The drakes home, at this moment, was anything but peaceful right now.
"BEANS!? YOU TRADED AWAY OUR COW FOR BEANS!?" Spike could feel his ear drums ringing at his angry mother's voice.
"Bu-but they're magic! The pony couple said so!" He attempted to defend himself, only to be pulled by the ear fin into the house by his furious mother.
"Oh, get your head out of the clouds!" She angrily shouted again before throwing the five beans into a clear part of their yard, neither dragon noticing them flash orange the moment they hit the ground.
Once inside the house, Spike's own anger eventually boiled over and grabbed his mother's claw and forcibly took it off his ear fin, much to her mild surprise. "Why are you getting mad at me when I should be the one being mad at you!" He shouted with a scowl.
Ornate went wide eyed at the sudden accusation.
"You've been moody, snappish, and angry for what feels like no reason for the past twelve months and I've been getting the worst of it for almost the entire time. I know you've been keeping secrets from me and dad and I want to know why!" His anger becoming worst. "Do you not trust me or something!? Are you hoarding food!?"
"Ho-how could you say something like that!?" She yelled back.
He pointed at the lump in her stomach. "Do you really think I'm dumb enough to not notice your stomach's been getting bigger these past eight months? So how about you just fess up already and tell me what's going on!?"
"Spike... go to your room, your grounded for the rest of the week..." She said deathly calm.
Spike however was unfazed and furiously marched to his room and shouted. "I hate you! I wish you never my mom!"
"... Well, sometimes I wish the same thing..." She shot back coldly, and Spike slammed his door in response.
Ornate sat on the old couch in the living room, the adrenaline from the argument finally leaving her, a wave a guilt suddenly taking it's place, making her realize what she said in her hormone driven anger, until she finally let her tears drop and slowly wept to sleep, Spike doing the same thing in his bed as he cried in his pillow.
Both were so distracted from their sadness, neither noticed a beanstalk growing from the ground at an alarming pace.
Spyro had set up a small camp for the night, with a green fire roasting in the middle. His stomach protested loudly for not eating the past few months trying to conserve food for his family. He suddenly a chill run down his spine, as if something happened at home that he should have stopped. He quickly tried to dismiss the feeling as hunger messing with his head.
His sharp ears picked up the sound of hooves and turned and saw Cadence walking down the road with, to his surprise, their family cow, Milky-White. "Pardon me miss, but I think that's my cow your walking with..." He called to the mare, startling her a little.
Cadence turn toward the dragon, his colors strikingly similar to the baby dragon who sold her the cow. "Uh... probably, are you by chance related the the baby dragon who sold me the cow?" Spyro tapped his chin for a moment.
"Depends, did you catch his name?" He asked back.
"Spike, I believe."
Spyro's eyes briefly widened before he chuckled softly. "Well, what do you know... never thought Ornate would be able covince him to sell the cow. So how much did you give him for old Milky-White?" He asked as he walked to the cow and gently petted it, the cow letting the familiar claw massage her head.
Cadence chuckled sheepishly. "Five magic beans..."
Spyro raised his brow. "Beans? Seriously?"
Cadence blushed. "In me and my husband's defense, he did tried to sell it to us for a hundred bits..." She attempted defend.
He shook his head and sat back down on the log. Cadence just then noticed the dragon's appearance. He looked like an adult version of Spike, with same shade of purple scales and green eyes and spines. Though he was clearly very muscular, he was a tad skinny, most likely attributing to the fact that he looked he hadn't eaten in a while and he was swaying back and forth a little.
Cadence became a little concerned. "Are you alright? You like you haven't eaten in a while..." She asked a little concerned.
Spyro turned back to her. "More like seven months of barely eating and drinking..." He muttered tiredly.
Cadence's eyes widen in shock. "My word! Nopony or dragon should go that long without food!" She dug into saddlebags and brought out some loaf of bread and cookies.
His own eyes widened when the products were unloaded in front of him on a picnic blanket Cadence laid down on the ground. "Oh no... I couldn't-" His stomach released a growl so loud, some of the animals actually stopped and looked at him, and when he heard giggling from Cadence, his cheeks turned red.
"Okay... maybe a few bites... 'growl' ... or several..." He immediately began into a feeding frenzy, devouring treat after treat and loaf after loaf, Cadence having been glad she found a lot of their stock still in the pantry and brought it along with her. A few minutes later, the dragon's stomach was bulging enough to be even with his muscles again.
He rubbed his stomach contently and let out a large belch. "I haven't eaten like that in years..." He mumbled. He sat himself up and extended a claw to Cadence. "Spyro's the name, and yours?"
She returned the gesture. "Cadence, it's very nice meet you Spyro." They let go. "So, what did you mean when you said you've barely eaten in seven months?" She was genuinely curious.
He picked a burlap sack in response and opened to show it was half filled with gems. "I was searching for food for my family in some abandoned mines some miners left behind and well... this was all I could find... some father and husband I am... I can't even find enough food for my family." He mumbled to himself. Cadence silently pushed some of the left over loaf and treats toward him.
"You take the rest of this for your family, my husband's the village baker, so it won't really matter to me." His eyes widened, followed by small tears.
"Thank you..."
Before Cadence could respond, the Stranger Spike met earlier that day suddenly greeted them. "Good evening Spyro and Cadence!" Startling them.
"Uh... evening to you sir?" Cadence hesitantly said back.
Spyro hesitantly sat back up. "How did you know our names?"
The Stranger straightened himself and said. "When first I appear I seem mysterious, when explained, I'm nothing serious."
Spyro tilted his head. "Uh... say that again?"
The Stranger facehooved. "This guy is as thick as his kid..." He muttered under his breath. He shook his head. "Never mind me. Let me ask you... is there another reason you've been leaving to find to find food for your family and why you leave so frequently?" Spyro was confused by the question.
"Uh... I wouldn't think so..." He responded.
"Well, when you figure it out, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive yourself." He took off into the woods.
"Well... that was interesting..." Cadence commented as they stared in the direction ran off to.
A few hours earlier...
(Narrator)
Shortly after she had laid the curse on the family's home all those years ago, the Witch took the filly to a grove and hid her inside the cottage that stood inside and surrounded it with enchanted black thorns to keep intruders out and named her Twilight Sparkle.
The Witch in question had saddlebags filled with corn and new books. She knocked on the door of the cottage and it opened to reveal a purple unicorn with a darker purple mane and a pink highlight in it and starburst cutie mark similar to the six pointed star similar to the one on Shining Armor's cutie mark. "Oh! Hello mother! Your look very beautiful this evening." She complimented as she let the Witch inside.
They sat down on at the kitchen table and the Witch set the saddlebags down. "I brought you some new books and a freshly picked ear of corn from my garden." She took the items out of the bags and set them on the table, much to Twilight's delight.
An hour, the Witch left cottage and said the password to open the wall of thorns, and walked past the tree Flash hiding in.
When he knew for sure she was gone, Flash glided down from the tree and landed in front of the wall of thorns. "Okay... what was that password she used?" He though for a moment before his clicked. "Oh, that's right!" He cleared his throat.
"Open Sesame!" The command did it's job, and an area of thorn's cleared away, allowing him to walk through. He was mildly surprised when he discovered the small cottage in the clearing past the thorns. He slowly walked to the door and gingerly knocked on it.
Twilight heard the knocking and proceeded to open it. "Oh mother, your back alrea-" She froze immediately when she realized it wasn't her mother at the door, but an orange pegasus stallion with a blue slicked back mane. "Uh... hello-" She gasped in shocked and immediately slam the door right on his before he could finish and heard an audible 'OW!' outside the door.
Twilight could only breath in and out to calm herself. "Okay... there's an unknown pony outside my door... there's an unknown pony outside my house... and I just slammed the door in his face..."
She turned back to the and slowly, but cautiously opened it to Flash rubbing his muzzle in pain. "How is it that girls are able to hit so hard...? Uh... hello again..." He said when he noticed she opened the door.
She stood there silent for a minute. "Uh... sorry for slamming the door right in your face... literally. It's just... other than my mother, your the only pony I've ever met." She explained.
Flash rubbed his snout. "It's nothing... just pain." He attempted to joke and then held out a hoof. "Flash Sentry, royal guard, and you are...?"
Getting the gesture, she shook it. "My name is Twilight Sparkle and it's very nice to meet you Flash... um... would you like to come inside?" She asked cautiously.
Flash nodded and entered.
A few hours past into the night and was probably some of the best hours of their lives the duo ever had in their lives.They spent hours getting to know each other and talking about various topics and the outside world in Twilight's case. They talked of politics, the royal family, his duties as a royal guard, among an assortment of other topics as well.
It was nearing midnight and as Twilight kept talking on about a spell to teleport when Flash noticed the ear of corn on the table. Particulary the color. "Huh... that color of that ear of corn almost looks like... hair..." Flash put two and two together right as the clock struck midnight, causing Twilight to gasp.
"Oh no, it's midnight already!? You have to leave before the thorns seal up the for the rest of the night and you'll be stuck in here till morning!"
She quickly grabbed Flash's leg and practically dragged him out the door. "Wh...wait a minute!-" He attempted to protest, but was quickly ignored was pushed through the opening in the vines.
"Uh... how about I try and come back tomorrow!?" He tried ask as he was pushed out the other side. He unable to get an answer as the entrance sealed itself, blocking him from Twilight. He then tried saying the password several times before screaming in frustration.
(Narrator)
That night at the King's Festival, Fluttershy got her wish and the Prince, Blueblood, danced only with her. However, Blueblood turned around only for a moment and she was gone.
At the King's Palace Fluttershy ran as best as she could despite wearing a dress. She would prefer flying, but her dress severely hampered her flying ability. "After her!" She heard the Steward yell as she ran through the palace gates.
Blueblood arrived the top of the steps just in time to barely see her dress run into the wood. "I must make that maiden mine..." He mumbled to himself.
Fluttershy ran through the wood, eventually tripping right next Spyro and Cadence, surprising them. "Whoa! Where's the fire?" Spyro asked. Cadence was about to say something, but heard shouting in the distance.
"Don't tell them I'm here!" She exclaimed in a whispered tone and ran inside the tent Spyro set up. Prince Blueblood and the Steward came bursting through the forest, causing Cadence to look stunned and Spyro to scowl when they realized who it was.
"You two! Have you seen a lovely yellow pegasus run through here?" The prince asked.
"Uh...n..no your highness...." Cadence responded nervously.
"No." Spyro said flatly, something the Steward scowled at himself.
"I recommend using the proper tone in front of royalty you overgrown gecko." He threatened.
Spyro was unfazed by the threat. "Or what?" The Steward pointed at the tip of staff.
"Recognize the metal on the end of this staff?" He asked. Spyro squinted for a minute before his eyes widened in shock.
"Tr..triondite...?" He stuttered in horror.
The Steward smirked. "That's right, one of the few known metals that are capable of killing a dragon."
Blueblood rolled his eyes. "Steward! We have no time for your petty views on dragons. We must find the maiden I danced with tonight, this way!" He pointed in a random direction and galloped off, a tired Steward running after him.
Cadence stared in the prince's direction as he and the Steward disappeared into the darkness. "I... I never lied to royalty before... I've been anything to royalty..." She muttered in awe. This only got a scoff from Spyro who commented. "Don't get used to it." He turned back to the tent. "You can come out now." The timid pegasus peeked her head out.
When she stepped out, the pink Alicorn's eyes widened when she got a better look at Fluttershy's dress. "My word, what a beautiful gown." She complimented, causing Fluttershy to blush and stutter out a thank you. "I trust you came from the King's Festival?"
She nodded. "That's right. My name is Fluttershy."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Cadence and that dragon over there is Spyro." She pointed to Spyro who had raised an eyebrow when heard the name 'Fluttershy.'
"Fluttershy? As in, of the Shy family?" He asked curiously. She nodded. "There's something I have to ask... what to the Shy family? They used to care abut dragons like me and my family, what happened?" He asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Fluttershy looked down sadly. "My mother passed away... and my father remarried until he passed away too... and I became a servant of my own home...." She admitted softly.
Spyro's eyes widened. "Oh... sorry I asked..." An awkward silence passed till Cadence spoke up. "So, why would you run away from a prince?" Spyro rolled his eyes. Fluttershy blushed a little. "You must tell me what it was like." She asked. Spyro, not wanting to get in on the incoming girl talk, went into his tent to go to sleep.
"Well..." Fluttershy started.
(Fluttershy)
He's a very nice Prince...
"And...?"
And...
It's a very nice ball...
"And...?"
And...
When I entered they trumpeted
(Cadence)
And the Prince?
(Fluttershy)
Oh, the Prince...
(Cadence)
Yes the Prince!
They both giggled.
(Fluttershy)
Well... he's tall...
(Cadence)
Is that all?
Did you dance? Is he charming, they say that he's charming.
(Fluttershy)
We did nothing but dance...
"Yes, and?"
(Fluttershy)
And it made a nice change...
(Cadence)
No, the Prince
(Fluttershy)
Oh, the Prince...
(Cadence)
Yes, the Prince
They giggled again before Fluttershy continued.
(Fluttershy)
He has charm for a Prince, I guess...
"You guess?" The pink mare asked.
(Fluttershy)
I don't meet a wide range...
And it's all very strange...
Cadence stared at her. "But... why would you run away? Because I wouldn't run away frim a prnice if I was in your hooves... well slippers..." She noticed the color of the slippers the pegasus wore and her eyes widened. "...as Greentered as Grass..." the pegasus suddenly got up when she noticed the positioned of the moon.
"Oh dear! It's almost midnight! I need to get home before my stepfamily does!" She quickly dashed off in the direction of her home. "Wa...wait a minute! Come back, I need your shoes!" Cadence shouted in vain as Fluttershy disappeared into the darkness. To make matters worse, in the excitement, Milky-White began suddenly ran off, causing Cadence to chase after her in a panic.
Spyro briefly stuck his head out of the tent after the commotion started before shrugging and going back to sleep.
Break to reality...
On a big stage in the middle of Ponyville, which decorated with giant books and forest decorations all over the stage. Shining came out on stage as music began playing.
(Shining Armor)
One Midnight gone...
He walked off stage and the Stranger came next.
(The Stranger)
No Knot unties itself...
He walked off stage and the Witch followed after, wearing a black cloak.
(The Witch)
Sometimes the things you most wish for... are not to be touched...
Leaving the stage, Blueblood and a Blue unicorn with a blond mane came out on stage.
(Blueblood and Midnight)
The harder to get, the better to have...
Blueblood looked at his brother. "Agreed?"
Midnight nodded. "Agreed." They walked off and the stepsisters came next walking across the stage.
(Thorn)
Never wear mauve at a ball...
(Violet)
Or pink...
The Stepmother followed them.
(Stepmother)
Or open your mouth...
Spike came running excitedly on stage the moment she exited.
(Spike)
The difference between a cow and a bean
is a bean can begin an adventure!
He ran off stage followed shortly by Ornate who faced the audience.
(Ornate)
They say slotted spoons don't hold much soup...
She quickly chased after Spike. Applebloom skipped on stage and faced the audience.
(Applebloom)
The prettier the bloomin flower, the farther from the path...
She skipped off stage as Flash flew in.
(Flash Sentry)
Be wary of the thorns that block your goal...
He flew off as Spyro walked in with a sad look on his face.
(Spyro)
The farther the food, the farther your family...
Twilight's voice could be heard singing as the Witch walked in the background shouting: "One midnight gone!"
Granny Smith, the Steward, and Fluttershy all walked on staged.
(Granny Smith)
The mouth of a wolf's ain't the end of the world!
(The Steward)
A servant is not just a dog to a Prince...
(Fluttershy)
Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor...
Cadence walked on stage with disappointed look on her face.
(Cadence)
You may know what you need,
But to get what you want,
Better see that you keep what you have.
(All)
One Midnight, One Midnight!
Into the woods,
Into the woods,
Into the woods, then out of the woods
And home before dark!
The audience clapped at the performance.
The next morning, Ornate, who had fallen asleep crying on the couch after her argument with Spike, was stirred awake by something twitching the tip of her muzzle. She slowly opened her eyes to find a big leafy vine in front of her face. "What the...?" She got up as quickly as she could and ran outside, only to find enormous beanstalk growing into the sky above.
She began hyperventilating and she eventually passed out from shock and fell flat on her back. This happened right as a certain purple dragon came climbing down carrying a large sack with something jingling inside. Setting himself down on the ground, he looked at his unconscious mother laying on the ground in confusion. He shrugged and dropped three very large gold pieces on the ground next to her and ran off into the wood.
A few minutes later, Spike eventually finding Shining Armor dozing under a large tree. He quickly ran over calling him. "Mr. Armor! Mr. Armor!" The shouting eventually stirred him awake and sat up and saw Spike running toward him. "Good fortune! Good fortune sir! The beans you sold me were magic and I found eight gold pieces!" He excitedly explained.
Shining stood up and stared at the excited little dragon. "Where in the world did you find eight gold pieces?" He questioned. The dragon stood up on a large of the tree.
(Spike)
There are giants in the skyyyyyyyyyy!
There are big tall terrible giants in the skyyyyyyyyyyyy!
He tossed the bag of gold down at Shining's hooves and began climbing the tree.
When you're way up high and you look below
At the world you've left and the things you know,
Little more than a glance is enough to show
You just how small you arrrre...
When you're way up high and you're on your own
In a world like none that you've ever known,
Where the sky is lead and the earth is stone,
You're free to do
Whatever pleases you,
Exploring things you'd never dare
'Cause you don't care,
When suddenly there's a big tall terrible giant at the doooooor....
"A giant!?" Shining responded shocked. Spike nodded and continued.
A big tall terrible lady giant sweeping the floooooor...
He leaned against the tree with a small smile on his face.
And she gives you food
And she gives you rest,
And she draws you close
To her giant chest,
And you know things that you never knew before...
He sat back up.
Not till the sky!
Only just when you've made a friend and all,
And you know she's big but you don't feel small,
Someone bigger than her comes along the all
To swallow you for lunch!
He hugged himself with fear in his eyes.
And your heart is lead and your stomach stone
And you're really scared being all alone...
And it's then that you miss all the things you've known
And the world you've left and the little you own.
He jumped up.
The fun is done!
You steal what you can and run!
And you scramble down
And you look below,
And the world you know
Begins to grow: The roof, the house, and your mother at the door...
He looked from a high branch with longing look in his eyes.
The roof, the house, and the world you never thought to explore...
He sat down slowly.
And you think of all of the things you've seen,
And you wish that you could live in between,
And you're back again,
Only different than before...
He stood up again.
After the sky!
There are giants in the sky!
There are big tall terrible awesome scary
Wonderful giants in the sky....!
He jumped down from the tree root he was standing on and picked the big bag of gold pieces handed it to Shining. "There you go sir, five of the eight gold pieces." He looked around. "Where's Milky-White?" He asked.
Shining snapped back to attention after staring into the bag. "Oh uh... your cow is back home with my wife..." He answered hesitantly. Spike immediately grabbed his forelegs. "Well, let's go find them then!" The dragon then tried to drag him somewhere, the stallion was not budging.
Sweat went down Shining's head. "Uh...ah... I don't know if I wish to sell..." Spike immediately stopped and look back at him. "But didn't you say I could buy him back?" He asked.
Shining stuttered a little trying to come up with a reasonable answer before Spike suddenly said. "Are you saying you want more money?" The unicorns eyes widened. "Th...that's not what I-" He was quickly interrupted when Spike began running in the direction of his home. "It's alright! I'll just climb up the beanstalk again and find something more value!" He called as he disappeared into the thick wood, leaving Shining stunned before he levitated the bag of gold pieces the little dragon behind in front of him as a giddy grin crossed his muzzle.
"Five gold pieces... with this money... I could buy baking supplies for a year... re-shingle the roof... buy a new oven-" He was suddenly interrupted by the Stranger suddenly appeared him behind asking, "But could you buy yourself a child?" Shining immediately jumped in shock at seeing the old and raggedy clad stallion standing there. "Who are you!?" The baker exclaimed.
The Stranger rolled his eyes. "When first I appear, I'm seem delirious. When explained, I'm nothing serious. And I ask again, would you buy yourself a child?" He asked again, eyeing the pouch in Shining's pink magical aura. Shining was confused by the question. "I wouldn't think that I would do that..." The stallion hesitantly answered, receiving a nod from the raggedy stallion response. "I see..." He suddenly grabbed the bag of gold and proceeded to dodge a tackle from Shining.
"That's not yours!" The baker protested, only to receive a 'tsk from the dark blue stallion. "Neither is it yours or Spike's." He simply stated before he disappeared into the thick brush of the wood and before Shining could chase after him, came flying in calling his name. "Hey Shining!" Getting his friend's attention.