//------------------------------// // Eleven // Story: Candy Corn Kitten // by pokefreak13 //------------------------------// Spot and Orange Blossom hightailed out of the Everfree forest, screaming their heads off. Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara slammed into each other, falling into a puddle of red gunk, and fell flat onto their faces. Screaming, Diamond Tiara scrambled to her hooves as fast as she could and galloped out of the forest. However, Silver Spoon was frozen to the spot. Staring in horror at a rustling bush in front of her. Putting Pumpkin on her head, Apple Bloom skidded to a stop. A rustling bush? That wasn't one of their tricks. Scootalo, Sweetie Bell, and Button Mash ran to Apple Bloom's side. They all stared at the bush in alarm. What was in there? Silver Spoon looked at them, her eyes wide. She didn't seem shocked to see that the five creatures turned out to be the CMC and Button Mash. However, the grey filly did gulp as Oak started to sniff her. Oblivious to the moving bush. The bush shook like a living thing. Apple Bloom's throat was dry. So far everything was a great laugh. But it was Nightmare Night. And this was impossible! It wasn't even windy and all the animals that lived here were either sleeping, or went somewhere else for the upcoming winter. The country filly felt Pumpkin extending his claws. Ready to attack anything that came out of the bush. "W..What's i..in there?" Button Mash whispered, clutching onto Sweetie Bell's arm. "A..ah d..don't know." Apple Bloom stuttered. The small branches at the bottom of the bush parted, and a long snout appeared. There was another rustle, and it was followed by a set of shoulders. Brock, the badger, emerged from the bush and let out what appeared to be a sigh as Oak started to nip at his ears playfully. "It's Brock!" Scootalo laughed with relief. "It's just Brock." Pumpkin jumped off of Apple Bloom's head and ran up to the badger. Brock growled a grumpy warning and began to waddle away towards Zecora's house. With Oak following behind happily. "Was that a badger just now?" Silver Spoon asked in amazement. Sweetie Bell nodded. "Awesome!" the grey filly exclaimed. They all stared at one another, realizing how odd the situation was. There was an embarrassing silence, and Apple Bloom was confused. Silver Spoon is the enemy. She thought. Isn't she?" "Nice prank." Silver complemented. "How did you blank..I mean guys make all those scary noises?" She sounded genuinely curious. "Sound effects." Button Mash replied proudly. "It was great. Spot almost wet himself." Suddenly, the fillies were all laughing at the thought of Spot wetting his ninja costume. "I always knew ya were alright Spoons." Apple Bloom helped the grey filly up. Suddenly, Sweetie Bell shivered. "Hay, lets go back inside. It's getting pretty cold out here." Silver Spoon took two steps backwards. "With that witch!" "Ya have ta face Zecora someday." Apple Bloom pointed out. "But she'll turn me into a toad!" Silver Spoon insisted. "Don't be so dumb. Zecora's just a wise zebra who lives in the Everfree." Scootalo said. Apple Bloom punched her friend lightly on the shoulder. "About time ya figured that out Scoots." The orange pegasus shrugged. "I knew all along. I was just teasing you." The front door opened, and a stripe of light flooded the yard. Zecora was leaning by the door with Oak and Brock. Her front hooves folded and her witchy shadow sprawled on the forest floor. "You caught one of the visitors, I see. Now should we throw her in the sea?" Zecora said icily. Apple Bloom watched Silver Spoon's reaction. At first, the grey filly was too scared to say anything. Then, she lowered her head. "I..I'm sorry." Silver replied. Zecora stared at the filly in silence for a minute or three. Silver Spoon looked up slowly and shivered. "Are you cold?" the zebra questioned. Silver Spoon nodded slowly. The CMC and Button Mash ushered Silver Spoon into the house. After her eyes adjusted, the grey filly looked around the room uncertainly. "Sit down." Zecora commanded. "You've had a well deserved scare filly." Button Mash gasped. "Zecora! You didn't rhyme!" The zebra poured some milk into the pot, over the fire, and began to stir in some chocolate and vanilla. "I do not always rhyme. But I will in time." Soon they were all sipping the warm hot chocolate. Apple Bloom stroked Pumpkin, who was fast asleep on her lap. His little tongue sticking out. She looked at Silver Spoon who was petting a wet Oak. "So...do ya have a pet of yer own?" Apple Bloom asked. Silver Spoon's eyes lit up. "Do I!" she said right away. "What is it?" Scootalo questioned. Suddenly, Silver Spoon started to talk. She explained that her dad got a German Shepherd puppy name Hunter. It was for the whole family, to help them adjust to moving to Ponyville. "We always wanted a dog in Manehatten, but our apartment didn't allow animals." Silver Spoon told them about how scared she'd been about leaving all her friends and how she wasn't sure if she'd ever find new ones. "Diamond Tiara and her gang were better than no friends." Silver explained, sounding apologetic. Apple Bloom leaned forward. "Do ya still think Diamond Tiara is a friend?" she asked. Silver Spoon looked down at Oak. "She's not a friend. I don't know what I saw in her in the first place. I really made a mess of things, haven't I?" Zecora nodded. "You certainly have. But I forgive you lad." Silver Spoon beamed. Apple Bloom felt Pumpkin's claws digging into her legs. He'd woken up again. The filly smiled and then scooped up the little kitten and kissed him on the forehead. "Ya did ah good job out there. Ah am sure that your meow was the best ah have ever heard." Silver Spoon's eyes widened. "I thought Button Mash said that you guys used sound effects!" she exclaimed. "We also used Pumpkin and Oak." Scootalo informed. Grinning as Pumpkin began to sharpen his claws on Apple Bloom's fake cat tail. "He's really cute." Silver Spoon said, tickling Pumpkin's head. "Ah don't suppose ya want him?" Apple Bloom asked hopefully. Silver shook her head sadly. "Sorry. But Hunter doesn't like cats." The country filly sighed. "Guess your gonna go ta Fluttershy's." Scootalo smiled sadly at her friend. "At least you tried." Suddenly, Brock waddled over by Sweetie Bell. Pumpkin took notice of the badger, jumped out of Apple Bloom's lap, and walked towards Brock. The badger growled. He was use to tolerating Oak, however Pumpkin just flat out annoyed him. So Brock lashed out at the kitten. Pumpkin jumped out of the way landed in Zecora' arms. "Brock!" Zecora scolded. The badger cowered to the ground. Suddenly, Apple Bloom noticed two things. First, there was a kind of rightness to see the kitten in Zecora's arms, tonight of all nights. And second, with how much energy Pumpkin and Oak share, they were also meant to be. "Zecora?" Apple Bloom said hesitantly. "Ah know ya don't like cats and everything, but Pumpkin's got Burmese in him so he acts a lot like a dog, and..." She shook her head at the words she was about to say. "What ah am trying ta say is, well, Pumpkin really likes ya, and ah think ya will be just perfect together." Zecora took a long, hard look at the jet black kitten in her arms. Pumpkin wriggled, put out his tiny pink tongue, and started to lick the zebra's hoof. Zecora laughed for the first time Apple Bloom had met her. Then she nodded slowly. "I think perhaps you were right about this kitten Apple Bloom. I'll keep him in my home. Were he can play with Oak, Brock, and be able to roam." Apple Bloom jumped up and hugged Zecora tightly. "Thank You!" the filly shouted happily. "Hay, look at the time!" Scootalo exclaimed suddenly. "It's five to eight! We need to go trick-or-treating now!" The fillies jumped out of their chairs. "See ya Zecora!" they hollered. The zebra smiled as the group of fillies galloped out the door and into the cold night.