Title:           Anon's Adventures 2: A Gummy Surprise
Author:          NicoDeimos
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/fgLJjZMQ
First Edit:      Sunday 24th of April 2016 02:45:07 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Sunday 24th of July 2016 02:07:13 AM CDT

1
 
>Footsteps echoed in the large empty hall of Twilight's castle.
>Anon looked about, sunlight glinting through tall windows above.
>He stopped just before a closed door and gave it a knock.
>Twilight's muffled voice carried through, "Yes come in."
>Anon opened the door and stepped into a sizable combination study and laboratory.
>Shelves of books and large whirring machines with blinking lights lined the walls.
>Twilight sat at a counter in the center, cluttered with a few open books, scrolls, and alchemy equipment.
>Anon cleared his throat.
"Ah, Spike said you wanted me Princess Twilight?"
>Twilight laughed softly with a shake of her head.
>"Anon, I told you 'Twilight' is just fine."
>She looked up from a scroll and seemed to be measuring Anon with her eyes.
"Of course, your majesty."
>Anon gave her a flourishing bow, looking up at her with a smirk.
"Now, how can I be of service?"
>He walked over to where she sat and attempted to look over the scroll she was previously reading.
>She rolled it closed and levitated it back onto a shelf among a pile more.
>"Actually, I called you here because I wanted to apologize."
"Apologize for what? You haven't scolded me for anything in days."
>"No, nothing like that. Er sort of."
>She stood up and wandered to a corner of the room, occupied by a lonesome stand.
>"About in the woods yesterday..."
>Anon made to approach her, but was interrupted mid-action.
>"Wait there for just a moment."
>A purple glow emanated from in front of her, making a strange sound like the buzzing motor of a vacuum cleaner.
>She turned back around to face Anon.
>"I was wrong to assume you didn't have Spike and my safety at the foremost of your intentions."
>Anon waved it off.
"Oh no harm, no foul. Just a stress-"
>"That won't work on me as well as it did on Starlight."
>She couldn't help but smile.
>"Stress or not, I made a mistake and I want to fix it."
"What do you propose?"
>Twilight stepped closer.
>"I want to give you something."
 
2
 
>Anon backed up a step.
"That's, uh, really very kind, but you shouldn't-"
>"I won't take no for an answer, Anon. You deserve this and I'm the only one who can give it to you."
>She stepped closer, Anon moved back another step putting his hands toward her in an attempt to ward her off.
"No, really- I can't- this isn't right, Twilight, please."
>Twilight pulled a confused look.
>"Are all humans this hesitant toward receiving gifts, or are you actually being weird right now?"
>Anon swallowed.
"Well, you see, humans don't generally reward one another with, ah, such 'intimate' gifts..."
>Twilight flinched.
>"What? No! That's not what I meant at all!"
>Her face flushed brightly.
>"I mean, not that I wouldn't- er, not to say I am- uhm..."
>Anon straightened up.
"Ah. Right then. So, uh, what- what was this gift?"
>Twilight's attention was snapped back into the moment.
>"Yes! the gift! Sorry."
>Her horn glowed, levitating a thin object up from behind her.
"I thought you said this wasn't going to be that sort of gift?"
>Twilight sighed in exasperation, "shut it, you. This is a device I created myself. Mostly mechanical in operation. I've imbued it with some of my magic."
>She turned it around slowly before Anon.
>A smooth metal contraption with a colorless gem embedded on its top.
"So it's like a magic wand?"
>She snorted, before recovering her composure.
>"Ah yes, sort of. A bit more complex than that, however, but I suppose the comparison fits. This button here;" she spun it toward Anon, "activates the mechanism, triggering the magic stored within."
>Anon was rubbing his chin at this point.
"How does it work? Does it have a specific spell keyed to it?"
>Twilight smiled gleefully, "This is the best part! It will be telepathically linked to you. Whatever spells you can think of, it will cast when the button is pushed."
>Anon's face took on a dark demeanor.
"This isn't right. I shouldn't have this. If it can cast anything you can think of, in the wrong hands-"
 
3
 
>"Oh no, don't worry about that!" Twilight shook her head vigorously, "It will only be keyed to you and besides, I only put a relatively small fraction of my power into it. Any spells cast from it would be significantly weaker than if I were to cast them myself."
>Anon stepped back a bit again.
"even only keyed to me, what if something happens? What if maybe I get mind controlled, or- or worse. What if I were to ever go rogue?"
>Twilight put her hoof on his arm reassuringly.
>"That won't happen. I trust you."
>Anon blinked absently for a moment.
"How? How can you trust me, when I'm some creature from another world. Another dimension? Why would you trust giving this to me?"
>Twilight adjusted her posture, reaching her full height.
>"I'm giving this to you because..." she paused briefly.
>"I won't always be there with my magic to protect you, or everypony else," Twilight stated resolutely.
>"You put your life in danger to save me and Spike, you've showed you're capable of thinking on the fly, and keeping a clear mind and focused concentration in dangerous situations."
>She beamed warmly.
>"I think you have proven I can trust you with this."
>She levitated the device closer toward Anon.
>He stood there staring at it, weighing the responsibilities he would have with it, for several seconds.
>Finally deciding, Anon reached out with his hand and grabbed it.
>In that moment, there was a bright purple glow shining from the gem.
>It reached out and cradled itself around Anon's head, his eyes filling with a brilliant light.
"W-what's happening?!"
>Twilight shushed him.
>"It's alright, just connecting to your mind. It will be over soon."
>There was a slight tingling in the back of Anon's mind.
>Suddenly he felt wide awake and energized.
>The light died down and he was left standing there with the device resting loosely in his hand.
>He stared at it once more and felt connected to it now.
>It felt like an extension of his being, like it was a part of him.
 
4
 
>His attention was brought back when Twilight gasped loudly.
>"I forgot about the train!"
>Anon stowed the device she had given him in the inner pocket of his jacket.
"Train? What train?"
>Twilight was frantically placing books and scrolls back on the shelf.
>"I was supposed to be taking the train back to Canterlot today and it leaves in-"
>She looked at a clock on the wall.
>"Just a few minutes!"
>She hurried out the door, letting a few books loose from levitation to clatter onto the floor.
"Wait!"
>Anon chased after her.
"What do you need to go to Canterlot for?"
>"Friendship Summit preparations! I need to meet with Celestia, Luna, and Cadance there!"
>They were rushing through the hall and toward the entrance to the castle.
"Should I be coming too?"
>"No! I mean, not that I don't want you to come, but it's just a short visit as a formality! The four of use are supposed to make some symbolic sort of entrance or something, not really necessary for you to be there and I'll be back later today!"
"So what can I do then?"
>She stopped to consider.
>"Just... I don't know, Pinkie might need your help with setting everything up maybe. I'm sorry, Anon, but I need to catch the train and it's all the way across town!"
>Anon sighed.
"Teleport..."
>Twilight paused.
>"Oh. Right."
>With a flash of light and a loud pop, she was gone.
>Anon crossed his arms.
"I bet she teleported to the station instead of straight to Canterlot."
>"Yeah, she probably did," answered Pinkie, staring in the general direction Anon was.
>Anon jumped.
"Bwah! Pinkie?! What are you doing here?"
>She shrugged, "To remind Twilight that her train was leaving soon."
"You're a bit late, aren't you?"
>Giggling in response, she replied, "Pinkie is never late. She arrives precisely when she means to. Yes."
>Anon scrunched his face.
"Why are you talking like that?"
>Pinkie beamed.
>"I don't know. So you wanna help me out today, Nonny?!"
"Y-yeah, I might as well make myself useful."
 
5
 
>Anon and Pinkie were moving through the streets of Ponyville.
"Ok, so what are we doing first?"
>Pinkie hopped along beside him with a cheerful smile.
>"First we need to head back to Sugarcube Corner. I'm working on something super special for the occasion and I want to show you!"
>Anon stopped.
"Whoa, wait a minute. We're going back to your place just so you could show me something? Shouldn't we be doing something more important instead?"
>Pinkie froze mid-pounce, turned, and landed in front of Anon.
>She stretched her neck up to come face-to-face.
>"Are you crazy?! Showing something meaningful to a friend is the most important thing of all!"
>Anon clasped his hands behind his back, looked down bashfully, and rubbed the ball of his foot nervously into the dirt.
"Th-thanks, Pinkie. For considering me a friend that is."
>Pinkie lowered her neck back to normal and looked up, catching Anon's down-turned face once again.
>Her lower lip was protruding.
>"Don't be silly, Nonny, of course you're my friend. Now let's get to Sugarcube Corner so I can show you my thing!"
>She beamed, before bounding back into stride.
"Your what?! Pinkie, your- ah forget it. Probably not what I think it is anyway."
 
>There was a brief knock at the door, Mr. Cake tried to call out.
>"Yes, we're open, you can just walk in-"
>The door slammed open to reveal Pinkie smiling.
>Mr. Cake sighed.
>"Pinkie, I can't understand why you do that every time. This is a business, it's open during the day. And you live here!"
>She hopped up to the counter.
>"It's much more fun when it's a surprise!"
>Mr. Cake closed his eyes and rubbed his temple with a hoof.
>"It's not a surprise when you're the only pony in town who does that."
>Pinkie gasped, "You're right! I need to think of another fun way to surprise you!"
>"No, please, Pinkie, just walk in. That's all you have to do. In fact I'd actually be surprised if you even did that."
>Pinkie grinned, "It wouldn't be a surprise if you told me to do it."
 
6
 
>She bounced away to the kitchen in the back.
>Mr. Cake exhaled with a look of exhaustion as Anon approached the counter.
"Sorry about that. It must be hell living with her."
>Mr. Cake shook his head, "Not at all. As much as that pony is... eccentric, she's also been just as helpful and a joy to have around. My biggest fear isn't that Pinkie won't stop coming in like that, but that she might not come back at all."
>Mr. Cake stared off into space morosely.
>Anon was just thinking of how to respond when Pinkie interrupted his train of thought, poking her head out the door and calling to him.
>"Anon! Quickly, there's lots to do today!"
"Right. Sorry."
>He gave Mr. Cake one last look before following Pinkie into the kitchen.
>She was rummaging through a cabinet hastily.
"So what was it that you wanted to show me?"
>"Here it is!" she cried out triumphantly, lifting a bowl above her head.
>She placed it on the counter and urged Anon closer.
>He walked up and peered inside, seeing a gloopy pink substance.
>Anon scrunched his face up.
"What exactly is this stuff?"
>"It's bubble gum, silly!" Pinkie beamed, sticking the tip of her hoof into the substance and scooping a wad out, "try some!"
>She unceremoniously shoved her goop-covered hoof into Anon's mouth as he opened it about to protest.
"Wai- rmph?!"
>"Tell me if it tastes alright to you. I'm not sure if a human would like it. Or even what humans eat actually," she cocked an eyebrow curiously, "Do humans eat?"
>She gasped in realization, eyes wide in panic.
>"Is that poisonous?! I didn't poison you, did I?! Quick, spit it out!"
>She slapped Anon across the face, causing the pink glob to eject from his mouth and smack wetly onto the counter.
"Ow! What'd you do that for?! It's fine! I'm fine!"
>He stared at her pointedly.
>Pinkie's ears wilted and she frowned.
>"I'm sorry, Nonny. I wasn't sure. I just get ahead of myself sometimes. I should have asked first."
"N-no, it's ok. No harm done. Just stings a little."
 
7
 
>Pinkie gave him a small smile.
>"You're sweet, but I really should try to control myself."
>Anon bit his lip and clapped his hands together.
"So. Uh, why were you showing me this?"
>He gestured to the bowl.
"And yes it did taste fine."
>Pinkie's smile grew bigger.
>"This is a new recipe I've been working on. It's going to be bubble gum frosting for the cake I'm bringing to the Friendship Summit!"
>Anon rubbed his chin while staring at the contents of the bowl.
"It's great that you're making it, but what's so special about bubble gum flavored frosting?"
>Pinkie gave him a smug look.
>"Oh no, it's not just bubble gum flavored. It's going to be entirely frosting in texture that you can chew on like bubble gum! If you wanted to, of course."
>Anon glanced between her and the bowl in confusion.
"I'm not sure I understand. Wouldn't it just melt in your mouth?"
>"That's normally what would happen, but if you changed the properties of the material itself to act differently under pressure it would allow you to let the frosting in question melt at low pressure and solidify under higher pressure. Basically the harder you chew on it, the chewier it gets!"
>Anon stared, mouth agape, in disbelief.
"Similar to how non-Newtonian liquids would work... that's brilliant!"
>"Non-Whotonian what?" Pinkie quirked her head to the side.
>Anon waved.
"Er, earth terminology. It's the kind of stuff you make when you mix corn starch and water. But how did you think of doing this with frosting and gum, of all things?!"
>"That's actually where I got the idea! I was playing around with the funny stuff and thought 'what if frosting was like this?' and then I thought 'what if it turned into gum?!' and then I went to Twilight's and she taught me a whole bunch of stuff about the funny liquid, which I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to at first, but I kept trying so I could learn how to make gum frosting happen because I wanted to make something special for the Friendship Summit!"
 
8
 
>Anon nodded.
"So how exactly were you going to ma- oh!"
>He lifted his hand to find Pinkie's pet alligator attached.
"You startled me, you little bugger!"
>He pried Gummy's mouth off and placed him gently on the counter.
>Pinkie giggled before replying to Anon's hanging question, "How I was gonna make it? Easy! I got some help from Twilight figuring out what I needed, picked up some ingredients from Zecora, and made this;"
>She pulled a small bottle from nowhere.
>"It's a potion that should change the properties of the gum. I just have to mix it in well and let it sit for a little while!"
>She pulled the stopper out with her teeth and spit it aside.
>"Although I'm not entirely sure if that's really what's going to happen. I haven't tested this before and it is a new potion recipe. I'm not even sure how much I should use!"
>She smiled gleefully as she dumped the entire contents of the bottle, a viscous purplish liquid, into the bowl.
>She whipped out a whisk and vigorously mixed the materials together.
>The pink goop absorbed the colorful liquid and began to fizz.
>Pinkie put it back on the counter.
>"Now while that stews, I have a few errands to run for the preparations! Gummy!"
>She picked up the alligator and plopped him down in front of the concoction.
>"Keep an eye on that while we're gone! Stir it every few minutes to make sure it doesn't settle or the potion won't take full effect. Anon!"
>She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward the door.
"I get the idea."
>He pulled his hand away and followed her out of the kitchen.
"Are you sure Gummy should be-"
>Pinkie waved it off, "He'll be fine, Anon, I taught him everything I know about cooking!"
>Mr. Cake called to them as they passed through the shop, "Oh, Pinkie, the Mrs and I will be taking the babies out to the park for lunch so the store might be locked up when you return."
>"Ok, Mr. C!"
>Back in the kitchen, Gummy sat idly next to the bowl and blinked slowly.
 
9
 
>Pinkie dragged Anon along through the roads of Ponyville, stopping at a variety of stalls and stores that sold accouterments, decorations, and other knick knacks.
>After about half an hour of this, they turned down one particular road with some activity near one house.
>"That should be our last stop! It looks like she hasn't even started yet, though."
>They approached the house as two worker ponies held a hoof up, urging them to stop.
>"Sorry miss and, uh... alien?" he gazed curiously at Anon, "but I can't let anypony pass until we get this thing up."
>He pointed to a cart nearby that had a large something on top covered by a tarp.
"What is it?"
>Pinkie piped in, "It's a huuuuge block of ice! For an ice sculpture! Crystal Plinth is the town's sculptor artist. Er, scluptartist? Artist who sculpts? Sculptist!"
"Yeah, yeah, hey how are you ponies going to lift that thing? Can't you just drag it through the front door?"
>"Are you kidding? Does it look like it would fit?"
>Anon's eyes darted between the tarp and the front door.
"I suppose not."
>"There's a balcony up there, big enough for this hunka ice, and a double door there leading inside. Gonna winch it up, should be able to fit it through there, or else Miss Plinth is gonna be racin' to get it chiseled before it melts out here in the sun."
>Anon looked behind the worker pony who was addressing them and noticed the device they were using, an amalgamation of arms and ropes.
"Goodness! A rudimentary winch and pulley device?"
>He ran up to it and started fiddling around causing it to turn on the spot.
>"Hey, don't touch the equipment!"
"It even has a pivot at it's base! This is brilliant!"
>The pony stared at him.
>"It's just a basic pulley system."
"I know! You ponies never cease to amaze me how you work out such engineering while not having hands!"
>"Not having what-now? Look, we need to start getting to work on this before it melts. Could you and your friend here scram?"
"Oh. Yeah, sorry..."
 
10
 
>They continued on down the road, moving toward Sugarcube Corner.
>"I really hope Crystal can get that ice sculpture done in just a few hours. Oh look, there she is!"
>She waved to a pony who was a little way down the street.
>The pony in question had a muted pink coat and blue-grey mane tied up in a loose bun.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought you two were related."
>They met up to Crystal, who gave Pinkie a hug in greeting.
>"Pinkie dear, what a lovely surprise! Checking up on things, I assume?"
>Her voice was aristocratic, yet boisterous.
>"Yep! Everything's in order! Besides the sculpture, that is."
>Pinkie gave her a pointed look.
>"Right, of course! I promise you it will be ready and you will absolutely love it!"
>Crystal's eyes caught on to Anon's presence.
>"Ah, but who's you're... tall, well-dressed friend here?"
>She measured him up and down, causing him to fidget nervously.
"Uh, hello there! I'm Anonymous, most ponies just call me Anon. So you're an artist I hear?"
>Crystal payed no attention to his words as she continued taking in the sight of him, biting her lower lip and savoring the moment.
"Ahem, so you're an artist then?!"
>Her attention snapped up to meet his wary gaze.
>"Oh! Yes, sorry. I was just admiring your... anatomy. I would certainly love to sculpt such an exotic frame some time. In it's 'natural' form, of course."
>She gave him a winking smile, before turning her attention back to Pinkie.
>Anon could only stand there awkwardly.
>"So where are you two off to now?"
>"We were heading back to Sugarcube corner! Have I got something special planned for later..."
>There was a low rumble as the ground started to shake.
>Coming from the direction they were headed, something big was making its way toward them.
"Why does this always happen while I'm around?"
>"Of course it doesn't happen while you're around, silly! This sort of thing happens all the time!"
>Pinkie beamed as Anon shot her a skeptical look.
 
11
 
>The shaking grew steadily stronger.
"Alright, what kind of nasty beastie is this one going to be?"
>Anon patted the withers of the two ponies.
"I don't know what this thing is, but I'll try to hold it off. You two should get out of here."
>Pinkie shook her head vigorously.
>"And miss out on the fun?! Not a chance! Besides, you're my friend and I'm going to be here to help you because Pinkie Pie never abandons her friends."
>Anon embraced her warmly.
"Thanks, Pinkie. I'm glad to have a friend like you in this world so far away from home. But you,"
>He turned his attention to the other pony.
"Miss Plinth, should probably start running!"
>She brayed stubbornly.
>"I will not allow some monster to disfigure such an alluring art subject before I had the chance to capture its wonder in stone!"
"Th-thanks..."
>"Oh look here it comes!" Pinkie shouted excitedly.
>Anon turned to look and saw a large pink blob rolling forward.
"What? What is that?"
>Pinkie gasped.
>"I think it's the bubble gum frosting!"
"Is it alive?!"
>The glob stopped short of them by several feet.
>A few pink tendrils shot out toward them.
>Anon pushed the ponies back a bit.
"Guess that answers that. It's always something barely sentient and made of anything but good old-fashioned flesh and blood..."
>He spotted Pinkie hopping toward it.
"Pinkie! What are you doing?!"
>"This is my creation, Anon! If anypony should talk to it, it should be me!" She called back matter-of-factly.
>Anon frowned ponderously.
"She has a point."
>Pinkie edged up to the thing and cleared her throat.
>Attention big, gloopy, monstrous, gummy thing! Oh! Gummy! Ha, I have a pet named Gummy! I think I might call you that now, too! Except I already have a Gummy... wait, I got it! I'll call you Gummy two! Ok listen up Gummy two; you should go back to the kitchen in Sugarcube Corner, because I made you there so I can put you on a delicious cake and ponies would eat you up and chew on you, and-"
>A tentacle whipped out at her.
 
12
 
"Pinkie!"
>The tentacle whiffed and swung at open air.
>Pinkie appeared beside it.
>"Alright, look here buster. I won't have you swinging at ponies. I'm sorry that I said we were gonna eat you, but we don't have to if you didn't want us to, okay? Now why don't you just settle down and come back to the kitchen with us and we can talk it over with some tea and doughnuts, huh?"
>She gave the thing an apologetic smile, but Anon wasn't sure if it could even see.
>Another tentacle shot out after her.
>"That's it, time for plan C then! And by that I mean 'C'hew!"
>She chomped down on the tentacle and bit a chunk off.
>Her mouth was full of the gum, she worked at chewing it with her teeth.
>She ended up spitting it out.
>"Yuck! Oatmeal flavor?! When the heck did I add that??"
>She looked over at Anon, "Oh also this might be hard to swallow, but I may have bit off more than I could chew. Hee hee!"
>She bounded back toward Anon.
"Now's probably not the best time for jokes, Pinkie."
>"Hey, you can't blame her for wanting to make light of a sticky situation," Crystal said while surpressing a giggle.
"No."
>Anon turned and glared down at her and caught a glimpse of his inner jacket pocket.
"Of course!"
>"Hm?"
>He reached in and pulled out the device Twilight gave him earlier.
>Circling the button with his thumb, he wondered how it might help in the current predicament.
>Pinkie raced past as Anon stood stock still.
>"I've done all I can do! Do you have any ideas?" she asked rather gleefully in regard to the imminent danger she just escaped from.
>Anon turned, readying the device.
"Stand back. I got this."
>He thought hard, using the limits of his imagination.
"Laser. Laser. I want to shoot it with a laser."
>Focusing his concentration, he pushed the button.
>It powered up with a buzz, the gem at the tip emitting a purple glow that grew brighter and brighter.
"Laser!"
>With a rather pathetic 'pew' a thin purple beam shot out, hitting the mass oozing ever closer.
 
13
 
>A single line of smoke drifted up lazily from where the beam hit, otherwise no sign of damage or even effect slowing it down.
"Ah..."
>Anon stared down at the device dejected.
>From off in the distance behind them, he could hear a familiar voice shouting.
>"Hold it! Cinch it up for a bit, it feels like we're gonna have an earthquake here!"
>An idea flashed in his mind.
"Pinkie, Crystal, follow me!"
>Putting the device back in his pocket, he ran back in the direction of Crystal's place with the two ponies following along.
>"Do you have a plan, or were we just running??" Crystal called up to him.
"A little of one, a little of two! I want you to get inside your place as soon as we get there! Pinkie, I'm going to turn the pulley-device thingy out toward the road and try to lead that thing under it. I want you by the lever and as soon as I tell you to I want you to drop it!"
>"But the ice-"
"Is useless anyway if we all get eaten by some gum monster! I'm sorry, but this Friendship Summit thing will just have to do without the ice sculpture or gum frosting ok?"
>Pinkie was quiet for a moment.
>"Yeah, I guess if there's no other way..."
 
>They made it back to the house, Crystal ran up to the door to unlock it.
"Think you can help push that block up there?"
>"No problem, handsome. Shame I'm losing out on creating with it, but after this you owe me at least one 'private session' to study your anatomy."
>She winked and went indoors before Anon could object.
"Uh okay, Pinkie. Over to that lever there and wait for my signal. Stay out of sight. Or whatever that thing uses to detect things."
>"Sure."
>She walked over to the device, Anon followed over and tried to pivot it.
>The ice block hooked up to it, still covered in tarp, weighed too much for him to turn it without some leverage.
"Are you up there yet?"
>The sound of a door opening answered.
>"Ready!" she called down.
"Alright, now!"
>He turned the pivot once more and managed to swing it outward over the street.
 
14
 
>Anon stepped out into the street.
"Ok Pinkie, get ready."
>The pink blob was rolling fairly quickly down the road toward him.
>He stood his ground trying to gauge the exact timing.
>It surprisingly started to slow as it closed in.
"Come on. Come on, come and get me! I'm right here!"
>He was jumping and waving his hands around, but it stopped short of the ice block.
"No, keep coming! Over here!"
>It slowly crept forward, seemingly cautious.
"That's it..."
>Anon started backing up.
>The body of the blob was eclipsed by the shadow of ice, and Anon shouted over to Pinkie.
"Now!"
>She pulled at the lever, releasing the latch holding the rope in place.
>But the rope was stuck to the latch.
>"Oh, it's stuck!" Pinkie called back.
"What do you mean stuck? Can you get it unstuck? This isn't another pun, is it?!"
>"No, I mean the rope is stuck! It's wedged into the device!"
>She tried pushing at the rope with her hoof, but it wouldn't budge.
>"Stuck tight, too! Ohh!"
>A pink tentacle had snaked over and wrapped around her hind leg, and was now pulling her toward the blob.
>Pinkie grabbed hold of the lever and held on.
>"Help, Anon! As much fun as it sounds, I kinda don't wanna be chewed on by chewing gum!"
>Anon started.
>He had to think.
>Pinkie was in danger, but the rope was stuck.
>If he could get the ice to fall, it might be enough to stop the creature.
>But he had to act now while Pinkie wasn't underneath it.
>"Anon! Anytime you're ready! I'll just be... hanging here!"
"Pinkie, not now- wait."
>He looked up at the ice hanging by the rope.
>Pulling out the device, he took careful aim.
"I really hope this is strong enough."
>He concentrated on shooting a laser again and pressed the button.
>The thin purple light shot out once more, still quite weak.
>Anon focused the beam as steadily as he could, spotting tendrils of smoke curling away from the rope.
"That's it... just a little more."
>Twine began snapping away until the block was hanging by a few threads.
 
15
 
>With a resounding twang, the last few broke away.
>The ice block fell, but only a floor above it plopped into the gum blob with a soft thwump.
>It splayed out momentarily before reassuming shape around the ice.
>"Well, that didn't go as planned I'm guessing?" asked Crystal from the balcony.
>Anon gave a smug grin.
"It went exactly as planned, actually."
>Crystal gaped as she looked back at the glob monster.
"What happens to bubble gum when you freeze it? It becomes hard and brittle."
>The blob grew slower as it tried inching toward Anon.
>Its vibrant pink color grew a darker shade.
>It stopped in its tracks, frozen still, and Pinkie broke free from the tentacle around her leg with a snap.
>"You did it!" she yelled exuberantly, embracing Anon.
"With a little help from my friends, of course."
>He leaned back and booped her on the nose gently with a finger, causing her muzzle to scrunch before she was overtaken with giggles.
>Crystal stepped out of her house.
>"Well, I must admit you are full of surprises."
>Anon shrugged.
"I still manage to surprise even myself. Sorry again about the ice."
>"Oh, no worries at all. I think I can work with this."
>She gestured, eyeing the frozen pink mass.
"Ah. Good. Wouldn't want you to lose out on business."
>"Not at all. But don't think this breaks you out of visiting me for a session sometime. Don't worry, that won't be for business."
>She gave him a devilish look before turning to confront the worker ponies who just ran up.
>"And where have you two been?! We could have used a bit more muscle, not that this finer specimen of a stallion didn't make up for you cowards running off!"
>Anon stood and quickly pushed Pinkie along back toward Sugarcube Corner.
"Well, I think that's enough excitement for the day. I sure am beat."
>He noticed Pinkie looking glum.
"What's wrong?"
>"I just wanted to do something special for my friends. I mess everything up..."
"Hey, that's not true."
>He knelt down beside her.
 
16
 
"What happened today was just an accident. Besides, isn't it the thought that counts?"
>Pinkie looked at Anon with glazed eyes.
>"It is, but just once I'd like something to go right. I'd like to be able to give something meaningful to the ponies- and aliens," she gave him a thoughtful smile, "that I care about most."
>Anon hugged her as comfortingly as he could.
"Well, there's always next time."
>He stood back up and they continued walking.
"Although, now that I think about it I kind of want to examine the kitchen when we get back. I'm not so sure that really was an accident. It was too coincidental that you dedicated so much time and effort toward doing the research and making sure you got everything right just to have it blow up like it did."
>Pinkie quirked her eyebrow at him.
>"You think somepony would do that? Just walk into somepony else's life and try to ruin it?"
>Anon shrugged in response.
"It's possible. Especially since you're one of the elements of harmony, a close friend of Princess Twilight's, and also just a great and respectable pony all around."
>He grinned down at her and she turned away embarrassed.
>"Aw shaddap, no need to lay it on so thick you huge schmooze."
"Nuh-uh, I see that smile. You get so cute when you're all awkward."
>Pinkie stared up at him startled.
"Er, n-not that I mean just you, I meant ponies in general. All ponies get cute when they're embarrassed. I wasn't, you know, flir-"
>"No, no, it's not that!"
>Anon glanced at her.
"Wh- uh what was it, then?"
>"You wanted to examine the kitchen when we got back, right?"
"Yeah, why something wrong?"
>"Well..."
>Pinkie gestured up the street.
>Just up ahead, poking out of Sugarcube Corner, a large scaly snout was sticking out of the front door.
>It opened wide, baring no teeth inside.
>"It looks like we have ourselves a Gummy surprise."
>Anon glared down at Pinkie with a seething fury.
 
Fin
 
In the next installment:
 
>Rainbow Dash shrugged, "Yeah I know we also go on adventures, but I just wouldn't mind going on more adventures like the kind she does. You know?"
>Anon nodded in thought.
"I think I get what you're saying. So, let's go on an adventure today!"
 
>They turned down another of the ruined castle's corridors, Anon falling slowly behind Rainbow Dash.
>"Y'know, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind when you suggested this little 'adventure'!" she shouted back to him angrily.
"I know!! Exciting, isn't it?!"