This is gonna be so great, Gummy!
We have absolutely nothing to do today except bake!
I've been waiting for just the right time to finally try Granny Pie's
super special triple chocolate fifteen-layered marjolaine recipe!
It's gonna be amazing!
Let's see: nutty meringue, chocolate ganache, praline nuts, coco-flavoured butter cream…
An hour per layer.
That's fifteen hours of pure baking bliss!
Okay, Gummy, I think we're ready to start prepping the second layer.
Oh my gosh, my cutie mark!
You know what this means?!
The map!
Uh, Gummy, could you take over for a bit?
Hopefully this will be quick.
I'll just measure baking powder for you.
And when the first layer cools, you can drizzle some of the ganache over it.
And don't forget to beat the egg whites for the merIngue!
I know you can do this, Gummy.
You're the best alligator baker I've ever met.
This is so exciting!
The map is summoning you to Griffonstone!
The very heart of the Griffon Kingdom.
I don't know if either of you have read Bygone Griffons of Greatness, but Griffons were known to be…
Rude insensitive bullies?
You mean Gilda?
Yeah, I mean Gilda!
When she came to Ponyville she was a total jerk to all my friends!
Especially Pinkie Pie!
She was a bit of a party pooper.
Uh-huh.
So maybe Gilda was a little rude.
You still get to go to Griffonstone.
And according to this book it has a rich, fascinating history!
In ancient times Griffons were known to be as greedy as dragons.
Always hoarding their bits and other treasures.
But all that changed when King Grover found the mysterious golden Idol of Boreas.
Legend says the Idol of Boreas was made from the dust of golden sunsets blown across the mountains by the norths winds.
Possessing the Idol of Boreas filled the Griffons' hearts with pride.
It's said that that one great treasure is responsible for turning Griffonstone into the most majestic kingdom of all the land.
And why do you care so much about griffons anyway?
It was actually Gilda's visit that made me curious.
So I picked up Bygone Griffons of Greatness and I've been hooked ever since!
And now… now you two get to see Griffonstone with your very own eyes.
Huh? Just me and Rainbow Dash?
Hey, you can totally take my place if you want.
I still have half a nap to finish.
Why don't you just come with us?
I mean, you are the Princess of Friendship.
No, no, if the map wanted me to go to the coolest kingdom in all of Equestria
and tour the palace and see the actual idol that unites an entire species,
which would be super amazing, I'm sure it would've said so.
You two can handle whatever the issue is just fine.
I'll stay here and do important princessy things. I guess.
Well then, come on, Dashie!
We're going to Griffonstone!
Fine…
That's the spirit!
Whatcha reading, Rainbow?
Twilight literally wrote a book on what we need to do in Griffonstone.
You mean like a guide on how to figure out what problem are we supposed to fix?
And then some.
It's like Twilight herself in book form.
Always carry plenty of bits.
The Griffons are sure to help you as long as you share the wealth.
Can I borrow some bits?
Upon arriving at Griffon Gorge, be sure to pause and cast your eyes northerly
Up the Hyperborean Mountains.
Taking in the breathtaking beauty of Griffonstone.
Once in Griffonstone proper, go immediately to the palace
and introduce yourself to the King.
Bygone Griffons of Greatness was written a long time ago.
And it ends with the coronation of the fourteenth king of the Griffons, King Guto.
I have no idea who's in charge now.
Tell the King you've been sent by the Princess of Friendship.
And you're there to help with some sort of problem.
If for some reason the King can't help, I'd try the Griffonstone library next.
It's a little-known secret that if you befriend a librarian, you can usually find out anything.
Plus as a bonus there's a statue of King Grover outside!
Photo up!
And don't forget to sample some famous Griffon scones.
They're supposed to be the best!
Aw, Twilight should've come along.
Then she could've seen first-hoof that the Griffonstone is…
A total dump?..
Maybe the map should've called Rarity instead of us...
Excuse me, sir?
This IS Griffonstone, right?
That wasn't very nice!
See? These Griffons are exactly what I thought they'd be.
Maybe we should just find the palace so we can ask the king what's going on?
We don't have a king.
Losers.
Hello, Gilda!
Dash!
Pinkie!
What are you doing here?
I'm a griffon,
what's your excuse, dweebs?
Hey! These dweebs are here to help Griffonstone!
Help with what?
Well...
We're not really sure.
But it involves the map, and cutie marks, and problem, and…
Bored now!
Well, if you don't have a king, can you at least tell us where the Idol of Boreas is?
Don't tell me you really believe in that thing!
You'd better believe in it!
The Idol was the best thing to ever happen to us griffons!
Oh, great! Now you got Grandpa Gruff started!
I'll tell you the whole tragic tale!
For a couple of bits!
The first griffon king, king Grover, united our kind
like we've never been united before or since!
And he did it all with that incredible Idol of Boreas!
And that idol brought pride to the heart of every griffon that saw it.
From one king to the next, Griffonstone, and our golden idol were the envy of all other species.
He held us together. He gave us an identity.
Right up until the reign of king Guto.
That's when Arimaspi came to steal our griffon treasure!
King Guto tried to fight him off.
But Arimaspi managed to get away with the Idol.
They say when our treasure fell into the Abysmal Abyss,
our pride went with it.
King Guto was the last king of Griffonstone.
And we all lived miserably ever after. The end!
That was the saddest story ever!
Oh, well... Tough times, fellers. No refunds!
No wonder Twilight's book ended with the coronation of king Guto.
Who would want to record a history THAT SAD!
It's not SAD!
Do we look sad to you?
Pinkie! I think I know why the map sent us here!
We need to find the Idol of Boreas
and bring glory and pride back to Griffonstone!
Here we go.
Typical pony hero complex.
None of us care about that dumb old idol.
Don't you get it? We don't care about anything.
And that's the way we like it!
I think Rainbow Dash is right.
The map sent us here to fix some sort of problem!
The only problem Griffonstone has IS YOU!!!
Well, I don't care what she says.
We're gonna find that treasure, make Griffonstone cool again, and get back to Ponyville!
Come on!
Wait, Rainbow Dash. What about Twilight's advice?
What? Taking a bunch of pictures?
She mentioned finding answers at the library.
Knock yourself out.
When you get bored with Twilight's tourbook,
I'll be at the Abysmal Abyss finding the Idol of Boreas.
I'm here to find your missing idol and save Griffonstone!
I'll need some rope, a grappling hook
and a guide to take me down to the Abysmal Abyss.
And I'll need some bits.
Hey, Gilda!
Word on the street is that Griffonstone has an amazing library choke-full of answers!
Word on what street?
Okay, maybe not this street.
But on other streets, your library is the talk of the town!
The library is right there.
So why don't you go inside and leave me alone!!!
Maybe it's good that Twilight didn't come...
It's sad what happened to your town, king.
But Rainbow Dash can't be right!
This can't all be because of a missing hunk of gold.
You are right, Pinkie.
And you've got amazing hair.
Uh, King Grover… You old charmer.
I know what Griffonstone needs.
Fewer ponies?
A song!
I've got a supersong about smiling that sure to make a most grumpy griffon grin!
Can't sing here.
But… Uh… How do you break in the uplifting musical numbers with no singing?
Yeah. That's Griffonstone's biggest problem.
Lack of uplifting musical numbers.
Well if I can't sing, how about a party?
If there's one thing that meets griffons' needs it's a good cheer.
Where is your party store?
No party store?
How about cake?
Nothing cheers folks up like cake.
Where's your bakery?
No singing?! No party store?! And no bakery?!
What is this place?!
You are welcome to leave at any time!
But that's just takes the cake.
Wait. No!
I can't take the cake. 'Cause there is no cake!
Or muffins! Or griffon scones!
Oh, we got griffon's scones.
That's my specialty.
I'll buy one.
Bits first.
Well?
What? Y'like it?
That's my Grandpa Gruff's secret recipe.
I think I broke a tooth!
Well, whatever. No refunds.
I don't even care anyway.
I just wanna sell enough of these, so I can leave this lousy town.
I can help you with that.
Uhm… You think you could tighten the strap on my helmet?
Can you give me more bits?
Nevermind. I got it.
So, how deep is this abyss?
How deep are your pockets?
Don't you griffons ever talk about anything, but bits?
Give me some bits and I'll answer.
No wonder Gilda's such a delight.
Grandpa Gruff's recipe is good,
but it's missing one important ingredient…
Don't tell me.
Friendship?
Uh, no. Baking powder.
Lucky for you I never leave without it!
Now just pop those in the owen and you'll have griffon's scones worth their weight in gold.
Greta?
A-ha! I saw that, Gilda!
You may act like a gruff grumbly griffon, but inside you're gracious and great!
What are you talking about?
You just helped your friend up when she got knocked down!
What, her?
Greta's just some griffon I know.
We don't have friends here!
I did have a friend once,
but you saw how that turned out.
Oh my gosh, I gotta go find Rainbow Dash!
See ya.
You sure we can't just fly down?
Nevermind.
Totally got my answer there.
Just gotta find that golden idol and get out of this place.
My hoof.
Help!
Throw me another rope!
You got bits?
Wait!
Help!!!
There you are!
Forget about finding the idol, I figured out how to solve Griffonstone's real problem!
Scones!
Pinkie Pie, you get back here!
Yes?
Can you throw down a rope or something?
Let me look!
One rope coming up!
We need help!
Don't go anywhere!
Where does she think I'm gonna go?
I hope I don't go anywhere!
Rainbow Dash is stuck on a ledge in the Abysmal Abyss!
And I need your help to save her!
Not my problem.
Of course it's your problem. She's your friend!
Used to be.
Can't you remeber when she was?
Yeah… Of course.
Doesn't that griffon know that she's supposed to fly at the Junior Speedsters Flight Camp?
Maybe she just doesn't wanna to make you to look bad!
Hey there, I'm Rainbow Dash.
And you are?..
Uhm… G-G-Gilda?
You sure about that?
Stick with me, Glida.
And those guys wouldn't give you anymore guff.
Wow! You are awesome!
You too, Rainbow Dash!
Well, Gilda. Let's show these guys how it's done.
Junior Speedsters are our lives!
Sky-bound soars and daring dives!
Junior Speedsters, it's our quest!
To some day be the very best!
Fine. I'll help her.
But that doesn't make me your friend.
Duly noted.
Except it does.
Hang on, loser!
I'm coming!
What took you so long, doofus?
Rainbow Dash! I'm coming for you!
Gotcha!
Hold on, you two!
The Idol of Boreas.
I'm slipping!
The Idol!
You are more important to me than some dumb chunk of gold.
Hugging later, climbing now.
I'm really sorry about how I treated you two.
Thanks, Gilda.
Apology accepted.
And I'm just sorry we didn't get your Idol back.
Now we'll never be able to solve Griffonstone's problem.
That's what I was trying to tell you.
The map didn't send us here to find the lost Idol of Boreas.
It sent us here to replace it with something better!
Nothing's better than gold to a griffon.
That's because you don't have friendship!
If you can learn to care about each other again
Griffonstone could be a mightier kingdom than it ever was before!
And you don't need some golden idol to do that.
You just need each other.
Wow, Pinkie. That was...
really sappy.
What can I say: that's how I roll.
Go on, Gilda. Go make a friend.
I don't know, Pinkie. You really think these griffons are up for this?
We aren't exactly in Ponyville, you know.
Okay. So, she was really weirded out until I gave her the scone.
Then she tried it and said it tasted…
Good!
That's the first nice thing any griffon ever said to me.
Wow, Pinkie. I guess that really was the problem we needed to solve.
Baking powder makes baked goods and friendships fluffy and delicious.
Well. We better be heading home.
What? You want me to spread friendship here by myself?
How am I supposed to do that?
I haven't even made one single friend yet!
No, you haven't.
You've made two.
Hugging!
Hugging now.
But… You'll come back and visit?
Right?
Just try and stop us.
See you later, you old charmer.
Uhm, Pinkie… Who are you talking to?
Nopony!
Come on!
Let's go home and see how Gummy did with Granny Pie's marjolaine recipe.
SCHASTLIVIY PONETS