> The Fool and the Golden Goose; Cold Night in the Crystal Empire, Part 2
>  by Freewing Alchemist P
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> DORK! and other Stories
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

			 The Fool and the Golden Goose: 
Cold Night in The Crystal Empire, part 2
                                    MLPFiM

            I woke up in the dark, the glow of both the fire and the force field was low. It took me a moment to catch up, I quickly remembered where I was and what was happening. I went to the fire and stoked it some before I roused some of the Crystal Ponies to strengthen the force field. I looked out the window. The Winter weather was howling outside. The snow driving down on the City Empire.
            “Ha, this would be a dusting if I was back home.” I joked.
            “You’ve got to be joking!” A Crystal Pony snorted angrily at me.
            “Now, now,” Prince Shining Armor broke in. I righted himself from where he was sleeping. “He lived in a place where the weather controlled itself. So it’s not too strange, to hear that.”
            “How can you live like that?” Another Crystal Pony asked.
            I looked outside and smiled. “Yes, it reminded me of home, and to answer your second question. We have to there is no other way to live.”
            “You must miss your home.” The Prince said solemnly.
            “Yah, I do but there are things I wouldn’t trade for a anything.” I gave them a meek smile.
            “Such as telling stories to young fillies?” He flashed me a grin.
            I nodded to him. “Or to any one that would listen, In my world I didn’t get a chance to tell the stories I do here. I don’t just tell them, I collect them as well. How do you know?” I said confused.
            “Twilight is my sister and Nyx my niece, remember.” She scratched his chin. “Well if you collect stories. Then do I have one for you, it’s how Cadence and I met and fell in love. You want to hear it?”
            “I’m game, how does it start?” I asked him.
            “It all starts when I was a student at Canterlot Academy.”  The Prince started.

            He told me his story, I could only laugh. “No, just no, didn’t happen.” I added flatly.
            “Ask Cadence, when she wakes up.”
            “Falling in love your sister babysitter, correction Foalsitter. Crazy music numbers, Exploding Mallet, a D&D nut getting the girl,” I shook my head. “Can’t forget besting a jock, who was a rival. It’s like something out am 80’ds cliché movie. I can’t believe it happened.”
           “OK, so I took some creative twist but I swear that it happened.” He smiled while waving his hooves at me.
            “Do you even know what I’m talking about?”
    “Not a Clue, but you can call me Shining Armor, or just Shining.”
    “Well Shining I think you are one lucky nerd.”
            “Why thank you.” He smiled at me.
 “I don’t think I’ll be repeating that story. Thank you Shining.” I started to think and it came to me. “You're a bit of a dork aren't you. I think I have a story just for you.” I smiled. “Are you interested in listing?”
            “I resent the dork comment, but sure, why not. There is nothing we can really do right now.” Shining shrugged.
    
            To start, you must know something. There was once a great kingdom ruled by a good King. He had a beautiful daughter, she was very clever and brought light wherever she went but as of late she was stricken with a mysterious bout of melancholy. She was always sad and never smiled. The King did not want his daughter to stay like this so he decreed that anyone who could return the smile this his daughter’s face would marry her. You must keep that in mind for later.
            Now in the same kingdom there was a wood cutter, his wife and three sons. The first son, Adam, was strong but arrogant. The second son, Frank, was clever but selfish. The third son, Simon, was kind but not too smart.
            Once Simon got himself caught in the family well, and then when asked why he said in his defense. “A wild Ivy vine wrapped itself around the rope we use to lower the bucket and I did not want to damage it.” They believed that Simon was stupid.

            “Hey, I’m not that bad. ” Shining Armor broke in.
            “No, I don’t believe that but...” I was hesitant. “Why don’t I just continue and you can hear the rest.”
            He smiled at me. “OK.”

            One day the family needed wood so the father sent Adam to cut some wood in a faraway woods. His mother gave him some meat, fruit, cheese, a cake and a bottle of cider, all to eat when he got hungry. Adam got to forest and started his work, but when he stopped for lunch he was approached by an old, beggar man.
            “Please, Please good sir,” The old man begged. “I am so hungry and thirsty would you please share a little of your food with me? Even just a crumb of bread or a drop of water.”
            The first son took a moment to think about it and then replied. “Why should I give you any of my food or drink? I need it for my work. Away with you.”
            The old beggar man sighed and left.
            When Adam returned to his work, on the third strike of his ax it slipped and struck his knee. Unable to work anymore and in pain he limped home.
            The next day the father sent Frank to cut the wood for the family. His mother gave this son some meat, fruit, cheese, a cake and a bottle of cider to eat when he got hungry. Frank got to the forest and started his work, but when he stopped for lunch he was approached by an old, beggar man. The same old, beggar man that approached his brother Adam, but he did not know that.
            “Please, Please good sir,” The old man begged. “I am so hungry and thirsty would you please share a little of your food with me? Even just a crumb of bread or a drop of water.”
            The second son took a moment to think about it and then replied. “If I give you any of my food then I will not have it when I need it. Be off with you.”
            The old beggar man sighed and left
            When Frank returned to his work on the third strike of his ax, a branch from the tree broke off and fell on him. Broken, Frank dragged himself back home to nurse his wounds.
            When Frank returned the father was not happy. “Now what am I going to do?”
            Simon spoke up. “I can do it, just give me a chance.”
            “You do it? You simpleton, you will only hurt yourself.” His father told him.
            But Simon insisted. “I can do it, please father.”
            His father finally gave in. “Fine but if you get hurt then don’t come home!”
           His mother gave him a stale loaf of bread, a cake baked in ash and jug for water for him to eat when he got hungry.

            “Sounds like there was some favoritism there.” One of the Crystal mares said interjecting.
            “That’s not right,” A Crystal Stallion added. “I mean it still happens here but, it’s not right.”
            “It happens in my world too and people in my world believes it too. But Simon Never let this get him down, or so I recalled.” I paused to clear and took a swig of water before I continued.

             Simon got to the forest and started to work, but when he stopped of lunch he too was approached by an old, beggar man. The same old, beggar man that approached his brother Frank, but he did not know that.
            “Please, Please good sir,” The old man begged. “I am so hungry and thirsty would you please share a little of your food with me? Even just a crumb of bread or a drop of water.”
            Simon did not talk for a  long moment  for he had to think before he replied. “I do not have a lot of food with me,” Simon said to the old beggar man. The old beggar man frowned and sighed but before he could leave Simon added. “But I have a better idea. I am happy to share all that I have with you.”
           The old beggar man smiled at him and with a laugh. “That is a fine idea, let us do that.”
            The two shared a meal.
            When finished the old beggar man smiled. “I have a gift for you, there is a tree over there.” He pointed to a nearby tree. “It will take some time but if you cut it down you will find something special.”
            Simon thanked him and continued on his work. When he fell that tree he found a living goose made of solid gold. Simon picked it up, but it was late he could not go home so he went to the nearest Inn for the night.
            Simon paid for his lodgings with on of the goose’s feathers. The landlord's three daughters saw the goose and want a feather for their own. While Simon slept the oldest daughter crept into the room the moment she placed her hands on the goose she became affixed to the goose. She was not trapped and not wanting to wake Simon she stood still and kept quiet.
Sometime later second daughter came in to see what was taking her sister so long. “Sister didn’t get some feathers yet?” She saw that her sister was just standing there.
 “What are you doing?” She went over to her sister. “Here let me help you.”
            “No sister, don’t you get stuck too.” The elder sister said, but it was too late. The younger gripped her sister and became stuck. Realizing what just happened she too had to be quiet and still.
            Sometime later the third sister came into the room. “Sisters what in the world is taking you so long?”    
          “No!” Both sister tried to warn her.
            Before the third could head her sister’s warning third sister touched her sister and became stuck.

            “That would be the thieves getting caught in the act.” Shining Armor said firmly.
            I laughed. “Caught in the act, but not punish for the crime, at least not yet.” I then continue.

            When Simon woke up he picked up the goose and left, with the three girls still attached. He marched down the town streets, still oblivious of the three girls. The Girls trying their best to keep up with Simon. They were drawing attention of everyone in town and by this time saw this spectacle. An older Preacher and his secretary saw this too.
            “What are you? Why are you harlots chasing a young man in broad daylight?” Before that sisters could warn him. The Preacher took hold of the youngest sister to pull her away but he too became stuck.  
            “Preacher what’s wrong? Do you need some help?” His secretary said as he reached out to grab hold of the preacher.
            “No you fool I’m stuck!” The Preacher warned but it was too late his secretary became stuck too.
            The five were now being forced to follow Simon. The five still trying their hardest to keep from being dragged. As they passed an open field there were two farmers, they saw the five people, three women, an old Preacher and his secretary. The farmers came over to help them.
            “Fools, don’t touch us!” The Preacher and his secretary cried. “We are bewitched!” But it was too late, they too were stuck.

            “It’s like a train wreck,” On of the Crystal Ponies said aloud shaking his head. “It just gets worse and worse.”
            “Worse and worse before it gets better and better.” I joked.
            “The story was about to get to the good part. Now I wish Ms. Lore was awake to hear this story.” Another Crystal Pony said. She must have been one of the Library Ponies. I thought to myself.

            It was some time, Simon realized that it was getting harder to carry the goose, he looked back and saw that now he had a large line of people, nearly fifteen now. One stuck on the other, once again Simon was not very bright but, he had an idea how to fix the problem. “Lets go see the King!” Was his idea. No one could argue because Simon charged off to the King’s Castle.
            So Simon marched to the gates with his wobbly line of people and Simon announced. “I have a problem I need to see the King right away.” The guards not knowing what to do they let him in. When Simon finally got to the King’s throne room the line was even longer and the group wriggled a moved like a crazy snake. As Simon finally came to a stop he was pushed forward and they all tumbled and just like they all came apart. They spiraled around the throne room, while the King and his nobles looked on with surprise an even greater surprise came from next to the King when he heard his daughter bust out laughing. It was a deep and constant laugh that echoed throughout the room.

            “You see why I chose it now,” I said stopping myself and smiled. “I think this story fits you well.”
            Shining smirked. “I’m beginning to see what you mean. Charming a Princess and all.”
            “Something like that, I shall continue.” Shining nodded. I cleared my throat and started again.

            After the King heard Simon’s tale, he did not want him to marry her daughter. His daughter on the other hand saw that he was simple but he had a good heart a perfect complement to her. Simon saw the King’s daughter and he fell in  love with the Princess on first sight. The King decide to stop this man from marrying his daughter she would give the man three impossible task and when he failed he could not marry her.
            “Well young man, if you wish to marry my daughter you must complete three tasks,” He told him. “First you must empty all the Cider in my cellar. When that is done I will tell you the next.”
            Simon even knew that he could not drink that much Cider so he started to go back home. On his way he found the Old beggar man, the same one who had brought him the golden goose. “Hello friend,” Simon greeted him. “Thank you for the advice it brought me good fortune.”
            “That is good for you young man but...” The Old beggar man seemed troubled.
            “What is wrong friend?”
            “I am so thirsty, I feel I could empty a cellar full of Cider.”
    Simon was not bright but even he could tell that the Old beggar man could help him. “Why come with me and you can have all the Cider you can drink.”
            “Alright I will follow you.” He agreed.
            The Old beggar man emptied all the Cider in the King’s cellar.
            The next day the King came up with a second task. “Now you must eat a mountain of bread that my bakers have made. When that task is done I will give you the final task then.”
            Even Simon knew that he could not eat all that bread so he started to go back home. On his way he found the Old beggar man, the same that help him out before. “Hello friend,” Simon greeted him. “Thank you for helping me with the Cider in the cellar.”
            “That is good for you young man but...” The Old beggar man seemed troubled again.
            “What is wrong friend, are you thirsty?”
            “No, no I am not thirsty. I am hungry now, so very hungry.”
            Simon was not bright but even he could tell that the Old beggar man could help him. “Why come with me and you can have all the bread you can eat.”
            The Old beggar man ate the mountain of bread down to the last Crumb.
            The next day the King came up with the last task. “Now you must bring me a ship that can sail on both sea and land.”
            Simon knew there was nothing he could do so he started his way home. On his way home he met the old beggar man on the road. “Hello friend how are you doing?”
            “I am fine, but you seemed trouble?” The Old beggar man asked.
            “I am, I met a beautiful Princess but I can not marry her unless I bring her father a ship that can sail on both sea and land.”
            “Ah, maybe I can help you because you helped me?”
            “I would appreciate it but...” Before he could finish his sentence the old beggar man changed. He was covered in grand robes and had a great staff made of white wood.
            The Old beggar man was not a beggar but a great wizard. “I believe I can help you. You were kind to me when you thought I was nothing and you called me friend even though I did not say the same to you. So good friend I will help you.”
            Simon was not bright but even he knew a wizard could do almost anything and when one was a friend well... Great things can happen. Soon a great ship was sailing, on land, to the King’s Castile. Simon at the helm of the ship and his Wizard friend on the bow. The King had no choice but to allow Simon to Marry his daughter.  
            So when the old King died and then Simon became King. With Simon’s kind heart and the Princess’s clever mind they ruled the kingdom in peace and prosperity.

            I smiled as some of the Crystal Ponies snickered at the ending.
            “So, what happened to Simon’s family?” Shining Armor asked me.
            “That’s right, I bet they really kicked themselves for the way they treated him.” A Crystal Pony said.
           I laughed a little. “That’s right, I guess you would wonder what happened to them. Just so you know Simon never held a grudge against his family. But what happen to them is a whole other story. That story is for another time too.” I smirked at the lot of them.
            Some of them looked annoyed at me.
            “Why can’t you tell us?”
            “There is still a lot of night before the morning.” I answered. “What about someone else tell a story.”
            Night was still long and I believe that maybe there was enough time for one more story. Right now though, I think I would let someone else tell a story.