//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: All Friendship Comes with a Price // by jidbrony //------------------------------// 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....." ******* Snow White had led the Ponies out of the Village and into the forest to the nearest to a small camp site she had set up in the middle of woods. During there journey there was mostly silent except from Rainbowdash who was continuing to be amazed by Snow White's fighting abilities, they had introduced themselves to her but for the most part their life's remained a mystery to her. The mane six and snow eventually arrived at a small campsite in the middle of a woods, there was a small tent a fire going and a pot roasting on it. "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. ******** Glaring into her magic mirror Regina the Evil Queen watched as she saw her stepdaughter fall asleep alongside the six colorful ponies. She watched with anger, ever second she was alive was another day her hatred for her stepdaughter grew. The image on then changed from Snow White and the Ponies to a floating head surrounded by dark blue Smoke. 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. ******* The woods remained quiet though most of the night only the broken by the leaves that were hit by the wind made The girls were used to sleeping in the woods every now and then, especially when they had to go on a mission for Princess Celestia in the Everfree forest. However sleeping in the forest was not the best situations for anyone. So Rainbowdash tired of sleeping on the hard grass decided she needed a nice comfy cloud to sleep on. She got up her eyes barley open and went up into the sky and grabbed a chunk of cloud and brought it back to the campsite. As she is begins to fluff the cloud like a pillow she notices that the branches on the trees look longer than they did the last time, but to her it was probably just her imagination.Then slowly she opens her eyes again to see the branches moving and looming over her friends as if to grab them. She immediately comes to alert. "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. ****** Back in her Castle Regina lost sight of the Ponies and Snow white as her mirror faded out and all she could see was her own refection. "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. ****** It was almost dawn and Snow and the others continued to run deeper into the forest thankfully not being attacked by any more trees. Eventually they spotted a large campsite filled with tents of all shapes and sizes "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.