The bed was cold. She must not have been there long.
Aside from that, Twilight had no idea where she was. The air smelled familiar, like sweat and stale parchment; the lighting was soft and yet harsh at the same time. She remembered nothing of a trip to any white-walled buildings. In fact, she was supposed to be in the forest... because...
“Welcome back, Twilight,” a white figure said.
“Rarity?”
“Not quite...”
She blinked a few times as her eyes focused. Clarity came slowly to her vision as well as her thoughts. A hat, a hat with... red. “Redheart,” she mumbled.
“Yes, that's me,” the nurse said uneasily. “Hold still.”
Suddenly she was struck with a memory. Twilight struggled to rise against bonds she couldn't see. “Applejack?”
“Easy, Twilight! Just lay back.” Redheart looked into her right eye, then her left. “You were hit very hard. I don't believe you have a serious concussion, but you might experience some dizziness or headaches all the same.”
“She hit me,” the unicorn groaned. “Rarity!”
“Yes, Twilight,” Rarity admitted from the corner of the room. “I did strike you.” Her voice was shaking with emotion. “You tried to strangle Applejack. I am not sorry.”
“I didn't try–”
“We don't have time for this,” Rarity muttered. “Are you sure she's alright?”
“She looks fine to me.” Redheart turned away from her patient. “I'd better check on Applejack.”
“Please,” the unicorn said with a shallow nod. “I'll take it from here.” The nurse nodded to Rarity, frowned nervously at Twilight and then took her leave through a doorway set... set in a wall of steel bars spaced a hoofwidth apart.
“Are we in a holding cell?” Twilight asked incredulously.
“Where else does one keep a criminal?” Rarity sniped.
She watched the nurse leave with a curious expression. She'd been acting strange, Twilight was sure. “What'd you tell her?” she asked the other unicorn.
“Everything.” Rarity showed no remorse. “We can trust her to remain silent until the Princesses arrive, although I'm not sure that it's a necessary precaution any longer.”
“But–”
“I've heard enough of your denials for one day, Twilight Sparkle,” the other unicorn interrupted as she rose from her position on the floor. “Off of the bed. We have to meet the Mayor.”
Her instinct to argue was dashed as light appeared at the end of her tunnel. “The Mayor!” Twilight sang as she hopped from the bed. A sudden wave of dizziness wasn't enough to stay her optimism. “Wonderful! I'm sure she'll understand.”
“Yes, I'm sure she will,” Rarity agreed darkly. “Come along.”
The two unicorns left the cell without looking at each other. Rarity, for her part, simply couldn't. Twilight was too busy staring from side to side, inspecting the other cells. “I recognize this place,” she said finally. “We're in the cells beneath the town hall.”
A sniffle caught her ear and her head twisted to the left. There in the cell was a young orange truant with a flaming red mane and breath like a bottle of cider left open for a week. She was staring up at Twilight as if she was the filly's last hope. “I'm sorry, okay?” she whimpered. “Please let me out.”
Twilight's shoulders slumped. “I'm sorry. I can't.”
The filly's horn sparked fitfully as she chased the two unicorns along the bars. “But my mom'll kill me if she finds out!”
“You should have thought of that before you did... whatever it is that you did,” Rarity said firmly.
“Whad habbed, Dwilighd?”
Twilight jerked at the toneless inquiry and turned slowly to the cell ahead and to the right of them. There a winged charcoal-gray stallion stood staring down at her. There was a thick layer of bandages across his nose. Twilight knew him rather well, and now he'd seen her here, in this place...
She hung her head in shame.
“Don't you have enough to worry about, Thunderlane?” Rarity said sharply. “By the looks of things, that broken nose is the least of your troubles.”
He retreated hastily to his cot. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
“Please?” the filly called pitifully.
They couldn't reach the door soon enough.
Once through, Rarity immediately directed her through another door on her left, “Through here,” she commanded.
Twilight's ears fell. “Can't we do this in the Mayor's office?”
“No, Twilight, we can't,” she said sternly. “Go on.”
Twilight closed her eyes and placed a hoof to her chest. In one smooth motion she pushed out her breath, her foreleg and her negativity. “I can do this,” she encouraged herself in a whisper.
She crossed into the room, one she'd entered a time or two before. This time was very different. The interrogation room was a small chamber sparsely decorated with bookshelves and filing cabinets. A table wide enough for two on either side stood at its center; Twilight's hooves almost took her to the place she had stood those times before.
“The other side, please.”
She circled around the table with trepidation. “You're not going to...?”
“I am,” Rarity confirmed as she shut the door behind her. “Hooves on the table.”
There was no use in fighting. Twilight placed her forehooves delicately on its surface and waited with eyes averted. Two chains lifted from where they dangled beside the legs of the table. The cuffs at their ends swung open and swiftly snapped shut above Twilight's pasterns. “Is this really necessary?” she asked sadly.
“I don't want you escaping,” Rarity said with a waggle of a hoof. “I know you could very well overpower me, but even you would have trouble getting out of those cuffs afterward.”
Twilight let her hooves down. The chains tightened and dug into her flesh, but an hour's discomfort now was better than a sore back later. “I won't fight you, Rarity.”
“How do you know?” Rarity said pointedly. “You may be skilled at this little act, but I've seen you snap before. I don't want you running about if you're going to do something you'll regret.”
“I won't snap!” she insisted.
“Says the psychopath who tried to choke her friend to death not eight hours ago,” Rarity scoffed.
Twilight threw her hooves into the air, or as far as the chains would let her. “I am not a psychopath! If you knew anything about psychopathy, you'd realize that your claim is simply ridiculous!”
“Ridiculous, eh?” Rarity repeated, her eyelids drooping in feigned disinterest. “I think the only one here worthy of ridicule, dear Twilight, is you. You were so proud of yourself for what you did to Rainbow, weren't you?”
“I didn't do anything to her! Somepony else did this and they're trying to frame me!”
“Oh, please,” she scoffed. “I almost fell for your act before, but Applejack's story has torn the wool from my eyes.”
“What?” she asked, elated by the news and crushed by its implications. “Applejack's okay?”
“She's more than okay, no thanks to you and your poorly-hidden attempt at, shall we say, tying up loose ends.” Her mouth twisted in distaste. “For that, Twilight Sparkle, you deserve everything that's coming to you.”
Twilight frowned worriedly. “Can I speak to her?”
“Oh, you will,” Rarity said with a fiendish smile, “but I imagine Redheart's remaining examinations will take some time...”
The door crashed open and bounced off of the wall and the doorway was filled with an angry orange tower of hatred with a shaggy blond lion's mane.
“You heartless, gutless filly!” Applejack howled. She launched herself at her friend, only to be caught by the tail in midair. Twilight jerked away but the chains around her wrists left her no chance to run. The farmer's hooves slammed into the floor and scrabbled for purchase as she tried to force herself onward. “I'm gonna murder you!” she roared, her brilliant emerald eyes burning in their sockets. “See how you like it!"
“Applejack,” Rarity smiled. “Punctual as always.”
Twilight looked up at her friend's writhing fury from behind the weak defense of her hooves. “Applejack, wait!” she begged. "I don't know what you think happened, but I promise I would never have done that to you!"
"Don't you start making excuses now!” she barked, settling onto her hooves and straining to take a forceful step forward. “I broke that spell of yours. You ain't gonna fool me twice."
“Then tell me what you remember,” Twilight pleaded. “If we just talk it over, I'm sure we'll be able to find out the truth!”
“I ain't wasting my breath,” the other mare sneered. “You know what you did and you ain't getting away with it. If Rarity ain't gonna let me at you myself, then I'll just have to wait for the Mayor to do it for me.”
“There's going to be a trial?”
The unicorn in the corner let out a short burst of mirthless laughter. “Of course there will be a trial. Applejack and I respect Equestria's legal system.”
“But the Princesses–”
“Will judge you themselves,” Rarity clarified. “Mayor Mare is simply coming because we need her approval to lock you away until then.”
“No! You don't have to do that!” Twilight yelped. “I can't help you if I'm in prison!”
“Nor can you hurt anypony.”
“I'll stay in the Boutique,” she offered instead. “Lock the doors and windows if you want.”
“I know you can teleport,” Rarity reminded her.
Twilight pushed on. “If I need a book I'll ask Applejack or Fluttershy to get it. You can lock Rainbow and me in separate rooms if you want. We won't even see each other!”
“If we ever find that mare, that is,” Applejack pouted. “Last anypony saw of her was when she barged in here and started yelling at the Mayor.”
“She's missing?” Twilight cried. “Has anypony checked the basement? Was she taken?”
“Nah, she flew off by herself, screaming bloody murder.” Applejack rubbed her neck. “Not before starting a few fights trying to get you out. You really did a number on her, Twi.”
“But whoever hurt the three of you is still out there and they might have Rainbow Dash!”
The crack of Rarity's hoof against the tile silenced her. “That's enough, Twilight. Applejack, Fluttershy and I have seen enough to make our decision. We have to do this, for your sake.”
“Listen to me, Applejack,” Twilight pleaded. “You're the bravest, most stouthearted pony I've ever met. If I was trying to cast a spell this complicated, you would have noticed in plenty of time to stop me!”
“Perhaps she could have, had you not been able to take advantage of her condition.”
Twilight looked from one to the other in confusion. “What condition?”
Applejack glowered at Rarity.
Twilight's mouth fell open. “You did drink last night! I knew it!”
“Don't you go thinking that's your ticket out of here!” the farmer grumbled. “My memory's just fine.”
She fought to hold back a relieved chuckle. “I'm sorry, AJ, but how can we consider you a reliable witness?”
“Look,” she said sternly. “I might have a few black spots from before I passed out, but I remember every little thing after you woke me up.”
“You could be remembering a nightmare!”
“Horseapples!” she swore. “I was so darn blackout drunk I didn't have any dreams!”
“That will not help your case,” Rarity whispered.
Applejack laid her ears back. “Hush, you.”
“Even if they weren't a dream, they could still be false,” Twilight tried. “I'm sure a unicorn with this kind of power over the mind could create and implant false memories.”
Applejack pointed a hoof at her eyes. “Do these look purple to you?” she asked. “I said I broke the spell, and I mean I broke it.” She settled onto her haunches with a little smile of satisfaction. “Everything I feel and everything I remember is real, and I remember you, Twilight. You ain't getting around this one, not after trying to do me in like that.”
Twilight folded her hooves on the tabletop and fell into them. “When is Mayor Mare coming?” she said, her voice low and hopeless. “Hasn't Pinkie come back with the Princesses?”
“I have to know one thing, Twi,” the farmer said suddenly. “Why?”
The unicorn looked up at her friend with one eye. “I don't understand.”
Applejack's glare grew darker. “You know what I mean. How come you didn't just talk to us? Why'd you have to use magic?”
“I di–”
“If you wanted Rainbow to be your fillyfriend, all you had to do was ask her.” Applejack's eyes shone with tears but her cheeks were flushed with fury. “She told me she was kinda into you for a bit there.”
Twilight's head jerked up. She stared at Applejack with disbelief scrawled across her eyes.
“Wouldn't have been too far-fetched for her to say yes to a date,” she muttered. “You didn't even try. You just had to use your magic to solve yet another problem when a little chat would've done just fine.”
“I... She likes me?” she said softly. “Why?”
The earth pony laughed. “Don't matter now, does it?” she said hopelessly. “You broke her. Now you're the only pony she'll ever get to lay eyes on, just like you wanted.”
Twilight licked her lips. “But I don't love Rainbow.”
“Yeah,” Applejack agreed, the words dripping with scorn. “I'd say that's pretty obvious.”
“One doesn't love a toy,” Rarity muttered. “One simply plays with it until they get bored. Is that why you moved on to Spike?” she asked. “Boredom?”
Twilight let her head fall back onto her hooves. “Why am I even talking to you?” she said bitterly. “You won't listen to a word I say.”
“Because they are lies!” she hissed. “I will listen when you feel ready to tell us the truth!”
“I am telling the truth!” Twilight shouted. “If I was going to try to kill Applejack, wouldn't I have done it more quietly?”
“But then we wouldn't know who killed her,” Rarity argued.
“Exactly!”
“And you are too proud a pony to allow that,” she continued. “You love showing off, don't you, 'Miss Sparkle'?”
“You should've seen her laughing,” AJ shuddered. “Creepiest darn thing I ever seen.”
“I'm sure,” her friend agreed. “Well, Twilight, who's laughing now?”
“That's crazy!” their suspect cried.
“Nuh-uh, you are!” Applejack barked.
“Oh, how would you know what really happened?” Twilight snarled. “You were drunk!”
“I am the Element of gosh-darn Honesty!” she roared, flinging spittle over her friend's muzzle. “Truth is what I do!”
“What does that even mean?!”
Applejack's eyes narrowed. “It means I ain't buying none of your lies!”
“Wait!” a firm voice cried from the doorway. “Stop this now!”
The mares froze in place. “Mayor Mare,” Rarity said pleasantly.
Applejack drew back and blew her mane out of her eyes. “Evening, Mayor.”
“Rarity, I could believe this of you, but Applejack!” the earth pony cried. “How can you of all ponies jump to conclusions? Twilight Sparkle has always been one of Ponyville's finest!”
“You kidding?” the farmer yelped. “I ain't jumping to conclusions, Mayor! I broke the spell she had on me. I remember everything!”
The Mayor was taken aback. “What do you remember that could convince me to imprison of one of my most celebrated citizens?”
Applejack threw a hoof at the unicorn chained to the table. “I remember Twi here finding me in the barn and casting a spell on me that made me do what she wanted me to. Didn't Fluttershy tell you what she did to me?”
“You mean sending you into the forest?”
“Hay yeah, and having me tie myself to a tree,” she exclaimed. “And then she had the guts to try and strangle me in front of everypony!” She shuddered at the feeling of ropes tightening around her neck. “I could have died.”
“You very nearly did,” Rarity added.
“See?” Applejack snarled.
“But I didn't do that,” Twi said again. “It was somepony else.”
“No, Twi, it wasn't,” Applejack growled. “I remember it plain as day.”
“But I don't know any magic that can influence a pony's actions like this!” she insisted.
“What about the parasprites?” Rarity said vindictively.
Twilight glowered at her. “I said a pony!”
Applejack silenced her with a deep frown. “Horseapples,” she said again. “You said it was a... a variety of the Want-it Need-it spell.”
Mayor Mare flinched.
“Variation,” Rarity muttered.
“Sounds about right to me,” AJ concluded.
The Mayor wrung her hooves. “Are you quite sure?”
Twilight raised her hooves to her. “That doesn't make any sense!”
“Oh, please,” the other unicorn drawled. “It makes perfect sense. How difficult could it be to take a spell that causes mindless attraction to the object it is cast upon, and turn it into one that causes an only slightly moderated attraction to the caster? It would be child's play for you.”
Twilight opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She couldn't deny that it was possible.
“Mayor Mare, I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Twilight Sparkle is not the mare you think she is,” Rarity said certainly.
Twilight put her head in her hooves and let out a long groan. “Not this again.”
“That mare is nothing short of a dangerous psychopath,” she continued, “and she must be dealt with before she hurts anypony else. Why, if she was free to roam Equestria once more, would you expect her to stop at three victims?”
“If I was a psychopath, how could I be the keystone of the Elements of Harmony?” Twilight argued. “Their power is fueled by the magic of friendship, which is something a psychopath could never feel!”
“I won't argue the fact that you understand friendship, just as I'm sure Applejack understands how an apple tree bears fruit,” she said with a shrug. “That doesn't mean you truly feel them.”
“That's nonsense!” she exclaimed. “The Element wouldn't have chosen me if I hadn't understood friendship as well as I do.”
“Twilight, you'd had no friends at all until less than a day before the Elements appeared to us,” her opponent said victoriously. Twilight's ears drooped. “Obviously the magic isn't that picky. We were simply in the right place at the right time.”
The Mayor looked from one unicorn to another, aghast. “Are you insinuating that the Elements of Harmony could fall into the hands of an evil pony?” she asked nervously.
“I don't know,” Rarity muttered, “and I don't intend to give her a chance to find out.”
Twilight took a moment to organize her thoughts. “But... But Elements notwithstanding, there are plenty of other reasons I couldn't be a psychopath,” she insisted. “A psychopathic mind is different in many ways from that of the average pony. In 'The Cloak of Sanity' by Hervey Hockley - one of the most respected and influential books on the subject, I might add...” She sat comfortably and fell into the calm and careful tones of a lecturer. “...the author asserts that a psychopath shows an absence of nervousness or irrational thinking, traits that she and I do not share if my recent episode with the Want-it Need-it spell is any indication. She's unreliable, untruthful and insincere–”
“Well,” Rarity cut in, “we can't be sure how truthful or sincere you've been with us, can we.”
Her hoof lifted from the floor. “But...”
“Enough of your misleading words, Twilight,” Rarity said firmly. “You've had your say. Now, let me have mine.”
Twi grimaced, but acquiesced.
“It's quite interesting that you brought up Hervey Hockley's work,” she began. “In fact, I was just reading 'A Cloak of Sanity' this morning–”
“'The',” Twilight said bitterly.
“What was that?”
“It's 'The Cloak of Sanity',” she repeated, “not 'A Cloak'.”
Rarity was unimpressed. “I found this list of traits of which you speak,” she said as she lifted a rolled piece of parchment from her bag. “Would you like me to list a few? I assume you already know them.” She tossed her mane and gauged Twilight's reaction out of the corner of her eye. “I assume it was no accident that these were omitted from your defense.”
Twilight studied her hooves.
“Item one: 'A psychopath is a pony of superior intelligence and boasts a charming demeanor in public, but seems much less charming when encountered out of the public eye.” Rarity glanced at the Mayor. “Does that sound like anypony we know?”
“Half of the Royal Canterlot Symphony,” Twilight growled as Mayor Mare stared curiously at her. “A certain seamstress I could mention.”
“What about item seven: 'A psychopath favors antisocial behavior despite having enough positive experiences with social interaction to assuage any fear of being among other ponies.'” she tried. “Oh, and item twelve, a 'surprising dichotomy of apparent generosity and kindness on one side and careless disregard on the other'.”
“My generosity and kindness aren't just 'apparent'!” Twilight barked. “Everything I do is from my heart. I don't do it just to earn the respect of others. I do it because it's right!”
“I doubt you even know what is right or wrong anymore,” Rarity muttered.
A brown hoof slid toward her. “Rarity, please.”
The unicorn glared at the Mayor, but choked back the words. Instead she continued with her case. “Item nine: They show 'pathologic egocentricity' - which I would say is proven by her place at the Princess's side as well as...”
“I earned that!” Twilight yelled crossly. “Do you even know what 'egocentricity' means?”
“...as well as her need to micromanage everypony's lives - and 'an incapacity to feel love for others'.”
Twilight gasped. Two heads swiveled toward her. “How can you say that?” she exclaimed. “How can you say that after everything we've been through?”
“I don't know, 'Miss Sparkle',” the other unicorn hissed. “You tell me. Why, you're the genius here, aren't you?”
“I am,” she snarled. “Does that make me a monster?”
“That's not what made you a monster.” Rarity pointed toward the door. “What you have done to Spike, Applejack and Rainbow Dash... That's what made you a monster.”
“Prove it!” Twilight barked. “I am innocent until proven guilty according to Equestrian law. I don't deserve to be down here in the cells, chained to an interrogation table and... and screamed at by a narcissistic filly with no law degree, no education in the field of psychology–”
“Boo-hoo,” Rarity said dismissively.
Twilight's pupils shrank down to pinpricks. “Don't brush me off!” she roared, her horn flaring to life.
Her prosecutor lowered her horn to match the other unicorn's. “Let it go.” Rarity's eyes were ice chips. “Now.”
The light softened, but did not fade away. “Don't brush me off.”
Suddenly Rarity's forehooves were up on the table, her nose was an inch from Twilight's at most and the room was bathed in a stunning blue glow. Twilight fell back with a gasp. “Unicorns like you are the reason other ponies were suspicious of us in the old days,” she hissed. “We unicorns have a gift, Twilight, but it is not ours to do with as we wish. Magic is a privilege that I will not see abused.” She pulled away and settled herself on spread hooves. “You speak of love, Twilight Sparkle, but you will never understand it like I do,” she snarled righteously. “This isn't about you or me. For the sake of unicorns everywhere, I will tear that horn from your head before I let you hurt anypony else with it!”
Twilight's eyes widened. “I'm not like that,” she whimpered. “I wouldn't hurt anypony.”
“One,” said the frilly, cosmopolitan, defenseless sociolite.“Two.”
Twilight Sparkle collapsed to the table in a sobbing mess. “I didn't hurt anypony!” she shrieked as her forelegs curled against her chest. “I didn't hurt anypony!”
“What you did was far worse than causing pain!” Rarity shrieked back. “You broke Rainbow's mind and you tried to do the same to Applejack! I can't imagine what you put poor Spike through. What was he to you, a test subject?”
A thin line of mucus fell to the table. “I didn't hurt anypony,” she wailed, choking on the words as they came. “I didn't do it!”
“No. Rainbow Dash was the experiment,” Rarity decided. “Spike was the beginning of something worse. Well, Twilight Sparkle, it stops here!”
“I would never hurt Spike,” she moaned. “You have to believe me.”
Rarity spun away from the table. “I can't even look at you anymore,” she told the wall. “You are a repulsive excuse for a mare and I'm sorry I ever called you friend.” She stormed toward the door, threw it open with a telekinetic burst, and sauntered off down the hallway while two guardsmen rushed to take her place.
The Mayor stood to follow her out, but hesitated. Her eyes turned to the filly lying across the table. Despite their history – despite the year or more of heroism and bravery the young mage was known for – she couldn't force herself to offer even a comforting hoof.
Twilight's stomach lurched as she gagged on her sorrow. “It wasn't me!” she sobbed. “Please believe me!”
“I...” The Mayor looked to the two guards, who stared back uncertainly. Finally she shook her head and turned away from the sight. “I have to act in Ponyville's best interest,” she muttered. “Guards, please escort Miss Sparkle to a holding cell.”
“Don't call me that!” she wailed. “I don't want to be Miss Sparkle!”
The guards shared an uncomfortable glance as the stallion unlocked their suspect's cuffs. “Come with us, Miss Sparkle,” the mare said politely.
The young unicorn squeezed her eyes shut as the room lurched beneath her. The two guards were instantly at her sides, supporting her weight with concerned frowns until the wave of dizziness passed. “My name... is Twilight!” she shrieked in the mare's ear. “My name is Twilight!”
,',
Rarity threw open the door to Fluttershy's cottage and collapsed there in the doorway, bawling as even she had never bawled before. Animals scattered to the four winds, chattering and squalling and muting the nervous squeak that echoed down from the second floor.
“I trusted you!” she raged, emphasizing her words with the pounding of a hoof into the floor. “How could you have betrayed us all? What will the Princess think?”
Fluttershy leaped down the stairs to land at her side and quickly swallowed her in the biggest, safest hug she could muster.
“That despicable mare... What's going to happen if she goes free? Our Mayor has as much of a spine as a caterpillar,” she wailed. “An inchworm!”
Fluttershy stroked the elegant coils of her mane. “Well... Twilight is innocent until proven guilty, right?” she said hesitantly.
Rarity threw all of her hatred into a red-eyed grimace. “How much more proof do you need?” she cried. “Even if Rainbow Dash's testimony is unreliable, Applejack's certainly isn't!”
“Um...”
“And my poor baby Spike!” she wept. “Nopony deserves that, especially not a baby!”
Fluttershy's eyes crinkled at the corners. “I know, Rarity, but what if she's telling the truth?”
She bounced off of the doorframe.
Fluttershy looked up from where she lay crumpled on the floor with shock and genuine fear in her eyes. She fought to speak but her tongue would not comply.
“I knew you were a coward, Fluttershy,” Rarity growled, “but this is ridiculous.” She sniffed back her tears. “You cannot run from the facts.”
Fluttershy pulled her hooves up to her chin and looked away. “We don't know for sure,” she whimpered almost silently.
“Look at the facts!” she repeated angrily. “You cannot let your assumed friendship cloud your judgment. If you drop your guard for an instant, you could very well be her next victim.” She spun toward the door and walked face-first into seven feet of growling bear flesh.
Rarity stared up at him coolly. “Harry, you had best step aside. I am not in the mood.” The bear frowned in shame and shifted his bulk out of the doorframe. She passed without another glance.
Harry's shoulders slumped. “Rrmh,” he said dejectedly.
“It's okay, Harry.” The rest of the critters gathered around while Fluttershy picked herself up. “She didn't hurt me, really. She's just mad because I don't want to believe that Twilight could do something this evil. After all, Twilight's been my friend for a very long time and I didn't notice anything unusual about her before she left.” She knelt to scratch the head of a familiar mouse. “Well, nothing more unusual than her usual.” She looked forlornly out the window toward the spire of Ponyville's town hall. “But... But I can't help but think that Rarity is right.”
"Hello, thir. Could I interetht you in a Plot Twitht?"
Don't mind if I do.
Wow, Rarity's being a bit of a bitch.
>_>
Hmm... is Rarity going to turn into a psychopath by the end? I gotta go read up on psychology.
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Pretty much this.
Wait. Dammit, it's Rarity, isn't it?
This reminds me of the drumhead trial in Start Trek: a trial based upon accusations and paranoia, without any concrete proof needed.
Not saying that Twilight isn't 100% innocent, but the only evidence they have against her is a LOT of coincidences.
By the way, this story is quickly climbing in my favorite stories list. I'd at least put it in my top 15 for it's great suspense, questioning of justice/trust/manipulation, and of course for the emotional whirlwind it created for me (thinking that Twilight is the culprit and is innocent at the same time, friends turning on each over, the hate filled arguments, ect...)
If I were to rate it I'd give it a 9.5/10, but a +0.5 for the pace in which you release chapters, which gives it a...
10/10!
Star Trek's drumhead trial:
Rarity has become unlikable a chapter ago or so. I think she's the psychopath.
As if Rarity was not enough, now Applejack thinks Twilight is guilty too.
Although, because of the fact Twilight and Applejack have different memories of what happened, this must mean that either Twilight is innocent(if that is the case, i want that reveal to be shoved in the face of Rarity so much) or Twilight has an alternate personality doing those things, or she is altering her own memories or she is being mind-controlled to do everything and does not remember(none of those are things i want, because i want Rarity to be proven wrong)
The scene with Major Mare is a little weird in that she is very neutral at the start, and after several minutes of Rarity not bringing up conclusive evidence, Major Mare's suddenly for keeping Miss Sparkle locked up. Surely Major Mare was aware of Applejack's testimony before she came down, and thus didn't really learn anything new except hypotheses?
Oooohhh... now I know this chapter is going to earn Rarity a ton of
undeservedhate here...I gotta admit though, I'm beginning to doubt my suspicions about Twilight.
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Or, Rarity (and maybe even Applejack) is being brainwashed into acting as aggressively as she is now, precisely because it will make her case against Twilight more and more ridiculous, and perhaps result in any charges being dropped.
Also, if this were a plan orchestrated by Rarity, it wouldn't be so blatantly flawed. No, not (just) because she is perfect (she is, by the way ), but because she of all ponies should know what type of act you need to put up in order to convince others, even if none of what you wish to convince them of is true. This isn't such an event. Her behavior is more "hysterical" than "malicious," which is no doubt related to some -- as of yet unrevealed -- detail in her background that has been brought forth by recent events. If she wanted to make a convincing case against Twilight after having committed all of the crimes herself, she would attempt a much more subtle and better thought out approach.
Yep, I shall defend best pony to the bitter end!
4133775
I was just thinking that. All the evidence so far is circumstantial. Yes, Twilight COULD have been done one enchanting everyone so far, and she MIGHT have been trying to kill AJ, but on the other hand, there's no proof that she did, or that what happened with AJ was anything but an accident while trying to help her. The thing that's irking me is that unless the Princesses step in SOON, Twilight's gonna end up being burned as a witch or something by a mob.
Also...has NOPONY thought about other obvious candidates who would have means and motive to frame Twi? Like say...a certain SHAPE SHIFTING, bug-pony queen who specializes in MIND ALTERING ENCHANTMENTS that Twilight has personally caused the downfall of (twice if you count the comics)!? I'm sure that if Chrysalis was behind it, it wouldn't take all that much to include a bit extra to make the victim's eyes turn purple instead of green.
4133759
Rarity's the psychopath... It fits so perfectly its funny... She didn't have a logical excuse, she over dramatizes EVERYTHING, everything must be perfect, multiple personalities... No one is watching her when Spike changes and the night before when Applejack tried to kill herself... It just fits, you know....
While I don't think she did it, Rarity is turning out to be quite the psycho in this. I think she might be the one to end up in a holding cell rambling on and on when this is all said and done.
Then of course, she's going to be the red harring for the real culprit... I'm guessing is someone yet to be introduced if this turns out to be true.
Why is everyone believing Rarity? She's being completely unconvincing and acting like a total psycho.
Didn't even read the Chapter yet, but I just want you to know how absolutely hooked I am on this story.
4133876 That bitter end may come sooner than we think. It's Act 2, and I'm anticipating Twilight has to run for her life against the Government and certain... Vigilantes...
I really respect Twilight. If I was her, Rarity would be dead at this point, and I'd be halfway to the Badlands.
4134138
AJ being drunk the night that everything happend makes her testemony useless.
Rainbow got "hypnotized" when Twilight was in Canterlot.
Rarity seems like the psycho ATM
4134167 You're lying to yourself...
Even if I didn't already think Rarity did it, she will die for yelling at Fluttershy.
But seriously, it's fairly obvious Twilight didn't do it, and the more I read the more convinced I am that Rarity did it. The trial match her rather well, and everything she's done (especially crying when she got to Fluttershy's) leads me to believe she's the psychopath. Her mood shifts on a dime, and while emotions would be running high in such a situation, not quite like that.
Still though... the why bugs me, because I just don't see it, and the fact that Pinkie still isn't back is starting to make me wonder....
i've been thinking that it's actually rarity that's the psychopath, considering that she's the one that's been hounding for twilights blood since the very beginning. she had every opportunity that twilight did, and more. she was the one who first accused her, and she's had every opportunity to frame twilight. she's had access to all of her books, all of her equipment, and all of the ponies (and dragon) that were affected. even the fact that all the ponies are obsessed with twilight can be explained by a need for her to destroy twilights life. and it's pretty suspicious that she knew about rainbows little crush on twilight. how could she have known that, unless she did something to make rainbow confess. i'll admit, she could have just gone to her for romantic advice or something, but it would be way more likely that she's go to fluttershy or AJ for something like that, since she's closer to them.
Yeah unless it turns out everyone's being mind-controlled somehow (not just Rarity and AJ), it's utterly ridiculous that anyone would take Rarity seriously with how pathetically stupid she is being. I was behind her when she was a little wary at the beginning, but this is idiocy. But I suppose she IS a drama queen.
Only thing I can say is that "interrogation" was a joke. Rarity shouldn't have been involved in it to begin with. It should have been a 1 on 1 with the Mayor or some other authority. As it was, Twilight was literally interrupted every time she attempted to give her viewpoint of events. And then that ridiculous scene where Rarity is quoting traits that a psychopath is known to exhibit. Along with bringing up several points that are completely irrelevant to the main topic of Twilights innocents or guilt, She lists a handful of cherry picked traits and apply them to Twilight. When coupled with her earlier statement of Twilight omitting some of the traits she brings up (even though Rarity interrupted Twilight before she was done speaking) Only shows how much of a hypocrite Rarity truly is.
Continuing on to the Mayor and her part in this. She seems to be more level headed about this then Rarity, and her doubt in Raritys story seems to show that she can see the blaringly large holes in Raritys logic. However, she is still in favor of Raritys story. I'd like to hope that the only reason for this, is that she doesn't have any logical story to contradict it other then the "I didn't do it." That seems to be the only words Twilight can get out of her mouth before being immediately cut down.
Now I'd like to point out some things. Applejack, despite her claims that she broke the enchantment on her, is still a compromised source. She was drinking to the point of blacking out, prior to being attacked, so anything she says happened is not reliable. Especially when you combine it with Fluttershys account when Applejack passed by her home. Rainbow Dash and Spike are both compromised still because (as far as we know) they are still under the effects of the enchantment, and so anything they say or do isn't reliable.
Oh, jeez. You'd think I'd be used to the influx of comments, or stop replying to all of them, but no!
Okay, let's begin...
4133656
Well, she's known to be quite a rope expert. Plus, as she says, she knows her science! I was tempted to go the figs-and-mice route with this one (besides, if they can do it by accident I'm sure she can find a way to do it intentionally) but I'd already wondered about it myself and the scientist in me demands that I explore this scenario to the fullest! Rhetorical or not, here we go!
Let's see. She'd make the noose first and tie it into place, then add some loops around the tree with loose knots here and there so more of the line can fit through them. She would then add a few loops around the tree, two somewhat loose ones with a third run through them to create a thicker braid upon which she could balance to keep herself off of the ground during the later phase. Then she'd run some through the premade knots, zigging and zagging and tightening them as they go. That'll give her the base framework.
Then she'd walk it around the tree a few more times, twist the loosest but not last of those loops into a figure eight, fold it over to make a double circle, and enter the circle and tighten it via the weighted end of the rope.
After that it's all a matter of throwing that end hard enough and at the right angle, really. If she messes up she can grab the loosest layer she can reach with her mouth or free hoof and unravel it. (It'd be slow and tiresome work, but come on. It's AJ. She'd be up for a bit of labor even if she wasn't brainwashed.) Soon enough she'd have a pretty hefty nest of rope lines.
When satisfied with her little nest, she'd tighten the loops around the free foreleg, swing the weight around her head to loop it around the noose a few times, force said weighted end beneath the outer layers with hoof and mouth, and drop off of the perch into the nest to apply pressure to the noose and tighten it a bit.
Boom! Stuck and a little dizzy but alive for a good while. I'll be honest, though. I don't know if this is even feasible, but I don't have enough rope to find out!
Um... Too much?
Then again...
Maybe Rainbow did it.
4133670
"What an interesting plot, Twist!"
4133709
And how! Looks like she's done giving Twi the benefit of the doubt, or whatever amount of doubt she was trying to maintain for the sake of her friends.
4133759
Good question. I really want to answer it.
4133773 4133782
That's a pretty popular theory these days. That's all I'm going to say on the matter.
4133775
Rarity is certainly no lawyer, I'll give you that, and it's not often that the Mayor has to deal with a situation like this. The few times her town has faced disaster, she has had either the Elements of Harmony or the Princesses to fall back on. Now all she has is the testimonies of Applejack, whom she respects to the point of fangirling over her eerily often; Rarity, who is known to be intelligent, generous, and caring; and Twilight, a mare known for her strength of magic and character but also for her... um... shortcomings.
Thank you so much, Luigiluc! I don't know if it deserves such praise, but I'm pleased as punch that you think so highly of it. Just out of curiosity as to where your tastes lie, what would you call your top three?
4133790
She's never going to get past this one, is she? Turn into a bitch for a few chapters and it haunts you for the rest of your life!
4133802
Remember, this is Fluttershy we're talking about. When she spoke to the Mayor she probably didn't say much besides *eeweedlemumbledureeblApplejackintheforestdeedeewoo*. Well, maybe not that bad, but I wouldn't have expected a lot of detail. After all, don't you think the Mayor would have mentioned hearing the details AJ's near-death experience when asked if she had?
Besides, as I said above, Mayor Mare respects AJ to the point of fangirling over her and throwing awards at her left and right. She'd probably believe it if AJ said rainbooms cause infertility.
4133826
Oh yeah. Open the floodgates.
Heehee! Yep, that's my job! Why should I make it easy to figure out who's the culprit with seven chapters to go?
4133876
YUS! Unless it's an act.
That's right! We all know Applejack isn't the psychopath!
Nah. I call AJ best pony because I respect her most out of the Mane Six, but Rarity's the most interesting and fun to watch so she's either tied or a close second.
4133880
We don't count the comics because Hooray for Minimum Wage.
It's a viable theory. After all, the only reason they know that Chrysalis is south of the Badlands is word of mouth from the Princesses' men to Celestia to Twilight to the rest of them.
4133896
Perhaps it does, but I have one question.
What makes you say that?
4133897
Aww, that would be so poignant and so bittersweet.
4133903
Another valid theory. After all, all we know about the brainwashing effect is that it's... well, it's some powerful magic. We don't know anything about it: how it's produced, where it came from, whether it's unicorn magic or something entirely different.
4133921
Because who else could they place their faith in? Applejack knows what she saw. Hay, even Fluttershy has to admit that Rarity's on to something.
4133960
Aww, thanks! I hope it's as good as you want it to be. Let me know what you think when you're done!
4134066
What's so far-fetched about it?
4134109
Oh, I don't know. She's shown time and again the capacity for generosity, caring, and at times something like love. Of course, who says any of it is more than an act?
4134138
Yes, I think we're all forgetting something...
Applejack is Batmane
4134139
Hear hear! It takes a bit of class not to use a fraction of your vast power to brutally murder your friends.
4134167
How have I not seen this yet? Okay. Note to self: Watch 'The Fugitive', more Kubrick films, and the rest of MLP after 'Pinkie Pride'.
4134170
She kinda does, doesn't she?
4134199
TV Tropes? Bah! I don't plan to follow tropes anyway.
4134331
Yeah, I should've figured that would get everypony riled up. Forget the witch, burn the bitch!
She turned away before she left. Maybe she didn't want to show weakness in front of Twilight... Or maybe she didn't want anypony to see her smiling.
I'd be quite interested to hear your thoughts on why Rarity would go to all this trouble. Let me know if you come to any conclusions!
4134334
That makes sense. Maybe she's grown so fed up with Twilight stealing her spotlight that she's decided to end her by forcing the attention down her throat!
I have only one complaint:
That was Applejack.
Aside from that, good thinking! This theory, I like it.
4134525
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Maybe she's trying her best but she's simply overwhelmed. Then again, maybe it's just a ploy. I bet the road to Hell is also paved with the undying skulls of bad ponies, haha.
4134554
To be fair, that wasn't an interrogation and Rarity wasn't trying to prove her guilt. She was trying to convince the Mayor that there was enough reason for doubt to keep Twilight locked away until the Princesses could preside over her trial, and the best way for her to do this was to prove that she is a psychopath and couldn't be trusted to roam the streets of Ponyville.
Basically. She respects AJ and Rarity. She knows Twi can be a piece of work. She trusts their judgment. After all, it's only until the Princesses arrive.
According to Applejack, her memory of the time before she woke up are hazy but those after are quite clear. Take that as you will, grain of salt or no.
Quite. That's why it took hearing Applejack's testimony for Rarity to decide she had the proof to keep Twilight away from society at large.
Thoughtful as always, Uniame! I look forward to the next one.
Thanks again for a wonderful round of comments! I have a lot of fun bouncing ideas back at readers like this. I just hope my words don't offend, put off, or discourage anypony. I also hope that nopony gets too mad for egging somepony on when they aren't correct. After all, I'm not trying to take sides. I'm just trying to encourage everypony to think about their conclusions and foster critical thinking. I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am!
awesome, it seems like rarity is loosing her shit. i wonder if you are going to do the dick thing and have the pony putting the spells on everypony be celestia and have her say it was a test to see how strong their friendship is
I AM FILLED WITH UNHOLY RAGE.
4133790
4134170
4134657
Applejack isn't free of contamination. Even disregarding the alcohol, once you've been touched by the brainwasher, you need to be quarantined from the investigation. Applejack broke the spell? Says who? How did she do it? How does the spell even work? The brainwasher has a significant chance of being able to falsify and embed false beliefs and memories in their victims, and it's not likely that the memory effect will magically go away when the spell "stops."
4133759
You don't "turn into" a psychopath.
4134657
Jesus Christ. Rarity has at least tripled her bitchitude. Is Twilight under arrest? If so, why hasn't she lawyered up? She certainly needs one. AND WHERE ARE THE FUCKING PRINCESSES THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE YESTERDAY. Jesus. Jesus. All of the evidence (I mean ALL of it, including the behavior of every one of the Mane 6) needs to be sequestered by source, multiple plausible theories must be enumerated, situations of duress and skill (like rope-untying) should be counted only weakly, like a proper Bayesian, and everything needs to be calculated out by hoof. Surely these bitches are more than just hoes and tricks. Doesn't Ponyville have a police force? Isn't there someone who has investigation as, I don't know, their fucking job? Their special talent?
Well... this chapter has almost completely turned me off from wanting to read the rest. I don't care how stupid that sounds. But I believe you'll deliver a good follow-up to this intense jump in logic. I feel like things went from Rarity being scared that all of them are really honestly in danger to Rarity being bloody judge and jury. The fact that no crime can be proven and yet Twilight is being imprisoned is off to me. Plus I love Twilight. What you're doing to her is starting to piss me off.
I hope my faith in your next move is well placed.
Yup....Rarity did it. She's showing signs of everything she accused Twilight of. She's a braggart, never acknowledged spikes crush (and possibly enslaved him to frame twily,) kinda antisocial if you think about it, is extremely egocentric, and could be putting up a façade of generosity and kindness. She also brushes off everything Twilight says...like everything. She won't even allow her to finish most of her sentences, and was rather quick to accuse Twilight of being psychopathic. So yeah, I'm pretty sure it's Rarity. I could be wrong though
4135031
Unfortunately for you, you failed. This means you're all now my
b****espets. Celestia's horn lights up one last time, ensuring the eternal servitude of the ex- elements of harmony.I'm pretty sure that the culprit is a third party. Even if Twilight and Rarity are both innocent, their friendship is irrevocably destroyed. The Elements of Harmony are useless trinkets now, and there's a lot of characters who stand to gain from that being the case. Many of the villains we've seen possess exactly the sort of magic that would easily enable them to pull this off.
There's Discord, but he's in stone and the author has asserted that he has no power while he is imprisoned thus.
There's Trixie, who has been bested twice by Twilight, and it's possible that she sought out another artifact of power like the Alicorn Amulet. It's unlikely that she can muster that sort of magic unaugmented as she's a showmare, but then again, perhaps she went to a few restricted sections of some libraries.
There's King Sombra, the evil badass who can mindrape an entire nation to be his slaves, although it's implied that he's been destroyed entirely in canon, this isn't necessarily the case. He could be back, and out for vengeance.
There's Queen Chrysalis, who has also been shown canonically to have powers of this magnitude, and unlike Sombra, her fate is much less clear. She could definitely be about.
Flim and Flam? Lol. I've got nothing, and plus, they're not really villains, just conmen.
Sunset Shimmer? But that would imply that EqG is canon in this universe, and thus Twilight would be an alicorn. Considering she's "Miss" Sparkle, and not "Princess", this is evidently not the case. Still possible, I guess, but implausible.
Nightmare Moon? Sure, but how would Luna keep her secret evil side hidden from Celestia for the time she's been back?
I'd say Sombra and Chrysalis are my top two suspects, but of course, I have absolutely no idea, and I'm loving every minute of it.
My Theory: Twilight upstaged Rarity as the "pride of ponyville" or at least Rarity thought she was.
But my guess is while Twilight is in jail/prison something will happen, Rarity will blame Twilight and someone will be like "um, she's in jail".
No. no, nononononononononononononono. Not this. Anything but this. I take it back. Not a fanfic justice system. Not again. My jimmies will not be able to handle another fanfic justice system--especially with the way things are headed and being presented.
Are you shitting me? That's your star witness? Where's the evidence? Where's the cold hard facts? Where's Twilight's fucking motive? A judge would laugh this case out of court before the docket number got read, but that's not gonna happen, is it? Cause this is a fanfic justice system. Where there are no police--only raving psychopathic dress makers who for some reason have police powers. Where mayors, as opposed to judges, can make legal rulings without any legal experience. Where said psychopath can commit several felonies against someone and they be the one to go to jail. Where logic and reason go negotiate a treaty and can't be reached so that the grimdark plot can continue on its Suspension of Disbelief shattering path.
If the Princesses don't look at this whole situation with wide eyes at how batshit Rarity's become and how insane Ponyville's being, I'll be upset, and if Twilight actually gets convicted and punished I'll downvote, unfavorite, and wash my hands of the story. That's how low my tolerance is for bullshit justice systems that make no sense.
4135088
I shall join you in your rage.
4136223
Yes, especially as she believes Twilight was set free, while Mayor Mare didn't trust her enough to actually let her go. It was pretty sneaky writing.
I hope this is her undoing.
4136099
Bringing in a random villain (Flim & Flam, really? ) with no prior foreshadowing or setup (that's obvious only in retrospect, as it's certainly not obvious looking forward) would be a real asspull on the part of the author. They've got to work with what they gave themselves in the first act.
4136522
It really won't be that bad. While what we've seen so far is pretty fucking atrocious, I think that this is more the prelude to sanity. The crazy bullshit is nowhere near over. What has been shown so far is very Kafkaesque, I will freely admit.
Now I kind of have the urge to write a courtroom pone drama with a realistic legal system... i.e. not Phoenix Wright.
I'm surprised Twilight let herself be captured like that. For somepony that's supposed to be the most powerfull magic user in Ponyville, she sure doesn't show it. At least Twilight has Rainbow to defend her, 'cause it sure doesn't seem like she can do it herself.
Rarity is lucky Twilight does not have my attitude because I probably would have killed her when she tried to knock me out. Even if she was a 'friend', Twilight had enough to justify a self-defense killing.
Also, if it turns out Twilight really is the psychopath, I'll still hate Rarity more for how quickly she jumped to conclusions. The fact that she was such a bitch about it didn't help her case either.
4135031
I ain't sayin' nothin'!
4135088
Um... kinda but not really? She's being held as a suspect and she's not free to leave, but she's not exactly being accused by anypony that counts.
Not much call for one in a place as idyllic as Ponyville. I'll bet there's a small one, of which the two guardsmen we saw late in the chapter are part, but I doubt the team would be ready to handle a situation like this.
4135223
She's certainly manipulative enough to pull that off, at least for a while.
4135455
No worries, Mariangela! That doesn't sound stupid. I'm glad you still want to continue despite your unhappiness with the story. I hope the next one is more to your liking.
4135729
Give me a week or two and we'll find out.
4135762
Haha! I could see it.
4136099
Equestria Girls hasn't happened yet since this takes place a few months before Twilight's ascension.
We don't know if or how Nightmare Moon would have been able to hide from Celestia, but how would we know? We haven't heard from either princess yet.
That's all I can say at this point. Thanks for the kind words!
4136223
That is sinister. I love it.
4136522
I have so much that needs to be said and I can't come out with a single piece of it! I'm sorry you found this aspect of the story so frustrating. I'm sure it would be easier if it wasn't coming out chapter by chapter like this.
4136667
That's a rather nice thought. I hope you're right.
4136747
There are worse things than being captured. I'm sure if Twilight wanted to she could have smashed Rarity's head into the wall and scarpered the whole way to Manehatten, but what would she gain from that?
4136667
I'm just chucking ideas about, here, and you'll note that I didn't seriously entertain this notion.
I wouldn't rule out a third party though. There are many who would stand to gain from breaking Equestria's magical superweapon, and when creatures such as changelings exist, it's very easy to look like the pony you're trying to frame.
So you've never been surprised by a turn of events that occurred in a story? I find this very hard to believe.
But yeah, thanks for saying that my opinions are invalid, I guess.
4137003 My top 3 is (in no particular order):
-Fallout Equestria: Pink Eyes
-Discordant
-The Immortal Game
I don't have a concrete top 10 list though, but your story would at least be...6th.
4137003
Idyllic. Monsters rampage through the town on a weekly/monthly basis.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/What_the....gif
4137235
Don't lose heart, Vox. Razzle's a good one and I doubt she meant any offense. Your guess is just as worthwhile as anypony else's; the only theory I'd call invalid is one that can't be backed up.
I believe that I gave enough information in the first arc to show who could or could not be behind this, and even if I didn't you should expect more very soon. Now I'm just stirring the pot in-universe (and among the readers too, I suppose) until the culprit is uncovered!
4137452
Aww! You give me too much credit.
I haven't read any of those three. I've never read any FoE stories because I've never bothered to play the franchise it was based upon, but 'Discordant' has potential and 'The Immortal Game' sounds like it could go either way.
My top three has always been 'Background Pony' by shortskirtsandexplosions, Kaidan's 'A Puppet To Her Fame' and the only crossover I've ever truly enjoyed, Nonagon's 'Death Note: Equestria'. I've been in the mood for dark stories lately... Who could've guessed?
4137928
And have you seen many police officers trying to deal with them? To me the Mayor seems to be one of those ponies that sees what she wants to see and ignores problems she can't cope with, instead relying on the Princess and the Elements of Harmony to aid the town when something like that comes up. I think Mayor Mare would be more inclined to focus on education and innovation than security when budgeting the town's resources.
4137974
True, there aren't many officers dealing with the beasts, but the Elements live in town, so the police force probably is focused more on evacuating citizens than being heroes.
But even so, the handful of officers in Ponyville seen some s#!&. I think a psychopath would be foal's play in comparison to a giant moon bear, and they have some experience with what not to do from when Trixie took over the town (since she wasn't in a ball and chain during the episode).
Item seven: when their cover identity is threatened with contradiction, a psychopath will exhibit strong irrational rage, displaying extreme uncharacteristic behavior and disregard for personal safety, in order to return things to a controlled, predictable state. This is considered a symptom uniquely characteristic to the condition of psychopathy.
Item eight: Despite the extreme emotional reaction in item seven, a psychopath will only cry as a means of procuring sympathy, and only when confident in the integrity of their cover identity.
Item nine: Just because Rarity is a psychopath doesn't mean she's the one who did all this. It simply makes her impossible to reason with.
There could be a second psychopath at work, or perhaps a neurotypical pony with some sort of agenda for revenge. Psychopaths will treat their dearest and closest friends callously and cruelly, but anyone can treat strangers that way, or enemies. Oh wait sorry, my bad.
Item nine: A psychopath will show 'pathologic egocentricity' taking extreme measures to ensure that their image is maintained.
Item ten: Despite this egocentricity, a psychopath will often feel a profound lack of identity or inability to care about themselves. The fear of this being discovered is generally what drives the egocentricity in item nine.
4137235
Of course I have. A hallmark of a good story is one where the surprise seems obvious in retrospect, where you feel as if you could have said who it was with the given evidence. If you pull a random villain out of nowhere and say, "Oh, this guy did it," and there's absolutely nothing that points to this villain before the author took them out of their pocket, then it's an asspull, and a disappointing story.
Sorry for giving you my opinion?...
4137003
I'm still waiting on the lawyer...
And what about a private eye, or someone with investigation as their special talent? They don't have to be hired by the city, they just have to be good at logic, intuition, and investigation.
Masahashahsahahshhahhahaahz
adkssdd
I can't wait for tomorrow.
Don't be crying wolf on rarity yet folks, twilight still has a truckload of suspicion against her, and suspicion is enough to warrent an arrest.
“You speak of love, Twilight Sparkle, but you will never understand it like I do,” *coughcoughBluebloodcoughcough*
4138107
If they were in charge of evacuation then they're hopeless and best kept away from a criminal case. I've seen some of those mad rampages you call 'evacuations'!
4138580
Yes, some could argue that Rarity's quest for perfection of herself and others could be her response to a derealization disorder.
Others could argue that the second paragraph could describe Twilight's behaviour in "Feeling Pinkie Keen".
I hope the next chapter clears up a lot of questions.
4138685
Does anypony know what happened to Ruby? Special talent... no. Um, we had Pinkie but she scampered off to Canterlot. We also have Twilight.
Such faith in my punctuality! I'm starting to worry that I'll be late one of these days and Equestria will implode.
I should have it on time. I've gotten a lot more done today than I'd expected to! But now the letters are starting to spin before my eyes so I think it's time for bed, haha.
4138952
Besides, it's not like they're sentencing her or anything. They're just holding her until the Princesses arrive. Logical, no?
4139517
I thought we agreed never to speak of that again.
In a broader sense she has a point, especially if Twilight is a psychopath and doesn't understand love... or if Rarity is a psychopath and thinks her understanding of love is superior to the norm. If Rarity truly is doing this for the sake of unicorns everywhere, though, then her actions begin to make more sense.
>> Adda le Blue
Well for one she would be keeping her freedom. When somepony as persistent as Rarity tries to get you locked up, you better take that very seriously. One of the first things they would do is strap an inhibitor ring on her so she can't use magic, or break her horn as Rarity threatened. Without her magic Twilight would be next to useless, so what little advantage she had in this is now gone. She will either have to hope Celestia will believe her faithful student over Rarity and Applejack (not likely considering how she acted at Shining Armour and Cadence's wedding), or that her friends keep getting mindraped thereby proving she was not the one responsible.
I'm still convinced Twilight is innocent.
Rarity really did her reading hmm. She's rather harsh too. And far too convinced Twilight is the cause...I suspect Rarity!
She scanned Rainbow's mind initially and found the spell was strengthened. Only based on her words was it proven...she prevented Twilight from scanning again...
Oh I'm onto you!
I'll still just wait for the next chapter...
4139651
All I'm really trying to say is Rarity might be a psycho, and is certainly acting like it, but that doesn't make her anything other than a suspect, not even the prime suspect. Psychopathy is a legit disorder and the vast majority of the afflicted have a hard enough time functioning at all, a far cry from being in a position to hurt others. The minority who do hurt others tend to do so in the form of unscrupulous salesmen and managers, not in ridiculously illegal heinous crimes. So if you meant to get us all to implicate Rarity as the big bad, you're not doing it right, but if you want to leave us still guessing, your story is doing just fine.
Hmm... possible culprits... Sunset Shimmer, Nightmarity, Discord, Twilight Sparkle (still (yes, really)), Screwball, Trollestia, Prince Blueblood, Azuhotl, Chrysalis...
Possible psychos, Flim and Flam, Rarity, Bonbon, the Maneiac, Flutterbat, Suri Polomare, that cherry salesman...
Notice the disconnect!