Granny's Perfect Present

"Pear Plum?" Sitting on a red picnic blanket, a filly Granny Smith spoke with another young earth pony. Next to the both of them sat a little brown pony doll with a blonde mane made of straw.

The other pony, Pear Plum, was a pear green and her mane shone a  bright plum purple to match her name.

Granny Smith routed through the basket checking each sandwich. "Do you want a cheese and tomato or  - er- lettuce and cucumber sandwich?" Her voice breaking into the Apple Accent.

"Can I have a lettuce and cucumber Sandwich please Anny." Pear Plum responded. Her voice clearly had a Canterlot influence in the accent rivaling Anny's natural farm pony tone.

"Here you go P P." Anny's nickname for Pear Plum seemed to annoy her, but the two were close friends and could take a joke. Anny handed the sandwich out towards Pear Plum.

"Thank you Anny, what about Candy?" Pear Plum pointed to the little doll, its one button eye paralleling the marble opposite in its stare.

"Of course. For Candy I brought a special sandwich." Anny returned to the basket, her head almost engulfed by it. She rustled for a few moments then emerged with another sandwich in hand. "Candy for you I have an apple jam sandwich, my own creation."

Almost as if by magic the dolls head turned slightly, its eyes landing on the sandwich. The movement could've been passed off as the wind if there was one, but instead it moved with no clear reason.

"Look Anny, I think she wants to try your sandwich." Pear Plum acted calmly, as if this was an everyday occurrence for the two, and it was.

Anny found the doll months before, somewhere near the Everfree Forest.  Occasionally the doll moved with no reason. Anny even claimed that it animated like a living pony. Anny noticed this immediately and almost decided to get rid of the doll until it saved her flank. One windy day, A loose apple cart came rolling down the hill and nearly crushed Anny, Candy jumped below the carts wheels causing it to spin away from her, saving the filly's life. Since that day Anny and Candy had been inseparable friends, they did everything together.

"Okay, here you go." Anny extended her hoof towards the lifeless lump offering the sandwich.

Once again the doll moved, this time more lifelike. It extended its tiny hooves towards Anny, and then snatched the sandwich from her hoof. After the sudden burst of activity Candy returned to a seated position with the sandwich in between all four hooves.

"Wow that was fast, I thought you were just joking when you said Candy moved." Pear Plum mentioned at the surprising speed of Candy. She seemed excited to see the doll animate fully for the first time. "Can she do anything else?"

"Of course she can." Anny replied "Eat up Candy."

By some weird miracle the doll began eating the sandwich, its little stitched mouth opening and closing, the sandwich somehow passing through the fabric itself.

Pear Plum stared in amazement, she couldn't believe what she had just saw. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know, but Candy loves apples so I've been making all kinds of apple based fo-" A howl on the distance paused Anny. She looked around anxiously, trying to locate the source of the sound.

"What's the Matter Anny?" Pear Plum gave a nervous smile to Anny.

"Nothing, I thought they were close by but it's fine." Anny returned to face Candy and Pear Plum. "What was I talking about again?"

"You make Apple Based food for Candy, am I right?" A cheeky grin across Pear Plum's face finally settled Anny's nerves.

Giving a smile and a laugh, Anny responded. "Yeah, Candy loves my baking."

A bright and beautiful day only added to the food and fun. After their lunch the three decided to play some games. Pear Plum suggested hide and seek, but Candy's stealth and strategy couldn't be matched.

Hours of playing and some apple scrumping later and the three returned to the picnic blanket. They laid their, staring at the many clouds passing by.

Anny pointed to a particular cloud, "Look you two, that one looks like an apple."

"Your right, and that one there looks like an arrow flying towards it." Pear Plum pointed at the scene as it unfolded. The arrow cloud pierced right through the apple cloud, separating it into two.

"Wow!" Anny's stare lingered for a moment, her eyes reaching for a meaning. "That's beautiful."

A slow dim in the sky began to signify the sun's descent. Dusk gloomed over as a conclusion to their day.

Pear Plum looked at the colours, reds and oranges contrasting with blues. "Anny?"

Anny, who's eyes had not moved for an hour, turned her gaze towards Pear Plum. "Yeah?"

"Can we hang out again? Just us three." Pear Plum gave Anny an innocent smile before looking back at Candy.

"Of course!" Anny repeated Pear Plum's actions, now both looking at Candy.

Candy moved her head slightly, looking passed the two fillies. Then slowly her hoof raised up to point in the direction she had gazed.

Anny froze before she even considered turning, and Pear Plum soon squealed. The horrid smell, the breaths of hunger and the ghastly howls.

"TIMBER WOLVES!" Pear Plum screamed at the top of her voice. Her warning confirmed Anny's fears.

Anny turned to see the rapid charge of three timber wolves. One's jaw hung open for the first bite, another's eyes fixed to Anny and the last one growled every second.

Anny reacted as fast as possible. She grabbed Candy in her mouth while signalling Pear Plum to follow and ran. She ran as fast as possible. She ran with all her will. But she didn't run with her common sense guiding her. She found herself running through the Everfree forest before she knew it.

She couldn't stop now. Timber wolves were hard on her tail and she didn't want to be caught by one of those brutish beasts. Not after the last encounter with them.

Strange leaves and odd plants brushed up against Anny as she ran through the endless forest. After a few minutes she remembered her friend, looking back to spot how Pear Plum was doing.

Pear Plum struggled to keep up with Anny and battled root and branch to stay ahead of the wolves. They kept chase behind her but were strangely losing ground. The entire surroundings shot passed the two as the forest grew darker, the sun dropping into the horizon.

A  sudden jerk from Candy caused Anny to look forward, and there before her eyes was a cave. Anny stormed towards the opening, taking her only chance left. "In there!" She called to Pear Plum.

The two lined up and prepared for the leap of faith. They were stuck between a cave and a timber wolf's lunch.

Together they dived headfirst into the unknown, hoping the timber wolves would not follow. Fortunately for them their hopes were answered kindly. The timber wolves stampeded outside but none were seen running passed the opening. Pear Plum finally let out a sigh of relief.

Dark like a cave, damp like a cave, even deep like a cave, but this cave was odd. It seemed a very unnatural creation compared to its exterior. Outside it looked to be a normal cave, yet inside it seemed to be the shape of a hallway. The smoothed walls climbed up into the darkness above, and ahead of them a straight path led to a rocky arch, and further again to another hallway.

"Pear Plum, does this cave seem odd to you?" Anny squinted at the darkness ahead of them as she spoke, hoping to get some indication of light.

"Erm, Anny?" Pear Plum's hoof shaking on her shoulder caused Anny to turn. "I think something is wrong with Candy."

Candy animated in front of them, her hooves holding her full weight easily, and her bright glow coming from nowhere in particular. She shone a light shade of purple in the darkness and her mane seemed to float up, only just holding in it's place. Candy then began an almost hypnotic march towards the arch and into the dark.

"Candy?" Anny followed behind, fearing for the little doll. "What's the matter Candy?"

"Wait!" Pear Plum reluctantly dashed up behind them both. "Don't leave me."

Anny and Pear Plum tailed Candy in silence and soon the three were encompassed by darkness. Only Candy's glow gave guidance to there surroundings. Everything became scarier the deeper they went; the air grew thinner; the temperature dropped; and the walls closed in.

"Anny, I'm scared." Pear Plum's whisper echoed for a long a time, giving some idea of the area. Her shakes could not be controlled and goosebumps broke out under her coat. "Is this a good time to mention I'm scared of the dark."

"Don't worry P P, you've got me and Candy here." Anny's confident voice and brave stance gave some security to Pear Plum but the darkness still reached out at them. "Let's just follow Candy, I bet she'll lead us to a way out."

Anny's pep talk drew some courage for the both of them but that was soon crushed by a screechy cackle from deeper inside. It's sound cutting the wind, and mocking the two little fillies as they followed Candy.

"What was that?" All the returning fears consuming her again, Pear Plum cowered behind Anny.

Even Anny's confidence took a strike, but she knew she had to be strong for Pear Plum. "I don't know, but we can't stop now. P P stay behind me."

Both Anny and Pear Plum lost track of time as they continued. Hope had almost escaped them until they saw a light deeper in.

Eventually the cave opened into a large room, even bigger than the new barn at Sweet Apple Acres. Above them a strange purple mist illuminated their surroundings with a magical tint.

In front a large seat crowned a rock covered in pink glowing spots. Beyond the seat, a cliff edge and then a waterfall raging into a distant lake below. Jewels, chairs and other random oddities littered the ground in front of the seat.

Anny gazed in awe at the sight. "What is this place, it's beautiful."

"It is isn't it."

Anny almost responded to her friend until she saw the look on Pear Plums face, trembling silently. "Was that you?"

Pear Plum's lips were sealed tight, too afraid to even speak.

"P P seems frightened by me." The high voice enchanted Anny's ears, speaking in a melody.

Anny called back. "Where are you, who are you?"

"Don't you recognise me, Anny?." The voice retorted with hurt.

"C- Candy?" Looking at the doll as she spoke, she felt a chill run through her spine. Anny always wanted Candy to speak but this isn't what she imagined.

"Of course, welcome to my home." Candy's hoof swept across the room and landed on the seat before her. " that's my throne over there."

Pear Plum broke from her trance and finally decided to speak. "Ca- Candy can? Wait throne?"

"Yes P P." An odd laugh echoed as Candy's head bounced. "This is my kingdom."

Anny's head rattled, she had no idea how to comprehend everything. "This is all too confusing. What do you mean kingdom? How can you move? How can you speak?"

"That can all be explained after the fight," responded Candy ",against Gromin."

"Fight?!" Anny's mind finally popped and she stumbled back knocking Pear Plum over.

"Yes, you are my champions. Gromin and his pet timber wolves took over my home, now I need you to beat him." Candy's voice seemed confident considering it had hired fillies to fight a battle for them.

Before either Anny or Pear Plum could make a response they were interrupted. A huge splash from the lake below caused a small tidal wave to push over the cliff and towards the three.

Candy ran to hide behind her throne. "Here he comes. Get ready."

Anny tried to retreat back through the entrance but a purple force field blocked her path. "What have we gotten ourselves into?"

A large slimy tentacle rose over the cliff, an eye at the top of it to search for prey. It then lunged for Pear Plum.

"What is that thing?!" Pear Plum made a dive away from the huge limb and towards a dinner plate lying on the ground. She picked up and attempted to shield herself with a porcelain barrier. "Anny help!"

Anny, still confused, tried attacking the tentacle before it recoiled but it seemed unphased and just continued to strike between the two fillies.

A crash almost knocked Pear Plum off the edge of the cliff, but she just held her composure. Now corned by the limb she looked to her friend for assistance.

Before Anny could react another tentacle came crashing in, this time reaching to high into the mist. A screech of pain echoed from the lake below the cliff.

"The mist, it must hurt the creature!" At the sight of some bottles, a plan formulated in Anny's head. "Pear Plum look for some breakable containers."

Pear Plum's plate smashed as she fought away the injured tentacle. "What? Can't you se-"

"Just do it!" Anny's tone was confident and serious enough to force Pear Plum into her idea.

A third tentacle rose from the cliff and struck hard in front of Anny but with a slight touch she vaulted over it. Then the first flew towards her, but she was too fast for that one aswell and ducked below the limb.

Annie's eyes caught sight of some containers. She managed to grab up two glass bottles in her mouth and dashed towards the throne.

Pear Plum struggled passed the second tentacle, only just dodging a swipe. She found a bottle and a large porcelain milk jug as she ran. Holding the bottle in her mouth and the jug balancing on her back she charged to join Anny at the throne.

"Wha's yor pwan?" Pear Plum spat out the bottle to speak again. "I mean, what's your plan?"

Anny spat her bottles next to the other one. "Hold on, first we need to reach the mist. We need a few chairs, or a table or- "

"A step-ladder?" A sudden confidence as Pear Plum pointed out the convenient object lying near the edge of the cliff.

Instinctively they knew what to do. The two nodded and dived out from the throne. Before them two of the tentacles were preparing to strike, regardless Anny and Pear Plum started their charged.

The first tentacle dived forward reaching for Anny, and catching the very edge of her mane. She strafed with speed to avoid its recoil and finally reached the convenient stepladder.

"Anny!" Pear Plum had been less successful. Her attempt led to the second tentacle curling around her and covering her in slime. It held her in the air by her back hooves. "Help!"

Anny had no choice. She latched her mouth onto the step-ladder and dragged it slowly back towards the throne. She had to save Pear Plum and the only way to do it was by completing her plan.

Before she even made it halfway the two free tentacles smashed the edge of the cliff causing it to break and crumble. They continued in a rhythm as the cliff's border chased after Anny, and fast.

The erosion soon caught up and the edge of the stepladder hung from the cliff. He first peak below revealed a revolting beak, snapping out desperately.

As Anny looked the tentacle dangled Pear Plum in front and above of her. The tentacle's beak called up to Anny, Its voice a harsh screech. "Give me the doll! Or she gets it!"

Anny saw her chance, she dived behind the throne and grabbed a bottle. Then she threw it with her hoof back to Pear Plum. "Fill it and throw it."

Pear Plum just caught the bottle with both her hooves, almost dropping it below. A light bulb clicked and she reached up for the mist above the tentacle. Once full she aimed the bottle for the tentacle holding her.

A sudden smash sent the tentacle into a frenzy, flinging Pear Plum back towards the throne. After its freak out the tentacle then became limp and fell back into the lake.

"Argh, you brat!" The beak snapped and spat from below. Painful screeches following soon after. "I'll have you for that!"

Anny and Pear Plum both reached for the stepladder, pulled it back up and set it behind the throne. Anny climbed and filled the last two bottles and jug in quick succession.

Instincts took over again and the two looked at each other, ready for the final push.

"Let's do it!" Anny rolled out again with Pear Plum, this time throwing the bottles at the tentacles as they did so.

Both bottles hit with loud smashes causing both tentacles to frenzy. They tangled around each other in an attempt to stay up but then fell back to the lake.

As the fillies looked over the cliff edge, holding the jug, the beak snapped in more pain, its spit almost reaching the cliff.  "Curse you fillies! Give me the doll?!"

"No! You leave our friends alone!" Anny dropped the full jug down the cliff, a small trail of mist following its descent.

As it crashed on the beak the mist completely enveloped the lake. One last pain screech almost popped the fillies ears before the beak disappeared below the water back to wherever it came from.

It was over.

A sudden relief fell over the fillies as they realised the battle had concluded. They had somehow defeated this beast and forced it to run away.

Candy quickly jumped out of hiding, running straight towards Anny and Pear Plum in awe. "I knew you guys could do it. You saved my kingdom!"

"Candy?! I! You..?" Anny had no words, she was still in high alert from the fight and just wanted to lay back on the picnic blanket again. "Can you just explain everything?"

Candy stood in front of the two. She began her own biography. "Well. First that Gromin guy is my dad, he made an alicorn, my mum, to make me ages ago."

Pear Plum perked up, confused but curious. "An alicorn? I thought Celestia was the only alicorn left in the world."

Candy looked down at the ground. "She might be, I haven't seen mum for a couple of millenniums, and dad always hated her. She was powerful with magic and said she could bring life to items using the souls of lost ponies. That's how she made me."

Anny's curiosity also grew quickly. "And what about Gromin?"

Candy's seemed to punch the air angrily with her hoof. "Dad wanted to take mum's power, now that I have it I guess he wants to take it from me. Mum said that he's a greedy kraken and she created the mist to protect me from him. But he must have found a way passed a few centuries ago. He forced me out of my home, my kingdom. I waited years and then you found me."

Pear Plum continued her line of investigation next. "You have your mum's power so... can you can bring things to life then?"

Candy turned back towards Pear Plum. "Only if I have the soul of a lost pony. They're very hard to find and I've never even seen one."

Anny's turn again. "So I have one final question, why in Equestria did you force us here to fight a huge beast when we're only  two little fillies."

"Because we're friends, and dad's timber wolves chased us here. I'm sorry but it was the only way we could be safe and escape them." Candy's guilt dragged her head down once again. "I'm really sorry, please don't be mad."

"Candy, I'm not mad. I'm confused." Anny just sat there, staring at the little doll before her. "You're my friend but this was really dangerous, my parents might even ground me."

Pear Plum suddenly shot up and panicked realising the time. "Mum will be worried, it was getting dark when we ran from the wolves and now it must be midnight"

"You're right we need to get home, everybody will be worried." Anny jumped and joined Pear Plum in panic. "Candy what's the fastest way out of her."

"Don't worry I can use my magic to send you back outside the everfree forest." Candy began to glow a brighter purple and then flashed. Anny's last sight was a frown on Candy's stitched face.

Before the two could react they appeared back on their picnic blanket. The mare in the moon above and the night sky's beauty.

"Wait. Where's Candy?" Anny looked around desperately. "Didn't she come with us."

"Hmm." Pear Plum contemplated for a moment. "Maybe she wants us to sleep and see her tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" Anny wanted to understand but couldn't see why Candy would just send them home. "We were there and then she just-"

Pear Plum stopped Anny "Just wait till tomorrow, she might even come to see you."

Anny was worried about Anny but she was too tired. The whole day had confused her and in the end she decided that Pear Plum was probably right. "I guess so. We can go to the cave tomorrow"

After tales of her great adventure and then being lectured at about telling lies, Anny made her way to bed. She landed into her comfy mattress and thought about everything; The battle, the story and her new friend.

She eventually fell into a slumber and even in her dreams her mind couldn't escape Candy. Pictures of the two hugging and playing together as real friends.

Morning came quickly and soon Anny was up, anticipated to see Candy but first she had to go to school. She brushed her teeth, ate her breakfast and headed to the schoolhouse.

At school Anny and Pear Plum told their story but found themselves in detention for causing a huge distraction. They didn't care about anything other than Candy, watching the click tick every second closer to home time.

tick

tock

tick

tock

Then finally the bell rang and together they charged out of the schoolhouse. Straight towards the Everfree forest.

"Do you remember where it was Anny?" Pear Plum asked while trying to keep up.

"Of course." Anny didn't even look towards Pear Plum, instead she just continued on with determination.

As they passed the tree line the path became familiar. The fear and drama of the chase had etched the route in both their brains.

Ducking and diving, they eventually reached the cave. they would see Candy again and the three could play together for eternity.

"Wait?" Pear Plum looked confused. "This is the spot right?"

"Yeah I'm sure of it." Anny's face paled even through her coat.

"But then where's the entrance?".