Corpse Flower

Smiling proudly, Posey gazed at the giant rose towering above her into the starry night sky. Bathed in the moon's pale glow with stars glittering on the edges of its petals, it perfumed the night with a sweet, dreamy aroma. There was no doubt in her mind that it was the most beautiful flower in Equestria.

Not long ago it had been on the brink of death, but Posey's tender care and plant magic had transformed it over several months into the crown jewel of the garden. But to her horror, Sunny and Hitch wanted to get rid of it.

She scowled. They had to be joking! So what if by coincidence the ponies that had disappeared had been last seen near it? That didn't mean the rose was a murderer! Flowers were beautiful, delicate, and harmless. Everypony knew that.

Putting down her flashlight, she picked up the watering can. She circled around the rose, showering the dirt with water drops that sparkled in the bright moonlight.

This is all so ridiculous! she thought angrily. Flowers don't make ponies disappear! She would have laughed at the thought of a killer flower if she weren't so irritated. This is all Zipp's fault, she's been spreading dumb rumors! How could a flower kill anypony?!

Posey was too busy fuming to notice that something was coming out of the ground behind her. Dirt crumbled away as a thick, gnarled root emerged. It quietly slithered through the blades of grass, creeping closer to her. When it was near enough, the root slowly stretched up into the air and arched over her.

Zipp, Sunny, Hitch—none of them are making sense. Why do they hate such a lovely plant for no good reason? They know how much it means to Phyllis and me! Posey complained.

Sighing, she looked up at the rose again. It had transformed her life completely; it had given her popularity, fame, even some social standing. Uprooting it would be too cruel. Every petal and leaf was perfect. Even the thorns were perfectly pointed. I can't do it, Posey admitted to herself. I just can't, not after all the work I—

The root shot out and wrapped around her muzzle, muffling her screams as more roots burst out of the ground and coiled around her. Roots quickly gripped each of her legs and several more tangled around her belly. Forced into the ground, she kicked and thrashed, but the more she struggled, the more violently she was pulled down.

Once her hooves sunk into the dirt, she was buried alive instantly. Desperately she dug upwards, but her struggle was pointless. As she suffocated helplessly, the roots of the rose drained away her magic. Her strength gone, her limbs went limp and she slipped into darkness.