//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Into the Woods: My Little Pony Edition // by Joeyjambo122 //------------------------------// (Narrator) Once upon time in a far-off kingdom, there lay a small village at the edge of the woods... A yellow Pegasus mare with a long pink mane and tail with three pink butterfly's for a cutie mark wearing old rags floated around picking various buckets and scrubbing the floors of her family's mansion with a contemplative look on her face. (Fluttershy) I wish... (Narrator) And in this village, (Fluttershy) More than anything... (Narrator) Lived a kind young Mare, (Fluttershy) More than life... More than jewels... (Narrator) A carefree young dragon... The next scene shows a young purple dragon with green eyes, spines, and underbelly, wearing a dirty white short sleeve shirt and a worn out brown vest covering it, leading a pure white cow toward a disheveled old house. (Spike) I wish... More than life... An orange Pegasus in Royal Guard armor and a cutie mark of a blue shield with a lighting bolt on it walked down the road to the village to visit an old friend. (Narrator) A young guard... (Flash Sentry) I Wish... There was more to life... (Narrator) And a childless baker... The next scene shows a small building and it's occupants, a white unicorn stallion with a multi blue colored mane and tale with a cutie mark of a blue shield with a pink starburst on it wearing a white apron and a pink Alicorn with a pink, purple, and yellow mane and tale and a crystal heart for a cutie mark. (Shining Armor and Cadence) I wish... (Narrator) And his wife. (Shining Armor) More than anything... (Cadence) More than the moon... I wish... (Fluttershy) The King is giving a Festival. She sang as she scrubbed the floors of the kitchen. (Flash Sentry) There's got to be more... (Shining and Cadence) More than life... The dragon led the cow into the house and began to try to milk it. (Spike) I wish... (Flash Sentry) I wish to know... (Fluttershy) I wish to go to the Festival... (Shining and Cadence) More than riches... (Fluttershy) And the ball... (Spike) I just wish my cow would give us some milk. (Fluttershy and Cadence) More than anything... (Shining Armor) I wish we had a child... (Spike) Please pal... (Cadence) I want a child... (Spike) Squeeze pal... (Fluttershy) I wish to go the Festival... (Spike) I wish you'd give us some milk or even cheese... I wish... (Shining and Cadence) I wish we might have a child. (All) I wish... An older brown mare and two younger mares, one purple with a yellow mane and the other a green mare with a red mane, about her age walked into the kitchen. "You wish to go to the festival?" The stepmother asked. (Narrator) The poor Mare's parents had died, (Stepmother) You, Fluttershy, The Festival? You wish to go the festival? (Violet) What, you Fluttershy, the Festival? The Festival!? (Thorn Rose) What, you wish to go the Festival? (All three) The Festival? The King's Festival!? They mockingly laughed at her. (Narrator) And now she lived with her stepmother (Stepmother) "The Festival... HA!" (Narrator) With two daughters of her own. (Violet) Look at your mane! (Thorn Rose) Look at your dress! (Stepmother) Ponies would laugh at you- (All Three and Fluttershy) But nevertheless, I/you still wish to go to the festival and dance before the prince! (Narrator) All three were beautiful of face, but vile and black of heart. They laughed mockingly as they left the room and though Fluttershy tried to not let their hurtful words get to her, a single tear formed from her eye. (Narrator) The young dragon's father was away and his mother... An older pink Dragoness with purple spines wearing a dirty apron was busy doing some laundry with a grumpy look on her face and there appeared to be what looked like a big lump in her stomach. (Ornate) I wish... (Narrator) ...was at her wits end. (Ornate) I wish my son were not a fool. I wish my house was not a mess. I wish the cow was full of milk. I wish the walls were full of gold- I wish a lot of things. Ornate walked into the house and hers widened at the sight of the their cow in the living room. "Spike, what in Celestia's name are you doing with the cow in the house?" Ornate grumpily asked. Spike flinched at the tone in his mother's voice. "Oh, hey mom... I just thought if I could get Milky-White someplace warm, he might have a better chance at producing milk..." He hesitantly explained. Ornate rubbed a claw down her the side of her head in exasperation. "It's a she! Honestly, how many times do I have to tell you that only shes can give milk?" She stepped out to clear her head as her son reluctantly returned to trying milk the cow. Outside, Ornate sighed to herself before looking down at the bulge in her stomach and lovingly rubbed it. "Hopefully you'll be less odd than your big brother." She said lovingly to the lump. (Narrator) And then there was a hungry little filly who always wore a red cape and a pink bow in her mane... Back at the bakery, a yellow filly with a red mane with a pink bow in it wearing a red cape came walking in. "Howdy Ms. Baker!" She greeted enthusiastically. Behind the counter, Cadence smiled as the filly trotted in, her husband having gone in back to get some more bread. "Hello young filly, my husband Shining Armor is the baker and I'm his wife Cadence, and who might you be?" She asked a small smile. The filly picked up a cookie as she introduced herself. "Ahm Applebloom." She said with a smile. "Miss Applebloom, you know you have to pay for that cookie right?" Shining stated as he reentered the room with the bread floating in his magic. Cadence rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't mind him, he stayed up a little late last night and is still a little grumpy right now. So what are you here for today?" She asked turning back to Applebloom. (Applebloom) Ah wish. It's not for me, It's for mah Granny in the woods. A loaf of bread, please, To bring mah poor old hungry Granny in the woods... Just a loaf of bread, She stuffed the cookie in her mouth. please... The stepmother and her daughters walked back into the kitchen, the stepmother carrying a bowl. "Fluttershy, if you can pick up all the lentils scattered in the fireplace, and finish all your chores in time, I will let you attend the ball with us." The stepmother explained. Her eyes widening in surprise and shock, Fluttershy stuttered. "Re-really?" Stepmother nodded and gestured to her daughters to follow her, one of them mockingly saying, 'good luck.' Fluttershy immediately began filling the bowl with the lentils scattered around the fire place when white rabbit hopped up next to her. Fluttershy sighed in defeat. "Oh Angel... how am I going to gather all the lintels and finish all my chores in time for the ball?" She lamenated to the rabbit. Angel scowled and squeaked a couple times at her. Fluttershy gasped in realization "Of course! That's a great idea Angel!" She then cleared her throat. (Fluttershy) Come, little friends, Down from the eaves And the leaves, Over fields, through the forests, Out of castles and ponds... Ahhhhh... (Spike) Now squeeze pal... As she sung, various small animals like birds, squirrels, mice ferrets and small animals of all sorts came running down the road past Ornate and Spike's house, much to the mother and son's confusion when they looked out the window when they heard the singing. The animals entered the mansion through the doors and chimney and gathered around the fireplace. Fluttershy cleared her throat again. (Fluttershy) Quick, little friends, Flick through the ashes. Pick and peck and scratch, but swiftly sift through the ashes. Into the bowl... Outside the house, Spike was riding on top of Milky-White and aiming his self made slingshot at a can on top of a couple of stacked boxes. "Steady... aim... fire!" He launched pebble at the can and knocked it down. "Yes! Bullseye!" Ornate walked out a few moments later. "Spike, listen to me well. I need you to go the next village and sell Milky-White on the market." Spike's eyes widened in horror. "What!? But mom! He's my friend and the best cow in the world! We can't just sell him!" He desperately pleaded. Ornate gave him a look that told him she was about to go into lecture mode. "Was! SHE has been dry for weeks now, and with no food or money and with your father away trying to find food, which have no choice but to sell her." She angrily lectured. "But he's not-" "Look at her!" She demanded. (Ornate) There are bugs on her dugs. There are flies in her eyes. There's a lump on her rump big enough to be a hump! "Yeah but-" (Ornate) We've no time to sit and dither, While her wither's wither with her- And no one keeps a cow for a friend! She sighed as she look at her son. "Sometimes I worry about what goes on in that little head of yours. Come on, let's get you ready for the trip." She stated as she lead inside. Back at the bakery, Applebloom picked up the loaf of bread for her grandmother, as well as several sweets, much to Shining's chargin. (Applebloom) Into the woods, it's time to go, Ah hate to leave, Ah have to, though. Into the woods-It's time, and so Ah must begin my journey. Into the woods and through the trees To where Ah am expected, ma'am, Into the woods to Grandmother's house... She stuffed a cookie in mouth and she sung the last with her mouth full. (Applebloom) Into the woods to Grandmother's house... Cadence chuckled a little before asking. "Now are you absolutely sure you know the way?" Applebloom began grabbing several treats and they slowly piled in her forelegs along with the loaf of bread. (Applebloom) The way is clear, The light is good, Ah have no fear, Nor no one should. The woods are just trees, The trees are just wood. Ah sort of hate to ask it, But do you have a basket? Cadence smiled. "As a matter of fact, we do. Hold on..." She went to grab one from the nearby shelf. Shining frowned a little. "I hope your planning on buying all those sweets." He grumbled. "Oh, quiet you." She shushed her husband before handing the basket to Applebloom, who immediately began filling it with the loaf and sweets. "Now, don't stray off the path and be late, alright?" Applebloom nodded. "And make sure some of those sweets actually make it to granny's with you, alright?" Shining quipped. Applebloom nodded and quickly grabbed another cookie and skipped through the door. "He-hey!" Shining called back to her, but was quickly stopped by his wife. "Leave it Shiny..." She whispered trying to calm her fickle husband. "But that filly's a little thief!" He protested. Applebloom skipped past a familiar orange pegasus in guard armor and down the path through a small graveyard. (Applebloom) Into the woods and down the dell, The path is straight, Ah know it well. Into the woods, and who can tell What's waiting on the journey? Into the woods to bring some bread To Granny who is sick in bed. Never can tell what lies ahead, For all that Ah know, she's already dead. Shaking her head at the odd thought, she continued merrily down the way. (Applebloom) But into the woods, Into the woods, Into the woods To Grandmother's house And home before dark! Back at the mansion, Fluttershy, Angel, and the other small animals had just finished filling the bowl with all the lentels scattered in the ash. "Fluttershy!" The stepsister's called. Fluttershy flinched a little, but managed to compose herself before clearing her throat. (Fluttershy) Go friend's back to the woods... back to the eaves And the leaves And the fields And the- (Violet) Hurry up and do my mane, Fluttershy! Are you really wearing that? (Thorn Rose) Here, I found a little tear, Fluttershy! Can't you hide it with a hat? Shouted both Stepsister's, barging in the room just as Angel hid behind a potted plant Fluttershy took a deep breath and composed a smile. (Fluttershy) You look beautiful. "I know." "She means me." "No, she didn't." Fluttershy got up on small stand and twisted the back of Thorn's mane into a ponytail. (Fluttershy) Mother said be good, Father said be nice, That was always their advice. So be nice, Fluttershy, Good, Fluttershy, Nice good good nice- "Tighter!" Thorn demanded. Fluttershy grew frustrated as this carried on. (Fluttershy) What's the good of being good If everypony is blind Always leaving you behind? Never mind, Fluttershy, Kind Fluttershy- Nice good nice kind good nice- "OW! Not that tight! Clod!" Thorn angrily exclaimed before slapping Fluttershy in the face, causing her to fall to the floor with a hoof shake mark on her cheek, the stepsister's laughing at her expense. Flash walked to the door of the bakery and knocked. "Hey Shining! Did you get your head stuck in the bread pantry again?" He joked as the door opened to his foalhood friend's smiling face. Shining chuckled as Flash entered the bakery. "At least it's better than getting my head stuck in a pipe." He said with a smirk, causing Flash's smile to turn into a frown. "I was six..." He grumbled. Shining chuckled again. "So what brings you around the old village?" He asked. "I have a few months worth of day off time saved up, so I decided to take the month off to see how you and the wife are doing." He explained. "We're doing just fine Flash. But it's good see you again." Cadence greeted she began putting everything away. "We were just closing for the day anyway." Cadence's smile vanished though. Flash had a feeling about what was wrong. He turned Shining, who had a sad look on his face. "So... how's the uh... baby, situation going?" He asked nervously. His friend shook his head slowly. "No luck." Before anything more could be said, somepony banged the door of the bakery three times, catching the ponies inside attention. "Sorry, but if your looking to buy something, your going to have to wait till tommorow when we're open!" Cadence called. Flash looked out the window and eyes widened in shock at who pony outside was. "Oh Faust... it's the witch who lives next door to you two." Before the other two could react, the door was blown right off it's hinges, allowing an ugly dark grey unicorn mare with dark blue mane with grey highlights walked in, wearing a black robe. Despite what just happened, Cadence managed clear her throat to say. "Sorry ma'am, but we don't have any bread left." The Witch scoffed. "Sorry, but I don't want your bread." Flash, his guard instincts kicking in, stepped forward. "Then what do you wish?" The Witch chuckled. "Oh, it's not what I wish, it's what they wish." She then looked at Cadence. "Nothing cooking in that belly of yours, is there?" Cadence gave a small gasp at the Witch's blunt words. "And there will never be... Unless you do exactly as I say." She proceed to walk to the middle of the room. "In three days' time, a Blue Moon will appear, only then can the curse be undone." She explained. "What curse?" Cadence asked. "Why, the one I placed on this house of course." She stated. "What are you talking about?" Shining asked, starting to get a little agitated. "In the past, when you were no more than a foal, your father brought his young wife and you to this cottage." The Witch explained. "They were a lovely couple, but not lovely neighbors." She said with some disdain. "You see, your mother was with child and she developed an unusual appetite and she admired my beautiful garden, and she told your father that what she wanted, more than anything in the world was..." (Witch) Greens, greens, nothing but greens: Parsley, peppers, cabbages and celery. Asparagus and watercress and Fiddleferns and lettuce-! He said, "All right," But it wasn't, quite, 'Cause I caught him In the autumn In my garden one night! A flashback showed a dark blue stallion with saddle bags climbing over the wall into the Witch's garden and immediately began picking the various veggies, being observed by a younger, more beautiful, but angry Witch. He was robbing me, Raping me, Rooting through my rutabaga, Raiding my arugula And ripping up the rampion My champion! My favorite!- I should have laid a spell on him right there-! "I could have turned him into stone or a dog or a chair..." She ended with a weezing laugh before clearing her throat and coninued. (Witch) But I let him have the rampion, I had lots to spare. In return, however, I said, "Fair is fair: You can let me have the baby That your wife will bear, and we'll call it square." "I... I had a brother?" Shining choked out. "No... but you had a sister. She's a beautiful thing, purple fur and mane and a horn like yours." She explained. Shining scowled. "Where is she?" He said with venom in his voice. The Witch smirked. "She's mine now! and you'll never find her!" Both Flash and Cadence put their hooves on Shining's shoulders to keep him from attacking the Witch. "Small price to pay for what else your father stole from me. It cost me my youth, my beauty. My mother warned me she would punish me with the curse of ugliness if I ever lost any of them." She explained angrily. "Lost what?" Flash asked. "The beans!" "Beans?" They all said confused. (Witch) The special beans! I'd let him go, I didn't know, He'd stolen my beans! I was watching him crawl back over the wall, When bang! Crash! The lightning flash! The flashback showed the stallion secretly grabbing some beans from a vine and putting them in his saddlebags without the Witch noticing. He began crawling over the wall, When thunder flashed and he watched the Witch suddenly turn horribly ug- Well, that's another story- Never mind. Anyway, at last the big day came, And I made my claim. "Oh, don't take away the baby," They shrieked and screeched, but I did, and I hid her where she'll never be reached. Your father cried and your mother died, When for extra measure- I admit it was a pleasure- I said, "Sorry, I'm still not mollified." And I laid a little spell on them- And she pointed a hoof at Shining. "You, too, son. That your family tree would always be a barren one..." Cadence broke down crying when the Witch finished, her husband quickly comforting her while Flash glared at the Witch. "How could you do something so awful?" Shining turned back to her, giving her a glare that could pierce daggers. "Yeah, why?" The Witch continued unaffected. "And when your mother died, your father deserted you. Your father was no father - so why should you be?" She asked with an unreadable face. Shining sighed and returned to comforting his wife. "I'm so sorry Cadence... I'm so sorry..." The Witch continued. (Witch) Now there's no more fuss And there's no more scenes And my garden thrives- You should see my nectarines! But I'm telling you the same I tell kings and queens: Don't ever never ever mess around with my greens! She flicked mane dramatically. Especially the beans. Back at the home of the dragons, Ornate was preparing Spike for the trip. "So, remind me why we have to go to the next town?" He grumped, still mad that he had to sell his cow. Ornate rolled her eyes. "Because everypony in the village knows our cow hasn't had a drip of milk in weeks." "Isn't that cheating?" He asked with a raised brow. "We're starving Spike. And your father would be lucky if he found any gems in those abandon mines. Now, you're not to accept less than a hundred bits for her." She looked at Spike's bored exspression "Are you listening to me?" He grumbled 'yes' Unsatisfied with the answer, she asked. "Then how many bits are you too ask for?" Spike sighed. "No more than one-" She pulled his ear fin. "Less!" "Less than one hundred bits! Okay, I get it!" He exclaimed. She let go his ear, satisfied. (Ornate) Into the woods, the time is now, We have to live, I don't care how. Into the woods to sell the cow, You must begin the journey! Straight through the woods and don't delay, We have to face the marketplace. Into the woods to journey's end- Spike walked the front gates of his disheveled front yard. (Spike) Into the woods to sell a friend... He grumbled. As soon as Cadence calmed down, the Witch spoke up again. (Witch) You wish to have the curse reversed? I'll need a certain potion first. Go to the wood and bring me back: One: the cow as white as milk, Two: the cape as red as blood, Three: the hair as yellow as corn, Four: the slippers as green as grass. Bring me these before the chime of midnight in three days' time, 'Tis then the blue moon reappears, which comes but once each hundred years. Bring them and I guarantee, A child as perfect as child can be... Hope was brought back into Shining and Cadence's eyes at what was said. "Go to the Wood!" She exclaimed vanishing in a swirling cloud of dust to the ponies bewilderment. In front of the mansion, the three mares began to file out. "Ladies. Our carriage awaits." Fluttershy came out of the house carrying the bowl of lentels. (Fluttershy) Now may I go to the festival? (Stepmother) The festival? Darling, your mane! Darling, those clothes! Lentils are one thing, but Darling, with those, You'd make us the fools of the festival and mortify the Prince! Fluttershy stuttered. "Bu-But the Festival lasts three nights. Surely you could let me go one those nights? The Stepmother scoffed. "The King is trying to find his son a wife - not a scullery maid! We must be gone!" She entered the carriage with her daughters. "Go!" She commanded the coach stallion, who ran through the gates of the mansion. Fluttershy looked glumly as they departed. (Fluttershy) I wish... Back at the bakery, Flash was helping Shining to prepare for his journey into the wood when Cadence walked in carrying some worn out dark blue saddlebags with crescent moon and stars. "I found these old saddle bags in the closet." She explained. Shining scowled when he recognized them. "I'm not taking those things Cadence." He levitated the saddle bags in his magic tossed them to the ground. "They were my father's and you heard what the Witch said. It's his fault that this whole mess started and I want nothing to do with him." He went to go get his own saddlebags when Cadence noticed six beans had fallen out of the thrown saddle bags. "Beans?" Flash noted when Cadence levitated the beans up. "These must be the beans Shining's father stole from the Witch. We'll take them with us!" She exclaimed. "We?" Shining piped as he trotted back in, carrying his light blue saddle bags with his cutie mark on them. Flash approached him. "Yes, we. Shining, we've played in those woods ever since we were kids, your like the brother I never had and your task would be much easier if all three of us were to go." He explained. Shining shook his head. "No, I'm afraid this is something I have have to do own and it's dangerous out there especially for Cadence." Cadence got up at this. "But we can help you!" She demanded, causing Shining to turn to her. "Sorry you two, but no." He denied. (Shining Armor) The spell is on my house. Only I can lift the spell, The spell is on my house- (Cadence) No, no, the spell is on our house. We must lift the spell together, The spell is on our house! Shining shook his head again. "Now, what I am supposed to return with again?" He asked, earning a face hoof from Flash. "You seriously don't remember? 'Sigh' Okay..." (Flash) The cow as white as milk, The cape as red as blood, The hair as yellow as corn, The slippers as green as grass. (Shining Armor) The cow as white as milk, The cape as red as blood, The hair as yellow as corn, The slippers as green as grass... Back at the mansion, Fluttershy looked depressingly at the ground. (Fluttershy) I still wish to go to the festival, But how am I ever to get to the festival? She perked up when an idea popped in her head. (Fluttershy) I know - I'll visit Mother's grave, The grave at the willow tree, And tell her I just want to go to the King's festival... She spread her wings took off in the direction of the woods. Shining exited the bakery, Cadence and Flash following him. (Shining and Fluttershy) Into the woods, It's time to go, It may be all in vain, you/I know. Into the woods-but even so, I have to take the journey. (Cadence) Into the woods, The path is straight, You know it well, (Flash) But who can tell? She quickly leaned toward Flash and whispered. "Follow him.." He nodded in response. She then gave Shining a quick kiss on the lips. (Cadence) Into the Woods to lift the spell- Fluttershy flew through the woods. (Fluttershy) Into the Woods to visit mother- Ornate called to Spike, who was halfway down the road. (Ornate) Into the Woods to sell the cow-! (Spike) -To get the money! (Fluttershy) To go to the Festival. (Flash Sentry) Into the Woods to help a friend! He sang as he flew into the wood. Applebloom skipped merrily into the grove like entrance of the Wood. (Applebloom) Into the Woods to Grandmother's house! Into the Woods to Grandmother's house! (Shining, Fluttershy, Spike, Applebloom, Flash) The way is clear, The light is good. I have no fear, Nor no one should. The woods are just trees, The trees are just wood. No need to be afraid there- (Shining Armor) There's something in the glade there... They all briefly looked worried but shrugged it off. Ornate walked back down the road to her house when she saw the carriage Fluttershy's step family riding in coming down the way. Despite the low opinion civilized dragons had for the high class Nobles, (due to living in poverty) Ornate still respectfully bowed as they passed... only to get splattered with mud as they came by. Wiping the mud off her, she glared at the departing carriage. "Typical Nobles..." The egg inside her kicked. "Oof... sounds like you agree with me sweetheart." She muttered, smiling lovingly at the lump. (All) Into the woods without delay, But careful not to lose the way. Into the woods, who knows what may Be lurking on the journey? Into the woods to get the thing That makes it worth the journeying. (Fluttershy's Step Family) Into the Woods to see the king- (Spike) To sell the cow- (Flash) To find the items- (Shining Armor) -To make the potion- (All) To see- To sell- To get- To find To bring- To make- To lift- To go to the festival-! Into the woods! Into the woods! Into the woods, Then out of the woods, And home before dark!