//------------------------------//
// The Painful Exchange 
// Story: The Roses Curse 
// by Angelic Wing 
//------------------------------//

        I was still a little angry from earlier, but my worry was growing by the minute. I'd been searching the skies all day and still no sign if them. It was like my heart had plummeted into a dark hole, full of worry. I was told by Mr. Rose Bush that he saw my parents being carried away in the direction I was heading.... three hours ago. I had looked around when I saw things move in the brush, only to have my hope squished when I saw it was only an animal or my eyes playing tricks. I was starting to become tired when I saw something.... grey and hazy in the distance. I flew over to it with the last of my strength, and nearly collapsed as I drifted to the ground. 

I gazed up at the castle before me, in wonderment and confusion. I walked to the gate and cringed at the loud creaking sound it made as I opened it. When I got inside the enormous castle, I marvelled at the inside of it. It was all made of pure black obsidian, polished to perfection. I heard my hoof steps echo through the halls. I saw a faint light enlighten the east stairway, leading into a seemingly dark hall.

I followed it quietly, as to avoid whomever held the light turning around and attacking. The light began to fade as I came to a swirling stairway. I started to hasten my pace and held the wall for support. When I got to the top, the light had been put on a mantle, leaving a faint glow in the dreary place. My eyes widened when I saw that this was a dungeon. I heard whispers and faint whimpers coming from a cell. I, cautiously, went to the door, seeing two huddled figures in a shivering embrace. I looked closer and saw something familiar about the smaller figure, a mare by the looks of it. I nearly gasped in surprise when I heard the mare speak... the sound of my mother trying to hold back her tears as she spoke rattling me.

"My little filly..... Please be alright..."

I let tears streaked down my face, as I smiled. I reached through the bars and managed to speak through the lump in my throat.

"Mother... I'm right here..."

She gasped and shot up like a parasprite at an all you can eat buffet. She slowly turned around and slightly smiled at me for a moment. But, as soon as it had appeared, her smile turned into a thin line, her eyes widening in fear. She grabbed my hoof and started to cry out loudly.

"You can't be here, Angelic Wing! You need to leave now!"

I looked at her, confused at her statement. I held her hoof closely.

"Mother, why would I leave you and father here? Tell me who put you in here"

My father pushed my mother gently aside. I could see frustration and anger in his eyes, waiting to be let loose.

"Angelic Wing.... As your father... I am ordering you to LEAVE NOW!"

I was slightly taken aback by him yelling at me, but stood straight and scowled, determinedly. 

"I will not leave you to rot in this cell! Now tell me wh-"

I didn't get to finish my sentence, because I was grabbed by a claw from behind. I whirled around to face whomever had grabbed me, but saw only a tall figure, concealed in darkness. I backed away, only to have my back against my parents prison door. The creature encircled me in a preying motion. I turned to the door and saw my mother, shaking in fear, while father was trying to calm her down. I faced the shadow, with a look of fury on my face.

"Who are you and why have you locked up my parents?"

His mouth came into view, sharp teeth slightly showing out of his upper lip. He seemed to chuckle maliciously, as I glared daggers at him.

"Lets just say you will know me quiet well after tonight. And your parents are here because I wished to see you...."

I glared more fiercely at him, but widened my eyes a little. He was a coward and a monster to kidnap and lock up my parents merely to see me.

"A formal invite would have been more polite then kidnapping my parents, don't you think?"

He laughed loudly at my little poison-filled joke. 

"Yes, it might have, but then how would I get you to agree to my proposition?"

My eyebrow raised at the mention of a proposition. My interest and worry growing with each passing second.

"What sort of proposition?"

He smiled evilly, and stepped forward a little, revealing his wolf-like leg. I stood up to face him, fear and courage filling my mind. His face came close to mine and I had to hold back a scream. His face, exactly like a wolves, but with eyes like a ponies, seemingly gentle, but cruel in my eyes.

"Its rather something of a trade, my dear-"

I grimaced at him saying "my dear", reminding me of Blueblood.

"Your parents freedom, for your hoof in marriage to me"

My eyes widened and my mouth fell open in shock. 

"Marriage!?!?!??!?!"

I thought in horror. I didn't even know this... Monsters name or ways..... But I had a basic idea.... This... this was like Bluebloods proposal, only with my parents lives on the line! I looked up at the creature, who was looking at me impatiently. I gazed back to my parents, both of their faces filled with fear. I stood, defiantly looking at this... devious monster. 

"Why do you want me to be your wife?"

He looked a little shocked at my calm-toned question, but he regained his composure quickly.

"Life gets quiet predictable and boring out here, so I need somepony to... occupy me. And of course I need a queen to show my subjects. Now, what is your answer? Will you accept my proposal? Or will you leave your parents here to die slowly in that cell?"

I almost shook in anger. How dare he purposely blackmail me into marrying him with my parents lives! I looked back to my parents, who were silently telling me to decline, but seeing them like this, full of fear and in a cell.... I stood up and glared hatefully at the creature.

"I accept, if you set them free immediately"

He grinned.

"Very well, my dear fiancé..."

I collapsed, a new weight bound to my soul itself. My parents rushed to me and looked at me in frantic worry. I couldn't look at them. I could face a monster who could easily kill me, but I couldn't face my parents in this state? I felt guilt and sorrow fill my heart.

"Angelic Wing, what have you done!?!!??!"

My mother cried as she held me close, probably for the last time. My father continued to look at me, worry and angry confusion etched on his face. I barely was able to answer him, with something a little above a whisper.

"I've given you your freedom father..... That's all the reassurance I need.... to keep me going.... at the wedding..."

He was about to argue, when he was ripped from my embrace by the being of darkness. My mother cried out and reached for me, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do anything. I simply reached out as well, and managed to whisper out to her. 

"Goodbye.... Mother"

She gave up trying to reach me and solemnly followed the creature, my father still yelling at him to let me go, when I knew that this was my fate. I went to the cell window and looked out to see the beast, who I could only see as a tall, wolf-like creature, carrying my father, while my mother had her head down, simply following them. They were put in a stone carriage and the stone stallions came to life, running down the bridge, taking my heart with my parents.

I sobbed into the window sill, and swore I could hear the faint sound of something shattering. I realized what it was, and sobbed harder. In a single act, my heart had turned into jagged shards of what it was. I heard some pony coming up the stairway, but gave no signs that I was listening. The shadow loomed over me, but I simply stayed where I was.

"Follow me, my dear, I will show you to your chambers for the night.... until tomorrow that is..."

I said nothing, and went past him blankly. I turned when he did not follow me immediately, and saw his face full of shock.

"Well? What were you expecting from me afterwards? A loving embrace, perhaps? Well, I will tell you right now, the pony before you, is not going to be the obedient and entertaining wife you wish to have, but one who will only be as she feels; with despair and heartbreak!" 

I walked down the stairs, not hearing a sound for a moment before hearing the tick of his clawed paws coming down the stairs, angrily. He soon got to the bottom and grabbed me from behind. He turned me to face him, only for his eyes to widen slightly at the single tear that had escaped. He sneered at me, trying to make me feel fear.

"You will learn to respect me, my dear.... I have no patience for disrespect and spite from you"

I pushed his paws off me, and glared hatefully at him.

"Well, disrespect and spite should have been your first expectation from me, my future husband! So your patience and tolerance should be brought up just to be around me!"

His grip returned onto my forelegs, tighter this time.

"I am soon to be your husband, so you are to do as I say, whenever I say...."

I struggled under his grip, but gave up and snarled at him furiously.

"You have what you wanted! You wanted me, and I gave myself to you! You forced me to make the choice, but I'm yours now! But I am not an item you can control with a wave of your paw! The only thing that I will do most unwillingly is marry you when you wish!"

I grinded my teeth and glared harder at him. He looked at me, the flame that was in my own eyes, evident in his own.

"So? If we are to be married, then a date for it would be less agonizing for me, wouldn't it?"

He looked at me, an evil smirk, that I did not approve of, spreading upon his face.

"Very well, if you insist that I choose a date here and now..... then I choose.... tomorrow!"

I paled. I looked up at him in pure horror. He smirked, satisfied at my reaction. 

"FIREBIRD!"

I heard somepony coming from down the hall, but I was too shocked to move.

"You called, my lord?"

He walked past the stallion, Firebird, and smiled back at me.

"Take my fiancé to her room, and bring her down to meet me for dinner, with something.... nice on"

He left, concealing himself in shadow once more. Firebird looked at me, pity shining in his eyes. I gazed at him, pain pouring into my own eyes. He helped me up, trying to steady me.

"This way to your room, my lady..."

I had no strength to tell him not to call me that, so I merely followed him. I turned back to the cell once more, and nearly cried.

"Rotting in that cell would have been a better than this...."

I thought, as I sombrely followed Firebird to my room, letting tears trail behind me. I realized in that moment, that my life, my dream....had become a nightmare.....