//------------------------------//
// Act 1, Chapter 3 
// Story: S3TT 
// by xzillerationer 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 3:
1. 
What a wonderful month! Celestia really is the best! But, Celestia’s telling me that she’s been hearing voices recently, or rather, she’s been hearing them for a long time, and for some reason, just told me. It’s weird, I’d think she’d tell me that something so horrible has been happening. I’ve tried to get her to go to the doctor’s, but she won’t listen! But, lately, I’ve been hearing them too...maybe it’s something magic? Whatever, or whoever, it is, I’m starting to get scared. I’ll go ask Zecora about it tomorrow.
Diary of Twilight Sparkle.


The Everfree forest is a strange, mysterious, and magical place. Or, at least it used to be, before it was torn down and replaced with a mall. Many have said that this mall was a bad idea, that it ruined the forest, it destroyed acres of wildlife. However, evidence is weighed towards the contrary. Life in Ponyville became much more pleasant, as it revitalised the economy. Rarity had a better place to sell and show off her dresses, and the Sweet Apple Orchard sold thousands more apples as ponies from across Equestria came to visit the new stores in Ponyville. It allowed Applejack to take a break from bucking apples and tend to her foal. It even allowed Zecora to prosper, even without her home.
“You sure Zecora works down here?” Twilight said, marvelling at the modernness of the the mall.
“Positive, sugarcube, she runs the potion shop. Most days Applebloom is either there, at the farm, or with her new coltfriend.” Applejack said, trotting with Twilight.
“Oooh! Ooh! Mom! Look!” A dark yellow filly pointed to a new toy in a window, “Can I get it? Please? Please?” 
“Not now, Appleseed, I have to show Twilight here over to Zecora’s, maybe on the way back.” Applejack said to Appleseed.
“Oh, AJ, it’s okay. This isn’t that important, it can wait a few minutes.” Twilight said to Applejack, smiling.
“Oh, alright,” Applejack says, as she takes out a few coins and hands them to her daughter, “Y’all go get it, Appleseed.”
Appleseed’s eyes light up, shouting off a quick “Thank you mommy!” before darting off into the store.
“Hell, it’ll give you a an I a chance to talk.” Applejack states with a serious expression as she casually sits on a bench, nodding for Twilight to do the same.
“Talk about what, Applejack?” Twilight replies as she sits down on the bench per Applejack’s orders.
“We don’t got much time, so I’ll be quick. What was so urgent you had to see Zecora today? And then suddenly not important enough that Appleseed o’er there could go an buy her new toy?”
Twilight fakes a grin, “Well, I need some...ingredients for a spell I’m working on!” 
“Ingredients? Yeah, sure. Yer lucky, here comes Appleseed.” Applejack says as she points over to Appleseed, diligently playing with her new toy airplane, “Let’s go. But this isn’t over.” Applejack shoots Twilight, now starting to sweat a little, a glare, and stands up, and walks over to Appleseed, “What ya got there, punkin?”
“It’s a toy plane! It’s so awesome!” Appleseed says as she nearly topples over playing with the plane, before being caught by Applejack.
“Whoa! Watch yerself there, punkin, don’t wanna break yer new toy.” Applejack says, as she smiles at her filly, “Anyways, we gotta be going, we just gotta show Twilight to Zecora, I gotta talk to her after, then we can go play with yer new toy at the park!” Applejack says with a smile.
Appleseed’s eyes light up even more as she heard her mother say they could play in the park, “Oh boy! C’mon Ms Sparkle, let’s go!” Appleseed almost yells as she drags Applejack in the direction of Zecora’s shop. 
“C’mon, Twilight, it seems Appleseed here is excited!” Applejack laughs, “Wouldn’t wanna disappoint her!” 
Twilight giggles, “Well, okay.” 
The trio make it to Zecora’s ingredient shop, where Applebloom tends to the counter, “Twilight? Oh, hi, Twilight!” Applebloom says, “What brings you here!”
“We came here to talk to Zecora, is she in?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, she’s in, but, she’s busy at the moment.” Applebloom casually remarked.
“Well, what’s she busy with?” Twilight asked, perplexed.
“She’s in the back, helping ah customer.” 
Twilight nearly jumps at the sound of a door slamming open behind her, “Goodbye, my client, you’ll find my wares are most reliant.” Zecora says, waving goodbye at a blue stallion, “Ah, Twilight Sparkle, you are before my eyes, with your visit, you bring me great surprise!” 
“Hello, Zecora, how’s it going?” Twilight asks, happy to see her friend again.
“My profits have been wonderful, no short help from Applebloom!” Zecora says, forcing the rhyme.
“Well, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something...it’s kind of important...” Twilight says, trailing off her words.
“Of course you can talk to me, my words won’t sting you, like a bee.”
Applejack springs up, “Applebloom, could you watch Appleseed o’er here for a few moments, I gotta go grab somethin’ and I need her not to see it.”
“Sure, big sis, what ya grabbin’?”
“I need to grab her a birthday presunt, and she needs ta not see it.” 
Applebloom stares at Appleseed’s toy plane, confused, “But didn’t you already buy her that there plane?”
“Well, I did, but I was gonna get her somethin’ else this year. She’s been eyeing a certain dress for weeks now. ‘An I’ve been waitin’ until now t’uh get it for her.” Applejack replies, “Don’t worry, I’ll  be back.”
“Oh, alright, fine.” Applebloom says, half pouting sarcastically.
“Hey, Appleseed!” Applejack says, rearing her mare’s attention, “I gotta go out for a few minutes, Applebloom here is gonna take care o’ you while I’m gone.”
Appleseed looks at Applebloom before looking at her mother, “Okay!” she yells, before going back to furiously playing with her airplane.
Applejack smiles at her daughter, “Okay, I’ll see you all later!” she says before trotting out the door. 
“Well, now that Applejack is gone, Appleseed is busy, and Applebloom seems like she has a customer, maybe we could go in the back and talk now?” Twilight asks Zecora.
“Yes, let’s go back there, where we shall find answers, for a curious mare.”
Twilight puts on a nervous smile, and walks into the back with Zecora, “Thanks for taking me on such short notice, Zecora.”
“It’s no problem, my friend, I’m always glad to help when you’re in a dead end.” Twilight smiles as Zecora continues, “Now what is it that you require, for you shall not get any ire.”
“Well...I’ve been hearing these voices lately, and nothing I try can do anything about it. My...friend has also been hearing them, but she won’t do anything about it.”
“Oh, yes, I see, but many problems, this may be.” Zecora replies, with a look of concern on her face, “We must test, and be sure, because there may be, no cure.”
Twilight smiles, hoping for a cure, but then frowns at the reality of the situation, “You sure about that? This is really getting annoying...”
“I am not sure, but neither are you, now take this, and drink up my stew.” Zecora says as she takes out a vial from her cabinet, “It allows me to see your thoughts, which will let me your mind’s knots!” 
Twilight takes the vial from Zecora and nervously sips it, before drinking it all by direction from Zecora. “Well? Anything?” Twilight says frantically.
Zecora’s expression blanks, her eyes glow much the way Twilight’s do during a surge of power. She slowly lifts off the ground, wind starts picking up in the room, blowing things across the room. The disturbance causes Applebloom to take notice. The room starts to shake, the wind goes even faster, picking things up and flinging them. Twilight tries to cast a spell, but is caught by an object that knocks her over, causing her to cast a spell into the wall, blowing a hole into it. The commotion causes Applebloom to leap into the room, only to have everyone be blinded by a flash of light as Zecora vanishes into thin air.
“I’m free! Finally free!” A howling voice echoes throughout the Mall.
Applebloom cowers, lost at what to do with her master gone, “Tw-Twilight? What happened?!” 
“I’m...I’m not sure Applebloom...” Twilight says, confused at what just happened, “Where’s Applejack? We need to get you and Appleseed out of here!”
“Ma sis is out shoppin’ fer a dress fo” Applebloom says before stopping after looking at Appleseed starting to pay attention, “She’s out, I don’t know where she is!” 
“Alright, I’ll take Appleseed back to the Orchards, you go find Applejack!” Twilight says while pointing towards Appleseed, then towards the exit, “Come on, Appleseed, I’m taking you home.” she says as she walks over towards a trembling Appleseed, “It’ll be okay, Appleseed.” she says while gently nuzzling the tiny mare.
“Ah just want my mommy, where is she?” Appleseed nearly cries, while hugging her plane tightly, “Are you gonna take me to ‘er Miss Twilight?”
“Yes, Appleseed, come on, hop on my back, it shouldn’t take long.”


2.
********************************************************************************

“Well, as soon as I got Appleseed to safety, I came here right away” Twilight says, “Well, after reading up on it a little...” she says, blushing and playing with her mane.
Twilight was in the throne room of Canterlot Tower, the home of Princess Celestia, often considered the most regal place in all Equestria. She rarely had reason to go to the place, to see Celestia. But, with all the things happening in the Everfree mall, and their new found relationship, Twilight had reason more than ever to show up.
“Hmm, I see. I’m glad you tried to solve the problem, but, I think it’s gone now.” Princess Celestia said, gently, “Usually they were constantly nagging in the back of my head, but now they’re gone. Just gone.”
“Oh, yeah, one thing I forgot to mention. After Zecora vanished, I heard the same voice echoing through the Mall, it said ‘I’m free! Finally free!’, and when that happened, the voices stopped.” Twilight says.
“Hmm, well, maybe that’s that?” Celestia asks, “Maybe it’s over? In all my years, I’ve never encountered something that odd that it affected both of us!” 
“Heh, yeah...” Twilight says nervously, “And I was thinking, if you’re not busy, maybe we could hang out later?” she says with a smile. 
“Well, I’m not busy now. Surprisingly, most of my duties now a days are just sitting here, waiting for people to come see me. Few people come, usually about five a week or so.” Celestia responds.
Twilight smiles in glee, “Yay! So, were we going?” 
“Well, I thought we could hang out in my room, I don’t have much, but we could get a Royal Guard to find us something to bring.” 
“That sounds wonderful!” Twilight replies.
Celestia and Twilight walk into Celestia’s royal chambers, where they’re greeted by an unpleasant sight. Zecora, lifelessly impaled through the neck on a stake on Celestia’s bed, dripping down blood onto the sheets below. The two ponies stare in shock, before Twilight starts trembling, unable to process what just happened. 
Celestia notices this, and puts her wing out, blocking Twilight from viewing, “Twilight, look away...” Celestia says with a somber tone, “Wait a moment, what’s this?” Celestia says as she picks up a note covered in blood, and brings it over to her with her magic, “It’s a note.” Celestia reads over the note, Dear Princess, or Royal Guard, whomsoever finds this first. I just want to let you know that Celestia’s days are limited...her rule shall come to an end, and when it does, I shall take over! And there will be night eternal!, the note reads.
“Wha-what does it say?” Twilight asks, in full on shock.
“I think, I suspect Luna might be trying to rise to power again...but she’s changed! She wouldn’t do this!” Celestia looks down, “Would she?”
“I don’t know Princess, maybe?” Twilight asks, somewhat rhetorically. 
“Guards!” Celestia calls, when two royal guard stallions burst through the door, at Celestia’s command, and stand there, aghast at the brutal sight.
“Princess  Celestia, we heard you calling, but we didn’t think it would be this bad...” One of the guard ponies said.
“Yes, could you please clean this up? I think I know who did this and I will be taking appropriate action.” Princess Celestia said, almost about to cry. Twilight takes notice, and nuzzles Celestia, which puts a slight smile on her face, before it goes away, “I’m sorry, Twilight, but, you’ll have to go home for now...I’ll have you escorted back to Ponyville...” Celestia says, hanging her head in shame and sorrow.
“It’s...it’s okay Celestia, we can try again some other time.” Twilight says before frowning and walking out.
“Goodbye, Twilight...” Celestia says, before trailing off at Twilight’s name. Celestia points to one of the guard ponies, “You, make sure she gets home safely and swiftly.”
The guardpony snaps to attention, and raises a salute, “Yes, ma’am!” before rushing off to help see Twilight home.
“Miss Sparkle!” The guard pony yells out, “I have been tasked with seeing you home safely.”
“Thanks, but I don’t need help,” Twilight says, preparing a spell, “I’m just going to teleport myself home.”
“As you will, Miss Sparkle.” The guard pony says and bows down.
With that, Twilight finishes her spell, and with a bright light, and a loud bang, she’s gone. This catches the guard pony by surprise. He trots back to Princess Celestia, “Princess, Miss Twilight opted to teleport home, shall I travel there to ensure her safe transport?”
“Yes,” Celestia says, “Oh, and one other thing, I want you to stay there, and provide protection. Follow her orders, and treat her as though she were me. Understand?” Celestia adds, seriously.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The Guard Pegasus, Hammer, says with a bow, “I’ll be on my way, then.”

With a flash of blinding light, Twilight Sparkle appears in her library. A moment of pure peace overcomes Twilight, as the serene silence, and the pure simplicity of the library overwhelms the magical mare. Looking over her vast collection of books, Twilight is reminded back to the wonderful times she’s had with them. From the incident involving the love potion, to Rainbow Dash’s sudden love of reading, she can’t help but be taken by the nostalgia of it all. Of course, this only lasts until she is knocked out of it by a loud knock on the door, and a high pitched voice yelling, “Twilight?! Twilight?!? Are you home? I have big news! Well, old news, sort of, but still big news! I think!” the voice continued.
Hammer flies through Ponyville, attempting to navigate his way over the dark streets to Twilight’s library home. The voice outside of Twilight’s house continues, “Twilight! Open up! Or, unless you’re not home...I can come back later, or tomorrow!” 
“It’s okay, Pinkie, I’m here, just give me a moment.”  Twilight says with a chuckle, “I just need to do something real quick.”
“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie’s voice screeches, dizzying Twilight. 
Hammer spots Twilight’s home, and swoops down over to it, not noticing the mare and two fillies standing outside it. 
Twilight unlocks the door, and, hearing the tumblers turn, smashes through the door, almost breaking it, and tackle hugging Twilight. Twilight smiles and laughs as she’s forced to the floor, looking towards Pinkie Pie before noticing the twins, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake.
Hammer, not noticing Twilight’s happy demeanor, charges. He flies through the door, and rams head first into Pinkie Pie, knocking her back, and into an empty bookcase, snapping the shelves on contact. Already injured, Hammer forces her to the ground, shattering several shelves, and a few bones, and pulls out his sword, and puts it on her muzzle, cutting it. Pinkie Pie’s expression goes from her extremely happy usual, to one of fear, pain, confusion, and sadness. Her eyes tear up, and her lips quiver, as though she were about to break down. “Miss Sparkle, I have detained the intruder!” Hammer shouts, falsely proud at his first act of protection.
“Get off her! She’s not an intruder, she’s my friend, Pinkie Pie!” Twilight yells, before pushing him off of her. Catching him by surprise, Hammer falls to the ground, running his sword across Pinkie’s face, cutting it all in the process. 
“I-my-my most sincere apologies, Miss Sparkle, I was under order from the Princess to protect you, I thought she was attacking you....I...” Hammer says, standing up, and almost speechless at his misaction.
“What?! How could she be a threat!” Twilight says, pointing at the now crying Pinkie Pie on the ground, “She’s not a threat! She’s one of the nicest ponies I know!”
The Cake twins stand motionless and speechless, stunned at the events taking place, “P-pinkie?” Pound cake manages.
Pinkie Pie stops crying for a moment, and wipes the tears and some blood away from her face, “Y-yes...Pound Cake?”
Twilight grows furious, “You! You wait over there!” she says as she points over to a room that’s completely empty, save a chair and a flowerpot, “Come on, Pinkie, let’s get you to the hospital.” Twilight says, taking a much more concerned tone of voice.
Pinkie starts sniffling, “I-I don’t wanna go to the Hospital...can you make sure Pound and Pumpkin get home safely?” she says, standing up and stumbling over her words with well placed sniffs.
“I-okay, I will. The guard pony over there won’t go near them...” Twilight says, wiping a tear away from Pinkie’s face, “I promise.”
“Thank you...” Pinkie says, slowly trotting out. Twilight closes the door behind her.
“Pound and Pumpkin, why don’t you two go play upstairs while I take care of something.” Twilight says, with the same look of concern on her face as though they were Pinkie Pie.
“B-but what about Pinkie?” Pumpkin cakes says, with a grim tone.
“She’ll be fine, I promise. I bet she’s on her way to the store to buy supplies so she can make you guys some cupcakes!” Twilight says, taking a smile of fake joy.
“That sounds fun...” Pound cake says.
“Alright, now go up there and play. I’ll see you two home in a few minutes.” Twilight says, opening the door to her stairs with magic, while walking over towards the room with the shamed guard pony.
Pound Cake flies up to the room, while Pumpkin Cake walks up there. When they arrive at the top, they’re greeted by a room with toys of all kinds, as though Twilight knew they would come to play up here. Pound Cake realizes he did see Twilight cast some sort of low key spell, and Pumpkin Cake felt the magic, so neither of them mention anything. Pound goes to take out a toy, before hearing, and feeling, a loud bang as a door was slammed shut, followed by intense yelling. Both fillies stood silently,  motionless as they listened to the variations of “How could you do this?!”, “She was my friend!”, “Who would be after me!?” and, “I can’t believe you ever passed guard school!”. Standing there for a few minutes, they hear another loud slam, followed by the distinct sound of two ponies trotting, followed by two more slams, and finally a pegasus taking off, followed by about a minute of silence, and a “Twins? Come down now, I’ll take you home!”
The two filly twins go down the stairs, and see a perfectly happy Twilight, who said, “Come on, it’s time you two get home!” Twilight notices the grim look on their faces, “Oh, don’t worry, Pinkie will be fine! I promise!”, she says with a smile. Twilight leads the twins out the door, and down the dimly lit streets. In the distance, Hammer could be seen flying away.

3. 
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Pinkie Pie walks alone in the frigid dark, solemnly trotting towards her destination. Sobbing occasionally, she trots along, not bothering to push the deflated mane of hers out of her face, and every few steps, shivering and cringing in pain. Approaching her destination, she smiles, knowing solace is only a few paces away. Cantering up to the building, she looks up, and slowly opens the door.  Walking into the dimly lit home, she almost bumps into a counter, but sways at the last moment. Trudging up the stairs, cringing between every step, she finally gets to the top, and looks around. Noticing the darkness of the hallway, she smiles, knowing her filly was sound asleep, so she moseys on down to her bedroom, and plops down onto her bed. Crying out in pain, she cringes, starting to tear up from the pain. Pinkie lifts her head at the sound of something stirring from the other room, before noticing the door open up, and a yellow pegasus flaps in. Seeing the pink mare in such a horrible condition, Fluttershy immediately rushes over there to find out what happened to her.
“Pinkie! Oh my...what happened?” Fluttershy asks, aghast at her terrible state.
“Well....it was...you see...” Pinkie says, wincing between words, “A...guard pony...” 
Fluttershy stops Pinkie Pie, “There, there, take your time...”, she says, allowing Pinkie Pie to tell her the whole story of what happened in Twilight’s library.
“Oh...oh my...do you think the Princess will do anything?” Fluttershy asks, a tone of sympathy in her voice.
“I...I hope so...” Pinkie says, her unusually depressed demeanor continuing, “I’ll be fine in the morning.” Pinkie says, with an obviously fake smile.
Spotting the falsehood of the smile, Fluttershy says, “Oh, well, Pinkie, that’s not exactly something you just brush off in one night.” 
“Don’t you worry, Flutters,” Pinkie says, reassuring a hopeless pony, “I’ll be fine, I promise...but...” she continues, trailing off at the end.
“But?”
“Could you stay in here tonight? I’m sure Surprise can sleep by herself...” Pinkie says with a giggle.
“Sure, Pinkie.” Flutters says, grabbing a blanket, “Mind if I lay down?” she asks.
Pinkie smiles, then scoots over, groaning with pain at every movement, tearing up towards the end, “Sure.” Fluttershy stands speechless.
“Thanks,” Fluttershy says, stepping into bed. As soon as Fluttershy lays down, and starts to get comfortable, Pinkie grabs Fluttershy, and pulls her close. Pinkie plants a kiss on Fluttershy’s lips, catching her by surprise.
“Flutters, did I ever tell you how amazing you are?” Pinkie rhetorically asks.
“Only all the time,” Fluttershy playfully boasts, “But you’re pretty amazing too.” 
Pinkie Pie laughs gently, “Well, you are! You could be at home, sleeping, but you’re here with me!” she says, yawning.
“Oh, you seem tired. Maybe you should sleep soon?” Fluttershy asks, with a more concerned tone.
“Well....maybe...” she says with a quick giggle, “But, I wanna tell you something first....” Pinkie trails off, nervous.
“What’s that?” Fluttershy asks.
“Well...I love you...” Pinkie says before finally falling asleep with a smile on her face.
“Oh...Pinkie....I....” Fluttershy says, nervously, before realizing Pinkie fell asleep. Fluttershy smiles, then joins Pinkie Pie in the land of the slumbering.




4.
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Twilight awakens from her sleep, satisfied that she safely sought the Cake twins home, and reprimanded the foolish guardpony, Hammer. Noticing the time, she swiftly leaps out of bed, and trots down to the main part of her library. Noticing a distinct lack of customers today, she looks outside, hoping to find the cause. It appears she finds it, or, at least two reasons. One, she though, could be that there was at least 2 feet of snow on the ground, and piling quickly. Dear Celestia, that’s a lot of snow... she thinks, before realizing the second reason, an all to familiar guardpony standing out front. Twilight takes a deep breath, looks down for a moment, then upon looking up, she decides to give Hammer a second chance. Opening the door, the trained pegasus stands unmoving. Twilight sees him, and recognizes that his distinct position is that of a pony trying his best not to shiver. “Oh, my, it’s cold out here...”, Twilight says, walking over, in attempt to start up casual conversation.
“Aye.” Hammer says without moving an inch.
“Well, would you like to come inside?” she asks, nonchalantly. 
“By orders, I am only to enter in the case of emergency or unrest.” he says, the same unwavering pattern continuing.
“Oh...okay...do you need me to bring you anything?” Twilight asks, with a concerned look on her face.
“I am set, but, thank you, Miss Sparkle.”
Discontent with her non victory, she moseys back inside. Looking over her books, she glances upon a note. “Not another note.” she says to herself, as she trots over and picks it up. Not reading the note, Twilight thinks to herself, Oh, this is gonna be horrible, I know it! Opening the note, Twilight reads it aloud to herself, 
“Dear  Twilight, 
By now you should’ve realized that I’ve been spending less and less time around the library. I’ve decided to move in with Krevice, my marefriend, permanently. I’ve already got all my stuff, I’ll be back next week to say my final good byes. Thanks for everything.
Love,
Spike.”
Tearing up at the end of the paper, she loses concentration, and drops the note. Twilight sits down on the ground, and silently weeps to herself.