Twilight's castle was soon in eyesight. Sweetie Belle glanced to the ground, a sad look plaguing her face.
"Sweetie, darling, are you alright?" Rarity asked as Sweetie looked up to her.
"Is that even a question? Rarity, I figured out my life's a lie. And I'm alright with it!" Sweetie responded sarcastically as her ears folded back on her head.
Rarity tried to speak, but a lump in her throat prevented her. "Okay..." she finally got out as she approached the stairway to Twilight's castle.
Rarity knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked harder.
"I'm coming! Hold on!" A voice from inside called. The door was opened by Spike, who gazed up at Rarity.
"Oh... Rarity! What are you doing here? Do you want some tea?" Spike asked as Rarity smiled down at him.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I need Twilight to take a look at Sweetie Belle," Rarity responded as Spike got a caring look in his eyes.
"Oh! Is she hurt?" He asked as Rarity thought.
"Well... I don't think so..." She then looked around the main room of the castle. "Where is Twilight?"
"Oh, she's reading on her throne. I suppose you want to see her," Spike responded as he held the door open for the two.
"Thanks, Spikey!" Rarity remarked, causing Spike to flush.
"Uh... no problem!" He responded as Rarity and Sweetie Belle waved to him and continued their walk to the throne room.
They opened the doors to find Twilight deeply interested in a book. The alicorn continued to read the words, even though the door had loudly opened.
"Twilight?" Rarity questioned as Twilight kept her nose in the book.
"Yes?" Twilight asked as Rarity walked over to her.
"I-I need you to help with Sweetie Belle," she then turned to Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie, darling, be a dear and shut the doors?"
Sweetie nodded and lit up her horn. The handles of the doors became engulfed in a light green glow before the doors closed.
This caused Twilight to finally look up from her book. "What do you need? And why is it so secretive that you shut the doors?" Twilight asked as she levitated the book away from her, giving the two her full attention.
"Well, Twilight, darling, you see..." Rarity looked over at Sweetie Belle; who covered her face with her hooves as she sat on Applejack's throne.
"I-I can't say it, Rarity," Sweetie responded, putting her hooves on the map. She looked away, almost feeling ashamed.
"Alright, darling," Rarity responded as she got a stern look on her face. "Twilight."
"Yes?" Twilight asked, looking into Rarity's eyes.
"Sweetie Belle claims she's..." she lowered her tone a bit, "a changeling."
Twilight gasped. "What?!" She remarked, immediately walking over to Sweetie Belle. "Why? When did this happen? How did this happen? Sweetie, please tell me!" Twilight remarked; causing Sweetie to nervously back away.
"Well... I was thinking how cool it would be to be a dragon... Spike, in particular."
"And...?" Twilight asked, looking into Sweetie Belle's eyes.
"I just... I don't know... transformed into him."
Twilight stood in silence for a moment. "This doesn't... make any sense!" Twilight then lit up her horn. In front of her appeared paper and a quill, and some books on changeling history.
"Sweetie Belle, can you show me the transformation?" Twilight questioned as she levitated the quill with her magic.
"Um... of course!" Sweetie responded as she thought of her sister. She imagined her purple, curly mane and white coat, along with her lapis color eyes. She soon felt a heat around her and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she was the size of her sister. She looked to the side to see a purple, curly mane cascading down her neck.
Twilight looked at her, her pupils small and jaw hung open. She shook her head. "I-I don't believe what I'm seeing..."
Sweetie's ears folded back. She engulfed herself in the light again and shrunk, becoming herself again.
"Twilight? Do you think I am really a changeling? Or have changeling genes in my family tree?" Sweetie asked as Twilight opened the books she had; her pupils still very small.
"Sweetie, I don't have an answer for that. I don't think it's possible to inherit the changeling powers without being an actual changeling."
Sweetie looked down to the ground. "Oh..." She replied. Sweetie shut her eyes, trying not to let the tears fall. She didn't like the idea of being a changeling. Everypony was scared of changelings ever since the invasion. What would she do if ponies at school found out? She lifted her head up and wiped her eyes.
Rarity seemed to sense her distress. "Is there any way we can help her, Twilight? Help find out if she's actually a changeling?"
Twilight looked over to her friend with a look of sympathy. "I don't think so." She paused for a moment. "Well, the only way to figure it out would be to ask Queen Chrysalis herself. She should know about the changeling inheritance."
Rarity's eyes widened. She looked down to the ground, thinking for a moment.
"Rarity, please tell me you're not going to do what I think you're going to do!" Twilight remarked as Rarity looked up at her.
"It's the only way I could save Sweetie Belle from the thoughts of her being a monster. Maybe I could find a way to remove her changeling inheritance. Or, ask if there's any way to cover it up," Rarity responded as she got a determined look on her face. Twilight stepped closer to her.
"Rarity, Queen Chrysalis would never tell you something like that! If anything, she'll just feed off of you!" Twilight remarked as Rarity looked to the ground.
"That's a risk I'll have to take..."
"What?! Rarity!" Sweetie remarked. Rarity turned to find her sister behind her. "You're going to go to the ends of Equestria... for me?!"
Rarity nodded. She crouched down to Sweetie Belle's level. "Of course. I am now curious to see if a changeling is in our family tree somewhere. And, I have to find a way to help you."
"I'm not sure you should do this, Rarity..." Twilight remarked as Rarity looked back to her.
"Twilight, darling, I'll be fine. I just don't know where changelings would live..."
Twilight thought as a realization quickly popped into her head. "Discord!"
"What?" Rarity questioned as Twilight smiled.
"What? Me? Help Rarity find Queen Chrysalis?!" Discord remarked as Twilight nodded.
"Yep! You could help her find the changeling hive."
Discord let out a heavy sigh. "But... I planned to have a tea party with Fluttershy this weekend! I even made the perfect dessert!" He then looked Twilight in the eye. "You wouldn't want me to not serve something I've worked so hard on for Fluttershy, would you?"
Twilight backed away and got a small glare in her eye. "Well... I'm not saying that..."
"Then why are you asking me to help?" He then looked over at Rarity. "I think the better question is: Why do you want to see Queen Chrysalis?"
Sweetie Belle looked down to the ground. "I'm a changeling..." she admitted, causing Discord to poof up a cup of water and do a spit-take.
"What?!" Discord remarked as he took a step away.
Rarity nodded. "It's true. So, long story short, I need you to lead me to where the changeling hive is. I need to figure out this mystery. There could be a changeling in our bloodline!"
Discord sighed. "Alright, fine. I understand. Just... let me tell Fluttershy I won't make it for the tea party this week."
Rarity nodded. "Alright. I'll meet you in Twilight's castle; 8:00 sharp tomorrow morning."
Discord looked down at Rarity. "That's extremely early... but I guess it'll just have to do. I'll see you tomorrow!" Discord responded as he teleported himself to Fluttershy's house.
Sweetie Belle nudged Rarity. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Rarity nodded. "I'm committed now, Sweetie. Let's go home. Most likely, I won't be able to see you in a few weeks once I leave."