//------------------------------// // The Beginning // Story: The Roses Curse // by Angelic Wing //------------------------------// Angelic Wing strolled through Ponyville, glancing around at the beauty of the day. I stepped in something cold and looked down. I groaned at my reflection in a clear puddle. I looked nothing like my father, and my mother was my exact copy, except for my eyes. They were both pegasi and loving parents, although they worried for me too much at times. My eyes were golden, uncommon for pony kind, but I knew a few who had them as well, but not many. I looked away from the sun beamed reminders of my eyes. I kept walking, not looking away from my book. I read the last page of the book then closed it with a content sigh. "A tragic, but lovely story!" I soon saw, to my annoyance, Blueblood, holding flowers in his hooves at the front of Twilights castle. I rolled my eyes and sighed in disdain that my good mood had been dampened. He smiled widely at me, and I politely smiled back. He was a great pain in my side in Canterlot, now my favourate, tranquil place in Ponyville? I remembered the first time he tried to court me in Canterlot..... I had my eyes glued to the book that was in front of me, when a shadow cast over it. I looked up and held back a groan of annoyance at Blueblood, who was smiling at me, flirtatiously. "Angelic Wing! What a pleasant surprise to see you here!" I raised an eyebrow at him. And looked behind me to look at my home. "You mean in front of my house?" His eyes widened in embarrassment for a moment before returning to their usual flirting state. "Well I mean it's good to see you, my dear" I tensed. He wasn't allowed to say "my dear" to me, because I wasn't his. He smirked at me. "I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to the local bar? I hear they have wonderful margaritas!" I scowled at him and looked back to my book, trying to forget his presence. "No thank you,Prince Blueblood, I don't drink" He looked at me in shock. "Everypony drinks! You must have been in your house all your life as to not drink!" My eyebrow raised at him again, wondering why he was so persistent. I looked back at my book as I spoke. "Maybe it's because I don't want to show up at the orphanage and frighten the day lights out of the children because I have a bad hangover" He grabbed my book and I looked up at him in more annoyance. "Blueblood... Give me my book back..." He smirked mischievously. "You have to come with me to the bar and go on a date with me" I nearly yelled in fury. A date with the most obnoxious, self centred stallion in Canterlot? That is my nightmare.... I smiled when a plan came to me. I sauntered over to him, trying to look seductive. "Oh Blueblood, of course I'll go on a date with you, or are you looking for something more?" Reluctantly, I wrapped my hooves around his neck, trying to look innocent and cute. He seemed to buy it and leaned down for my lips. "Maybe I can show you right here..." Right when he was about to kiss me, I punched him in the groin and grabbed my book. He groaned, but got up quickly and grabbed my leg. "Oh no, Angelic Wing, we are just beginning the fun" Panic lay claim to my mind. The only thing I could think of was to call out. Wait a second.... I grinned. "FATHER!!!!!" Bluebloods eyes widened at my scream. My father came out of the house and his eyes widened when he saw me. His eyes saw Blueblood, I swear I could see the flames of Tartarus in his eyes. "GET YOUR FILTHY NO GOOD HOOVES OF MY DAUGHTER!!!!" He immediantly let go and ran as fast as he could. Father didn't bother to go after him, more concerned for me. I ran to him and hugged him tightly. He whispered in my ear that it was alright now. And I believed him. I whispered something that he didn't expect. "Forget this afternoon ever happened, father, he got what he deserved" For once, my father nodded in approval and walked back into the house with me. That was just when he was a little younger and a little more foolish then now. He had layed off of me for the next few months, but he soon came crawling back to try and win me over. Still hadn't worked, and never would. He handed me the flowers, red roses, which I accepted, and I waited for the sweet talk to burst from his mouth. Unfortunately, I didn't have to wait long. "Miss Angelic Wing, how is your day going along? Well I hope for the most beautiful mare?" He said with honey glazing every word. "It was fine until you showed up and ruined it....." I thought cruelly. I don't usually show anything, but care and patience to ponies and creatures, but for this obnoxious stallion, I'll gladly make an exception. "It's going fine, Prince Blueblood, I'm just heading to the library to give this book back" I held the book up with my hoof. He, impolitely, snatched the precious book from my hoof. I reached for it, but he pulled it from my grasp. He scrunched his nose up in distaste at the page he had turned to. "How can you read something so.... vulgar and tragic? A mare like you shouldn't be reading books at all, especially if this is the product you're reading!" He tossed it away, making it slide in the dirt. I gasped. I went to retrieve it, but he blocked my path. I growled in anger under my breath. He smirked flirtatiously. "Why don't you read something.... sweeter?" He handed me a piece of folded parchment, and I took it with my eyebrow raised. I gazed at the open page, my eyes, dully, scimming the page. My dearest, Angelic Wing, words cannot express your beauty, but I have a very promising proposition for you. Ever since I first saw you, I knew you would be perfect by my side. Just think, you could have everything, especially the stallion of your dreams. And the best part, our children would be just perfect, they would be just like m-..... I couldn't read any further, a sickly feeling coming to me at the very thought he was implying. I looked up, and almost gaped in horror. Blueblood was levitating a velvet box, kneeling down on his foreleg. I watched, paralyzed, as the box slowly opened to reveal an aqua ring. It looked to be very expensive and it was beautiful, but that didn't make the awful feeling disappear. "Angelic Wing, honestly, who would deny marrying me? This is not only a gain for you, but it would be such a great gain for us....." He mumbled under his breath thinking I couldn't hear the words that made a tiny flame of anger start in me. "Mostly for me..." The flame was growing larger the more time I looked at him. "So, what is your answer..... Angel?" I tensed. No one had ever shortened my name to "Angel", and hearing it come from him, I nearly cried out in terror. He smirked at me with confidence, probably thinking I couldn't refuse such an offer..... He was wrong. I glared at him, grinding my teeth. "Blueblood, I say this with nothing, but the truth.... I would rather marry a timber wolf, then marry you! And I wouldn't taint my children with your genes even if my life depended on it! That would honestly be the worst thing I could do to an innocent foal! The likes of you as their father? Ha, in your dreams alone!" I stomped past him, picked up my book and walked into the library. I snuck a peek at him to see he was glaring at me in rage at being insulted, and I silently laughed. When I got inside I was met with six ponies and a friendly dragons eyes on me. I blushed and started to walk back out. "Oh....Twilight, I'm sorry if I interrupted your visit with your friends. I was just coming to return your book, but I'll come back later..." I turned around to leave, when she got up and smiled. "No Angelic Wing it's fine, would you like to join us?" "I wouldn't want to intrude, Twilight...." She shook her head in a laughing manner. "Your always welcome here anytime" I walked forward and Twilight looked over to, her friends as it seemed, looking proud. "Everypony, this is Angelic Wing, she used to come to the library everyday and is almost as much a vivid reader as I am!" I chuckled. Everyone else laughed at bit at the statement. "Twilight, don't flatter me. I'm not even close to being such a constant reader as you!" She smiled and indicated the book. "Did you enjoy "Phantom of the Opera"? You seemed so interested in it" I giggled. "A tale that makes me wish the author wrote a sequel, a little sad, but enjoyable none the less!" Twilight laughed, along with the others whom I didn't know the names to. I realized I'd forgotten my manners. "I'm sorry, I didn't ask for your names?" The orange earth pony stepped forward and tipped her hat. "I'm Applejack, it's a pleasure to meet ya'll" Suddenly the pink one bounced in front of Applejack with confetti surrounding her. I jumped away as she got her eyes inches from mine. "Hiya, I'm Pinkie Pie, but you can just call me Pinkie! Everypony does!" I shook her hoof nervously. "Hello Pinkie, and Applejack" Next came the sky blue Pegasus with a rainbow mane, grinning smugly. "And I'm Rainbow Dash, the greatest flyer in Ponyville! But you can call me Rainbow" I nodded at her, amusement on my face. The next pony was a white unicorn with a wavy purple main. "And I am Rarity, it's such a delight to meet you, Angelic Wing!" The last one, a yellow Pegasus with rose pink mane and tail, seemed a little skiddish and hid behind Applejack. I smiled and inched forward a little towards her. Twilight stepped in front of me. "That's Fluttershy, she..... isn't very social with ponies" I put my hoof up and smiled. "Twilight, you know I worked at the Canterlot orphanage before moving here, if one of the children were skiddish, you would have to be gentle and kind to them. This situation is no different." Twilight sighed and stepped aside. I walked slowly over to Fluttershy, and she looked up at me, a tinge of fear evident in her ocean eyes. "Fluttershy.... Don't be afraid.... I'm Angelic Wing.....I'm not going to hurt you" She seemed to come out of her shell, quicker then the children at the orphanage. She slightly smiled and I smiled back, as she got up. "N-N-Nice to m-meet you, Angelic Wing" I smiled at making some new friends, then turned to Twilight. "I think you'll probably want your book back" She smiled kindly and I gave her the book. She gave me a silent thank you as she took the book. I bit my lip, hoping she wouldn't notice the small amount of dirt on it. Unfortunately, she did. "Why is there dirt on my book!?!!?!!!!?" I looked down in regret and shame. She looked at me expectantly. "I'm so sorry, Twilight, I-It was...... Blueblood. He was waiting for me at your door, gave me flowers, and he.... through the book in the dirt after reading one page...... He proposed right after with a note of introduction for it.....and.... I think you should just read it yourself...." Everyone had a shocked face, looking at me intently. I grabbed the note and held it out to them. Rarity was the one who grabbed the note, glaring at it. She shredded it after she was done reading, and looked at me in pity. "I'm so sorry that arrogant, no-good, Prince Blueblood wrote those very.... vulgar things to you, darling.... What did you say?" I grinned. I looked at them with amusement. "I told him something that I think any mare would rather do then be his wife.... I told him that I would rather marry a timber wolf then be his fiancé" Rainbow Dash looked at me blankly for a second, then burst out laughing, along with Applejack and Pinkie, all laughing whole-heartily. Rarity giggled, along with Fluttershy and Twilight. I smiled at their laughter, joining in. I looked at the time and quickly gave everyone a hug goodbye. "I'm sorry, girls, but I have to get back to my parents, they don't like it when I'm late coming home." They all smiled and said they understood. They waved goodbye as I ran to my home, smiling back at them. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Blueblood fumed as Angelic Wing disappeared behind the castle doors. He had hoped that she would agree to such a forward and romantic gesture. He grinded his teeth and went to his carriage. The stallions saluted him, and he gave a silent nod. When he got in, his anger was still apparent on his features. How could she have refused him? He had been romantic, and he was a prince for his aunts sake! She should be begging him to take her as his wife! She even went as far as to say something that made his blood boil! A timberwolf for a husband instead of him? Proposterous! And what did she mean that she wouldn't "taint" her children's genes with his own? He knew she loved children more then anything, but why not him as the father? All these questions frustrated him, but he was sure of one thing; she would be his even if he had to drag her to the alter and use his magic for the vows! But that would be a last resort. Even though he needed a wife, because his aunt Celestia had cut him off and he needed to have one to, shall he say, "release stress", and he would not stoop so low as to "hire". He needed someone who was beautiful, fiery, and fresh and that was it. Angelic Wing fit that description perfectly. He growled and glared at his pegasi. "Can't you fools go any faster? I need to relax and this constant wind and noise isn't helping!" They went much faster then before, fearing Bluebloods anger. He looked behind at Ponyville, directly at the library. He grit his teeth again, and looked ahead at his home. "Soon Angelic Wing, soon you'll be mine, and when you are, I'll make sure you never leave our room..." He groaned at that thought, and just glared at his aunts lowering sun in the distance, forgetting the afternoon to save his sanity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Angelic Wing opened the door abruptly to her home, to see two pairs of eyes looking at her in worry. My mother, Melody, was my exact copy; A dark cyan blue coat and mane and tail were a mix of light and dark brown. Her eyes were a beautiful green, unlike mine. Father on the other hand, looked nothing like me. He had a light grey coat, a black mane and tail, and his eyes were ocean blue. Mother rushed over to me and held my face, worry evident in her eyes. "Angelic Wing, where have you been! We have been waiting for an hour later then we should!" I was about to reassure them, when father interrupted. "Your mother has mostly been worried, my daughter, but an explanation might calm her nerves" I hugged my mother and smiled amusingly at father. "I'm sorry, I.... just had a run in with Blueblood, and it took longer then I expected to return my book to Twilight after him showing up" My father rolled his eyes in annoyance at the mention of Blueblood. Mother just looked more calm and less stressed out now. Father spoke with no hint of real interest in his words. "What did that fool of a prince want from you this time?" I groaned at the very memory of this afternoon. I sighed and looked at my father, barely looking like he was paying attention. "Today he asked for my hoof in marriage, father" The cup of tea he was sipping was spewed out of his mouth as the words hit him. He looked at me, rage radiating from his being. "HE DID WHAT?!?!!?!?!" I backed away from him as his fury seemed to grow. "HE HAS NO RIGHT TO ASK YOU SUCH A THING WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?!?!!??! DOES THAT PANSY OF A STALLION THINK HE CAN JUST TAKE YOU?!?!?!?!!?!!!" My mother, thankfully, came towards father and attempted to calm him. The two things you should know about my mother, she can calm my father with a clap of her hooves, and you do not wish to ever see my mother while angry. "Dear, calm down, your frightening our little filly to death!" He turned to his wife, and he calmed down quiet a bit. He turned to me, less anger in his eyes. "What.... did you say to him?" I knew what he was thinking, and it shook me to the core. I came foreward and put my hoof on his shoulder. "Father, I would never agree to marry such a pitiful excuse of a stallion. Especially without your approval. I wish to marry for love, not for reward and power. And I would never torture your grandchildren with him being their father" He sighed in relief, hugging me with one hoof around my neck. "Alright you two, let's put this "Blueblood proposal" business behind us, and eat dinner." I grinned at my mother. Always ready to liven the mood. I helped father get up off his chair and helped set the table. I looked at my parents, so happy, so cheerful. I realized that they meant everything to me, and I would always love and cherish them. My family.... was all I needed for now. I smiled to myself as I finished setting up. They brought forth dinner and hugged me from behind, making me chuckle a little. Nothing could make me happier then my families joy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He sat in his chambers looking at the scene before him. His eyes glanced over the two elder ponies before his eyes widened at the young mare. His long forgotten heart gave a traitorous beat. He turned away from the vision and went to his balcony. He looked over his ominous realm. It wasn't the best place to build a home but it was sucluded and hidden. No one would go this deep into the Everfree Forest so it was the perfect place for his castle to be built. He glanced back at the image and saw it had zoomed in on the mare. He turned away quickly, turning back to his area. He soon heard hoof steps behind him. He turned swiftly towards whoever dared to enter unannounced, and growled in annoyance. His maid, Luta, a peach coloured unicorn with a tangerine coloured mane and tail, came in nervously. "My lord, dinner is ready" He grumbled under his breath but nodded. "Thank you, Luta, I'll be down in a minute" She looked at her master, but didn't argue and left. He gazed back to the mare in the image. He felt.... nervous? He growled. "I will not be weakened by a mares beauty. It's just a mare..... and she would react to me like all the rest.... with fear, disgust, or anger" He thought as he tenderly held his torture, his cruelty, and his fate: the accursed rose. He put it back in its place on the mantle, and turned once again to the picture before him. The mare looked to be smiling brightly and the corners of his lips seemed to twitch up with her. He shook his head and growled in frustration. He couldn't handle this anymore. "FIREBIRD!!!!!" He heard scuffing and clangs in the hall and soon saw a crimson red Pegasus with a reddish-orange mane and tail, looking frightened. He saluted and tried but failed to ask in a calm voice, "W-What is i-it, my lord?" He glared at his servant and stepped forward, just to be right in front of him. He pointed to the mare in the image as he spoke. "I need you to find this mare for me, bring her here by any means nessesary. She may be the one we need to be rid of this atrocious curse." Firebird looked at the vision of the mare, laughing and smiling. He turned to his master and saluted again. "Of course, my lord, it will be done" He nodded and indicated Firebird to leave. He did, and the lord was left alone once again. He turned to the image one last time before heading out the door. "Soon, my dear, you shall no longer be a free mare... But one that will belong to me...." With that, he left the room, slamming the door with a bang that could be heard all across the castle.