Chapter 13: The Supreme Golden Realm of Awesomeness

Stacy opened her eyes to a completely different sight than where she had just been. Instead of the cold, dark, mechanical room of death she had just been occupying, she was lying on a sandy beach in front of a seemingly never ending ocean of the clearest azure blue. She looked around and saw absolutely nothing but a seemingly infinite expanse of beautiful beaches. She couldn't even see any form of life across the ocean's horizon line. Though she was quite confuddled by this newest predicament, she couldn't help but be content; something about this place was calming to her soul. How long she stared out into the distance, she did not know. It could have been minutes, hours, or possibly even days; time seemed to have no place in this wondrous zone. Stacy soon remembered what had happened before she arrived here, and wished that she could have some answers. No sooner had she thought this, she heard the galloping of a horse on the sand in the distance. Turning around, she saw the most beautiful pony she had ever seen - golden was the only way you could describe anything about it, aside from the eyes, for they were the most wondrous shade of pickle green Stacy had ever seen. And atop this stallion rode none other than Kermit the frog, gripping his banjo, as per usual. The pair trotted up to Stacy and slowed down right in front of her.
"Stacy, you old so and so!" Kermit beamed at her. "You've finally arrived! I was wondering how long it would take you to finally get off Rocky Road and make it here." Despite her confuzzledness, Stacy couldn't help but smile back at the wonderful muppet.
"But where exactly is 'here'?" she asked. Instead of Kermit, the pony spoke to Stacy now.
"This is the Supreme Golden Realm of Awesomeness," it said simply. "And I am the keeper of this everlasting place. Yes, I, the Golden Pony of Kubla-Kahn."
"That doesn't really answer my question, though," Stacy frowned at the pony.
"Simply put, the Golden Realm is a place that manifests itself on the outskirts of nothingness depending upon the heart of whoever the Keeper of the plaque is." The pony explained matter-of-factly.
"Wait, what?" Stacy asked, more confused than ever. "This place...doesn't exist?"
"Oh, it certainly exists. At least, now it does. You're the first person to ever enter it, and thus, this is the form it took. I must say though, your version of paradise is a beach with no one else around? How quaint."
"Well, not exactly...but what do you mean I'm the first person to come here? Haven't people been chasing after this thing for years and years? Did they know what would happen?"
"They certainly had a faint idea. I don't think it's exactly what any of them expected, but then again, what ever is?" The pony saw Stacy's confused expression and gave a lighthearted laugh. "Look my dear, the people who seek power are always blissfully ignorant to everything else but their own goals. Charles Goomy sought the Golden Pony of Kubla-Kahn because he had heard that it gave the Keeper their greatest desire, his being to have his body back. If he had managed to both obtain and unlock the secret of the Golden Pony of Kubla-Kahn, he would have lived for eternity in nothingness with his new body. You, who desire nothing but peace and serenity, find yourself here on this beach." Stacy, the pony and Kermit all stood in silence for a few moments.
"And what would it have become if Mahogany had got here?" Stacy asked at length. The pony closed his eyes to ponder this quandary.
"I think," he began, "that her strongest desire is nothing short of the destruction of everything that anyone has ever cared for. Over the years, her bitterness for being named 'Mahogany' has stirred and bubbled to the point where she has become completely insane. She believes that no one could ever care for her with a name like that, despite the fact that her entire family cared about her very much. Personally, I think the name is both feminine and strong, suitable for a goddess. It's a shame things had to turn out that way." The pony sighed.
"If Mahogany's heart wants nothingness, then what would happen if she ended up here, in my version of the Golden Realm?" At this, the pony smiled once more.
"That's the question, isn't it? I can't say for sure, but I have a hunch, and my hunches are usually correct. Someone with that much hate in their heart can never understand a place like this, born out of love. I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that if you were to bring her here, then that would be the absolute end of the Blood-Eyed Cat Syndicate."
"'Bring her here...' So that means I'm going to have to come back then, doesn't it?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so Stacy. The Supreme Golden Realm of Awesomeness can only keep this form while the person who made it is inside of it. I expect you know what that means, then?" Stacy thought it over, and then nodded her head yes.
"I'll be stuck here forever, won't I..."
"Yes Stacy, and for that I'm truly sorry. It's going to take all of my energy to open a gateway between this world and yours for a short while, during which you'll have to bring her here. That is, if you want to go at all." Stacy had no hesitation in her response.
"No, I have to go. If I don't, Lizard Man and Quincy..." at Quincy's name, she stopped, tears coming to her eyes for the first time since she had awoken in the Supreme Golden Realm of Awesomeness. After recomposing herself, Stacy continued. "They might not be able to stop her. And I have to tell Quince this one time, or else he'll never know." The pony nodded its omniscious smile, and the Supreme Golden Realm of Awesomeness started to fade before her eyes. Kermit strummed a few sad notes on his banjo and waved good-bye to Stacy.
"Stay strong for just a little while longer Stacy, all of this is almost over. Then you'll be able to see me and Fozzie Bear, Rowlf, Miss Piggy, Monster, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Beeker, Gonzo, Scooter, Dr. Teeth, and Waldorf, too!"
"And Doc Hopper...will we finally convince him that you're more than just a pair of legs?" Stacy asked as the last remnants of the Supreme Golden Realm of Awesomeness faded from her vision.
"You bet kiddo, you bet." Kermit's voice echoed in Stacy's head.