//------------------------------// // I Can Help You // Story: A Rose's Journey // by VioletRose13 //------------------------------// “Jackpot Spade?!” Violet exclaimed in shock. “Yes, but keep it down.” Snow Diamond hissed. “I don’t want your friends to find out.” “Too late for that.” A familiar voice commented. Snow and Violet looked and saw Tempest standing in the doorway with everyone else right behind her. They were staring at the two ponies in silence with wide eyes, unsure of what to say or do. “Well no wonder you were so upset at the mention of Spade!” Discord exclaimed. “She wasn’t upset.” Violet commented. “I saw the tears.” The draconequus finished. “You were married to Jackpot Spade?” Ocellus asked. “…Yes.” The white mare said, nodding her head. “But… but how?!” Gallus exclaimed. “How could you love someone like HIM?! He’s EVIL!” “YOU SHUT YOUR DIRTY MOUTH!!” Snow Diamond snapped, grabbing Gallus’s wing with her magic and glaring darkly at him; her eyes seemed to glow with anger as she looked ready to slap him. “I oughta wash out your mouth with SOAP if you call my Jack ‘evil’ again.” “Uh… okay, okay, I won’t!” Gallus cried, trying to get his wing free. “Sorry. Yeesh, I didn’t mean to make you THAT mad.” Snow Diamond’s eyes stopped glowing and she calmed down as she let go of the griffon’s wing. She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I… I’m sorry.” She said, rubbing her eyes and sighing. “I just… I tend to lose my temper a lot, especially over the smallest things. And I don’t know why; it’s complicated.” “It’s okay, but we’re getting off-topic.” Starlight said. “We just want to know… how?” Sunset added. “How what?” “How can such nice pony love mean pirate pony like Captain Spade?” Yona asked. “He isn’t mean! He’s not evil, either.” Snow Diamond explained. “Jackpot Spade is the sweetest, kindest, most humble, most special pony I’ve ever met in my life. He was nothing like you said he was when you met him… at least not to me.” “But… Death Wish?” Tempest began. “Death Wish was TERRIBLE! He was the single most obnoxious, selfish, ungrateful, annoying stallion I’ve ever met! I wouldn’t get back together with Death Wish, even if he were the last pony on Earth!” Snow yelled, stomping her hoof. “Jackpot Spade is NOTHING like Death Wish! Sure Jack was a little reckless and emotional at times, but he never treated me like a slave or a punching bag! He treated me like I was… the toughest pony in Equestria. He had one of the kindest and most giving hearts of anypony in Seaward Shoals, maybe even in all of Equestria… and for some reason, he loved me. There was never a single doubt in my mind that Jack loved me and to this day, I still wonder what a stallion like him ever saw in me. He believed in me, he made me feel safe and happy, he loved me with all his heart, and if you ever asked him to choose between me and work or anything, he’d choose me… every time.” The room was silent for a good five minutes before Snow Diamond finally spoke again. “I know of a tribe of creatures that can help you.” She said. “You do?!” Skystar and Silverstream exclaimed. “Yes. They live on the highest peak of a mountain known only as Bedlam.” Snow Diamond explained before she showed the group a map of the Crystal Mountains; she pointed to a mountain at the farthest corner of the map. “That’s where it is located. I can take you there, if you want.” “You’d do that?” Capper asked. “Of course. You guys would be completely lost out there without me.” Snow Diamond replied. “I know this entire wasteland like the back of my hoof; you’ll be safe with me.” “But how do you expect all of us to get to Mt. Bedlam?” Captain Celaeno asked. “The mountain itself pretty far away, in case you haven’t noticed.” “Yeah; it would probably take several days, or even a few weeks at most, to get there.” Capper added. “Don’t you worry your pretty little heads about that. I came prepared.” Snow Diamond slyly replied as her horn started to glow again. And in a bright flash, the entire group was teleported to the bottom of a gigantic mountain. There was a large stone arch standing in front of them. “Here we are, Mt. Bedlam.” Snow said, smiling. “Wait. If this really is Mt. Bedlam, then why haven’t you teleported us to the top of the mountain and save us the trouble of the climb?” Sunset asked. “Oh, that’s because normal Equestrian magic doesn’t work within the borders; it usually just disappears beyond this arch. I sometimes come here when I’m in need some special ingredients for potions. Now come on, let’s get going.” Snow replied before she began the climb. “Ugh! I haven’t climbed a mountain in a millennium!” Discord whined; everyone else groaned before they followed after the white unicorn. Snow Diamond was at the head while Violet took the rear. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “To think we’d be warm up here. We’re so close to the sun!” Star Fish whined. “Yeah, we’ve been sailing up here all night. I REALLY need a nap.” Sea Sponge added before he began to drift off to sleep with his friend, only to be woken up by Crab Claws kicking them both. “No lollygagging, boys!” The first mate yelled. “We need to stay vigilant; it’s what the Captain wants!” “Well I don’t know about you, but I’m FINISHED!” Squid Ink exclaimed. “We’ve been searching since yesterday and we haven’t found even one trace of this Violet Rose pony! I’m starting to think this is a lost cause!” “She isn’t a lost cause, Mr. Ink.” The Captain’s voice interrupted; the rest of the crew stood at attention as Spade approached them with that same compass in his hoof. “We’re getting closer, I know we are.” “But Captain Spade, we’re tired.” Sea Sponge said nervously. “And hungry.” Star Fish meekly added. “Oh… I see what’s happening here.” Spade said as he glared at Sea Sponge and Star Fish. “So this is MY crew. You get a little tired and a tiny bit hungry, and YOU WANT TO GIVE UP AND SHOVE OFF FOR HOME! IS THAT RIGHT?! Do you want to hurt me, to RUIN me? Do you want me to DIE at the jaws of the master? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?!” “Not at all, Captain Spade!” Sea Sponge replied. “No way, Captain!” Star Fish added. “Hmmm, good… Anypony else feel like a little trouble?” Spade asked the rest of the crew. “No, Captain Spade!” The rest of the crew said, including Squid Ink; they gave a salute. “Good. Now let’s keep going. And luckily, I know exactly where she’s headed now.” The Captain said as he flew up to the helm. “Really? Where?” Crab Claws asked. “All hooves on deck! We sail… for Mt. Bedlam.” Spade smiled as he looked at his compass.