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Chapter Eight: The Changeling's Test

"Ah still don't like how she went by herself." Applejack said as they walked around the throne room as the others paced nervously. "Ah don't trust those three changelings. They could be leading her into a trap! It's been days!"

"Honestly seeing as how they kept themselves disguised as cleaning ponies I wouldn't know if we could trust them." Rarity commented as she cleaned her throne as she looked around. "It's a good thing that we don't have lessons today. Arcane has been working us unicorns hard! Even Sweetie Belle mentioned that their training was easier then what they are going through. I was not meant for this type of training, I am a lady."

"Well it's either you get some work done or let King Sombra win." the orange earth pony snapped giving the purple maned unicorn a glare. "Shoot even Fluttershy has been working harder than you."

"She's probably looking for a chance to sped some time with Inkwell." the white pony replied as she set down that cloth. "I wonder if she finally noticed."

"Noticed what? They're just good friends." Rainbow Dash commented as she flew around. "Shouldn't we get back to worrying about Twilight? Missing a few days, does anypony else remember that?"

"We do Rainbow, we're just not sure what to do." Applejack replied honestly when the group heard arguing in the hall.

"I keep telling you I am Princess Twilight, the other is a fake!" said a very familiar voice in exasperation and the ponies rushed out to see what was going on. "Queen Chrysalis changed into me in order to trick my friends!"

"She's the lier I am Princess Twilight! How could you believe her?" questioned the same voice and the group came across Flash Sentry looking very confused at two Twilights. "Flash please I am the real one!"

"Oh dear." was the only thing that came out of Rarity's mouth. The two alicorns turned to their friends and smiled happily.

"Girls!" they said at the same time before glaring at each other.

"Wow there are two Twilights! That means two times the fun!" squealed Pinkie Pie as she bounced around the princesses.

"One of them is a fake." the rainbow maned pegasus reminded watching the two Twilights watch each other closely. "But which one! This is going to take forever!"

"Simple we ask them questions that only Twilight would know." Applejack reminded as she saw Pinkie Pie looking between the two and choosing the one on the right. "So Twilights, what was the first thing I said to you?"

"Well, howdy-doo, Miss Twilight, a pleasure makin' your acquaintance." both Twilights said at the same time earning a surprised look at Applejack. "You can't trust anything the fake is saying! She can read memories!"

"You should have said that before!" was the exasperated response from the farm pony looking at the both of them. "If we had the Elements of Harmony we would be able to tell."

"It's this one!" called Pinkie Pie bouncing into the air pointing towards the Twilight on the right. "She's the real Twilight!"

"We could always have them cast the spell and look at their auras." suggested Rarity as the pink pony pointed a hoof towards the Twilight on the right. "Pinkie Pie what in Equestria are you doing?"

"I've been trying to tell you that this one is the real Twilight!" answered the party planner earning a surprised look from both Twilights. "She has the warm fuzzy feeling I get from Twilight. If you just stop thinking you'll feel it as well!"

"Ah don't get it." Applejack admitted before taking a deep breath. "But Pinkie's right, we got to stop thinking and focus on the bonds we made as friends."

The ponies nodded and closed their eyes both Twilights glanced towards each other both with hope in their eyes. Pinkie Pie clinging to the one on the right.

"Pinkie Pie is right." Rarity said walking over to the one Pinkie was clinging to. "This one is the real Twilight."

"Oh hello Twilight." Fluttershy called from behind as she walked up looking tired. "Twilight."

"Oh great." grumbled Rainbow Dash as the yellow pegasus froze before looking at her doubled friend. "We're trying to figure out which one is the real one."

"Oh my." mumbled Fluttershy before looking at them before clearing her throat. "Well I think that both seem nice."

"Oh you've got to be kidding me." groaned both Twilights shaking her head.

"The jig is up!" Rainbow exclaimed fiercely flying over to the Twilight on the left. "Show yourself changeling!"

The two Twilight's glanced at each other again, both with an unimpressed look.

"Well, well, well it seems like you have such a strong friendship." both Twilights replied their eyes narrowing. "Let us see if you are correct in your assumption. Are you sure you have picked the right one?"

"Yup!" was the only response from one pink ponies the others nodded their head silently feeling uncertain. Fluttershy just smiled as she stood next to the right one. The Twilight's hummed thoughtfully before the left one began to changed slowly as the one on the right rolled her eyes. All the ponies tensed as Twilight turned to the changeling queen.

"A deal is a deal Queen Chrysalis." Twilight said looking at the queen who huffed and looked away. "You promised to join us if my friends would be able to tell us apart."

"Wait this was all planned?" the rainbow maned pony choked out in surprise. "Why in all of Equestria would you do that Twilight?"

"I agree it is too much of a risk." Rarity commented looking at the changeling who rolled her eyes. "She could have mind controlled you! You aren't mind controlled are you?"

"If I was you could tell by my eyes being blank and green." Twilight replied shaking her head. "Look, Queen Chrysalis needed to test my resolve. I thought at first she was going to replace me but she suggested that we test you girls as well. Testing our friendships, so we made a bet if I won she would join us but if she won..."

"I would have taken her place and she would join the changelings." Chrysalis replied earning a gasp from all the ponies, Flash did not look happy. "However from a queen to a princess, I must say am I impressed. Your acting skills are as good as a changelings."

"I was connected to you so you could gain my memories. Memories are like a door, both can look through it." Twilight explained as the others gave her a confused look. "The changelings who are higher up can peer into a pony's memories so they can act naturally when they take a form. This way they can act naturally around the pony's loved ones. Chrysalis is a tactician which is why it is best she is on our side."

"Yes your friendship is quite lovely." the changeling queen said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes before looking around. "There is just one thing that is missing here. A map of Equestria, this way during the war you can keep an eye on Sombra's troop movements during this upcoming war."

The changeling queen walked into the throne room and looked at the floor where there was a gold circle with a white star in the middle of it. Chrysalis looked at the floor with interest before standing on the circle.

"This would be an appropriate place for a world map." the Queen of the Changelings mused before giggling.

"What?" Rainbow Dash demanded glaring at Chrysalis who ignored the motion as she replied. "I wonder if you have the time to make one. Before I continue I must head back to the hive. My drones need to know who's side we are on."

Before the ponies could say anything the changeling vanished in fire.

"Now what in the hay does she mean by that?" Applejack asked as a purple dragon with green spikes peered around his throne. "It's alright Spike, she's gone."

"R-really?" the dragon inquired as he walked out from behind the seat. "She's scary."

"Ah can't believe that she's on our side, she might have her own agenda." the orange pony thought out loud. "Are you sure we can trust her?"

"She could have just mind controlled me and had us surrender but she didn't, I think that warrants some form of trust." Twilight replied sitting on her throne before sighing. "We can not win this war without friends even with those who have wronged us before. Spike I need you to check on the library see what is in there about this castle."

"Alright." sighed Spike before heading off to the library, he wanted to stay. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to figure out what Queen Chrysalis meant by appropriate spot." was the last thing the princess of friendship said before sitting on her throne.

A sudden wind blew through the castle entering the library where a large white Earth pony stallion stood watching a purple dragon.

"Seed, the wind has a message." whispered a vine tapping him on the shoulder. "The claw has been found."

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