Gummy and the Search for Meadowbrooke's Amulet
Pinkie’s singing, I must admit, is quite the adorable thing. It is a shame that she must do it so often, lest I would not be as irritated by it. If she could understand me, I would ask her to take more care with the baking ingredi—and it appears that she has splattered some of the batter for her confectionary onto my face. I do not mind. I always have adored her baking, though the last batch of cupcakes seemed dryer than normal. It was most likely her choice of flour. “This is going to be so great, Gummy!” she squealed from that cute, happy face. “We have absolutely nothing to do today except BAKE!” Oh, how that face makes me feel. The fact that nothing but pure happiness is what permeates from her is why it will pain me ever so worse when her fate comes. Though, that should be something I cannot ponder at the moment, for now, at this moment, she is happy, and that makes me happy. “I’ve been waiting for just the right time to try Granny Pie’s Super Special Triple Chocolate 15 layer Marsholand Recipe. It’s gonna be AMAZING!” Her squeals of glee in my face, those bright, blue eyes; I want her to know what will happen so that maybe she could understand. Unfortunately reality, as I have learned before, can never bend, only break. I suppose it is about time to remove this batter from my face. Hmm, tastes fairly minty. I like that. “Let’s see… Nutty meringue, chocolate ganache, praline nuts, cocoa-flavored butter cream. An hour per layer. That’s 15 hours of pure baking bliss!” Most ponies, at this point, would run as far as they can, never looking back. Not I, though. Not simply because I am an outer-dimensional being who’s form represents that of an infant alligator, but because I care for her. Now, on a very different note, how does she hold that baking pan in her mouth, even when it has been just removed from the oven? “Okay Gummy, I think we are ready to start prepping the second layer—“ Her Cutie Mark has cut her off. I still have yet to begin my research on how such ability is possible on what is a simple mark. This I will begin soon, but for now I have more a pressing matter I will have to finish, which by how the current events appear, I will be able to complete today. “Ohmygosh! My Cutie Mark! You know what this means!?” She yells as she comes close to my face in that hyperactive way she always does. “The map…” she whispered into my ear. I show my agreement with the situation by wiping away the small bit of batter from her face. “Uh Gummy, could you take over for a bit? Hopefully this’ll be quick. I’ll just measure the baking powder for you. And when the first layer cools, you can drizzle some of the ganashe over it. And don’t forget to beat the egg whites for the merengue! I know you can do this Gummy! You’re the best alligator baker I have ever met!” she exclaimed to me as she inserted the whisk between my gums and gave me the usual kiss before she happily departed out the door. I would watch over her during her travel as I often do, but today I must finish a problem. A problem I began many years ago. I must find Dr. Whooves. Well, I presume completing one more layer of this cake would not place too much of a strain on my schedule. It is the least I can do for her.
“Doctor.” I said as he was replacing parts within the T.A.R.D.I.S.
“Gah-mii? Is that you?” he inquired.
“No, it’s Queen Chrysalis.” I quipped, as I would assume he could recognize telepathy by now.
“There’s no reason to be sarcastic. Unless you’re me, that is. But you’re not. So, why are you here anyway?”
“Do you recall when I inquired to you about Meadowbrooke? You said you needed some time to gather information on her.”
“Oh, right. Uh, there was a slight problem. There is no pony named Meadowbrooke.”
“What!?” I exclaimed rightfully confused. “But the information written on her and her magical items. How could she possibly not exist?” I became very worried about how I could ever right what happened. Then Doctor Whooves began chuckling. “What could possibly amuse you right now!?”
“You actually.” I was beyond confused at this moment, wondering whether I should walk away now or hear him out. May as well stay. “I said no pony named Meadowbrooke existed. Doesn’t mean there was no creature named Meadowbrooke.”
“Not funny, Doctor. Not funny at all.”
“It was a little funny.”
“I live with the pony that embodies funny. I know what funny is.”
“Then you should know—eh, whatever. We could on for days about this. I’m sorry, okay?”
“Okay…” I conceded.
“Meadowbrooke, though. While most of the information is accurate on her magical artifacts, some censorship happened over the centuries. As I asked through the years, no pony ever knew anypony named Meadowbrooke, but the occasional pony recalled a creature that lived in the caves near where Manehatten is now. There I found what was possibly the last creature I would have ever expected to harness incredible magic. I mean, a Draconequus definitely. Heck, an alicorn would have made some sense. Even a—“
“WHAT WAS IT!?” I bellowed, my patience growing thin.
“Oh, jeez! Okay, sorry. It was a turtle. In fact it was a turtle you may have even known at some point.”
“A relative of Tank… Now, I never knew Meadowbrooke, as far as I know, but I remember a story from Tank’s father about his sister who discovered some powerful magic amulet and left somewhere to study it.” I began pondering how to find this cave. “Tank! Where is he?”
“Tank is in his yearly hibernation. Unless you can enter his dreams, you’re going to have to wait for summer.”
“No, but lucky for me, I know someone who can.”
I began on my way to the Everfree forest. I knew Zecora could help me.
“You gonna tell me who that is!?” he yelled as I walked out of the T.A.R.D.I.S.
“Oh, right! Zecora! I am going to find Zecora!”
“Right! Good luck!”
“Appreciated!” What? It is not like I can simply leave him with a cliffhanger like that.
Zecora’s home was lit up and the smell of burning oak came from the smoke stack. She was clearly home. Then I heard something break. And Zecora screamed. Somepony else was there too. I ran to the window to observe what was happening. A pony dressed in traditional Saddle Arabia garb was running at Zecora with a rope. I projected the sounds of Princess Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie running to the house calling for Zecora into the mind of the assailant. He ran as I had hoped. I don’t know why I chose Pinkie out of them all. Perhaps it was because I still had the taste of the cake in my mouth. I climbed through the window.
“All you alright, Zecora?”
“Gah-Mii? Can it be?
“Yes.”
“Because you are here, that is the reason the pony ran in fear?”
“Well, more accurately, I projected the sound of Princess Twilight Sparkle into his mind.”
“My life is with you. What must I do?” She knelt down to me. Though I felt like I should tell her that this is not necessary, I must finish my task at hand and any semantic confusion may impede that. “I actually came to you for a dream walking spell.”
“You desire to walk amongst the dreams? Which pony’s dreams do you wish see?” she inquired as she reached for several ingredients upon here shelves.
“Actually, this is the odd part. It is not a pony I wish to see. It is Rainbow Dash’s pet, Tank.”
“What could a turtle’s sleep possibly keep?”
“His aunt possessed a magical amulet that I require.”
“I am not learned in the dreams of other creatures, but I may know a pony who may help you in your searches.”
From Zecora’s house, we walked for possibly hours, though in the Everfree forest, it could have very well just been several minutes. No wonder Doctor Whooves hates coming here. Through a break in the trees, I could see a small oasis. In the pond a pony was bathing. Though the thought may seem perverse at first, I truly appreciate the sight of a pony alone with no awareness to the outside world except the foliage and fauna that surround her.
“Treehugger, of whom I seek. My acquaintance and I to you we wish to speak.”
Treehugger let out a frightened scream as she ran for the bushes. Zecora has never been all that well with greetings.
“Treehugger?” I inquired to her. “I am Gah-Mii. I am an Outer-dimensional creature who has been tasked with observing over Equestria. I have been told you know how to dream walk with other creatures aside from ponies.”
Treehugger walked out of the bushes in pure amazement. “Whoa… This is righteous!” Now that she was closer to me, I could clearly see that this pony is intoxicated.
“Are we sure that this pony is truly capable of dream walking?” I asked Zecora worried this pony that continues to gaze over me has duped her.
“To walk your friend’s dream, this pony we shall need.” Zecora seemed very assured this pony was legitimate in these claims. I had to trust Treehugger.
We reached Zecora’s home after far too long of a walk with Treehugger admiring me and contemplating what I meant for the “connected reality” or some strange nonsense. A shadow was moving around inside the house. I commanded Zecora and Treehugger stay where we were as I moved closer to the house. I again projected the same thought into his mind as I did before, though nothing happened this time. I then heard screams from behind me. Two ponies where holding Treehugger and Zecora. The third in the house came walking out wearing a metal bowl on his head.
“A Hippie, a Zebra, and an Alligator. This is almost a bad joke,” droned a voice from behind the bushes. Out waked an elderly Griffon. His eye was glass and his face was badly scarred.
“Griffon of old, why is it us that you hold?” insisted Zecora
“You two I could not care less about. It is the alligator I require.” He glared at me with his one good eye. “You don’t need to worry, you can talk to me. I know what you are.” The way he said this was more frightening than him saying it. It was like he has known for a very long time and that he is very acquainted with me, though I do not know who he is.
“How do you know me?” I inquired.
“It was during Gilda’s last trip to Ponyville. I decided to follow her to ensure that she did not pick up any of the friendship nonsense that you ponies insist on teaching. I saw a pony talking to the air, but you were right beside her. I took it as nothing until I read a story in an old book of an alligator that exactly described you. From there, it was a matter of many months of research before I discovered what you are. Truly a fascinating creature.” This information struck me in a way that I haven’t felt in a very long time. I thought I was more careful. I thought I had destroyed the evidence of my existence. Doctor Whooves was right. Destroying the past cannot be done in the present. I must find these texts.
“But now your pony friends have come to Griffonstone looking for our lost statue. Namely the ones who cause Gilda so much trouble the first time.”
“What!?” I yelled taken aback by the news. This must have been where Pinkie’s Cutie Mark called her, and apparently Rainbow Dash, too.
“Just the two ponies? They were not all there?”
“I will admit, I found that odd too, but it is for the better. What can just the two of them possibly accomplish?” scoffed the griffon. Fortunately, I know they can accomplish more than he can possibly imagine.
“Then,” I asked once again, “why are you holding us as though we are criminals?”
“Because I need that statue! Do have any idea what that kind of gold is worth? That is Griffongold!” The most prized gold in all of Equestria. I would have thought that had all been melted down and mixed with the other Equinious metals, but it appears a statue has survived. This could possibly allow me a point of leverage to acquire those documents.
“I will assist you in acquiring the statue, but I require two things in return.” I asserted to the Griffon.
“What do you require?”
“That you release the two ponies so they may return home and you give to me what ever information you hold on my existence.” The Griffon gestured the two ponies holding Zecora and Treehugger, who let them go, though forcefully. He looked at me and grabbed me. “ I will ensure you get your information, but first you will get me that statue.” Before we departed, I left a mental image of the amulet I was looking for to Zecora and Treehugger, hoping they would understand where to carry on from there.
After a long flight we landed at a canyon. On the other side were Pinkie, Rainbow, and Gilda climbing out of the canyon discussing how they lost the statue. The look in the old Griffon’s eye was that of pure disgust at the sight of Gilda working with the ponies.
“It fell to the bottom, it appears. At least one good thing has happened today. Once they are gone, you will retrieve the statue.” I was fairly confused at the current situation.
“How do you expect me to achieve that? It has fallen to the bottom.”
“At the west end of the canyon is a cave entrance. Following that down will eventually reach you to the bottom. It did not help before because the idol was perched to high. Now that those ponies have knocked it down, it will finally be mine.” I reached the entrance of the cave. The darkness was so thick that it was almost like walking into pea soup. The moment I entirely entered the cave, the outside was far too bright to see, but the cave was darker than the night sky. Slowly I felt my surrounding, being carful anything too sharp. I had fallen on many occasions, but overall I was still in decent condition. After a couple hours, I finally reached the bottom of the canyon. As I moved further eastward, I heard a wet, mushy sound. As I looked around me frantically, I felt a jelly-like substance cover my claws. Then it began to glow a radiant green, brighter and brighter until I knew what I had found; the layer of the Smooze. I continued to run eastward as this goop raced after me in waves of slime. I knew if it caught me, the statue would be lost forever, there will still be records of my existence, and everything I have done so far would have been in vain. In the distance, I could see the statue shimmer from the glowing wave of slime behind me. I quickly acquired it with my mouth and continued to run eastward, hoping for somewhere to hide or escape. Eventually I found I small hole, which I ran into and covered with another rock. As I waited in terror, the entire area shook from the creature. Soon enough it stopped. I peered out to ensure my safety and ran as fast as my body could. After what was possibly far too much work, even for such a valuable artifact, I left the cave into the blinding Griffonstone sun. The old griffon came up to me and ripped the statue from my mouth. “Even as it looks now, it is still beautiful!” he laughed in glee.
“Griffon! I have held my end of this arrangement, now where are these documents!?” I demanded.
“Oh, yes those. In the remnants of the library is an old locked desk. They will be in there.”
“And how do you propose I open this locked desk?”
“You asked for the location of information. I never said I have to get it for you.” And with that last act of selfishness he flew away. I just find it fortunate that Celestia’s guard have a spotless record of tracking down criminals. I was to assure that the lost statue of Griffonstone is found and protected, but later. At that moment, though, I had find that desk.
At the remnants of Griffonstone’s library was the locked desk, just as he claimed. I worked around it, hoping to find a key or some sort of metal object I could use as a pick. Then, after several minutes of searching, I realized I was in a destroyed library surrounded by very angry Griffons. One in particular had just begun walking by. I projected a voice of a pony calling her a slur. She bolted to another part of Griffonstone, breaking directly through the desk as I had hoped. With papers now everywhere, I began gathering them together as, is often with my luck, Pinkie and Rainbow begin walking by. I hurried underneath a book as they talked about their journey. After what I have gone through today, how I wished I had simply watched over their activities. They departed and I hurried along with gathering the papers. I snuck aboard the train that Pinkie and Rainbow dash boarded. Normally this would have been very lucky, but I know that I would be unable to complete my task. It truly pained me that I ran into so many disruptions on a mission that should have been so simple. Then it was here I saw a pony in a dark cloak. Though I could only see a part of her flank, I knew who it was. I could hardly believe who it was, but I knew this cloaked pony was no other than Trixie Lulamoon, and in a small bag beside her was, no… it… it could not be possible. If there had ever a time to think there is a power greater than the two sisters, this was then. In her small, leather knapsack was Meadowbrooke’s amulet. The train made a stop in Appaloosa, which appeared to be Trixie’s stop as she began leaving. I snuck the documents under a seat and swiftly followed behind her, eventually following her to a small home in the Everfree forest. Guarding the door was this massive stallion. I peered through the window at Trixie sitting down at a dining table with another mare I could not quite see due to the placement of the kitchen.
“Do you have the amulet?” asked the pony I had yet to recognize.
“Yes, I do.” responded Trixie, removing it from her bag.
“Truly beautiful. With this I will be able to do far more than simply remove Cutie Marks.” Why did this sound so familiar to—oh no… I ran passed the stallion in front of the door and grabbed the amulet.
“EEK! AN ALLIGATOR!” squealed Trixie.
“My amulet!” screamed Starlight.
In the ensuing chaos I was able to escape. Eventually, I found a path I recognized and found my way to Zecora’s home.
“I found it! I found the amulet!” I yelled, out of breath and weak.
“The amulet of Meadowbrooke? Where was it that you looked?”
“Can I tell you on a different day? Preferably one where I have not just ran for my life on several instances?” She nodded in agreement. “Oh, in addition. There is a seat on the train with several documents underneath it. If you have the time at any point before tomorrow, I really need those. Much appreciated.” I staggered out the door leaving the amulet in her hooves. After a significant amount of more walking, I slowly walked into Sugarcube Corner. I forced myself back onto the kitchen island, picked up the whisk as Pinkie left me, and laid down on my chin waiting for her return. Then I realized I never poured the ganashe over the second layer.
