//------------------------------// // Saving the Day // Story: A Rose's Journey // by VioletRose13 //------------------------------// Twilight and her friends got out of their restrains and stood in silence; everypony stared at the balcony on shock, unsure of what to make of the situation. Snow Diamond then began to weep, covering her eyes with her cloak; she had lost her daughter all over again. A struggling sound was suddenly heard; everypony froze and looked at the balcony… and Violet suddenly came back. She climbed up the side of the castle wall with the Alicorn Amulet in one hoof. Everypony cheered and went over to her, happy to see that she was alright. “Violet! You’re okay!” Sunset exclaimed as she and Starlight hugged her tightly. “But… how?” Tempest asked, joining in on the hug. “Tail Growth Acceleration Spell. Don’t worry; it’s only temporary.” Violet replied, implying to her tail which quickly reverted to its original length. Snow Diamond limped over to Violet with a tiny, hopeful smile on her face. “V-Violet? …Are you okay?” She asked. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Violet answered. “Are you?” She nodded. “Thanks to you.” “…I am so sorry, mom.” Violet cried before she wrapped her arms around Snow Diamond. Snow was surprised, but she soon found herself hugging the young mare back. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes as tears started to well up. ‘I’m a mom, I’m a mom…’ She thought. Unbeknownst to everypony else, Jackpot Spade was standing in another corner of the room, watching and listening to everything. He frowned to himself and he started to walk away before his ears perked up. He turned around and gasped when he saw Torment climbing back up to the balcony… and he was holding some kind of hose. Spade realized it was the hose leading to a barrel of a special caramel sauce he had prepared. He ran over to the balcony and just as Torment was about to blast the mares with the sauce, Spade screamed. “Nooo!” The caramel sauce made a direct hit right into Spade’s open mouth. He tried to spit out the sauce, but it made its way down his throat. Spade coughed and gagged at the awful taste before he tried to fly over to Torment, but his battered wing prevented him to do so. “What are you doing, you idiot?” Torment sputtered. “This is where our story ends.” Spade announced bravely yet weakly; his words made Snow Diamond’s eyes widen. “Come, Torment! Come dance with me.” Torment gasped. “Oh no!” Gathering the last of his strength, Spade threw himself onto Torment, hurling the two adversaries off the ledge. “JACK!” Snow wailed in horror. As the two of them gradually fell through the air, Snow Diamond jumped off the balcony with Violet following close behind. Snow reached out her hooves and wrapped them around her husband, Violet doing the same to her mother. Unfortunately, Torment couldn’t flap his wings fast enough and he was quickly consumed by the flames of the unforgiving fire below, never to be seen or heard from ever again. But before the three ponies were met the red fire as well, they froze. Violet reluctantly opened her eyes and saw that she, Snow, and Spade were floating in midair. She looked up and saw Discord, Typhon, Echidna, and Babél using their magic to float them back onto the balcony to safety. The Student Six were standing beside their teachers in surprise. “Violet, are you okay?” Ocellus asked. “Yeah, we’re okay.” Violet answered before she heard a whimper. She turned her head and saw Snow Diamond kneeling on the ground with Spade in her front hooves. His eyes were shut and his body was limp and unmoving. “What is it? What’s wrong?” Twilight asked. “Jack isn’t moving, he won’t wake up!” Snow said worriedly. Tempest gently touched the corner of Spade’s mouth with the tip of her hoof and noticed the caramel-like substance. She took a sniff and gagged in disgust. “This caramel sauce was laced with poison.” She concluded. “Poison?!” Everypony else cried. Tempest nodded solemnly. “So… is he dead?” Fluttershy asked; the unicorn shrugged and said nothing.. “Whoa. I can’t believe he did that.” Gallus commented. “…I can.” Violet said. Through her tears, Snow Diamond began to sing to Spade’s body. “My heart is pierced by Cupid” She lamented. “I disdain all glittering gold There is nothing can console me But my jolly sailor bold Come all you pretty fair maids Whoever you may be Who love a jolly sailor bold That ploughs the raging sea My heart is pierced by Cupid I disdain all glittering gold There is nothing can console me But my jolly sailor bold…” She suddenly burst into tears as she cradled her husband’s body in her hooves; the last thing she wanted right now to lose him, not again. Everypony just stood in silence around the two ponies. Violet looked at the golden amulet that was around her neck and took it off, wondering why she still had it on. Then she noticed something; it was spade trying to move. “Mom? Squeeze him tighter.” She said. Snow didn’t hesitate and she squeezed with all her might and within a few seconds, the poisoned caramel sauce suddenly spewed out of Spade’s mouth like a fountain and his eyes fluttered open. Hearing the coughing, Snow looked and saw her husband tumble to the ground and hack up the rest of the caramel sauce. He moaned and put a hoof to his abdomen. “Ugh, what happened?” He asked. “Oh no, not another tummy ache. Ugh, I feel awful.” Snow reached out her hoof and helped Spade back onto his feet. Spade rubbed his eyes, shook his head, and looked at the creatures standing before him. “…Why are you lot looking at me like that?” He asked before turning his attention to Snow Diamond; his eyes widened at the sight of her. “S-S-S-Snow Diamond…?” “Jack?” Snow reached a hoof up to touch Spade’s cheek. “You’d really give your life for me and Violet?” “Of course.” “But… why?” “Because you are my wife and best friend and I could never do anything bad to you.” He looked sorrowfully at her. “I’m so, so sorry, love; for every awful deed I’ve ever done over these past several years. I was under Torment’s control; he forced me to act so vile and evil and told me it was the only way for me to get you and our daughter back. I should’ve known that the both of you were still out there and you of all ponies knew that none of those terrible things are what you would’ve wanted me to do. And I promise to always be there for you, no matter what, and to never leave you alone again. That is, of course, if you’ll have me back…” He held out his hoof, hoping for her to take it. “Oh, Jackpot Spade… How could I not?” And without hesitation, Snow Diamond thrust herself upon Spade and pressed her lips against his. Their manes blew in the wind. The two ponies suddenly rose into the air as white mist swirled around them. The light around Snow and Spade grew brighter as they rose into the air. Then the two opened their glowing white eyes. The bubble burst and expanded towards the group of ponies. Violet took a step back in surprise but when she did, she accidentally stepped on the two amulets, breaking them apart; her eyes glowed white as her horn glowed bright blue. A huge shockwave of light and magic emitted from her horn, spreading all over Ponyville and the rest of Equestria. The fire was put out, Andante were put in chains and sent to Tartarus for her crimes, the Timberwolves, Cragadiles, and Diamond Dogs retreated into the Everfree Forest, and everypony in Ponyville had their magic returned to them. When the couple floated back to the ground, their lips were still locked. The world around them had returned to normal and no evil creature was in sight. Everypony hopped out of their hiding places and cheered. When the pair finally pulled away, Spade was smiling like an idiot. “Wow…” He lamented, opening his eyes. “I’ve forgotten how wonderful that felt.” Snow added. When he did, he gasped; he saw both of Snow Diamond’s eyes. “Snow, your eyes.” He said. “They’re blue.” “And yours are brown.” Snow added in astonishment. Tempest stepped forward and smiled as she said, “The Muddle Mind Spell is broken. You’re both free.” Snow and Spade looked at one another and smiled as they hugged each other tight. “True love’s kiss really is the most powerful thing in the world.” Rarity commented. “Ugh. Do you realize how corny that sounds, Professor Rarity?” Smolder asked. They giggled. Snow looked and saw Violet with her eyes still glowing. She gasped and went over to her daughter, Spade followed close behind. “Violet? Violet, are you okay?” She asked, shaking the young unicorn’s shoulder. Violet suddenly rubbed her eyes with her hoof and shook her head; when she opened her eyes again, she saw everypony staring at her in shock. “Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked. “Violet, love? …You just crystallized yourself.” Spade commented. “What? No I didn’t.” “Yeah, you did.” Gallus said, pointing a claw at her front hooves. Violet looked and gasped when she saw that they were right; her coat and mane were crystallized. The clouds parted and the light of the sun shined onto the young mare, making her sparkle with every movement she made. “This is amazing! How did I do that?!” She commented before cheering suddenly rang through her ears. She looked over the balcony and saw all of Ponyville cheering for her. The rest of the group joined her. “Violet Rose! Violet Rose! Violet Rose!” The citizens of Ponyville chanted. “Whoa! I did all of this?!” Violet exclaimed. “Yes, you did.” Princess Twilight said. “It’s the Blue Flower.” Snow Diamond commented. “You reached its full potential.” Spade added, wrapping his hoof around his wife’s shoulder. “You did it, Violet.” The Alicorn said as she stood beside the orchid unicorn; her friends joined her. “You saved Equestria.” “Yeah… I guess I did.” “So how does it feel?” “How does what feel, Princess?” “To save Equestria. How does it make you feel?” “It makes me feel… big.” The young mare smiled and waved her hoof as she looked down at the cheering ponies. “Hey, Violet!” Pinkie Pie said. “Uh, yes Pinkie?” Violet asked nervously. “Is there anything we can do for you?” “Why?” “After everything you’ve done for us, you do deserve some kinda reward. What do you say? You want a party?” Violet thought for a few moments before she remembered something. “Hey, what’s today?” She asked. “Thursday, silly.” Pinkie laughed. “No, I mean what’s the date?” “The 25th.” “Of what month, Pinkie?” “Of March. Why do you ask?” “Did I forget to mention… today is my 20th birthday?”