//------------------------------// // Lost in the Woods/Arriving at the Castle // Story: Sugar and the Mac // by grl6p //------------------------------// Gingersnap was off to the National Dessert Competition in hopes of winning and using the prize money to open his own bakery in Canterlot with Sugar Belle. He had made sure that he directly followed the map's instructions so he wouldn't get lost. However, he ran into a problem when he removed the map from his face and saw that he had entered the woods. "What the hay? I must have taken a wrong turn. I guess I'll have to find a different way to Canterlot. I hope the map will help-" But a sudden gust of wind appeared and the map blew away. Gingersnap tried to chase after it but the map went into the darkening sky and was lost forever. Gingersnap began to curse under his breath. "Now I have to find a new way to Canterlot. And now it's getting dark so I'll hardly be able to see! This is just great!" He decided to press on and hope that his journey would be quick. But the walking in the woods alone at night was a pretty scary ordeal, especially for an old pony like Gingersnap. He would stop every few minutes if he heard the hoot of an owl or accidentally stepped on a twig. AAAWWWOOOOOO!!!!! The unexpected howl caused Gingersnap to stop right in his tracks. "Who's there?" asked Gingersnap as he levitated his lantern. "Please I'm just a simple baker pony lost on his way to the National Dessert Competition. I don't want to hurt you." But the creature started to howl again and soon more of these howls started sounding. Then one by one, a group of timberwolves came out of the shadows and surrounded thr cart. "Uh oh!" The timberwolves charged at the old unicorn, causing him to unhook himself from his cart, losing his lucky scarf in the process, and run for his dear life as they chased him through the woods. "Please don't eat my desserts! They're for the competition!" But the timberwolves didn't want his desserts, they wanted to eat fresh pony meat. Eventually, Gingersnap tripped on a rock and fell down just as the timberwolves got closer to his body. "Oh no! This is the end!" Just when it looked like it was over for Gingersnap, he looked up to see a big gate in the distance. "That must be home to a castle. I can take shelter there for the night." He quickly ran to the gates with the timberwolves not too far behind him and pushed the gates open. He quickly ran in and closed them, blocking the timberwolves. Gingersnap panted and sighed dejectedly, "So much for opening up a bakery in Canterlot. But at least I'm safe at this mysterious castle. I just hope the pony who lives here will let me spend the night." He opened the doors of the castle and looked around the dark hallway. "Is anypony here?" What he didn't know was that a candelabra and a small clock where on a table near him The candelabra whispered, "A visitor! Poor fella must have gotten lost." "Shut up! Maybe he won't stay if he doesn't hear us." whispered the clock. "Who's there?" asked Gingersnap "I was on my way to Canterlot for the National Dessert Competition but I ended up taking a wrong turn and got chased my timberwolves. I need a place to stay for the night." "Absolutely not!" said the clock. "S'il vous plaît Clockwork? It's just for one night." "Flamethrower, I said no and that's final!" The angry candelabra burned the clock's hand, causing him to leap around in pain." "Don't worry about my friend monsuier," Flamethrower said, "He's just a little wound up." "You can stay for as long as you like." Gingersnap levitated Flamethrower, "Who said that? Come out! I need to see you!" "I'm over here!" He turned around with the candelabra but saw that nopony was there. Flamethrower tapped Gingersnap in his forehead, "You're holding me right now!" Gingersnap screamed and dropped Flamethrower on the ground. Clockwork hopped over, "Nice going Flamethrower. We've been expos-AH!" He was levitated up by Gingersnap. "You're an interesting little gizmo!" Gingersnap said as he began touching Clockwork all over his little body, much to the amusement of Flamethrower. "Ow! Don't touch me! Put me down this instant!" Gingersnap stopped playing with Clockwork, "Sorry, I-I-I-I-" then he sneezed all over Clockwork's face, causing him to use his little clock hands to wipe his eyes like windshield wipers. "Monseiur, you must be freezing!" said Flamethrower "Follow me to the fireplace where you will soon be warmed up." He led the old unicorn away. Clockwork chased after them, "No! If the master finds you here, he won't be happy!" Flamethrower ignored him and set Gingersnap in an armchair by the fireplace. "No not the master's chair!" Flamethrower looked at a nearby violin, "Bow String? Will you please play some music for our guest?" The violin nodded its bow and started playing classic violin music. Fifi, a footstool that had similar mannerisms to a dog ran over to greet Gingersnap. "Hi there. You're such a cute little fella." The footstool dog went under Gingersnap's hooves while a moving coat rack put a blanket on Gingersnap's lap. "This is the best service I've ever experienced." Clockwork was furious, "Everybody stop! This has gone too far! I want this pony- OW!" He had been run over by a cart carrying a medium sized fancy cup of whipped cream, a frosting drizzle tool, and a plate of cookies. "When I heard that we had a guest, I just had to have the chefs make some homemade cookies for you. My name is Sweet Cream and this is my son Drizzle." She put some of the whipped cream on a cookie and Drizzle added a smiley face on it. Gingersnap levitated the cookie and ate it, "Not as good as my treats. But this is still delicious." Suddenly, there was a loud roar and everyone stopped what they were doing. The door swung open and everything went dark. "Um master?" said Flamethrower, "Don't be angry. This pony was all alone in the woods and-" Beast Mac roared in his face. Clockwork got out from hiding under the carpet, "It's all Flamethrower's fault! I tried to stop him but he didn't listen! Blame him not me!" Beast Mac roared again and charged at Gingersnap's chair. A panicked Gingersnap looked to see the horror that Beast Mac had turned into: He was now a hairy beast pony wearing a red cape, and dark blue pants. Though he had the shape of a pony, he stood on his backhooves. He had the claws of a wolverine, razor sharp teeth in his mouth, and buffalo horns on his head. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY CASTLE?!" Beast Mac roared Gingersnap was stammering with fear as he crawled out of the armchair, "I-I-I-" "Stop staring at me! You've come to mock my looks!" "No!" Gingersnap pleaded, "I was on my way to the National Dessert Competition but I ended up getting lost and I need a place to stay!" Beast Mac used his powerful claws to grab Gingersnap, "Oh i have the perfect place for you." He stormed off with Gingersnap and the enchanted objects could only stare in shock and horror as the door slammed and they heard Gingersnap's screams of fright fade into the distance.