Act I: Chapter 5
Twilight's eyes snapped open out of reflex. The room was bathed in berry juice, the light from her horn nearly drowning out that from the lamps and windows. Her eyes rolled upward to see a hoof upon her horn, a hoof with a pale blue coat. She looked down into Rainbow's multi-colored gaze and let out a long breath. “Oh my stars,” she whimpered. “That was amazing.”
“Twilight, are you alright?” Rarity yelped. “What happened?”
“I saw it,” she breathed. “Rainbow...”
“T-Twilight,” her pegasus replied shakily. “I mean, uh...”
“It's everywhere!” Twilight allowed her spell to die and wiped her cannon across her forehead. “The magic is everywhere! I couldn't see a single part of your mind that wasn't under its influence.”
Rainbow leaned in to grip the unicorn around the barrel and Twilight unconsciously began stroking her shoulders and back. “I know,” she smiled. “Thank you, Miss Sparkle.” Twilight glanced down at her in confusion at the pegasus's words, as well as her own hooves' actions.
“So did you figure anything out, Twilight?” the wispy pegasus asked.
It took her a moment to organize her thoughts. “There's no way this is an average spell,” she said finally. “It's far too strong and far too complicated. Most unicorns couldn't hope to handle this much magic.”
“Most?” Rarity asked. “Could you?”
“Of course...” Twilight blinked. “Maybe.”
The other unicorn shared a look with her demure counterpart. “Who else?”
“I don't know anypony else in Ponyville with this much talent,” she shrugged. “If this is a simple casting, we're looking at a very powerful mage. If it was a ritual we would have seen signs of it. The scope...” She trailed off as Rarity's horn began to glow once more. “What are you doing?”
“I want to see it for myself,” Rarity frowned. Rainbow struggled as the glow surrounded her head once more, but she kept quiet. “I didn't feel the heat you spoke of, or see the–”
The five other ponies stared at Rarity, who sat perfectly still with her mouth half-open.
“Rarity?” Fluttershy asked. “You're not... overwhelmed too, are you?”
The pale pony's mouth closed as slowly as her eyes opened. “Twilight,” she said cautiously. “What did you do?”
The other unicorn shrugged. “I did the same thing you did,” she said. “The only difference was that I have enough experience with delving to see things more clearly.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Then why is the hypnotic effect much more prominent now than it was just a minute ago, hm?”
“What? It can't be!” Her horn flared to life.
“Don't,” Rarity barked. “Whatever you did, it made everything worse. I could feel it before I'd even entered!”
“But all I did was...”
“Rainbow Dash, tell me how you feel,” she said angrily. “What's changed?”
“I feel fine, Rarity,” she muttered, burrowing deeper into Twilight's side. “Jeez.”
“She looks pretty clingy to me,” Pinkie said. “Is that normal? I mean, it's normal for me, but I don't think it's normal for Dashie.”
“It's not,” Rarity snarled. “Something strengthened this spell and now she's even worse off than before.”
“What could have done that?” Applejack asked. “I don't see anypony using magic here but you two.”
“And it certainly wasn't me,” she declared with finality. “Where does that leave us?”
Twilight's mouth dropped open in shock. “I didn't do this!” she argued. “Even if I did, it was an accident.”
“Magical effects such as this are no accident, Twilight. The difference I felt was far too much to have been an accidental leak,” Rarity insisted.
“Wait, Rarity, it didn't have to be her!” Applejack exclaimed. “I bet there are plenty of ways it could've happened.”
“Maybe the enchantment just gets stronger over time!” the pink pony suggested.
“A spell cannot feed off of itself, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity argued. “The power has to come from somewhere... The unicorn who cast the spell, for instance.” She looked askance at Twilight. “I did not strengthen this spell, Twilight. What else could it have been?”
“Maybe it feeds off of Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy tried.
“But she's as energetic as ever.”
Twilight's hoof gripped her friend's fur. “Then...” It wasn't under the control of a spellcaster, or at least not a mortal one. She wasn't wearing any magical artifacts. There were no potions in her basement that would cause this kind of effect. What else could it have been? She could give them no answer but... “I... I don't know.”
“Twilight...” The pale unicorn's lips compressed into little more than a faint line. “I want to believe you, Twilight, but if it turns out you did this to Rainbow Dash, so help me...”
“Rarity!"” Twilight exclaimed in horror. “You can't possibly think I'm behind this!”
The other mare drew back and stared at the floor, ashamed to even entertain the idea. “I'm trying to think of another culprit, Twilight, but you must admit that the facts are not on your side.”
“Shoot, I know Twilight didn't do it,” AJ said confidently. “She's been our friend forever, it feels like. I think we'd know if she were like that. Right, Twi?”
“This is nothing short of the best frame job in the history of Equestria!” Pinkie Pie agreed.
Their moment of solidarity was followed on Rarity's part by a moment of hesitation. “Quite,” the unicorn muttered. She didn't sound convinced, but she forced a smile for Twilight's sake. “Well, Twilight, if you were set up by somepony–”
“Or something,” Pinkie added.
“–then they must have left a clue behind. The six of us will be sure to find it.”
“Alright! A mystery!” Pinkie pulled a magnifying glass from her back pocket dimension and winked at Rainbow through it. “Since I can't use magic, does that mean I have to be the sidekick this time?” she asked, unable to hide the disappointment in her voice.
“I'm afraid so, Pinkie Pie,” Twilight sighed. “Rarity and I will have to take the lead on this one.”
“No.”
Twilight snarled as the denial bounced along the walls of the basement. “Why not?”
Rarity cleared her throat. “Perhaps we believe you, Twilight, but there does seem to be a conflict of interest here, doesn't there?”
“Rarity,” Twilight began, her voice belying a dangerous level of fury barely held in check.
The other unicorn leaned back on her haunches and held up her forehooves. “All I'm saying is that if there is even a chance that you are behind this, the ponies of Ponyville would not appreciate you heading your own investigation, am I correct?”
“What do we care what they think?” AJ argued. “This is our friend we're talking about here!”
“This isn't a very official investigation,” Fluttershy added.
Rarity's lip curled. “Alright, I'll say it. It's not the rest of Ponyville that concerns me...” Rarity took a deep breath. “I'm not comfortable with it.”
Four ponies glared at her.
AJ scowled. “That was a downright nasty thing to say.”
“She's been one of your best friends for years!” Pinkie agreed.
Fluttershy just looked up at her with those big, sad green eyes. “You don't trust her?”
Rarity stared back at them all with an uncomfortable grimace. “No,” she said finally. “It's not that I don't trust her. I just... I don't trust the situation.” She spun to face her number-one suspect. “Twilight, please don't take this the wrong way. It's not you. I trust you, I do!” she insisted. “But... what if?”
“What if what?” Twilight replied coldly.
“Well, I... I don't know,” Rarity stammered. She let her mind drift away to find those dark thoughts she'd been trying so hard to ignore. “What if you... had a moment of weakness, and then repressed the memory?”
“What?!”
“What if you've snapped under the pressure of being Princess Celestia's protégée and, and the 'you' we know and love is only around sometimes, while at other times she is replaced by somepony like...” Rarity gestured at the air with her hooves... “that?”
“I do not have disassociative identity disorder,” she said heatedly. “I've undergone countless psychiatric evaluations, some of which I conducted myself, and the results of each of them assured me that I am as normal as anypony can be!”
Rarity couldn't hold back a sharp bark of laughter. “Do you expect me to trust the results of tests you conducted upon yourself?” Her eyes were wide with disbelief.
“No,” Twilight muttered. “I expect you to trust me.”
“But I do trust you,” she said hurriedly, but the end of her sentence faded as she paused to think the words over. “At least... I want to trust you.”
Twilight's muzzle crinkled. “You don't?”
“I...” She glanced at each of their friends in turn: stoic Applejack, cynical Rainbow Dash, eclectic Pinkie Pie and sophic Fluttershy. Each stared back with some degree of shock or disdain. “I'm not sure,” she said finally. “Things have never looked so grim, Twilight. I don't know what to think.”
Applejack proudly stuck her shoulder to Twilight's. “Well, I think Twilight's had our backs who knows how many times, and it's only right that we stick by her for this one.”
“Yeah, Rarity!” Pinkie agreed from her other side. “What if it really is the best frame job in the history of Equestria?”
Rainbow jumped up onto her love's back. Her burning eyes said more than any words could have. “I'm with Miss Sparkle, no matter what!” she exclaimed.
“See?” Twilight laughed. “The five of us are able to see through this trick. With the magic of friendship on our side, there's nothing that can stop us!” She closed her eyes and smiled as she basked in the warmth of a sudden group hug.
Rarity touched a hoof to her chin and raised an eyebrow at her friends. “I only see four ponies,” she said thoughtfully.
Five pairs of eyes swiveled to settle upon the forgotten pegasus, who had managed to sneak away and was silently staring up at the window. The pony in question glanced shyly back at them and shuffled her hooves, discomfited by the sudden weight of their stares.
“What do you think, Fluttershy?” the fashionista asked casually. “Do you think it's possible?”
“Um...”
“But Fluttershy,” pleaded the student, “you of all ponies should know I'd never hurt Rainbow Dash.”
“Oh, I do!” she said hastily.
Rarity stepped closer, filling the meek mare's vision. “But surely you have doubts?”
“Of course I do, Rarity,” she agreed.
Twilight pushed her rival aside. “You have no reason to doubt what I've said!” she said angrily. “You know me better than that, Fluttershy. I've always been a good friend to you.”
Fluttershy ducked behind her mane. “I know!” she whined.
“Well, which is it?” Rarity pressed.
Her wings shivered against her sides and once more she eyed the window. “U-um...”
“By Celestia's mane, Fluttershy!” Twilight raged. She trembled with poorly-contained fury. “Rainbow Dash has been enchanted by a pony of great power. What if she's not their only target? What if this is just the beginning?” she asked pointedly. “We can't know for sure how long we have before whoever it is comes back for their next victim. We can't afford to lose the power of the Elements of Harmony now!”
She blinked away a haze of tears. “I love you all so much, but... Oh, Twilight, this looks bad,” she breathed. “I don't know who's right. I wish I could decide, but I just can't...”
Twilight's head drooped to the floor. Applejack gave her a futile pat on the back, but there was only one thing that could make her feel better. “What can I do to convince you that I'm innocent?” she asked softly. “I'll do anything in my power.”
Fluttershy shifted her hooves. “I don't know,” she muttered. “I just want everything to go back to the way it was.”
“Don't we all,” Rarity said sadly. Rainbow cocked her head, suddenly looking pensive.
“Fine.” Twilight straightened her shoulders and turned away. “Mark my words, Fluttershy,” she said, her eyes burning with shame and fury. “Nothing good will come of our strife.”
The pegasus looked away. “We need help,” she squeaked. “We should talk to the Princess.”
Rarity nodded immediately. “That's a great idea. Surely Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will recognize this spell.”
“Good thinking, Fluttershy,” Twilight agreed hollowly. “They'll show you.”
“Then we'll have Spike send for them as soon as we can. I wonder who will volunteer this time, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity said with a smile.
“Good guess!” the pink filly said brightly. She turned and hopped up the stairs one by one. “Oh, Spi-iiike!” she called.
Fluttershy nodded. “But in the meantime I... well. I was hoping that, um...” She looked over at her prismatic counterpart, her childhood friend and occasional savior. “...that Rainbow Dash and I could have a nice, long talk.”
“I'm sure she wouldn't mind, would you, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked. Rainbow shook her head and smiled.
“A-alone,” the wispy pegasus clarified.
This time Rainbow Dash shook her head much more violently.
“Just for a little bit?” she tried. “A minute or two?” The more colorful pegasus just glared at her. “Okay,” she acquiesced. “I understand. I'll wait.”
“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said sharply. Her pegasus immediately turned her attention to Miss Sparkle. “Why don't you want to talk to Fluttershy?”
Rainbow shrugged. “I don't mind talking to her,” she said. “I mean, I like her and all. I just don't think it should be just the two of us.”
“Because?”
“Because I'd rather be with you!” she exclaimed. “I was waiting for you for a whole week and now she wants me to say goodbye again?” She paused to shift her attention, and an angry squint, to Fluttershy. “No way!”
“Rainbow Dash, talk to Fluttershy,” Twilight said firmly. Rainbow's eyes widened; they weren't the only ones. “Tell her anything she wants to know, but try your hardest to separate the truth from the lies.”
“Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity exclaimed breathlessly. “How dare you take advantage of her condition?”
“I want you to answer any questions our four friends have for you to the best of your ability.” Twilight grimaced. “And... And I want you to be careful from now on when you go outside. If anypony asks you to come with them alone, I want you to run it by me first.”
“Hold on there, Twi,” Applejack said hurriedly. “Don't you think you're taking it too far?”
“No, Applejack, I don't,” she spat. “I don't know whether this spell is the extent of the plans this enchanter has for her, but I want to be extra-careful just to be safe,” she explained. “Besides, Rarity and Fluttershy apparently don't feel that that can trust me. This way they know I'm not trying to hide anything.” She turned toward the two prim mares across the room. “There. Does that satisfy you?” she asked bitterly.
Suddenly Rarity was in her face, pushing her backward with a hoof to the shoulder. “This is not a game, Twilight.” Her eyes flashed.
Twilight opened her mouth, but shock made her tongue stumble. “Rainbow Dash, get away from her now!”
Rarity spun to find her muzzle less than an inch from her friend's furious snarl. The dressmaker squealed like a pig and nearly backed into Twilight.
Rainbow took a few steps back as well. “Don't ever treat Miss Sparkle like that,” the pegasus growled, her heterochromatic stare daring the unicorn to defy her. “Do it again and we're gonna have a problem.”
“But Rainbow Dash,” she sputtered.
The pegasus lowered her shoulders into prime pouncing position. “Are we cool, Rarity?”
“I said no!” her reluctant mistress said fiercely. “I don't care what that spell did to you. I will not let it tear the six of us apart, no matter what it does to my reputation. The six of us belong together, for the sake of Equestria!”
Rainbow straightened and scratched at the floor with a hoof. “I wasn't really gonna,” she confessed. “I just wanted to spook her a little.”
“No more,” Twilight demanded. “We are all friends here. I don't want any more drama or infighting than necessary.”
“Look at her, Twilight,” Rarity urged her, her voice trembling with adrenaline and emotion. “You're already controlling her. Why, you're making sure she can't function without you. What am I supposed to think?” she whimpered, her eyes misty. “I never wanted to say this, Twilight, but you are making it very hard for me to trust you!”
“I'm doing everything I can to prove my innocence!” she shouted. “How many times do I have to say it? Give me one good reason for you to believe that I'm the one who did this.”
“Everypony wait!”
A pink pony leaped down the stairs without touching down on a single one and landed heavily on the basement floor. “Look!” Pinkie Pie shrieked. She spun on her forehooves; there on her back was Ponyville's resident baby dragon, who stared at them with two violet eyes.
“Hi, everyone,” he said casually. “What's got Pinkie Pie so excited?”
“Twilight Sparkle!” Rarity shrieked. “You can't have!”
Twilight's vision went hazy.
“Oh no!” Fluttershy wailed.
“Spike!” Applejack cried. “Where did you find him? Did you see anypony else there?”
“No,” Pinkie sobbed. “He was just sitting at the table, eating a salad!”
“That... sounds normal,” Fluttershy said, confused.
Rarity shielded the babe's body with her own. “You monster!” she hissed, eyes wide and teeth bared. “What did you do to him?”
Twilight's lips and tongue felt numb. “I... nuh... no...” Her tail tucked itself between her legs.
“Tell me!”
Black spots danced before her. “No, no...” The world shook and suddenly she felt her gorge rising. “Spike...” There was no stopping it. She expelled the remains of her hummus and crackers onto the cold stone. “F-friends...” A thin rope of saliva dripped down onto the floor. Her legs shook violently; it took every ounce of strength she had not to collapse into her mess. “Why w-won't you let me h-help you?” she sobbed. “You're s'posed to be my friends!”
Warm hooves touched her sides and steered her away. Lost in a gray fog, Twilight let them guide her. Flights of stairs passed beneath her without notice and suddenly she was nestled in soft layers.
She felt somepony kiss her forehead. “Take it easy, Miss Sparkle,” her pegasus whispered. “Don't worry about anything. I'll clean up your mess and come back with some water, okay?”
Twilight squeezed her eyes shut and nodded. The hooves left her; reality soon followed.
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Nice to see how much of a bitch Rarity is. Not that she isn't right. Twilight shouldn't be apart of the investigation. It's how bias she's being. I wouldn't be surprised if this "investigation" turned into a witch hunt against Twilight, thanks to Rarity's involvement.
Then there's Twilight's reaction. While understandable being accused of something so heinous and believing you're not the culprit, would make you angry. However, her anger and forcefulness at trying to be apart of the investigation isn't helping prove her innocence. Particularly to Rarity.
Currently, Twilight is the only feasible suspect. However, this is no eveidence linking her. It points to her, but hasn't undeniable linked her.
Rarity I imagine is also a suspect with how forcefully she's pushing to lead the investigation. And possibly with how adamant she is in Twilight's uninvolvment with it as well.
is there a way i can get the same thing to happen to rarity her attitude is getting to me although maybe its part of the story
Wow, Rarity's cold here. Still, she is quite rational. And Twilight. Yes. Just yes
Hello, insanity.
-push-
Uhhh....I'm pretty sure you shouldn't trust the mental test you've done on Yourself. They could be incredibly inaccurate! Or done incorrectly!
So I'm guessing Twi either has MPD or what Rarity said wiped her mind of the memories.
Hate to be devil's advocate, but despite what you might think of Rarity's attitude towards this...she's absolutely right. Twilight should NOT be heading up her own investigation. They really need to contact Celestia and get her or Luna down there to handle it. However, up until the reveal with Spike, I think Twilight was just trying to help with things. It's unfortunate, but the only real way to get Dash to cooperate was for Twilight to order her to. But now with Spike possibly being under the same brainwashing, I dunno...
Rarity is actually the best one to handle the investigation when you think about it. She has the best eye for detail.
Yeah what the heck people, Rarity's the only one being reasonable out of them all!
while i do think that rarity is somewhat right, the way she's going about it is all wrong. twilight is all about logic, but she's also about friendship. the fact that rarity is outright saying that she believes that twilight could have done this (depending on if this is after the wedding) is probably hitting pretty close to a sore spot for her, except this time it's one of her friends who's turning everypony against her. if rarity had just stuck to facts and logic, then twilight would have gone along with it, albeit reluctantly. and as for why she's speaking to rainbow like she has been, it's not like she has much choice. if she doesn't control her while she's like this, then someone could get hurt, as was clearly shown when rainbow threatened rarity. it's like no one is thinking even remotely clearly in this situation. the only good idea they've had was bringing in the princesses.
4095977
Two words: Solitary Locust. And yes, thank you for suspecting Rarity.
4096073
Dissociative Identity Disorder. She said she did some of them herself. Rarity sniping a subset of the point does not equal the refutation of the point, but a weakening. What's to say Rarity isn't the one who did this?
See below:
4096442
Nope. Rarity = McCarthy. There's a scapegoat, due to the frame-up, and Rarity isn't allowing herself to admit any points or evidence that Twilight submits, simply because she is currently under suspicion. While Rarity's reaction is very understandable, once Spike enters the picture, she downright assaults Twilight. There is a conflict of interest with Rarity investigating as well, possibly even more so, given her reactions and conclusions so far. Why does Spike being brainwashed make it more likely that Twilight did it? All you have is another victim, not another clue. Rarity's emotional reaction is dangerous and reveals her true nature regarding her trust toward Twilight right now (here's a hint, it's nonexistent). Even if Twilight does have DID, Rarity's treating her dominant personality like she was the perpetrator. She's not being reasonable at all, and she's fucking inimical once Spike is revealed. Hell, she doesn't even know if Spike is brainwashed, just that his eyes are purple.
Fucking unforgivable. Their friendship should really cool a lot once this is all over. It would be very poignant if they were the only ones left at the end.
4096575
Twilight was going along with it even when Rarity was admitting that she didn't trust her. If they had just stuck to facts and logic, Twilight would have been sitting pretty. Because whoever did this was able to target Twilight, their best deductive mind is out of commission.
4096125
She's not absolutely right at all; she needs to be recused from the investigation herself.
4096742
Everyone's an armchair psychiatrist.
4096937
Iknorite!
I agree with you on all points so far.
With the ending of chapter five, this story has just passed beyond "hmm... interesting," and crossed the threshold of "holy shit this is amazing!"
Rarity's behavior felt a bit OOC and forced, although I can chalk that up to everypony being tense. Her role is also disproportionately large compared to the others, who all seem like they're just there for the sake of having the Mane Six in one room and nothing more. However, these minor nitpicks of mine are trivial compared to what it all built up to in this chapter. The atmosphere up to that point was tense and uncomfortable enough (in a good way), and that twist took me completely by surprise and hit me like a ton of bricks.
Can't wait to see where this is going!
A possible literary clue, everyone:
Oooooh, I just found this story now and read all the chapters in one go! I love the plot and can't wait for more!
Awww sheeeit
Can't wait to see where this goes.
Wow, one hundred comments... I'm so happy to have inspired such a thrilling debate! I wish I could join in, but that would defeat the purpose, haha.
4091574
I promise I'll have the next one up by the nineteenth.
How many villains can you count that started out as heroic figures before being corrupted by magic or technology of their own design?
Can't wait, huh... Think you can last two days?
4095977
Nopony acts their best when tensions run so high. While I can understand why some consider it OOC, I like to think that Rarity's behavior is simply a result of the strength of her feelings on the subject. Just what those feelings are, of course, is up for debate.
You know... In a situation like this, who isn't a suspect?
4095980
That's a popular concensus.
4095997 4096273 4096442
Don't be afraid to voice your opinion!
That's exactly how I see Rarity acting in a crisis. After she lets loose during the initial drama phase, she can keep her emotions out of the way until all is said and done. Her determination and eye for detail would make her an apt problem-solver, or problem-creator as the case may be.
Also, who's been downvoting every pro-Rarity comment?
4096073
It's Twilight, haha. Of course she tested herself. I don't think she'd even consider the possibility of bias.
MPD/DID seems pretty popular. That's all I can say at the moment.
4096125
Thank you so much. I was starting to worry even more about my portrayal of Rarity until I read this, but you're right; she, Twilight, and their friends are simply doing what they can to achieve their goals, whatever those goals may be. Whether she's being honest or not, Rarity has a solid reason behind her unwillingness to accept Twilight's help; the same goes for Twilight offering it.
4096575
Let's admit it. She may be a generous soul, but she is exciteable, prone to drama, and not very thoughtful. Yes, it's after the wedding, but who says Rarity would consider the last time she jumped to conclusions when faced with this kind of evidence? In fact, who says she even cares? Another point: if faced with a betrayal like this - one that may be a threat to your friends' lives as well as your own - would you be able to think clearly?
Of course she is. Does Rarity ever do something like this right the first time around?
Speaking of the timeline, there has been enough confusion that I think I should spell it out. This story occurs in the early spring, a few days before Hearts and Hooves Day. Twilight has been living in Ponyville for a year and a half to two years. As far as the show's episodes are concerned, there are only a few from the first three seasons that haven't happened yet: 'Wonderbolts Academy', 'Just for Sidekicks', 'Games Ponies Play', 'Spike at Your Service', 'Keep Calm and Flutter On' and 'Magical Mystery Cure'. I hope that clears things up!
4096742
We all have opinions, and hers are just louder than others'. I'm sure you've dealt with the type before.
I'm with RazzleDazzle on this one.
4096903
Think of it from her point of view. Spike was fine before he left with Twilight, and when they came back a week later he was like that. Depending on whose side you're on (if you can even pick sides), Rarity has either a new reason to believe Twilight has cracked or the perfect excuse to frame her. Besides, everypony knows how Rarity feels about Spike, so it wouldn't be far-fetched for the rest of the Mane Six to assume that Spike's change would hit her even harder than Rainbow's.
She's the only other unicorn there. If they're going to try to keep things from spiraling into a panic, they have to bring in as few outsiders as possible until the Princesses arrive. Dropping both unicorns from their circle would cripple the investigation.
) You seem like a pony of taste, so if it's as good as you seem to say then I'll have to bump it higher on my reading list!
It's obvious that Rainbow thinks she is Twilight's. I'll let you infer what Twilight thinks of that as it progresses.
Oh, and I had planned to read 'Solitary Locust' whenever I get some free time. (April if I'm lucky.
4096937
Aww, thanks! I don't know if it's all that, but I'm glad I could entertain you.
Don't worry, I feel the same way about these little complaints. I understand why you think as you do about Rarity, but let's just say that I hope it will seem less OOC when her reasons become clear. As for the others... Well, I can't really specify, but it's true that Rarity is currently the most important character in Twi's and RD's inner circle.
As for the rest, I'm glad you like it so much! I hope the rest of the story is as satisfying.
4097228
Who do you think would win in a knife-fight, Norman or Twilight?
4097267
Thanks, Spectrum! I think I'll have the next chapter ready to post on the nineteenth. I don't know how much longer I can keep up this pace, but I'll do my best to stay on it!
4097906
I just hope the twist isn't going to be that Twilight has been manipulating all of them all along (making Rarity much more aggressive, for example, which would turn the rest of the Mane Six against her and distract them from Twilight, etc.) Isaac Asimov has already done that before.
4097906
I can't wait for the next chapter... And the next... And the next...
Spike was with Twilight while they were gone? *rereads* Okay. So, Spike may or may not be brainwashed. The purple eye thing, which changed both of Spike's eyes, happened between Twilight and Spike entering the library and Spike showing up here. Spike disappeared mysteriously when they entered the library and only resurfaced now.
I could give a full analysis of all of the characters, their behavior, events that can be taken as evidence, and speculation as to what the phenomenon is exactly, but that would take way too much time for my taste. Have some corrections instead:
The only difference was that I have enough experience with delving
rested/rest her head in her hooves
Whelp, Rarity's officially been upgraded to cunt status.
I am 100% certain that this version of Twilight didn't do it. You can't fake passing out from shock. They need to get the Princesses involved now. I doubt Spike being brainwashed changes the fact he can still communicate with Celestia. If it does, get AJ or Pinkie--or, hell, make it a road trip and get everybody to go--on that train immediately and wait for Celestia to pop in. Shouldn't take more than a day. You can wait a day before you start building the gallows, can't you, Rarity? Just don't let her be the one to write the letter, since she's going full on Admiral Satie.
I'm starting to suspect Rarity. She's the one who's ready to lynch Twilight. She's the one who's so vehement in her accusations with evidence that wouldn't make it past a grand jury. She's the one who probed Dash's mind first, before then declaring the spell "strengthened." She's the one who lead th charge against using a neutral, objective piece of instrumentation to test Dash with. She's the one closest to Spike. She's the one who's an expert of manipulation and acting. She's also the one who can be extremely petty and jealous.
What a strange thing for the omniscient third-person narrator to say...
4096903
Maybe so, but Rarity IS right in that Twilight should not be heading an investigation into a crime in which she is the prime suspect! Frame up job or not, all the current evidence, even circumstantial as it may be, all points to Twilight.
4097906
i like to think that i would. would i be freaked out? yes. but if anything, the idea of my friend being blamed for something so horrible would be the only thing on my mind, and would drive me to find the person (pony) responsible. honestly, i don't think the idea of them doing it would ever cross my mind. and that's without the whole 'elements of harmony' thing!
4097931
If I stole a plot twist, it wouldn't be from Asimov. I'd rather borrow from Heinlein or Vonnegut.
4098004
Thanks for the heads-up! The typo has been fixed. The second one, though, is what I meant to say. It's difficult to express things like Rainbow Dash lying on her stomach, forehooves together and bent at the pastern joints to support her chin - you know, the stereotypical nineties teen girl slumber party pose - smoothly.
4098161
Indeed!
Everything said here was well thought-out and I can't fault your logic aside for the minor point of AJ having been the one to decide against testing Rainbow Dash. Rarity is pushing hard enough in this investigation that for all we know, she might have said nothing if AJ hadn't interrupted the test.
I'll admit that I dip in and out of various ponies' points of view as I write different scenes. Depending on the occasion, it might have been Dashie's influence and it might have been Twilight's.
4098233
Agreed. It would be nonsensical to let the prime suspect of their investigation lead it.
4099500
But as far as I know, you don't have a reputation for being as unstable as our Twilight Sparkle. It's rather more believable of somepony who has been proven to take extreme and sometimes morally-ambiguous measures to solve simple problems.
4099819
They're not that old. Hay, RD's not even eighteen.
4100085
That was not intentional. 
My brain is a jerk.
Maybe it's too obvious...
...or maybe it's not! I don't know what to think!
Someone might be trying to put the blame on her... or maybe you're trying to hide the obvious answer: that it is her.
URG! STOP! DON'T TOY WITH MY THOUGHTS LIKE THAT!
4101702
Haha... I'm a bad pony. Or maybe I'm not!
Oh, and I just wanted to say...
Celestia's beard, I hate writing this story from Fluttershy's point of view. I hate it so much. She says so little that every scene reads like a laundry list of Things Fluttershy Did Today. It's unpleasant to write and it's unpleasant to read. I know it's possible to write a good Fluttershy story, but this one just isn't it.
Graaaaagh!
/vent
Don't worry, Eepysqueak, I still wub you.
4104613
I'll do my best! Bear with me during these difficulties, whether technical or simply the what-am-I-even-doing kind.
4104640
That's exactly how I'm feeling right now. Well, look at that, my ten minutes are up. Bah! Bah, I say! I'm out to lunch. I'll fix it, I promise.
4104664
Let's see if she knows the Five D's.
I for one, want Twilight to be the culprit. It would certainly make things quite interesting...
i´m a bit late to the party, so a good old fashioned MOAR!!
will have to do
4096073 SOME of which I conducted on myself.
See the big word in capitals?
That disproves what you said.
4104827 It is not specified which tests she performed on herself and wether on not she went to a psychiatrist. For all we know, Spike could of helped perform some tests on her.
so don't be so quick to act like an ass.
4104884 Im not.
This is acting like an ass.
Lel 1v1 me IRL n00b do u even lift brah?
4104890 in your comment you basically said
'I'm right, you're wrong, shut up'
If you actually would read the authors response to my comment
4104716
Maybe I'll revisit it later or write some AU oneshots! Hay, maybe I'll inspire other authors to do the same. I wouldn't mind.
I think that many of the theories posted here in the comments, close to the story's outcome or not, are quite interesting. I can see all kinds of side stories spawning from almost any outcome.
4104767
I'm doing my best, faithful reader! The sixth chapter will return to the interwebs today, no matter what.
4104884 4104890
Everypony follows their own logic to their own conclusions. Pitting your theories against others' can be a lot of fun, but let's try to remain civil while we do it. We're all here for the same reason.
4105171 to find out who the true psychopath is and solve this infuriating riddle!
I wouldn't be so angry if he had worded his comment differently, but he didn't
4105171
4105201
His first reply was phrased in a somewhat combative manner, sure, but so were your rebuttal and post I quoted. Neither of you is in the right here. Why don't we just drop it for now and resolve to keep our tempers in check next time?
4105329
Aww! Your comments always cheer me up. Um... I'm not sure what I did to deserve that, but thanks all the same!
4105334
You have the potential to become a much greater author than you already are.
Just don't get a swelled head.
Y'know, no pressure.
4105341
The highest of praise. Thank you so much!
As for me ending up with a swelled head... I'm too insecure to have that much of an ego!
4105443
Really? Because me and my stories are pretty much wrestling opponents at this point.
Just putting that out there.
So yeah...
I'm leaving now.
I'm just gonna say, Rarity is a fucking bitch. I can understand Fluttershy, but Rarity? While I admit that Twilight does seem really suspicious in all of this, Rarity is awfully quite quick to judge. Being friends with somebody for years (months? i'm honestly not sure how long they've been friends), and suddenly turning against them over a situation that they barely know anything about yet, doesn't seem like a good "friend" to me, more or less an element of "harmony". She is practically bullying and backing Twilight in a corner, like I just said earlier, over a situation they barely know anything about yet. Funny how Rarity is one of my favorite characters in the show, but yet I severely despise her in this story to the point where I just want somebody to punch her in the face and tell her to shut the fuck up.
Celestia that's an amazing word.
Anyway, the emotions in this chapter are extremely prevalent. I know that when different ponies read, they are more strongly moved by different aspects of the story. Perhaps it could be the action and suspense, or the sights, sounds, and smells. For me, it's the emotion. This chapter, especially the ending, hit me like an emotional train. Good on you, Adda. Good on you.
Maybe it pulled magic directly from Twilight? And there's no doubt that Twilight herself was affected (infected?) by it. I might be starting to see where this is really going...
I'm conflicted. Part of me wants to think of Rarity as being OOC in her doubts towards Twilight... but the other part of me says that if anypony were to doubt, it would be her.
Okay, so Spike has also been... whatever-ed just like Rainbow. And Twilight just spent a week in Canterlot.
...
Holy shite, if this means what I think it means...
4947325 Good point. How do we know that Twilight isn't under the spell? The signs we can see are that it turns peoples eyes the exact same color hers already are. What if somepony got to her and put a compulsion for her to be a suspicious as possible, and actually help frame herself? Or they could've even just brainwashed her into actually doing it!
5412573
Actually, I rather think Twilight is under a spell. Remember how hypnotic she found the inside of Rainbow's mind? It makes me rather inclined to think that A) she isn't the original culprit and B) she's no longer trustworthy.
they
___________
8619443
Good catch! Thanks.
If you don't mind me asking, what is it that keeps bringing you back to Miss Sparkle? I'm not saying I have any particular reason for asking, haha... For now, let's just call it curiosity.