Chapters Once again the Apple flock amassed at Sweet Apple Acres; Apples from as far as Appleloosa and Manehatten had gathered in celebration of Granny Smith's birthday.
Most Apple family birthdays were spent with near family only, but this year Applejack had announced a huge birthday bash for Granny and the whole Apple family was invited.
Meanwhile, Apple Bloom could just watch from the window of Miss Cheerilee's class, her eyes following every Apple that galloped past. She felt bad enough being stuck in school, but worst of all she still had to get Granny a present.
Applejack suggested an old baking tin she saw in the Ponyville markets and Big Mac hinted at a new rocking chair, but Apple Bloom wanted better. She was determined to get Granny Smith the best present ever. She stared ever on, lost in thought and sighing as she pondered her gift.
"Apple Bloom, are you paying attention?" Miss Cheerilee's eyes led the mass of stares from the classroom.
"Err, yes miss Cheerilee!" Apple Bloom's voice broke slightly , she tried to grin at Cheerilee but her eyes betrayed her.
Miss Cheerilee saw it all over Apple Bloom's face. She returned a small grin of her own, preparing to test Apple Bloom's honesty. "Okay then Apple Bloom, would you like to answer the question I just asked the class."
"Err, um." A very sudden wave of panic hit Apple Bloom; her eyes tried to find Cheerilee's question on the blackboard. As her brain bubbled she tried to hide her confusion. "I think the answer was um-"
A muffled voice echoed from behind Apple Bloom. "Psst the answer is the isle Li Kepip."
"-I like Pip!" The whole class broke into laughter at Apple Bloom, even Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were fighting their giggles. Her face reddened only to be matched by the colour of Pipsqueak's. Apple Bloom raised her head behind her shoulder to see Diamond Tiara pursing her lips and making kissing noises.
"That's all well and cute Apple Bloom, but could you please pay attention in class. As I was saying a noun is a naming word." Miss Cheerilee continued with her lesson, leaving Apple Bloom completely embarrassed.
It was still early and Apple Bloom had already felt the sting of Diamond Tiara's pranks; she knew that this was only the beginning and Diamond Tiara was going to make Granny Smith's birthday a living hell, or so she thought. It was going to be a long and crazy day for Apple Bloom.
As the stampede of colts and fillies charged from the schoolhouse, Apple Bloom stepped out still wondering what to get Granny.
"Hey Apple Bloom, what was that about you liking Pipsqueak?" Diamond Tiara mocked the lone filly.
Silver Spoon slowly following in her footsteps. "So are you going to ask him on a date?"
"Leave Apple Bloom alone! does it matter who she does or doesn't like?" Scootaloo stood between Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara, her wings spreading to create an intimidating figure. Beside her stood Sweetie with a stern face.
"Yeah! I bet you're just jealous that Apple Bloom likes someone and you're so mean that you can't!" Sweetie Belle though small and cute was battle ready, and she quickly prepared more arguments to defeat Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon with.
"But, I don't like Pip." Apple Bloom stamped her hoof into the ground. "Just leave me alone Diamon Tiara, I don't like him!"
A sudden noise from behind caused Apple Bloom to turn around. Her face soon met little Pipsqueak's. He held some freshly picked flowers that wilted with his head.
She could see it in his eyes and face; Apple Bloom broke his heart. Pip quickly span and galloped away, a trail of tears following him.
Apple Bloom held hoof out, trying to call him back with her mind. "No! Pip I mean not in that way. It's Diamond Tiara!"
"Well that was entertaining, later losers." Diamond Tiara trotted away with her head held high and a huge smirk. Silver Spoon slavishly followed, laughing while pulling tongues at Apple Bloom.
"Great, that's the last thing I needed today! Why does she have to act like this today?" Apple Bloom battled her glassy eyes, holding in tear after tear. “How am I supposed to deal with this when I still have to get Granny's present?”
“So you don’t like Pip?” Tilting her head in curiosity, Sweetie struck a strong nerve in Apple Bloom. Something snapped and Apple Bloom stormed towards her.
“NO! I DON’T LIKE PIP IN THAT WAY! IT WAS A STUPID PRANK!” Apple Bloom’s voice caused a nearby flock of birds to evacuate the area. Only after she shouted did she realise Sweetie Belle. Sweetie hid her face to mask the tears. “No Sweetie, I’m sorry-"
"Why are you so mean today?" More tears erupted from Sweetie. Scootaloo gave a scolding glare to Apple Bloom, and then hugged the upset filly.
Apple Bloom rushed in to repair her damage. " I didn’t mean to shout, it’s just Diamond Tiara, she is so annoying and this present isn’t helping. I'm sorry.”
Sweetie whimpered slightly and raised her head to meet Apple Bloom's face again. In an attempt to speak her voice broke, and she had to fight against more tears.
Finally Sweetie spoke with a firm tone to help pull herself together. “OK, Apple Bloom, I accept your apology. Let’s just find this present before all the stores close.” Sweetie wiped the tears and donned a fake smile for Apple Bloom
Scootaloo hovered up between the two and attempted to diffuse the situation. “Yeah, let’s get Granny Smith the best present anybody in Ponyville has ever received, like a scooter.”
Her excitement quickly conquered the dreary atmosphere that the others created. Scootaloo to the rescue.
Apple Bloom held it back but couldn't resist laughing at the idea. “How is Granny Smith going to use a scooter, she needs a stick to walk?”
“I don’t know, I was just trying to cheer you up and it worked didn’t it?” Scootaloo giggled and her wings gave way. She collided into the ground face first, making a light thud.
Sweetie and Apple Bloom had to laugh at their friends clumsy landing. Scootaloo, on the other hand, reddened slightly.
Store after store nothing seemed to stand out to Apple Bloom, nothing felt perfect and she was not settling for any less. The three decided to split up and search different stores. Scootaloo and Sweetie headed for the hobby and furniture stores while Apple Bloom went to the Ponyville jewelers.
A beautiful golden locket stood out clearly in the display, it reminded her of Granny Smith's old and worn one at home. Apple Bloom considered buying it but she still felt there was something better for Granny.
She hesitantly trotted up to the store clerk, a regal stallion with a fine mane and an extravagant suit. “Excuse me sir, how much do you want for that locket over there.”
The clerk looked down at Apple Bloom, she barely reached the top of his legs. He began to laugh at her as he saw the locket. “Definitely more than you can afford my little hayseed.”
Apple Bloom grew frustrated with the snobby pony, she hit the counter to get his attention again. “Hey, I have money how much do you want? four bits? six bits?”
“Three hundred bits.” The stallion look down his nose at little Apple Bloom with a smirk on his face. He waited as she hesitated to respond.
“Err, well um it’s a gift for my gran, so how about thirty bits? that’s all I have mister.” Apple Bloom tried pleading with her eyes in an attempt to move the clerk, it was met with another rude snicker.
“If I would sell it for thirty bits I might as well have not bought it for my shop, and on top of that thirty bits couldn’t buy you my cheapest jewelry so I suggest you move on little filly.” Another chuckle followed and he turned around once again ignoring Apple Bloom.
"I don't care, I don't want your stinking locket. I'll find something better for my Granny." Apple Bloom quickly turned around headed for the door with her head high.
At that point, Scootaloo darted into the store and crashed into Apple Bloom. “Ow, Apple Bloom! We searched everywhere but couldn’t find anything like what you wanted. Sweetie had to go home to help Rarity with a ‘dressaster’ as she called it. What about you?”
Apple Bloom dragged herself up from the floor, dusting some some dirt off with her hooves. “Well, I don’t suppose you have an extra two hundred and seventy bits on you Scoots.”
“Are you kidding? I’d be luck to have ten bits on me.” Scootaloo’s response made the rude stallion snicker rudely to himself again. “Should we go to Sweet Apple Acres? It’s getting late Apple Bloom and I know you don’t want to miss out on the party and seeing Babs again.”
“I guess so, I just don’t think I can face Granny without a present.” Apple Bloom fought her emotions again. She tried to brave on but she could barely hold her head up, wanting to tell Granny Smith that she tried her best. “I hope she won’t be upset, I promised her the biggest and best present ever.”
Scootaloo raised a wing over Apple Bloom to try and comfort her friend. “Look Apple Bloom, we still have a the rest of the day, I’m sure we can come up with something. and I promise you Granny Smith will love it.”
Apple Bloom looked up into Scootaloo’s comforting smile and friendly eyes. “Thanks Scootaloo.”
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom charged into the mass covering Sweet Apple Acres. From the outside it didn't look so bad, but now they were struggling through crowds. Legs and tails were all major obstacles and the two had to swerve to avoid them.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had battled past ponies twice their size before they made out a clearing. Applejack had set up a huge area for a birthday rodeo; there ponies were throwing hay bales as far as possible.
Apple Bloom watched for a moment as a stallion launched his bale way beyond the others, yet he still seemed disapointed with his throw. As the bale finally landed her eyes glanced up slightly to see Babs spectating from the other side.
She tapped Scootaloo's back and pointed to where Babs was standing "Look Scoots!"
"Yeah, that was amazing but aren't we looking for Babs." Scootaloo's eyes darted up and then zoomed into Babs . "Wait, there she is! Come on Apple Bloom."
Apple Bloom could only shake her head and sigh as Scootaloo disappeared into the crowds. While Apple Bloom chased her friend, a reddish purple tail was the only indication of how far Scootaloo was ahead. She soon found herself panting for breath as she dodged leg after hoof. "Wait Scootaloo! Slow down!"
Apple Bloom's legs fell from under her as a tail appeared from nowhere. By the time she returned to her feet Scootaloo was gone.
Panicking for a second Apple Bloom chose to ask someone for help. "Excuse me! Hey you? Somepony!" Apple Bloom was dwarfed by every pony she tried to alert, yet not one of them looked down to help her. Fear took over and Apple Bloom started running in circles desperately calling for Scootaloo.
Scootaloo finally noticed that Apple Bloom was lost in the crowds. She looked around to see that her previous path had become blocked by large clumps of random ponies.
Left with no other option, Scootaloo tried hovering to get a good view but most of the ponies were too big for her. "Apple Bloom! Where are you?" Scootaloo made an attempt to charge through the ponies but ricocheted back and rolled into a barrel.
A pink pony suddenly popped out the top of the barrel. "Hey Scootaloo! How are you liking the party?" Pinkie Pie's upside down face hung in front of her.
"Pinkie Pie! Have you seen Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo jumped to the question before she remembered who she was talking to.
Pinkie Pie seemed to ponder the question for an eternity. She scanned her surroundings with a magnifying glass until finally answering. "Can't say I have. In fact, I didn't know apples bloomed, are you sure you got your information from a reliable source? Although to be honest you can never trust apple sauce."
"Hey!" An annoyed old pony turned to face Pinkie, her coat was green and she wore a white hat. "Ponies these day, all so rude." She gawked at Pinkie Pie as she slowly shuffled onward.
"No Pinkie Pie, I mean have you seen Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo's question was met with a blank stare from Pinkie. "As in the little filly? fellow crusader? Applejack's sister?"
"Oh, you mean 'Apple Bloom'" Holding air quotes as she stressed the name. "Why didn't you just say so? I saw her over there." Pinkie pointed towards a large stallion giving no clear sense of direction.
"Err, thank you Pinkie." Scootaloo was still left unsure of her friends whereabouts but wanted to end this conversation as quickly as possible.
"No problem, please recommend me to your friends." Pinkie bounced back through the party hopping over ponies as she hunted for more of her friends.
Scootaloo took a clear route toward where Pinkie pointed, her eyes bouncing left and right each time faster than the last.
She reached a wall of large and identically red stallions. They all sat there on chairs, blindly agreeing about something. Scootaloo searched for a way under them, but there was none; she looked to see if there was a way around, but she was trapped there; finally she tried hovering but these ponies were too big. Scootaloo was stuck, the clearing had filled fast and she had nowhere to go.
It dawned on Scootaloo that this party was getting out of hand. The Apple family could easily cover a good portion of the farm but this was way beyond normal Apple standards. "This is crazy, why are there so many ponies here?" she said out loud.
"Apple Bloom!" Babs came charging out a cluster of ponies. "Hey! Apple Bloom!"
Apple Bloom span around to see her cousin, relief hitting her almost instantly . "Babs!"
Babs blew her fringe away from her face and dived in for a hug with Apple Bloom. "Hey, where've you been all day, I've been looking all over since i got here?"
"Oh erm." Apple Bloom considered lying to her cousin, making some kind of excuse, but it just felt wrong. "Well to be honest-” She paused for a breath “-I still haven't got Granny a present."
"Wait, you didn't! Did you forget?" Babs' eyes were fixed on Apple Bloom, gazing into Apple Bloom’s soul which only made her feel worse about it.
"I didn't forget, it's just-” she considered how to phrase it “-nothing feels perfect, I want the best gift ever and not something that granny will throe away the next day." Apple Bloom felt a surge of guilt, welling up in her emotions once again. She tried to hold back any signs of her tears as the surrounding herds scattered around like ants in a nest.
"Well cus, you could just ask Applejack? I'm sure you're sister will get your problem." Babs moved in close to calm her Apple Bloom and hide her face from the crowds. She put a hoof to Apple Bloom's side. "You'll be fine."
Apple Bloom was starting to feel pitiful. First Scootaloo and now Babs, she was falling apart in front of everyone. It seemed stupid to cry over so small to other ponies but so big to her,. She decided to move off topic and onto a more pressing matter “ Well yeah, but first we need to find Scoots!"
"Scootaloo's here too?" Babs looked around for Scootaloo before Apple Bloom's words had fully digested. "Wait, What do you mean 'find'?"
Claustrophobia began to emerge in Scootaloo as the chaos of ponies slowly closed in. Dark thoughts and doubts began to emerge in her head, What if she gets crushed? What if she can't escape the ponies as they blindly force their way forward? A shadow then gathered over her.
Scootaloo screamed causing the pony that almost crushed her to stumble away.
"I'm sorry Missy, didn't see you there." He tried to speak as kindly as his rough voice would allow. He realised the fear in Scootaloo's eyes and seemed moved. "Oh, are you OK? You look terrified?"
Scootaloo could not respond, the near crush experience left her trembling in terror. She stared at the huge brown pony in front of her, and then down at his enormous hooves, The hooves that almost turned her to juice.
"Do you need a hand Missy? Where are your parents?" A large beard hid his mouth as he spoke. He smiled to Scootaloo but as his words were met with silence he decided to push further. "My names McBurden, can you tell me yours Missy?"
"Scoo- Scootaloo." The words seemed to run back in when she spoke, as if they didn't want to escaped the safety of her thoughts. "It's Scootaloo."
"Well Miss Scootaloo, I would first like to apologise for my clumsy hooves and secondly thank you kindly for your name." McBurden seemed to put on a formal tone that seemed unnatural from him.
"Err, no problem, and just call me Scootaloo, or even Scoots." Her fears were slowly dissipating and Scootaloo found herself in a somewhat calmer state. This pony didn't seem that bad, just another one of those clumsy stallions. "So, um McBurden. I don't suppose you've seen a filly wearing a pink bow on a red mane?"
"Can't say I have, sorry." The huge pony looked Scootaloo up and down, finally noticing that she was a pegasus. His face grew a more serious appearance and he moved closer to Scootaloo"Ah, so you're not an Apple too eh, I'm guessing you're local?"
A little bit of worry returned to Scootaloo. This McBurden acted odd and Scootaloo couldn’t decide if she trusted him or not. "Yeah, why?"
McBurden's eyes widened as he moved his head closer to Scootaloo's "What do you know about the timber wolves."
She thoughtfor a moment. "Timber wolves? Nobody tells foals much but from what Rainbow Dash says they're massive and extremely dangerous. But of course she eats them breakfast." A sense of pride filled Scootaloo, as if remembering Rainbow Dash's words was an achievement of its own.
"Where can I find this Rainbow Dash?" McBurden's head pulled back as he spoke. "I would like to speak to her?"
"Well I guess she should be here somewhere, she's one of Applejack's friends." Scootaloo realised that she answered his questions without any kind of help from him, this annoyed her. Hoping that she could still bargain some assistance, she stopped McBurden from walking away. "But first can you help me find my friend?"
McBurden's face transformed from the serious investigator to the kindly stallion in a matter of seconds. "No problem little Scootaloo, just climb onto my back." He knelt down to help Scootaloo climb up.
Once back at full height, Scootaloo almost slipped off of McBurden’s back, surprised by how big he was. She could see over everyone at the party. “Wow!”
Scootaloo began her scan from the vantage point, moving clockwise; she made out Granny Smith sitting with some older ponies at the house, one of which was the pony Pinkie Pie annoyed; Applejack was coordinating the rodeo with her cousin Braeburn; Pinkie Pie could be seen dancing with some younger ponies near the barn area.
Scootaloo quickly caught a glimpse of a pink bow not far from her. "Over there! I see her." Scootaloo pointed towards the bow and McBurden began barging his way through the swarm. Scootaloo felt a slight bit of glee as she watched the ponies who blocked her earlier stumble from the bulldozer that was McBurden
"Apple Bloom!" A voice called out to Babs and Apple Bloom. They turned to see ponies stumbling about to get out of the way of something, but they couldn't yet make out what it was.
Thundering hooves gave some clue to the coming storm, but they both continued to stare in anticipation.
"Is that Scootaloo" Babs raised her voice over the commotion before it arrived.
As the last ponies stumbled away Apple Bloom spotted a bull like beast charging towards her and Babs. "Babs I think we shou-"
"Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo called out from atop the unstoppable monster. "Hey Apple Bloom, you found Babs!"
McBurden forced his hooves into the ground to brake his lone stampede.
Apple Bloom's jaw fell victim to gravity, her face pale and her eyes glued to McBurden. She made an attempt at speech "um, Scootaloo?"
Babs almost fell over in shock, this pony was big, not Big Mac but huge. "Is that a pony?"
"Oh him, this is McBurden. Don't worry he's friendly, I think." Scootaloo cupped her mouth as she said those last two words.
"Pleased to meet you." McBurden approached Apple Bloom with his hoof outstretched.
Apple Bloom had no idea what to do, she wanted to shake his hoof but it must have been the size of a boulder. Politeness gave in and she shook the gigantic hoof with her tiny own. "Pleased to meet you, Mr McBurden."
"Another polite little filly, this town in full of them." Mcburden stepped away from the three fillies as he prepared to leave. "Well it's been a pleasure meeting you but I've got a job to do so I have to say goodbye for now."
"Thanks McBurden." Scootaloo shouted as her new friend started back through the ponies. She then turned to her friends who were still dumbfounded. "Well, that was brilliant, so what are we doing now?"
As the rodeo finished homemade ribbons were presented to outstanding competitor, Apple Bloom watched as her sister was awarded a total of three ribbons from Braeburn.
After the awards ceremony the crowds dissolved, spreading to the outer areas of Sweet Apple Acres. Vinyl Scratch had arrived with her turntables and started throwing out some beats. Most of the older ponies were dancing to the music while the younger fillies and colts were herded towards the house.
Scootaloo, Babs and Apple Bloom noticed Applejack standing on the front porch of her home. The three decided to join the sitting foals before Applejack, and wait for an opportunity to speak with her.
"So fillies and colts, who wants to hear the story of Granny and the timber wolves." Applejack's question was met with huge cheering from the young ponies.
Apple Bloom cringed at the way Applejack spoke, it was a little embarrassing to see her sister behave like this. She decided to seat herself at the back to not draw her sister's attention.0
"I thought so. It all started when Granny Smith was a little foal like all of you." Her hoof swept across the crowd. "Little Granny liked to explore and had many encounters with the timber wolves but none like this. A picnic with her friend turned bad when the two decided to sit too close to the Everfree forest."
"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?".
"Anny had saved her friend and stopped a real villain in the act. Unfortunately the two were separated and Anny never got chance to see Candy again, some say the doll wanders the forest looking for her friend." Applejack concluded the tale. The tale was burned into fillies and colts minds thanks to Applejack's excellent narration.
Behind Applejack, Granny Smith sat frowning, a small tear dropping from her eye. One would think she made the tale up but the emotions she always displayed persuaded Applejack, Big Mac and Apple Bloom at least.
"That's it!" Apple Bloom jumped realising she had finally found it. "That's the perfect present!"
Scootaloo felt Apple Bloom's hoof shake her from her sleeping state. "What? Is the story finally over?"
Babs gave Scootaloo a light hoof punch, aiming for her arm. "Come on Scoots keep up." She then turned to Apple Bloom. "What's the present?"
Stepping forward, Apple Bloom started "I'm go-"
"Wait, we're not going to see Applejack." Scootaloo joined, trying to catch up with the conversation. She looks back and to between Apple Bloom and Babs.
"No, I'm gonna find Granny's old friend." Apple Bloom looked towards the Everfree forest while speaking.
Babs held a hoof in front of Apple Bloom, stopping her from walking to the forest. "Wait! Are you crazy?"
"What friend, what are they doing in the Everfree forest. Is it Zecora?" Scootaloo still trying to work everything out buzzed next to Babs.
"I'm gonna find Candy. Imagine Granny's face when her long lost friend returns for her birthday. I need to do this Babs." Apple Bloom pushed her cousin's hoof down and continue.
"Who's Candy?" Scootaloo still had no idea of the situation, or why the two cousins were acting like this. "What do we have to do."
"Apple Bloom, everyone knows Granny Smith makes up these stories to scare the little fillies and colts." Her voice raised, Babs now positioned herself in front of Apple Bloom, blocking her path. "I can't let you go running through the Everfree forest, looking for something that's not real!"
"It is real, and I've been in the Everfree forest plenty of times. As a fellow cutie mark(ed) crusader let me passed." Apple Bloom continued to rebel against Babs.
The two froze in place, their eyes rivaling each other in glare. Time stopped for the cousins, Scootaloo buzzing and waiting for something to happen.
"I can't take it anymore!" Scootaloo finally broke the silence. "Somepony tell me what's going on?"
Apple Bloom's eyes fell to the ground then back up to Scootaloo. She let out a sigh and then responded calmly. "I'm going to find Candy in the forest. If you want to stay here Scoots I understand."
Scootaloo still had no clue to who Candy was. "Erm, I guess I couldn't leave a friend behind." Scootaloo tried to smile but it was filled with uncertainty.
"Not you aswell. It's dangerous in there!" Babs now seemed furious with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. As her mane blocked her face, anger took over. "You know what, fine! Get lost. Don't blame me if a timber wolf finds you. I'm staying here."
"You'll see when we come back with Candy." Apple Bloom continued passed Babs, confidently walking towards the Everfree forest. "We'll be back before midnight."
Scootaloo followed behind, both confused and excited. On another adventure just like Rainbow Dash. "We'll find you Candy!" she chanted behind Apple bloom . "Whoever you are."
By the time they reached the forest it was dark, strange sounds calling from inside. Luna's moon shone bright above, the only source of light.
It all dawned on Scootaloo, her fear suddenly rising at the sight of the dark trees. She managed to keep herself together and had to ask the question on her mind. "Apple Bloom."
Apple Bloom's confidence seemed stronger than Scootaloo's, marching to the very edge of the treeline. "Yeah Scoots?"
Scootaloo thought, knowing that to Apple Bloom it would be a stupid question. "Who actually is Candy?"
Apple Bloom's face shot back a glare at Scootaloo. Her eyes piercing Scootaloo's soul as the tension grew, then at the climax of her stare Apple Bloom surprised Scootaloo. Breaking out in laughter. "I guess you fell asleep during the tale, just like you do in class." She giggled between each word.
Scootaloo felt slight relief at this. "Phew, for a second there I thought you were mad at me."
"Oh, I am." Apple Bloom's face suddenly turning serious. "Anyway, Candy is an animated doll friend of Granny Smith that was made by an unknown Alicorn thousands of years ago and who fights an evil kraken called Gromin who wants the power to bring items to life."
Scootaloo's face went completely blank. She suddenly realised it might not have been a good idea to follow Apple Bloom. With all this brain activity there was no room for Scootaloo to form sentences, she could only utter one word. "OK?"
"Come on Scoots!" Apple Bloom galloped into the forest at full speed. She ducked a loose branch as she passed the first tree.
"OK?" Scootaloo followed behind, running into the loose branch in her confusion. She managed to recover and easily caught up with Apple Bloom
Trees seemed to grow out of everything in the forest, even rocky ground. As dark as it was, Apple Bloom had a confident stride as she marched. Scootaloo on the other hand was formulating worries in her head. The two continued to a river stretching far left and right. There seemed to be no clear way across.
"Ok, so what do we do now?" Scootaloo's odd pessimism taking control of her. "I doubt we could ever cross this river."
"It's ok, you can fly, i'll just climb up on your back and we'll fly across." Apple Bloom's ambition quickly unsettled Scootaloo.
"I- I-" Scootaloo hated the thought of saying it. Surely Apple Bloom should've known better but her crazy search seemed to blind her. Scootaloo mustered up enough courage to lose some dignity. "I can't fly, I can only hover for a few seconds."
"I know, but then we need to get across so..." Apple Bloom's optimistic smile seemed a mark of foolish courage to Scootaloo.
" So? We'll fall, and then be swept up by the river. Isn't there another way to this Candy." A sudden realisation hit Scootaloo. "Wait, do you even now where this Candy is?"
"Nope." Apple Bloom shook her head with a smile. Her 'Pinkie Pie'-like confidence really scared Scootaloo.
Scootaloo then noticed her own pessimism, questioning herself. "Something's wrong Apple Bloom."
"How could anything be wrong. This is the best day of my life, I'm gonna get Candy and take her to Granny Smith for her birthday." Apple Bloom's voice slowed and came out in a monotone. Her eyes were perfectly fixed on Scootaloo, her smile glued to her face, and her body stiff.
Scootaloo then felt a strange sensation and suddenly the other side of the river disappeared into the distance. Scootaloo's concept of reality seemed to burst in that second. "What's going on?"
"Oh look, we can just cross now." Apple Bloom went to step off the edge before Scootaloo bit her tail and dragged her back.
Her mind worked hard, trying to figure out what was going on. Then once again Scootaloo felt a tingle, and the river before her turned to lava. Scootaloo tugged harder on Apple Bloom stumbling back into a bush with her.
"What was that for, a puddle can't hurt me Scoot." Apple Bloom struggled against her friends strong pull.
"Apple Bloom I need you to listen." Scootaloo was hanging onto her sanity, she felt the urge to run away but she knew it was something playing with her. "Look at that lava river."
"You mean puddle of water." Apple Bloom interjected with her head high.
"Exactly, I can see a river of lava, I don't even see another side. You can see a tiny puddle. There's something wrong here and we need to snap out of it." Scootaloo spoke slowly, trying to keep Apple Bloom's attention. "Come on, you must have saw it get smaller?"
"Now that you mention it. It was a river a minute ago." For a second Apple Bloom fell out of her trance, but it quickly subsided. "But I just guess somepony's on our side."
"No Apple Bloom, it's not a puddle!" Scootaloo's voice started to rise in volume. "It's something else."
"You're right Scoots." Apple Blooms answered, almost sparking some confidence in Scootaloo. "There's nothing there let's go."
"Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo's mind finally returned, she saw the real river before her. A rickety brigde lay just next to where Apple Bloom was about to fall off. Scootaloo dashed up to her, pushing to walk across the bridge. "Let's just stick to this part of the path then."
"Why?" Apple Bloom strafed back towards the cliff edge before Scootaloo pushed her again.
"Just trust me." Scootaloo's eyes pleading desperately.
Apple Bloom felt Scootaloo's sincerity. She gave in to her friend with a sigh. "Fine then, but I'm telling you there's nothing wrong."
Scootaloo tried hard to keep the bridge steady, hoping that Apple Bloom would stay balanced. She led the way for Apple Bloom to check none of the planks below broke. At about halfway the bridge swung from left to right, making Scootaloo feel queasy, yet Apple Bloom seemed unaffected. It took a while to safely cross but the two reached the other side unhurt.
"See I told you." Apple Bloom turned around. She turned pale at the sight of the river. "Oh sweet bucking Celestia."
Scootaloo had already flopped onto the ground, grateful to be off the bridge. "Yeah, I kinda told you. Nice language by the way"
"Sorry, I mean for being so stupid earlier, and for the language." Apple Bloom felt foolish, working out how she missed the entire river.
"No Problem, I almost ran away and ditched you." Scootaloo said it with a little bit too much enthusiasm. "No, I wouldn't, I meant something was wrong with both of us."
Apple Bloom looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know, and I don't think I want to find it out." Scootaloo then remembered something she learnt on the other side of the bridge. "You don't know where we are going!"
"Oh, no I don't know where Candy is." Apple Bloom's words did not comfort Scootaloo one bit. Apple Bloom still had a plan and was ready to tell it. "But I think I know how we can find her."
Scootaloo's curiosity emerged "How?"
Apple Bloom's next three words weren't going to calm Scootaloo, not one bit.
"Gromin's timber wolves."
Scootaloo rebelled the whole idea. She thought Apple Bloom might have still been under trance but she seemed 'normal'. Apple Bloom knew it was the only way to find Candy. Apple Bloom eventually coaxed Scootaloo by comparing her to a particular flightless bird.
As reluctant as she could be Scootaloo followed Apple Bloom deeper into the forest. Apple Bloom had a vague idea where these particular timber wolves would be, mainly because of tales from Granny Smith. She spoke about seeing the wolves deep in the woods near three huge trees, each reaching away from the others.
"I'm not frightened or anything but are you really sure that we can sneak up on timber wolves." Scootaloo still wanted to run home, not through a trance but because chasing timber wolves at night was not really a good idea.
"Of course you can!" Apple Bloom ducked under a branch. She knew this would be dangerous but she had faced danger in the past. Timber wolves would be nothing compared to a chimera. "Granny said she tailed one once, following it to find Candy but she lost track."
"And what makes you think we'll do any better?" Scootaloo hovered as she spoke. She wanted to dissuade her friend from this madness.
"Firstly there's two of us, and Granny mentioned she had a broken hoof when she did it." Nothing could put her off. Apple Bloom's determination grew with every obstacle and problem. The more she went through, the more the present would mean.
"Well, I guess I've got no choice now." Scootaloo contemplated her chances again. "I won't be able to get out the forest without your knowledge."
Apple Bloom paused in front of Scootaloo, raising a hoof to signal a halt. "Shh."
Scootaloo ducked down and peaked around Apple Bloom. At first she couldn't see it, then she made the outline at the foot of a tree. A sleeping timber wolf.
Both of them slid into the bushes, trying to avoid any attention. Bramble leaves made for some light cover and the scent of the odd flowers above them would mask their own.
Scootaloo waited anxiously for Apple Bloom to speak, hoping so desperately that the wolf stayed asleep. She then decided to break the silence herself. "What do we do?" She whispered as quietly as possible.
"We could go around or wait." Apple Bloom spoke slightly louder than Scootaloo. "But it might be one of Gromin's."
"How would we know?" Scootaloo brushed a leaf from her face as she spoke.
"I think Granny said they have bark collars that are barely noticeable from a distance." Apple Bloom stroked her chin as she considered the options. She came to a conclusion. "I'm gonna check it out."
Scootaloo felt a wave of discomfort at the idea. "What? You're gonna go near that thing?"
"It's the only option now." Apple Bloom looked towards the slumbering beast. If anything it was probably one of her better plans of the night. "Wait here."
Scootaloo knew not to question Apple Bloom anymore, it would only waste time. She watched from the foliage, fearing what might happen next.
Apple Bloom approached fast and silently. Her bow almost catching on the foliage as she stepped out, she moved to the back side of the timber wolf. At least if it woke up it would have to turn to see her.
Horrid smells of the wolf's breath hit Apple Bloom's nostrils as she stretched to check its neck. A darker shade of brown ran around its neck, a thin blue glow emanating from an attached gem. First thing to go right all day, this was what Apple Bloom was looking for.
A few seconds later and Apple Bloom slid next to Scootaloo. She nodded to her friend and pointed to her neck.
Scootaloo nodded in response, glad that they might be out of here sooner. Scootaloo looked back out of the shrubbery, on vigilant to any of the wolf's movements.
Apple Bloom had to think of a plan. They had a timber wolf but now they had to get it moving to its hideout without being caught. She took a deep breath to help her think.
Apple Bloom considered throwing stones, making wolf sounds and even trying to mount the wolf, but all those ideas seemed too risky. Her thoughts broke as Scootaloo tapped her on the shoulder.
"Look." Scootaloo pointed passed the wolf into the shadows.
Apple Bloom tired to make out her friend's discovery, a figure loomed in the shade. It was a particularly large figure that seemed to stare at the timber wolf.
"What do you think that is?" Apple Bloom feared it might be another timber wolf, but it was way too large to be a normal one.
Stepping forward from the shade, the now lightened figure was enough of an answer. He charged towards the wolf crying at the beast. "Aha, you've met your match wolf!"
"McBurden!" Scootaloo called at the sight of her newest friend.
McBurden lost his focus in the distraction and the timber wolf awoke before he could pounce on it. The startled creature ran off into the distance.
"Dang!" McBurden shouted. He turned to Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "You two shouldn't be here, it's dangerous go home."
Scootaloo marched out of the foliage and stood in front of her large stallion friend. "Well then what are you doing here scaring our wolf."
"I guess I should have said back at the party." McBurden swiftly pulled a badge from under his mane, displaying it in front of the fillies. On the badge two horseshoes floated beside a star, all in gold. "McBurden, monster hunter extraordinaire at your service."
"Wow, you're a monster hunter." Scootaloo's excitement took over. She spotted his cutie mark for the first time, it matched his badge. "That's so cool!"
"Ahem Scoots, our wolf's getting away." Apple Bloom stumbled out of the bush, and shook a coat of leaves off herself.
"Your wolf missy!" McBurden looked down at Apple Bloom, a stern expression on his face. "I've been tracking that beast for miles. I'm lucky it decided to take a rest."
"You can track timber wolves?" Apple Bloom's gears grinding at a new plane. "You could help us!"
McBurden shook his head in disagreement. "Help you? you fillies need to head home before something happens to you."
Scootaloo walked away with her head high. "Fine, I guess we'll just have to walk all the way home through the dangerous forest without finding Candy." She then swung her face around, mimicking Sweetie Belle's renowned frown.
"Please don't look at me like that." McBurden tried to avoid eye contact but Scootaloo was surprisingly good at the 'Sweetie frown'.
Apple Bloom copied Scootaloo's face and let out a single tear. "I guess Candy will be lost to the wolves forever."
"Fine, I guess if your friend is missing i better help you. " McBurden swallowed some of his pride, being outplayed by two young fillies. "And I guess if it involves wolves then I could find a live specimen."
It was instinct to McBurden. He followed the timber wolf’s tracks and markings as well as any other monster hunter. Sniffed every tree, tasted every paw print, heard every howl, McBurden was fast on the trail of the beast.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom trailed behind McBurden. They tried to stay in the shadows and away from the light, lest another timber wolf ambush the three.
McBurden found his way to a lake, he sniffed a nearby rock for clues and then paused. His expression seemed surprised as he turned to the fillies. “ I can smell something else. I don’t know what it is but it isn’t anything I’ve ever come across.”
Apple Bloom quickly spurred up. “It must be Candy!”
“No, this thing doesn’t smell good.” He looked around for any other evidence but no new signs of a creature could be seen on the ground or trees. “We need to be careful. The timber wolf’s trail ends here.”
“So where is it?” Scootaloo asked promptly.
“I don’t know.” McBurden’s eyes dropped to the ground. His mind drew a blank. “This is new.”
Apple Bloom once again kicked into action. Her gears turned in the right places and an epiphany hit her. “The lake?”
McBurden looked back at Apple Bloom’s remark. “What?”
“There’s no clear evidence on the land, it must be in the water.” Apple Bloom’s theory seemed obvious to her. Her mind continued to spin and another thought crossed her mind. “That means-”
“Gromin!” Scootaloo interrupted. “The kraken.”
“A kraken, sweet celestia!” Joy beyond any comparison swept across McBurden’s face. “Well yee haw, a kraken. They haven’t been seen in almost a thousand years. I’ll be the talk of the entire hunter society.”
As happy as he could be McBurden still had some interrogating to do. “Wait, how come I’ve never heard of a kraken around these parts and yet you tow little fillies have?”
“Granny Smith told tales of Gromin and how she chased him off all those years ago.” Apple Bloom noticed Mcburden waiting for the story. “It’s a really long story.”
McBurden galloped to the edge of the lake, his head staring at the moon. “Well then, I have to catch this kra-”
A crash of water interrupted him, and a snapping beak raised from the middle of the lake. McBurden stumbled back at the majestic sight of the beast, meanwhile Scootaloo and Apple Bloom dived back in case of a sudden tentacle attack.
There he was, Gromin. His three tentacles swinging above his head, each with strange burns. His beak seem distorted with a huge scare. His voice gave out a painful screech. “Who are you trespassers?”
McBurden froze in awe for a moment, then prepared for his glory moment. “I am McBurden, monster hunter extraordinaire! Today I shall become a legend as I claim you as my prize,”
“Ha, a puny pony like you defeat me, that would never happen.” Gromin’s tentacle quickly swept in knocking McBurden into a tree and unconscious.
“McBurden!” Scootaloo dashed to McBurden’s side, completely ignorant of the danger. “Wake up!”
One of Gromin’s tentacles hung above Scootaloo, inspecting her with its eye. “Look at this, a filly. Might be a good day for me after all.” His other tentacles reached to restrain Scootaloo, wrapping around her and covering her in slime goo.
Seeing Scootaloo in trouble, Apple Bloom jumped out of the bush and joined the action. “Put her down, or I’ll use my bottles of mist behind the leaves.”
Gromin moved a tentacle to inspect Apple Bloom. “Well, you’re a curious little one, tell me where this mist comes from.”
“Candy’s throne room!” Apple Bloom stomped her hoof as she spoke. She tried using her courage and confidence to intimidate the kraken.
A rusty cackle escaped Gromin’s beak. “Curious, you’re a smart little pony. I think we should talk.”
“Put my friend down!” Apple Bloom took her chance to bargain with him.
“Oh of course.” Gromin’s slimy tentacle loosened its grip letting scootaloo glide to the ground with a slight thud. “Now tell me, how do you know of my daughter?”
Apple Bloom was getting sick of saying this over and over. “My Granny, you may remember her as Anny!”
Gromin seemed to stagger back at the name. “I remember that name, one of those brats called the other one it.”
Scootaloo wiped as much of the slime off her as she stoof up and joined the conversation. “That ‘brat’ beat you!”
“What you think I lost that battle, ha” Gromin splashed as he laughed at the thought. “No they left before it was over.”
Apple Bloom didn’t want to believe anything this beast said. She stepped forward stomping the ground once again. “Granny beat you, get over it.”
“She never got it did she, that mist was not meant to destroy me. Heartspark made it to hold me at bay.” He spat at the name. “But I have magic of my own little one and I’ve had my eye on you since you reached the river.”
As he uttered those words his tentacles glowed three separate colours, red, green and blue, and in an instant three wolves jumped out of the surrounding forest. Each of them collared with gems glowing separate colours, red, green and blue again.
“My little pets are useful tools when I need them.” Gromin swung his tentacles in a chaotic dance and as he did each wolf took up a position to surround the girls. “So fillies, I think you should come see my kingdom.”
As the wind flowed on the leaves, silence took over. Each timber wolfs eyes glowed on Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. Everything had stopped, a frozen moment before the storm. Scootaloo shivered in the cold and her coat stood on end
Crashes of waves on tentacles were the first break in silence. Gromin's tentacles began to glow, emanating in three separate colours again, and, with a sudden pop, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom found themselves in darkness.
Now they weren't just cold, but they felt the presence of walls. Around them was a room of some kind, though the abyss they could see gave no image. Apple Bloom felt around with her hoof, searching for any other sign of life.
"Scoots, you here?" Ice seemed to strike the back of her throat; Apple Bloom felt numbness take her over in the cold darkness.
"Right here." As Scootaloo spoke, they're hooves collided. Apple Bloom moved as close to Scootaloo as possible in attempt to feel the warmth of her pegasus friend.
"Scoots, it's dark in here." Apple Bloom stated the obvious. She wanted some kind of perception, other than the cold; it soon came for her.
The room illuminated slowly, with a faint purple glow. Apple Bloom knew straight away, the rock, covered in ice, with the odd pink spots no longer glowing. Beyond the seat atop the rock, a frozen waterfall descended into an icy lake.
"This isn't right." Apple Bloom took in her surroundings, she felt horror at the changes. It looked like Granny's description except... "Everything is icy and cold, Why is everything icy?"
"Is this Candy's kingdom?" Scootaloo managed to finally catch up. She looked around and kicked a rock across the room. "Not quite how i expected it. It's nothing like Twilight's palace."
Hollow winds then cut passed the duo and glided off the edge of the cliff. A foul stench hung on the new air. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom turned to an entrance, where the breeze was entering. Beyond it a glowing pair of eyes shone through the dark, and then another two joined. All three timber wolves stepped out of the void.
As they stepped slowly forward, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom found themselves being pushed closer to the cliffs edge. A crash of ice, blasting up from the drop, signalled Gromin's arrival. Apple Bloom looked down to the hard beak, with it's tentacles climbing to inspect the fillies.
"Welcome fillies, to my domain." His voice bounced from the cliff edges as it echoed up, not losing any of its rusty pitch. "I know it looks small know, but one day this will be the centre of all of Equestria."
"No, you didn't!" Apple Bloom's world crashed down. She fell backwards, stumbling over an ice white stepladder and over the odd spot rock. There on the seat, to her shock, was a lifeless brown doll, with a straw blonde mane. Hollow and empty as it was, Granny's stories depicted her well. "Candy?"
Nothing, not a flinch, came from the doll. Even normal pony dolls had more life than this one, it was just blank. Apple Bloom looked into it's cold button and marble eyes, still nothing.
"My daughter is finally well behaved." Gromin's multi-coloured magic enveloped the doll and it floated upwards. Its legs dropped to the ground, its body seemed limp and its head fell to one side. "She gave me my rightful power."
Apple Bloom remained silent. The sudden shock of her Granny's false victory broke her. A cold symbol of the false past hovered before her eyes, a mockery of Granny's adventure.
"No!" Scootaloo's hoof crashed to the ground loudly; Apple Bloom snapped from her self absorption. "You're just a mean kraken, Candy was a nice doll before you, and I want to meet her!"
Almost childishly, Scootaloo began a filly fit. Just like Apple Bloom, she didn't want to believe the truth, but there it was before them. Apple Bloom picked herself up, looking into the eyes of the ghostly doll.
"She's long gone filly, the power worked on her." A tentacle crept up on Apple Bloom and wrapped itself around her back hoof. " Now let's see if it works on ponies."
"What are you doing, let go!" Apple Bloom battled the tentacle striking the eye, but a blue barrier blocked each strike.
Scootaloo also tried to attack the kraken's limb. She jumped, using her wings for extra distance, and tried to kick it, but ricocheted back into the cave wall. She struggled to return to her hooves, while Gromin dragged Apple Bloom down the cliff.
Her eyes dropped down to see Gromin's beak glowing an odd purple. Surges of power sparked off it; his power seeped up his tentacles and around Apple Bloom.
Soon came the slow drain of power. Apple Bloom couldn't fight the release of her being. Her eyes grew blurry and eventually closed shut. She felt who she was run away from her, like a spark being consumed by a bigger flame. She lost some of her perception, everything grew darker, quieter and emptier.
Scootaloo's voice faded in and out, calling Apple Bloom's name, but she couldn't call back. A sudden smash and another strange voice echoed in through the quiet. She wanted to look but instead fell into an unconscious slumber.
Apple Bloom looked around to see a purple mist. It completely enshrouded her and felt comforting on her coat. She looked down to see nothing but the mist below her. She floated, but it was like walking.
"Where am I?" Apple Bloom stepped forward and watched the sparkles around her, like stars at night. They floated and spun horizontally around her. "Hello?"
"Anny?" A kindly voice called from around her. Its voice surrounded her from all sides and came in a high tone. Apple Bloom searched for an origin but found herself disorientated in the purple mists.
"Who's there?" She walked in every direction, but seemed to stay in one place. Everything followed her as she moved. "Erm, Help?"
"Anny, its me." Each sparkle glistened as the voice called out. "Anny?"
Apple Bloom felt an odd sensation shoot across her spine. Shivers repeated back and forth across her until she called back. "Candy?"
"Anny!" All the stars froze in place as Candy's voice resonated from within. "I knew you'd come for me Annie, I'm sorry my spell didn't take me with you."
"I'm not Anny." Apple Bloom felt calm and safe here. As empty and odd as the plane was, everything still felt alive. "Anny's my Granny. I came looking for you."
Everything seemed to get colder and dimmer. A sudden unease clouded Apple Bloom. Candy's stars grew dark with her voice. "Who are you? You're just a Gromin puppet aren't you."
"No, my name's Apple Bloom." Pins and needles seemed to tingle across Apple Blooms body. She fought through the odd sensations. " I'm Granny's granddaughter I swear."
Another change took over on the environment. Everything became neutral and Apple Bloom felt some uncertainty, as if she was making a decision.
"How can I trust you, Apple?" Candy's voice, this time, sounded indifferent. Each star shifting a neutral grey and slowly rotating around once again.
"You have to, please." Apple Bloom desperately pleaded to the mist and sparkles. "Granny told me and my sister the story of you, back when we were younger."
"Perhaps you tell the truth, or maybe you're lying, but you're here so you're not a friend of Gromin's." Candy's stars returned to their original state, rotating in a horizontal cyclone. "You might be able to help me, especially if you are a friend?"
"We need to get you back to Granny. Her birthday is almost over." Apple Bloom called back out to the disembodied doll.
"I can't." Her voice came, hurt and afraid. "I'm not in the real world any more, and neither are you. Or at least not all of you."
Apple Bloom sat down on the transparent platform, while taking in her thoughts more seriously. "Well, where are we now?"
"As I said, nowhere. Gromin has the power of life. My mum's power. And now he uses it to absorb the life of Equestria." All of the balls of light flew passed at high speeds. Apple Bloom felt them bounce lightly off of her body. "This is inside him. It's his magic catalyst, and he seeks more."
Apple Bloom froze, she had no idea what was going on. Everything seemed so strange, but she was so calm. Apple Bloom had to consider everything.
"Wait." Apple Bloom looked up in thought. She tried to mull all the information over again. "So, Gromin has some kind life magic?"
"It's the magic to give things purpose, to bring life, and I guess to take it to. He took it from me." Candy's voice slowly began to fade. Silence slowly taking over as she "I wish i could tell you more but I think our time is up."
"Candy, what do we do now?" Apple Bloom watched as the stars seemed to leave her, one by one. Her surroundings stretched out before her very eyes " Candy? What's happening."
Everything grew darker and darker, very quickly. She could feel herself being pulled from this place and back to where she belonged, but Apple Bloom wanted to stay for Candy. She tried to fight it, but again she was helpless.
Candy's final words called through on the distance. "Find the prison at the lake, find Heartspark tonight, and you can stop him."
Everything grew dark for a moment, and then Apple Bloom heard three different voices; each very distinct. Scootaloo's chirp called Apple Bloom's name repeatedly; An unmistakably deep voice from McBurden sounded concerned; and a third recognisable voice spoke in rhyme.
"Apple Bloom will be fine. The cure will help her in no time." Apple Bloom's eyes opened slowly to see Zecora's face. She smiled down at Apple Bloom, clearly thankful for her safety. "You are lucky to survive that creep, evil lurks in the king of the deep."
Scootaloo barged into view and knocked Zecora out of sight in the process. Her eyes widely stared into Apple Bloom's. "Thank Luna you're alright, you should've seen them it was amazing."
Apple Bloom finally took note of her surroundings. She hadn't left the cavern; the cold hard floor hurt her back. McBurden stood by the exit from where the wolves came. She then thought back to Candy, stuck in McBurden's ether.
"Zecora charged in with a bottle of this purple misty stuff, then she threw it at Gromin and he was like 'argh you zebra craven'." Scootaloo was reliving the moment in her mind. Flipping in the air and narrating the moves herself. " McBurden fought off the timber wolves, he threw them all down the cliff on his own."
McBurden spoke up from the entrance, his vigil took precedence. "Zecora found me by the lake and gave me something, after it I felt I could take on the world. I told her about you and she knew about this place."
"I'm glad you're okay Apple Bloom, let's get you home and to your bedroom." Zecora's remark got a snicker from Scootaloo. "Gromin is a Kraken not to be messed, not even for a pony doll quest."
Apple Bloom shot a glare at Scootaloo, which caused her pegasus friend to shy away.
Scootaloo responded before Apple Bloom could ask. "I had to tell her, you were in trouble."
"But Candy? and Heart Spark?" Apple Bloom's sentences came out fractured. Zecora turned to the filly; she seemed disturbed by something Apple Bloom had said.
"That alicorn name comes from centuries ago, where did you hear it from i would like to know" Her eyes focused on Apple Bloom in tension. She stood, impatiently waiting for Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom felt anxious, and her knowledge jumbled around her mind. Seconds wandered past as the two looked at each other. Eventually Apple Bloom gathered her thoughts together.
"Candy told me, in Gromin's magic, she told me to find Heartspark tonight, to stop Gromin." Apple Bloom had no more clue to the meaning than anyone else. She knew she had to find Heartspark but no idea how, "She said something about a prison."
"Prison huh?" McGromin marched over, he'd listened in and had decided to get involved. "Zecora, you know anything about this place?"
"A prison for a kraken I may know, the lake were I found the mist to throw." She stroked her chin as she spoke. "Gromin attacked me by this place, deep underneath a ruin in disgrace."
Apple Bloom spoke up again. "We have to go there, we need to find Heartspark."
"No young filly, leave it to me and Zecora, we'll stop this beast." McBurden started towards the entrance of the cavern, then stopped and turned his head. "You two need to go home."
"But I'm the only one who knows this, plus I need to save Candy." Apple Bloom decided to play on McBurden's weakness again. "And if we're with you we'll be safe. You don't have time to get us home."
Zecora had thought about Apple Bloom's inclusion. She decided there was no other way. "I do want Apple Bloom to get home safe but we need her help let us give her some faith."
While hovering, Scootaloo joined the discussion. "And we get to see McBurden beat up a big nasty Kraken. This is gonna be amazing."
With a sigh, McBurden found himself defeated once again. " Fine, I can't stand it but I guess we have no choice. But you two will stay behind me and Zecora."
