//------------------------------//
// The Greatest Gift 
// Story: The Hooves of Death 
// by Lunar Pen9 
//------------------------------//

It was a quiet morning in Ponyville. Business as usual. "This is hopeless! We're never gonna get cutie marks at this rate!" Sweetie Belle whined. Scootaloo was scribbling down ideas on a piece of paper.
She looked up at Sweetie Belle and said firmly, "We're never gonna get cutie marks if we give up, will we? Do we ever give up?" She raised an eyebrow.

Sweetie Belle hung her head and murmured, "No..." Scootaloo was staring at Apple Bloom. "Do you have an idea?" she asked. Apple Bloom gazed out the window, head on her hoof, sighing. "This is so frustratin'! Maybe Sweetie's right, this IS hopeless." 

She turned and had a sad look in her eyes, but also of frustration. Scootaloo looked down at the ideas for a while before deciding it WAS hopeless, despite what she said before about giving up. She scrunched it up into a paper ball and threw it in the bin, head resting on both hooves and looking down at the table.

Then a familiar voice drifted throughout the house. "Apple Bloom, come here."
Apple Bloom sighed. 'Granny probably wants me to get her an apple pie or some blankets...' she thought. 

Granny Smith's eyes stared deep into Apple Bloom's. It was a look filled with love and compassion, the same look she received when she was born.

"Now, Apple Bloom, I know how frustratin' it is to try an' get yer cutie marks. Ah can see it in yer eyes. So ah got you a little present..." Granny Smith got up and walked to her bedroom. She came back with a pretty big gift, slowly nudging it along the floor. She set it beside Apple Bloom, a warm smile on her face. "Go on, dear."

Apple Bloom slowly revealed the box shaped present, eager to see what was inside. It was a box with a jar of Zap Apple jam, Granny Smith's bonnet and an old photo album.

Apple Bloom loved Granny Smith to the very depths of her heart, but loved her even more than she thought was possible. She hugged Granny Smith, surprising her so that she almost fell back. Apple Bloom pulled back, tears in the corners of her eyes.

"Ya know, Granny, ya really didn't need ta give me your travellin' bonnet. Or go through all the trouble of makin' Zap Apple jam just fer me!" she exclaimed. Granny Smith smiled, simply stating, "Because you're special.

They sat on the couch and started flipping through the photo album. It was a moment Apple Bloom would never forget. She thought Granny Smith was already the greatest gift she had ever received.

Soon, she fell asleep leaning against Granny Smith. 'Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo must've gone home by now', she thought whilst snuggling up against Granny. Granny Smith put her right foreleg over Apple Bloom, feeling drowsy as the last thing she saw for the night was Apple Bloom's peaceful smile.