The Cine-magic Series: Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin

The Mane 7 took in the breath-taking scenery of the beautiful woods. Compared to the Everfree, this place looked so surreal and whimsical to them. The lush trees, the golden-looking grass, the bright, blue sky. It was truly a sight to behold.

"Oh, my,” Rarity said in awe. “This place is absolutely gorgeous."

"Couldn't agree more with ya there, Rares,” Applejack said.

"Uh, this is nice and all, but, shouldn't we figure out what we were brought here for,” Rainbow pointed out. "This is a friendship mission after all."

"Oh, come now, Rainbow,” Rarity said. “Just enjoy the scenery for a little while. There's no harm in it."

"Eh, thanks, but no thanks. I'm not really into that,” Rainbow stepped back. "But, seriously, something bad might be happening here."

But, it's a forest, Rainbow,” Twilight said. "What could happen that would be bad?"

"Maybe he knows,” Spike pointed his finger.

The others turned and saw, what appeared to be, a little, stout bear. It was pale yellow in color and wore a bright, red shirt. It was currently playing with some butterflies.

"Alright, I'll go talk to him," the pompous pegasus started to maker her way over to it, but was stopped by Twilight.

The Princess of Friendship, who once was so eager and relieved upon her and her friends being sent to a seemingly quaint and peaceful forest, was now incredibly cautious.

"No, I'll go talk to him,” she said sternly. "We need to be careful here, remember?"

"Oh, c'mon, Twilight,” Rainbow argued. “Don't you think you're being a bit paranoid? I mean, look at him. Does he look dangerous to you?"

"Maybe not, but, I don't want to take any chances,” Twilight stood firm. "Please, Rainbow."

The cyan pegasus sighed.

"Alright, fine,” she relented. “But, I'm telling you, Twilight, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"I'm not afraid! I'm just being careful!"

Twilight quickly clasped her hooves over her mouth, realizing that she was shouting rather loudly. It was already too late. The bear stopped what it was doing and turned to the Mane 7.

"Well, you got it's attention now," Fluttershy said, standing back a little.

Fluttershy was warm to all animals, but seeing how this was a different world, she couldn't help being a little wary.

Twilight gulped.

"Uh, excuse me, sir. You wouldn't happen to know where we are? Would you?”

The bear chuckled.

"Well, I haven't see you around here before,” the bear said.

“Well, it’s a kind of a long story,” Twilight said, slowly and cautiously approaching the gold-furred bear. “You’re not going to hurt us, are you?”

“Oh, my, no.” the bear shake his head. “I don’t I could. I’m stuffed with fluff after all.”

The alicorn did a double-take and so did the rest of the Mane 6 and Spike. Stuffed with fluff? That would mean he was a stuffed bear…a stuffed animal.

“Um…would a happen to know where we are?” Rarity asked.

“Oh, of course,” he said. You’re in the Hundred Acre Wood.”

"A hundred acres?" Twilight thought to herself.

She pressed on.

"Um, is anything happening right now? Anything bad that we can fix?"

The bear gave it some thought.

"Umm, not that I know of,” he frowned. "Is that what you're looking for?"

"Yes,” the violent princess nodded. “You see, me and my friends were brought here for a mission to solve some kind of problem. It's what we do. But, if there's nothing wrong here, then..."

"We'll just wait till it happens,” Applejack interjected.

"Yes, we'll do that," Twilight nodded. "By the way, what is your name?"

"My name? Oh, my name,” the bear chuckled. “My name is Winnie the Pooh. But, I just go by Pooh."

Rainbow snickered, trying to hold in her laughter.

"Rainbow, have some maturity will ya,” Applejack hissed angrily.

"Sorry, sorry,” the giggling pegasus collected herself.

"Well, Pooh, what exactly are you doing right now?" Spike asked.

"Oh, I was heading to that big tree over there,” Pooh pointed to a small hillside that housed the tree.

"Can we come along?" Pinkie jumped in excitement.

"Sure thing,” Pooh chuckled.

"Hold on, we haven't introduced ourselves yet," Twilight said to her friends.

The others looked at each other. Their friend was right. This whole time they didn't say their names once.

"Well, let's change that. My name is Rarity,” the fashionista greeted. “it's a pleasure to meet you...erm...Pooh."

"I'm Twilight Sparkle. But, just call me Twilight," the mulberry alicorn said.

"Howdy, ah'm Applejack." the country mare greeted warmly.

"I'm Rainbow Dash; fastest flyer of all Equestria," Rainbow said enthusiastically.

"Are you gonna do that every time we meet somepony?" Rarity grumbled.

Why, not?” the cocky pegasus asked boastfully. “Everypony needs to know how awesome I am."

"I'm Fluttershy,” the animal caretaker said softly.

"Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie,” the pink mare said, shaking Pooh's hand excitedly.

"And I'm, Spike,” the baby dragon said.

"Nice to meet you...ehm...oh, bother,” Pooh poked his head in thought. “I forget."

"Already?" Rainbow asked incredulously.

"Don't worry,” Twilight came up to the bear’s side. “We'll help you remember."

With that Pooh and the Mane 7 all made their way of to the giant tree. They hopped over a dead log as Twilight spoke again.

"So, what exactly are you going to do when we get to the tree, Pooh?" she asked curiously.

"Well, you see. Today, I believe, is a good day for being Pooh," Pooh said as he squeezed his way under a tree root.

"...Okay,” Twilight said slowly.

"Was that even necessary?" Rainbow asked.

"Uh, girls, a little help,” Pinkie requested sheepishly.

The others looked to see party mate wedged under the root with an embarrassed smile on her face. Rainbow face-hooved and grabbed Pinkie’s front hooves. The pegasus pulled with all her might.

“Hrrgh!” she grunted. “I think you should go on a diet, Pinkie.”

“And waste away all those sweets?” Pinkie asked in surprise. “No way, José!”

Finally, with one valiant pull, the pink mare popped out and flopped onto the grass.

"Thanks, Dashie,” she said.

"No problem, Pinkie,” the blue pegasus said.

They all hopped over rocks to avoid walking through a small stream. All the while Pooh started humming a tune.

"And here, I should say, is a good place for being Pooh,” he said as they arrived at the tree.

Pooh began to climb up the tree.

"Wait, we can't climb. What about us?" Twilight asked.

"Any reason that I think of is a good one for being Pooh,” the stuffed bear said, before finishing his tune.

"That doesn't answer my question at all," Twilight said in annoyance, flying up to Pooh.

Pooh chuckled.

"But the very best reason of all is..."

"Pooh Bear,” a voice called out.

Pooh turned to the voice in excitement.

"...being with my very best friend, Christopher Robin."

A young boy walked up the hill. He wore a bright, blue shirt and a darker blue pair of shorts.

"Oh, you're here to meet a friend,” Twilight connected the dots. "Why didn't you say so?"

As Christopher Robin walked up the hill, he saw most of the Mane 7 standing around the tree and Twilight hovering next to Pooh.

Oh, hello there. I don't think we've ever met,” the young boy greeted.

"Well, that's because we're pretty new 'round here," Applejack said. "We meet yer friend up their not even a few minutes ago."

"Omigosh, hello there. I'm Pinkie Pie and you are the most cutest thing ever!" She said, taking Christopher's hands and bouncing up and down excitedly.

Christopher Robin chuckled.

"You remind me of Tigger a little,” he said.

"Who?" Rainbow asked.

"Never mind. Who may you all be?" the young boy asked.

The Mane 7 gave their names again.

"I'm Twilight."

"I'm Rarity."

"Ah'm Applejack."

"I'm Rainbow Dash."

"I'm Pinkie Pie

"I'm Fluttershy."

"And I'm Spike."

"Well, it's nice to meet you all. I'm Christopher Robin,” he greeted.

"That's a nice name, sugarcube,” the farm pony said.

"Thank you,” Christopher said.

"You are just in time for the best part of the day,” Pooh said to his best friend.

"What part is that?" Christopher asked, letting go of Pinkie's hooves.

"The part when you and me..." Pooh started, as he slid off a branch.

Christopher Robin caught Pooh in his hands, but started to lose his balance.

"...become we," Pooh finished.

Christopher lost his footing and both boy and bear tumbled down the dirt slope of the hill.

"Oh, my goodness!" Fluttershy said in a panic.

The Mane 7 scrambled down the hill to check on Pooh and Christopher Robin.

"Are you two okay?" Twilight worriedly.

Pooh and Christopher both got up, pretty much unscathed.

"We're okay,” the young boy said. "Pooh, there's something I have to tell you."

"Is it something nice?" Pooh said, eyeing a passing butterfly.

"Not exactly,” Christopher said dejectedly.

"Oh, dear,” Rarity said with a concerned tone.

"Then it can wait," Pooh chased after the butterfly.

"Pooh, wait,” Twilight called out. “What if it's something important?"

"Like I said, it can wait,” Pooh continued chasing after the butterfly.

"It can? For how long?" Christopher asked.

"For ever and ever," Pooh said, running further into the woods.

Christopher did a double-take. The Mane 7 all looked at each other.

And so they stayed together, doing all the things a boy, a bear, ponies, and a dragon could do. And when the day began to end, Christopher Robin had quite forgotten he still had something to tell Pooh.

"Remind me to never take honey from bees without asking," Spike said to himself.

"That was the most fun in forever!" Pinkie squealed happily.

"And tiring, too,” Twilight said.

"Pooh Bear, there's one thing we didn't do today," Christopher said.

"And what thing might that be?" Pooh asked.

"Oh...nothing,” the young boy said.

"Nothing?" Pooh and the Mane 7 all questioned.

"Christopher Robin, what exactly is "doing nothing?" the bear asked further.

"I would think just not doing anything,” Twilight assumed. “Like taking the day off."

"After everything we did today, I welcome that," Rainbow said, stretching her wings.

Christopher carefully lifted Pooh onto a low-hanging branch.

"Well, I'm told it means going along, listening to all of the things you can't hear, and not bothering," He explained. "It's when people say "What are you two doing?" And we say "Oh, nothing." And we do it. This is sort of a nothing thing we're doing right now. I wish it could last forever."

"Uh, how are we supposed to get up there?" Rarity asked.

"We got you covered," Rainbow said.

And so, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Twilight all lifted their friends onto nearby, low branches.

"Heh, ah remember tryin to climb trees at the orchard back when ah just a lil filly,” Applejack said.

"Well, then we must do it again tomorrow," Pooh said to Christopher. "And the tomorrow after. And the tomorrow following that."

“Let’s not be too enthusiastic,” Rarity said “I don’t I’d be able to handle it.”

Christopher Robin gave off a sad frown.

"Pooh Bear,...what if...some day...there came a tomorrow when we are apart?" the young boy asked.

"As long as we're apart together we shall certainly be fine,” Pooh said, watching a pair of fireflies flying around.

"Do you not know what being apart means?" Twilight asked.

Being a bear of very little brain, Pooh didn't exactly have the most reassuring answer.

"As long as we're together, then it can only mean good things,” Pooh said happily, chasing after the fireflies.

"Yes, yes, of course," Christopher said with a half-hearted chuckle. "But if we weren't together? If I were somewhere else?"

"But you really couldn't be, as I would be quite lost without you,” the stuffed bear chuckled.

He caught the two fireflies, but they began to lift Pooh off of the branch.

"Who would I call...on those days when I'm just not strong enough, or brave enough?"

The fireflies slipped from the bear’s grasp and he flopped back onto the branch.

"Seems like he's quite dependent on you," Fluttershy said.

Christopher nodded.

"Well, actually..."

"And who would I ask for advice when I didn't know which way to turn?" he asked, chasing after the fireflies again.

Christopher climbed to a higher branch. The Mane 7 all clambered up too, though not as easily.

"Pooh, we..." the young boy tried to say.

"We...We simply wouldn't be,” Pooh said, as he climbed higher and higher to catch the fireflies.

He yawned as dusk turned to night and the stars began to appear in the sky.

"Oh, Pooh,” Christopher said softly.

"It also sounds like he has some insecurities,” Spike said.

The young dragon yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Wow, I'm more exhausted then I realized," he said.

The Mane 7 all felt pretty tired from the day they had with Pooh and Christopher, but they didn't have someplace to rest. It was a different world after all.

"Um, I really hate to interrupt this heart-warming moment, but it's getting pretty dark and we don't have a place to stay," Twilight called up to the boy and bear.

"You don't have a home?" Christopher asked.

The Mane 7 all shook their heads.

"Not here we don't,” Rainbow said, with a frown.

"Not to worry,” Pooh yawned. “You can stay at my home if you like."

"Wait, really?" Spike asked.

"Yep, it's a house built into a tree. You can't miss it," Pooh pointed west into the woods.

"Wow, thanks, Pooh,” Twilight thanked warmly. "Alright, everypony, let's head over there and get some well-earned rest."

"I couldn't agree more,” Rarity said.

The others agreed. The winged ponies helped their friends down to the ground and they all headed into the woods for Pooh's home. With the Mane 7 gone for the night, that just left Pooh and Christopher Robin.

"Pooh, If ever there's a tomorrow when we're not together, there's something you must remember,” the young boy said.

Pooh Bear let out a long yawn.

"And what might that be, Christopher Robin?" he asked, tiredly.

"You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think," Christopher said.

Pooh was too exhausted to catch all of what Christopher Robin had just said.

"Oh, that's easy,” Pooh chuckled, clearing his throat. "We are braver than a bee, and, uh, longer than a tree, and taller than a goose. Or was that a moose?"

Christopher Robin chuckled in amusement.

"No, silly old bear,” he grabbed Pooh's hands. "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem...and smarter than you think."

Pooh leaned against the tree trunk, beginning to doze off.

"But the most important thing is..." Christopher held out his finger to let the fireflies land on it. "Even if we're apart...I'll always be with you."

He placed the fireflies in Pooh's hands and closed them.

"I'll always be with you,” Christopher repeated. "Always be with you."

Pooh gave one more hummed, before completely succumbing to sleep. And so concluded their day together. Christopher Robin would eventually take Pooh back into his home. The Mane 7 were all already asleep as he laid Pooh down on his bed, putting him under the covers. As he left, Christopher looked back at his best friend and his new friends.

"I'll always be with you,” he whispered one last time, before leaving.

To be continued