Gumdrops

"Don't try to talk me out of it, Bon-Bon, I'm going and that's that!" the pink pony flung herself into her friends arms. She let her drop, choosing instead to use her hooves to feign worry. "But Pinkie, it's dangerous in the Everfree Forest! You can't do this!" Pinkie hopped up "I have to do it Bon-Bon, there's no other way! The shop needs those ingredients!" A considerable sized crowd had gathered, just as Pinkie planned. She pressed on "Without the gum-gum drops how will we make our delicious gum-gum muffins?! Halloween is right around the corner!" she began to push through the crowd, towards her home in Sugarcube Corner. Bon-Bon slipped out of sight as the crowd dispersed itself.
Pinkie Pie was packing all the essentials, streamers, whistles, hats of all sizes. She'd have to travel light and could only afford to bring the bare minimum. She heard a knock on the door and went to open it. Bon-Bon barged through the door while it was half-open, as she often did. "Honestly, I'll never understand why you insist on causing such a scene!" she wore a tired expression, almost frustrated. "Oh, Bon-Bon, don't be such a party pooper! It's just for fun!" Pinkie Pie bounced back to her bags and resumed packing, humming a chirpy tune. "Well, just make sure to bring back some gum-gum drops, you owe me!" Bon-Bon turned to leave "Oh and Pinkie, do be careful. It really is dangerous out there.." Bon-Bon left without awaiting a response. "Sheesh it's not like I haven't done this a bajillion times before" pinkie thought to herself.

Her preparations complete, Pinkie peeked out the window. It was getting awfully late and Pinkie decided it best to leave in the morning, at this rate the night would be in full swing by the time she got to the border of the forest. But, pinkie thought, I can't go outside after that show I set up! She'd have to be discreet, she'd have to conceal herself and step through the shadows. Pinkie was a joker but she was no fool. She came to the conclusion she'd have to hole up in her room until the early morning when nopony would see her slip away. She lay in her bed quietly, no friends or bells to liven up the place. She sighed, thinking of how she hated being alone like this.
The morning brought with it new determination. Pinkie got up early and fastened the bags she'd prepared the day before. Before leaving, she checked to make sure everything was in its place, in her room and in her bags. She was out the door before the Cakes were up, an impressive feat, especially for Pinkie Pie. She began the long walk towards the Everfree Forest. A few improvised songs and enough bouncing to make a pogo-stick sick later and Pinkie Pie stood before the dark canvas of the forest.
"Just like Grammy said." pinkie said aloud to herself, as she took the first and hardest step. Gum-Gum valley was not well known to most ponies, it was hidden deep in the forest. Pinkie Pie and Bon-Bon had stumbled on it while scouring the forest for candy ingredients but recently Bon-Bon refused to go, she claimed to have seen some sort of ghoul or goblin. Nothing a few giggles couldn't handle, Pinkie explained, but Bon-Bon persisted, she resisted and insisted that Pinkie take her advice and no longer go. Of course the pink pony would have none of that. The valley was home to the rare gum-gum drops, a coveted delicacy across Equestria, it alone served as the main ingredient for the Halloween treats. Any monster would have to go through her if they wanted them all to themselves.

Pinkie travelled over rocks and through ferns, winding paths and unused trails twisted and folded into the background behind her. She'd not lost herself though, she could already smell the sweetness of the valley, it was unmistakable. She pushed her head through a bush, and her eyes brightened. Finally, she'd arrived. The trees were less dense here, the sun shone brightly on the vibrant grass. For as long as any pony dared look, there were bushes overflowing with gum-gum drops. Bright pinks, blues and yellows contrasted the dull green that surrounded them. Pinkie emptied the contents of her bag and kicked them away, she set her bags down next to the first bush and began to pick the drops.
There weren't many animals here, although many outcasts could often be found. Skunks; birds; insects of all kinds, they all made their home here. Shunned by their own species they lived together in harmony in the valley. Even predators would often be enticed by the bright drops. They paid little attentiont to Pinkie Pie, many scurried away to hide, the eldest simply carried on as if she weren't there. She meant them no harm. Her bags full, Pinkie decided she'd take a nap. She didn't come here often and it was one of her favourite areas in Equestria. She set her saddle behind her and lay her head on it, her eyes drifted shut.
She awoke to silence, the birds sang no songs, there was no buzz of nearby insects and no hustle of little feet. Her saddle lay a few feet from her, one side ripped open and the harness torn. Her eyes followed the trail of gumdrops until she saw the culprit, some sort of goblin sat on its hind legs devouring the gum-gum drops. It had large teeth and sharp claws, this wasn't something that could be laughed off. Pinkie felt something she seldom did in that moment, fear. She picked up her shredded saddle in her mouth and began to back away slowly, at least the trip wouldn't be a complete loss.

As if it sensed the very movement of the gum-gums, the beast turned its head towards Pinkie, its eyes were bagged and its mouth rimmed with foam. Pinkie slowly began to lower the bag, but the beast shot towards her. In desperation, she closed her eyes, turned around and began to kick blindly. Hoping beyond hope that if nothing else she could scare the beast away. Stopping to catch her breath, she risked a glance. The gum-gum goblin was still running towards her, she'd been kicking at nothing. Her eyes were affixed to his, she couldn't look away, she couldn't even run. She stood there and accepted the inevitable, this ghoulie wasn't going to stop. Just as all hope seemed to be lost, a flurry of green sprang from a nearby gum-gum bush, it collided with the goblin and was thrown almost immediately to the ground. It hadn't done much, but it was enough for Pinkie to come to her senses, she let loose a single well-placed kick, hitting the goblin directly in the ribs. It squealed and turned to run, it managed to limp away only because Pinkie didn't chase it.
Adrenaline rushing, Pinkie stared at the scene that had unfolded before her. The goblin hobbling away, the mangled satchel that lay before her and the tiny green critter that had selflessly come to her protection. It was an alligator, how odd of a place to find one of those Pinkie thought. It had no teeth, it must have been eating the gum-gum drops for some time. Pinkie considered leaving the alligator there in the field. Her harness had been ripped and she could only carry one thing in her mouth, but she decided there would always be gum-gum bushes. She picked up the little unconscious guy in her mouth and began the journey home.

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Young fillies and colts ran through the streets excitedly, their manes dyed and faces hidden behind masks. They stopped at each house and demanded sweets of all sorts. This was one of the busiest days for Sugarcube Corner, but their main employee was nowhere to be seen, very odd indeed as she was often heavily involved in the festivities. There were no gum-gum muffins this year either...
Pinkie Pie sat on her bed, she blew lightly on a spoon full of steaming soup. A green alligator lay under her sheets, a pink bandage wrapped around his front arm. He greedily welcomed each spoonful the pony sent his way, his toothless maw open wide in anticipation. She brought the spoon close to his head, he snapped his mouth shut around it, gulping the soup and licking her hoof with his warm tongue. "Oh Gummy, you're the sweetest treat of all!"