//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: The Uncivilized Foal // by smirker //------------------------------// Morning came and Apex entered the house and went to Scootaloo's bed, she woke up and yawned and stretched, "Morning, Apex." Scootaloo said, "Morning." Apex replied, and Scootaloo walked out of bed and took her pajamas off, "I'm off from school today." Scootaloo said, "Okay, I can teach you a few things in the forest." Apex replied, "Okay, hold on, I have to pee." Scootaloo said, and she went to the bathroom and Apex went outside and jumped back into the tree branch to look around, he saw several ponies coming to the house. Scootaloo came out of the bathroom and had breakfast, knocking was heard at the door and Scootaloo and her aunts went to it, Aunt Holiday opened the door and the three looked on with surprise when they saw how many people came to visit, they saw Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, Cranky Doodle, Matilda, and Zecora, "What are you all doing here?" Aunt Holiday asked, "Howdy, Holiday, is Apex awake?" Apple Bloom asked, "Yeah, he's up." Scootaloo replied, "What brings you all here?" Auntie Lofty asked, "Well, since it's a weekend and we're off, we thought we might learn a thing or two from him." Cranky Doodle replied, "Hold on, I'll be down soon." Apex said, "Get down from there, Apex, we've been through this." Auntie Lofty said, "I'm coming." Apex replied, and he climbed down, "How do you climb up there?" Rainbow Dash asked, "Like this." Apex replied, and he jumped onto the branches and swung his own body up to stand on top of the branch and repeated until he was high enough, he came back down afterwards, "Can ya teach me one day?" Apple Bloom asked, "If I have the time, alright, well, there's actually a tree here we can use." Apex replied, and he took them to it, "This is the toothbrush tree, cut a piece off and rub it on your teeth, when the the fibers become like bristles, bite off that part and continue brushing your teeth with it, I personally prefer to skin the bark off, but that's optional." Apex said, and he brushed his teeth with his old stick, "Oh, this brings back memories, I brushed my teeth with these all the time when I was a kid." Cranky Doodle said, "I did, too." Granny Smith replied, "So did I, I loved using those when I was a kid." Matilda said, "Um, how does it work?" Applejack asked, "Like a toothbrush, but you don't need any toothpaste to use it." Apex replied, "You ever use one, Big Mac?" Applejack asked, "Eenope." Big Macintosh replied, "Come on, I think you all will like it." Apex said, and he gave a piece out to each one, they all tried it, "Wow, it's actually pretty good." Applejack said, "Yes, my teeth feels clean." Fluttershy said, "While I think this is a bit strange, a change in my lifestyle can be arranged." Zecora said, "Well, that's the first one, come on, I got more to show in the forest." Apex said, and they followed him. Apex and the others arrived at Fluttershy's sanctuary and the animals growled and gave angry looks at him, "Oh, um... I didn't eat any of your relatives back in the woods, did I?" Apex asked while sweating, the animals growled at him more, "Come on, everyanimal, calm down, he's not here to cause trouble." Fluttershy said, and they did, Apex and the others went into the Everfree Forest. Apex led the others into the Everfree Forest and showed them a beehive, "Those are honeybees, good for honey and edible to eat, just don't get stung." Apex said, "We used to harvest bees for honey when Ah was a filly, we stopped doin' it when honey became profitable." Granny Smith said, "How long ago was that?" Apex asked, "Long time ago." Granny Smith replied, "Well, the next thing is over here." Apex said, and he led them and showed them the lemon ants, "These are lemon ants, you can eat them, they taste just like lemons, so they're sour." Apex said, "Wow, Ah've never seen these before." Apple Bloom said, "How about the rest of you?" Apex asked, "Nope." Rainbow Dash replied, "Sorry, sugar cube." Applejack said, "Eenope." Big Macintosh said, "Mm-mm." Granny Smith said as she shook her head, "No." Scootaloo said, "No." Aunt Holiday said, "No." Auntie Lofty said, "Nope." Fluttershy said, "Those ants are interesting, you have got, seen them, I have not." Zecora said, "I have." Cranky Doodle said, "Me too." Matilda said, "Where?" Apex asked, "It was in a jungle I've been to, I think it was somewhere in western Equestria." Cranky Doodle replied, "Yeah, that sounds right." Matilda said, "Well, come on, the next things are over here." Apex said, and he led them to the honey ants, "These are honey ants, bite the bottom of them and you'll get honey." Apex said, Fluttershy looked at them, "They look like they're in pain." Fluttershy said, "Well, they are force fed." Apex replied, "Oh, you poor things, your tummies must hurt." Fluttershy said as she tried to comfort them with her wings, "Anyway, come on, I got one more thing to show to you all." Apex said, and they followed him, he led them to the gum tree, "This is a gum tree, you can chew its sap like its chewing gum, here, try one." Apex said, and he cut out pieces of the sap with one of his knives, he gave one to each person and they chewed it, "Wow, this is some tough tree sap." Applejack said, "It gets softer as you chew it more, it's good for cleaning and strengthening your teeth, too." Apex replied, "You know, Apex, back when Matilda and I were kids, we would boil these before eating them." Cranky Doodle said, "Really?" Apex asked, "Yes, we used this tree sap and boiled it to make chewing gum." Matilda replied, "Wow, my parents and I always chewed tree sap and resin right off of the tree." Apex said, "We can't eat sap off of our apple trees, it'll weaken 'em." Applejack said, "Is there anythin' else to show us, Apex?" Apple Bloom asked, "Well, I wish I could, I'm noticing there's no moss in this forest, and I still haven't found a maple tree." Apex replied, "What's the maple tree for?" Apple Bloom asked, "You can harvest syrup from it." Apex replied, "What about the moss?" Scootaloo asked, "You can use it as a blanket." Apex replied, "Moss as a blanket? That sounds itchy." Aunt Holiday said, "It's not." Apex replied, they all looked forward and saw the carvings Apex put on the trees, "You have anything else to teach us, Apex?" Auntie Lofty asked, "Well, if you want, I can teach you all how to build shelter and set traps." Apex replied, "Nah, Ah'll pass, we have to work on the farm today." Applejack said, "Eeyup." Big Macintosh said, "I have Wonderbolts training, so maybe not." Rainbow Dash said, "And I have animals to feed." Fluttershy said, "I must go now, as I have to finish a potion for someone today since I made a vow." Zecora said, "Sorry, Apex, but Matilda and I have to do some shopping today." Cranky Doodle said, "Well, let's go then, y'all." Granny Smith said, and everybody got on with their days. Apex sat in Scootaloo's bedroom while Scootaloo worked on her scooter, "I hope you had fun, Scootaloo, I can probably teach you more if I find more things in the forest." Apex said, "I hope so, those were some pretty interesting things you taught us." Scootaloo replied, "You know, I have more ways to find my way back if I get lost than just carving trees." Apex said, "Really? I'd like to learn them." Scootaloo replied, "Sure, the other method's probably easier, too." Apex said, "What do I need?" Scootaloo asked, "A bunch of rocks, that's it." Apex replied, "I'll try it when the others want to learn." Scootaloo said, Apex smiled; the center of the floor burst open and Pinkie Pie came out while gasping, "Whoa!" Apex said as he jumped back, Scootaloo was startled as well, "I found you! I found you! I finally found you!" Pinkie Pie said, she stood out of the hole and hugged Apex tightly and let him go, "I thought I was going crazy when my Pinkie Sense told me there was somepony new in the town, but it kept telling me somepony new was here, and I've began searching the next day, I've been searching all over Ponyville for three days and this morning nonstop, and I finally found you! Come on, we're four days late and there's no time to waste, we've gotta throw your 'Welcome to Ponyville' party." Pinkie Pie said, and she trotted outside, "Who is that?" Apex asked, "Pinkie Pie, Ponyville's official party planner and party thrower." Scootaloo replied, "She's kind of loud." Apex said, "She's always like that." Scootaloo replied, "Well, I'll stay here for now." Apex said, "You're not going to go out to the party?" Scootaloo asked, "Not yet, I want to rest a bit first." Apex replied, "Oh." Scootaloo said, and Apex sat on the floor and got his energy back, "Apex." Pinkie Pie said as she opened the front door, he and Scootaloo looked at her, "Come on, your party's ready." Pinkie Pie said, and she headed out, Apex put his outfit on and he went outside with Scootaloo. Apex and Scootaloo headed into Ponyville and streamers and Pinkie Pie's party cannon went off, everypony partied while Apex looked around, "Hmph, quite a lively party." Apex said, he and Scootaloo walked together but everypony stopped partying and looked at Apex, "Apex, remember, we're not bipedal creatures." Scootaloo said, "I'm still not used to walking on four legs." Apex replied, the ponies murmured, Apex kept walking and Rarity screamed and ran to him, "What is this ridiculous outfit?!" Rarity asked with her voice cracking, Apex was wearing a black trash bag over his upper body, a jacket with the upper part having white fur on it, the lower part being made from black leather, the upper half of the right sleeve was made out of red cotton, while the lower half was made out of dark purple cotton, the upper half of the left sleeve was made out of blue cotton, while the lower half was made out of dark orange cotton, the top part of his pants were made out of blue denim, and the trouser legs down from his knees to his hoofs were dark red cotton sleeves of a blazer hoof sewn onto the pants, he was also wearing four bottom parts of plastic bottles on his hoofs as shoes that were secured on with rope, and a silver cooking pot on his head as a hat, "Well, since everybody is here, I'll just say it, I lived in the woods before I was brought here, this outfit was made from the scraps and trash I found in the woods." Apex said, "You can't wear that in town." Rarity replied, "I always wear this." Apex said, "No, no, no, this outfit belongs in the trash, it looks ridiculous, especially that cooking pot on your head." Rarity replied, "That's to protect me from the rain." Apex said, Rarity looked at him and screamed again, "Are you wearing a trash bag?!" Rarity asked, "Makeshift poncho." Apex said, "No! You most definitely cannot wear that, your shoes don't look normal, either." Rarity replied, "I made them from plastic bottles, and are secured to my hoofs with rope made from my mane and tail." Apex said, Rarity screamed again, "Shoes made from plastic bottles?! That is very uncouth, and held on with rope made from your mane?! You need to get a new outfit, you should come to my shop, and I'll get you a more proper and fashionable outfit." Rarity replied, and she walked away. "Who is that?" Apex asked, "Rarity, she runs Carousel Boutique, she's also Sweetie Belle's sister." Scootaloo replied, and Apex looked around a bit, "Apex, over here." Pinkie Pie said, and Apex walked to her, "Here, try some." Pinkie Pie said, Apex saw pies, cakes, and chips, he looked around and Pinkie Pie watched, he grabbed one and Pinkie Pie's smile widened, but she saw him pick up a cockroach and her smile went away, Apex began eating the cockroach and the ponies screamed, some of them spat out their foods and drinks while Roseluck fainted and Lily Valley and Daisy caught her, Rarity also fainted and fell on her couch. Pinkie Pie screamed at the top of her lungs when she saw Apex chewing the cockroach, "Apex! You're supposed to eat the pies, cake, and chips!" Scootaloo said, "I will after I finish this." Apex replied with his mouth full, and he swallowed the cockroach, "Tasty." Apex said, which made the ponies' stomachs turn. Apex grabbed a piece of a cake and pulled out a chunk at the bottom and put it in his mouth and chewed, "Too sweet." Apex said with his mouth full, "Come on, try a chip." Pinkie Pie said, "Which one's the chip?" Apex asked, Pinkie Pie handed one to him, "Oh, that's a chip." Apex said, and he ate one, he chewed slowly and saw how it tasted, "Too salty." Apex said, "Well, pretty much everything else I have is sweet, what would you like?" Pinkie Pie asked, Apex tried a sample of a pie, "Ooh, blueberry pie, one of my best." Pinkie Pie said, "What is this in the pie?" Apex asked, "They're filled with fruits, Apex." Scootaloo replied, "Fruits? My mom said the tribe she was from made pies with animal meat in them." Apex said, Pinkie Pie screamed again, "No! I am not making pies with meat, all of my pies have fruity flavors." Pinkie Pie said, "Um, actually, I've never had a pie before, my mom only talked about it." Apex replied, "You still shouldn't eat bugs and meat, Apex, that's a no-no in civilized areas." Pinkie Pie said, "What about you, Pinkie? I heard from Apple Bloom you grew up eating rocks." Scootaloo said, "I did." Pinkie Pie replied, "Really? I used rocks to make salt for preserving food and making fires." Apex said, "Ooh, I've always wanted to try rock salt, but mommy and daddy said no, but I do make rock candy." Pinkie Pie said, "What's candy?" Apex asked, "*gasp* You've never had candy?!" Pinkie Pie asked, "No." Apex replied, "Come on, I got some lollipops and cupcakes in my shop." Pinkie Pie said, "I'll stick to my meat and bugs." Apex replied, "Uh... suit yourself." Pinkie Pie said, and she walked away. Apex walked around while he looked at the others partying, "Wait, Apex." Twilight Sparkle said as she trotted to him, "You shouldn't walk like that, that's bad for your hind legs." Twilight Sparkle said, "I've walked like this all of my life." Apex replied, "Well, you shouldn't, our bodies weren't made to walk like that." Twilight Sparkle said, and he stood on all fours, "Do you have a horn and wings?" Apex asked, "Yes, I'm a princess, so I'm an alicorn, I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship." Twilight Sparkle replied, "As I said to Scootaloo, never heard of you." Apex said, Twilight Sparkle became speechless, "Um... what about Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, rulers of Equestria?" Twilight Sparkle asked, "Never heard of them, either." Apex replied, "Princess Cadence?" Twilight Sparkle asked, "Nope." Apex replied, "Did you hear about any of the threats in Equestria?" Twilight Sparkle asked, "Only the Storm King." Apex replied, "Well, you have a lot of catching up to do, come to my library if you want to read anything." Twilight Sparkle said, "I'm illiterate." Apex replied, "That's fine, I can teach you, reading's really fun, I got some books for foals your age you might enjoy, come visit me in my castle anytime." Twilight Sparkle said, and she walked away. Apex walked around on all fours and kept looking around, he went to Scootaloo's home and came back with his trash bags and walked like a bipedal creature again, the others looked at him and he put his trash bags down, he opened one and began eating a frog, the ponies screamed while Fluttershy gasped and flew to him, she saw the bugs and animals he ate as food and began to cry, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack went to them, "What is this?!" Rarity asked, "My food." Apex replied, "Not that, why are you carrying your things in trash bags?" Rarity asked, "I just found them in the woods and decided to use them." Apex replied, "Where's your saddlebag?" Twilight Sparkle asked, "Um, Twilight, Scootaloo and I learned that he didn't know what a saddlebag was before he came here, and Scootaloo let him try one of hers, he couldn't fit his stuff in it." Rainbow Dash replied, "What's in your other bag?" Twilight Sparkle asked, Apex took his tools out, "Wow, that's quite some stuff ya got there." Applejack said, "I made most of them myself, some of them are trash from the woods." Apex replied, "You never did say what the full bottle there is for." Scootaloo said, "Makeshift fishing rod, tie the string around it and you can fish with it." Apex replied, "How did you make those knives and hatchets?" Rainbow Dash asked, "I just carved and shaped some rocks and then tied them with rope." Apex replied, "You still shouldn't make rope from your mane and tail, we can style and groom it if you grow your mane out." Rarity said, "Rope made from one's mane and tail? Don't do that, Apex, nopony will want that, you can also buy rope from the store now." Twilight Sparkle said, "They didn't sell rope at the town close to the woods." Apex replied, "What do you use the rope for?" Pinkie Pie asked, "Usually tying weapons together and setting traps, I use rope for making shelter sometimes, too." Apex replied, "Did you say... setting traps?" Fluttershy asked, "Um, yeah, I have to eat." Apex replied, "Don't set traps in the Everfree Forest, Apex, you'll upset Fluttershy and the animals if you kill any of them." Scootaloo said, "Sorry, but if I sleep in the forest, I'm going to have to set traps around myself for self-defense reasons." Apex replied, "How are you going to deal with a roc?" Twilight Sparkle asked, "I've got two long-range weapons for flying threats." Apex replied, "Two?" Twilight Sparkle asked, "Yeah, he's got a bow and some arrows there, and he's got a gun right there." Rainbow Dash replied as she pointed to them, "Don't go shootin' that gun around, Apex, the last thing we need is being woken up at three in the mornin' by a gunshot." Applejack said, "My, I've never seen a contraption like that before." Rarity said, "Me neither." Twilight Sparkle replied, "Granny used to have one when Ah was a kid." Applejack said, "And my dad had one, guns are really loud, louder than my party cannon." Pinkie Pie replied, "Well, just wait a bit, Apex, I think I may have an alternate to trash bags for you to carry your things in, come on, everypony." Twilight Sparkle said, and the six mares walked away, "I didn't know they were all friends." Apex said, "They are, they're the six saviors of Equestria." Scootaloo said, "Seven." Spike said as he flew down to them, "I'm Spike, Twilight's number one assistant." Spike said, Apex held his tongue out while it watered, "Hey!" Spike said, "Sorry, but I can't help but think of you as lunch, I love dragon meat." Apex replied, Spike whimpered while sweating, "Don't eat him, Apex, he's a friend of mine." Scootaloo said, "Don't worry, I can restrain myself." Apex replied, "Well, you better, because you're going to have to answer to a very angry Twilight if you try to eat me." Spike said, and he flew away, "I didn't know this town had more than just ponies." Apex said, "There's more creatures at the School of Friendship, this way." Scootaloo replied, and she led him. Scootaloo led Apex to the School of Friendship and he saw the group of creatures, "The creatures are over there, those six are... huh?" Scootaloo said as she saw a new seventh member in the group, they went over to Apex and Scootaloo, "Hi, Apex, we've heard about you, we're students at the School of Friendship, I'm Sandbar, and these five are my friends, and we just got a new member this morning." Sandbar said, "I'm Smolder, I'm from the Dragon Lands." Smolder said, "I'm Silverstream from Mount Aris, nice to meet you, Apex." Silverstream said, "My name is Ocellus, I'm from the changeling kingdom." Ocellus said, "Me Yona, me from Yakyakistan." Yona said, "I'm from Griffonstone, call me Gallus if you want to see me." Gallus said, "I know what a dragon and a hippogriff are, but what about the rest of you?" Apex asked, "I'm a griffon, can't believe you can't tell by looking at me." Gallus replied, "I'm a changeling." Ocellus said, "And Yona yak." Yona said, "Okay, so who's that new creature with you guys?" Scootaloo asked, "Why, hello there, my name is Autumn Blaze, I just arrived here this morning as a new student, I am a kirin from Kirin Grove, we've been mostly forgotten because we've been silent, basically, two kirins argued, turned into niriks, burned our home down, and we were forced to become silent, but we just gained our voices back thanks to Fluttershy and Applejack, and have been forever grateful, Rain Shine sent me here to represent Kirin Grove and have been excited ever since, I'll be exploring Ponyville when I have the time, but other than that, great party." the new student replied, "I haven't forgotten about kirins, my mom mentioned you and hippogriffs in a bedtime story." Apex said, "Apex, did you know hippogriffs can also change to seaponies?" Scootaloo asked, "Yeah, I knew about that." Apex replied, his mouth watered again, "No, Apex, you're not eating a dragon." Scootaloo said, "I like bird meat, too." Apex replied, Silverstream screamed while Gallus got defensive, "Just go ahead and try it." Gallus said, "No, you're not eating birds, either." Scootaloo said, "Does Apex also eat yak?" Yona asked, "Never had one." Apex replied, "Phew." Yona said, "Say, Apex, have you ever tried a flower?" Autumn Blaze asked, "Yeah, I've had a few." Apex replied, "Great, I used to live in the woods, too, maybe I can teach you a few things." Autumn Blaze said, "I'll be looking forward to that." Apex replied, "Well, we'll be going now, till next time, Apex." Sandbar said, they walked away. Apex walked around Ponyville and the party was over, "Ooh, clovers." Apex said, and he picked them out of the ground and ate them, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, you could anger somepony." Scootaloo said, "Oh, sorry." Apex replied, and he stopped, he looked and saw the flower shop, he trotted to it and Scootaloo followed him. Apex arrived at the flower shop and saw Lily Valley, Daisy, and Roseluck selling flowers, "Hi, Apex, what would you like?" Daisy asked, Apex looked at the flowers, he saw an orange flower, "I'll take that one." Apex said as he pointed to it, "Ooh, that's a good choice, that'll be ten bits." Roseluck said, "Um..." Apex said, "I forgot my bits, too." Scootaloo said, "Tell you what, have your first one for free, consider it a welcoming gift." Lily Valley said, and she handed it to him, "Thank you." Apex said, "You're welcome." Roseluck replied, and he and Scootaloo walked away. Apex and Scootaloo walked together, "I didn't know you..." Scootaloo said shortly before Apex bit the flower and began eating it, the ponies who saw Apex gasped while the three mares screamed, "The horror, the horror!" Roseluck said, "No, Apex! Those are not for eating!" Scootaloo said, "Huh. I was wondering why they were also selling poisonous flowers." Apex replied with his mouth full, "They're for decorations and Hearts and Hooves Day." Scootaloo said, "Never heard of it." Apex replied, "You've never heard of Hearts and Hooves Day?" Scootaloo asked, "Nope." Apex replied, "Then what did your parents do for wedding anniversaries?" Scootaloo asked, "My parents didn't celebrate them." Apex replied, "What? What about their wedding?" Scootaloo asked, "There wasn't one, my dad was hiding from something in the woods, my mom was exploring, they met each other, and fell in love at first sight." Apex replied, "Your dad never met your mom's parents?" Scootaloo asked, "Nope." Apex replied, "Well, come on, Apex, the sun is setting, we have to head home." Scootaloo said, and the two went home. Scootaloo and Apex arrived home and saw Aunt Holiday drinking coffee and Auntie Lofty sewing, "Welcome home, how was the party?" Aunt Holiday asked, "I had some fun." Apex replied, "He ate a cockroach at the party." Scootaloo said, "He ate what?!" Auntie Lofty asked, "They were a delicacy back in the woods." Apex said, "Of all the things you eat, Apex, that is the last thing I want you to eat, that is the most disgusting bug there is." Auntie Lofty said, "Okay." Apex replied in a disappointed tone, "He also ate a flower." Scootaloo said, "A flower? That's rather unusual." Aunt Holiday replied, "Don't eat those, either, Apex, flowers are used for decorations and romantic relationships, you'll destroy somepony's work if you do." Auntie Lofty said, "I was surprised by the pies having fruits in them, my mom's tribe always made pies with meat in them." Apex replied, "Meat pie? You think we should bake a pie full of hay for him, Lofty?" Aunt Holiday asked, "I don't know, considering what his diet consists of, I don't think he's going to like it." Auntie Lofty replied, "I did try a pie, a cake, and a chip, I didn't like them too much." Apex said, "Is something the matter?" Aunt Holiday asked, "Pie and cake are too sweet, the chip is too salty." Apex replied, "Don't you put salt on your food?" Auntie Lofty asked, "Yeah, but not that much." Apex replied, "Well, I'll make dinner soon, so you two go ahead and rest." Auntie Lofty said as she sewn her quilt, the two went to Scootaloo's room. Scootaloo and Apex sat on the floor and Scootaloo worked on her scooter, the sun began to set and Scootaloo's bedroom window became white, she looked outside, "I guess tonight's gonna be foggy." Scootaloo said, she looked and saw Apex looking at the window with widened eyes, "What's wrong, Apex?" Scootaloo asked, "My dad was scared of the fog." Apex replied, "How come?" Scootaloo asked, "Whenever there was a fog in the woods, my dad would tell me and my mom that we have to hide, he said it's because there are evil ponies in the fog who are coming to kill him." Apex replied, "Did he say anything about those ponies?" Scootaloo asked, "Only that they are led by a pony named Blake, that's it." Apex replied, "Blake? Are you sure he's not trying to scare you into not going anywhere dangerous?" Scootaloo asked, "I don't think so." Apex replied, "Why not?" Scootaloo asked, "Because there was one time when the fog came, my dad told me and my mom to run, I looked into the fog and I think I saw a silhouette of a male pony, black like a shadow with glowing red eyes, he had a sword, too." Apex replied, "Whoa, that is scary." Scootaloo said, "Yeah, I never saw it again, but my dad always told us to run and hide whenever the fog came." Apex replied, "Well, maybe you were just imagining it, you shouldn't worry about it." Scootaloo said as she walked around her room and looked at herself in the mirror, "My dad was scared of mirrors, too." Apex said, Scootaloo looked back at him, "What now? Something in the mirror you can't see when you look at it with your own eyes?" Scootaloo asked, "No, my dad said mirrors are portals to another world, he said if you touch it, you will reach into the other world, that world is a prison to a being called the Black God, he said its evil incarnate, and if you reach into the mirror, it will grab you in an attempt to come to this world." Apex replied, "That's just a folk story, Apex, that's not true." Scootaloo said, "Yeah, I don't believe it, either." Apex replied, Scootaloo smiled, "Scootaloo, Apex, dinner's ready." Auntie Lofty said, and the two went to the dining room. Apex had pumpkin for dinner and looked at it thoroughly, "It's a pumpkin, Apex." Scootaloo said, "I've never seen or heard of this." Apex replied, "It's a vegetable, we got that one from Sweet Apple Acres." Aunt Holiday said, "Pinkie also uses them to make pumpkin pie." Scootaloo said, "I thought she only made fruit pies." Apex said, "Pumpkins are an exception." Scootaloo replied, and he tried a piece, "Well?" Aunt Holiday asked, "What a strange taste." Apex replied, "Give it time, I didn't like pumpkin at first, either." Auntie Lofty said, "Have you ever seen a jack-o-lantern, Apex?" Scootaloo asked, "No." Apex replied, "The town your father worked in never put them up for Nightmare Night?" Aunt Holiday asked, "I don't know what Nightmare Night is, but no, I've never seen a jack-o-lantern, my dad only talked about them being common from where he came from." Apex replied, "Do you know what Hearth's Warming is?" Scootaloo asked, "No." Apex replied, "Do you know any holidays?" Scootaloo asked, Apex stopped eating and thought for a minute, "Nope, my mom's tribe is too busy surviving to do anything for celebration, and my dad never talked about anything about his past or his home." Apex replied, "Not even parties or ceremonies?" Aunt Holiday asked, "Not a thing." Apex replied, Scootaloo and her aunts looked at him with surprised expressions, "Well, go on and finish your meal, Apex, it's almost bed time." Aunt Holiday said, and they finished their dinners and washed the dishes and headed to bed. Scootaloo and Apex laid in Scootaloo's bed and the two were still awake, "I can't sleep." Scootaloo said, "Me neither." Apex replied, "Well, how do you know about the dragons, hippogriffs, seaponies, and kirins?" Scootaloo asked, "Dragons came to the woods sometimes, hostile ones, my parents and I killed them in self-defense and ate them." Apex replied, Scootaloo almost vomited, "What about the other three creatures?" Scootaloo asked, "It's from a tale my mom told me before I fell asleep." Apex replied, "How does it go?" Scootaloo asked, "There is this deity called Mother Nature, she looks like a horse rather than a pony, and she has wings like a Pegasus and a horn like a unicorn, she has four elements, and controls the entire world, but as ponies got more civilized, industrialization and technology developed, and it made her powers weaker, so she transferred them to the other creatures, but her powers were too powerful for one creature to use, so she gave her powers to four people, a Pegasus, an earth pony, a hippogriff, and a kirin. The kirin's name is Meteorite Hellfire, she received the Element of Fire, she controls the flames throughout the world and also controls the volcanoes, the hippogriff is Tsunami, she received the Element of Water, she controls the sea and arctic areas, she has completely control over water and ice, my mom said she can change to a seapony to see what happens underwater, the earth pony is Earthquake, she received the Element of Earth, she controls the dirt, sand, soil, plants, trees, fungi, rocks, stones, and mountains, she has the most powers, and the Pegasus is Raging Tornado, she received the Element of Air, she controls the winds and tornadoes, she also has control over the skies, the four act in Mother Nature's place, and cause disasters when someone does something that displeases Mother Nature." Apex replied, "What did Mother Nature do?" Scootaloo asked, "Watch over the world, she has telepathic control over all animals, too, animals attacking us was seen as a sign that we did something to anger her." Apex replied, "So, what do the four elements represent?" Scootaloo asked, "Nature, and also physical capabilities, Meteorite Hellfire is the physically strongest, Tsunami is the most flexible and agile, Earthquake is the most durable, and Raging Tornado is the fastest." Apex replied, "Wow, I've never heard that story." Scootaloo said, "It's from my mom's tribe, they were isolated from the world, well, let's try to sleep, goodnight, Scootaloo." Apex replied, "Goodnight." Scootaloo said, and the two tried to sleep.