Ignatius and Gnorris had been walking for some time as they spoke of many things, of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. They weren't sure exactly how their plan was going to go down once they found the town. They decided to cross that bridge when they came to it. Coincidentally, they were crossing a bridge at that very moment. They continued on until they came upon a small hut. Although by hut, it really was a large gnarled tree with a door and windows. They silently approached it and peered inside. It was empty save a large cauldron and many shelves of exotic things. Meen made a mental note of this place. They were startled by a voice coming from behind.

    "May I help you?" Meen and Gnorris turned around to see a zebra. She had a Mohawk formed mane and gold bands on her neck and left forehoof.

     "Oh no, bookwo- uhm- friend, my friend and I here are just passing through." Says Meen as they turn back to the road and continue on.

     "I see you're making haste as you pass by. I only ask on your return, that you stop and say 'Hi," says the zebra, waving the pair of hooded ponies as they  walk away quickly.

     "Why didn't you trap her in your book, boss?" Gnorris asked, his legs beginning to grow uncomfortable.

     "She was speaking in rhyme you dope, she likely isn't very smart." Meen responded as they continued on their way.

    Zecora eyes them suspiciously as they carried on. Something did not quite sit right in her gut about the two. For one, the tail of one was falling off. She shrugged this off and decided it was probably a tail wig, that one did sound quite old and his tail was probably embarrassingly thin.

    "Boss, your tail is loose." Said Gnorris, who had fell a few paces behind.

    "Well normally I would chastise you for falling behind, slowpoke, but thanks." Said Meen with a laugh as he adjusted it with his hand, before returning it to his hoof looking glove shoe thing.

    "Boss, won't it be easier to turn us into ponies instead of these uncomfortable disguises, I can't feel my legs." Said Gnorris as he sat down, his cloak sliding off. He began to rub his sore legs.

    "Gnorris, you oaf! Get off the road if you're going to reveal yourself." Said Meen, hopping into the bushes. Gnorris stood and followed. Meen shed his own disguise, and stood up, his hands moving to pop his back. He still had the tail and everything attached, "But perhaps you're right. I am much too old to be crawling around like an animal. Why not look like one instead? He added with a menacing laugh. He waved his hands over himself and then was covered in a cloud of smoke.

     "How do I look? Wait, don't tell me." Meen said as he magically made a mirror appear in front of himself. He was a dark blue unicorn with white mane that mostly looked like his natural form. His tail was also white, but much more normal looking. He noticed something odd. He had a picture on his rear. He was about to say something about it but then remembered all ponies here do. He examined it. It wasn't anything special. It was only an open book. His left earring still stayed from his human form.

    "Now for you." He said turning to Gnorris. His horn began to glow, and the Gnome began to change. Poof!

    "Now let me see," Gnorris said as he used a hoof to turn the mirror. He was a forest green earth pony with an orange ginger style mane. He frowned. Sure he wasn't good looking in the first place, but is would have to do. He was still wearing his scarf and purple hat. Gnorris turned to observe his mark as well. It was the crystal orb. Meen used his magic to make the clothing disguises disappear, save the cloak. He used his magic then to fix the cloak to himself and the other to Gnorris.

    They re-met the road and continued. They had reached the edge of the forest. There, they saw a small cottage with a grass roof. It wasn't of a very regular shape. And had many windows and bird houses. It seems like the type Snow White would live in.

   I've seen bigger hobbit homes, Meen thought as they walked up to the door. He gave it a quick rap with his hoof. The door cracked open slightly and a butter yellow head with a long, pink mane flowed out.

    "Hello, pony." Said Meen in his fake friendly voice.

    "M-may I help you?" She said weakly.

    "Could you direct us to the nearest library?" Meen asked, leaning closer with a slightly creepy smile. The pony pulled her head back a bit.

     "Oh.. Uhm.. It's... In..*incoherent mumbling*" She said.

     "Come again?" Meen asked. The pony squeaked slightly.

     "It's in p-Ponyville, right th-there," she said, pointing to a nearby town who's view was obscured before.

     "Thank you." Meen said, turning around and walking back to the road.

     "Thank you, Fluttershy." Said Gnorris too. Oops. Fluttershy squealed and ran back inside, closing the door.

     "You ignorant nincompoop!" Meen scolded. "We aren't supposed to know anybody! Come now, keep your mouth shut." He said as he face hoofed and turned back to the town, and continued walked. Gnorris followed as well.

    Fluttershy looked out her window slightly. How did they know her? Was she the target of a secret agency plot? Was she in trouble with the royal guard? Her worried thoughts were endless.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    They soon arrived at the edge of the town of PonyVille. Its colorful buildings and even more colorful residents didn't seem to pay them any need, much to Meen's relief. Meen looked to Gnorris, and motioned his head sideways. Meen had kept the , book in the cloak tied to his back instead of his chest. The plan flowed flawlessly as the pair of shapeshifted humans made their way through town. Meen eyes the white buildings with their fancy style and straw homes. They passed a fancy looking bakery with a sign labeled 'Sugarcube Corner', it sounded like an interesting place and Meen decided they should stop by. He turned into it and Gnorris almost tripped himself as he turned as well, stumbling over his new hooves. They entered the building.

    Meen looked about, there were tables all about, and a counter with shelves that displayed many cakes and other fine things. He went forward to take a look.

   "Would you look at these, boss, they look delicious." Said Gnorris, who was standing there as well.

   "Yes, too bad we haven't the money to get any." Meen said with a shrug. He turned around to see a bright pink face and happy teal eyes mere millimeters from his.

   "NO PROBLEM!" Exclaimed the pink pony without warning. Meen gave a surprised shout and nearly fell over from the shock and Gnorris merely flinched and turned around.

   "I'm Pinky Pie! I've never met YOU before!" She said in what Meen understood as a highly pitched irritating, grating, and mentally assaulting voice, she began hopping around them.

    "We're going to be best friends! What're your names? WHAT'RE YOUR NAMES?" She said with an ever present smile. Meen found none of this amusing, but all of it irritating. Gnorris smiled.

     "I am Gnorris, nice to meet you." He said, helping the boss up.

     "I am I.M.Meen." Said Meen as he stood, brushing his cloak off.

     "Are you a librarian?" The bubbly pony asked, her curly pink mane bouncing along with her steps. She was looking at Meen's rear. Meen was about to say something about her staring at his flank but realized that's probably customary around here.

      "No, but I am a magician." Meen said, then adding his customary, "I, am the most POWERFUL, magician in the world!" He said, standing on his hind hooves and waving his hands in an arc over his head, making a whooshing sound. Gnorris sighed.

      "Oh I doubt that!" Said the excitable pink pony, "I bet Twilight it more powerfully - powerful than you!" She said. Meen grew cross.

      "We'll see about that." He said, turning to go.

      "Wait! Here, free samples!" Pinkie pie said as she handed them each a muffin. "Come again!" She said as they left. They smiled and left, eating the muffins as they went.

      "She was nice," said Gnorris.

      "I suppose." Said Meen.

      "You're not rethinking taking this place over are you?"

      "No."

    Gnorris sighed. He wishes Meen wasn't so stubborn and that he would lighten up and be a nice guy, but he knew well that Meen's lust for power would be his undoing, just like the last time. Gnorris wasn't yet sure if he was going to betray the boss a second time. Before Gnorris could think much longer, they turned a corner and spotted a large tree which was converted into a building.

      "There it is!" Meen said, walking forward. Gnorris followed as well. Nearer and nearer they drew to the door, when suddenly..... WHAM!!! Gnorris was knocked over by a flash of gray and blonde matter. He helplessly rolled alongside the pony who had just crashed into him. Meen stopped moving, and slowly turned his head with a dramatic look of frustration upon his face.

      "Get off of me, please!" Gnorris said, trying to get the Pegasus off of himself.

      "Sorry, sir, I don't know what went wrong, I was just flying and suddenly, poof! You were in the way!" Said the pony.

      "I WAS IN THE WAY?!!?!?!" Exclaimed Gnorris in disbelief, pushing the gray mare off. He then softened up when he realized her eyes were a little googoly. The pony frowned and tried to take off. Spinning directly upward.

      "Gnorris, are you finished playing 'Knight in Shining Armor?', yet?" Meen said impatiently, tapping his foot. Gnorris sighed and they went to the door, Meen struggled a bit, not sure how to use hooves, and managed to open it. They stepped inside. Once inside Meen examined the place. It was a wooden rotunda with bookshelves everywhere and a table smack in the center. This library was neater than the ones back home. They spotted a lavender unicorn with a two toned dark blue and purple mane, standing alone facing a shelf.

      "Well well." Said Meen with a smile, approaching the unicorn, whom he knew instantly was Twilight Sparkle. She turned around at the voice and smiled awkwardly.

      "Oh, hello, welcome!" She said in a classic librarian manner, "I'm Twilight Spar-"

      "We know who you are." Said Meen, cutting her off.

      "What brings you here?" She asks, sitting at the table.

      "I traveled far from......" Meen said, pausing to look at a world map, he only glanced at it for a brief second before saying, "Constantineighble, I wanted you to see this for me, and tell me if it is any good." He said, reaching to his back, under his cloak and pulling out the book, barely balancing it on his hoof.

      "Well, I'm flattered that you came to me, but I'm sure there are better librarians." She said, sliding the book over to herself.

      "Oh, no, miss Sparkle. I've heard many times that you're the cleverest bookworm in all of Equestria." He said with a friendly smile. She gave an unsure smile.

      "Well, we don't normally use the term, 'bookworm' to identify smart ponies around here, but, you're from out of town after all.." She said, going to open the book. Meen smiled deviously and Gnorris simply pretended to not pay attention.

      "Twilight!" Came a male voice from upstairs, which thereafter wandered from a baby dragon.

      "Yes, spike?" She asked.

      "Fluttershy just sent me a message tied to a birds leg.. She said two scary stallions wandered by her house asking this way. She said they knew her name and she had never seen them before." Said spike. Then eyeing the two stallions.

     "Well, I'm sure we can go out and meet them soon. Let me finish business here, and I'll be right out." She said. Meen gave a quiet sigh of relief. Spike nodded and headed outside, "so lets see.." Twilight said, opening the book.

.....

    Meen looked at Gnorris confused, who looked back and shrugged. The book hadn't sucked her in.

    "These pages are blank, what's going on?" Said Twilight, looking up suspiciously. Meen quickly reached forward and tapped the book with his hoof. It began to shake and leapt off the table, facing open towards twilight.

    "Wait, what is this!?!?!", She said, beginning to feel herself being pulled towards the book.

    "What's the matter smarty? Confused?" Meen said, rubbing his forehooves together deviously. Twilight attempted to scream, but she was already sucked inside instead. To the most unpleasant place she's ever seen.

    The Magic Labyrinth of I.M.Meen.