Alone in the darkness of the castle dungeon, Zoe now wretched old hag was standing over a cauldron mixing up a deadly poison. She then dipped an apple into the brew, the poison seeped in turning the fruit extremely deadly. The apple then turned blood red so that it would be able to tempt anyone who saw it to hunger for a bite.
"One bite and Frida will be lost forever. But I better make sure there's no antidote."
Zoe checked the spell book and turned to the page about the poisoned apple. Just as she had feared, she found that there was indeed an antidote. The victim of the sleeping death could only be revived by love's first kiss.
"Bah!" Zoe cried throwing the book. "No fear of that! Those miners will think she's dead and she'll be buried alive!"
The old hag then cackled, placed the posioned red apple in a basket of regular, yellow and green apples, then left for her chambers unaware that Mrs. Chiquita had overheard the whole thing. She quickly raced down to the dudgeon where Chakal was keeping an eye on the prisoners but at that moment he was sleeping on the job. She swiped the keys from his belt and went to the cell where Manny was being held.
"Prince Manny." She whispered.
"Mrs. Chiquita what are you doing here?" He asked her.
"No time to explain." She said unlocking the cell door. "You must escape and find Frida, I fear that something very dreadful is going to be fall her."
"I will find her." He vowed. "I promise but you better get out of here before someone sees."
"Good luck brave prince."
The old maid then hurried off while Manny made his escape. Suddenly Chakal awoke.
"Guards! Come quick! The prince is escaping!"
Guards came racing toward the young man but he was very agile and fast. He jumped up ran over top of them while stepping on their heads. He then ran down the hall and upstairs. He was halfway to the door when Chakal blocked his way with a sword.
"Not so fast Prince Charming, you're not going anywhere." He said.
From behind Manny came Tonio with a bow and arrow.
"Well don't just stand there! Shoot him you fool!" Chakal demanded.
Tonio lifted his bow up and made his aim. He pulled back and an arrow was fired but it didn't hit Manny. It hit Chakal right in the shoulder.
"Hurry your highness you don't have much time!" Tonio told him.
"Thank you."
Manny ran out of the castle, grabbed a horse from the stables, and rode off into the woods. Unfortunately for him before leaving Zoe decided to consult her mirror to see if anything would stand in her way. The mirror then showed her an image of him escaping.
"Well we can't have him warning anyone about me." She grabbed her spell book, flipped through some pages, and then read an incantation. She cast a spell on the forest that would ensure that Manny would become hopelessly lost and never find his way out until she was dead. She then took her basket of apples and made her way into the forest to find the cottage.
Speaking of which, at that moment Davi, Toshiro, and T.J were leaving for work.
"Now don't forget Frida the queen is very clever so beware of strangers." Davi warned her.
"Don't worry about me I'll be careful." She then kissed his forehead making him blush.
"Yes trust no one." Toshiro added.
"I won't." She kissed his forehead too making him blush as well.
"We're serious!" T.J said sternly. "Don't let no one or nothing in the house. Got that?"
"Awww and here I thought you didn't care."
She kissed him on the forehead like with the others. He blushed but he tried in vain to hide it. The miners then left to work.
"You know I think T.J is starting to like me." She said. "Maybe I'll do something nice for him."
She went to gather a basket of gooseberries then set to work on making pie dough and gooseberry filling. She spread the dough in the pan, poured in the filling, covered it with more dough, then put it in the oven to bake. When it was done it became a delicious gooseberry pie.
"There we go. I hope T.J likes it."
Suddenly a shadow fell over her and she was startled by the sudden appearance of an old hag who was at the window.
"Whoa! Oh you scared me."
"All alone dearie?" The old woman said grinning at her with crooked teeth.
"Um...Yes I am."
"Making pies?" She asked sniffing the air.
"Yes it's gooseberry pie."
"If you ask me apple pies are a lot more delicious. Especially made from apples like these." She held up the basket of apples for her to see.
"They do look delicious."
"Don't they? May I come in and show you just how sweet and juicy my apples are?"
"Sorry lady but I don't know you and I'm not really supposed to let anyone in."
"But I'm so old and tired from traveling over the mountains and besides I'm just a poor old peddlar. What harm can I do?"
"It's nothing personal but I'm not supposed to let anyone in."
The old hag looked at the well that was by the house and thought of an idea.
"Then may I help myself to some water from your well as I am unbearably thirsty."
"Sure go right ahead."
"Thank you."
The old woman went to the well and began to pull on the rope but she seemed to be having a difficult time with it.
"The bucket won't come up! I'm too old and feeble to raise it!" She cried trying to sound weak.
She then collapsed to the ground on her knees. Thinking that the old woman could be hurt Frida went outside to help her up.
"Are you alright?" She asked her.
"Oh my heart!" The hag shrieked clutching the chest. "Oh my poor old heart! Oh please take me inside! Let me sit down! A drink of water please!"
Frida knew that she shouldn't but this old woman looked tired and hurt so she helped her into the house, sat her down in a nearby chair, and brought her a cup of water to drink.
"Thank you my child." She said after sipping from the cup. "I apologize for troubling you so but this old heart of mine sometimes comes dangerously close to giving out."
"It's okay I understand and I guess you can stay and rest for a little while."
"It warms my poor old heart that such a young and beautiful thing like you would show kindness to such an old and ugly thing like myself."
"Will you be alright? Do you need a doctor?"
"No dearie I'll be just fine. You know I think a girl as sweet as you deserves a reward."
"That's not necessary."
"Nonsense sweet thing, take one of my apples."
"No thanks I don't have any money."
"Oh there's no charge not after you helped me. Here you can have the prize of my basket."
She held up a blood red apple that had no bumps or bruises with a shiny peel. It looked perfect. Like the most delicious apple in all creation.
"It does look good but I don't know."
"What's matter? Don't like apples?"
"No but I don't think I should."
"Do you think my apples have worms?"
"No but I don't think my friends would like it if I took it."
"What harm is there in an apple? Besides I have a feeling that you must be hungry right now."
Frida suddenly became aware of her growling stomach and of the fact that she hadn't eaten breakfast today. The miners had eaten all the porridge she had made and forgot to save her some. It would be hours before dinner would be ready and the pie she made was too hot to eat right now. She figured there was no harm in taking one small bite of the apple.
"Alright I guess I could have just one taste."
The old hag grinned at her then placed the apple in her hand. Frida examined the fruit cautiously, when it seemed like nothing was wrong with it she brought the apple to her lips and took a bite. But as soon she swallowed that piece of apple she found herself unable to breathe. She started coughing, trying so hard to catch her breath but was unable to do so.
"Can't breathe dear? Well should've known better than to take fruit from strangers!" The old hag cackled.
"Wha...What did you to me? Who...Who are you?"
She was starting feel dizzy and light headed, everything she saw was getting fuzzy however she could see something perfectly clear. It was the old hag's eyes which were a familiar shade of purple.
"Zo...Zoe?"
"Sleep well sister dear."
Those were the last words Frida heard before everything went black and she fell to the floor dropping the apple from her limp hand. Zoe let out a horrible, cackling laugh as she watched Frida lose consciousness.
"Now I'll be fairest in the land!"