> Not Who I Knew
>  by playnwin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1 - You Aren't Real
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 1 - You Arent Real


        As the sun rose over Ponyville, buildings began to open up and ponies began to stream to and fro, leaving their homes to go to their jobs, or returning home after a late shift. A small but bustling town, seemingly calm, but used to the events that came with being the “Chaos Capital of the World”, a title informally given by Discord, but kept by the Ponyville citizens, due to the town’s propensity towards chaos and destruction. In the center of Ponyville stood a giant oak, the home of the Ponyville Library. In this majestic tree lives Twilight Sparkle, Ponyville Librarian, National Hero, and Princess of Equestria; titles in order of importance to the average Ponyville citizen.
        Twilight sat in her kitchen, eating a quick breakfast of hay pancakes. She had gotten up early, partly because she never got to enjoy a real breakfast and partly because everypony who had some problem to be solved was asleep. For not remembering she was a princess, they certainly had enough problems for her to fix. For a brief moment she wished she could switch places with Princess Celestia, then she remembered that she’d have to deal with ponies like Blueblood.
        A soft click announced the house’s other occupant’s entrance to the kitchen. “Hey, Twilight. What’re you doing up so early?”
        “Hello, Spike. I felt like making a real breakfast today. I made a few extra; they’re over by the stove.” Twilight continued eating her pancakes. She always forgot how good a full breakfast was, seeing as her usual breakfast was a cold bowl of oatmeal consumed while sprinting across town. She could hear the clack of Spike grabbing a few pancakes and slipping a some gems underneath. He seemed to think she’d be insulted at his livening up of her pancakes; she always pretended not to notice.
        The chair across from her scraped against the floor as Spike pulled it out. Twilight was busy staring at her plate and didn’t look up. She was hungry. She debated whether eating more pancakes would be considered gluttonous. This is my house, I’ll eat however much I want to.
        She went back to the stove and grabbed the rest of the pancakes. Loading them all onto her plate, she started back towards the table. She looked over towards Spike to see if she should offer him another pancake before she finished them all, but froze when her eyes locked onto him.
        That. Wasn’t. Spike. It looked like him, sounded like him, and acted like him, but it wasn’t him. Her magical grip on her plate flickered, sending half her pile of pancakes to flop onto the floor. She remained still, trying to process the new information.
        “Uhh, Twilight? Are you okay?”
        Adrenaline shot through her veins. With a crack, her plate went supersonic, flying towards the imposter’s head. With a yelp, Not-Spike sent a jet of flame out, engulfing the plate. But it continued its flight, charred, breaking against the far wall. With another breath, Not-Spike sent a dark cloud of smoke rolling throughout the kitchen.
        Twilight grinned. I have you now! Charging her magic, she sent a changeling-detection spell around the room. When it returned, it had detected two life forms, no changelings. It’s not Spike and it isn’t a changeling. What are you?
        Adrenaline coursing throughout her body, her hypersensitive ears picked up the sound of a quill scratching on a scroll. She shut her eyes, listening intensely, as numbers began to flow through her head. Direction of sound, the sound’s vector and magnitude, delta time to the echo, duration of frequency; statistics flowed as she determined the scripture being written. Total time of calculations: 0.672 seconds. 
-I-L-I-G-H-T-I-S-C-R-A-Z-Y-S-E-N-D-G-U-A-R-D-S.
He was calling in reinforcements! Twilight couldn’t allow that letter to leave. A green flame briefly lit the room, then the hazy cloud of the letter flew out of the window. With a snap, Twilight teleported to the roof of the tree and focused on the quickly shrinking cloud of smoke.
Arc to Canterlot, velocity, counter-velocity, tangential speed, counter-arc, interception point... there! With a quick release of magic, Twilight sent a burst of energy on a slow curve towards Canterlot. For a moment, nothing happened. Then with a quick flash of light, flaming bits of paper fluttered down on Ponyville, completely unintelligible. Then, with another snap, Twilight reappeared in the kitchen.
The smoke had mostly cleared by this point. Not-Spike was standing at the window, looking in horror at the ruined scrap of his plea for help. He backed away from the window, only to crash into Twilight’s hooves.
“What have you done with Spike?” Twilight shouted, lifting the cowering dragon with her magic.
“I-I am Spike!”
“Liar! What did you do with the real Spike?”
“I am the real Spike! Please, you gotta believe me!”
“I know you aren’t the real Spike!” Her voice approaching the Royal Canterlot Voice, Twilight began to interrogate Not-Spike. “Who and what are you? Are you some new species of changeling? What are you doing in Ponyville? SPEAK!”
Blubbering in fear, Not-Spike tried to answer, but a knocking at the front door cut him off.
“Twilight? Are ya in there? What’s goin’ on? We need to talk ta ya!”
Growling, Twilight levitated the dragon imposter over to the chair and bound him there with a spell. “I’ll have more questions for you, imposter.” She Walked over to the door and swung it open.
“Girls I’m glad you all are here. I found an...” She stuttered to a stop when she looked outside the door.
Not-Applejack looked on nervously. “Are ya alright sugarcube? There were some explosions over the town and we heard yelling from inside. How’re you holding up?” Not-Rainbow Dash and Not-Rarity nodded, equally worried about their supposed friend.
“Not you all too...” Twilight backed away from the door in fear. This is bad, bad, bad! She was outnumbered, and if these replicated the abilities of those they copied as well as Not-Spike had done, then she was in deep trouble. I’ve got only one option; I have to run! Releasing her pent-up magic and fear, she knocked the three imposters to their hooves, and teleported away.

> Chapter 2 - False Honesty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 2 - False Honesty


        It had been a week since Twilight Sparkle had disappeared. In that time, a nationwide ponyhunt had commenced, with the Royal Guard searching every inch of Equestria. An entire contingent had been sent to safeguard Ponyville; the only thing feared more than a mad unicorn missing was a mad unicorn on a rampage.
        Rainbow Dash and Applejack were combing through the Everfree Forest, hoping to find Twilight and talk some sense into her. Both were prepared to knock said sense into her, if need be. Twilight had a long history of getting crazy ideas wrapped in her head and freaking out. Talking didn’t always fix the problem.
        “I don’t understand what happened! Usually, there’ll be some signs that she’s about to flip out. You know, science binges, extreme lack of sleep, trying to comprehend Pinkie, or something! But this time? Nothing.” Being unable to support her friends aggravated Rainbow Dash. She hated nothing more than an unloyal friend; why did Twilight have to make it so blasted difficult?
        “Ah don’t know neither, but she’ll come around. She always has.” Though Applejack’s flippant attitude suggested she didn’t care, inside Applejack was worried about Twilight. She had never run out on her friends like this before, much less for such a long period of time. Ah hope she knows what she’s doin’.
“And what makes even less sense is the lame excuse she had for running off. Spike, an imposter? I mean, come on, really? Does she think anypony will fall for that?”
“Ah don’t know, Rainbow. Ah can usually tell when she’s lying. It didn’t seem that way to me.”
        Rainbow turned towards her friend, staring incredulously.” Are you saying you think Spike is an imposter?”
        “Of course not. What Ah’m sayin’ is that she seemed to believe what she said. She seems to have gotten it into her head that Spike actually is an imposter.”
        “Great! I don’t know what’s worse: that she thinks we’ll believe it, or that she actually does believe it.”
        Rainbow turned forward and flew above the treeline. There was no sign of Twilight, as per usual. Ugh, where has that pony run off to? She dipped back below the foliage and landed beside Applejack. “I still don’t see any sign of her. You?”
        “Nope.” Applejack bit her lower lip, then threw a glance at Rainbow Dash. “What if Spike actually is an imposter?”
        “Are you serious? Please tell me you have your head on straight. You know he’s the real Spike... right?”
        “Of course, of course! Ah’m just thinkin’, ‘what would Ah do if suddenly all of my best friends were replaced by imposters?’ ”
        Rainbow chuckled at this, amused by the ridiculous prospect. A grin on her face, she turned towards Applejack to retort her plan of attack. But the blood drained from her face as she ground to a stop.
        Not-Applejack grinned back. “Luckily, we’ll never have to worry about that, right?”
        Ponyfeathers. This is bad, bad, bad! I’ve got to get out of here! “Uhhh... yeah, right!”
        Applejack frowned at Rainbow. “Are ya alright, sugarcube?”
        “I’m perfectly alright. I’m fine. I’m fine, thanks. How are you?” Rainbow Dash was desperately trying to think of a way out of this situation. 
        “Are ya sure? Ya seem nervous.”
        Ponyfeathers! Not-Applejack is onto me! “Applejack?”
        “Yeah?”
        “Would you ever lie to me?”
        “What’re you talkin’ about? Of course not!”
        Ha! Like I’d believe that. “Thanks...” She trailed off as their path led into a large clearing. For the first time for a few hours, Rainbow Dash could see the sky overhead from the ground. Then, in a low voice, she continued. “When did they get you?”
        “Beggin’ your pardon?”
“When did they replace you?”
Applejack’s eyes shot wide open as she spun around to face Rainbow. But Rainbow Dash had already cocked back a hoof and, with a grim look, shot it forward. Applejack’s head snapped back as she collapsed against a tree, limp.
        Rainbow Dash sneered at the imposter. They thought they could pull one over on her. But, looking around, she realized she needed another plan. “Incapacitate the imposter” had forgotten the extraction phase. What would Twilight do?
        Twilight! Twilight had been the first to understand what was really going on. Twilight had escaped and, so far, she wa the only one Rainbow knew she could rely on. I need some way to get a message to Twilight. A way that she’ll know that it’s from the real me. What can I do that nopony else can?
        Well, duh!

~~~

        As she flew higher and higher into the air, Rainbow heard the flapping of wings from behind her. They’re too early! The not-guardsponies paced her, matching her speed and movements. If I can only get high enough, I can send a message most of Equestria will see! Twilight’s gotta see that!
        She stopped flapping her wings. Gravity once again took over, arcing her into a line pointed back down towards the ground. Rainbow began to beat her wings once again. In only moments, she could feel the sonic cone begin to form at her hooftips. Flying harder and faster, she pushed with all of her might against it.
        And it broke. With its shattered remains, she launched into a sonic rainboom, leaving a contrail that most of Equestria would see. Surely Twilight can see that... right? Rapidly declining in altitude, she was forced to turn ninety degrees, leveling off across the ground.
        But in her path, surrounding her, was a circle of not-guardsponies, equipped with nets. Rainbows ears folded back against her head in fear. They’re gonna catch me! They’ll replace me just like they have Applejack and the others! I’ll never make it to Twilight!
        And like Rainbow Dash, the not-guardsponies were assured of their inevitable victory. Unshakable in their faith of victory, they never noticed the flash of light coming from the ground until that light was repeated, except with Rainbow Dash as the center. After the light cleared, Rainbow Dash was gone.

~~~

        “Rainbow Dash! You’re real! Thank Celestia you’re here! I was so worried that I’d never see any of you again! Listen, if you’re real, I think we might be able to save the others!
        “But, while I was... alone, I got this letter. This pony says they know what’s going on, and I think he actually might. But nonetheless, he can’t be trusted. We know him, he was—”
        Rainbow Dash cut Twilight off. Rainbow didn’t need any other distractions; she had only one thing on her mind. “That’s not important right now. What is important is rescuing our friends from those imposters. They’re probably as terrified as we were, we have to save them. That should be our first and only goal for right now.”
        Twilight nodded in grim agreement. If there was one thing Rainbow Dash knew, it was that she would never abandon her friends. The two ponies turned back towards the table and began to construct a plan.

> Chapter 3 - Mask of Normality
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 3 - Mask of Normality


        In the warm afternoon air of Ponyville, ponies wandered about the town, window shopping, chatting amicably on the streets, or stopping to eat in one of the town’s many cafes and diners. The townsponies appeared without care, seemingly oblivious to the recent events that led to the legion of guards to be wandering the streets. Nopony said anything, but the same question was on everypony’s minds: Were the guards around for the ponies not infected, or for the ones that were?
        In the Ponyville Cafe, Applejack and Rarity sat, having just placed their orders. Applejack sipped her drink, then let out a sigh. Our food won’t be here for another hour. If we had just gone to that diner down the street, we could have been eating by now. But that gave them time to talk, something that had been very rare as of late. It had been nearly a month since the first incident. Every second she had had since then had been poured into the search and rescue effort. This was probably the first true meal she had made time for since the second incident. Her body reflexively tensed at the thought of that day, how she had failed, failed to—
        “You’re doing it again, darling.”
        Applejack’s train of thought was derailed with Rarity’s sudden interruption. “What do you mean?”
        “Blaming yourself. You really shouldn’t do that, dear, it’s bad for your complexion. Besides, what could you have done?”
        “Surely there was some sorta signs that I must’ve missed. I should have seen it, should have known—”
        “There was no sign, darling. Twilight gave no indication; even Spike, who had known her his entire life, didn’t have any clue. What makes you think Rainbow Dash would have been any different?”
        “Well, even after she flipped, I should have stopped her. I failed.”
        “You really think you could have stopped Rainbow Dash?”
        Applejack angry retort was cut short as she noticed the humorous gleam in Rarity’s eyes as she hid a grin behind a sip of tea. “Hilarious. But in all seriousness, I wonder what she was thinking. She was having a casual conversation with me, right as rain, until she locked up. Next thing I knew, she was spouting nonsense and got the drop on me. I still don’t really understand how she believes we’re all fakes. It just don’t make sense.”
        “It is worrying, dear. But I think Princess Celestia is even more worried than even we are. In addition to the huge search and rescue effort, she’s posted guardsponies in every town, and even started a psychologist think-tank in Canterlot; headed by Dr. Capgras, I think his name was. Hopefully, they’ll quickly figure out what’s wrong, then we’ll have our Twilight and Rainbow back.”
        The interruption of their food arriving was a pleasant one. The meal passed quickly, with Applejack even admitting that the fancy food was good. After their meal was paid, the pair walked down to an open-air market that had been set up for the day.
        Perusing the market, the pair stuck together, wandering up and down the aisles. The Apple family had a booth hidden somewhere within the market, but Applejack had agreed to let Apple Bloom take care of the planning. The fact that the entire market hadn’t burned down yet was encouraging. Applejack decided she should probably check in on her, just to be safe. Ah think she wanted a booth near the main entrance. We should start there.
        Returning to the main entrance, Applejack and Rarity searched for the Apples’ stand. It was Rarity’s sense of smell, honed by her own sister’s misadventures with fires, that found it. The pair weaved their way through the crowd, pushing and squirming, until they finally reached the booth. Once their, Applejack sucked in a quick breath, then muttered to Rarity, “Is that—”
        “Uh-huh.”
        “And is everyone else—”
        “Yes.”
        “And are you?” Applejack craned her head to look at Rarity. They locked eyes, and Applejack was immediately reassured. But there’s still the problem of everypony else.
        “Hey, Applejack! Ah told ya, you don’t need to check in on me; I’m not a baby!”
        Applejack turned back to the forgotten stand. Not-Apple Bloom stood glaring at Applejack, looking exactly like the real Apple Bloom would have. Unfortunately for it, Applejack and Rarity knew the truth. “Oh, hey, uh, kid! How’s it, uh, goin’?”
        “Ah told ya ah wasn’t lettin’ Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo get anywhere near this stand or its planning. Now skedaddle!”
        “Sure, uh, Apple Bloom. Ah’ll just be leaving.” Applejack and Rarity slowly walked away, aware of each imposter’s eyes on them. It was going smoothly until they reached the edge of the crowd. Beyond the edge stood three not-guardsponies, who gestured towards the pair once they left the crowd.
        Ponyfeathers! “They’re onto us.” Applejack turned, away from the guards and towards the rear entrance. Pacing nervously, she didn’t notice the hulking not-guardspony standing at the rear entrance until she had run into him.
        Her reflexes took over, spinning her around and executing a kick practiced millions of times against apple trees massing much more than a mere, if large, imposter guardspony. Rarity whirled to face the trio of imposters following them. A touch of magic and a pair of opposing stands collapsed, completely blocking that lane. Dashing back to the front entrance, the pair melted into the crowd and disappeared.

~~~

        Princess Celestia was not happy. A month past, her coveted student had disappeared. A week later, the Wonderbolts’ primary candidate had followed. Today another pair had fallen and all her efforts to stop it had been thwarted. The Bearers’ experience had made them heroes, but had trained them to be excellent guerillas. 
        “Raise my sister, I must speak with her. And put bodyguards on the remaining Bearers of the Elements and escort them here. Whatever has afflicted the others will likely afflict them as well. Remind the guards that they could fall at any time. Encourage Dr. Capgras to expedite his research; we can’t afford delay.”
        If the remaining two Bearers were lost, Equestria would be in dire straits. Celestia couldn’t afford to let that happen. She sat upon her throne, and brooded on current events.

~~~

        “Ma’am, we’ll need you to come with us, for your own protection.”
        Fluttershy looked meekly at the ground, The guardsponies had always intimidated her. She stepped beside the guards, who flanked her on either side. A few paces from the train station, Fluttershy cried out and came to a stop.
        “Ow, I think I got something in my eye. Do you see anything?”
        Both guards leaned in for a closer look. There didn’t appear to b—

~~~

        “I am so glad that you’re here, girls. Only one of us is left missing, but I have the feeling that she’ll appear where we least suspect. I’ve got something important to tell you all, but it’ll keep until Pinkie gets here.”
> Chapter 4 - A Game of Identities
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4 - A Game of Identities


        Only one remained. Celestia brooded upon this fact as she sat upon her throne, glaring holes into the tapestries adorning the walls around her. Equestria can't survive without the Elements. A lone Bearer cannot control them all, though we do still possess them. Even without the Elements, the Bearers represent a serious threat to Equestria.
        A troubling thought. Until a few months ago, the thought of Twilight Sparkle harming Equestria would have been unthinkable. But in these times, the unthinkable is often far too common. It was obvious  that the Bearers would go after their last uncorrupted friend; they had few alternatives. If they possessed any of their former selves, they would allow nothing to stand in their way.
        Celestia saw no choices other than to guard the last remaining Bearer with all of Equestria's combined resources. The only thing worse than losing the Bearers would be to lose them and the Elements. Luckily, there was little chance that the Elements would be lost. They were sealed behind magics only she or her sister could tame. The Elements would not be lost.
        Rising from her throne, the Solar Guard snapped to attention.  Celestia turned to the Captain of her Solar Guard, Solaris Equinox. "Send a division to Ponyville, with all possible haste. Pinkie Pie has become the target of a rouge guerrilla group and she must be protected. I want her brought to the castle and placed under constant guard. Post only your most trustworthy and skilled guards."
        With a quick salute, Captain Equinox turned and shouted commands to his guard, preparing the march to Ponyville. Once everypony but Solaris had been dismissed, Celestia spoke once more to the Captain. "Even though your task is to protect the Bearer, you must equally prevent her from escaping, should she turn  as the others have. She cannot be allowed to escape and rejoin the others. Prevent this at all costs, Captain."
        Saluting in response, Captain Equinox left the room, leaving Celestia to brood in silence.

~~~

        "So why do you wear that?" Pinkie seemed to be a bottomless fountain of questions. For the duration of her trip, Pinkie spewed endless streams of inane questions and random statements.
        "Armor is equally for the preservation of self and the intimidation of Equestria's enemies."
        "That doesn't seem very comfortable to dance in."
        "Solar Guards rarely attend dances, and when doing so, never dance."
        "But why not? Dancing is so fun!"
        Solaris Equinox had to grimace and ignore the headache that had been developing over the long march. Luckily, they had arrived in Canterlot without any complications. Unfortunately, that left Pinkie as the only subject to focus on. Halfway through the march, then entire Solar Guard had been wishing for some highway robber or dragon to wander by. But it wasn't meant to be.
        The castle was now within view. Captain Equinox sent scouts forward to notify the Castle Guard of their arrival. The last thing they needed was to be ambushed waiting for the drawbridge. More scouts were sent parallel to their path, watching for any sign of an ambush.
        "Hey, Captain?"         
        Solaris' ears flicked with the subtle change in Pinkie's tone. Could this mean... "Yes, Pinkamena?"
        "Call me Pinkie. Do you want to play a game?"
        Relief flooded Solaris as he turned to face the pink pony. He felt a slight conflict between his desire to humor her and his duty, but he decided it couldn't hurt. "I suppose. What would you like to play?"
        They passed beneath the gates, which swung closed behind him. "It's called the Game of Thro— Wait, no, that's a different one. What was it called again?" Pinkie stared at the sky as she struggled to recall its name. "Oh, yeah! It's called the Game of Identities. Ever heard of it?"
        Captain Solaris had arrested many delinquents  playing many games, but he had never heard of that one.  Shaking his head, he opened the front door to the castle common area.
        "No? Odd, so many people have been playing it recently. It's pretty simple. Taking turns, you pick a pony, then pretend to be them. It's the other pony's job to guess who you're pretending to be. It's easy-peasy."
        Simple enough. "Who goes first?"
        "You, silly! You've already started!"
        Huh?
        "Are you... pretending to be the Captain of the Solar Guard?"
        Realization dawned on the Captain as he stared at Pinkie.
        "I'm right, aren't I? I'm the best!"
        Solaris jumped towards Pinkie, but ending only with a grasp of thin air. Running across the room, Pinkie shouted, "Sorry, pretenders! You can stop faking it now!" With that, she dashed out of the room.
        Gathering his Guard, he sent them around the numerous corridors of the castle, trying to cut off any escape routes Pinkie could follow. With the plan settled, Solaris dashed down the hall, following Pinkie.
        Following twists and turns, Pinkie led the Guard on a merry chase. Due to Solaris' foresight, her options were whittled away until only a lone hallway remained, coming to a dead end. At the end of the hall sat a closet, only barely large enough for a pony, with no windows or other exits. Unlike some of the older rooms, this closet was a new addition and thus wasn't connected to the secret passageways some of the other rooms did. But she doesn't know that.
        Captain Solaris was glad the chase was coming to an end. He didn't allow himself to become out of shape, but his elevated position didn't afford him as much exercise as his more humble positions had.
        Coming to the end of the hallway, Pinkie opened the door and slammed it shut behind her. With a click, the door locked and Solaris sighed as the upcoming destruction of castle property. "Please come out Pinkie. There are no other routes, and I really don't want to have to kick the door down. Doors are rather expensive."
        "Never! I've got to go see my friends, and you meanies aren't going to let me!"
        "Pinkie, I don't think your friends are in that broom closet. And the castle is protected against magic, so they can't just teleport you out, either. Please come out, before I have to forcibly come in there."
        "Beam me up, Scotty!"
        "I already told you— Never mind." Gesturing to Bent Banner, an incredible hulk of a pony, Captain Equinox stepped aside to let the larger pony through. Pulling back one hoof, Bent Banner struck the door, which promptly became a better window than door. 
        Stepping through, Solaris could only stare at the empty room before him. Turning back to Bent Banner, he gestured to the empty room. "Did you explode her too?"
Bent Banner gave a vigorous shake of his head and the rest of the Solar Guard nervously shied away, knowing there were few things that their Captain hated more than an unsuccessful mission. Ignoring their departure, Solaris turned his attention back to the abandoned room.
        Sighing, Captain Solaris Equinox began to wonder how he would tell the Princess of his failure.