//------------------------------// // chapter three // Story: Famine // by rabidplushy //------------------------------// Finally, while exploring ancient ruins deep in the Everfree Forest, Twilight discovered something, ancient ruins containing a strange stone that was encased in a thick layer of moss. Twilight immediately knew this was the stone she was looking for but something was wrong. She could feel a dark, sinister energy radiating from the stone. Against her better judgment, Twilight touched the stone, hoping it would somehow lead her to the answer she had been searching for. A sudden, blinding light engulfed her, and she lost consciousness. When Twilight woke up, she found herself in a twisted, nightmarish version of Equestria. After touching the stone, Twilight saw the horror that was to come , many ponies had turned to cannibalism in order to survive and were now covered from head to hoof in blood wandering around ,They were tearing apart innocent ponies in a frenzy, a crazed look in their eyes. Twilight was in shock. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her own friends were now cannibals. They were completely consumed by their hunger, their only goal to slaughter as many ponies as they could to survive. The shocking scene playing out before her eyes made Twilight's heart race with fear. She'd seen much in her studies, but even the most gruesome images from the darkest, most twisted books she'd ever read paled in comparison to what she was witnessing now. The thought of her own friends turning on each other in this way was more terrifying than anything she could have imagined, and she couldn't bear to watch any longer. Twilight suddenly bolted upwards, breath heavy and her heart racing. She had been having a terrible nightmare, but it was over now. She was still in the ruins, but the creatures she had seen in her vision seemed to be a sign of what was to come , the horrible nightmare that would come true if she couldn't find a cure for the famine that was plaguing Equestria. Twilight's face was filled with panic as she rushed out of the Everfree Forest, trying to push away the dreadful images from her nightmare that kept playing in her mind. She was desperate to find a solution to the famine in ponyville and to prevent the apocalyptic nightmare she'd witnessed in her dream from becoming reality. So her friends wouldn't starve , so that nightmare she saw would never come true. Now more than ever she knew she had to make this right. Twilight Sparkle burst through the door to her house, still breathing heavily and overwhelmed by the vision she had seen in her dream. She immediately rushed towards her study, desperate to find any information about the cure she was searching for. As Twilight rushed into her study, she was met by Spike's concerned face. "Twilight what's wrong,is everything ok?" Spike said, rushing over to her with concern in his voice. Twilight Sparkles took a deep breath, trying to remain calm as she explained to Spike the vision she had witnessed in the Everfree Forest. "I saw terrible things, Spike. I saw ponies turning on each other, tearing each other apart . It was as if their hunger had robbed them of all reason and they just all turned into these vicious monsters!" Spike was horrified by the image Twilight had just described. He couldn't believe that such a thing could be possible, and to have the thought of the ponies he cared about turning on each other was a terrifying concept. "But that can't possibly be real, Twilight. Ponies won't become that hungry. They would find something I'm certain that's just not true. Maybe the stone isn't even accurate, maybe it's just cursed!" Spike argued, trying to reason with the possibility of this dystopia Twilight was describing. Twilight Sparkles seemed frustrated at Spike's inability to grasp the seriousness of the situation. "This isn't a simple 'I'm a little hungry.' thing spike. The ponies in my vision had become mindless with hunger, unable to think straight or control themselves. They were complete monsters! It's like they weren't even ponies anymore! As much as I wish it were not so, this is a very real possibility and must be taken seriously.'' "You know how serious the famine has become, Spike. We've tried everything we could, but the situation is just getting worse. Ponies are suffering and dying. That's why I have to find out how to fix this.Do you understand now?" Spike nodded."Of course and I'll do my best to help you twilight." Twilight sat at her desk, frantically researching spells and potions. She was determined to find a solution. The search was getting desperate now, and Twilight now turned to the darkest corners of her knowledge seeking a spell that would solve all of Equestria's problems. "Come on, there must be something in one of these books or scrolls." Twilight said to herself, frantically scanning one magic text after another. Twilight Sparkles had nearly exhausted her search of the books and scrolls in her study when she came across a mention of an ancient book in one of the old magical texts she was looking through. The book was said to contain powerful spells and dark knowledge that had been lost for centuries and was said to be hidden away in the Princesses Tower. It seemed the book even had a spell to cure hunger. She immediately called for her faithful assistant spike hoping to find the ancient book and discover the secret to fighting the famine and preventing the nightmarish scene she'd envisioned from becoming reality. "SPIKE!" She yelled in excitement. Spike was startled by Twilight's sudden burst of excitement. "This says there is an ancient book that may be hidden in the princesses tower, one that can cure hunger! i need you to send her a message for me asking her if she's ever heard of this book,This could be just what we need!" "Yes ma'am!" Spike said writing down the request on the scroll then sending it off to the princess" Twilight watched as Spike wrote down the message and sent it off, eager to hear the response. She was filled with anticipation A few moments pass and they receive their response. Twilight Sparkles received the message from Princess Celestia, and her stomach dropped as she read her response. "The book you are referring to is not something you need Twilight sparkle , nor is it something I wish upon you . I have made a point of hiding its existence for a reason, in the hopes of preventing it from falling into the wrong hands. The book is far too powerful and dangerous. It's not something anypony should toy with," Princess Celestia wrote. Twilight was filled with defiance as she read Princess Celestia's warning. She refused to back down in her fight against the famine, and planned to break into the castle and recover the book, regardless of the danger it posed, No matter what anyone said she knew she had to get her hands on this book.. "Spike, I'm going to break into the Princesses Tower and find this book. Nothing will deter me or stop me from finding a cure. Do you understand?" "But, Princess Celestia said it may be too dangerous to use. The book is extremely powerful and can cause great harm if it's not properly controlled." Spike protests, trying to change her mind. But Twilight was determined and wouldn't listen to reason at this point. "The fate of Ponyville is at stake, Spike. I don't care if the book is dangerous, we have no choice but to risk it. I'm going to find the book, one way or another."