Continuing along the path, Twilight started to notice some changes in the garden around her. Less flowers grew, and more darker things made up the landscape. The boles of trees made for impassible mountainous barriers, between which mushrooms grew in abundance. She suspected she was into the outskirts of the Everfree forest, and things would be getting a lot more dangerous.

It wasn't long before the the sun disappeared completely, and only the occasional stray beam reached the ground. Coming around a particularly large mushroom stalk, she stepped into one of these beams, and stopped in amazement. Before her was a rather curious sight, in the middle of a clearing. A rather large mushroom, colored a bright blue, on which sat something that made her brain hurt to think about. It resembled Fluttershy, her quiet yellow pegasus friend, but where her friend had only four hooves, this creature’s body was stretched out to more than a dozen legs. It was still yellow, and her head sported the usual pink mane, but the body seemed to have been duplicated over and over to a ridiculous caricature of the pony she knew.

As she approached, the yellow aberration slowly looked in her direction, while chewing lazily on some sort of green stem. She (it?) stared down at her with an expression of disinterest, as she looked up in amazement. “It’s not polite to stare like that, dearie. Letting your mouth hang open is most unbecoming as well.” Slowly the Flutterpillar swallowed the mouthful of green it was munching, and continued to chew lazily at the stem. It’s voice was similar to Fluttershy’s, but slow and drawn out, as if drugged.

“Uhh.. Fluttershy, is that you? What the hay happened to you?” The mare started to get angry. “What is the meaning of all this, and why did you throw that powder in my face?”

As she simmered, the creature just looked at her without changing it’s expression. After a few moments of idle chewing, it swallowed again and responded. “Who are you?”

“Who am I? WHO AM I? You know who I am!” Twilight seethed, trying to control her temper but losing ground. “I’m Twilight, the bearer of the element of Magic. I’m your friend, and the one you knocked out and sent to this insane place where nothing makes sense! You know who I am!”

Again, the yellow beast chewed silently, before answering. “No. You are not.” Before Twilight could muster a response, it continued on. “You are a rude little filly, who thinks that they know me, or this world. You look around you, yet you do not see. You are lost, and seek the path home. You wish to know the answers, but are not yet ready to accept the truth before you.” The Flutterpillar stopped a moment to punctuate with the stem. “That is what you are.”

Utterly floored by the answer, the lavender mare paused in shock, as her anger ebbed away. “I never... but I... Wait, what? Then who are you?”

“I am the caterpillar. One day I will not be the caterpillar, and then I will be something else. But until then, this is who I am.”

“But that doesn't make any sense!” She stomped her hoof, getting frustrated again.

“Not everything makes sense, Twilight Sparkle. You must learn to see the truth as it is, and not as you wish it to be. Only then, can you set your mind free and return home.” the creature started to turn away, facing away from the unicorn. “Now hurry along now, you are late for your audience. You wouldn't want to lose that pretty purple head of yours by angering the Queen.”

“Who is this queen? Why does she want to see me?” Twilight tried to trot around to face the creature, but it’s body blocked the view now.

“I think you know who she is. As for why she wants to see you, that is for her to tell you. Now hurry along, and don't forget to taste a piece after you are gone.” Now completely hidden in the pile of limbs, the yellow creature’s voice grew tired and sluggish.

Twilight rolled her eyes, completely sick of the riddles. “Taste what? Will you stop being so cryptic?”

“The mushroom, of course...” and as the voice faded away, a green glow creeped over the still yellow form. Twilight quickly backed away, and was shocked as the glow flashed briefly, and the yellow creature had been changed into a massive pink chrysalis.

Not sure what to do next, she used her magic to carve off a small piece of the mushroom, and stash it in her saddlebag. Looking around, she could see no other way out of the clearing other than the way she had entered. “Just great. I forgot to ask how to find the queen.”

Suddenly the sound of a party horn made her jump several feet in the air. She spun around in mid-jump and managed to land back on her hooves, facing her was the now-familiar grin of the Pinkie-cat.

“You really aren’t very good at this, are you?” The creature shook its head, managing to still appear disapproving, despite it’s manic grin. “Remember what I told you last time?”

“Last time? Last time you said to read the sign!” She spun around to point at the edge of the clearing behind her. “But this time there is no... Sign?” and sure enough, there was a path with a sign next to it.

She spun back around to glare at the grinning feline, but unsurprising, there was nothing there. Even the grin had already faded away. With a heavy sigh, Twilight turned back to the path, and began to move forward again. “What the hay is New Jersey?” she muttered to herself.

Moving down the new path, the landscape quickly changed again. Gone were the pale mushrooms and darkened canopy, replaced by a neatly manicured lawn, hedges, and a clear blue sky. It seemed to be more of a formal garden, and less of the wildness that permeated Fluttershy’s garden. Of course, this equated to gargantuan mountains of green and a low forest of stalks.

She was grateful that the lawn was so well tended, and it afforded easy going with the grass clipped so short. She was traveling though a hedged portion of the garden, and soon came to a rose garden. Massive trees of green sported perfect white roses everywhere. Even the rose bushes seemed to be trimmed into neat compact shapes, mostly resembling a diamond from a deck of playing cards.

She had stopped to admire one of the bushes, when suddenly there was a rumbling, as if a stampede was in progress. She looked for cover, and managed to duck under one of the bushes just before several large white shapes came into view. They appeared to be sewing mannequins, similar to what she had seen in her friend Rarity’s dress shop. In addition, they were all outfitted with uniforms, as if being used as mobile display stands. Brilliant blue uniforms were embossed with white diamonds on the flanks, in a mirror of her friend Rarity’s own colors and cutie mark. They all marched along without any sort of eyes of features, in perfect formation, passing the unicorn by without a glance.

When they were gone, she slowly extracted herself from the underbrush, and stared in dismay in the direction the figures had marched. It was the same direction she was traveling, and she feared being trampled if she continued on the path. “Now what? I don’t want to get stepped on by fake ponies, but they are so big!”

A familiar voice sang behind her:

“You often get such good advice,
But you very seldom follow it...”

Once again she spun around to glare at the feline shape. “Hello Twilight. You know, for a pony that is supposed to be so smart, you don’t listen very well.”

“What are you talking about now? I will have you know I listen very well, thank you.” Twilight gave a snort and stomped her hoof in irritation.

“Well then, why didn't you listen to what the caterpillar said? She told you what you need to know and what you need to do. Just do it silly!”

“B-but?” She stammered.

“DO IT!” and the pink apparition vanished with a pop.

“Do what? Darn it Pinkie!” She thumped her head, trying to remember. “Hmmm... She said I need to learn to see the truth, but that doesn't make any sense. She also said I need to...” Suddenly it hit her. ...taste the mushroom!” She decided it made a twisted sense. If a drink made her smaller, maybe the food would reverse it.

She quickly levitated the chunk of fungus out of her bag and hovered it before her. Suddenly she wasn't so sure about this, knowing some mushrooms could be poisonous. She decided to try only a taste, and carefully licked the spongy chunk. She immediately felt a tingle, and the ground receded a few inches. Smiling at her successful experiment, she bit down on the chunk and ate half of it in one bite.

At first nothing happened, and she was puzzled. But after several moments, her entire body began to tingle, and then in a flash, she was back to her full height. Startled, she lost her magic hold on the mushroom, and staggered, falling on her rump. “Wow, that pack one hay of a kick!” Looking down she saw the uneaten piece of mushroom, seemingly grown in size along with her. Now that she thought about it, her saddlebags had changed size as well, which made no sense. She sighed sadly, “Nothing makes sense here, nothing at all.”

Getting back to her hooves with a sigh, she stashed the rest of the mushroom in her bags. Now that she was her normal self, she could look around the garden. The hedges came just to eye height, and she could just barely see over them. She stopped and smelled the roses, since after all, she had read that it was a good thing to do. They did smell wonderful.

Trotting down the path, soft grass under her hooves and bright sunny sky overhead, she started to cheer up. Her stress started to fall away, and for the first time since waking up she felt good. She just needed to get to this White Queen, and maybe her questions would get answered. With a smile on her muzzle, she broke into a canter, and hurried on her way.

Soon enough, the path opened into a large area, surrounded by hedges and rose bushes. At the far end, she could make out a large pavilion set up and a table underneath, with ponies and other creatures milling about. The pavilion was white with the familiar blue diamond pattern of her friend Rarity, and the flags surrounding the area were the inverted blue field with the white diamond she had seen the mannequins wearing.

As she approached, she saw many ponies that looked familiar, but not quite. Faces she had seen in passing through Ponyville, but subtly altered as to not quite be recognisable. At the table she thought she saw her friends Applejack and Derpy, in their forms as the Mad Hatter and the March Mare, Pinkie-Cat grinned at her and blinked lazily from the head of the table, where Rarity sat in a regal gown upon a throne, with a crown full of diamonds on her head. She seemed to be stroking Pinkie like a pet. She even thought she saw Rainbow Dash, wearing a strange wig and bonnet, and holding a crying orange pegasus foal, which she smacked to keep quiet. None of them seemed to notice her arrival, save Pinkie, who gave her a wink and continued acting cat-like under the attentions of Rarity.

Suddenly, as she arrived, Angel came shooting out from under the table. He was looking cross as usual, and charged straight at the unicorn, waving his pocket watch in her face. “You are LATE! I told you to follow me, and you didn't even listen to a simple command as that. How can you impress the Queen, if you are unable to follow simple instructions?”

Twilight had had enough. She used a spell to seal the rabbit’s mouth shut, and glared at him. “That will be enough from you, Angel. I have been through too many inexplicable things today because of whatever you and Fluttershy did, and I am about to get some answers for a change.”

The rabbit’s eyes went wide, and he waved his paws frantically, but she ignored him and stepped around the little bunny to approach the table. As she arrived, the others turned to notice her finally, Applejack and Derpy waving, Pinkie giving her another wink, and Rarity looking down her muzzle at her from the raised throne. Rainbow Dash just glared at her crossly, and shook the little foal to make it quiet again.

Ignoring the looks she was getting, the determined mare marched up to the throne and it’s bejeweled occupant. “Rarity! Will you please tell me what the hay is going on? Why is everypony acting crazy, and why did you have everyone trying to bring me to you?”

Looking rather shocked at the abrupt manner of her newest guest, the white mare paused a moment to form an answer. “Well my dear, you must be the other unicorn I have heard so much about. I am afraid there has been a bit of misunderstanding. While beauty like mine is truly rare in my kingdom, I am the White Queen of Diamonds here, and you would do well to address me as such.” She paused a moment to let the words sink in, then continued. “As to why I invited you to my tea party, it was merely a matter of courtesy, from one unicorn to another. Royalty such as ours is as rare as my beauty, and it behooves me to extend courtesies to a fellow unicorn.”

“Oh no, not you too!” Twilight shook her head and backed away a few steps. “This is ridiculous! You are NOT a queen. Equestria doesn't even have a queen, and if anypony would be the queen it would be Princess Celestia, not you.” She started to fume, as her anger grew. “No, all of you are CRAZY! Every last one of you are like a bad dream trying to make me go insane myself. And if none of you will help me find a way out of here, I will find it myself!”

This had the immediate effect of making every pony present gasp, except Pinkie-Cat, who giggled. It had the secondary effect of turning the white mare a definite shade of scarlet as her anger boiled out of control. But just as she seemed about to explode, causing Twilight to take a step back, her face cleared. “It appears it was I that was mistaken.” Her voice dripped venomous scorn. “I mistook you for a royal magic user such as myself, but it appears you are nothing more than a commoner with a horn. But that is an oversight easily corrected.” Looking up and out over the rest of the crowd, she suddenly bellowed, “OFF WITH HER HORN!”

The other ponies gasped again, and Twilight tried to look for an exit. However, the mannequin ponies appeared again, as if from thin air, and quickly surrounded her. She was overwhelmed by them and quickly brought to the ground by the press.”No! No, let me go! You are all crazy! I have to get out of here!” But her cries fell on deaf ears, seeing as the guards didn't have real ears to begin with.

“My dear! Dearie! OH QUEEENIE!” A voice was heard over the commotion, and all eyes turned to the newcomer who had been hiding behind the throne.

“What do you want, Husband? Can’t you see Momma is busy at the moment?” the queen scornfully addressed the small purple dragon who was groveling next to her.

Twilight was so shocked, she stopped struggling. “Husband?”

Spike continued on, “I know how much you enjoy a good punishment, my dear, but we really should follow the laws. The laws state that the accused should at least get a fair trial before sentencing.”

“I AM THE LAW!” The queen roared back at the cowering dragon.

“Y-yes, but you made the laws, and without laws there w-would be chaos. It’s only fair. pleasdonthurtme...” as he covered his head and shrank away from the enraged mare.

She continued to glare at him in silence for a few moments more, before deflating with a weary sigh. “Fine, ok. We shall have a trial.”

At that, the other ponies and creatures cheered, except for Angel, who was now glaring daggers at Twilight. Most of the guards holding her let the unicorn up, but stayed near, as others ran onto the field and whisked away the table. Chairs were arranged in rows, and a smaller table was set in front of the throne, where a podium was now being set up. Twilight was marched over to the table, and left to stand, flanked by two of the silent guards.

As the trial started, the king-dragon read out a list of accusations. They were entirely made up and obserd, ranging from nose picking to poor hygiene. Twilight began to feel her anger boil as the proceedings began to make less and less sense. One at a time the other ponies were brought forth to testify, most of which had no bearing on the case.

“Miss March Mare, do you remember the accused?” intoned the Queen, acting as judge to the proceedings.

“Oh, I remember her, she didn't eat any muffins. Who could possibly hate muffins?” Derpy hung her head.

“I love muffins! I get a basket of blueberry delivered every morning. However, I can never eat them all if I want to keep my figure!” Rarity leaned on the podium, and dramatically grasped her breast in a profession of her love for muffins.

“Oh yes, blueberry is my favorite. I will have to bring you some tomorrow!” The blonde mare nodded and stepped down from the stand.

Next was Applejack, with an even larger than normal hat, in what looked like an attempt dress up to the occasion. She ambled to the seat near the podium, and smiled at the crowd. “Howdy y’all!”

“So, Miss Hatter, what do you remember about the accused?”

“Well, she drank all mah cider, when Ah told her it ain't fer fillies. Then that little run went an ruined mah best hat when she chucked all over it!” The orange mare glared into the audience, where a yellow filly tried to hide.

“Ahm sorry sis, I didn’t mean to drink all the cider! It was just so yummy!” The small pony looked down and kicked at the ground with a hoof.

The queen looking confused looked back and forth between the two sisters. “Ahh... Miss Applejack, we are not talking about your sister. We are talking about Miss Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn over there.” pointing a hoof at the accused.

Applejack took off her hat and squinted at Twilight. “Hmm.. Never seen her before in mah life.”

Twilight just facehoofed at this, and the queen called for more witnesses. When none stepped forward she clopped her hoof on the podium to get attention, then addressed the lavender mare directly. “Twilight Sparkle, you stand here accused of crimes against the fabulous crown, and of generally annoying me. How do you plead?”

“You all are bucking crazy!” Twilight just stomped, and snorted in anger.

Without missing a beat, the queen went on. “Be that as it may, I hereby pronounce you guilty. Your sentence is to have your horn removed. The sentence is to be carried out immediately.”

“What? you can’t do this! You are all insane!” Twilight started to back away, as the guards closed in on her. She started to look for an exit as she charged her horn to teleport away.

Suddenly, there was a flutter of color in her face, and a large butterfly with a yellow body and pink wings flapped in front of her. It gently landed on her horn, and she could hear the voice in her head. “You still are not listening to my advice. Why do I bother to help ponies if they never listen to me?”

Confused, Twilight tried to think. What did she forget this time? What had the caterpillar said to her? It seemed like a lifetime ago already, yet it had only been earlier that day. Something about seeing the truth. Seeing what is real and not what she wants to see. But that’s crazy. There is no reason she would ever want to see any of this! Madness and chaos, disorder and mayhem. She hated it all, and would never willingly want to see this.

Unless...
Unless the truth was worse.

She blinked, and looked around her, this time truly SEEING around her. Suddenly everything changed. What she thought were her friends, suddenly weren’t ponies at all. Instead, there were goblin looking creatures, all skin and wrinkles, grossly exaggerated. Applejack was now a tall, thin goblin, with a massive head and even larger top hat. Derpy was an old brown rabbit, every bit as large as the hatter. She saw Rainbow Dash as a sour faced old troll, and Rarity was an even uglier troll with a massive head and teeth like a mule.

Pinkie was... Pinkie. “What did you expect? I was gonna turn into a cat or something?” The pink pony giggled and bounced off the table, then away towards the nearest hedge, where she promptly vanished upon colliding with it.

Twilight shook her head to clear her thoughts, and noticed that creatures resembling ambulatory playing cards were about to latch onto her. She quickly teleported behind the throne, and levitated out the piece of mushroom from her bags.

“That’s it! I have had enough of this place!” She clomped the fungus chunk and swallowed it whole. In moments she was growing again, and soon towered over all the creatures around her. “None of you are real, none of you are my friends, and I AM GOING HOME!” With a stomp, she flattened the throne, and the goblin sitting on it. In a burst of smoke, the creature vanished, and immediately all the other creatures similarly exploded. As the dust flew up in her face, she got a muzzle full, and sneezed so hard her eyes closed and she felt like she was falling.

Opening her eyes, she blinked, and rubbed her muzzle. it came away covered in dust, and she blinked at it for a moment, before realizing she wasn't laying on grass. She was laying on a mat in Fluttershy’s hut, and her friend was nervously peering at her.

“Did it work, Angel Bunny?” She turned to her companion.

In return, he just shrugged. ‘What the hay do I know, I’m a rabbit, not a mind reader!’ he seemed to say.

Twilight groaned and got to her hooves, she felt groggy, but her head was quickly clearing. “Fluttershy, what the hay happened? How long was I out? Where the hay WAS I?”

“Umm.. Well, I don’t know Twilight. Everyone experiences the mind-walk differently. What you saw was from your own mind, and for you alone to know.” She shyly fidgeted with the edge of the mat. “You weren’t out for more than a moment. You just froze a few seconds after the powder hit you, then you sneezed and fell over. You opened your eyes right away.”

“Are you kidding me? I was wandering around in that nightmare for hours! I swear my hooves are sore from all the walking I did.” Twilight shook her head. “That's, just not possible.”

Fluttershy handed her a damp rag to clean off the dust, being careful to keep her mask on. “It’s true. Supposedly the faster the mind, the longer the experience lasts, and you stay until you find the way out. You are the smartest pony I know, so maybe that is why yours seemed so long.”

“I just don’t get it, and entire day in an instant. It’s amazing! And I learned... What did I learn?” she turned to her friend, who was doing her usual peek-a-boo hair routine.

“You learned how to see the real behind the illusion, and keep control of your mind. You learned to see the truth as it is, and not as you wish it to be.” She blinked then looked down. “Or that’s what I read, I guess.”

Twilight stared at her friend a moment, certain she heard the condescending tone of the Caterpillar for a moment. No, this was the real Fluttershy, not that uppity grub. She sighed, and reached forward to hug her friend. “Thank you Fluttershy. It was strange, but if it helps me in a fight, I owe you big time.”

The shy pegasus returned the hug. “Your welcome Twilight. I’m just glad I could help my friends.”

As she headed for the door, still processing everything she had seen, she paused a moment. Then turning to glare at the rabbit holding the door open, she whispered low for only him to hear. “I know your secret now, so don’t you forget it!” Her irises had contracted to pinpoints, and an insane grin flashed across her face for just a moment, before going back to normal. She turned away and trotted out the door.

Slamming the door in a panic, the little rabbit leaned against it with a sigh, breathing heavy. he looked over to Fluttershy, who was looking at him puzzlingly. He put on his best smile, and shrugged hugely, as if to say, ‘I dunno, that mare is crazy!’