Tom continued his quest deeper and deeper into the Everfree Forest. As he went deeper and deeper, it got eviler and eviler. For example, as he went deeper in, there were less hot dog carts. A sad, sad thing, but like we all know, the deeper you went into the Everfree, the more of a slave you became. Mwhahahahahahaha....Okay, I am done so back to the story.
Tom continued on his journey. He opened his map (which he could tel was a mess of crayon drawings and scribbles, but was still readable. He realized he was at the halfway point now so he put away the map and continued about three more miles before running into two strangers. One a fox and one a serpent of a sort. They were both dressed in fancier clothes and they both had a carriage of sorts. Tom greeted them.
"Hello sirs!", yelled Tom, "How are you this evening?".
"Oh my oh my", barked the fox, "It looks like we have a customer. How are you dear sir? Would you like some water for your journey?".
"Yes yes", hissed the serpent, "some water or perhaps some food. Maybe even a blanket or sleeping bag, it does get mighty cold in these here woods."
"No no", said Tom, "I am fine, really."
"Oh my dear Clever" hissed the serpent to the fox, "It seems he is beyond the point of no return. He's already delusional. Crazy. Insane. He can't even think straight. We needs get him this device here...For $32.99 of course."
"Yes yes me dear brother Hiss", barked the fox to his comrade, "This poor soul is already out if it. Let us make you a deal poor soul so that you will not fare horribly in this forest of darkness. Come, come, and get what you want. We will make a deal from there."
"No no", said Tom, "I am fine honest. I am a rock after all, and so I don't require much. In fact, thank you for the offer, but I be--"
"My dear boy", hissed the serpent who's name was Hiss, a Mr. Hiss at that, "We can not let you travel alone. We are just too compassionate. I am sorry my dear boy, but we can not let you go without something." hissed the serpent.
"Okay then", said Tom, "Give it to me for free, and I will believe you.", Tom was playing his cards.
"Well, actually dear sir", interrupted the fox, who's name was Clever, "We just can't let you go without something, but business is business as it were, and so we will let you off with a deal. How does that sound?"
"Listen here", said Tom, "I don't know what you're selling (Its funny because Tom really didn't), but I will not take your business junk. Either you give me something for free or I leave. Simple as that."
"But-- But-- Kind sir, we can not let you go alone. It is too dangerous in this hear hundred acre wood. It might even be more sir. the Everfree forest is an evil place especially at night. We must not let you go without something." hissed Hiss the serpent.
"Yes yes, my comrade is right. It is too dangerous to go alone and do you really want to be forever alone.", barked Clever, "Here let us make a deal. Does that sound promising?"
"Listen here... I will take time to look at your items, but if they displease me, I am leaving. Do you both understand?" questioned Tom.
"Yes." Both Clever and Hiss agreed.
"Good", said Tom, "Now what pieces of junk do you have here?".
The Fox and the Serpent showed Tom all sorts of amazing things. They showed him attachable wings, and they showed him laser weapons, and they showed him crazy fire beams, and ice cream, and portable Spongebob grenades which would annoy the poop out of enemies. They showed him all sorts of junk. Tom was impressed. However, Tom wasn't buying it literally. He told it to the business animals straight.
"Listen, your stuff is very impressive, but I am not going to buy it. It is simple as that. I don't even have money to--" Tom was interrupted.
"What?!", barked Clever, "You don't have money!! Get out of here! We don't like your kind!" yelled Clever who was very angry at Tom.
"Yessssssss" said Hiss, "No money, no business, we don't like any one who wastes our time, and you just wasted it big, big time! You need to leave right now!" At this, both Hiss and Clever pulled out two pistols which they had been hiding. They pointed them at Tom's face and aimed. "LEAVE!" they both said in unison.
"Woah fellas, I just was sa--" started Tom.
"LEAVE!!!" they yelled at Tom. "NOW!!"
Tom left. He rolled away mildly fast, not because he was scared (remember rocks don't get scared), but because he realized how much time he had wasted. It must have been two days talking to those buffoons and they would have tried to kill him if he hadn't left. Tom was actually getting furious. He was about to go back and take those two out when he heard a bang. He slowly crept back and found that Hiss and Clever had killed a poor, lonely pony who had ventured too far into their depths. Tom eavesdropped as the Hiss and Clever began to speak.
"Ha ha ha" hissed Hiss, "That dumb old pony. We had her buy an item, and then we killed her. It never gets old Clever. Oh how treacherous we are. We get the money, go to give them the item, and then we kill them, and now we have the money and the item. Its a one way streak. Killing tow birds with one stone, only literally. It is too fun Clever old boy too fun."
"Yes yes Hiss", started Clever to his companion, "It is too fun, and the things don't even know that most of this is just junk from China anyways. It breaks in two seconds. Oh ho how I love it. Wait wait look here comes another idiot. Quick move that body and prepare for the next one."
"YESSSSSSS:" Hissed Hiss laughing.
The poor pony started on her way over to the fox and the serpent. Tom recognized her. It was none other than Roseluck. How she had ended up over here, Tom didn't know, but he continued to watch to see the scene unfold.
"Hello ms.", barked Clever, "What brings you out here in this deep dark forest. You must be frightened."
"Ye--yes sir", began Roseluck, " I-- I am very frightened. Could you help me?"
"Of course", hissed Hiss, "We can sell you some items that will get you right back on your feet. In fact, here take a look see. We have all manner of items here and--"
"Hiss", started Clever, "I have a deal I need to put forth for this pony... lets go and discuss it then?"
"Oh of course Clever my dear boy", began Hiss, and then he turned to the pony, "One second ma'am, we are feeling so generous today that we want to strike you a deal."
"Oh thank you sirs", began Roseluck, "Thank you."
"Oh but of course", barked Clever, "Hang on while I go over there and discuss a good deal with my partner here."
Hiss and Clever began to walk over to where Tom was. Tom hid in the bush a little bit, but Hiss and Clever did not come all the way. They were still in ear distance though, so Tom listened. Clever and Hiss's conversation went like this.
"Hiss my boy, that pony is in perfect working condition. We can capture her, and then sell her to the orks. They can decide what to do with her from there, but he is in perfect condition." Clever put his plan forth.
"You are correct", hissed Hiss, "but we have to take her down. She is a pony and she will be able to get away from us. How do you propose we capture her?"
"Well", began Clever, "First we will say that we have the perfect item for her. However, we will turn around and gas her with sleeping dust. Then we will bring her to the holding area and finally tie her up and sell her at the Evil Auction. We'll make a fortune because someone will buy her perhaps even the Troll king himself."
"It is perfeccccccccct" hissed Hiss, "Lets do it!"
At this, Hiss and Clever went back to the pony and began to show her something. Tom knew their plan and he knew he could take these evildoers on, but should he act? Of course he should act, but that wasn't what was holding back Tom. You see, Roseluck was the meanest pony ever to Tom. She had mocked him, jeared at him, and even tried to smack him once. Not only that, but she had done other unspeakable horrors to Tom. Tom had a choice. It seems Tom had a lot of these lately. Tom chose quick. He would save her.
Tom rolled out of the bushes just as Roseluck had been gassed. Roseluck fell to the ground knocked out while Tom rushed Clever and Hiss. Clever was hit while Hiss dodged. Clever went flying into a nearby tree, and was knocked out momentarily. Hiss tried to retaliate and hit Tom hard in his back. Tom, however, was a rock and was solid enough to hold on tight. He smacked Hiss into an nearby tree just as Clever jumped on Tom's back. Clever started to choke Tom's neck withholding whatever it is a rock breathes. Tom started to faint, but he held on. He slammed Clever into a nearby tree, but Hiss was already back. Hiss pulled out his pistol and yelled at Tom to stop or he would shoot the pony. Tom turned around and saw that Hiss had Roseluck's legs tied up in a knot, and Hiss had his pistol pointing at Roseluck.
"Don't make me do it rock!", hissed Tom, "Because you obviously know that I will".
Tom did know. He knew full well. However, Tom said something.
"Don't make me do it either!". Tom rolled back over to where Clever was knocked out and started to roll on top of Clever. Clever started to groan for help.
"You won't do it rock!" hissed Hiss, "I know you won't"
"You're right", began Tom, "but I will do this." Tom fired Clever's pistol at Hiss's face. Hiss dodged it just for a moment giving Tom just enough time to charge Hiss. Hiss's pistol was knocked to the ground, and Hiss was soon to follow. At this point, both Hiss and Clever were knocked out. Tom took this as the time to tie them up to a tree. Tom then picked up Roseluck and put her in a carriage backpack on his back. He knew she wasn't dead just knocked out. Tom would have brought her back, but he didn't have time to turn around so, for now, she would have to deal with it. Tom also knew that Clever and Hiss would be stuck there for a while hopefully giving them enough time to rethink their evil ways. If not, then something else would get them first, this would be Opal. Tom and Opal were actually good friends, and Tom knew that everybody feared Opal, so if the fox and serpent caused anymore trouble, then Opal they would have to deal with.
Tom continued on his journey. He was coming on the final villain. This one was going to be the worst (after of course the final final villain). Tom was ready to face this one, but this time he had to be more cautious.
As Tom continued on he learned some new lessons. They were these. First of all, always forgive those that do you wrong just as Jesus did. It is kind to forgive, and it will only heap coals of fire upon their heads because they won't be able to take the fact that you just gave all to save them. Not only that though, you gave all to save them even though they mistreated you. The second lesson that Tom learned was to be wary of liars and smooth talkers because they will only bring you trouble. Also No is No, if you say No then they will have to respect that. The third lesson that Tom learned was to stand up for others and to stop criminals. Finally, the final lesson Tom learned is, Never trust a business man.
Tom was learning lessons left and right. They were good though because they were preparing Tom for what he would soon face ahead and ahead...