AskBubbleLee on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/askbubblelee/art/Bubble-s-Study-Break-706489012AskBubbleLee

Deviation Actions

AskBubbleLee's avatar

Bubble's Study Break

By
Published:
6.6K Views

Description

Annie walked through Ponyville, nose deep in a book. She was on the verge of completing a potion, but one more ingredient was needed. Locating it was easy, but getting to it was going to be difficult. She looked through her satchel at all the small bottles of potions and collected ingredients, making sure she had all she needed for her little trip. But looking out of town, she knew she couldn’t go get it alone.. Lady was too far along in her pregnancy to go with her, and Daniel was currently giving her the silent treatment after a fight.. Who else could she ask..

Entering a college library, Annie looked around in search of Bubble Lee, being told she could find her in there. She asked another student where Bubble was in the building. The only response she got was, “Follow the snores and you’ll find her.” Annie made a confused look before searching through the library. Eventually she found Bubble, slumped over a table with her face planted on a book and scattered papers.

Annie: Bubble? ….. *walks over and nudges her* Buuuubble..? *shakes her* BUBBLE LEE!!!

Bubble: *bolts upright, papers scattering* AAAH! I’M AWAKE! I.. .I’m.. where am I? *looks around, a piece of paper stuck to her face* Annie? What are you doing here?

Annie: I came to ask for a teeeeeny favor. What are you doing? *peels the paper from her face* Besides drooling on papers…

Bubble: *rubs the sleep from her eyes* Umm.. studying.. I have mid-terms coming up….. But I could probably use a break. What kind of favor?

Annie: I need help completing a potion. I have all the other ingredients, but I need one more and it’s hard to get.. Can you help me?

Bubble: *checks her phone at the time. It’s late.* Right now? Um.. if the potions lab is still open we can check and see if they have what you need… if not, I can get it for you in the morning maybe…?

Annie: It won’t be in a potions lab, there’s only one place you can get it.. *looks away shyly*

Bubble: *tilts her head* And where’s that?

-Time skip, the two standing in front of the deep, mysterious wooded area on the edge of Ponyville-

Bubble: T-the Everfree Forest?!

Annie: Mmhmm! It’s in there, and now is the only time to get it before it’s too late. Will you come with me?

Bubble: *swallows nervously* Y-you.. Want to go through the E-everfree Forest… Oh sweet Celestia…. What is this ingredient? *almost too afraid to ask*

Annie:*opens her book and shows Bubble a picture of a pretty bright blue flower* The Blue Moon Flower. And now is the only time to get it because…

Bubble: *reads a little, squinting in the dim lighting* … Because of the Blue Moon… Annie, I don’t know about this….

Annie: *eyes go round and she whimpers slightly*

Bubble: *flinches* Eck.! *sighs* ….If I don’t go you’ll just go without me, won’t you….?

Annie: *nods her head* Mmhmm..

Bubble: *sighs in defeat* O-okay Annie….

Annie: *perks right up* Great! Let’s go!

Bubble: *grumbles and follows* ….. What am I getting myself into…?

Annie lead the way into the Everfree Forest, doing her best to navigate through the grungy path. Moving away low hanging vines and jumping over fallen trees, all was mostly quiet.

Annie: We should be getting close to it very soon. This part of the forest is a bit less dense than I remember.

Bubble: Wonderful… The sooner we get this flower, the sooner we can leave… What kind of potion are you trying to make anyways?

Annie: Just a simple shapeshift potion. Nothing big.

Bubble: *ears perk, eyes wide* … Shapeshifting?! What.. uh… kind of shapeshifting?

Annie: Is there any other kind of shapeshifting? It’s just something I’ve been meaning to test out, you know.. See if I can make a potion of it so you don’t need a spell to do it..

Bubble: ... There are lots of different kinds of shapeshifting. Is this a complete transformation or partial? Or maybe just a “glimmer” where nothing actually changes but you look different.. *coughs* Uhh.. Can the user only turn into one specific form or many? Are the effects are permanent or do they wear off over time..?

Annie: *shrugs* Permanent, temporary, either works fine. *said bluntly as she jumps over a rock*

Bubble: *tilts her head as he steps over the rock* …. Annie..? What exactly are you planning on using this potion for?

Annie: Just a small experiment, to try out something different.. *walks faster*

Bubble: *keeps up* … You have to be careful with that kind of magic, Annie. Ointments and silly potions to change the pitch of your voice is one thing but if you don’t know the full properties of your ingredients.. It could possibly cause something…. irreversible..

Annie: Well then if this is permanent, then it’s a bonus for me.. *walks along a log*

Bubble: *ears fold back* … What would you want to change so badly..?

Annie: …. Myself…

Bubble: *reaches and rests her hand on Annie’s shoulder to to stop her* … Annie…

Annie: … I’m the only one in my family that’s… weak.. I don’t have strengths like them, I can’t turn into a dragon like mom or Danny….! But if I make this potion, I can be strong and brave like them..!

Bubble: … Just because you aren’t like your mom and brother doesn’t make you any less them. Strength can be measured by more than just physical ability.

Annie: *sighs* You don’t get it.. I don’t feel like I even belong in this family.. I’m too… “normal”, and don’t want to be..! I don’t even look the least bit like a dragon! *jumps off the log and keeps walking* I want to feel like I’m really part of this family..

Bubble: *ears fold flat against her head* …. I do know what it feels like.. To not belong. To want to change yourself.

Annie: Why would you..? *turns around, a bit fluffy* You’re pretty, you’re really nice, just about everypony wants to be your friend! What could you possibly want to change…?

Bubble: *looks the side and cringes a little. She didn’t want to reveal herself.. But she could work with this* … It didn’t start off that way. The hair, the make-up.. The constant smile and bubbly personality *puts on a smile to make her point* …. I had to change myself pretty drastically to make myself like this…. But somewhere along the way, I lost who I once was. At times I wonder if this is really “Me” anymore…

Annie: ….. Well.. I want to do this.. I need to, for me… If you don’t want to help me then I can do it by myself.. *turns and walks faster*

Bubble: *pauses for a moment before following after* …… If it matters, I like you the way you are…

Annie: … You sound like Danny… *rubs her face* I messed things up with him… Maybe if I succeed in this potion I can help him too somehow.. To make up for what I said..

Bubble: *slows down a little* Did you two get into a fight?

Annie: Yeah… I said something really bad, and now he won’t talk to me… W-we were finally starting to communicate again like we used to and I screwed it up cuz I aimed my frustration at him…

Bubble: I see…. But how is changing yourself going to fix that? Maybe if you just talked with him….

Annie: If I can get a working potion with the flower, maybe I can modify it to help him.. And we can be close again… *looks at Bubble* And have you seen the silent treatment he can give? Getting the cold shoulder from Danny is like… like… *shivers* It’s scary, and it hurts.. *walks faster*

Bubble: ^^; I can imagine… But I don’t think resorting to magic potions will solve your problems Annie. You are one of the brightest fillies I’ve ever met, you can create any potion on the fly with more potency than most professors at the college… But you shouldn’t use your talent as a cure-all. It... doesn’t work like that. Magic can’t solve everything.

Annie: Maybe you don’t think so, but I’m not giving up…! I can change this, and I can help my brother! I have to do this for both of us..! *sniffles*

Bubble: *ears droop as she goes to Annie and gently comforts her* …….. I’ll help as much as I can.. But at least consider other options first before making such a.. permanent change…?

Annie: *wipes her eyes with her hands* …… We have a flower to find, we’re running out of time… *walks ahead*

Bubble: *sighs and follows* …. I wasn’t lying though. You really are one of the brightest fillies I’ve ever seen. You are smart and resourceful… and I’m sure someday, with enough practice, you’ll be a strong unicorn too…”

Annie: ….. *doesn’t give a response, looking in her book and looking ahead* We’re getting close…. *steps over a vine* ….. In magic, maybe I’ll be strong.. *smiles a little* I wish Grandma was here, she was really strong… Mom is pretty strong too.. Grandpa is scary, Uncle Mako is strong, and Danny is the bravest pony I know…! … I just want be like them… and not- Aah! *trips on a vine and falls over* …. This.

Bubble: *runs over and help Annie up* Annie..? Are you okay? *lights up her horn to check and see if she was injured at all*

Annie: Mmhmm… *looks at the vine that tripped her and kicks it away* Dumb plants.. *gets up, making sure her potions are okay, letting out a sigh* I forgot how troublesome this area was… Let’s get the flower and get the heck out of here..

Bubble: *glances around, finally seeing all the vines hanging from the trees, waving in the wind as if they were alive* …. I-I second that. *swallows*

Stepping over the vines, it started getting darker. The trees became so thick they blocked out the light of the stars. The most light coming from Bubble’s horn. Which was nice!... until the shadows moved along with her. Turning to the side, she saw what appeared to be a giant spider trying to grab her.

Bubble: *shrieks and jumps back, her horn sparking a little* OH GODDESSES!!

Annie: It’s okay! It’s okay, look! *points to possible the tiniest web they’ve seen in a while, a small spider in the middle of it and waving its legs in the air” It’s a Peacock Spider. They’re too tiny to hurt anypony. *kneels down* Aaaw, he’s so cute!

Bubble: *pants and clutches her chest* Y-yess…. Adorable… Can we leave now?!

Annie: Not until we get the flower. *looks at the spider* Why are you dancing little guy? There’s no females around here.

The tiny spider waved it’s legs around frantically, moving side to side. Annie tilted her head questioningly before standing up and continuing on the trail.

Bubble: *goes to follow but stops at the spider, looking apologetically at him* I’m sorry, it would never work out… *before following Annie deeper into the forest*

Annie: Bubble!  Bubble I found it!

Turning the corner of a tree, Bubble caught sight of a vibrant blue flower sitting on a bed  of moss. It glowed in the middle of the dark forest, vines hanging loosely over the tree branches. Annie got her satchel ready to collect the flower as she stepped over the vines… As he attention was fixed on her bag, one of the vines on the ground moved and gripped her ankle. A shriek escaped Annie as she fell on the bed of moss. Looking up, the flower was just out of arms length…. She froze, hearing a blood curdling growl under her… the moss moved and lifted upwards, revealing that she fell into a giant fly trap.

Annie: BUBBLE!!!

Bubble: *lets out a flustered chirp before quickly using magic to attempt to keep the petals of the fly trap open* A-Annie! You.. You got to get out of there!!

Annie: *looks at the flower and cringes before trying to crawl out of the trap, the vines still holding her legs tightly* Grrr! Let go of me you giant weed! *pulls at the vines, trying to get free…. It only made the plant angrier*

Annie felt a shift in weight in the moss underneath her. Looking up she saw that Bubble had jumped into the mouth of the carnivorous plant, using her magic to push the mouth open from the inside out! Bubble’s hoof stomped on the vine and twisted, the plant letting out shrieks as it loosened it’s grip on Annie.

Bubble: I told you to.. *slips a hoof under Annie* Get… *and kicks her out of the maw of the plant* OUT!

Annie: *CHIRP!* Ow! *scrambles to her hooves and almost made a run for it before seeing the vines advance on Bubble* Bubble get out of there!

Two vines wrapped around Bubble’s ankles, holding her down. As she struggled against her restraints, the petals of the giant flytrap fully closed, entrapping Bubble inside.

Annie: BUBBLE!!!

---------------------------------------
All Bubble wanted was a small break from her tedious studies, but now she's become a carnivorous's plants next meal! What will happen next? Check out :iconblackblood-queen: gallery to see!!

For more stories related to Bubble, Annie and their friends, check out :iconcapricornreef: !!!

Previous: Numb by BLACKBLOOD-QUEEN
Next: I Hate These Dumb Plants by BLACKBLOOD-QUEEN

Image size
3000x2596px 3.77 MB
© 2017 - 2024 AskBubbleLee
Comments14
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
hunterN05's avatar
>Bubble: *goes to follow but stops at the spider, looking apologetically at him* I’m sorry, it would never work out… *before following Annie deeper into the forest*

:ohnoes:
...
:?
Now I find myself curious... also I am reminded of Scary! BEST SPIDER! :heart: