gave him a warm smile. “Plus, it doesn’t work so well if you have good friends around who care for you. I doubt the world’s greatest assistant would leave me stuck in some dark spell for too long.”

“Well, I am pretty awesome,” he said as he puffed out his chest. “So, if this was just a nightmare, then why bother Princess Celestia about it?”

She sighed. “It might be foolish, and I’m probably still just rattled after waking up so suddenly, but I need to send her a message. Just in case.”

“Just in case of what?”

Just in case it wasn’t a dream, she thought to herself. “Just in case there is something else I haven’t thought of. Better safe than sorry, after all.”

Standing before her desk Twilight levitated over a blank scroll and lay it out before her, savoring the sensation of using magic once again. It felt odd, after being cut off from her natural unicorn abilities for so long. Of course, Rainbow Dash always says the same thing about flying whenever she’s grounded. You don’t miss it until it’s not there. Dipping a quill in some ink, Twilight began addressing her letter with her usual precision. And she’s right: it does come back quickly. It’s just something you never forget.

Spike watched her as she set about writing the letter to Princess Celestia. Twilight worked fast, keeping her letter short and succinct. She was eager to send the message as soon as possible. She didn’t want to admit it, to Spike or herself, but she was still afraid. Everything suggested she was back home. The logical explanation of a nightmare fit with all the facts. There was nothing to suggest she should still be concerned.

The doubt remained; a stubborn stain on her mind that couldn’t be scrubbed away.

“Finished,” she declared as she dropped the quill into its container. Rolling up the scroll she floated it to Spike, who carefully plucked it out of the air. The letter vanished in a flash of green fire, taking with it the heavy concerns that had weighed upon her mind. “There we go. Now we just have to wait until we get a response.”

Although she knew her fears were irrational, she certainly felt reassured knowing she had sent the letter. If I’m right, then later today I’ll just end up dealing with a slightly confused Princess Celestia. If I’m wrong... Twilight shook her head, halting the thought. No. Don’t think about that. You’re not wrong.

“If you’re all done, then I guess that means it’s time for breakfast,” Spike said. He caught Twilight’s stare. “What? I’m hungry. Besides, it’s not like we need to stand around waiting right here. We can wait in the kitchen. With the food.”

Twilight grinned. “You make a valid argument,” she said. She ignored the sliver of doubt embedded in the back of her thoughts as the pair of them walked towards the kitchen. She wasn’t going to let her fears ruin her good mood. “You know, I’ve been saving up a few gems for a special occasion. I think you deserve a little treat.” With a cry of excitement Spike raced ahead, licking his lips eagerly.

She laughed. It’s good to be home.

The library door swung open behind her. “Spiiiiike, I’m hoooome,” a familiar voice called out.

Everything stopped; the world was a still-life painted with confusion and disbelief. That voice... No, it’s impossible, thought Twilight as she stared blankly ahead through eyes wide with shock. Unable to blink, unable to move, she could only watch as Spike slowly turned around, his face wracked with confusion. He glanced behind Twilight and jerked back, his eyes shooting open as wide as her own.

“Oh, it’s seems we have a guest.” The soft clip-clop of hooves on wood drew closer. The voice’s owner was right behind her, but Twilight remained locked rigidly in place. “Spike, my friends are coming over later. Can you get some tea started? Oh, and bring us two mugs when you can. I need to have a chat with our visitor.”

Spike glanced between Twilight and the other pony. Silently she begged him not to leave. She didn’t want to be left alone with the unseen mare.

“Uh, s-sure...” he finally replied, his eyes continuing to dart between the two mares. Slowly he tiptoed backwards, reaching out behind him as he kept them both in his sights. “I’ll be right... back.” Spike disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Twilight to face the mare and her terrible voice.

The other pony exhaled softly. “Well now, this is a quandary. You see, you’re not supposed to be here. This place isn’t for you. And you know it, too. At the back of your mind, you’ve been bothered by something you can’t quite place your hoof on. Just your mere presence here is a problem.”

“W-What do you mean?” Twilight croaked. Her mouth was a dessicated wasteland, the lack of moisture making each syllable sting as it was extracted from her dry lips.

“You know what I mean,” the voice said as she circled around Twilight. “Ponyville is a lovely town. It’s filled with caring ponies who live happy and productive lives. Families raise their children here. Young lovers stroll together in the park. There are fairs and festivals and contests for every season. It is certainly not the sort of community that can tolerate the dangerously insane deciding to muck it up.”

“I’m not insane,” said Twilight defensively, cold reminders from her nightmare coming back to chill her bones. “And I’m certainly not dangerous.” She continued to stare ahead, her body still ignoring any command to move.

The voice laughed. “Oh really? There is a problem with your assertion, although you don’t want to face it. You are insane, you’re just denying it.”

Twilight mustered what was left of her courage, fighting to keep from drowning in the rising waters of apprehension and fear. “P-Prove it.”

“Are you sure you want me to do that?” the invisible female offered. “You could just close your eyes and leave right now. Wouldn’t you feel better if you just didn’t have to deal with the pain of being proven wrong?”

“Prove it,” she repeated firmly.

“Honestly, you don’t have to do this. It’s not going to be pleasant. It’s going to hurt the more you fight it.”

“I said prove it!”

The other mare sighed. “Well, if you insist.”

Despite her best attempts to deny it, Twilight had known what was coming. The familiar voice, Spike’s reaction, the nagging doubts that had lingered at the back of her mind since she had woken up; she had put the pieces together. Everything had added up to a terrible answer she hadn't wanted to face, but as the other mare trotted into view and halted directly ahead of her, she couldn’t avoid it any longer.

Twilight was looking at herself.

She trembled, her locked joints unable to keep her body from shivering in fear. It was a reflection without a mirror. Her copy stood before her, an insincere look of sympathy etched upon her violet face. “I told you this would be painful,” the Other Twilight said in her stolen voice.

Twilight stared back, unable to voice a response. Inside her frigid chest her heart beat erratically, unable decide if it wanted to go into a fit of hyperactivity or just freeze up like the rest of her. The shadows within the library deepened despite the morning sunlight blazing through the windows, adding a sinister edge to the familiar world.

“I know you don’t want to face the truth, but you can’t keep deluding yourself like this. It’s just not healthy. You’re hurting yourself by holding onto your delusions.” The Other Twilight affected a concerned appearance. “This is my life, not yours. I’m Princess Celestia’s prized pupil. I bear the Element of Magic. It was my friends and I who defeated Nightmare Moon, stopped Discord, halted the changeling invasion, and saved the Crystal Empire. You’re not supposed to be here. This world isn’t for you.”

Twilight tried to speak, to deny her reflection’s ludicrous charges, but her tongue was as frozen as the rest of her.

“I am Twilight Sparkle,” her duplicate declared firmly. She edged closer, lowering her voice. “And you? What have you done? You’ve tried to steal my life, copy my accomplishments, and take credit for that which you didn’t do.”

“No,” whispered Twilight in a pale echo of her twin’s confident tone.

The impostor's eyes narrowed as some of the false sympathy leaked from her face. “No?”

“No,” she repeated a little louder.

The Other Twilight leaned back again, dark amusement twinkling in her violet eyes. “You’re right, actually. You have done something else, something that I haven’t done. You’ve hurt ponies. That is your accomplishment. It’s too bad you’re in denial about that as well.”

“Liar.”

The reflection smirked. “See? Denial. But then, if I was you, I wouldn’t want to remember how much I hurt other ponies either.” Slowly she began to circle Twilight like a shark around a wounded fish, slipping out of sight from the still frozen mare. “You see, that's why you want to be me. I’m a hero. I’m a good friend. I’m always doing my best to help others. You?”

“You just cause pain,” she whispered directly into Twilight’s ear; the unicorn would have jumped if she wasn’t still rooted to the spot. The other mare chuckled as she resumed her slow trot. “It’s an easy theory to prove. After all, just look at how much you are hurting yourself by trying to believe in your protective delusions. But then, I can understand why you would do such a thing. You hurt yourself with your delusions, so you can avoid the real pain of remembering.”

“I can’t blame you for that,” she continued as she casually finished her circuit, halting herself in front of Twilight once again. “I’d make the same choice, if I were in your hooves. It hurts less, giving yourself over to the fantasies of living another pony’s life. The pain of loss is so much more tolerable than the agony of guilt and shame.” Her expression hardened. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you don’t belong here. This place isn’t for a pony that brings suffering wherever she goes. Which is what you do. It’s about all you do, really.”

“You’re a liar,” Twilight repeated, feeling her anger rising to the fore. Memories? Pain? Whose memories? Who is hurt? Her thoughts were caught in a whirlpool, the impostor’s words creating a storm of turmoil that threatened to drown her mind beneath waves of conflicting emotions. Twilight grit her teeth as she continued, taking deliberate care with every word. “I don’t hurt other ponies. I don’t cause suffering.”

“Who's the liar now?” her duplicate said with a cruel laugh. “I’m struggling to think of anyone in your life you’ve ever actually helped. This world is one created for ponies who love and cherish one another. You’re just a selfish and deluded little monster.”

Twilight’s retort was interrupted by Spike’s return, a steaming mug clutched in each hand. The pungent scent of herbal tea wafted through the air. It was her favorite blend, bringing back memories of long hours spent working at Princess Celestia’s side. The thought of her mentor’s kind face brought a calming touch to her troubled mind, and she bit back her rage. Don’t lose control. You’re better than that. She is just trying to get you upset.

The dragon almost stumbled when he glanced up to find the two mares staring at him with intense expressions. He blinked. “Uh... tea?” he managed to offer with a weak smile.

“Excellent. Good job, Spike,” the Other Twilight said kindly. “What would I do without my number one assistant?”

Spike gave her a nervous smile as he offered her one of the mugs, looking at Twilight from the corner of his eyes. “Oh, it was nothing...” he said, trying to mask his uncertainty in the presence of the identical unicorns.

Twilight flashed her impostor an angry glare as she accepted a cup from Spike. How dare you talk to Spike like you know him. I raised him! He is my assistant!

Spike turned to make his way towards Twilight, but he was halted when the mug in his hand was levitated out of his grip and floated over to her by her double. “Don’t worry, Spike. I’ll take care of that. Now you run along and make sure there’s enough for the others when they arrive.”

For a moment Twilight thought he was going to protest, his mouth flapping open and shut a few times. “Are you sure you don’t need me?” asked Spike as he stared at Twilight, something unreadable hidden behind his emerald eyes.

“No, we’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us, we just have some things we need to discuss.”

“We have some hay-fries in the icebox I could reheat,” he offered, edging a little closer to Twilight.

“Spike.” The Other Twilight stated his name forcefully, pulling his attention back to her. “We are fine. All we need now is a little privacy. Understood?” Spike nodded meekly and hurried back to the kitchen.

Twilight’s loathing of her impostor reached new depths. She pawed at the floor in a subconscious display of aggression, the white-hot hate burning in her chest melting the doubt that had frozen her muscles. She knew the princess would disapprove of her losing control of herself and resorting to violence, but that didn’t make the idea of bucking her twin in the face any less delicious.

“That’s better,” the Other Twilight stated as she watched Spike’s purple tail disappear around a corner. She turned back to Twilight, floating the mug closer to the scowling unicorn’s head. “Go on, have some tea. I know you’ll like it.” She took a sip from her own mug as encouragement. “See? It’s good. It will help calm you down.”

Bristling at the implication that she needed to be calmed down, Twilight telekinetically yanked the mug free from her double’s mental grasp, splashing tea onto the floor. She stared daggers at her alternate as she fought to reign in her temper. “How dare you speak to Spike like that.”

“Please, don’t start,” she said scornfully.

Twilight ignored her. “How dare you speak to Spike like you know him, like you have any right to tell him what to do.” Her voice was low and dangerous, like a viper coiled in the grass.

Her impostor rolled her eyes. “Just drink your tea,” she snapped, taking a sip from her own mug. “We have a lot to discuss, you and I, and it’s for the best if we’re all in control of our emotions.” She lifted an eyebrow as she gave Twilight a cocky grin. “We don’t want anypony to do something crazy, now do we?”

Silence descended upon the two mares. Twilight’s muscles continued to clench and release as she held herself back from lunging at the impostor. Stay in control. Violence won’t solve anything. She is just trying to get a rise out of you so she can make a point. Prove her wrong. Lifting her mug to her lips – and resisting the urge to hurl the steaming contents into the other mare’s smug face – she took a reluctant sip. The familiar taste washed over her tongue, bringing with it some of the fondest memories of her life. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t deny that the tea was soothing.

But I still hate her, she added firmly, her steely gaze burrowing into her opposite’s eyes. She continued to sip her drink, content to let the awkward quiet continue indefinitely.

Twilight considered it a minor victory when her impostor was the first to break the silence.

Clearing her throat, the Other Twilight began speaking. “Yes. So, I know you’re probably very confused right now, and probably pretty angry, but you need to understand something. This life,” she gestured at the library, “is mine. I’m Twilight Sparkle. I have friends I adore, and they love me back. We would do anything for each other. And that means dealing with threats. And you are most certainly a threat.”

Twilight scowled. “They are my friends, not yours. You’re just somepony – something – that has taken what is mine and twisted it around, claiming that I’m the thief. I’ve seen through your illusions, and with my help, my friends will see through them too,” said Twilight with a strong grin.

“It’s good to hear you sounding so confident,” the Other Twilight mused. “My friends will be here shortly, so you’ll have an opportunity to show us all.”

“I’ll prove to them,” Twilight said before taking another sip, trying to match her reflection’s unconcerned attitude.“After all, they’re my friends.”

The impostor snorted into her tea. “If that were the case, then why do you seem so determined to hurt them? A real friend wouldn't just selfishly use the other pony, leaving them in pain and tears.”

“I don’t do that!” she snapped, the bonds holding back her temper growing frayed and worn. “I don’t go around hurting other ponies, either. I care about my friends. I would never hurt them. Never!”

The other mare laughed, arrogance and savage amusement transforming Twilight’s voice into something completely alien. “Please, you can’t honestly believe that. Don’t you remember what you did to Pinkie Pie?”

Twilight flinched at her friend’s name, eliciting another round of cruel laughter. She glared at her tormentor, hiding her doubt and shame behind a mask of bitter anger. She had hurt Pinkie Pie, but that didn’t make her some uncaring beast. She narrowed her eyes. “That life isn’t real. It’s an illusion; a fantasy. This is my real life,” her voice dropped to a whisper, “and I want it back. I won’t let you steal what is mine and get away with it.”

“You’re the one trying to steal the lives of others,” said the Other Twilight. “You would rather take on a life you didn’t live than face the shame and guilt of what you have done in your own. You’re like a tornado, leaving nothing but loss and devastation in your wake. Your friends, your family, and even total strangers who just happen to get in the way. Nopony is safe around you.”

“Stop lying!” Twilight shouted as she took a threatening step towards her. “That’s all you do! Lie! Lie, and try to mess with my head! Everything you’re saying now, it’s just meant to confuse and distract me. I’m not going to fall for it again!” She jabbed an accusatory hoof at her twin. “I’ve dealt with you before. It was you, in the bathroom mirror. You were there to destroy my willpower, to try and convince me that I was insane, so I would just give up and accept the prison you created for me. Well, it didn’t work! I’m still here, and I’m going to defeat you!”

The Other Twilight sighed. “I’m frankly disappointed with you. I hoped that you would possess the mental acuity to realize when you were being irrational and senseless. I thought if we talked you might accept the inevitable and give up on your delusions, but it seems you are too stubborn to see the truth.”

“There is nothing irrational about this!” she growled. “The evidence is there, in my mind, and in my senses. I’m not being stubborn; I’m standing up for the truth! I’m standing up against you!” Twilight stumbled slightly but corrected herself, forcing herself to take another aggressive step forwards. “You are not going to win. Once my friends arrive, once the elements of harmony are here, we will show you just how powerful true friendship is.”

The lack of any worry on her impostor’s face only heightened Twilight’s anger. “You’re just setting yourself up for more disappointment,” she told Twilight, a whisper of amusement sparkling in her eyes. “But then, it is for the best. Your delusions are not healthy, for anypony. You need to accept that this life isn’t yours. It won’t be pleasant, but you need a voice you trust to tell you that you’re sick.” She gestured past Twilight. “So, why don’t we ask my friends what they believe?”

Twilight glanced back over her shoulder. As if on cue the door to the library swung open, revealing five familiar mares. She sighed with relief as they strode into the library, their mere appearance enough to bolster her confidence. These were the friends she remembered. “Now you’re in for it,” she told her doppelganger, giving the other unicorn a bold smirk before turning back to her friends.

Words of greeting died on her tongue as her best friends drew up in a loose semicircle around her. There was recognition in their gaze, but the warm compassion she had been expecting was painfully absent. Instead of friendship there was anger, embarrassment, and disgust. Five sets of cold eyes judged Twilight, sapping her courage and leaving her speechless.

“Is this here impostor still givin’ you trouble, sugarplum?” asked Applejack.

“Yes,” both Twilight’s answered as one.

“I wasn’t talkin’ to you,” she snapped at Twilight.

“Didn’t you learn better than to hang around Ponyville?” interjected Rainbow Dash as she hovered just off the ground, staring at Twilight like she was something the pegasus needed to scrap off of her hoof. “Seriously, what is your problem? We told you, you’re not welcome around here. What, do you need us to make you leave? Huh?” She flew a little closer to Twilight, her forelegs raised in an aggressive display.

“But... but it’s me, Twilight. Twilight Sparkle!” she said as ice formed in the pit of her stomach. She gestured desperately at the other mare. “She’s the impostor! I’m your friend!”

“Nopony likes a fibber!” said Pinkie Pie with a reproachful look.

“Don’t be absurd, you little monster. How dare you impugn the character of our good friend by claiming to be her?” Rarity lifted her snout dismissively. “It’s disgraceful, having some mad mare spreading such slander in public.”

Applejack nodded. “It’s just straight up dishonesty, that’s what that is.”

“We don’t want you here.”

“This isn’t your home.”

“You’ve worn out your welcome.”

Twilight slowly backed away from the approaching ponies, wincing with every cutting declaration. The empty tea cup tumbled to the floor as she struggled to speak. “P-please, you can’t... but... why don’t you believe me?” she stammered, her frightened eyes darting from one face to another, seeking a hint of affection in her friends’ eyes.

There was nothing.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight nearly shouted, focusing her watery gaze on the one mare that hadn’t said anything yet. Unlike the anger on the faces of the others, the shy pegasus just looked nervous and uncomfortable. Desperate hope flared up within Twilight’s chest. “Please, Fluttershy, say that you know it’s me! Please say you recognize me!”

Fluttershy averted her eyes, doing her best to hide her face behind her pink mane. “I... uh... I think...” she whispered softly, nibbling on her lower lip. “I think you should... s-stop trying to pretend you’re, you know, somepony you’re not. It’s not very nice...”

No. Not you, too. Please, Fluttershy. Not you.

“You’re just ill and, um, need some help... to get better.”

No no no no!

Twilight shook her head, her cheeks glistening with her tears. The loud and angry denouncements from her other friends had been hard blows against her confidence, each one landing with a nearly physical impact that left her reeling. Fluttershy’s soft rebuttal was a jagged knife plunged straight into her breast. Her hope was snuffed out like a candle, leaving nothing to hold back the darkness within that threatened to consume her. She felt like she was being crushed down against the wooden floor as the other ponies continued to force her backwards, her world shrinking down around her.

She spun to face her impostor, her tear-streaked face gnarled and twisted with rage. “You! This is all your f-fault! You’re... you’re t-twisting their minds! You’re controlling them, somehow! Like,” her wet eyes widened in realization, “like when... when Cadance had been replaced with a changeling!”

The Other Twilight groaned. “Alright, I’ll admit that it was funny at first, listening to you try and rationalize your delusions, but now it’s just pathetic. Stop embarrassing me in front of my friends.”

“They’re my friends!” Twilight howled, her horn bursting into life. "I've had enough of your lies! This ends now!" She ignored the fear on her friends’ faces as they shied away from the purple aura, her attention focused on her twin sitting yards away. The arcane power washed away the chill of doubt like a warm bath as she set about forming the complex spell. A lesser mage would find it challenging; for Twilight, it was almost second nature. She had practiced it furiously after her brother’s wedding, knowing that one day she might need to utilize it.

She narrowed her eyes dangerously. “I know what you are... changeling!”

A beam of lavender fire lanced from the tip of her horn and engulfed her tormentor. A second sun was born in the middle of the library, the blinding flash of its fleeting existence accompanied by a thunderclap strong enough to shake the foundations of the library. Twilight struggled to remain standing in the aftermath as the tremors sent books sailing through the air.

She grinned as she furiously blinked away the spots dancing in her vision, eager to see her handiwork. Okay, that was a little more powerful than I had intended, she admitted, letting out a giddy laugh. But it’s fine. Fine! Now my friends will know the truth. Still sporting a broad smile she turned her attention to the other mares, impatient to see the look of realization on their faces once they understood that she had once again saved them from a changeling infiltrator.

Her smile slipped when she caught sight of them all, each one in a state of disarray and confusion.

“My stars!” hollered Applejack as she rubbed at her eyes. “I can’t hardly see!” The farm pony blindly groped about around her, attempting to locate the hat that had been blown off her head.

Fluttershy helped Rainbow Dash up from the floor, fussing over a large bump on her head. The prismatic mare reassured her that she was fine, giving Twilight a venomous glare. Reluctantly, Fluttershy left Dash’s side and turned her attention to the whimpering Pinkie Pie, who lay where she had fallen, her hooves protectively wrapped over her eyes.

Twilight gulped, her dread returning with a wave of dizziness. Guilt began gnawing at her heart, but she pushed her doubts aside. I'll apologize afterwards. They’ll understand. It had to be done. Ignoring their dirty looks, she gestured at where her impostor had been standing. “See? I told you she wasn’t...”

She stiffened, her voice trailing away as she stared at where she was pointing.

“You were saying?” asked the Other Twilight with a smirk.

Twilight’s eyes were locked onto her twin. The spell she had cast could defeat any illusions. She had expected to find a changeling drone before her, perhaps even a fully fledged queen. Instead, she was still staring at a perfect copy of herself.

Her reflection's smile faded. “Now, I think you owe everypony an apology,” she said, the humor disappearing from her face as she took a few steps forward. “It’s not nice to go around hurting other ponies. Just like it’s not very nice to lie about somepony in front of her friends, either.”

“No! This is impossible!” Twilight shouted. “You’re... you’re a changeling! You have to be! It explains why all of my friends don’t realize who I am, why they believe that–”

Her desperate rant was cut short when a pair of white legs gripped her head and painfully yanked it around, leaving her staring into Rarity’s furious eyes. “What were you thinking, pulling a horrible stunt like that? You could have seriously hurt somepony!” she shouted into Twilight’s face, the normally demure pony transformed into a burning avatar of righteous indignation. “Didn’t you consider what could have happened?”

“I... I...” stammered Twilight weakly as she tried to pull back. She was desperate to escape her friend’s angry gaze, but the other unicorn’s hooves held her head like a vice as she continued to scream at her.

“Do you even care about anypony else? Or are you just so selfish that you just don’t care who you end up hurting? You... you monster!"

The look in Rarity’s eyes frightened her. It wasn’t the look of a drama queen trying to play up her emotions – it was pure, honest rage on her friend’s face, something she had never seen before. Twilight’s mouth flapped uselessly, trying and failing to find something she could say to her. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Something went wrong. Why didn’t the spell work?

“Rarity, that’s enough,” the Other Twilight said, resting a restraining hoof on her shoulder.

She glanced back at her, biting back her anger. “But she–”

The impostor shook her head. “It’s fine. Go check on Pinkie Pie.” She turned her attention to Twilight. “I’ll make sure that she behaves herself.”

Rarity held her grip for a few more seconds before reluctantly releasing Twilight, letting the disheveled unicorn slump to her knees. “Fine. But if she hurts anypony else, then next time I won’t be so polite!” Lifting her nose into the air she stormed away, leaving the two Twilights alone together.

Twilight watched Rarity move to the still downed Pinkie Pie, her cheeks still aching from her painful grip. It was obvious how they felt, but she didn’t want to believe. She wanted to claim it was just her mind toying with her again. The denials didn’t work. She could see it in the way their lips tightened and their eyes narrowed whenever they glanced in her direction.

My friends hate me.

She averted her gaze as she lifted herself up into a seated position, unable to look at them any longer. “Why are you doing this to me?” Twilight whispered, her voice cracking. “Why... why are you s-stealing my life?”

“I’m not doing anything." The impostor gestured around her. “You did this all yourself. I told you that they weren't your friends, but you wouldn't accept it. I told you that you just hurt other ponies, but you didn’t want to listen.”

“B-But I don’t...”

“What do you call that?” she interrupted, pointing at where Fluttershy was bandaging the cut on Rainbow Dash’s head. The normally quiet and conciliatory pegasus was watching Twilight, carefully eyeing her from beneath her pinkish mane like she was an animal that could attack without warning.

“Or that?” She gestured again, motioning towards Rarity as she bent down to help Pinkie Pie to her hooves, her purple hair bristling with contained fury.

Twilight’s head swam, her thoughts growing foggy and indistinct. Opening her mouth to speak, she found her words lost as she choked back another round of sobs. She lowered her eyes in shame. A growing puddle of tears glistened between her hooves.

Her temper gnashed its teeth in frustration, raging against her growing sense of hopelessness. It didn't want to give up. The source of her suffering was right beside her, within easy striking distance. It demanded she attack. It demanded she act. It demanded she do something to end her suffering.

What’s the point? she fired back, a cold despondency settling over her thoughts. Her senses felt muffled. Colors were washed out and faded. Sounds reached her as if crossing some great distance. It was as if there was a dreary rainstorm inside her, scouring away her strength and leaving her gutted.

“What’s the point in continuing to fight against the inevitable?” the Other Twilight said, mirroring her own thoughts. A half-filled mug of lukewarm tea levitated before her face. “Go ahead and drink up. It will help calm you down,” she cooed, her rich voice reaching deep into her head.

Twilight nodded dumbly as she reached out take the cup from the air, her arm trembling. For some reason she couldn’t call upon her magic to hold the cup, but this didn’t bother her. She sniffled. “I don't... I never wanted to hurt anyone...”

“Of course you didn’t,” the sibilant voice hissed sympathetically. “You can’t help it. It's not your fault. It's just who you are. But this world isn’t meant for you. Now drink your tea like a good girl.”

There was something tickling the back of Twilight's mind, a voice quiet enough to be lost beneath a breeze. She ignored it as she stared into her tea. It's surface rippled like a pond in a rainstorm, her tears dripping from her chin. "I j-just want this to end."

"So do they."

Twilight lifted her eyes and recoiled, alarmed to find her friends arrayed around her. Each one wore an expression that drove claws of self-loathing deeper into her spine. They were all different – five unique displays of how worthless and despicable she really was.

Rainbow Dash’s face was etched with a furious scowl that matched her outspoken temperament. Applejack glared distrustfully from beneath the brim of her dusty hat, looking like she had caught Twilight trying to steal apples. Having regained her composure, Rarity’s slight frown expressed a mild displeasure that only masked the burning anger in her eyes. Unlike the others, Pinkie Pie looked more disappointed than angry, her normally bubbly personality punctured by a sense of betrayal.

Growing more desperate with each terrible rejection, she shifted her gaze to the last mare. Twilight blanched when she met Fluttershy’s gaze. The unicorn’s knees trembled, nearly sending her crashing back to the floor.

Pity. There wasn’t a hint of the others’ naked hatred or raw distrust in Fluttershy’s soft blue-green eyes. She was staring at Twilight like she would a bird with a lame wing. She isn’t angry. She thinks you’re a cripple. She looks at you and sees a hurt animal.

She feels sorry for you.

Twilight shriveled beneath that soft gaze, gasping loudly as she struggled to breathe. She wished Fluttershy would just hate her like the others. It was easier to take. How could she claim that she wasn't ill, that this really was her life, when her friend looked at her with nothing but pity and sadness?

“They don’t want you here. Nopony does,” her twin stated, thankfully drawing Twilight’s unsteady gaze away from her friend's judging eyes. “You’re not Twilight. You’re not their friend. This isn’t your life. They don’t need somepony like you around. You just hurt other ponies. You don’t belong here.”

“You’re not our friend,” repeated Applejack scornfully.

“We don’t need you around,” Rarity added

“You’re not wanted here.”

“You just hurt other ponies.”

“You don’t belong here.”

Each friend repeated one of her twin's lines, their words landing like hammer blows against her sanity. Her doubts and insecurities rose to the forefront of her mind as the other ponies continued to chant their lines, the cruel barbs digging deeper into her psyche. Fed by her shame, her thoughts began to echo their words, her mind tearing at itself like a wolf gnawing at a trapped limb.

Her mouth worked uselessly. She wanted to shout. She wanted to beg. She wanted to plead, to cry, to try and explain. She wanted to say something, to deny everything, but only managed an incoherent mess of immature sobbing. The world was closing in around her, rooting her to her spot on the library floor. She couldn’t breathe.

Her friends’ faces were so familiar, yet so alien. They were just as she remembered, only twisted with looks of hatred that seemed far out of place. She would have given anything to have them regard her with the affection and love from her memories.

Unable to meet their harsh gaze any longer she turned away, focusing her blurred vision upon her twin. Her reflection stared back, the corners of her mouth lifted in a cruel grin. “Drink your tea. Give up. Let me take the pain away,” she said, her quiet words reaching past the harsh voices of the other mares. A purple aura sprang to life at the end of her horn, promising relief.

“P-Puh-Please...” she moaned pathetically, her eyes locked onto the unicorn’s glowing horn. She just wanted it to end. She didn’t care how. She just needed it to stop. “P-Please... I c-can’t...”

There was a soft pressure within Twilight’s skull, noticeable even beneath the dizziness and fog and emotional torment that had transformed her thoughts into a jumbled mess. It was the subtle probe of another consciousness trying to pry open her mind.

“I can make it stop hurting. All you need to do is let me in,” the impostor hissed as the pressure increased. It was uncomfortable, feeling the touch of another’s mind upon her own, but Twilight felt compelled to agree. She needed relief, and the Other Twilight’s words offered the only way to end her pain. “Drink your tea and relax, and I’ll make it all go away.”

Twilight nodded weakly, her muscles struggling to keep her seated body upright. Everything felt soft, like the world was crafted from clay. The shadows in the library deepened like a black ooze was seeping out from the walls. Yes. Please, make it stop, she thought, trying to ignore the persistent itch at the back of her mind that clamored for attention. Slowly she lowered her mental defenses, letting the velvet touch of her double’s magic slip into her thoughts. Just make it end. Please, take the hurt away.

The Other Twilight’s grin grew wider as her eyes flashed with purple energy. “I promise I’ll make it all better. You won’t feel anything, soon.”

Twilight returned the smile weakly, taking hope in the promise of a reprieve. She didn’t want anything but peace. Her friends continued their litany of her failings and personal flaws, but it had lost its sting. Assured she wouldn’t suffer anymore, she found the willpower to ignore them. They’ve abandoned me, anyway. I just want them to go away. Her head lolled about as arcane tendrils wormed through her brain. Everything went blurry. The violation of her mind was painful, but it was a blessed relief when compared to the hatred and disappointment in her friend’s faces.

Her eyes drifted away from the Other Twilight and her sharp smile. Everything’s so black, she considered idly, watching as the darkness flowed like liquid from the nooks and crannies of the library. It was a voracious shadow, swallowing up everything she could see as it slowly drew closer.

“Drink your tea.” Twilight couldn’t tell if the she had heard the command or if she had thought it, but she obeyed regardless, doing her best to try and force her foreleg to respond. Her body felt cold, her muscles slow to act.

A flicker of movement past her leering reflection drew Twilight’s uncoordinated gaze as she tried to lift her cup to her slack lips. She turned her head as her vision swam in and out of focus. It was hard to make it out, the object lost in the distant shadows. It seemed unimportant, whatever it was, but that nagging sensation demanded she look closer.

Twilight blinked a few times as she cleared some of the tears away, her vacant grin replaced by a frown as she finally made out the purple and green object half-hidden in the darkness. The cup of tea froze against her lips.

Spike?

The young dragon was peering out from the kitchen doorway, looking at the group with a look of concern on his face. No, not at the group, she thought, the itching at the back of her mind growing more pronounced. He’s looking at me. He’s worried about me. He’s worried for me.

“Drink your tea.” The command repeated more forcefully.

She can take the pain away. She can make it all stop, she reminded herself, her friends’ voices growing louder in her ears, their hatred and loathing dripping from every syllable.

“You don’t belong here.”

“You’re not our friend.”

“You just hurt other ponies.”

The cup sank a fraction of an inch. Spike... he doesn’t hate me, she considered as she met his gaze. Her mind flashed back to Pinkie Pie’s sadness and Fluttershy’s pity, but it wasn’t the same. This time, she could see something there, a sense of familiar recognition in his eyes. He’s worried. Not about what I might do, but what might happen to me. He cares. He cares about me. He cares about me!

“Drink your tea!”

The world around her rippled like liquid as Twilight slammed her mind shut, severing the cold tendrils that had been digging around inside her skull. The shadows pulled back like a wild animal from a burning torch.

Spike cares about me! Spike loves me! Spike is still my friend! Each thought brought with it a burst of honest relief, hope blooming once again within her nearly broken mind. The world seemed to wake up from a despondent sleep, the colors growing sharper and the sounds becoming crisp to her ears. She had slipped out from beneath her melancholy prison, and she could finally see the world as it was once again.

Her unleashed anger joined her newfound hope in washing away her despair, scouring away the taint of self-loathing that had seeped into her soul. A renewed fire burned in her chest as she leapt to her hooves and tossed the mug to the floor. Drawing strength in her resistance, Twilight lifted her chin to meet her opposite’s gaze. There was a moment’s alarm when she finally managed to make out the impostor’s face, but the shock was banished by a powerful surge of righteous fury. Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “You!”

The other unicorn’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she smiled at Twilight. It was the same smile from the bathroom mirror.

The corners of the mare’s mouth were pulled back around the sides of her face, her grin stretching from ear to ear and bisecting her head almost completely. It was an unnatural wound that cut almost completely through her skull. There were far too many teeth on display in her twisted maw, each one shining like an ivory dagger in the morning light.

It was a noxious smile, an impossible smile, and it seemed to grow larger the longer Twilight stared at it.

“You’re going to regret this mistake,” the thing declared, its body a grotesque mockery of Twilight’s form. Its smile twisted into a cruel sneer. “Things would have been so much easier for you if you had just surrendered to the inevitable.”

“I will not surrender to you!” she shouted back, letting her anger grow out of control, using it to help power her resistance. “You failed. I didn’t break, and I still know that my friends love me.”

“Oh, is that so?” The question came from six mouths at once. Twilight spun her head around to face the other mares before recoiling in shock, each one wearing identical expressions and examining her with equally vacant eyes. She stumbled backwards as her friends advanced on her, their empty expressions not matching the aggressive body language. Her hindquarters bumped against a bookshelf, cutting her off from escape. They drew closer, pinning her against the wall. At some unspoken signal they halted as one, her friends watching her through unseeing eyes.

“We don’t love you. Nopony loves you,” they announced together. “You’re just a mad dog that should have been put down a long time ago.”

“Let them go!” she shouted, her limbs trembling again as she gave the Other Twilight her strongest glare. She couldn’t back down. She had to be strong – for her friends. She took a step closer, trying to make herself as intimidating as possible. “If you don’t let them go right this instant–”

“You’ll do what?” it spat, cutting her off with a chorus of stolen voices. “You can’t do anything. You’re not Twilight Sparkle, no matter how much you pretend to be. You’re nothing but a deluded fraud!”

Twilight rose to her full height, fighting to keep her voice steady. “I’m warning you...”

Wet, gurgling laughter filled the library. “Oh, this is rich! You’re a pathetic failure trying to sound competent!” The humor vanished instantly, replaced by a cold seriousness. “You can’t intimidate me. I know the truth. You’re not the element of magic. You never trained at Celestia’s side. Your past is a fabrication – a lie! It’s all a fantasy, crafted by an unstable little filly who couldn’t deal with her own life. You’re just the product of a young unicorn who would rather escape into a world of foalish dreams and storybook endings than face the pain of her memories.”

The thing with the monstrous mouth sniffed slightly, affecting an offended air. “I was offering you a way out, you know. A way to end the pain without all this drama. But you rejected me.” It smirked. “So now, now you get to suffer.”

Twilight’s horn burst into life, illuminating the walls around her with a pale purple glow. “You’re a liar!” she growled. Her headache pounded like a drum within her skull, too powerful to be masked by the cloying fog that had settled over her mind. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. “Nothing you say is true. Can you honestly expect me to believe anything you say after spending so long pretending to be me? You’re insane if you think I’m going to listen to you while you are controlling my friends.”

“I’m not controlling your friends at all. These,” it gestured at the other mares, each one echoing its words, “are not your friends. This world is not your world. You don’t belong here. This is a world for a talented unicorn that has dutifully studied beneath Princess Celestia, one who does all she can for her friends and tries her best to help others.” Her friends starting to laugh as the thing that had been wearing her face continued to speak. “It is not for some delusional nut case who poses a danger to herself and those around her. It’s not for a selfish mare who uses those around her to suit her own needs.”

“I have studied with the princess! I do help others!”

“This is a world for the bearer of the element of magic.”

“I am the element of magic!” Twilight shrieked, her nostrils flaring as she slammed a hoof into the floor. The magical aura swelled in power as she drew in extra energy, ready to cast a spell at a moment’s notice. Sweat glistened on her brow as her headache grew as well, her skull caught in a vice.

The laughter halted instantly. Six pairs of eyes judged Twilight in sudden silence. “Prove it,” they demanded flatly.

Twilight blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone. “What?” she finally managed to ask, sounding as confused as she was suspicious.

“I said prove it. Go on,” it said as it gestured at her. “I’m standing right here, completely defenseless. You believe you were taught a few spells for self-defense, which is certainly not something they would have taught you if you were actually crazy. So if you can properly use one of those spells you thought you learned at the princesses’ side, I’ll go away forever.”

“Ponyfeathers,” she scoffed, keeping her horn lit in case it tried to pull anything. “You’re a liar. You’d never do anything you said you would, even if I were inclined to trust you in the first place.”

It only smirked. “You don’t need to trust me. Here I am.” It lifted its head and tossed its mane back, striking a noble pose – an effect ruined by the ragged gash it called a mouth. “This is your chance. I have no defenses up. I have no spells ready to cast. You can defeat me and vindicate yourself, right here, right now.” It smirked at her. “This is your opportunity to become the hero you always pretended to be. This is your chance to be the real Twilight Sparkle.”

She stared back at it, trying to hold back the mental fog and keep herself alert. “It’s a trick,” Twilight said eventually.

It frowned. “A trick?”

“Of course it’s a trick. I’m not stupid. What, did you think that I would just blindly do your bidding?” Twilight glanced at her friends, each one wearing the same frown as her reflection. “Besides, how can I be sure my friends would be safe?”

“You can’t.” Its smirk returned. “But you really don’t have any choice in the matter. I’ve already indulged your delusions longer than necessary. This life, this world, isn’t for you. So either you defeat me right now... or I send you back to your real life, so you can suffer with your guilt and shame.”

Twilight hesitated again, her eyes running over the faces of her puppeted friends. She knew it was lying to her and couldn’t be trusted. It was a ruse: some sort of trap that she hadn’t discerned just yet.

Do I have a choice? she asked herself, a sense of resignation settling over her. She continued to draw and release energy, keeping her horn primed for emergencies. It’s right: I have to defeat it if I want to stand any chance of saving my friends. They are depending on me. They need me. I’m their only chance.

Twilight felt a warmth settle into her breast as she stared down her nightmarish reflection. But, she thought, opening her her mouth as if to speak, that doesn’t mean I have to play by its rules. Twilight’s aura flared with power as she began weaving the arcane threads together into the elaborate shape of an imprisonment spell, her mind calling back to the many years spent studying with her beloved Princess.

Such spells were as advanced as they were carefully regulated. A spell meant to harmlessly imprison another pony for an indefinite period of time was not something one could learn out of a school spellbook. Princess Celestia had stressed the importance of restraint and responsibility when she had taught it to Twilight, the pair of them working together in one of the castle’s great halls. If there ever was a time, it was now!

It would only take moments to cast, but she worked quickly, hoping to finish the spell before the Other Twilight could respond. Invisible to the naked eye, lines of eldritch force were bent to her will, forming the complex geometric shape necessary for a successful spell. The air buzzed with electricity as she drew upon the power of the world around her.

Something is wrong.

Twilight’s eyes shot open as her spell begin to unravel at the seams. It was fighting her control, the individual threads twisting away from her mental grip. The connections were not lasting, the lines of power pushing apart like magnets of the same charge.

Exactly what happens when a spell is being cast incorrectly.

No! The spell is right! In a panic she drew more power into herself, trying to force the spell to comply. She could picture it perfectly in her head: the precise shapes and runes the princess had taught her in person. Twilight grit her teeth as her horn hummed with the pressure of containing so much energy. The more she pushed, the greater the resistance. She didn’t care. The spell was right; she could manage the strain. She knew it would work, if she could just-

The spell burst apart like an over-inflated party balloon, unable to sustain the power she was throwing at it. Like an invisible bolt of lightning drawn to an iron rod, the uncontrolled energy shot down her horn and burrowed into her forehead like a spear of burning agony. Her mind flashed white as she toppled soundlessly to the floor, her muscles jerking and twitching erratically as her nervous system was overloaded.

Twilight came to a few heartbeats later, staring up at the ceiling of the library. Her entire body ached from the involuntary workout. Her hair was frazzled and stood on end. Her back teeth tingled. She was lucky she hadn’t really hurt herself.

She groaned, not feeling particularly lucky. What happened? Why didn’t that spell work? Twilight tried to sit up, managing to lift her head before her strength gave out and her body went limp. She fell back against the oaken floor with a louder groan. She had to move. She had to get up. She-

A shadow passed over Twilight’s eyes as six faces leaned in over her, filling her field of vision with their mocking grins. Her friends continued to smile as her grotesque impostor tutted disdainfully. “Well well well. That didn’t go as expected, now did it?”

“W-What did you do?” Twilight gasped as she strained out the words.

“Me? I did nothing. I just let you prove my point for me,” it said, prodding her chest with a single hoof. “This world isn’t meant for you. Your life is nothing but delusions and fantasy, held in place by shameful desperation.”

“No! You did something!” Twilight shouted, confidence wavering as she struggled to right herself. “I know it! You... you had to do, do something. I cast it just like I remembered. I cast that spell perfectly!”

Her reflection planted its hoof into her chest, pinning her in place as it lowered its head close to her own. “Now you see why you are so dangerous,” it hissed, spittle dripping from its hideous wound of a mouth. Twilight twisted her head to the side, fighting back her nausea as the warm liquid splattered on her face. “You think you have skills and talents you just don’t have. It’s a cruel cycle, really. Your delusions are what lead you to hurt ponies in the first place. And then you ended up creating more delusions so you could hide from your guilt. But that just left you even less capable of acting responsibly, meaning you’re more liable to hurt ponies in the future.” It chuckled. “Your life reads like a playwright’s tragedy.”

Twilight glanced around wildly as she began sliding into a panic. She was surrounded. She was trapped. She was in danger, and she was defenseless. A sense of powerful claustrophobia gripped her heart, sending her heartbeat racing upwards. Her body was weak and unresponsive, unable to even remove the hoof compressing her chest. Her magical abilities had failed her. Any attempt to pull power into her abused horn elicited another stabbing pain directly into her brain.

Why didn’t it work? Why couldn’t I cast the spell? The thoughts echoed like the tolling of some great bell, the reverberations shaking her to her core. It didn’t make any sense. She had trained hard to master that spell. Hours had been spent practicing, on her own and under the princesses’ direct guidance. She could remember Princess Celestia’s proud grin when she had finally managed to bind the limbs of the helpless guard assisting them.

The doubt that had been rising and receding all morning like the ocean’s tides crashed back down upon her, drowning her mind in uncertainty. She could remember so many moments with her beloved mentor, the memories of time spent studying beneath Princess Celestia’s gentle guidance crisp and clear. Yet she found herself turning a critical eye upon them, judging them with a reluctant skepticism. Was any of it real? Is it all a big fantasy?

Is my whole life one giant lie?

She whimpered as she fought back against the insidious thoughts, driving them away with what little strength she could muster. “I won’t... give in...” she grunted, the hoof on her chest keeping her from drawing in a full breath. “I won’t surrender...”

“It doesn’t matter what you think,” the grotesque mare spat, her nightmarish visage hovering inches above the trapped unicorn. Twilight gagged as she was assaulted by the sickly aroma of putrefaction, but it ignored her discomfort. “You’re not supposed to be here. This is a life meant for a Twilight Sparkle that has compassion and looks beyond her own selfish needs. You are not that mare. You are not Twilight Sparkle. Your memories are lies. You’ve proven that yourself. Everything you think the princess taught you are just worthless fantasies forged by an unstable mind.”

Unable to meet that horrible smile she twisted her head to the side, her mind racing to find something she could use. It was a desperate and futile search, she knew, but focusing on the most remote of chances helped to hold back the painful words working their way through her skull. There was almost nothing nearby, nothing she could use. Books? No. A cup? No. Sheets of parchment? No.

She paused, dragging her eyes back to the discarded mug. The tea. The tea!

Twilight's head jerked back around as she glared up into her former twin’s mismatched eyes. “You poisoned me! There was something in the tea, something you made me drink. That's why I couldn’t cast my spells!” she shouted and thrashed against the restraining hoof. “My memories are right! That's- that's why my thoughts are so hazy, and, and why I’m dizzy! My memories are real! They have to be real. I... I know they’re real! You’re what's fake! You’re nothing but a living lie!”

The impostor just stared back down at the struggling Twilight, a look of false pity souring its features. “You’re only hurting yourself by holding onto those delusions. These are not your friends,” it gestured at the other mares. “They are mine. This world is my world. This world is my life. It is not meant for somepony like you. This world rejects you.”

The shadows began to deepen once again, an oily smudge spreading across the walls and ceiling of the library. Everything beyond the immediate vicinity was hidden behind an unnatural dusk. The impostor leaned in even closer, the powerful odor of rotting vegetation searing Twilight’s nostrils. “You see, but don’t understand. This isn’t your life. You are an invader here,” it said, lifting its eyes to watch the tendrils of shadow slither down the walls and across the floors. “This life rejects you because it knows what you are.”

It paused, as if savoring the sight of the spreading darkness. Eventually it returned its gaze to Twilight. “You’re nothing but a virus. This reality is treating you like the infection you are and rejecting you before you can taint it further.”

The dark sludge of liquid shadow spread across the floor like an animated ink spill. Twilight watched its approach with wide eyes. It was like looking into an expanding pool of nothingness. The black goop was insubstantial in every possible way. Like a shadow, it existed in the absence of something. Yet she saw clearly as the ooze smeared itself over the windows, devouring the sunlight and replacing it with darkness.

She feared the shadows. Her bones turned to ice as it drew closer, her blood freezing in her veins. It was more than just a primal dislike of darkness and the uncertainty of what predators might lurk within. It was a threat that grew more terrible, more sinister, the closer it drew. She feared its nothingness, the impossibility of its existence, and the way it consumed everything around her. It was more horrifying than the bloodless gash of her doppelganger’s smile, or the empty expressions on her friends faces.

And it was alive.

There was a dark malevolence hidden within the spreading shadows. It was like a heartbeat that couldn’t be heard, a faint rhythmic pulse at the back of her mind, at the corners of her vision, and hidden beneath the other sounds. She could sense it watching her from the darkest pools with single-minded focus. At the farthest reaches of the library she could just make out the indistinct outline of a pony wrapped in heavy garments. Where a head might be there was a sharp protrusion, a porcelain blade shaped into the beak of some bird of prey.

Twilight blinked and it vanished again, her teary eyes drawn to the darkness that pooled at her friends’ hooves. She glanced up at them, the last of her resistance crumbling as the disturbing living shadows inched closer. “Please, please! Let me go! I- I don’t want to be here anymore!” she begged, trying to break through their unseeing gaze, desperate to reach the friends she knew were trapped behind their vacant expressions. “Don’t let it t-touch me!”

“I offered you a chance to escape,” the Other Twilight chuckled. Her friends’ faces echoed her impostor, breaking into sinister smiles. The corners of their mouths began to stretch wider, tearing apart to reveal more and more teeth. Their flesh ran like wax under a hot flame, shifting with little rhyme or reason. The faces of her friends were lost as their bodies began to warm and boil, not slowing until every leering face bore the same sickening smile as her warped twin.

Twilight was crying again. She gasped for air and quivered in abject terror as the darkness began to slide up her friends’ legs. The bright colors of their coats were consumed as they were absorbed by the spreading shadows. It wiped away their cutie marks as it spread, obscuring everything beneath a layer of liquid night. None of them flinched as the insubstantial ooze rolled over their faces, filling their broken mouths and distended nostrils with the nothingness.

Her friends were gone. Left in their place were five pony shaped shadows. Silence reigned, the darkness devouring everything, even noise. The only sounds were the moans of Twilight as she trembled in fear, trapped on a small island in a sea of disturbing nothingness.

Twilight clenched her eyes tight, her face matted with sweat and snot and spittle and tears. “P-Please... I want to g-go h-home...” Twilight stammered, her voice echoing like thunder in the shadow shrouded library. “I want t-to go home! Please!”

Her impostor leaned down once again, its grin clearly visible even as it too was consumed by shadow. “This world isn’t yours. This world isn’t yours. This world isn’t yours,” it said, its chant taken up by the other figures around her. “This world isn’t yours. This world isn’t yours.”

The shadows slithered towards her.

“P-Please! Make it stop! Make it stop!” she howled, her last vestiges of self-control snapping like dry twigs. Her anger and dedication and hope and convictions were abandoned in the face of her all-consuming fear. Her mind became a cauldron of mindless confusion. She blubbered pathetically as the shadows swarmed her, talons of darkness clutching at her body. She was helpless. She was useless.

Daggers of ice sliced at her flesh as they spread over her body, leaving behind a deep numbing sensation that masked everything but the pain. She cried out for salvation again and again, desperate for some kind of an escape. It was more than just physical torture: it hurt her in every way she could possible perceive. It was pain at every level. It was attacking her thoughts, her memories, and her character. It was not just ravaging her flesh, but her very sense of self.

It was consuming everything that made up Twilight Sparkle.

She opened her mouth to scream, and the shadows surged down her throat.

---

Twilight jerked up as the scream tore free from her lips, her voice echoing back at her mockingly in the enveloping darkness. Confused and disoriented, she was operating on pure instinct. Her life was in danger. She had to do something. She had to fight. She had to escape. Overwhelmed by the surge of adrenaline pumping through her veins, she blindly leapt to her hooves, determined to free herself from the hungry shadows. Her forelegs missed the edge of the bed in the darkness, sending the unicorn tumbling forward.

Her scream ended with crack and a sharp “oof!” when she slammed into the tiled floor, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Twilight gasped for air as she tried to lift herself up on trembling legs, the instinct still driving her actions. Her raw eyes darted around the lightless void. They were slow to pierce the inky veil, but she could tell that she was surrounded. Large shapes loomed over her in the darkness, figures wrapped in shadows.

Shadows! Images of a spreading darkness brought out a swell of desperate hysteria. I have to get away from the shadows! Twilight’s hooves slipped and skid on the tiles as she pushed herself away from them, her back slamming up against the point of the wall that intersected her bed.

Trapped. She was trapped again. The hungry nothingness was everywhere. Her fear was physical, leaving her flesh cold and oily. She wanted to scream out for help, but her lips flapped uselessly. She wanted to clench her eyes shut so she didn’t have to watch her gruesome fate, but they were frozen in panic, forcing her to stare helplessly at the darkness around her.

The shadows remained where they were. Nothing moved to attack her.

Slowly the shapes around her began to resolve themselves, her eyes making out the bookshelves she had imagined as the remains of her consumed friends. The panic drained away as her mind slowly clawed its way up to full consciousness, bringing with it coherent thought. She glanced down at herself, sobbing in relief when she saw the proper shade of purple instead of the nothingness of the black void.

I'm safe. I’m okay. I’m safe. I’m okay, she repeated to herself, putting as much force as she could behind the thoughts to drown out her body’s instinctive call for action. The powerful urge to fight and escape throbbed in time with her heartbeat, her body wound tight like an overdrawn bowstring.

A small pool of light rested in the center of the floor, cast through the door’s solitary window. She stared at it desperately as she focused on bringing her erratic breathing under control. The tension leaked out of her with every measured exhale, her fear passing from her mind as she took comfort from the small square of illumination. It wasn’t real. It was just a dream.

She slumped against the floor as her panic-fueled strength abandoned her. Without the adrenaline pumping through her bloodstream, her limbs were left feeling as though they were made of molasses and lead. Her muscles ached. It still stung where she had hit the floor. She was physically and mentally exhausted.

Twilight shivered. She was also freezing. Her coat was matted with sweat, turning the cool recycled air into a sub-arctic gale as it passed over her damp body. Reaching out with an unsteady arm she grabbed her discarded sheet and pulled it up to her chin. It was as wet as she was, but a cold blanket was better than none at all.

“I’m safe,” she said aloud, her soft voice breaking the oppressive silence that hung over her. “It wasn’t real. It was just...” Twilight’s voice trailed off as the memories from her nightmare slowly seeped their way back into her mind, bringing with them an onslaught of images and thoughts she would much rather forget. “It was just a dream,” she finished in a whisper, closing her eyes softly.

Even my dreams aren’t safe from this world. Twilight’s lip quivered as she cleaned her nose on her sheet. It wasn’t just sweat that soiled her face; her eyes were raw from unconscious crying. Even my dreams hurt.

“All you do is hurt ponies...” a cruel voice echoed from her memories, the words delivered by friends whose faces were twisted with hatred and scorn.

I don’t help ponies. I don’t heal ponies. I just cause pain. The self-loathing returned unbidden, dragging blades of shame down her spine.

Twilight stifled another sob, cradling her head in her hooves. Oh Celestia, please help me... please, I need you... She didn’t trust herself to speak aloud, fearing what could happen if she were to verbalize her despair. She pictured the loving gaze of her mentor’s warm face, clutching at it desperately to keep from drowning in the black waters of her own fear. Princess Celestia... I need you. I need help. Please...

The small unicorn hunched up into a small ball, wrapping her limbs around herself protectively. Warm tears trailed down her cheeks. She cried softly, the faint hiccups and whimpers barely echoing around the room.

Silently she continued to plead for a salvation that she feared might never come.

Comments

[Daemon of Decay]

2218036

It's a long chapter, so I hope it was worth the wait. Seriously, it's like two chapters for the price of one.

And it's not too happy, either...

[Setats]

Yay!

[Setats]

"Why I am I home."
I think there should only be one "I" in that sentence. It's up near the top of the chapter.

[Setats]

"While others saw the unknown as a impassable wall," a needs to be an.

[Setats]

"She ignore the fog" ignore should be ignored.

[shyguy7829]

Well that was sad.

[Reese]

And the update comes in just as my next class is starting, after which I'll have a test to study for! Yay...
I hope to have time to read it later tonight, though, and I quite look forward to it.

[JJFOXY67]

I get soooo happy whenever I see this updated! <3

[Magnum the Critic]

Twilight. Please, for yourself, accept this fate. You can get better if you just acknowledge your fantasies for what they are. Illusions. It pains me to see you suffer in this way. Let it go.

[abronie]

...whoa...Twi...wonder if that's a side effect of those pills and she never knew because of her memory.

[NerdUnicorn]

I dont like you anymore. I dont like this story. I hate them both, but I must have more. You are killing me! The sadness. It hurts. Finish the story now! Or else my mind will be ripped apart at the seems and my soul will disintegrate, taking the world with it.

[GimmyJibbsJr]

That was a great chapter.

[BobsGuns]

*sniff* Twilight Needs a hug
Anyways, It's an awesome story.

[Fusion Fool the 3rd]

All of a sudden, dood. That dream made me think that MAYBE the Twilight is actually Trixie who messed up a Illusion spell, and now fully believes she's Twilight.

Just my theory, dood.

[Hadjii]

Dabuq just happened?
NEVER GIVE UP!
NEVER SURRENDER!
ALWAYS PUSH THE LIMITS OF THE POSSIBLE!

And definitely don't drink tea from strangers, you idiot

[Sage Probo]

Sooo.... What do we know so far?

1.: Twilight's conciousness was forced out of her own world (I conclude that based on what happened so far)
2.: The other Twilight she saw before is something made of shadow(s) and in her own world that shadow took not only her but her friends as well (Fluttershy trying to take her life as to escape this horrid version, PP's irregularity, Applejack's attemp to do something else etc etc)
3.: We know for sure that the world Twilight is now and the original world where she came from are connected, how? beats me.

So... I wonder how and why the shadow tried to imprison her original in that mentality ward. This needs further research and experimentation.

[Atomic Clock]

WOW... That was a creepy chapter.
Very nice.

[Georg]

So cold.... Dear Princess Celestia. Send fire. Lots of it.

[Winter Quill]

I'm starting to suspect that the Other Twilight is the one that is from the Asylum and she found a way to literally escape into her fantasy world... and if so it seems like there is a good reason for her to be locked up.

I also don't think the Other Twilight is the real one, not just because of the darkness around her... but because the real Twilight would try to explain how this happened instead of just resorting to intimidation.

[Setats]

"She glanced down at herself, sobbing in relief when saw the proper shade of purple instead of the nothingness of the black void." You said "when saw", but it should be when she saw.

[Forevermore]

Other Twilight definitely isn't the original, her entire personality is at complete odds with what we know from the show. Now the question becomes: was the world we just saw even real? Could there be more than two worlds in this tragic game?

[Nightmare_0mega]

*slaps the chair's armrest*
Dimension switching. Gonna call it now. Smile!Twilight is actually from the "Hospital" world, and secretly studied; different mind numbing drugs to incapacitate ponies, mind control and shadow magic, and a way to jump universes and snatch a Twilight to take her place there. She is the invader, it's just that she did so well to tie up any loose ends that she was able to become a part of the world and reject anyone else (cause, she studied it and knows how it all worked). The universe tried to bring Real!Twilight back to her own world, but Smile!Twilight knew this would happen, so she made sure that she and Real!Twilight's brainwashed and controlled friends would be there to "stop" her.

Spike was the only one that wasn't "warped" by Smile!Twilight, but since he's so young, she probably just "explained" the situation to him and pretended it was just a one-off. I have a feeling that Spike will play a part in Real!Twilight's triumphant return in the future. As for the letter, Smile!Twilight will probably just tell Celestia a lie to cover it up and go on her merry way.

I also think that Real!Twilight is going to, instead of finding a way back first, try to become friends with the other 5 in the hospital world (helping them with their problems and having them become more like their real world selves), before she find's Smile!Twilight's notes (if she hasn't destroyed them), and re-copies the spell to send her (and her new friends) to her real world to face off against Smile!Twilight, to set the universe back in place. I'm very sure Applejack would protest to this, but would see the honest desire to do this in Real!Twilight's eyes, and eventually, but reluctantly, help her with her plan to go back.

[source1]

Damn, that ending
Best pony just can't catch a break can she?

[Setats]

I read very slowly, which made this chapter much better. I feel as if twilight should have just teleported away from them as soon as she could, and then found a way to talk to Princess Celestia in person. Then again, these shadow things could have just as easily taken control or her or something to that extent.
Your skill at creating a completely insecure environment is second to none! I eagerly await the next installment of your story.... And I have request...

Could you please have it done by tomorrow?

[Kiro0613]

Oh, my fucking God. Words cannot do this justice. This was so incredible. I would have been perfectly happy with this as an ending.

[Octarain85]

Woah. I was so convinced that it was all a dream....that the other twilight was bad, then this?

You play with my feels but definatly worth the wait

[burnt-feathers]

Of course: Hockam’s Razor!

I love you for this alone.

[PurpleFire135]

My brain hurts... I just am so curious and conflicted about what is REALLY going on!! I don't even have theories anymore, this has passed so far into the realm of 'mind-melting' that I can't even comprehend. Don't you dare make us wait much longer for the rest of this!!

[StrafejumpingIsMagic]

If it wasn't for only having a sad tag I would suspect a certain overpowered ex-king of a place where ponies play games. It makes sense he would want revenge in twisted ways.

[blix1ms0ns]

2218877 That would be impossible

[Olivine Ellva]

“You’re not our friend,” repeated Applejack scornfully.

“We don’t need you around,” Rarity added

“You’re not wanted here.”

“You just hurt other ponies.”

“You don’t belong here.”

This is how I would of reacted in Twilight's place at this moment:

Twilight rubbed her temples in frustration. Sighing, she said "Sheesh... Who would of thought my 'friends' could
be such pricks." She turns her head, looking out to each of the mares present. "Meh... Who needs ya. I'm out."
Twilight walked straight out of the room, giving one last disappointed look at her ex-friends.

[Binary Bits]

... Restarting
>> Enter reason for restart
>>Overheating of the CPU caused by a story, too awesome/sad to comprenend ...<<
Staph, you are giving me heartattacks, you silly author.
Please, just make the suffering end sooner or later, or I'll take a truck to the feels.

[RandomNPC]

Well, that escalated quickly. Am I the only one who's seeing 'Smile!Twilight' as a weird mix of the joker and the scarecrow? She's obviously taking pleasure in causing Sane!Twilight to question her sanity, provoking negative emotional reactions, and generally being in control of the situation. The fact that she's in control gives her catharsis for all the years under nurse Ratchet's iron hoof, and her ability to keep calm and collected while driving her 'sane' counterpart mad with mind games allows her to 'prove' to herself that her incarceration was wrong, while justifying to herself swapping her place with original Twilight. After all, if she's able to do this, she must be more stable than this other Twilight who has everything she's ever wanted, and thus she should be the free one, while Original!Twilight get's locked up. All of her anger and dissatisfaction for her incarceration and life has likely been pushed off onto her alternate, pushing her completely off the deep end while interacting with her, despite evidence that crazy Twilight wasn't normally so bad a pony in the hospital. Every success she has in taking her 'rightful place' reinforces her belief that she's in the right in all of this, and allows her to spiral down further into madness, with even things she might never have considered before being justified to her.
That's some grade A crazy right there, I must say.

That is, of course assuming that crazy!Twilight is the villain and swapped places with real!Twilight, rather than Twilight just legitimately being insane, or this being a changeling/Sombra/Discord induced nightmare.

[Txk234]

Loved every second of this chapter as you leave me yearning for more.

[Black Hoof]

Poor Twilight...

[Cave Johnson]

Mother of Celestia... the only thing I can say is, wow. You are certainly an artist of words, however sad those words may be, so have a mustache.

And a like. And a favourite. This story is truly good... you always keep us guessing!

[The Fiery Joker]

...

...

Whoa.

[Evilpresident]

THAT'S OKAY, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SLEEPING ANYWAY

[mcb893]

...
...
...
...
...

Don't know what to think anymore. That's a good thing, btw. Good job.

[bloodwolf432]

I think this quote would be best right now.

"Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle."

[Maphysto]

Jesus. This chapter was worth the wait. And I can see why it took so long, nearly 14k words? Dayum son.

So I was leaning towards "Twilight is actually crazy", but this chapter threw it out the window. There's no way there isn't something behind all this.

[Axan Zenith]

Omigosh. That black sludge stuff. You have no idea how much I love that sort of thing. I demand more of it.

[QuakeScape]

2218173 Please tell me there would be a happy ending.

[Olivine Ellva]

Well... Anyway, putting my previous comment behind me. I've gotta say, this chapter somehow seemed even
better than the ones prior.

We've all been wanting to know exactly how Twilight views this whole situation. And what better a way to do so
than to take a peak into the unconscious workings of her mind, where her true thoughts and feelings roam free.
This dream was a rather enlightening look into the main character. It expressed her fears, doubts, hopes, along
with several other important factors in her psyche.

I felt absolutely certain that it was a dream from the moment that the other Twilight showed up. Not so much for that improbability
of there being two Twilights in the same plane so much as for the actions she took and the words she spoke. For as 'horrible'
as the real Twilight might have been in the eyes of nightmare Twilight, I can't imagine any true version of Twilight acting in as
horrid a manner as nightmare Twilight was. She was being blatantly cruel from the moment she started talking to the real Twilight.

That aspect of the dream really drove home as well. The fact that Twilight's mind can manifest such a horrid monstrosity as a depiction
of herself really lets the reader in on just how much Twilight already doubts her sanity and fears the potential that she is actually the
monster this asylum environment makes her out to be.

I can't really think of anything else to say.... I most definitely got a little repetitive in that review, but then again, this whole story
is repetitive as well, really drilling the important points in, making a total mush of our minds!

Edit:
Just one last thing I want to add. Seeing her friends treat her with such scorn was also a very fitting thing to see
in this chapter. While I consider how she depicted her own views of herself a much more telling point that shows how
much she truly doubts her claims at sanity, it is equally important to use the dream to express Twilight's fear of how
her friends would view her if she really was crazy.

[SakuraSama]

Looks like hard times for ol' Twilight ... but seriously, I hope this works out for our heroine.

[Daemon of Decay]

I'm glad this chapter has gotten such a positive reaction. It was a bitch and a half to write, and went pretty dark, but I'm glad it came out the way it did and was received the way it was. Big kudos to my editor Rex Ivan for helping me to carve away some of the excess and help me to get my story back on track after my heavy rewriting session.

2218843

Just as a note, before I leave to go have dinner with my folks, I should say that my internal name for the other Twilight was actually Twilight Smiles. That's not cannon at all, I just found it funny.

[Steben]

For some reason this is coming across as torture. (but not quite) Which life is real? Twilight's stay at the hospital, or her life in Ponyville? Maybe they're both real, and the Twilight from the hospital has something to do with it. Maybe that "shadow" isn't the Twilight from the hospital, maybe something else.

I don't hate this story, and definitely want to see the next chapter. But it's extremely sad to see people going "end this now"... bunch of wishful thinking babies. Hopefully you don't throw in too many chapters like this in a row. There's a difference between "sad" and "depressing."

Nice work on this chapter though!

[Bobbers]

Hmm, there's a foul plot afoot. Plot ahoof?

I'm seeing the signs more clearly now, but I truly wonder when they first appeared, and just how many I have missed. Such small hints are the result of careful, deliberate, and great writing. Although if aforementioned details were placed to deliberately to be found by the reader and thus, blind them with hope, this is a terrifying display of literacy.

Or, I could still be delusional, and perhaps like Twilight, trying desperately to convince myself that falsehoods are true.

[Nightmare_0mega]

2219276 Gee, i wonder why?

[Emerica]

I was screaming at my monitor too have Twilight teleport to Spike, grab him. Then teleport somewhere else and get a grip of the world, or dream, or dream with in the dream. world. (Inception?)
Most stunning chapter yet. Worth the wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (spammed the key)