Something unexpected
The morning-sun shone through the window, filling the living room with warm bright sunlight. A pink coated pony with curly mane jumped, danced and dashed around the house in excitement, while a toothless baby alligator was sleeping in a wicker basked beneath the window. He had his tiny greenish body wrapped in a pink colored blanket. The alligator's name was Gummy.
He drowsily opened one of his big purple eyes to see what his owner, the pink-coated pony called Pinkie Pie, was doing, then yawned and closed his eye again to continue sleeping. He didn't mind the Pony, which was jumping and running around the house like crazy, nor the sounds she made while doing so. Gummy got used to it rather quickly when he was younger, because this particular pony always has had this hyperactive wound-up behavior. However today she was even more excited than usual and the tiny reptile knew why. It was because of the "Grand Galloping Gala", she was invited to today. The Grand Galloping Gala was the major event each year. A ball party only high-class ponies and very important ponies are invited to. Some ponies even call it the "best party ever".
Gummy has never been there nor would he wish to go there someday, but he heard lots of stories about it. His owner kept telling him all about her experience at the Gala last year. Her friend got two free tickets and couldn't decide which friend to bring along. Of course his Mistress had always dreamed to be at the best party ever, so Pinkie Pie begged for the second ticket and did some weird things to convince her friend to give the last ticket to her. In the end every one of her friends got a ticket on her own and they went to the Gala together. Gummy clearly remembered the joy and excitement his beloved owner felt back then - just as excited as she was today.
"Isn't this exciting Gummy? Are you excited, cause I'm excited I've never been so excited, well, except last year.. I think I was almost as excited, than I am today!" the pink pony happily yelled while turning to Gummy.
He opened an eye again and blinked at her, but she already had turned away not expecting an answer, giggling and dancing while holding a golden ticket in her hooves. Closing his eye again he turned around in his basket, wrapping his pink blanket around him tighter.
Gummy wasn't interested in the Gala at all, but he felt happy for his mistress. He always loved to see her smile and liked her cheerful character. She always has been a good mistress, who treated him with respect and kindness. Gummy liked living with her, because it has been a peaceful life, packed with fun, parties and songs. Pinkie was the first thing he could remember and it felt like the two of them has always been together. He couldn't imagine what life would be without her, nor would he want to think about it. He didn't know much about his mother or family, only that they seemed to live in the Everfree Forest. Pinkie once told him, that they now live in a much better place than Equestria, but this is rather strange, because he had never heard about another place than Equestria.
The green gator knew that Pinkie was waiting for this day to come. Ever since the gray post pony had handed over the invitation to her, she kept talking about it all day long. She told him about last year, when the party was a yawn, but this time the Princess herself has asked Pinkie Pie for ideas to spice it up a bit. His mistress was well known in all of Equestria for throwing the best parties. It seems like even the royalty in Canterlot has heard about it, since Pinkie and Princess Celestia met up in Ponyville town hall one day to discuss possible changes to the Gala to make it different from last year.
"This time it WILL be the best night ever, Gummy!" he heard his owner talking to him from another room.
"I just know it! My Pinkie Sense tells me that something unexpected is going to happen today!" she told him, while she came back into the living room. She stopped in front of his basket and said:
"Look Gummy, my ears are flapping again."
He turned to her and opened his eyes. Her ears were indeed flapping, thanks to her Pinkie Sense. His owner always had that special ability to predict the future, because of special erratic body movement, which combinations imply different things that might happen in the future. Flapping ears means that something unexpected is going to happen sooner or later, which can be either good or bad. Nopony ever found out why this happens, or how Pinkie's body is doing it, but everyone seems to be OK with it. Some even kind of rely on it like her friend Applejack, who sometimes asks Pinkie if it is a good day to harvest her apples.
He looked out of the window at the sun. It was still early morning and the sun was still in the east, which was way too early for Gummy's taste. He enjoyed sleeping long into the day. Some might say, he was lazy or a slugabed, but Gummy however thought that he only likes to sleep long and nopony ever complained about that so far. He yawned, while watching his Mistress packing her stuff for the trip into a travel bag. She told him that she would be away for at least three days over the weekend. Once again she danced in the room spinning and jumping, holding her ticket in her hooves.
"Gummy.." she suddenly lifted him in the air and gently hugged him by pressing him on her chest. He could feel her heartbeat while she embraced him.
"I will be away for the weekend, but I told you everything about it before. There is enough food in your bowl for at least four days. Don't eat up everything at once, will you? You know what happened last time... " She giggled at him.
"Mr. and Ms. Cake will come and look after you every now and then, until my return. Oh Gummy, I will miss you. Be a good Gator, OK?"
She petted his head and Gummy closed his eyes and opened his toothless mouth, enjoying her cuddling him. She put him back into his basket, looked a few seconds into his face and finally said:
"Take care Gummy!" Then she ran to her bag, gripped her hanger with her dress, which has been custom made by her friend Rarity and dashed out of the house.
With her exiting the house it suddenly got very quiet. Something was missing and Gummy instantly felt lonely. He told himself, that she will be back soon and he doesn't need to worry about her, so he just laid back into his basket, wrapping his blanket around his body and tried to get some more sleep.
After a while a bright light suddenly touched his closed eyes. He drowsily opened one of them and blinked against the shimmering that had awoken him. It was just a golden piece of paper lying on the floor that had reflected the light of the sun from out of the window. He turned his head away, so the reflection could not blind him anymore and was about to drop off again.
"Wait, a golden piece of paper?!?" He abruptly opened his eyes. Oh no, Pinkie dropped her invitation ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala! Without it she wouldn't be allowed to enter the party she had planned herself. She will be very disappointed when she can't enter it with her friends. Gummy imagined a picture in his mind, seeing a pink pony sitting and crying in front of the entrance, begging the doorman for admittance, but the Guard-pony keeps denying access to her.
Gummy never liked it when his owner was upset. He wants her to be always happy and cheerful. He really hated it when she cried and always felt sorry for her.
Worried he remembered the last time she was really upset. It has been at her birthday last year. She invited her friends to a party at her home, but all of them had delivered an excuse, why they couldn't come to her party. Her friends have planned a surprise-party in Applejack's barn for Pinkie and of course Pinkie shouldn't know about it. It was a surprise after all. Gummy knew about it, because Winona, Applejack's Dog and a close friend of him, told him all about it.
She also told him, that he should act like usual, so Pinkie wouldn't become suspicious. His own birthday was the day before and it has been a very nice party, so he wanted his owner to have a nice birthday, too. So he tried his very best to appear as innocent and unaware as possible to not spoil the surprise for her.
However Pinkie smelt the rat somehow and together with him they sneaked after her friends to find out what they were doing all day long. He tried his best to distract her, but it didn't help much. He knew how determined Pinkie could be, when she is up to something. Things got worse when Spike the Dragon told Pinkie that her friends don't like her and they don't want to be friends with her anymore. Gummy assumed that he used this lie to distract Pinkie from finding out about the party, however he quite disagreed with the method the Dragon used, but he didn't say anything so the preparations of Pinkie's pony friends wouldn't be in vain. Maybe Spike didn't know what impact his words had on Pinkie, because right after she lost her balance and got very upset. Gummy has never seen his mistress that distressed before.
Back at their home, she celebrated her party like she had planned, but instead of her friends her party guests were a bag of flour, a pile of rocks and a bucket filled with turnips. She talked to a piece of lint that happened to lie on a chair next to her, too. She even moved them and acted like they were real persons. During her conversation with her kitchenware, the pile of rocks said some mean things about her friends and the flour-bag agreed. Gummy was worried about the direction this conversation was going. He was torn between his feelings and what he should do, because he didn't want to see Pinkie suffer even more. Should he tell her about the surprise to cheer her up? But he promised Winona to not spoil the surprise and everypony knows breaking a promise is the best way to lose a friend. Forever!
He didn't want to lose his mistress’s friendship nor Winona's, but it really broke his tiny heart to see her suffer like that.
He still argued with himself, when Rainbow Dash, another friend of Pinkie Pie, dropped by and tried to get her to follow her. He was very relieved, because he knew that Rainbow Dash came to pick her up and bring her to Applejack's barn, where her Surprise-Party was located. But he was shocked hearing that his owner rather wants to party with her decorations than with her real friends. Together with Rainbow Dash, Gummy tried to convince his Mistress to follow the pegasus pony but in the end they had to drag her to Applejack's barn. Well at least Rainbow Dash tried to help, but of course Gummy did most of the work back then.
Somehow Pinkie thought, that her friends celebrated a farewell party and yelled and raged at them, but they managed to convince her, that it is her own birthday party. In the end, it has been a great day after all and everyone was smiling again. While lying in his basket that night, Gummy swore to himself, that he never wants to see his owner sad again.
He quickly jumped out of his basket, dashed to the golden ticket on the ground, as fast as his tiny feet moved him and picked it up with his mouth. Maybe it is not too late; maybe he can find Pinkie before her departure and hand over the dropped ticket.
He tried to remember what Pinkie said about her schedule for this day. She told him a lot of stuff lately, so he needed a while to remember what she wanted to do after she leaves her home.
"Applejack!" he thought by himself. "Of course!"
Pinkie told him, that Applejack has been always late, because she always has a problem leaving her work behind unfinished. And as everypony knows, on Sweet Apple Acres there is always work to do. Another reason was, that she always needed a lot of time to say goodbye to her family. That's the reason why the two ponies arranged, that Pinkie should come over to pick up Applejack and speed things up a bit.
With the ticket in his mouth, he pushed against the door and it opened ajar. Gummy slipped though the gap before the door closed again. A harder challenge was the stairs down to the main floor, but as the agile gator he was, he managed to reach the ground floor without any problems. Downstairs was the shop of the Cake Family - a bakery.
The Cake Family accommodated Pinkie after she had moved to Ponyville, when she was a filly. Her family owned a rock farm, but she always felt the urge to bring happiness and laughter to the world and stones and pillars wouldn't do the job very well. The Cakes let a small apartment on the second floor of their bakery to Pinkie and ever since they treated the curly-mane pony as if she was their own daughter.
Reaching the floor, Gummy heard a voice humming a song next door. The smell of freshly baked cupcakes filled his nose as he walked though the store towards the front door.
"Now where did I put that icing again?" he heard Mr. Cake, mumbling to himself and starting to hum once more. The smell of his goods distracted Gummy, since he hasn't had breakfast just now, but he knew that he had to hurry to outrun Pinkie. His stomach growled, when he opened the front door and quickly slipped outside.
He looked around Ponyville Plaza and started to walk towards the west, since sweet Apple Acres was located in the west of Ponyville. Ponies whose coats and mane had many different colors, walked past him, but most of them didn't pay much attention to him. All of them knew him, because all of them knew his mistress. In fact Gummy never met a pony that didn't know Pinkie Pie.
After a long exhausting walk, he reached the wooden fences, which marked the edge of the Apple family property. Sweet Apple Acres was a wide hilly area covered with thousands of apple-trees. He saw the red painted house and the barn beside it, in the distance and so he ducked and crawled under the fence and trotted down the sandy street leading to the buildings.
When he reached the house, he saw a big red stallion, chewing on strew of hay, that was pushing a barrel filled with apples into the barn. Gummy knew that this was Applejack's older brother Big Macintosh. He was well known for his strength and his gentle paced mind. During mare-to-mare talks he overheard, that many females admired him from afar, however Big Mac himself was rather shy. Gummy liked that stallion, because both of them shared similar character traits. Right next to him he saw Winona, who lifted her nose sniffing in the air and then turned around spotting Gummy.
"Hi Gummy, what are you doing here? I knew I smelt the scent of cupcakes around here." she said smiling after she had quickly dashed over to Gummy. At first it seemed that Winona wanted to lick his face, because that's what she normally does when she greets a dear friend, however the dog instantly stopped the attempt, because she knew that Gummy doesn't like his face licked. Instead she cheerfully jumped around Gummy. The Apple’s dog was very happy to see her scaled friend, since he doesn't visit her that often on the farm.
She was a brown-coated border collie wearing a red collar with a golden nametag attached to it. He knew that she had a rather jumpy and cheerful behavior and he appreciated that, since it reminded him about his owner. Maybe that was the reason why he enjoyed Winona's friendship so much. She had a very agile thin body and sharp eyes. Gummy knew that she and Applejack had won many trophies and badges at Dog Agility Competitions, which made him quite proud of his friend.
"I thought you wanted to use your free house to chill and relax during the weekend?" she asked her green friend puzzled.
"Yeah I planned to do so but then I found this," he told her after he put down the golden ticket which he had carried in his mouth.
"What's this? I know Applejack has one of those, too," she told him while sniffing and inspecting the ticket.
"It's the entrance ticket for the Grand Galloping Gala and without it you are not allowed to enter the party." Gummy explained breathlessly. The walk from Sugar Cube Corner to Sweet Apple Acres has been very exhausting, so he just needed a moment to regain his breath.
"So you are going to the Gala, too? I though you don't like large events like this," she asked him lifting an eyebrow in surprise.
"No, this one is Pinkie Pie’s ticket. She accidentally dropped it, while she packed her bag for the trip. She then totally forgot it and left the house without it. Can you imagine how sad she will be, when she notices that she forgot to bring along her ticket?" Gummy told her excitedly.
"Oh I see, but why are you here? Pinkie and Applejack left the farm hours ago."
Gummy sighted disappointed. He feared that this would be the case. Poor Pinkie, he once again saw that picture of a crying Pinkie Pie in front of his eyes.
"But I got an idea that maybe saves the day" Winona suddenly yelled excited.
Gummy looked at her while she continued explaining her idea.
"We head over to the library and ask Owlowiscious to take the ticket and fly over to Canterlot and deliver it to Pinkie Pie," she explained grinning, while jumping in circles around Gummy.
"Winona you are a genius! That actually might work!" Gummy called relived.
"Wait what? Did you say "we"?" he asked her surprised.
"Well, yes of course! I will come along, too. I won't let a friend in need down," she replied winking at him.
"Quick, hold on to my fur, I will bring you there," she told him then put the golden ticket in her mouth.
Gummy snapped at her fur and she dashed away, towards the center of Ponyville. It was hard to hold on tight, when she jumped over the wooden fences he saw earlier, but somehow he managed to stick to her. Shortly after, both of them reached the library were Owlowiscious, Spike and Twilight Sparkle resided.
Twilight Sparkle... He remembered the day, when he first met the purple unicorn, like it was yesterday. His mistress has been out the whole day and Gummy didn't know what she was doing all day long. So he decided to do something he only does when he was alone and nopony sees him doing it. He took a bubble bath. Yes, he liked that. The warmth of the water, the colorful bubbles refracting the light. There is nothing more refreshing in Equestria than taking a bubble bath.
While he was sitting in the tube minding his own business, Pinkie returned together with that purple unicorn. He heard them enter the bathroom and quickly dived deeper into the tube, so they wouldn't see him. Under water he couldn't understand what the two of them were saying, but he was quite startled when Pinkie's friend suddenly joined him in his tube. He was so surprised that he almost forgot to hold on the breath. Thank Celestia nopony noticed the bubbles his breath produced. Being a reptile certainly helped, too.
He watched her washing her smooth purple skin, he saw her rub her soapy body, saw her wet beautiful indigo colored mane hanging down her head. He knew that it was wrong to remain silent and keep on watching, but his whole body was paralyzed and a gummy smile sat upon his face. Gummy knew that he was in love at first sight. He was in love with Twilight Sparkle.
Way to soon Pinkie discovered him in the tube and pulled him out of his daydream... and the tube of course.
Twilight reacted like almost any pony would react when being observed in the tube by a complete stranger. Startled and embarrassed she jumped out of the tub staring and screaming at Gummy in terror. Gummy understood her reaction and he felt ashamed that their first encounter was in such an awkward way. She must think, that he is some kind of pervert. He also was mad at Pinkie Pie, because she had blown his cover and had put him in such an awkward situation. He bit her several times to express his anger, however he wasn't seriously going to hurt her. Of course he could have, if he just wanted to.
Even if he would have been brave enough to confess his affection to Twilight, after that day, he never found the courage to do so.
Ever since this messed up introduction, Gummy only admired Twilight Sparkle from afar, but near her presence he was too shy to even look at her. Around her, he just wasn't himself and sometimes he did some strange things, like chewing on a streamer, because he was so nervous being near her. Other Ponies must think that he is a retarded jerk or something.
"There we are!" Deep in thoughts a voice brought him back into the presence.
Winona has reached their destination and both of them now stood in front of the library their friend Owlowiscious and his crush Twilight called their home.
The library itself was built into an old giant oak with large branches and green leaves, growing from the sticks. It had several levels and many windows in its bark. Gummy saw a stargazer standing on a balcony, which was attached to the treetop. He never understood why the tree was still alive, considering it was hollowed out completely. Probably magic kept it alive, he figured.
He let go off Winona's fur and both of them now stood on the steps of the entrance. Winona used her pawns to knock on the red wooden door. After a moment they heard a "Who?!" from inside and by looking up, Gummy saw the face of an Owl with light brown feathering behind a window on the second level of the tree-library, looking down on them. The owl then flew out of another opened window and gracefully landed on top of a red library sign next to them, stating "Golden Oak Library”.
Owlowiscious was another friend of Gummy. A brown feathered Owl, which possessed a lot of wisdom and sometimes talked in an antiquated tone. He once helped Twilight and Spike escape a rampaging Dragon and became her assistant ever since. Secretly Gummy envied his friend, because he lived with his crush in the same house, but he would never trade his life with Pinkie for anything in Equestria, not even for Twilight Sparkle. Gummy never told Owlowiscious about his affection towards Twilight, but sometimes Owlowiscious showed a gleeful knowing smile when the three of them were together.
"Owlowiscious we need your help!" Gummy instantly started, after they had greeted each other. He quickly explained the reason of their visit and Winona's idea to the owl.
"Well yes, I could fly to Canterlot and deliver the ticket to Pinkie Pie, but there is a problem about that," the owl told them without motion.
Worry shadowed Gummy's face while his feathered friend told them his reasons:
"-You see Canterlot is quite gigantic. You cannot imagine how big that city actually is. It has a lot of buildings and those buildings have several levels on their own. So finding Pinkie Pie in that large city before the evening would be almost impossible. Besides I never have been there myself, so I probably get lost quite easily" the wise Owl explained.
Frustration covered Gummy's face and Winona looked at him pitying.
"-But maybe there is someone who can help us, however I assume you wouldn't like that idea," Owlowiscious slowly continued.
"Who?!" Gummy and Winona asked in unison.
"That's my line," the Owl said grinning. "Follow me, please." He jumped into the air, spread his wings and started to flutter into a different direction.
Once again Gummy held on tight Winona's fur and the agile dog followed their friend, who glided gracefully though the alleys.
"Her?!" Gummy called astonished, after the trio had reached the Carousel- Boutique. The Carousel-Boutique was a clothing store owned by Rarity, another friend of Pinkie Pie. The entire garment, which was offered there, has been hoof crafted by Rarity herself. Her fashion style and tailor’s trade were well known in Ponyville and even beyond its borders.
"You talked about Opalescence didn't you?" Winona asked the bird. The brown owl just nodded.
Opalescence was a slightly overweight female cat with a bushy tail wearing a purple collar covered with opals. On her head she wore a lavender colored ribbon, which had been woven, into her white shiny fur. Gummy knew that she had an arrogant and stuck-up character and she was well known for her bad temper. She always told everyone that she belongs to the first class of society, even though she never delivered a proof for her statement.
"How is she going to help us anyway?" Winona asked Owlowiscious curiously.
"Well she is the only one of us, who has been to Canterlot several times. Her owner Rarity visited the palace not long ago and she took Opal with her. I know that both of them explored the whole place, so most likely she knows where the Gala occurs," he lectured them.
"You know her, she is never going to help us," Gummy pointed out.
"There might be a way to convince her, but we need help. Wait here, please, I will be right back," Owlowiscious told them and then flew high into the air until Gummy lost track of him.
Several minutes later they heard a flapping sound and shortly after Gummy spotted Owlowiscious in the sky followed by a green Tortoise with a helicopter device attached to his shell. Both of them landed in front of the Carousel- boutique.
"Hello Tank, long time no see" Gummy greeted the turtle, after he had turned off his helicopter device, which allowed him to fly.
"Well.. yes.. me… and… Rainbow Dash.. were.. busy.. training.. a.. new.. trick.. to.. impress.. the.. Wonderbolts..," he replied in his slow paced turtle way.
"Tank we want you to convince Opal to help Gummy delivering the ticket to Pinkie Pie. Since you are her closest friend, we figured, that you might have the best chance to persuade her," the owl addressed the turtle.
Not too long ago, Tank has lived in the yard behind Fluttershy's shed, until Rainbow Dash decided to look for a pet for herself. Many animals wanted to win her heart to be Dashie's pet and it wasn't easy for her to decide, because of the sheer numbers of candidates. So she organized a contest and the winner was going to be her pet. Tank participated too, but for a long time it just didn't look that good for him, however during the final test, Tank rescued Dash from an avalanche, that had trapped her in Ghastly Gorge and so she chose Tank to be her pet. That moment she had chosen him, was the happiest day in his entire life. To keep up with her, a brown-coated stallion with an hourglass cutie mark invented the helicopter device, specially tailored for Tank. He and Dash happily lived together in her cloud-home above Ponyville ever since.
During the contest one test was to 'show guts'. The task was to snitch Opal's favorite toy-mouse without getting mutilated by her claws. Tank took the toy and hid within his shell, until Opal got tired trying to burst his armor. After the contest, he gave the toy-mouse back to Opalescence, who then was impressed by his guts and honesty. The both of them became friends and Tank often hung out at the Carousel- Boutique, visiting his friend. During those visits, he sometimes snitched her toy-mouse again, when Opal wasn't looking, just for old-times sake, much to her dislike.
No pony would assume that, but when you get to know the slow-paced tortoise a bit, he turns out to be a real wisecracker.
"Ok.. I'll.. try.. my.. best," Tank promised in his turtle style of speaking.
He slowly knocked at the door of the Carousel Boutique. Nothing happened. He pushed the door open and entered the building.
"Rarity is not home, so just leave me alone," a grumpy female voice called from the back of the house.
"Opal… It’s.. me.., Tank" Tank replied the call.
"Oh, Tank where have you been all this time. I haven't seen you in ages. Please come in," the voice said considerably less grumpy. Tank nodded towards the group of pets, who had waited outside the house.
"Wait, what do the others want here?" Opal asked Tank irritated, while approaching them.
"Gummy.. here.. is.. looking.. for.. a.. way.. to.. pass.. a.. ticket.. to.. the.. Grand.. Galloping.. Gala.. to.. Pinkie.. Pie.. who.. accidentally.. dropped.. her.. ticket.. at.. her.. departure... Since.. no one.. of.. us.. were.. in… Canterlot.. before.. we.. thought.. you.. may.. help.. us.. out..? Tank slowly finished his sentence.
"No," Opal just replied.
"But-" Gummy began, but instantly got interrupted by the stuck-up Cat.
"I said NO! I am going to make a long relaxing beauty-sleep, so please don't bother me no more."
"But Pinkie will be very sad, when she can't enter the Gala," Winona remarked.
"Do I look like I care? That's none of my business. I have a weekend off and I won't spend my precious free-time dealing with your problems," she yelled annoyed.
Gummy couldn't believe the words he just heard. How can any pony be so selfish and conceited? They asked her for help in times of emergency and she just refuses because of her 'beauty-sleep'?!
He was about to rage, but then Tank interrupted him saying:
"Who… is.. feeding.. and… looking.. after.. you.. while.. Rarity.. is.. gone?" the Tortoise gently asked the cat.
"Sweetie Belle," Opal slowly replied, shuddering.
"Do… you.. really.. want.. to.. spend.. the.. entire.. weekend.. with.. her..?" Tank asked her cannily.
"Urgh- She is so annoying!" the Cat burst out "She always wants to play with me, but I don't want to play. She always says something about getting a cat-sitting cutie mark or nonsense like this. I want to be left alone! And the food she serves me- horrible- disgusting! Canned food, can you imagine? She just opens a can and that's it. It tastes like garbage, outrageous!" Opal walked in circles gesturing wildly, while complaining about Rarity's little sister.
"I.. heard.. that.. they.. serve.. exceptional.. good.. food.. at.. the.. Gala..," Tank remarked talking to nopony in particular.
"Oh yes the food in Canterlot has always been excellent. So divine- You think you are in heaven, when you taste the dainties they offer there," her eyes sparkled in a dreamy expression for a second.
"Urgh- Oh well all right, I will go with you to Canterlot. Just give me a minute to get myself ready for the trip,” she said while walking into another room.
"I never knew that you were that cunning, Tank!" Winona whispered to the turtle poking her elbow against his shell, after Opalescence was out of sight. The tortoise just smiled at her.
They waited far more than 'a minute'. It was already past noon and they still waited for Opals return. Gummy was pissed, because this took ages and they do not have all day long, since they needed to get to Pinkie before the Gala starts, after all. Asking her for help certainly was not a good idea, he thought.
Like most dwellers of Ponyville, he didn't get along with Opal very well. He disliked her stuck-up behavior and her selfishness, while she always thought he was a boring character and unworthy of her presence. Both of them agreed on a neutral truce and rarely spoke to each other.
"What's taking her so long!" he complained loudly.
"Don't.. rush.. her.. it.. will.. make.. it.. only.. worse." Tank just said to him with a gentle smile.
"We need her remember?" Owlowiscious reminded him just before she returned from that other room.
"OK, I am ready now. How will we get to Canterlot anyway? She asked with a doubting, but haughty voice.
"Using the train to Canterlot station would be the best way to get there, wouldn't you agree?" the wise owl suggested while sitting on a backrest of an old-fashioned wooden chair.
"Yes you are right. That's the best way, I guess,” Winona agreed.
"OK, then let's move out. We don't got all day- Quick we will run to the train-station, “Gummy said before holding onto Winona's fur once more.
"A Lady never runs like a peasant,” the white cat replied.
"But-" Gummy started but got Tanks gaze and stopped speaking.
"Oh well all right we just walk then," he replied stressed out.
"That cat drives me Insane,” he thought by himself, while picking up the golden ticket in his mouth.
After leaving the shop the group moved further east, towards the train-station. Owlowiscious and Tank flew above them, because it would have taken ages for the party to reach the station, if Tank had walked by foot. He also enjoyed using his helicopter device that got his trademark gadget. Gummy was impressed about how quiet the machine actually was. Judging by the size it must have made a lot of noise, but the sound it produced was a silent flapping. That Hourglass-Pony must be a skilled tinkerer, Gummy tough.
Many amazed ponies watched the party of pets walk by, while they crossed the Plaza and moved down the main-street of Ponyville.
"Mphff hm hmmff?" Gummy asked with the ticket in his mouth.
"Pardon me, I didn't quite catch that one," Owlowiscious replied.
Gummy dropped the ticket for a second to repeat his question, but suddenly an orange coated filly on a scooter scorched past them and created a wind gust that lifted up and took away the dropped golden ticket.
"Oh noooo!" Gummy screamed watching the ticket fly away, way too high to reach it.
Winona turned around, jumped and tried to catch the ticket with her jaws but the paper quickly ascended and she missed it by an inch.
Both Tank and Owlowiscious swished after the ticked, but it was Owlowiscious who caught it with his talons in midair.
The whole group exhaled, except Opal, who just watched the spectacle without much interest. Maybe she had hoped, that she could return to the boutique, if the ticket was lost.
"Maybe it is safer when I carry the ticket," the Owl said "It doesn't hinder me in any way and I still can talk while holding it."
"If you would be so kind I gladly accept your offer," Gummy told him with sweat on his forehead. This day already has been too excited and Gummy wasn't used to all this walking. To make things worse, he still was very hungry, because he still hadn't had breakfast yet.
Finally the party reached the train-station of Ponyville. Owlowiscious led the way and flew over to a railway schedule to find out when the next train would leave. He then returned saying:
"A train to Canterlot will arrive in about five minutes. Excellent timing, my friends"
"Wait, how are we going to pay for a ticket?" Winona asked the group.
"Well I thought we just dodge paying the fare-" Gummy explained with his voice trailing off.
"No, no, no, I won't do that!" the dog strictly yelled, "Applejack always taught me to be honest and righteous. I refuse to be a rogue!"
"But.. none.. of.. us.. has… got.. any.. money.." Tank pointed out.
"OK I will handle this issue," Winona told them after a moment of thinking just as the train arrived and stopped right before them. She quickly dashed around the corner out of sight, but came back a few minutes later with five tickets in her mouth.
Tank just helped Opal entering the coach, when Winona jumped into the train showing the tickets she got for the party.
"How did you get those?" Opal asked her amazed.
Winona handed a ticket to every one of her friends when Gummy shouted:
"Where is your collar, Winona?"
"I used it to pay for the tickets. It is made of gold, so I figured it would be enough for all of us."
"But you love your collar. You once told me you got it from Big Macintosh when you were a puppy," Gummy said shocked.
"It's all in a good cause. Don't mention it again, please,” the dog pleads gloomy. She turned away from the party and lay down on the coach floor. Gummy couldn't believe it. Winona sacrificed her most precious possession to help him complete his quest. How could he ever look into her eyes again? He felt so guilty and confused, because he never wanted his friend to do something like this. He figured it would be better to leave Winona to herself for a while. The rest of the group moved over to the seats. An uncomfortable silence followed and still continued when the train started to move.
While the boys sat on a train-bench, Opal slowly moved over to Winona and whispered to her:
"That was the most generous act I ever witnessed. And I have seen some generous acts before, Rarity is the Element of Generosity after all." She put a pawn on Winona's back continuing:
"Gummy must be a good friend of yours..." the Cat quietly assumed.
"Yesc he is my best buddy. He is like a brother to me," Winona replied, while wiping away a tear.
"He must be a very lucky bastard to have a friend like you," the feline remarked impressed.
"Don't tell anypony that I came to comfort you, I have a reputation after all,” Opal whispered to her.
"No, I won't. I promise," Winona told her slightly smiling again.
Both of them joined Gummy and Tank, who were sitting on their bench, while Owlowiscious sat on a hat rack next to it. Gummy looked up when he noticed Winona's approach, sadly looking into the dog's eyes, trying to find something to express his gratitude. She interrupted his thoughts by smiling at him. He then just whispered:
"Thank you Winona-" She just nodded and sat down next to him.
The pets watched the landscape fly by. The coach they were traveling in was rather empty. In the far back they saw a gray-coated earth pony, sleeping, while leaning to a black cello suitcase.
Suddenly a loud growl occurred. Everyone looked around startled looking for the source of the sound.
"Err- Sorry that was my tummy.." Gummy said while his green face turned red in shame.
"I.. though.. Harry.. is.. somewhere.. around.. here.. " Tank replied startled.
"Who is Harry?" Winona wanted to know
"Fluttershy's.. bear.. friend" Tank said.
"I haven't eaten anything since yesterday. Today I was in such a hurry, that I forgot to get something to eat," Gummy explained still with his blush on his face.
"We should get you something to eat, then," Owlowiscious remarked.
The door of the cabin got opened and the conductor entered the coach. The old colt, wearing a blue uniform, slowly walked past the benches and then looked at the group of pets. He then saw the five tickets lying next to the pets and shook his head amazed. He blinked, looked at the tickets again, turned back to the pets and just nodded, before he walked a few more steps and sat down on another free bench.
"Critters paying for a ride.. now I have seen everything,” he whispered to himself, chuckling.
The conductor pulled a packet out of a pocket of his jacket and unwrapped the paper-sheath. Gummy saw that it contained a sandwich with salad and instantly began to drool. His tummy growled again.
Startled the conductor looked around and then turned to the pets again. Gummy's tummy growled again. The Conductor looked at the small Gator in surprise, then looked at his sandwich and turned back to Gummy.
"There ya go lil' friend" he said, while throwing the sandwich over to Gummy. "Sound like ya have not eaten in a week. I can also start my diet today" the uniformed pony said then burst into a loud and deep laugh.
The sandwich landed next to Gummy. Puzzled he looked at the sandwich then back to the Conductor-pony not knowing what just happened.
"What a nice stallion" Winona remarked.
"Indeed," Owlowiscious agreed still sitting on his hat rack.
The tiny gator nodded towards the conductor pony to take a call but the pony didn't see it, because he just turned away pulling out a golden pocket watch from his jacket and looked at the display. He then nodded satisfied and stow it back into the pocket it came from, while leaning back on the bench.
His tiny tummy growled again and so he took a bite of the sandwich he was given as a present.
The green gator never was a fan of salad but he was so hungry that he ate it with great pleasure.
"Does any pony want some, too?" he asked his friends munching but all of them shook their heads.
After Gummy had scarfed down his lunch he lay back on the bench patting his full belly. This sandwich may have been only a snack to a grown pony but for a small baby gator it was a substantial meal that perfectly filled the hole in his stomach.
Time passed as they traveled further towards Canterlot. Owlowiscious had closed his eyes sleeping on his hat rack, while Gummy rested on his back trying to digest his meal. Opal looked at the landscape outside of the window and Tank told Winona all about the tricks he and Rainbow Dash had practiced the last week.
"Thank you for coming along. I wouldn’t got this far without you, guys,” Gummy solemnly said to his friends.
A speaker in a corner on the opposite wall of the coach crackled:
"Fillies and Gentle-colts, we will arrive Canterlot Main-Station in five minutes. Use the exits on the left and please be careful while dismounting the coaches. Thank you for traveling with Equestria Railways. We wish you a nice stay in Canterlot," a male voice from inside the speakers told the passengers. The gray coated Music-Pony awoke and reached out for her cello suitcase, while the conductor-pony looked at his golden pocket watch again.
"Arrived on the dot,” he says out loud, while putting his watch back into the pocket, nodding to nopony in particular.
The train reached the station, decelerated and came to stop right in front of the platform. The cello pony got up and carried her heavy looking suitcase, made of sturdy black leather, to the door. After the conductor and her had left the train the group followed them and jumped onto the platform. The Conductor stood next to the open door and tipped his hat, smiling at the party.
Gummy looked around. This was the first time he was so far away from home. Ponies who had waited for the train to arrive, entered it or greeted other ponies, which had left the train as well. The platform was much larger than the one in Ponyville and made of white polished stone. Gummy looked up at a big clock hanging from the ceiling.
"Oh crap its late afternoon! We need to hurry!" he cried out.
"Opal now it's your turn. Which is the way to the Gala?" he asked turning to the Cat.
The white cat stretched her legs and back, then looked around.
"There should be an exit to the right,” she explained. The group followed her command and reached a set of stairs leading to the exit of the station.
After the group had reached the bottom and left the building, which was built out of the same, material as the platform, they saw the heart of the city. Owlowiscious wasn't kidding when he said that Canterlot was enormous. The buildings near the station were almost twice as big as the highest building in Ponyville. They saw many ponies on the streets, doing their daily business. They saw three fillies joyfully chasing another filly around the corner. A royal guard-pony holding a sparkling lance was standing next to the station and they also saw two female unicorns wearing colorful dresses, snickering and pointing at a stallion with blue mane, wearing a blue jumpsuit, who just bought a pie at a small market stall on the opposite of the street.
"This street should lead right to the castle, if I remember right," Opal told the party pointing down the broad street with a paw.
They followed the cat down the road, crossed other streets, walked though stately archways, turned left and right and crossed another street. Gummy soon lost track of the direction and would have been totally lost, if Opal wasn't guiding the group through the city. She on the other hand seemed to enjoy the attention her role brought along, since she told the group everything she remembered about the buildings and places of interest they came by. After quite a long walk, they finally reached the castle-gates of the palace. Gummy had never seen gates that big before and looked at them breathless, while approaching it until a strict voice called:
"Hold it right there!"
Due to the amazing view, Gummy completely failed to see the two golden armored Guards standing in front of the gates who now have crossed their lances they were holding to deny access to the castle. Startled he jumped back and almost collided with Winona, who had walked right behind him. Although he and the rest of the group could have easily slipped though beneath the crossed pole-arms, all of them understood the meaning of the gesture.
"Savage critters aren't allowed in the castle,” the left guard told them in a strict but kind tone. The right one only nodded with a serious expression on his face.
Owlowiscious swiftly flew towards the left guard who had spoken to them, stopped and fluttered in mid air before him. The Guard was surprised and tensed up his body thinking the brown owl would attack him, but he then spotted the golden ticket, which Owlowiscious still carried, in his talons. With a wary expression on his face he stepped near to have a closer look at the ticket.
"That bird has an invitation to the Grand Galloping Gala,” the astonished left Guard told the right one, who had watched the scene curiously.
"It even is a VIP Invitation personally signed by the Princess herself," he continued explaining to the right guard. The right guard then stepped alongside the left one and inspected the ticket on his own.
"Seems legit,” he just said, after a moment, with a shrug.
Both of them looked at each other puzzled then turned to the party of pets.
The left Guard then cleared his throat and said:
"Please excuse our harshness, noble visitors. We didn't know you were honored guests and thought you were random wild animals. Please accept our deepest apology." The right guard only nodded prudently. They then stepped aside lowering their weapons and bowed down, while the party proceeded to enter the castle.
"Have a pleasant stay at the Gala," the right guard cat- called behind them.
"Well that was kind of easy." Winona remarked happily.
Tank nodded and then said:
"Bravo... smart.. thinking.. Owlowiscious!"
"Yeah, that was amazing. I thought that two Guards would hoof us out. Well done Owlowiscious," Gummy said looking up at the owl who hovered above them, not answering, but he had a proud expression on his face and obviously enjoyed the praise.
They entered an enormous hallway with several large doors on each side. In the middle of the room they saw a glamorous fountain with a sea pony a top, made of marble that, was spitting water out of its mouth into the basin. In the back, two stairs on each side led up to another door on top of a wide balcony with two golden armored guards standing next to it. Gummy entered the large hallway first and after his first step, he stopped and looked down at his feet. He noticed that he walked on an old but expensive looking red carpet. The carpet's fluff tickled under his feet, as he took another step forward, while looking at the door, which was nearest to him and marveled at the delicate carvings showing several old-fashioned ponies. The whole room was built out of white marble, the same material that the station and most of Canterlot seemed to be made of. The hallway was very clean and lit by several golden lanterns attached to the walls.
A female voice interrupted Gummy's adulation saying:
"I do not know where they hold the Gala, but the second door on the right should lead to the guest quarters. On our last visit Rarity and I stayed in a beautiful round room in the eastern tower."
Gummy looked at the cat. She seemed to be very delighted being in the palace again and so she delivered a cheerful smile at him while they walked over to the door she was referring to before. He had never seen that white cat that happy and polite, before and it kind of scared him a little, too. Maybe it wasn't that bad to bring her along, since she saved them a lot of time showing the direct way to the palace, after all.
Behind the door there was a long corridor blending into a spiral set of stairs, obviously leading to a white tower. The roof and the walls of the stairway were made out of glass so Gummy saw the setting sun. He looked down the sides of the stairs, seeing a beautiful garden with many different kinds of flowers growing everywhere. The garden was also decorated quite luxuriously. He saw streamers, lampions and balloons everywhere, which reminded him about his owner. He even saw some tables with white tablecloth, filled with all kinds of snacks and bottles, but no pony was in sight.
Climbing the stairs was quite exhausting. Gummy was very tired. That whole day has been very thrilling so far and all that adrenaline had just kept him going, but now he noticed how taxing the day has been so far. He never was that far away from his home and he never walked so much like today. He was a baby-alligator after all. He had to take a break and sat down heavily breathing on the middle of the stairs.
All of a sudden fanfares were blown. The sun sunk below the horizon and suddenly the garden below the party quickly filled with lots of ponies. Gummy saw female ponies, wearing many different kinds of dresses. Some female ponies also wore exorbitant hats in every spectrum of the rainbow. He saw colts wearing tuxedos or other fine garments. Servant-ponies dressed in white suits walked around the garden, carrying tablets and offered drinks or canapés to the guests. Gummy heard pleasant orchestra music and spotted the gray Cello-pony on a stage together with a couple of other pony musicians.
"Look at the splendor- isn't everything amazing? Look at the flowers- how colorful, look at the fashion- Marvelous! Look at the food- Terrific! Oh there even is a firework.. Look! Look! I just love this place!" Opal burst into a paean, heavily breathing like almost dying due to heart attack.
But she was right. Gummy gazed up the sky, seeing the Wonderbolts performing an exceptional show. After every trick a burst of colorful sparks illuminated the dark sky for a moment. The crowd below applauded and cheered after every bang and the Wonderbolts waved at the ponies on the ground.
The green gator then heard that the door below them got opened and saw a pink flash dashing past the party. Another door at the end of the stairs got opened and closed with a loud slam. Startled all of them looked up the stairs where the pink flash had vanished.
"What.. the.. hay.. was.. that?" Tank nervously whispered
.
"I think I know what or who that was.." Gummy answered with a smile.
"I think that was Pinkie Pie. The Gala started, but she cannot enter it. I guess she was rushing to her room and is looking for her ticket right now."
"Alright we almost made it guys!" Winona cheered excited. "Let's head up and hand the ticket over to her to finish this quest."
"Gummy you should give the ticket to her" Owlowiscious solemnly said and gave the ticket to Gummy.
The party climbed the stairs, but before reaching the last step the door got opened again and that pink flash rushed by vanishing into the hallway they came from.
"Duh!! Great..!"Opal said annoyed. She hoped to finish this quest quickly so she could leap into the party below.
The pets climbed down the stairs again. After they had reached the lower door and entered the hallway, they saw a group of ponies on that wide balcony arguing with three golden armored Guards.
"- No invitation, no admission. How many times do I have to repeat myself?!" one of those three golden guards just shouted at an orange coated mare with a light blond mane.
"That is Pinkie Pie, I swear that the Princess personally invited her to the Gala," Twilight Sparkle told the Guard who was quite annoyed judging of his expression.
"I see no ticket, so please step back now," another Guard told her.
"If this is one of your pranks, it isn't funny anymore, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity then said turning to a cyan coated mare with a colorful mane.
"No I didn't take her ticket. I would never do such a thing to her. I know how eagerly she had waited for the Gala. Pinkie Pie Swear!" Dashy answered back.
Gummy saw his mistress with a mane as flat as pancakes, crying behind the other ponies that still argued with themselves. He quickly crossed the hallway and climbed up the steps as fast as he could. He was kind of amazed how quickly he reached his owner. He nudged the crying pink mare, with his nose and she stopped crying, looking down at her side, seeing a tiny green gator, who was holding a golden invitation ticket in his mouth.
"Gummy?!" she yelled out in surprise. "Gummy what are you doing here?" she asked him astonished but still sobbing.
The green gator opened his mouth and the ticket landed on the fluffy red carpet.
"Is this- my ticket?!" she asked him in disbelieve.
He just nodded.
Her mane instantly reset to its normal curly appearance. Gummy even thought he heard some kind of balloon squeaking somewhere, but it probably came from the party outside. She jumped up her hooves, grasped the tiny Gator and hugged him joyfully, while dancing around, holding him up into the air and pushing him back at her chest again.
"Gummy- my dear Gummy!" she repeated over and over again kissing him in between.
"Look guys, Gummy brought me my invitation!" she happily yelled pushing him and the ticket in everyone's face. Twilight's mouth dropped open.
"Yay!" Fluttershy replied when Pinkie showed her the ticket and her pet.
"Nicely done, little twerp,” Rainbow Dash said to Gummy when he was held against her face.
"See Twilight, I told you something unexpected would happen today! Who would have ever imagined something like this?" Pinkie said referring to Twilight's blacked-out face expression.
"Wait a minute.. does that mean he came here all the way from Ponyville on his own?" Twilight asked herself loudly.
"Not completely alone, look guys!" Dashy replied pointing to the stairs where the other pets slowly approached the ponies.
"Tank? Of course he couldn't have done it without you, could he?" Rainbow Dash said laughing, while embracing her Tortoise.
"Owlowiscious! You guided them here safely, didn't you?" Twilight asked the brown owl after he gracefully landed on her back.
"Well ain't that ol’ Winona?" Applejack said, while Winona joyfully jumped at her overanxiously licking her face.
"Wait where’s yer collar?” AJ asked her dog then. Winona dodged her gaze, looking at the ground ashamed.
"Yer probably lost it somewhere on the way, didn't ya? Don't worry we'll get it back, ah promise!" the orange coated mare told Winona with a cheery look. The dog turned to her owner again and then leaped onto Applejack who then lost balance and fell to the ground with her dog licking her face even more excitedly, while laughing.
"Opal?! You are here as well?! Gosh, I would have never expected you to come here, too!" Rarity shouted at her pet who licked her fur and acted like that was nothing special. She then walked towards her owner and rubbed her back at Rarity’s legs.
"See I told you! Something unexpected just has happened!" Pinkie said winking at Rarity.
"So can we finally enter the Gala now?" Rainbow Dash asked her, slightly annoyed. "The show of the Wonderbolts is almost over and I gotta see it," she continued to scamper.
"Of course we can, because all of us got their ticket now" Twilight said in a diplomatic tone nodding towards the three Guards who had silently witnessed the scene.
"See, ah told ya she has been invited, didn't I? Applejack said and showed her gloat-protruded tongue to the one Guard she was arguing with before.
The guard just snarled something unrecognizable and stepped aside. The other two Guards opened the double door for the party of ponies and their pets.
Pinkie was right, this year the Gala was a blast. Everypony has had so much fun. Opal finally got her glutton she had waited for so long. Gummy tried to dance with Twilight Sparkle, but still was too shy to ask her. He rocked out with Fluttershy instead, which was great as well. Rainbow Dash introduced Tank to the Wonderbolts and they watched in awe as he performed his newest trick he had practiced for so long. Applejack talked to Soarin, a stallion wearing a blue jumpsuit and slipped a recipe for her famous apple-pie to him. Rarity met Fancy-Pants whom she showed the dress she was wearing and he ordered a couple of those for his next major event, while Twilight sat next her mentor, talking about way too boring things to remember. Gummy saw her smiling all over the face while she told the Princes all about the unexpected happening today.
Two days later on their way back home a familiar conductor-pony came to see Applejack, when she and her friends sat in a train coach traveling back to Ponyville. He handed over a golden coin, which was attached to a red neck band saying:
"I think this belongs to your dog, Ms. Applejack..." he turned to Winona and secretly winked at her.
Gummy gave Owlowiscious a sign and the owl that was sitting on his hat-rack, handed a box wrapped in a piece of paper to him. Gummy then pushed it over to the surprised conductor-pony, who had sat down on his bench on the opposite of the group. He was quite amazed to find the biggest sandwich Canterlot's kitchen could offer, after he had unwrapped the box and opened it. Teary-eyed he patted the tiny gator's head and both smiled at each other.
“I would never have expected something like that!” he said before his first bite.
“See I told you, I told you!” Pinkie happily yelled hugging Gummy once more.
THE END
Thank you for reading