//------------------------------//
// I Have No Memory of This Place... 
// Story: The Toymaker 
// by AtomicMuffin 
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Derpy and Zecora felt as if their bodies were being wrapped in plastic and plunged into a vat of warm water. They couldn't breath or speak. No sight, sound, or smell could reach them as the portal sent them off to Celestia knows where. Suddenly, the substance surrounding them tore and both mares fell through. Their fall was short lived as the landed with a splash.

They breached the surface and greedily sucked in mouthfuls of air, then they looked around to take in their surroundings. The air was hot and wet. Enormous trees with hanging branches grew directly out of the water. Mosquitoes blanket the air in thick swarms. And the dark, dirty water they swam in seemed endless. The only dry land in sight held nothing but a gnarly magnolia tree and a gaudy stallion who was positively drenched. 

Finn pouted moodily as his companions paddled to shore. His hat sagged from all the extra water and it kept falling down over his eyes.

"Nice of you to warn me that the portal led straight into a swamp. Where's the ball, Zecora? Oh right, you dropped it!"

Only then did the stallion notice the zebra's expression. Hey eyes were wide, her breathing was rapid, and she kept glancing around.

Derpy put a leg around her shoulder. "Are you okay?" 

Finn watched as fear, true fear, replaced Zecora's usual calm and happy demeanor. She was the rock that held their team together. She couldn't crumble when they had just started their journey!

"I say this with much disgrace, but I have no memory of this place."

Derpy gasped, "You mean... we're lost?"

Zecora nodded solemnly. Finn sputtered, "But... But didn't the portal take you here last time?" She shook her head. 

Everything had been going fine. They had a plan. They had gotten past the guardian. They had even made it through the portal! Now they were back to square one because the portal didn't work like it was supposed to. PERFECT! JUST PERFECT!

Nopony said anything. They just allowed the water to drip off their coats onto the small muddy spit of land and attempted to fully wrap their heads around their situation. The sun was coming up and the swamp would soon be teaming with many dangerous and annoying creatures. Derpy was already having to swing her tail around constantly to whip the mosquitoes off of her. Zecora and Finn weren't faring any better.

Suddenly, Derpy froze. She nudged Finn and asked, "Finn, why are those logs moving?"

Finn and Zecora both glanced at the large shapes drifting lazily toward them. They blended almost seamlessly with the dirty water, but Finn noticed two things about them immediately. First, their powerful tails left a zigzagging ripple in their wake. Second, their massive jaws were filled with sharp jagged teeth. Alligators.

"Get up the tree NOW!" Finn yelled.

Derpy flew up into the branches of the giant magnolia.  Zecora used her staff to vault into one of the low hanging branches and jumped effortlessly onto a branch directly below Derpy. Finn reached into his vest pocket and pulled out his watch. He disconnected the watch from the chain and called out, "Frieda, center stage! Now!"

"Aye, aye, boss." The chain once again took the form of the copper serpent, but it didn't stay that way for long. Her body lengthened and shot up to one of the branches. She bit down on the branch with jaws much bigger than she previously had. Frieda wrapped her tail around Finn's hoof and quickly reeled him in. Finn shot up into the tree as the metal serpent pulled him up to the branch below the one she had latched onto. When Finn had safely landed, she shrunk down to her usual size and coiled protectively around his hoof in case she was needed again. 

Six of the vicious reptiles gathered around the tree snapping their jaws. Some of them even tried to stand on their stubby hind legs and reach up into the tree. After a while, they became bored with their unattainable prey and only one stubborn creature remained. Finn was trying to think of an escape plan, but his thoughts were interrupted by an awful tuneless singing.

"Catfish in da net and a 'possum in da pot. Gator's in da swamp, but dat's alright. Ole Boo be goin' fishin' tonight!"

All three looked to see a griffin gliding steadily through the water in a small metal boat. It's bottom was flat and he pushed it along with a pole like a gondolier. His furry hindquarters were covered by black rubber waders that covered all the way up to his feathery torso. A single strap hung over his shoulder to clasp onto the button in the front. The other dangled behind his back, completely unused. His feathers were a dull russet color except for a tuft of white feathers on his chest. They couldn't make out any of his facial features because of a large tan fisherman's hat covering his head. Fish hooks and lures were stuck through at seemingly random intervals. 

The griffin continued to push his boat toward their small island and let out a cackling laugh when he saw the alligator trying to run up the tree. 

"Hoo-ee! What'choo lookin' at, Vern! I swears you'd be da first gator I ever see tryin' ta climb a tree." Flapping his wings, he took off and scanned the tree for anything that would keep the alligator's attention. Finally, he spotted the three ponies and the corners of his beak lowered in a frown. He flew back to the ground and kicked the large reptile with one of his booted back paws.

"I dun told'ya once, Vern! Ponies don't taste good, no. Even wit Tabasco! Now y'all get home and find ya'self a nice water rat to snack on. Go on! Git!" He punctuated the last word with another kick. The alligator turned around and a rumbling hiss escaped its mouth as it snapped at the griffin. The griffin stepped back and waved a claw at the beast.

"Don't'choo get attitudinal wid' me! I could always use me a new set'a boots!"

The reptile finally got the message and slunk off into the water. The griffin slapped on a cheerful grin and called up into the tree, "Y'all can come on down now! Gator's gone!"

Zecora leaped effortlessly from her high branch and landed as light as a falling leaf. Derpy grabbed Finn around the torso and gently flew them both down before he tried to copy Zecora's feat of athleticism. Once on the ground, they trotted over to meet their savior. 

Up close, they were finally able to see his face. He had the sharp yellow eyes of a predator, but they twinkled with laughter. The smile pulled his beak back to reveal a toothy grin. Well, the few teeth that he had anyway. 

The griffin burst out laughing when he saw Finn descending in Derpy's embrace. He wiped his eyes and called, "Whoo! Y'all a bit early fa' Mardi Gras, cap'n! Clothes like dat, I bet da gators could find'ya in da dark!"

He continued laughing, but Finn cleared his throat and said, "Thank you for getting rid of those alligators, sir. Also, we are completely lost and we would be eternally grateful if you could direct us to the nearest town."

The griffin finished his hearty laugh and zipped over to the trio. He wrapped his brawny talons around them and pulled them into a hug. He beat his powerful wings and kicked off with his hind legs. He launched all of them into the air and landed roughly on his flat-bottomed boat. 

"I'll do ya one betta, cap'n. Y'all comin' home wid me an' meet da fam'ly. Y'all can have some lunch and tell me how y'all got stuck in dat tree. By da way, my name Boudreaux (pronounced Boo-DRO for those of you who have never heard the jokes or never a Cajun), but y'all can call me Boo."

The trio introduced themselves in turn as Boudreaux started to push his batteau across the water.


  

Boudreaux's boat glided down the bayou as the griffon pushed them along through the shallow water. He hummed happily to himself as the equines observed the unusual world around them. Giant cypress trees sprouted straight from the water with moss hanging like curtains from their branches. A pair of dragonflies buzzed around the trees, skimming over the water. One flew too close though, and a giant fish unlike anything they had ever seen jumped out of the water and swallowed the unfortunate insect whole. 

They continued to make steady progress until Boudreaux squinted through the dim sunlight. He laughed excitedly and said, "Lookie der, y'all! Home sweet home!"

They all peered off the side of the boat to see a rickety shack nestled in the branches of stately willow. The shack itself was made of roughly hewed wooden slats nailed together haphazardly. The roof was nothing but a few sheets of rusted tin riveted together. The only hint of that it was inhabited was the smoke rising from the stove pipe jutting out of a hole in the roof.  Wooden rails lined the outside of the shack creating a weathered porch. 

Boudreaux pushed the boat up to the tree and tied it off on a low hanging branch. Without warning, he grabbed Zecora and Finn and flew straight up into the branches. He landed softly on the wooden porch and deposited the two on the wooden floorboards. Derpy followed them with her own wings. Boudreaux wrenched open the screen door and yelled inside, "Hey, Thibodeaux (Tib-uh-do [long o]), get on out here an' show our guests some hospitality."

The floorboards creaked as a massive earth pony trudged out the door. His brown coat was covered by a red flannel shirt, but a few missing buttons revealed his impressive muscle tone. This guy might even give Big Macintosh a challenge. His mane was untidy and looked suspiciously like the moss hanging from the trees in the swamp. He greeted them with a sleepy smile, revealing several missing teeth. Finn and the others introduced themselves, but Finn couldn't help but notice that his left eye tended to wander randomly. It was strangely unnerving. 

After the introductions, Boudreaux placed a taloned arm over the stallion's shoulder. Then he laughed and spoke to their guests, "Tibs here's my cousin. Knowed him since we's little. Him and our cousin Pierre." Thibodeaux just nodded. Boudreaux glanced around as if looking for something important. He then focused on Thibodeaux and asked, "Hey, Thibodeaux, where Pierre anyhow?"

Thibodeaux shrugged. He didn't seem like the type who talked much. Finn was even starting to wonder if he was maybe a bit mentally stunted. 

Boudreaux scratched the top of his head, wondering about his missing cousin, when suddenly his head shot up and his eyes widened. Thibodeaux mirrored his movement, his ears perked up. Their eyes turned in unison to a spot on the other side of the porch. A fishing rod sat in a wooden holster, but it was emitting a low scratching as the line was being drawn out. Boudreaux flashed to the spot and ripped the rod out of the holster. With a manic gleam in his eyes, he wrenched on the rod as it bent under the pressure pulling it from the other side. 

He grit his teeth in determination and braced his back paws against the wooden railing. He laughed crazily as Thibodeaux shuddered. For the first time, Thibodeaux spoke in a slow deep voice, "Boo been after Big Mama for years, but he neva' been able to catch 'er. It's always a scary sight when he think he got her. Even worse when she gets away."

Everypony watched in fascination as Boudreaux fought against his unseen adversary. Finally, after a long fight, he tensed his muscles and shrieked a predatory roar as he yanked an enormous whiskered fish out of the water. It was easily big enough to swallow a young filly like Dinky whole. A chill grip Finn's heart. The existence of such a monster under their very feet was terrifying.  

Boudreaux danced gleefully as he held his prize in both talons. "After all dees years," he whispered, tears running down his face, "I finally got'ya. Big Mama is mine." He closed his eyes and snuggled with the slimy catfish, pure joy radiated from him.

Then the strangest thing happened. The catfish was consumed by a flash of green flames. When the flames vanished, Boudreaux was left nuzzling a changeling wearing a tattered pair of overalls. The changeling said, "Aww, I love you too, cuz. Why don'tcha introduce me to yer friends?"

Boudreaux cycled through several emotions faster than his brain could handle. First joy, then confusion, then disappointment, then rage. Deciding to stick with rage, Boudreaux grabbed the changeling roughly by the neck and slung him over  the railing. The equines rushed to the railing just in time to see the changeling splash into the muddy water below. Boudreaux huffed and stormed into the shack, slamming the screen door behind him. 

The changeling emerged from the water and scampered up onto one of the tree's roots. He shook the water from his insectoid wings, then he flew back onto the porch. He trotted over to the gathering of equines and smiled warmly, revealing yet another incomplete set of teeth. These swamp dwellers seriously need a dentist, thought Finn.

"Bonjour mes amis!" Cried the changeling, "Y'all can call me Pierre. Looks like y'all already met my cousin Thibodeaux. Met Boudreaux too by da look'a it. Can y'all believe dat featherhead t'rowin' me into da swamp?"

Thibodeaux chuckled and replied, "You kinda had it comin', cousin. Catchin' Big Mama is his life's dream, you know."

Pierre kicked absently at the floor with a holey hoof. He knew that his prank had gone too far, but he had a plan to make it up to his relative. Fortunately, the happy-go-lucky griffin wouldn't brood over it too long. Holding grudges wasn't his way.

Zecora, Derpy, and Finn had been quiet ever since they arrived at the shack, but finally their confusion had reached its peak and something snapped in Derpy.

"Okay, I have a question." She pointed at Pierre. "You're a changeling, you," she pointed at Thibodeaux, "are a pony, and Boo is a griffin."

Pierre nodded. "Das a very good observation, cher."

"Why do you say that you are cousins? That's not even possible."

She shifted her glance to Thibodeaux, but he blushed and trained his own eyes at the floor. Does he have a crush on Derpy? Finn wondered, smiling internally at the thought. Poor guy doesn't know what he'd be getting into.

Pierre laughed and shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no, cher. Dat don't matta' none. In da bayou, your fam'ly the ones you love most. Dees two helped ole Pierre after Queen Plasma abandoned him in da swamp. Dey are more fam'ly den any brother or sister I could ever have."

Zecora, Finn, and Derpy looked perplexed. They had never imagined such a relationship would last for long, nor would it have such depth. Could complete stranger, even creatures of different species, develop that kind of intimate bond?

Pierre's smile dropped and he leaned against his 'cousin.' He said, "Life in da bayou is hard, but it makes ya remember what's really important. Love and happiness are like a big ole cypress. Don't matter if the water's high or if the sun's too hot. It'll grow right out the water and tower over everything. What we got ain't much, but it's all we need. Long as we got each other, we don't need nothin' else." 

They all stood in silence to process Pierre's deep words. Finally, Finn smiled and addressed the group, "I believe Boo promised us lunch. Would you gentlecolts like to escort the ladies and myself inside?"

Thibodeaux smiled and muttered, "S-sounds good. Come on in y'all."

Pierre added, "Y'all ain't lived 'til ya try our swamp gumbo!"

The group piled into the wooden shack. Once inside, Finn glanced around to examine the room. The shack was small, with only a bedroom attached to the combination kitchen and living area. Indoor plumbing was out of the question. It had only spartan furnishing. The center of the main room was dominated by a small wooden table with four wooden stools. To one side was a wood burning stove with a large pot steaming on top. The only other things in the room were three ratty recliners set up next to a dusty bookshelf and a large pile of fishing tackle. 

Boudreaux was sulking in one of the recliners. Pierre crept cautiously towards the furious griffin. He prodded Boudreaux gently with his hoof and said, "Come on now, Boo. Y'all can't stay mad at ole Pierre for long. 'Specially 'round these delightful young visitors we got."

He continued to prod Boudreaux with a smile on his face. Boudreaux made a valiant effort to ignore the changeling, but ultimately he cracked a smile and grabbed Pierre in a headlock. Chuckling lightly, he said, "You know what'cha gotta do to make it up'ta me."

Pierre paled. "Don't make me do it in front'a our guests."

"It serves ya right!"

Pierre frowned. With a flash of green flames, he transformed into a small green frog. The frog reached behind his back and pulled out a black top hat and a small cane. He stood on his hind legs and started singing and dancing. He would kick out one of his hind legs in the air, then follow with the other. Using his front leg, he would flourish the hat and cane as he sang, 


With another flash of green, the mortified changeling appeared before the group. To his amazement, the ponies clapped their hooves on the floor to show their appreciation. Blushing, Pierre gave them a small bow before clearing his throat and walking to the table. Reaching under, he pulled out six bowls and placed them on the table. He said, "Time for lunch. Come an' get it."





After a lunch of hearty (and completely vegetarian) gumbo, the trio told their hosts about their mission. Finn was proud because Derpy had managed to make it through the entire story without shedding a single tear. On the other hand, Boo and Pierre cried freely as sobs wracked their bodies. Thibodeaux remained stoic, but the massive pony still seemed to sympathize with their dilemma. It was Thibodeaux who spoke first.

"I think we gotta take'um to see Auntie Gris-Gris [Gree-Gree]. She's da only one aroun' who would know what'ta do."

His friends looked at him in blank shock, as if he had just suggested that they set fire to their own tails. Then they started protesting loudly and incoherently. The trio argued heatedly until a shrill whistle got their attention. 

Zecora confronted the trio and calmly asked, "Such a fuss from you three. Who is this Auntie Gris-Gris?"

Boudreaux looked like he was about to start sweating. His eyes shrank to pinpricks and a twinge of fear shook his voice. "She's da voodoo queen of da bayou. She talk to da dead and does all kinda powerful magic. She's mean as a snake and sneaky as a coon. Ain't nobody goes to her unless dey got no choice."

Pierre nodded emphatically and added, "Das right, cher! And I hear tale she lure ponies into da bayou and drowns 'um. Den she eats da soul."

Zecora shook her head in disbelief, but Finn was intrigued. Magic that could be used to commune with the dead could be very useful, but he quickly shook the dark thoughts out of his head. 

Thibodeaux countered, "She still da only one who knows enough about magic to help. Maybe she can help dem figure out where to go. She might even be able to find where dey hidin' Dinky." 

Derpy flashed across the room, hovering in the air. She pleaded, "Please help us find her. I need to know if my baby is alright. Not knowing is killing me! I need to see her!"

Boo and Pierre shared a glance, and their expression softened.

"Don't worry, cher. We gonna help. If we leave now, den we'll make it der by nightfall."

Derpy rushed forward and hugged Pierre tightly. She didn't even seem to care that he was a changeling. 

Finn was sure of only one thing. They had a lead now. If it paid off, then they could very well be back on track.

Hold on, Dinky. We ARE going to find you.