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// Clyde and the Beanstalk 
// Story: Clyde's Tales 
// by Salivanth 
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Clyde and the Beanstalk


Once upon a time, an eminently sensible earth pony named Clyde and his family were starving. His mother told him to take a Moochick to market and sell it, so that they would have money for enough food to eat for the evening's meal.

On his way, Clyde met a pair of unicorn hucksters.  "Hey there," the pair said.  "We'll trade you this magic bean for your fine exotic beast there."

"Magic bean.  Right," he said and walked on.

"Wait!" they cried desperately, catching up with him.  "It actually DOES work.  Look, you don't even have to pay us until you verify it really does grow two miles high."

"Why're you selling it then, if it really works?"

"It's just a beanstalk.  The truth is, we don't have the bravery or skill a fine lad like yourself would need to climb it, face the cloud giant and steal his unimaginable riches.  So we're looking for a quick buck, and you take all the risks."

Clyde thought.  "Okay, you've got a deal."

He walked home, planted the beanstalk, and immediately cut it down.  

That night, and for weeks thereafter, they feasted on giant bean casserole with giant bean curd sauce.  He hacked the stalk apart and sold beanstalk pith for firewood.  Within a month, he'd earned enough bits to purchase a rock farm and retire to it in quiet comfort.