//------------------------------// // Captured // Story: A Rose's Journey // by VioletRose13 //------------------------------// The next thing everyone knew, they were at the bottom of the mountain again. Violet still had her eyes shut and when she opened them, her horn stopped glowing. Everyone was looking at her, flabbergasted. “Violet? …What did you just do?” Gallus asked. “What? You think I did that?!” Violet asked in disbelief. “I didn’t make the temple collapse!” “But you were the only one of us who had access to Equestrian magic, were you not?” Discord inquired. “Wait, wait, wait! That’s still the one thing I don’t get!” Starlight intervened. “Violet, how did you still have your magic while the rest of us were powerless?” “I-I-I-I-I… I don’t know! When I ran into Typhon, he told me that I had some kind of rare fire and that he needed it, but I have no idea why he thought I would have it, whatever it is. He called it the Blue Flower.” “Blue Flower? Never heard of it.” Ocellus commented, shrugging her shoulders. “Why would he think you had it?” Capper asked. “I don’t know! He said he would offer me protection from Jackpot Spade and everything else if I gave it to him, but I didn’t give it to him because I don’t know how. Okay?” “Okay… but there’s still one thing I don’t get.” Sandbar stepped forward. “What were you doing in Typhon’s chamber in the first place?” Violet opened her mouth to speak when she paused; Sandbar made a good point. Why was she in Typhon’s chamber? She was supposed to follow the group. “I… heard something calling my name and I felt compelled to follow it. I don’t know.” Violet answered before she thought of something else. “But… what do these ponies see in me?” “What do you mean?” Tempest asked. “I mean, why does this have to be all on ME?” Violet ranted. “Why am I the one Spade wants? What did Typhon want with me? I’m not special. I… I’m nothing!” “No! Violet Rose is special! Every creature is special.” Yona said. “Maybe you all are, but not me.” Violet said. “I’m not important, I’m not smart, I’m not great I’m not enough for anyone… I’m practically nopony!” “Violet, stop talking like that!” Snow Diamond said. “Everypony is special, including you. You have to trust them.” “That’s what everyone keeps telling me, including all of you! You’re happy, Ponyville is happy, even the Draconequus tribe is happy. But do you know who isn’t happy?! ME!” Violet suddenly reared up and stamped her hoof on Discord’s right leg; he cried out in pain. “Ow, my foot!” He whimpered. “Oh I’m sorry, but that probably wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t practically standing on my tail!” Violet yelled. “Not even my family stands so close!” “What family?” Discord retorted. Violet glowered up at Discord, staring daggers at him until Smolder and Gallus pulled them apart. “Hey, break it up you two!” Gallus yelled. “Yeah, this arguing is only making things worse.” Smolder added. “Why can’t any of you just leave me be?!” Violet screamed, breaking away from Smolder’s grip. “Because it’s not safe for you to be out alone.” Skystar replied. “Especially not with that no-good Jackpot Spade after you. Trust me.” “What if I don’t want to be safe? What if I don’t want to trust any of you? What if I just want to be alone?” “Nopony wants to be alone.” Sunset stepped forward. “Well, maybe I DO! And maybe I would be better off if I didn’t have any of you freaks breathing down my neck! Ugh, I just wish would all just go away and LEAVE ME ALONE!!” Violet’s horn ignited and let out another shockwave of blue magic, causing everyone to stumble and fall into the snow. “Violet, calm down!” Snow Diamond cried. “I know you’re frustrated, but you can’t take your anger out on them. They just want to help you!” “Well I don’t want their help!” Violet spat. “But you NEED it!” Ocellus argued. “No, I DON’T!” “Apparently, everyone sees some kind of strange, unknown power within you and no one in this world will stop until they get it. You can’t run away from your problems… like me.” Snow sighed. Violet’s eyes twitched as she stared daggers at the white unicorn. “…The last thing I want is to end up like you.” She hissed before running away from the group. The group was left in awkward silence; the only thing that could be heard was the howl of the lonely winter wind. “Wow…” Gallus gasped. “What’s all that about?” Capper asked. “She sounded pretty upset with us.” Celaeno pointed out. “Should I go talk to her?” Snow Diamond asked. “No, I will.” Tempest said. “And don’t worry, I’ll get her back and I’ll try to get to the bottom of this. Wait here for me.” And with that, Tempest followed the fresh tracks I the snow to see where Violet had run off to. After fifteen minutes of searching, she finally found her. She was sitting on the ground in front of the stone walls of the mountain, solemnly looking up at it, as if lost in thought. “There you are.” Tempest breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve been looking for you. Everyone is worried.” “Go away, Tempest.” Violet muttered. “I’m bad and you shouldn’t be around me.” “You? Bad? That’s ridiculous… Look Violet, I know you’re frustrated and upset and I may not entirely know what any of this really means, but—” “Yeah, you don’t. Because if you did… you wouldn’t even be talking to me.” “…Violet, what’s gotten into you?” “I told you to leave, Tempest.” “Too bad; I’m not leaving until I get answers from you. Now tell me the truth. What is going on with you?” It took a moment for Violet to answer, but eventually, the air that was clogging her throat came loose and a sob broke past her lips. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Violet fell to the ground and buried her face in her hooves. Tempest suddenly felt very uncomfortable; she had no idea why Violet was crying or what made her cry to begin with. “What’s going on with everypony? Why does everyone want me for themselves? Why do they want my magic? Why do I destroy everything I touch? Why can’t I do anything right?!” Violet sobbed. “I can’t do anything right on my own. I’ve ruined everything for everyone. I’m no fighter; I’m just USELESS. I’m nothing. This is all my fault.” Suddenly, Violet noticed something move in the corner of her eye. She wiped her eyes and stood up, trying to make out what she saw. “Did… you just see that?” She sniffed. “See what?” Tempest asked. “There!” Violet pointed a hoof at a dark figure that vanished behind another wall. “Hey! Hello?” She called as she ran towards it. “Violet? No, wait! Come back!” Tempest called, running after her. “You don’t know what that is, it could be dangerous! Wait!” Violet didn’t listen to Tempest, nor did she care; she just wanted to follow the strange figure to see what it was. She ran deeper and deeper into the mountains, only to be met with a pony-sized hole in the ground. Burning with curiosity, Violet rubbed her eyes and looked into the hole; it was very dark and it looked very deep, so she couldn’t see much. “Hello?” She called out. Tempest caught up with Violet again, only to see her gazing into the hole. She was about to call out to her when the same dark figure came up from behind Violet. Tempest gasped in shock but before she could do anything, the figure reared up and pushed Violet into the hole, right before they jumped in after her. “Violet, no!” Tempest cried out. Violet fell down and down the hole, screaming all the while. Then she went up and down, left and right, as if she were on a ride at an amusement park. She thought the tunnel would go on forever until finally, she could see light in the distance. She slid towards it, flew out of the tunnel into the air and she landed with a thud. She groaned and rubbed her head with her hoof, unsure of what just happened. Before she could react, a net was suddenly thrown onto her, which made her cry out in fright. “Yeah, we did it!” A familiar squeaky voice cheered. “We got her!” Another voice added. “Hoist us up, Squid Ink!” Both voices said. Violet recognized the voices as the voices of the stallions who had attempted to kidnap her back in Ponyville: Sea Sponge and Star Fish. She tried to poof her way out, but it was in vain; the net was magic proof. Violet screamed and struggled, trying to get herself free, but it was no use. “Good luck trying to get outta this.” Sea Sponge commented. “Yeah, you’re coming with us.” Star Fish added. “No, no, no, no, no! Help, somepony! Anypony!” Violet shouted. “TEMPEST! HELP!!” “Violet!” Violet faintly heard Tempest’s voice call out, her name; she looked down and saw Tempest down on the ground, trying to get to her. But it was too late; Violet had finally been captured.