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

The golden rays of the rising sun bled throughout the changing landscape. Birds began chirping their morning songs. The leaves of the trees began to abandon their lush green color and changing to red, gold, orange, and brown. They began to break from the branches and dance through the air from the light, seasonal winds. The hundred acre woods was now littered with piles of fallen leaves.

Several of them flew through the open window of Pooh's home. Pooh and the Mane 7 were still slumbering under the brisk, autumn air. Pooh slept soundly, muttering what Christopher Robin told him last night. Or, something close it.

"* snore * Braver than our beans. * snore * Longer when we gleam. * snore * Hum dee duh de dum,” he muttered while the leaves floated ever so closer to him. “* snore * Hm dee duh-duh dee.”

Pooh smacked his lips as the leaves finally landed on his nose. He chuckled.

"Hello, Christopher Robin,” Pooh said, still half-asleep. “I can't seem to remember the...To remember the, uh,…”

The bright sunlight finally got him to open his eyes. Pooh quickly sat up and let the leaves fall in his hands.

"It's autumn?" he said, a smile forming on his face.

The excited bear leaped out of bed, which startled the ponies and dragon awake.

"Hey, what's going on?" Rainbow rubbed her eyes.

"Pooh, what's happened?" Twilight asked, still waking up.

Pooh was too distracted to answer. He looked out through the window and saw all the colorful trees with leaves covering the cooling ground.

"It is. It's the first day of autumn!” Pooh exclaimed excitedly.

"Wait, that’s why you're up so early?" Spike asked.

The Mane 7 all peered out through the window.

"We'll, it is beautiful out there," Applejack admitted.

"Yeah, whatever. I'm going back to sleep," Rainbow lazily trotted back to her sleeping space, where it was nice and warm just of her.

Pooh wooshed right past the cyan pegasus.

"A time of hot-chocolaty mornings and toasty marshmallow evenings,” he ran into a closet and replaced his pajamas for his red shirt.

Pooh then ran for the door.

"And best of all...leaping into leaves." He cheered, opening the door and jumping for a pile of reds and oranges.

The fall was suddenly halted when Pooh landed on something hard. he stood up in confusion and looked down. He saw a bright, blue honey pot underneath him. He slipped from the top and bonked his head against the ground.

"Oh, someone's left a honey pot,” he chuckled. "All alone and lonely. With no one to care for it."

The Mane 7 walked outside to see what the commotion was about. Fluttershy took in a deep breath of the crisp, autumn air and sighed in comfort.

"Has that been their the entire night?" Rarity asked, pointing to the honey pot.

"Ooooh, somepony left a gift,” Pinkie hopped in place.

"But, who?" Twilight asked.

Pooh sat down and thought.

"I suppose...” he hopped over to the jar and opened the lid. "I should take it."

Pooh dipped his hand into the pot. Golden honey oozed from the top and dripped all over an unnoticed note attached to the jar.

"Ew. Have you tried using spoon instead?" Rarity grimaced.

"Yeah, that seems a bit unsanitary," Twilight added.

"Hey, save some for us,” Pinkie squealed.

Before he could stuff his face with honey, Pooh stop, a thought overtaking him.

"Although it might belong to someone,” the bear said. “Though, just as easily not.”

"What are you talking about? It was at your front door,” Rainbow deadpanned. “It's clearly for you."

"Hmmm. Think, think. Think." Pooh poked his head with his honey-covered hand.

"Eugh! dude, that is so gross,” the blue pegasus scowled.

"It's getting everywhere,” Spike said as the honey dripped onto his feet.

"I believe when a question becomes this sticky, I should ask my good friend, Christopher Robin," Pooh grabbed the honey-covered jar and headed off in the direction of the giant tree from yesterday.

"Pooh, I can for, almost complete, certainty that that's a gift for you," Twilight called out.

"Honestly, does he have no common sense?" Rainbow wondered out loud.

“Don’t be so harsh on ‘im,” Applejack said sharply.

"Let's follow him,” Fluttershy said.

The Mane 7 all walked after the bear. When they finally reached the tree, Pooh was already calling out for Christopher Robin.

"Christopher Robin,” he called. "Are you here?"

Pooh walked around the tree, trying to see the young boy in the distance.

"He must not be here, Pooh," Twilight said.

Pooh Bear kept looking around.

"Are you there?" Are you...anywhere?" He said.

"Maybe he's back at his house," Spike supposed.

Pooh look down in sorrow..

"Don't worry, Pooh,” the alicorn comforted. “I'm sure he's around here somewhere."

"Maybe the others might know,” Pooh said.

“Others?” Twilight said in confusion.

"What do ya mean by "others"?" Applejack asked.

"Piglet!" Pooh knocked on a door of a another house built into a tree.

"You mean to tell me that there are others living here?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah,” Pooh answered sincerely.

"Why didn't you tell us about them?” There's more friends to make." Pinkie yelled playfully.

"Piglet! Christopher Robin is gone,” Pooh exclaimed.

As he was finished relaying the news, two acorns bonked the stuffed bear in the head.

"Christopher...* bonk *...Chri...* bonk *" Pooh looked at the others as more acorns fell.

Some of the acorns struck the Mane 7.

“Ack!” Spike winced as the seeds pelted his head.

“Owch! It’s like this tree has some kinda of vendetta,” Rarity raised a hoof over her head.

"Ow! Who keeps throwing those?" Rainbow rubbed her head.

Pooh stepped back and looked up. At the top of the tree, was a little, pink piglet.

"Why, Piglet, whatever are you doing...up there?” the bear asked playfully.

The Mane 7 all gasped as the little creature slowly crawled up the thinning branches.

“What’n tarnation,” Applejack said in surprise.

"I'm doing just what Christopher Robin said I should do,” Piglet replied. "I'm going to look my fear of heights right in the face and conquer it."

Suddenly, the branch Piglet held onto snapped. Now Piglet swayed helplessly with branch barely holding his weight. He stared downward.

"That is, if it doesn't conquer me first," Piglet's ears flattened as he now realized how high he was from the ground.

He covered his eyes with his hands in fear.

"Christopher Robin!" the little pig yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Oh, no!" Fluttershy cried out.

"Are you looking for him, too?" Pooh asked.

"Gee, Pooh. What do you think?" Rainbow asked sarcastically. “I mean, it’s not like he’s hanging off a loose branch hundreds a feet off the ground!”

Just then, an orange creature with black stripes tackled Pooh Bear to the ground.

"What’n tarnation, again?" Applejack said in surprise.

"Hiya, Pooh!" the creature chuckled hyperactively. "What's up?"

"Hello, Tigger,” Pooh greeted.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Rainbow asked angrily, getting in Tigger's face.

"Oh, Pooh. Whose your friend?" Tigger asked.

"Oh, that's...uh...Rainbow...Bash?" Pooh guessed.

The rainbow-maned pegasus face-hooved.

"It's Rainbow Dash! It's not that hard to remember,” she said irritated.

"And we're her friends," Twilight said.

The other ponies and dragon shared their names once again.

"Why, hello, you all. Name's Tigger. T-I-double guh-rrr. That spells Tigger,” the spring-tailed tiger said, shaking Twilight's hoof.

"That's not how it's spelled. Or pronounced,” Twilight pointed out matter-of-factly.

Tigger laughed.

"Oh, I would sure know how to spell my own name,” he said cheekily.

Twilight sighed in annoyance.

"Was it really necessary to tackle Pooh like that?" Rarity asked. "That was just uncalled for."

"Wait, then what exactly are you? What do you do?" Fluttershy added.

Tigger chuckled.

“Oh. That’s actually kinda cute.” Fluttershy whispered softly.

“Well, I have to admit. I like his enthusiasm,” Rainbow sighed.

"So, what brings you all here?" Tigger asked.

Several more acorns fell on top of the group.

"Piglet...is up,” Pooh pointed upward.

Tigger looked up to see Piglet hanging for dear life as the branch continued to break.

"Help!" Piglet yelled desperately.

"Oh, relax, Piglet, old pal, there’s no difference between plunging 10,000 feet to the jagged rocks below and...tumblin' out of bed,” Tigger lifted Pooh back onto his feet.

"...What?" Twilight's brain blue-screened at that ridiculous logic.

Piglet slowly opened his eyes.

"Oh. Really?" he asked, sounding more relieved and happy.

"Why, sure!" Tigger laughed like a maniac, but then paused. "Except for the splat at the end they're practically similar."

That statement killed all of Piglet's hopes. He covered his eyes again and panicked.

"Christopher Robin!" Piglet cried.

"Tigger!" Twilight said angrily.

"What is wrong with you?" Fluttershy said, who was just as miffed.

Tigger rubbed his chin in thought.

"Hmm. Clutched in the throes of terror, eh?" he told himself. "Well, I guess I just better bounce up there get him down."

"How are you going to get him down?" Spike asked incredulously.

"Stand back, this is gonna take a world's record bounce,” Tigger announced.

He bounced on his tail and sprang up to Piglet. The Mane 7 watched in surprise as the energetic, stuffed tiger rocketed up into the air at tremendous speed.

"Woah," Spike said dumbfounded.

“I didn’t know he could do that,” Twilight said.

Tigger grabbed for Piglet, but he couldn't get close enough. He fell down and sprang right back up. Acorns rained down on Pooh and the Mane 7.

"Hey, watch it!" Rarity growled.

Tigger missed again and again, his hands just inches from grasping Piglet. As he came down for a third bounce, he looked angrily at his tail.

"What's the matter with wrong?" he asked, grabbing his tail. "Being a second-rate bouncer is not what tiggers like best."

Tigger sprang up once again with acorns raining down.

"This is so dumb.” Rainbow rubbed her muzzle in frustration. “That’s it, I'm going to get Piglet myself."

The Element of Loyalty opened her wings and took off into the air. She flew up, nearing Tigger, who was also nearing the pig in peril. However, before Rainbow or Tigger could reach Piglet, the branch he held onto broke off. Piglet dropped and collided with Tigger as he ascended. The stuffed tiger and piglet’s momentum was canceled and the two dropped.

“What the…” before Rainbow could get out of the way, she collided with Tigger and Piglet.

The trio plummeted down and slammed to the ground with a mighty thud.

"Oh, my goodness! Are you three okay?" Rarity asked worriedly.

“Rainbow, speak to me!” Fluttershy exclaimed, her face just inches from Rainbow’s

“Somepony get the license number on that cart.” the jostled mare said drunkenly.

Their problems didn't end there. The entire premises of Piglet's house began to shake from Tigger's crash landing.

"Huh? what's going on?" Rainbow asked, slowly shaking the dizziness away.

A downpour of acorns fell from Piglet's tree and soon the ground was flooded with them. The tidal wave of acorns began to push Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and the Mane 7 with it.

“Oh, boy,” Spike said with dread.

“I swear, I’ve had a nightmare of this once,” Rarity squealed in fear.

"Everypony hold on!” Twilight cried out.

Meanwhile, far up ahead was a field of harvested vegetables. The owner of the farmland was struggling to pull a carrot out of the ground. Rabbit heaved and pulled with everything he had, but the carrot would not budge. He pulled one last time, but the root vegetable pulled back and flung him into a wheelbarrow.

"It doesn't matter if you think you're not ripe,” Rabbit said angrily. "This is Rabbit's garden, and Rabbit does things by the book."

He shoved the "Bunny's Farm Company" book in-front of the carrot. He opened it to prove his point.

"As it clearly says in the official almanac, "Today is...*ahem* the first day of fall following the last day of summer,” a scowled form on the Rabbit’s face. “Harvest day. Any questions?"

"Hellooooo!” a voice rang out.

Rabbit sighed.

"Oh, yes, the rutabaga in the back row, "Hello" what?" he asked impatiently.

Then he heard and felt a rumbling sensation. It was getting closer to him. His eyes widened and looked over.

“Incomin’!” Applejack called to the vegetable farmer.

Rabbit screamed as the acorn tsunami scooped him up.

"Hello, Rabbit,” Pooh greeted.

"Hi, new friend,” Pinkie greeted as well. "Weeee! This is fun."

"No! It’s not!" Rarity cried out.

Meanwhile, again, a depressed-looking donkey just finished building his house. A tent-like structure with sticks leaning against each other. His name was Eeyore and this was his home. Eeyore stared at it glumly.

"Not much of a house,” he said flatly. "Just right for not much of a donkey."

Eeyore lowered his head gloomily. Then, he heard rumbling and panicked gibberish. He looked at see the wave of acorns along with his friends and some people he had never seen before heading toward him.

"Look out!" Twilight cried out.

The acorns swept Eeyore and his house up with the others. The acorn wave it didn't last long after that. The wave finally dissipated and the gang clattered to a halt. The sticks from Eeyore's house now held him up helter-skelter.

"Easy come,...easy go,” he groaned before the sticks broke apart.

He flopped to the ground in a pile of his own home.

"Woohoo! Let's do that again!" Pinkie bounced around excitedly.

"Let's…not,” Rainbow said cracking her back.

"Is everypony okay?" Twilight asked with concern.

The others nodded weakly.

“Ptoo!” Applejack spat an acorn out of her mouth. “And ah thought wranglin’ the cattle was unpleasant.”

"I hate acorns,” Rarity slowly got up off the ground.

"Excuse me, Rabbit…”Pooh began.

From the tidal wave of acorns, Rabbit ended on a pull of acorns. Every time he tried to get back up, he’d slip and fall back down hard.

“…but would you happen to have a...* thud * a, um,...* thud * Christopher Robin about you?"

"No! I haven't seen him,” Rabbit tried to maintain balance.

* thud * Acorns flew everywhere.

"Bother.* thud * " Pooh said dejectedly. "He isn't where he should be."

* thud *

"And wasn't where we were."

* thud *

"And seems not to be anywhere..."

* thud *

"...where he can tell me..."

* thud *

"...whose honey this is."

* thud *

"Well, it isn't mine." Rabbit finally managed to get back up, no longer standing on any acorns. "And I don't have time. It's harvest day! Says so in the book!"

"All right, sugarcube, settle down,” Applejack said calmly.

"No! No, I won't settle down!” Rabbit yelled furiously. “I have carrots to cut, pumpkins to pick, peas to pluck!"

He kicked acorn piles around in frustration, but he couldn't continue his tantrum as Tigger tackled the stuffed bunny to the ground with the jar of honey in hand. Pooh looked at his empty hands, realizing that Tigger now held the pot..

"Well, of course it's mine. It's got my name scribbled all over it. Tigger stuck his hand inside the honey pot. “T-I double g..."

He stuffed his now honey-covered hand in his mouth. Until the actual taste of the honey assaulted his mouth.

"Honey?! Yuck! P-tooie! Blech!" Tigger spat the honey out in disgust.

The Mane 7 looked on with varying emotions expressed on their faces

"Oh, good grief,” Rainbow groaned.

"How do they put up with him?" Spike asked.

“He’s brash, he’s reckless, he has no sense of respect,” Rarity huffed.

"Tiggers do not like honey," the striped animal said indignantly, hopping off of Rabbit.

Rabbit pulled the honey-covered note off of him.

"It isn't mine,” Eeyore muttered sadly. “Then again, few things are."

"Oooohhh. Why the long face, new friend," Pinkie hopped over to Eeyore. "Why not turn that frown upside down."

Pinkie took the ends of Eeyore's mouth and lifted them up, creating a smile. The pink mare giggled.

"Doesn't that feel better?" She asked.

"No,” the depressed donkey replied flatly. “Now please let go of my face."

Pinkie smiled and giggled.

"Just stick with me, Grouchy, and I'll make you happier than you can ever dream of,” Pinkie pulled the donkey in for a side-hug.

She pulled out a cupcake from…seemingly nowhere.

“Cupcake?” She hovered it in front of Eeyore’s face.

Eeyore just gave her an annoyed scowled.

"Uh, Pinkie, is it? Eeyore isn't much of a happy fellow,” Piglet said.

"Well, that's gonna change soon,” the pink, party pony said happily.

Eeyore rolled his eyes.

Rabbit wiped and scraped the honey off his fur and whipped it away as best he could.

"Oh, here!" he shoved the honey pot in Pooh's hands.

"If only I could find Christopher Robin. He could tell me whose it is,” Pooh said.

"Why do you need Christopher Robin for this?" Rarity said, staying clear of the spilled honey. "I'm sure you can figure this out yourself."

"Why don't you check the note and find out?" Rabbit angrily shoved the note in Pooh's face.

The note stuck to his hands, thanks to the honey. It slapped back to Rabbit's face, forcing him to shove back at Pooh. The gold-furred bear grabbed the note off his face.

"There was a note on the jar this whole time?" Rainbow asked.

"A note! Why, Rabbit, how clever of you,” Pooh chuckled "I'll just read it."

His smile turned to a frown.

"Or would... if I could,” Pooh said.

He looked over to Rabbit.

"Perhaps you can, Rabbit?" Pooh asked with a smile.

Rabbit gave him a grumpy look. He harrumphed and grabbed the note from Pooh.

"Hmph. I could read this with my eyes closed." Rabbit boasted and laughed.

Twilight looked over to Applejack with a confused look. Applejack shrugged.

“Well, what does it say?” Rarity asked expectantly.

"It says...” Rabbit cleared his throat and began to read. “ehway ehno umba woohu gleghe seelia wooya. Googoo uoomgum berbum uh eelia culia..."

Rabbit stopped and peered over the note with an embarrassed look. The others had looks of confusion and incredulousness. Except for Spike, who struggled to hold in his laughter.

"Maybe if you did close your eyes you could've read it better,” Rainbow joked, earning a round of chuckles and giggles from the other ponies.

Spike, at this point, busted out into laughter. Rainbow couldn’t contain herself either, and she and Spike fell against each other in a pile of laughter.

"Well, I could have read it if Tigger hadn't bounced me so,” Rabbit huffed.

"Let me see it,” Twilight sighed.

She grabbed the note with her magic.

“By the way, I didn’t catch your name. Or any of your friends’ at that,” Rabbit said.

“Oh, right. My name is Twilight Sparkle. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh, brother,” Rainbow sighed, her laughter-fest cut short.

The rest of the Mane 7 shared their names again.

“Seriously, we’ve said are names dozens of times. Surely you remember at this point,” the irritated pegasus said, flying up to Pooh Bear.

“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity said defensively. “There is nothing wrong with sharing our names if they didn’t remember the first time. It’s the polite thing to do.”

“Okay, okay, jeez. I’m sorry,” Rainbow sighed, this time in a more apologetic manner.

“Eh, right. Rabbit’s the name,” the farmer introduced himself. “I’m sure you’ve met Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger already.”

“Eeyep,” Applejack answered.

“And that’s Eeyore,” Piglet pointed to the donkey.

“Hello,” he muttered.

“Doesn’t seem very happy to see us,” Fluttershy said.

“Oh, he’s like that all the time,” Rabbit said.

Twilight tried to see what the note said, but with all the honey coating the paper, it proved to be impossible.

"I can’t tell what it says,” she squinted her eyes. “All the honey is making the words wonky and distorted. I can’t discern it."

"What do we do now?" Fluttershy asked softly.

"Well, there's someone who might be able to help," Rabbit said.

"Really? Who?" Applejack asked.

"Follow me everyone,” Rabbit said.

The others followed after him.

"So, once we translate the note, we'll find out who the honey belongs to." Spike said.

"I feel like that’s not what the note is all about,” Twilight said exasperated. “I don’t mean to sound upset with you, Spike, but why else would it be at his doorstep.”

"Calm down, Twi. They’ll all figure it out," Applejack comforted. "And then we can figure out where Christopher Robin is."

Twilight drew in a deep breath.

"You're right, Applejack. Hopefully this clears up soon,” the friendship princess sighed.

"It will, Twilight. Ah guarantee it,” the farm pony said.

Unfortunately for the Mane 7, things were going to get much more complicated. And much darker.

To be continued