Author's Note

Hello everyone I hope you are enjoying this so far. I highly encourage everyone to leave a comment on my story. Tell me what you think or if I've made any mistakes. Criticism is welcome. Please enjoy Chapter three and know that planning for Chapter four is already in progress. Thank You

Chapter 3: Tensions Heating Up

The sun was beginning to rise over ponyville. Fillies and Colts were making their way to the schoolhouse, everypony was waiting for Cheerilee to welcome them inside. Rarity was trotting alongside Sweetie Belle.

"But Rarity, you promised to spend time with mee!"

"That is enough Sweetie Belle! We have been arguing about this all morning and you are already late for school." Rarity turned to her sister who now held a sad pouty face.

"Sigh...I will make it up to you Sweetie." Rarity couldn't help but give in a little

"Pinkie promise?"

"Cross my hoof and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye."

"YAAY!! Thank you Rarity" Sweetie yelled as she gave her big sister a hug.

"Suure Sweetie..." Rarity hugged her sister back before looking up ahead. The front of the schoolhouse was bustling with ponies. As she looked around she saw Applejack standing idly waving towards them, Applebloom was next to her talking to scootaloo. Sweetie Belle spotted them too and ran to greet her friends.

"Morin Rare." Applejack looked a bit concerned as she greeted her.

"Good morning Applejack...shouldn't school have started already?"

"Yep. Should've started about half an hour ago" Applejack was staring at the clock hanging above the schoolhouse doors.
Rarity mumbled to herself as she walked to the doors, Applejack just shook her head.

"Ms. Cheeril-..."

Applejack looked at her friend and saw her just standing there frozen. Applejack rolled her eyes and made her way over to Rarity.

"You okay sugarcube?" This brought Rarity back, she bolted past Applejack screaming. She grabbed Sweetie Belle and ran away. Applejack was confused, she brought her attention to the doors which were now swinging back and forth. She walked up pushing the doors in and there...she saw Cheerilee.

Twilight was in her room, a towel wrapped around her neck. She had showered and was now brushing her hair. It was going to be a busy day for her after all. Once Twilight finished drying and brushing herself, she walked out of her room and down the long hallways. She was making her way to the dining room hoping to get breakfast before the chaos. Though she was annoyed to see everypony else too. Starlight, Spike and Thorax were all there joking around as they ate pancakes. Twilight groaned before entering the room, grabbing their attention.

"Hey Twilight. Let me get you some pancakes." Spike hopped up from his seat and hurried to the kitchen.

"Thank you" Twilight took a seat at the crystal table, not looking at anypony.

"Soooo Twilight..I was wondering if you wanted to do that magic practice you were talking about?" Starlight gave an awkward smile to her mentor. The room was silent for a moment as Twilight glanced at Starlight.

"Well I don't see why not...It has been awhile." Twilight had to pretend to care when speaking her words. Spike bursted out of the kitchen and over to serve Twilight. She watched as a silver tray was placed in front of her. After breakfast Starlight was happily trotting to the castle front entrance, Twilight was behind her. She was thinking about how long it would take for somepony to bother her about Cheerilee. The two made it and took position.

"Let's start with-" Twilight was cut off as several loud knocks came from behind her. Finally they were here, took them long enough she thought. Twilight used her magic to open the large doors, Starlight looked annoyed.

"Hello, how can I help you."

Standing at the door was a beige pegasus mare with pink eyes and reddish brown mane. Behind her stood
Mayor mare. Both bowed towards Twilight before speaking.

"I'm sorry to bother you but...this is quite urgent. Can we come in?"

"Yes of course. I'm sorry Starlight, can we do this another time?" Looking back, Twilight saw Starlight wave her off as she walked away. She turned her head back and motioned for the two to enter.

"Let's talk in the throne room." The two nodded following close behind Twilight. Once they had taken their seats Mayor mare laid out what was found at the schoolhouse. Twilight put on her best worried face.

"And we have assigned Sparrow as the lead investigator for this case." Twilight was ignoring the Mayor until she heard that.

"I see...this is quite serious. Sparrow I expect that you will do only your best. We need to figure this out immediately." Sparrow nodded. Twilight turned her attention to the Mayor.

"I want you to put a curfew out. We don't know what we are dealing with."

"Yes Princess, Thank you for your time." Mayor mare and Sparrow stood up and left. Twilight sat there a little longer, thinking about what her next move should be. The curfew would make sure everypony would be inside. A murder has never happened in ponyville. so the fear will be high, but so will awareness. Twilight needed to start experimenting soon too. But she didn't have all of the supplies that she needed. Who in ponyville would have magic supplies and be vulnerable....!
Twilight knew who, all she had to do was wait for night to come.

Twilight put her saddlebags on her back before leaving. She emptied it out earlier since she was going to need it to be empty. Twilight went out onto the balcony and took flight towards the Everfree forest. Scanning the ground, she searched for light. She knew Zecora had lanterns she hung on the tree. Circling around she spotted the dim light sparkling. Twilight dove down and landed in a clearing nearby. She took her time and waited to see if anything happened, before quietly walking over to a window. Twilight peaked inside, she saw Zecora was in her bed sleeping. Smiling Twilight dropped her saddlebags when she made her way inside, now she was standing at the side of Zecora's bed.

Taking a quick look around, Twilight saw some rope sitting on a shelf. She picked up the rope in her magic and placed it in her hooves. She pulled each side of it, testing the strength. Then thought for a minute.

"hmm..I used my magic to restrain Cheerilee..hmph why did I do that? She was an Earth pony. Zecora is just a Zebra, almost an Earth pony." Twilight decided, she carefully guided Zecora's arms to her side. She used one hoof to lift her up a little, getting the rope underneath her. Zecora began to stir awake. Twilight constricted the rope tightly, Zecora shot awake. Twilight slammed her hoof into Zecora's face. She quickly wrapped the rope around Zecora tying it into a neat knot.

"Wake up. You are going to give me what I want!" Twilight spoke with hate in her words.

"Twilight! Please stop this madness." Twilight hit her again.

"I didn't say that you could speak!...Now TELL ME, where is your hidden research!"

"I do not know of what you mean." Angered Twilight grabbed zecora by her mane and dragged her over to where her cauldron sat. She then slammed Zecora's head into the side of the Cauldron. Twilight looked inside and saw it was full of...something, doesn't matter. Zecora was on the floor struggling in her binds, Twilight laughed at the thought of her escaping. She grabbed some wood from and nearby pile and set it next to the Cauldron.

"Where is it!? Don't lie, I know Celestia gave you limited permission to research dark magic."

"I will never say!" Zecora snapped back.

Twilight lifted her by the head with one hoof holding her over the Cauldron. She began dunking her head into the liquid holding it there for a minute before bringing her up.

"How dare you speak that way to me! Now I'll ask once again..where is it?!" Zecora just glared at Twilight, silent.

"You don't think I could do worse do you.." Twilight kicked the wood under the cauldron, as her horned glowed a bright red. She sent an ember onto the wood bringing it into a flame. Then her horned glowed brighter and she shot a heated magic beam onto the metal. The liquid inside began to boil, Zecora realized what was happening. She was now in tears screaming out for help. The heat was already burning her face. Twilight powered her horn down, smoke coming out of it.

"LAST chance Zecora! Where do you keep your research?"

"In the wall behind the mask!" Zecora shouted the answer as loud as she could. Twilight smiled at Zecora for a second, before tossing her into the boiling liquid. Zecora's screams were ear piercing and her skin began to peel off. She thrashed around trying to get out of this agony. Zecora's movements slowed and her screams turned into groans. She fell onto the side of the cauldron her head hanging on the side. She gave one last twitch before letting herself go.

"Thank you Zecora." Twilight hummed as she took the mask off the wall, revealing a small shelf. Twilight picked up her saddlebags and placed everything inside. There sat a few books and journals, but twilight noticed a locked wooden box sitting there. She was shocked, this box.

"I thought you gave this to Celestia, Zecora." Twilight melted the lock off and opened it, Just as she thought. Inside was the Alicorn amulet.

"Oh Trixie, I almost forgot about...Her." Closing the box she stashed it into her bag, she looked at the now empty shelf. Twilight placed the mask back in place. She made her way outside of the small hut smiling, she now had almost everything that she needed. Except for a test subject and...Twilight looked behind her into the forest. Her nighttime trip wasn't over yet.