Chapters All Friendship Comes with a Price
Prolouge
Chapter 1
"And they lived happily ever after, the end." Twilight said as she kissed Spike on the forehead and began to tuck him into bed.
"That's was a great Story Twilight, I loved how the hansom dragon prince had to save the lovely pony princess from the mean old lake monster that locked her away in the castle and in the end they get married and, and....." Spike said as he got all cuddled up into bed unable to hold back his excitement. "I mean how are there so many good fairy tales out there."
"Well Spike..." before she could finish her answer Spike got out of his bed and began going through the other fair tales in the library's vast collection.
"Like Snow White and the Seven Ponies, Sleeping Beauty and even this one, uh." Spike wasn't quiet sure how to pronounce this stories title. "Rumshel.... Rumpbelle....Rumshelk...."
Twilight levitated the book from Spike's hand and put it back into it's proper shelf. "It's called Rumpelstiltskin Spike."
"Oh...What's that about Twilight?"
"Well to put it briefly Spike, it's about a strange little man who can spin straw into gold. He makes deal with people who are desperate for a quick fix but they always end up bad for the person making the deal. So you wouldn't run into him." Twilight explained as she put Spike back into his little bed alongside Twilight.
Spike gave out a large yawn and began to slowly close his eyes. "Wouldn't it be cool..... if those tales.....were real." Spike said before finally falling asleep.
Twilight just giggled. "It would be interesting Spike. It would be interesting." She smiled at her baby dragon for a while before finally going onto her bed turning out the lights. "Good night Spike sweet dreams." With that Twilight closed her eyes and fell asleep.
*****
"Come on Big Mac, we got ah get all these Apples down before tomorrah or will miss our deadline. That big Apple company is paying us a hefty fee and we could use those funds to fix up the farm. "
"Eeyup." Big Macintosh said.
They continued bucking the apples making sure that they didn't miss a single one of them. Then a strong wind begin to blow into the farm.
"Hmm, strange looking wind blowing ain't there." Applejack star lit sky began to darken around her. "I have a feeling something bad is going on here."
The wind continued to get stronger and stronger as dark clouds began to form and condense around one another. A few moments later Applejack saw in the distance a blue Pegasus with a Rainbow colored mane flying at super speed towards the oncoming storm.
"Rainbowdash, what's goin on!." Applejack asked looking extremely worried.
"I don't know!" Rainbowdash shouted from the distance the wind making it difficult for Applejack to hear her. "There's not supposed to a heavy shower till next Tuesday." With that Rainbowdash headed off into the eye of the coming storm
"What in tarnation is going on here." Applejack asked herself. She continued about what to do for a while. "I better go see Twilight," she turned towards her brother. "Big Mac, make sure Applebloom and Granny Smith are taken to safety."
"EEYUP!" Big Mac bellowed as the wind began to get louder and louder.
With that Applejack rushed off to Twilight's tree home trying to avoid the push of the wind as she galloped with all her might.
*****
"What on Equestria is going this chaotic storm is getting out off....." with that it hit Fluttershy. "Discord!" Fluttershy said sounding angry. And in a flash the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony arrived wearing pajamas and night hat.
(Yawn). "Fluttershy do you know what time it is, I'm trying to get my beauty sleep. Can't be Spirits of Chaos without a little shut eye every century and now."
"Discord." She said with a tone of seriousness in her voice. "Are you responsible for this strange storm that's going on in Equestria."
"What!" Discord said looking stunned and accused. "Me! How come I'm to blame for a little drizzle."
"Because I saw Rainbowdash a few seconds ago and she said there was not supposed to be any rain for till next Tuesday."
Discord took off his pajamas with a snap of his fingers and went outside to look out at the storm. The clouds in the sky now began to swirl as green lighting began to strike the ground.
Discord looked stunned. "Nope this isn't me, it's not even my style. I'm more of a chocolate and cotton candy kind of guy, not dark and brooding like this." Discord continued to examine the sky for a while trying to figure out what going on and then a look of horror hit him.
"Fluttershy you need to get to Twilight's at once."
"Twilight? Why?"
"We need to warn her." Before Fluttershy could ask again Discord snapped his fingers and in a flash the two of them were gone.
*******
"Twilight!" Applejack screamed. "Twilight, what's going on?"
"Yes darling, I've never seen any storm like this before. It is most unbecoming." Rarity said looking displeased.
"I don't know! But by the looks of it, it's seems to have some magical abilities." Twilight answered, as she looked at the storm and how unnatural it started to become.
Rainbowdash flew down from the clouds looking beaten and bruised. "I don't know what's going on with these clouds. They don't seem normal to me."
"Well maybe..." Before Twilight could finish a flash of light emerged as Discord and Fluttershy came up to Twilight.
"Twilight, you have to listen to me this is no ordinary storm." Discord said with great urgency.
"I know that." Twilight said seeming annoyed Discord was stating the obvious.
"No! This isn't a storm at all it's actually uh..." Before Discord could finish one of the green lightning bolts struck the ground in front of Twilight's tree home, but instead of leaving a large burnt stain on the grass it opened up a swirling vortex that began to grow larger and larger. Applejack was the first to be sucked into it. Rarity grabbed on to her but also lost her balance, Rainbowdash grabbed on to Rarity, Twilight, grabbed Rainbowdash and slipped in, Fluttershy grabbed Twilight and fell in. and from out of no were Pinkie Pie emerged and grabbed on to her, followed by Spike and then Discord. All of them were trying with all there might to stop them from being sucked into the vortex.
"Hold on." Spike said trying to hold on to them for dear life. But his little dragon hands could not handle it much longer. Finally it was to much Spike lost hold and all six of them fell into the vortex. Spike tried to jump into them but Discord stopped. him.
"No Spike, they need you here!" Discord said as he two had to see his friend Fluttershy fall into a vortex to somewhere were he did not know were she would go and with that the vortex closed up and the storm disappeared. Leaving Discord and Spike alone in front of Twilight's home powerless to anything except find a way to bring them home.
Author's Note
Please Comment below. Always looking for feedback.
All Friendship Comes with a Price
Chapter 2
At the treehouse Discord and Spike were going through all the books in Twilight's collection to see if there was a way to get there friends back home.
"Anything Discord." Spike Asked.
"Nope!' Discord said looking frustrated continuing to eat as many books as possible and see if there was anything in them that could help.
"Wait." Spike said thinking of something. "Why don't you just snap your fingers and bring them back."
"I can't Spike, they were teleported to another world through dark powerful magic and although I'm a omnipotent being with unlimited power of chaos, even I can't undue that type of powerful magic."
"Then maybe we should go see Princess Celestia then." Spike suggested.
Discord seemed annoyed by that suggestion.
"No! I can handles this I'm just as smart as Princess Celestia if not smarter. For I have a I.Q of Two Thousand and Five" Discord said with a tone of smugness in his voice.
"Yeah! Well! That I.Q of yours hasn't brought our friends home hasn't it!" Spike yelled out, he and Discord about to go to blows. But it was Spike who decided to hold back, he took a deep breath and calmed down.
"Discord you shouldn't let your pride get in the way of helping our friends." Spike said trying to be the voice of logic and reason in the room since Twilight was gone.
Discord was hesitant at first not wanting to give in but eventually gave in. He took a large deep sight. "Your right spike. Come on." Discord snapped his fingers and in flash of light they were gone.
They two of them entered the throne room of Canterlot Castle were Princess Celestia and Luna were having some tea. Celestia and Luna saw the flash of light and looked up to see Discord there. Celestia seemed confused while Luna looked displeased.
"Discord..... What are you doing here." Celestia asked finding it difficult to have certain pleasantness to her voice. Spike then came from behind Discord and ran up to Princess Celestia grabbing her by the hoof.
"TWILIGHTGONEHELPPELEASE." He screamed rambling the words together.
"Spike...Slow down. Now tell me what happened."
"I can answer that." Discord said.
"Yes Discord." Luna said looking at the Spirit of Chaos with suspicion.
"Well...." Discord said looking for the right words "You see....."
*******
"Wow! That was amazing how you totally kicked those guys flanks and then how you...." Burst Rainbowdash,
"Okay RD that's enough." Applejack said not sure how much she could handle Rainbowdash's continuing retelling of their rescue.
"Um.... Snow White." Twilight said. "Not that were ungrateful but why did you save us. How did you even find us."
Snow then sat down the others joining her at the campsite. "Well as luck would have it I was here to get some supplies for some friends of mine."
"Are these friends the seven Ponies." Twilight asked seeming excited.
"No....There dwarves." Snow white responded not sure why Twilight though they were Ponies.
"Oh." Twilight said looking embarrassed. "But again thanks for saving us."
"Don't mention it. When I saw you being dragged by the Queen's guards I couldn't just stand there and do nothing. I've had personal experience of the Queen's wrath I didn't want you to suffer that. " Snow said as she began to stir the stew in the pot and put it in a wooden bow.
"So." Twilight asked trying to get the words through. "Why are you living here in a tent instead of your castle with Prince Charming."
"I'm sad to say even though I found my Prince Charming I'm afraid that the castle part hasn't happened yet."
Twilight and the others seemed surprised and wanted to learn more about what this world of Fairy Tales was about. Snow White decides to tell her tale of her exile from the Kingdom after she was blamed for the death of her father, being hunted by the Queen and her forces, meeting Prince Charming, how the two of them were always separated by powers beyond there control only to be once again be reunited when she took a poison apple and he awakened her with the most powerful magic in the world true love's kiss. "So now me and Charming are at war with my stepmother the Queen and his Stepfather King George, were hoping to reclaim the Kingdom from them. Charming and the others are just a few miles away in the forest, I was going to head back to the main camp site tomorrow morning. It's not safe to travel these forest at night. "
The Ponies looked stunned by this story, this was not the fairy tale they were used to.
"Wow.... your are.....so awesome." Squealed Rainbowdash. "You just as awesome as Daring Doo. Maybe even more!"
"What I think Rainbowdash is trying to say is your story is not the one were used to" Twilight replied.
"Yeah, I mean I always heard about your tale, never liked that Queen of yours, turning sweet, honorable apples poison and evil that always set me the wrong way." Applejack said sounding angry. "I mean how could someone do that to a poor apple like that. Apples are supposed to be good fruits not evil and...."
"Alright Applejack, we get your point you don't like the Queen because she turned apples into a weapon of evil." Twilight said trying to stop Applejack from going on a epic rant. "Well Snow White we would be happy to help in anyway we can."
"Yeah! Maybe once you win we can through a defeated the forces of evil party!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
"Thank you." Snow replied. "But if I may ask you a question, I've seen Unicorns before and maybe have heard tails of Pegasai but I've never seen ones that could talk and look....well....like you." Snow pointed to the ponies unique color patterns.
"Oh...Well....Were not from around here." Twilight explained.
"Yeah, were from Equestria, it's a super doper fun place. Filled with all sorts of nice ponies and creatures" Pinkie Pie said smiling wide.
"Last night a giant storm hit our town and opened up a strange portal." Fluttershy whispered.
"And so we ended up here." Applejack continued. "First person we met was some dishonest fellah by the name of Rumpelstiltskin."
Then as soon as that name was said a dark chill began to descend upon the forest a look of pure fear appeared on Snow White's face.
"Rumpelstiltskin." Snow said seemnig shacked.
"Yeah, he wanted to make a deal with us to take us home but we refused." Twilight said.
"That's good, you don't want to make a deal with him unless absolutely necessary and even then I would caution it." Snow white said.
"Wow. I knew Rumpelstiltskin was bad in the books but I didn't know he was that bad." Twilight said seeming surprised.
"He is, although in my opinion not as bad the Queen, but I guess being the Dark One would make one cautious when dealing with him. Even I admit I've made a deal or two with him in the past. It didn't end well."
"See Twilight, I told you he was dishonest." Applejack said.
"I knew that Applejack." Twilight responded.
"Yeah, but I could tell you were thinking about making that deal with him, he seemed to working his salesmen voodoo on you." Applejack said.
"Salesmen voodoo?" Twilight seemed confused. "What's that?."
" As a salespony of apples I've seen all the dirty liars and cheaters out there. I remember this one time of the great Apple convention last year there was this one pony who would use all sorts tricks and tales to get his customers to by apples. The poor folk never knew what they were buying since most of those apples were stale at best and at worst just plane awful."
"I'd listen to your friend." Snow White interjected. "Rumpelstiltskin is known to make even the strongest of souls bend to his will."
"He sounds terrible." Fluttershy said looking horrified. "How did he become so bad."
"Nobody really knows. Only a select few know about his past, although from what charming told me he did have a experience with true love once." Snow white answered.
"What happened." Twilight asked looking curious.
"She died." replied Snow White to the great shock and sadness of many of the Ponies.
"Well, maybe he's not all bad. I mean we knew someone who used to be a really big meanie but after showing him kindness and friendship we were able to turn him around...... for the most part." Fluttershy seemed hesitant to show that her progress of reforming Discord was one hundred percent complete but she knew that they had made much improvement over time.
"I hope your right Fluttershy. Not just for Rumpelstiltskin sake but for someone else as well" Snow said with a look of sadness on her face as began making her makeshift bed.
"Regina" Snow said to herself as she finally laid herself on the ground and prepared to go to bed. Twilight and the others decided it was time to rest up as well knowing that the next couple of days were going to be exhausting and that they would need all their energy they could muster for the days ahead.
********
Regina just walked away from the mirror dragging her long black dress across the room as she paced back and forth in frustration.
"Well what now. This as far as my the magic in the mirror will show a few more steps tomorrow and they'll be out of sight for quiet some time." asked the floating head in the mirror looking at his Queen with contempt. Being trapped in this mirror for so long he had gotten used to the Queens bursts of rage. He continued to watch as the queen paced around the castle thinking of what to do next.
"Quiet!" she commanded as the Queen continued to think about plotting her next move. "First she allies herself with Dwarves now talking horses. How does she find these creatures."
"I don't know maybe she's just better at making friends than you." said a high pitched voiced.
The Queen turned around to see Rumpelstiltskin sitting on her bear skinned lounge chair smiling at her.
"Rumpelstiltskin." The Queen said not looking pleased. "What are you doing here."
Rumpelstiltskin jumps up and walks over to the Queen. "Just wanted to see how my bests friend in the whole world is doing."
"Your not my friend." She scowled at him.
Rumpelstiltskin put his hand over his heart as if it were struck and made a face of shock. "You wound me." He let out a high pitched giggle "I would be carful dearie, the list of those of who you call allies is starting to dwindle, and with a attitude like that I can see why." Rumpelstiltskin said.
"What do you want!" Regina asked tried of Rumpelstiltskin's mind games. "I don't have time for your nonsense today. Besides you've more than once proven to me that you are no ally of mine. Now tell me what you want and get out."
"Can't I just come by to say high." Rumpelstiltskin asked sound persecuted
"You never come over here without a deal in mind." Regina accused him.
"Well now that you mention it. I do have a deal in mind, for you see, for once our interest our aligned."
"How?" Regina asked curiously but at the same time skeptical.
"You see...." Rumpelstiltskin began. "Your interested in killing Snow White. Me personally, no. But! Her new friends on the other hand, they fascinate me." The mirror on the wall then changes back to show the image of the Mane Six sleeping in the woods Rumpelstiltskin just staring at them in a trance like state. "Six magical talking Ponies, not from our realm.... and they have something I want!"
"So!" Regina said snapping Rumpelstiltskin out of his trance. "What do I care. I only want Snow White dead!"
Rumpelstiltskin turns around to look at the Queen. "Well, you see, there's your answer. As you know I like to keep myself out of the affairs of your kingdom unless called for of course, or if it serves my interest ,and this little war between you and Snow is finally starting to come to ahead. By that I mean turning into a full blown war."
Regina continued to scowl at him, she didn't like to reminded of the fact that Snow and Charming had launched a full scale rebellion against her although she had an ally in King George who realm was also in chaos.
"What! Exactly are you offering!" Regina burst out looking annoyed. Rumpelstiltskin nearly smiled and slowly began to walk up to the Queen with a tooth filled grin.
"I'm offering to give up my neutrality and join you in the war against Snow White and Prince Charming." He replied.
"And you want me to do.....what exactly?" Regina asked looking very curious. This could prove to be a advantage to her, Rumpelstiltskin, the Dark One, the most powerful magical being in the world on her side would definitely insure her victory. But she still seemed hesitant to except the offer without knowing what he wanted.
Rumpelstiltskin turns around again looks at the magic mirror and points to the six colorful ponies. "I want them......Alive!" He turns to face Regina again. "Do we have a deal." he said in a high pitched tone.
Regina merely stares at him and then a large grin begins to cover her face. "Deal."
He merely gives a high pitched laugh as a response.
The Queen then walks up back to her magic mirror and looks at her six new victims knowing exactly what to do with them.
*******
"GUYS WAKE UP QUICK!" She screamed.
Her friends and Snow White wake up to see the trees coming to life and attacking them the branches reaching them like arms about to strangle them. All of them began to scatter as they avoided the enchanted trees grasp. Snow used her sword in order to cut the branches from the trees as if cutting arms off of someone's body. The trees continued to shuffle and twist around as more branches continued to grow and extend through their roots attacking the Ponies and Snow White.
"What's going on!" Twilight yelled dodging the trees branches.
"It must be the Queen, she must have enchanted the trees to attack us." Snow White explained.
"Well how we get out of this mess." Applejack said as she struggles to get out of the branches tight grip.
"Some magic would be helpful." Snow said as she too got trapped into once the trees branches. This gave Twilight and idea. With all her energy she managed to light up her horn and cast a powerful enchantment that caused a blinding light that expanded though the forest forcing the trees to let go of them.
The Mane Six and Snow White fell back on the ground and the trees once again become lifeless and still.
"Wow that was amazing." Snow White said impressed by Twilight's magical abilities.
"Wait a go Twilight." Pinkie Pie said jumping up and down with excitement.
"Absolutely stunning darling." Rarity said.
"Well thanks I managed to use decontamination spell on the trees, apparently there was cursed by black magic." Twilight said blushing a little.
Snow White then looked around the forest as if looking for someone. "Why should get moving the Queen knows were we are and we should head to main campsite there will be safe. It's protected by fairy magic."
"Fairies!" Pinkie Pie said looking excited. "Lets go!" Pinkie Pie began to rush off.
"Pinkie Pie wait up." Twilight yelled as she and her friends began going deeper into the forest to avoid any detection from the Evil Queen.
******
"Well that failed miserable. But then again first try never succeeds and now you learned something about your enemy." Rumpelstiltskin said sitting on Regina's chair watching the Queen becoming frustrated by her defeat.
"They won't escape me again." she growled in anger.
"I'd hope not dearie for your sake. My deal has a time limit you know. It won't last forever. So.... If I were you I'd hop to it dearie. But uh, I'd keep an eye on that Purple Unicorn she seems to have quiet some magical prowess, might uh.... be difficult to capture that one "
Regina turned around and glared at the imp for a few seconds who merely smiled at her and giggled as he vanished in a puff of red smoke leaving Regina alone in her castle chambers filled with nothing but rage and anger.
******
"Were here." Snow said looking around as people began to exit the tents and notice that Snow White coming. One of them was a tall handsome, dashing man with blond hair and a rugged looking beard.
"Snow!" he said as the strange man ran up to Snow to hug and kissed her.
"Awwwwwwwwwwww" said all the Ponies at once expect for Rainbowdash who was never into that mushy stuff.
"Everyone. This is Prince Charming." Snow said pointing to the man who had just kissed her.
"Hello." he said. He turned to Snow. "So made some new friends." he asked curiously
"Yes! They want to help us." Snow said smiling at Charming.
Then more and more people began to exit the tents. Many of them normal human beings but a seven of them were mid sized Dwarves. One of the Dwarves with a bald head a beard who looked very gruff walked over to the two of them.
"Snow, welcome back." he said but not looking very happy.
"Thank you grumpy." Snow White said.
Grumpy then looks down at the Ponies for a bit then looks back to Snow. "Not looking to replace us are yah." he said sarcastically.
"Of course not. Besides there only six of them," Snow replied. Grumpy then gave a small smiled and you could hear a small chuckle coming from him as he walked back to the campsite.
Twilight could not believe what she had just saw, It was Grumpy one of the characters she read about in her books of course in her version he was a pony and not a dwarf but still she couldn't believe it. Then more creatures began to emerge a few fairies floated in the air and a young girl wearing red hood and cloak emerged along with a elderly woman, then elderly man and a small boy and on his shoulder was a cricket wearing a top hat and carrying a small umbrella.
All the mane six were in shock for all their fairy tale characters that they had read about in the stories were coming to life in front of their very eyes.
All Friendship Comes with a Price
Chapter 3
"And then my pal Twilight here used her magic to take those trees down." Rainbowdash boasted as she told there tale to the some of people at the campsite, she also showed off some of her flight moves as well to the annoyance of Applejack who didn't like it when Rainbowdash was feeding her ego.
Twilight was with Snow White and Prince Charming explaining to them a bit more of their world and their positions in it. "And I'm the personal student of our ruler Princess Celestia, she has taught me everything I know about magic. I've been studying it since I was a foal. I love magic, everything about it, it just so wonderful and great." Twilight face began to beam with happiness
"Really?" Charming said. "You know a lot about magic?"
"Yes! Yes I do. Although not as much as Princess Celestia of course."
Charming and Snow exchange some worried looks at one another, Twilight seemed to notice.
"Is... is something wrong?" Twilight asked looking concerned.
"Well..." Snow said looking for the right words to use. "Most people we know who use magic don't tend to be... this friendly. Well those who aren't fairies anyway."
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked looking really curious now.
"It's just... I'm surprised that you manage to live a very peaceful lifestyle and bee a user of magic considering it's ... consequences." Snow White said.
Twilight didn't understand why would magic effect Twilight's lifestyle, sure she might have been a bit of a shut in in her early years because she studied magic non-stop but she's lived a perfectly good life in Ponyville with her friends. Then it came to her back in the forest when Rumpelstiltskin had whispered to her "All magic comes with a Price. .
"Oh!" Twilight finally realized. "Well were I come from, magic is mostly used in positive ways, to help people not hurt them."
"It's not that we don't like magic. We've seen the good, but the way you talk about magic you seem to have a bit of a obsession with it." Charming commented.
"Obsession!" Twilight felt a bit insulted by this remark. "I would prefer passionate about magic then obsessed. Magic in our world comes from the power of friendship and love, I don't know how magic is powered here but it must not be good."
"Pretty much." Snow replied leaving Twilight to worry about magic in this world. Twilight then began to think about what Snow and Charming were saying, she known in her past she was always a bit of a shut in, she never really had friends at a young age. Then a though crossed her mind, what if magic did have a prince and it prevented her from having child hood friends when she was a filly. She felt he heart sink a little bit at this though. "Did magic have a price to bear."
A few feet away Rainbowdash continued to show off her awesome moves to some of the people at the campsite who were at awe by her flying abilities.
"So you think your pretty tuff huh." Rainbowdash turns around to see Grumpy walking up to her.
"Yeah, pretty tuff, I've been the winner of Iron Pony competition three times in a row." Rainbowdash boasted looking at Grumpy with a smirk on her face.
"Want ah put you money were your mouth is pony." Grumpy said daring Rainbowdash to a challenge.
"What do you have in mind dwarf?" Rainbowdash said sounding interested.
"Simple." Grumpy throws Rainbowdash an axe, she catches it wondering what it was for. "You and me in a little mining competition.
"Uh in case you haven't noticed shorty, were in the middle of a forest, I don't see any mines for miles." Rainbowdash pointed out finding the axe to be very heavy.
"Don't worry, there's an old abandoned dwarf mine a few feet from the campsite. Come on I'll show yah." Grumpy and Rainbowdash headed off into the forest. They walked for what seemed to be a few minutes, until finally they found the entrance to the mine which was inside a mountain.
The entrance to the mine was boarded off and a large "Warning, Keep Out, Haunted." sign was on it. Grumpy began to tear off the boards that covered the entrance.
"Hey it says to keep out." Rainbowdash pointed out.
"Ah, they always put signs like that in old mines, afraid it's going to collapse, but this old mine hasn't collapsed in hundreds of years."
"But why do people think this place is haunted?" Rainbowdash asked seeming a little concerned.
"It's just a old dwarves tale. Says there's a monster that lives in the mines, but most people think monsters inhabit every dwarf mines." Grumpy responded
Rainbowdash and Grumpy enter the mine it is dark and drafty a small railway could be seen on the ground a few leftover Axes and pikes were there left behind from a age long past.
"So what exactly is the challenge?" Rainbowdash asked.
"Simple..." Grumpy then swings his axe into one of the rocks, the impact barley left a scratch on it. "These rocks are enchanted, they're hard, and don't crack easily."
"So how de we break them?" Rainbowdash asked skeptical that even her strength could break a enchanted rock.
"Lucky for you, these Axe's are also enchanted as well, but it still takes a few swings to even get a small crack in the rock. So whoever can crack this bolder open first is the winner."
Rainbowdash had her game face on. "Ready!"
"GO!" Grumpy said as he began to swing his axe at the rock again not leaving a crack on the rock. Rainbowdash followed suite as she started to swinging her axe at the rock and started hitting it. The two of them were using every ounce of there strength trying there hardest to make that bolder break. With each swing there was still no sign of their bolder weakening. But Grumpy and Rainbowdash were not giving up that easily. They would continue to these rocks until they cracked.
******
At the Campsite, Twilight, Snow and Charming were going over a map of the Enchanted Forest. Twilight was curious about learning about the world she was in and seeing how different it was from what she had read in her fairy tales. She also wanted to get her mind of the thought that magic may be darker then it appeared .
"So our forces have so far managed to stay well hidden in the forests, while the Queen's and King George's forces patrol the roads and highways that lead to the main towns and villages."
"Fascinating." Twilight said. "Do you plan to take the castle, or..."
"Uh Twilight." Fluttershy cut off.
"Not now Fluttershy." Twilight said going back to the map. "So, do you think your forces will be able to..."
"Uh Twilight." Fluttershy said still whispering but trying to be a little more forceful.
"Not now!" Twilight said getting annoyed she turned back to Snow and Charming. "Like I was saying."
"Hey where's Rainbowdash?" Applejack said walking up to Twilight and Fluttesrhy with Rarity right behind her.
"Yes, I haven't seen her in quiet some time." Rarity said.
"Isn't she here?" Twilight asked looking around the campsite for Rainbowdash unable to find her. Snow and Charming were looking around for her as well.
"Hey where's Grumpy." Snow White asked noticing her friend was missing.
"Oh I know, I know!" Pinkie Pie said coming from out of nowhere.
"You do, were are they!" Twilight asked with a sense of urgency in her voice.
"Oh she and Grumpy went to a abounded mine a few feet away from the campsite. Said something about a challenge." Pinkie Pie explained.
"Ugh, a mine I hate those especially after the last experience I had to go through in a mine." Rarity said remembering an event that happened to her a few years ago.
Then a look of fear appeared on Prince Charming face. "Did you a say abounded mine." he asked Pinkie Pie.
"Yep!" She replied smiling.
"Oh no! There's a reason that mine was abounded." Prince Charming said sounding alter.
"Oh, I bet there going to meet a giant monster soon." Pinkie Pie said.
"Is that what your Pinkie sense is saying." Applejack asked.
"No silly, you see since were in a world of Fairly Tales, this place must run on a narrative which means that it follows the formula of most fairly tales begging, middle and end. Right now in our story were in transition from begging to middle were we will face a few random monsters and forces before heading to a climatic battle and then the final conflict at the end." Pinkie Pie explained much to the confusion and bewilderment of her friends.
"Uh..." Twilight said not sure what to say, she looks at Applejack and Fluttershy for help.
"It's just Pinkie being Pinkie." Applejack said trying to defuse the awkwardness.
"Right, lets go." Twilight said. "Which way Prince Charming."
"I know they way." Prince Charming drew his sword and began to head in the direction the mine followed by Snow and the rest of the Ponies. Twilight hoped that her friends would be safe.
*******
"So... first time being in a mine before." Grumpy asked.
"Nope, last time I was in a mine my friend Rarity was captured by a bunch of diamond dogs." Rainbowdash asked.
"Diamond what?" Grumpy asked looking confused.
'Diamond dogs, Nasty creatures that wanted to use my friends Rarity ability to locate gems so they can have all the gems they wanted."
Grumpy seemed intrigued. "Well, I bet that bit them in the but, trust me I've seen what happens when magic is used for evil purposes. Although I have to ask, can she find fairy dust?" Both Grumpy and Rainbowdash chuckled at that thought.
Then they cave began to shake and rumble. Rainbowdash and Grumpy turned around sharply wondering what was going on. As the booming got louder and louder a large figure could be seen in the shadows.
"Uh Grumpy." Rainbowdash said her voice cracking a bit. "I think were going to find out what haunts these mines."
Then the large figure revealed itself to be a large, fat, ugly looking troll.
"Oh dear." Grumpy said looking up at the creatures monstrous completion.
The troll then picked it nose and then noticed Rainbowdash and Grumpy. He opened up his mouth his voice big and booming but sounding as if it was hard for him to fully complete the sentence. "You, Dwarf and Pony." he said pointing to them. "Queen want pretty pony, want Dwarf dead."
The troll then lurched at the two of them however his weight slowed him down allowing for Rainbowdash and Grumpy to avoid being squished by his gut. The troll smashed his face into the wall causing him to lose balance for a few seconds before gaining back his footing.
"Split up!" Grumpy yelled.
The troll watched as he saw Rainbowdash go one way and Grumpy the other. "Queen say find Pony first!" With that the troll went after Rainbowdash who went deeper into the caverns of the mine flying with all her might flapping her wings as hard as she could. Rainbowdash could hear the trolls footsteps in the distance getting louder and louder. As she turned a corner she slammed herself face first into grumpy who was also running from the troll.
"Grumpy!" She said looking surprised. "I thought you went the other direction?"
"I did, apparently this mine goes full circle."
"What are we going to do." Rainbowdash asked as she heard the troll getting close on them.
"Don't worry I have an idea, see that celling." Grumpy pointed up to show the foundation of the mine above them it looked cracked and broken. "We need to get the troll to this point and knock down the rocks above."
"How?" Rainbowdash asked.
"We just put a little pressure on the foundation." Grumpy smiled brandishing his axe.
Grumpy and Rainbowdash then hear a loud roar the troll was getting close to them.
"Get moving." Grumpy demanded as he and Rainbowdash ran into the shadows of the mine as the troll appeared from the corner. He sniffed around searching for the ponies sent. He slowly began walking down the mine slowly heading to the weak celling of the mines.
"NOW!" Grumpy yelled as swung his axe with all his might into the mines foundation, Rainbowdash used her legs and bucked the walls the same way Applejack would a apple tree. The mine began to shake and part of the celling then collapsed on the troll knocking him out unconscious.
"Yes! We did it." Rainbowdash cheered happy they survived that awful encounter.
"Grumpy!"
"Rainbowdash."
"That sounded like Snow." Grumpy replied.
"And Twilight."
The two of them ran out back to the entrance of the mine and saw their friends entering the mine looking relieved to know that their friends were safe.
"Your okay." Fluttershy said sounding relieved. "We were worried you go hurt."
"Oh please we were fine, just had a run in with a troll nothing we couldn't handle." Rainbowdash boasted. Although the reaction from other Ponies looked shocked and horrified.
"Yeah, thankfully this one her is one tough pony." Grumpy said actually giving Rainbowdash a smile.
"Right back at you Dwarf." Rainbowdash said smiling back.
'Well come on lets get out of here, before this place collapses." Prince Charming said looking at the mine's foundation.
"Yes I must agree this place is dreadfully filthy, but then again I guess most mines are." Rarity commented.
The group then exited the mine and once again were in the bright light of the sun. As soon as they're out they hear the crunch of grass coming from the distance and there a young woman wearing a red hood appeared in front of them she looked tired and worried.
"Red." Snow White said looking worried. "What's going on."
"Snow." she said trying to catch her breath. "The Queen's forces they found us."
Author's Note
Another Cliffhanger, I love ending things on Cliffhangers. Please leave a comment, whether it is a criticism or an idea you have on how the story should continue.
All Friendship Comes with a Price
Chapter 1
Her head felt heavy and woozy, everything felt bruised and beaten, every muscle ached and every bone felt cracked, she couldn't see anything from miles away. However slowly her sight slowly began to come back to her but all she could see was green only broken by the colors of blue, white, pink, orange and yellow. Then finally Twilight finally came back to and saw that she and her friends were in a middle of a forest.
"Ugh...What happened. Where are we." Twilight said looking around the endless array of trees. Then she started to hear more groaning sounds as she saw all her friends slowly begging to wake up and noticing were they are.
"Ugh, where are we?" Applejack tilted her head up to see all the forest trees that surrounded her. "this doesn't look like Sweet Apple Acers to me."
"My wings hurts, hope I can still fly," complained Rainbowdash as she stretched out her wings to see if they were still functioning.
"Twilight, where in Equestria are we?" Rarity asked as she too looked around at the scenery.
"Oh I'm afraid your not in Equestria any more dearies." said a high sinister pitched voice coming from behind them. All six of the ponies turned around to see a strange looking man standing on one of the broken branches. He was a strange looking individual, he had a brown bushy hair, wore a strange crocodile leather get up, but it was skin that really freaked out the ponies it was bizarre almost as if it were made of a decayed gold.
"Who are you?" asked Pinkie Pie with enthusiasm. "Are some magical male fairy thing since you made of gold and all fairies have gold and...." Twilight closed her mouth to stop Pinkie Pie from going on. But the stranger didn't seem to mind much and just starred at the ponies with a creepy looking smile.
The Strange man got up and gave them all a little bow. "My name is... Rumpelstiltskin."
With this news Twilight looked shocked although everyone else seemed more intrigued. "Wait....hold on!" Twilight said with alarm in her voice. "Rumpelstiltskin, that's impossible your.... your..."
"Just a fairy tale character." He finished her sentence. "Well, well, well, dearie don't you know all stories are based somewhat in reality. Besides, I could say the same thing about you six mystical talking Ponies. Oh sure in our world we have unicorns and horses but they don't talk but that doesn't mean they aren't real now aren't they." He gave Twilight a creepy grin showing all his decayed rotten teeth.
"Well...Wait how do you know were from Equestria have you been there?"
"No sadly never had the chance, never been a priority, but I'm glad you brought that up for you see I have a little...proposition."
Twilight and her other friends looked suspiciously at Rumpelstiltskin not sure whether to trust him or not.
"What kind of proposition." Applejack said telling that he was not a honest looking pony or in this case whatever he was.
"Simple, I can get you home... for a price, of course." Rumpelstiltskin said sounding very calm and relaxed.
"Well, I guess you could..." Twilight seemed unable to finish her sentence.
Applejack leaned in towards Twilight who seemed to be interested in what Rumpelstiltskin was proposing. "Don't trust him Twi, I can sense a dishonest pony a mile a way and he seemed to be the most dishonest person I've sensed." Twilight agreed.
"Um, I'm sorry Mr. Stiliskin we have to decline, will find our own way home thank you very much."
Rumpelstiltskin merely smiled and played it cool. "Are you sure, it's a dangerous world out there filled with all sorts of nasty things that will try to kill yah, and for one thing how do you ever plan on getting out of this forest?"
"I..." Twilight said thinking for a while then she got a idea. "I know. Rainbowdash! fly up and see if you spot any roads ahead."
"Got it!," and in a flash Rainbowdash was high in the air above the trees and from what she saw it wasn't good, there was only a vast array of forest that seemed to expanded for miles on end. But there way in the distance was a small road that cut right through the forest.
"I see a road way far away, it will take a few days before we will be able to make it."
Twilight seemed disappointed
"See. I told you." Rumpelstiltskin said
But then it hit her. "Wait a minute, I can just use my magic to teleport us closer to the road. I've been practicing and have been able to get it to a point were I can teleport multiple people at a time. Sorry Rumple but I got this under control" Twilight said looking proud of herself.
"Very well... Twilight Sparkle. My offer stills stands though in case you... change your mind. But, a warning, first beware the forces of ... the Evil Queen!
"Who?" Twilight asked.
"Lets just say that's someone you don't want to run into. And Second" He especially gives a evil looking grin at Twilight "Don't get conferrable with that horn of yours. Magic won't solve all your problems."
"Well Mr. Stiliskin but I've found magic to be quiet useful. I don't mean to brag but I am the personal student of the most powerful magic user in Equestria and she taught me everything I know."
Rumpelstiltskin then gave a high pitched giggle. "Really, then I'm sure the Princess taught you the most important rule about magic ." Twilight looked confused how did he know about Princess Celestia. "For any true student of magic the number one most important rule about magic is." There is a pause, Rumpelstiltskin slowly walks up to Twilight Sparkles kneels downward and whispers in her ear. "All magic...comes with a price." Then in a puff of red smoke, he vanished.
Twilight felt disturbed by these words but did not let them deter her from getting her friends out of this forest. She concentrated all her energies and activated her horn and then in a flash of purple light she and her friends were standing in the middle of a dirt road.
"Well, glad we got away from that character." Applejack said looking relieved.
"I know he was creepy, although I have to admit he does have a nice sense of fashion did you see the leather he was wearing such a fascinating design. Although sadly leather was out two weeks ago, he still manages to pull it off nicely." Rarity commented.
"Agreed... for the him no longer being here part not the fashion part." Twilight said then she saw Rainbowdash continuing to float into the sky.
"See anything from up there Rainbowdash." Twilight asked as Rainbowdash continued to scout from above.
"I see a small village East from here."
"Then it looks like were going that way." Twilight said pointing towards the distance village. "Will have to hoof it from here teleporting spells can take a lot out of you."
So with that the mane six began there long journey towards the village. The journey seemed to go on for hours, although some felt it seemed to go on for a few hours but it felt like a few months or a few years, at least according to Rainbodash.
"Are we there yet." Rarity asked her legs starting to weaken.
"No." Applejack said sounding annoyed.
"How about now." Rarity asked again.
"No!" Applejack said sounding annoyed again.
They continued there way forward until from behind them they began to hear the sound of horses galloping. All six turned around looking curious.
"Strange, I though I heard fellow Ponies heading this way." Applejack commented.
"But remember, were in a different world they might not be like us like Rumpelstiltskin said." Twilight added.
"Never hurt to try. Perhaps they'll be nice" Whispered Fluttershy.
The from behind the corner huge five black stallions began galloping along the road and on top of them were knights in black and silver armor there faces covered by mask. These knights brought a essence of terror and fear into the Ponies hearts. The knights surrounded the Ponies are began to circle them.
"Who...who are they." Fluttershy whispered. The guards continued to stare at the Ponies with interest.
One of the guards turned to the other with interest. "Look one of them is a unicorn. The Queen has been searching for one for some time now."
"Why?" asked another guard.
"I don't know do you want to question her orders." responded another guard.
All of them shivered in fear at that though.
Twilight and the others looked horrified. Twilight herself wondered if this was the same Queen that Rumpelstiltskin had warned her friends about but she though that perhaps it would be worth a try to see reason with them.
"Um excuse me." Twilight blurted out.
All the guards looked shocked to see this purple unicorn actually talking to them. There shudder caused there horses to get nervous, but the knights managed to get them back under control.
"It can talk." said one of the guards.
"Perhaps it's enchanted." said another guard.
"Well that would explain the bizarre colors. Now what."
One of the guards turned around and looked towards the village. "The Castle isn't that far from here. There's a local dungeon at the village, will take them there then one of us will inform the Queen, see if she wants them. Round them up!
The guards then got out there ropes and forcefully began to tie a nose around the Ponies bodies wrangling them up.
"Hey, what the...!" were some of the words said by the Ponies as they were being tied up like cattle by these black knights put the Ponies on top of there horses as they road off to the village.
*******
"Uh, Twilight..." Whispered Applejack. "Why aren't you using your magic to get us out of here."
"My horn doesn't seem to be working right now, it seems to be to be out of energy."
"What! How the heck does that happen." Rainbowdash whispered.
"Be quiet!" yelled one of the guards as he whipped Rainbowdash on the back. She flinched in pain
"Stop hurting my friend." Twilight demanded.
"You want some too!" Yelled one of the guards brandishing his whip. The knights the reached the village jail cells which was a small stone tower that looked old, broken and started decay. Of the knights took all six of the ponies inside the stoned tower when he opened the door the only thing there were a few winding stairs. He then dragged all six of them up the stairs and into a small room.
"This will keep you busy for now until we inform the Queen about you six. I think she might have some use for you, if your lucky." With that threat he slammed and locked the door on them leaving them trapped inside a small tower.
"Well this is just great, we've been here less than a day and already, we met creepy guy and got locked in a tower." Rainbowdash complained.
"You know darling perhaps you should have taken Rumpelstiltskin offer, I mean what bad could it have done." Rarity questioned.
"Bad. Bad! Don't you read the fairy tales, Rumpelstiltskin makes deals because of his own selfish reasons, I've seen version of the tale were he wants more than just a first born child. He is selfish and dishonest and can't be trusted." Twilight barked.
"Well, those were just stories remember perhaps the real version isn't that bad." Fluttershy tried to reason.
"No! He could be worse!" Twilight yelled looking annoyed. Twilight then just walked over to the nearest wall and laid down for a while in humph.
"You know... I just realized maybe me and Flutteshy could exit through the window fly though and go look for help." Rainbowdash suggested.
"But who would you go to, maybe there workin for this Evil Queen as well." Applejack commented. "I think we should stay together as long as we can."
Twilight continued to just lay back looking upset. "Great were stuck in a tower like Rapunzel." Then it hit her. "Wait...That's it!"
"What's it." Fluttershy asked.
"Rapunzel. we could do what Rapunzel did and use our manes to get out of this tower." Twilight said seeming quiet pleased with herself.
"How are we going to do that?" Applejack asked. "I though your horn wasn't working."
Twilight checked her horn it seem to have some magic again. "It seems to be working now. Okay! I'm going to need someone to preform the mane extensions spell on." Twilight began to look around to see who would be a good candidate the she saw Fluttershy. "Fluttershy your a good pick."
"Me...Oh ...well... I don't know."
"Oh come on Fluttershy you already use those mane extensions anyway." Rainbowdash said trying to help with Fluttershy's confidences.
"What! I don't use..."
"Darling remember that gabby gums column my sister and friends did a year ago, we all know darling." Rarity said.
Fluttershy still remained hesitant but then finally gave in. "Alright." Fluttershy said sounding scared.
Twilight then aimed her horn at Fluttershy and fired the spell at her. At first nothing happened but then Fluttershy mane slowly began to grow then in a burst it grew to enormous size.
"It worked!" Twilight said looking happy.
"Amazing." Rarity said looking at Fluttershy mane then she turned to Twilight looking annoyed. "Twilight how come I haven't learned about this spell.
"Not now Rarity." Applejack interjected. "We got more important things to worry about right now."
Rainbowdash looked out the small window of the tower and saw the most of the knights there masked removes laying around eating and drinking.
"Okay were good." She turned to the others.
Fluttershy slowly began to move backward and let her long extended mane out of the tower. "Um....are you sure this won't hurt." She whispered.
"I'm...Pretty sure." Twilight said seeming very unsure of herself but decided she needed to go along with it. "Okay so everyone we she all go one at a..."
"I say we go now!" Rainbowdash said as she whooshed herself into the air grabbing all her friends as they all yanked on Fluttershy hair and slid down landing on the grown with a large thud.
The Knights must have heard the thud for they turned around and saw the ponies escape.
"Rainbowdash!" Twilight said looking angry at her Pegasus friend. "Why in Equestria would you do something like that!"
"I....I don't know." Rainbowdash said looking almost dazed. "I... don't know what got into me." Fluttershy then slowly flew down onto the ground.
"GET THEM!" Shouted one of the guards as he and the other brandished there swords and started chasing the Ponies.
The Ponies split up running all over the village and heading into the market place, the guards chasing them throughout. One of the Knights almost slashed Fluttershy with his sword but only cut off her extended mane returning it to normal size.
"Time's up." Said one of the Knights looking sinister. "The Queen will understand why we only brought your heads instead of the whole thing." He razed his Sword about to strike but then a arrow protruded through his body he gasped for a air for a few seconds, then fell down on the ground, dead. More arrows began to fire as Twilight and the other saw a strange hooded figure attacking the Knights knocking them out one by one until they were all knocked out. The strange figure then walks up to six ponies who looked confused and a bit nervous.
"Who...Who are you?" Twilight asked looking nervous.
The hooded figures removed there hood and it was revealed this person was a female with hair black as ebony, lips red as the rose and skin white as snow. She looks at them and answers.
"Snow White."
All Friendship Comes with a Price
Explanation for Hiatus
Sorry folks for the Hiatus, reason for it is I'm contemplating and whether to continue the story or not. I'm actually planning on maybe doing somewhat of a remake of this but fitting more with the Once Upon a Time tone, I feel this story doesn't captures the tone well enough. So yeah but read my other stories though there still going and get ready for my second take on a MLP/Once Upon a Time Crossover.
