//------------------------------// // Nine // Story: Candy Corn Kitten // by pokefreak13 //------------------------------// The next morning dawned bright and frosty. Perched on a stool in the kitchen, Apple Bloom reached across the table and grabbed a green apple from the fruit bowl. Pumpkin was sleeping peacefully in her lap. Tuckered out after an energetic game of chasing his tail. Looking down at the kitten, Apple Bloom felt her heart ache. he trusted her to find him a new home, and Apple Bloom knew she was letting him down. "Um," The filly turned around to see Fluttershy leaning on a wall. "When Apple Jack wakes up, can you please tell her that I'm glad she let me stay over for the night? If..you want." Apple Bloom nodded. Her mouth full of apple. Suddenly the front door swung open and a very tired Apple Jack walked inside. When she saw her little sister getting another apple, she shook her head. "Apple Bloom, those apple are for Diamond Tiara's Nightmare Night party." the mare reminded. The filly smiled, grabbed three more apples, and took one bite out of each. Apple Jack sighed and then looked at Pumpkin. "Don't worry sis, I'm gonna take him around town today and show him off. Somepony is bound ta take him." Apple Bloom replied. "I could always take Pumpkin." Fluttershy informed. Apple Jack put her hoof around the pegasi's neck. "Sugar Cube, ya already have enough critters as it is." she pointed out. After Fluttershy headed home and the two sisters had breakfast, Apple Bloom put Pumpkin onto her head, put on her coat, and went outside. Scootalo was at the mailbox waiting for her. "Scootalo?" Apple Bloom asked. "Yep. Dad is off to work so I thought that I could come here and see what you're up to." Scootalo explained. They walked happily down the dirt road to Lilly Cottage, where Apple Bloom's grandparents lived. Apple Pie and Sugar Twist were overjoyed to see them. After a cup of warm cider and several of Sugar Twist's homemade peanut butter cookies, Apple Bloom took a deep breath and gently picked up Pumpkin, who was inside Apple Bloom's red mane. The kitten woke up with a shake of his head. "You've brought a kitten!" Apple Pie exclaimed. "Ya see, I'm," Scootalo nudged her in the ribs. "I mean we need ta find Pumpkin a home. So ah thought we'd take him around town and see if anypony wants him." Apple Pie picked up the kitten in his hooves and cradled him there for a moment. He glanced at his granddaughter, understanding in his teal eyes. "And ya hoped that we'd take him?" "Would ya? Pumpkin'll be no trouble. Well, all kittens are a bit of trouble. But it would be worth it, don't ya think? Anyway, I'd love it if Pumpkin went to somepony in the family." The kitten yawned so widely, they were given a full view of his pink, ridged mouth, and little tongue. Sugar Twist laughed and looked at her husband. "He is very sweet Pie." she said. "Do ya think that maybe we could?" Apple Pie put Pumpkin down on the red sofa, where the kitten immediately attacked a tassel on a pillow. Within seconds it was torn to shreds. Bits of silk thread strewn across the sofa. "He does have a taste for your pillows. I guess we could consider it." Apple Bloom observed humorously. Apple Bloom rose from her seat in delight. However her grandfather put his hoof in the air. "However, there is somepony we need ta ask first. Blaze may have a different opinion on the subject. And we have ta be fair Apple Bloom. Blaze was here first." On cue, an old blood hound walked into the living room and spotted the kitten. Apple Bloom and Scootalo held their breath as the brown dog glared at the kitten. Oh Blaze, please give Pumpkin a chance,she thought. Blaze started to growl at the back of his throat and stepped stiffly towards the kitten. Pumpkin yowled with fright and backed deep into the sofa pillows. Blaze continued to growl, his almond eyes fixed onto the kitten. When Apple Pie picked up the kitten and put him on the floor in front of Blaze, the old blood hound's growling got louder. Pumpkin batted his paw, inviting Blaze to play. However the dog only narrowed his eyes and twitched his tail. Pumpkin bolted under the sofa in an instant. Sugar Twist met Apple Bloom's eyes. "It just won't work dear." she said, bending down to pick up Blaze. "Your grandfather's right. Blaze was here first. It just would not be fair ta make him share his house with a kitten. "I'm really sorry." Scootalo managed to coax Pumpkin out of hiding and was now trying to soothe the scared kitten. Apple Bloom felt crushed with disappointment. "Ah..understand. Thanks for considering it though." Walking into town with Scootalo, Apple Bloom realized just how much she'd been counting on her grandparents to adopt Pumpkin. She couldn't think of a single other pony who might take the kitten in. The situation was getting desperate. Pumpkin was fast asleep on Scootalo's back. Swatting at the air in his sleep. It would've made Apple Bloom laugh if she was in a better mood. "How about we check on Sweetie Bell?" Scootalo suggested. Apple Bloom nodded her head. "About Time!!" Sweetie Bell shouted, looking up from a mound of dresses. "I need you guys to get me out! Rarity's on a dress rampage!" Scootalo was about to say something, when Rarity galloped downstairs with five dresses floating behind her. "Thank Celestia your friends are her!" the unicorn threw the dresses on the growing mound. "I need your opinion. Fancy Pants is going to take me on a date and I need to look my best." Pumpkin plopped onto the floor. Making Rarity scream. "What the?" she stuttered. Apple Bloom picked up the kitten and set it down besides Sweetie Bell. "It's the kitten I was telling you about." the little unicorn chirped. Rarity smiled sweetly as Pumpkin played with a blue ribbon tied to one of the dresses. Suddenly, the door opened and Zecora came in with a ripped up cloak. "Zecora! What happened ta your cloak?" Apple Bloom asked. "I'm afraid those fillies were right on their promise. However, this is just the beginning if those fillies were being honest." Zecora explained. Rarity stomped her hoof. "Those fillies! Somepony needs to teach them a lesson!" Pumpkin meowed in agreement. "How loud can that kitten meow? It could scare the daylights out of anypony!" The unicorn exclaimed. Suddenly, Apple Bloom got an idea. "Ah think ah know just the perfect way ta teach them a lesson." Apple Bloom replied mischievously.