//------------------------------//
// Chapter Ten: The Feral Colt 
// Story: The Redemption of King Sombra 
// by DrewCarriker6231993 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Ten: The Feral Colt
Everfree Forest
It was late one night and what sounded like a kid screaming a Tarzan scream. Then there was a crashing sound. Zecora wakes up and exits her hut with a lantern to see who it was. She looks around and saw it was a colt. She gasps and rushes towards him. A few days later, Apple Bloom was trotting through Everfree Forest and entered Zecora's hut. "Hi Zecora!" 
Zecora was at her cauldron pouring an ingredient in. She puts it down and turns her head to see Apple Bloom, "Good evening Apple Bloom, there is a colt I like you to meet. He is skittish, and a bit feral, but he is really sweet." Zecora points over to a small bed with a colt sleeping on it. He was a few years older than Apple Bloom and was slightly muscular, his black mane and tail was unruly, his coat was light brown, his cutie mark looked like a picture of a jungle. and he had bandages wrapped around his left arm. 
"Who's he?"
"He was raised in the wild and he doesn't know how to speak. He sprained his arm and is running a fever, and is very weak...." Zecora checked the colt's temperature with her head, "His fever appears to have broke, it's about time that he awoke." Zecora gently shook him with her hoof. Slowly, he opened his eyes showing his hazel eye color. He stood up with his three good legs. He tried moving his bad arm, but he made a squeaking sound and sat back down. 
Apple Bloom approached him, "Hi!" the colt just looks at her. Then he walks up to her until he was close to her face and starts sniffing her, and then looks at her sparkly pink bow. He then he walks around her, checking her out. "What is he doing?" Apple Bloom asked. 
Zecora smiles, "He's just curious, and he means no harm. He also appears to be attracted to you and your charm." 
"My new bow?" Zecora nods. The colt stood in front of Apple Bloom and smiles at her. Apple Bloom returns the smile. 
"Apple Bloom, I have a favor to ask. It might be difficult, but I'm confident you'll complete the task." 
"Sure, anything." 
"His recovery should take just a couple more days. Once this colt has recovered, I ask you to try to teach him your ways." 
Apple Bloom's eyes opened wide, "I would love to! But, I'm goin' have to check with my sister."
Sweet Apple Acres
"So let me get this straight: Zecora is takin' care of a colt raised in the wild, he doesn't talk, and she wants us to teach him our ways?" 
"Yes, if you don't mind." 
Applejack puts a hoof on her chin and thinks for a moment, "Welllll, It won't be easy, but I reckon we should give it a try...."
Once the colt has recovered a few days later Zecora and Apple Bloom escorted the colt to Sweet Apple Acres. The colt wasn't used to being around other ponies so he hid behind Zecora or Apple Bloom all the way. They made it to the entrance where Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith were waiting. "Howdy Zecora!" Applejack greeted and she looks around, "Where's the colt?" Zecora raises an arm and the colt pokes his head out nervously. "Awe...." Applejack lowers her head to look at him but he hides behind Zecora's other arm. 
"He is very shy, but he'll warm up to you. He is very happy around animals and children, it's true." 
Apple Bloom walks over to her new friend and offers him her hoof. He looks at it at first but he places his hoof on it. Apple Bloom led the colt to her family. The colt was shaking and sweating a little. "There's no need to be afraid...." Applejack said to him. She raises an arm, making the colt's eyes shut tight, but when he felt her arm around him he opens them back up. He looks up at Applejack, who was smiling down at him, and rubs his head against her chest. "Awe, look at him...."
Once they got into the house, the colt starts looking around, so full of curiosity. Apple Bloom had to follow him to keep him out of certain things he shouldn't get into. Apple Bloom led the colt back to the living room where the others were waiting. She and her new friend sat down on the carpet. "Okay, I think the first thing we need to work on is his language skills." Applejack said. 
"Eyep!" Big Mac agreed. 
"Can I try first?" Apple Bloom asked. Apple Bloom tapped the colt's shoulder and points to herself, "Apple Bloom." he looks at her puzzled. She points to herself again and says it slower, "Ap-ple Bloom...."
The colt points at her, "A..... Ap..... ple..... Blo....oom...." Apple Bloom smiles and nods. Again he speaks, "Ap... ple.... Bloom....." then he points to himself, "Wi.... ld.... For..... rest...." he points to her again and then himself, "Apple Bloom, Wi....ld Forrest, Apple Bloom, Wild Forrest...."
"Wild Forrest?" Apple Bloom asked nicely. The colt smiles at her and nods. 
"Wild Forrest? That's a mighty fine name." Applejack said and then points to herself and slowly says, "Ap-ple-jack." the colt looks up at her and points to her and himself.
"Apple.... jack? Applejack..... Wild Forrest...."
Then Apple Bloom got an idea, "Why don't we name the stuff we do while Wild Forrest is watchin' or doin' it with us?"
"That ain't a bad idea, why don't you take him outside and try?"
"Okay!" Apple Bloom led Wild Forrest to the yard and they started running, "Running!" Apple Bloom said. 
"Run-ning!" Wild Forrest repeated. 
Then they started skipping, "Skipping!" 
"Skip-ping!" then they start hopping. 
"Hopping!" 
"Hop-ping!" 
Apple Bloom was now starting to enjoy herself. Then they walked through mud, "Mud!" 
"M-ud!" they stopped at an apple tree with baskets. 
She places a hoof on the trunk, "Apple tree!" 
"Apple.....tree!" 
She then kicked the trunk, "Kick!" 
"K-kick!" then apples fell into the baskets. 
She picked up an apple, "Apple!"
"Apple!" Apple Bloom then lays her hoof on one of the baskets. 
"Baskets!" 
"Bas.... kets!"
After many hours of practicing Wild Forrest got everything down, including sentences, but only broken. His manners weren't the best during supper, but they didn't mind. After supper they watched the sunset and the moon rise. Then it was time for bed and Wild Forrest was very tired after a long day. Apple Bloom yawned, "Time for bed...." she looked over to Wild Forrest who just walks out the door. "Forrest?" he already found a spot and laid down in the soft grass, curled up, and fell asleep. 
"Well, would you look at." Granny Smith said surprised. "He prefers to sleep outside. Better get him a blanket." 
Applejack walked back in and grabbed a red and white checkered blanket. She approached the sleeping colt slowly and covered him with the blanket. "Night-night...." 
The Next day Wild Forrest got up early, tossed aside the blanket, and started practicing the new words he learned while doing them. "Running! "Skipping!" "Hopping" he walked through mud, "Mud!" he stopped at an apple tree, "Apple tree!" he kicked the trunk, "Kick!" he picked up an apple from a basket and took a bite, "Apple!" after he swallowed he felt the basket, "Basket!" then he looks up at the sun, "Sunrise!"
He looks up and see's a fruit bat about to leave, the bat squeaked. "What's a pony doing up this early?" Wild Forrest squeaked back at him saying: 
"I'm practicing the language my new pony friends speak!" he answered. 
"You can understand me?" the bat asked surprised. 
"Yes I can. I can speak any animal language, even bats." 
"We're you raised by animals like us or is it a gift?" 
"I've been raised in the Everfree Forest since I was a toddler." 
"Everfree Forest, eh? You're pretty tough for your age! What's your name?" 
"My name is Wild Forrest, what's yours?" 
"Hey, I've heard of you from relatives in Everfree Forest! 
Everybat calls me Frutti the Fruit Bat. Nice to meet you!" the bat yawns, "It's time for me to go to sleep. Good morning Forrest!" 
"Good morning Frutti, sweet dreams!" the bat flew away to a dead tree, hung upside down, and fell asleep.
"There you are!" Apple Bloom yelled running up to him. 
"Apple Bloom!" 
"What are you doing?" 
Trying clearly he spoke, "Wild.... Forrest met..... fruit bat.... says.... good morning..... to me..... and him....."
Apple Bloom smiles at him, "You're learnin' fast! I'm proud of you!" 
Wild Forrest looks puzzled, "Learning.... what?" 
"How to speak in sentences, silly!" 
"Oh.... I..... not..... silly....." Apple Bloom giggles and holds out her hoof. 
"Cm'on, you're goin' to miss breakfast!" he took her hoof and together they trotted back to the house. 
After breakfast and the morning chores Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo arrived and found Applejack giving Wild Forrest a bath. He seemed to be enjoying it. Applejack then poured a bucket on to rinse him off, "There, I'm done." 
Wild Forrest jumped out of the tub. Apple Bloom was bringing him a towel when Forrest shook himself, "Hey!" Apple Bloom laughed. "You use this to dry yourself off." she handed him the towel. Forrest sniffs it and then figures it out and dries himself off. 
"Hi Apple Bloom!" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle greeted. 
"Hi Scootaloo! Hi Sweetie Belle!" after Forrest gets the towel off his face he see the two fillies. 
"Who.... they?" he asked Apple Bloom. 
"They're my friends!"
"Fr-friends?" 
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo approached them. "I'm Scootaloo!" 
"And my name's Sweetie Belle! What's your name?" 
Wild Forrest smiles and points to himself, "Me.... Wild Forrest." 
"Nice to meet you! Are you new around here?" Scootaloo asks. 
"Wild Forrest was raised by the wild animals from Everfree Forest and is still learnin' how to speak." Apple Bloom told them, "He's also goin' to be stayin' with us for a while. Would you like to come with us to Ponyville? I'm goin' to be showin' him around Ponyville and try to teach him what there is to teach, and I could use your help." 
"Okay!" 
"Sure thing!" 
The three put there hooves together, "Cutie Mark Crusaders Teachers!".
Ponyville
The four were trotting along while Forrest was looking left and right. Except for the day before he had never been in Ponyville. So many sights, so many smells, and so much to learn. Many colts and fillies were playing and the adults were going about their lives. They went through the marketplace. Wild Forrest caught the smell of pies cooking. He didn't know why, but they just smelled good. He didn't want to take anything without asking so he continued following his new friends.  They stopped at the schoolhouse, which was closed, but they were allowed to play on the playground. Apple Bloom jumped on a swing, "Can you give me a push, Forrest?" Forrest walks over to her and places both hooves on her back. Apple Bloom looks back at him and nods. He gives her a push and she started swinging. Forrest kept pushing and pushing until he pushed to hard and sent Apple Bloom flying. "Whoaaaaa!!!" Forrest rushed over, slid on his back, and caught her in his arms! "Whoo! That was kinda fun! Thanks!" the two then looked at each other in the eyes and blushed. Apple Bloom got off and helped him stand back up. She looked and saw Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara approaching them. "Uh-oh...." 
"What wrong?" Forrest asked the concerned Apple Bloom.
"Who is he? Your new boyfriend?" Silver Spoon asked rudely. 
"Oh, honey would you mind holding my bow?" Diamond Tiara asked mockingly. "Oh, I forgot he came from the wild so he doesn't know anything!" they laughed. Apple Bloom glared at them. 
"Apple Bloom, what say?" Forrest asked. 
"Nothing, let's just go...."
"Wait, Apple Bloom! We're just curious: why do you want to hang out with a filthy colt like him?" Diamond Tiara asked. 
"Yeah, like you got nothing better to do!" Silver Spoon replied as they both laughed again. Apple Bloom's ears went down and she looked sad. Forrest saw this and walked up to them. 
"You..... pink..... and grey fillies stop! Apple Bloom feel hurt!"
"So, you CAN talk! Just gets better and better!" Diamond Tiara said as she and her friend walked over to Apple Bloom. 
"Let's see what he does when we push her." Silver Spoon suggested. 
"Good idea!" together they pushed Apple Bloom in the mud! Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle saw this and rushed over to comfort her. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon just laughed as Forrest approached them with anger in his eyes. While they weren't looking the colt snatched Diamond's tiara! "Hey!" she turns around to face him and gasps. Forrest put the tiara in his mouth, chewed, and then spits it out! The tiara was now bent out of shape and twisted. 
"Taste bad...." he said.
"My tiara! My precious, precious tiara!" she takes it into her hooves, "It's ruined!" she looked back at Forrest outraged. "You have any idea how much this costs?!" the colt just stood there still angry. "You filthy pony!" she charged towards him. Forrest stood on his hind legs with no effort, showing his abs and muscular chest, and stopped Tiara with his hooves. 
"You bad filly...." he said. Then he pushed Tiara causing her to roll like a ball and crash into Silver Spoon! "Pain me to do that to female but you hurt friend. Leave, before I ruin another important thing yours!" he threatened standing back on all four. 
They stood back up, "We'll get you!" Tiara promised before she and her friend ran off.
He walked over to Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. "You alright?" Apple Bloom looked up at him sadly. 
"I.... I am now....."
They went to the lakeside and went swimming. Many colts and fillies were splashing, swimming, playing, relaxing. Apple Bloom washed the mud off, "Good thing I'm not wearing my new bow...." she grunted. "They have a lot of nerve....". Sweetie Belle laid on a blanket Rainbow Dash brought. Rainbow Dash was sitting in a chair with a reflector and sunglasses sunbathing. Scootaloo was swimming with floaties. Forrest joined Apple Bloom. 
"You alright?" he asked caringly. 
"Yes, don't worry about me. I'm sorry they bullied you like that...." 
Forrest tries to comfort her, "Not Apple Bloom's fault. They did wrong...." 
"I know, and I sometimes don't understand why they're so mean....." 
"They choose bad. They hurt without realizing pain caused because it feel good. Very foolish them...."
"Maybe you're right. Unless if they change they'll never have a friend like you, Scootaloo, or Sweetie Belle." she said happily. 
Forrest smiles, "Apple Bloom good friend to Wild Forrest...."
Rainbow Dash swam up to them, "I heard you came from Everfree Forrest. You must be pretty tough to live out there!" 
"I am strong, but Forrest don't brag. With help from animals I here today." Forrest told her. 
"That's pretty awesome! Do you get to swing on vines?" 
"Yes, lot of fun!"
"HELP!!!" a young colt lost his floaties and went to the deepest part of the lakeside! Before anypony could do anything Forrest swam out there so fast. Once he got close enough he dove underwater and arose under the colt! Once the colt was on Forrest's back he wrapped his arms around Forrest's neck tight. Forrest, showing no effort again, swam back to shore just as fast as he got to the colt. The colt jumped off Forrest's back, then a filly ran up to him and gave him a hug. The colt looked back at Forrest, "You saved my life. Thank you!" Forrest smiles at him. 
"Yes, thank you for saving my brother!" the filly said, almost crying. She walked up to him, kissed his cheek and left with her brother. 
Apple Bloom ran up to him, "You saved him! You saved him!" 
Forrest eyes were open wide, "What that she did?" he asked Apple Bloom. 
"That was a kiss!" 
"A kiss?" 
"Maybe it's her way of showing that she's very grateful to you." Scootaloo told him. 
"I thought it meant 'I love you'...." Sweetie Belle whispered to Scootaloo. 
"Love?" Forrest asked, still confused. 
"I'll explain later...." promised Apple Bloom.
Sweet Apple Acres
The CMC and Forrest went back to the Apple family's house in time for lunch. "How'd was Forrest's first day in Ponyville?" Applejack asked.
"It was better than I hoped!" Apple Bloom replied. 
"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon bullied us again, and tried to bully Wild Forrest..." Sweetie Belle said. Applejack groaned. 
"But Forrest showed them!" Scootaloo assured her. 
"What did he do?" Applejack asked.
"After they pushed me in the mud, Forrest got angry and chewed Diamond Tiara's tiara and spat it out like it was bubble gum." Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith were surprised but Apple Bloom continued, "Diamond Tiara got mad and tried tackling Forrest, but he stood on his legs and pushed her back at Silver Spoon!" 
"My goodness! I reckon they won't pick on him again anytime soon." replied Applejack. 
"That's not all! He also saved a colt from drowning at the lake!" Sweetie Belle added. 
"He's gonna be popular!" said Scootaloo.
"His sister kiss me...." Forrest said. 
"Awe, how sweet!" Applejack said.
"It feel familiar...." this got their attention. "Faint memory...." he put his hoof on his forehead. "Grandmother....." 
"Grandmother? Your Grandmother?" asked Apple Bloom. 
"Yes. Try remember...." then a tear came to his eye. "Wild Forrest..... lost grandmother..... only one love me....." Everypony gasped. 
Apple Bloom wraps an arm around Forrest, "I'm so sorry...."
"After I lost Grandmother the Animals of Everfree took care of me.... like grandmother....." he sobbed as he explained. He then looks up at the Apple family, "I.... I thank you welcome me your lives. I need thank Zecora too...."
Applejack got off her seat, went over to Forrest and hugged him. "No need to thank us, sugar cube. You may stay here as long as you wish...." she invited. 
"I'm already thinkin' of you as my second grandson!" said Granny Smith. 
"You look like my brother, even though I never had a brother." Big Mac said nicely. 
"Thank you.... so much. And, I hate mention this. I told about Apple family friends. Wild Forrest like to live in each their homes spend time...."
"Stayin' at one friend after another? That's a mighty fine idea! I mean whatever makes you happy." replied Applejack. 
"Eyep!" Big Mac agreed. 
"We be like family." Forrest said with a smile and wiping tears away, "But, for Apple Bloom, I stay for while...." 
Apple Bloom blushed, "You do that?"
"Apple Bloom close friend Wild Forrest ever had even we know each other short time...." Forrest replied smiling at her. 
"I.... I don't know what to say...."
After lunch, Apple Bloom watched Wild Forrest running around with Winona. Sweetie Belle sat next to her, "You like him, don't you?" she asked with a grin. 
Apple Bloom blushed again, "No! He's my friend! Hey, where's Scootaloo?" then they saw Scootaloo riding her scooter again. She passed Forrest, who quickly caught up with her. 
"Whoa! You're not only strong, you're also fast!" 
"Wild Forrest practice every day!" 
Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Applejack watched with amazement. "That little sugar cube is so full of energy!" said Applejack. 
"You should've seen his muscles! They were awesome!" Sweetie Belle replied. They continued watching Scootaloo, Winona and Wild Forrest race.
Friendship Rainbow Kingdom
"So it's settled!" said Twilight Sparkle. "One by one we'll all take turns taking care of Wild Forest for a week. Until next week is over Wild Forrest will stay with Applejack's family." she decided. 
Fluttershy smiled, "That will be wonderful, won't it Easter?" 
"I'll say!"
"Forrest, dear, I can't wait to have you over!" Rarity said with ideas going through her head. 
"This is gonna be fun fun fun! I know it!" said Pinkie Pie. 
"You're going to love soaring through the sky!" yelled Rainbow Dash. 
"Yeah, what they said!" said Spike. 
Forrest smiles, "Thank you all! This will be beautiful friendship." 
Then Flash Sentry entered the room. "Oh, I'm sorry! Was I interrupting anything?" 
Twilight looks over to him and blushes, "No, not at all!" 
Flash Sentry chuckles and then says, "I have a message from Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance...." 
"What? Is everything alright?" Twilight asked walking up to him with concern in her eyes. 
"Don't worry, everything is just fine." he assured her.  "But it's big news!" 
"What?" Twilight asked very eager to know. 
"Your brother and Princess Cadance are going to have a baby!" at those words Twilight's eyes opened wide and her mouth hung open.
After a few seconds she squeals with joy and hugs Flash Sentry, "I'm going to be an aunt! I'm going to be an aunt!" then she realizes who she was hugging and then she blushes, "Oh, I'm sorry! I got really excited!" 
"It's okay. I'm really happy for you." he replied with a smile. 
"You're gonna be an aunt! You're gonna be an aunt!" Pinkie Pie yelled happily bouncing around the two.
"You'll be a good aunt!" said Applejack. 
"Yeah, congratulations!" yelled Rainbow Dash flying in the air. 
"I know your nephew or niece will be such a dear!" said Rarity. 
"We're happy for you...." said Fluttershy. 
"Yes, we are!" added Easter. 
"Would you imagine that?!" Spike yelled. 
Forrest walked up to Twilight and Flash, "Relative having baby?" he asked. 
"Yes, my brother and his wife are going to be parents." Twilight Sparkle replied. 
"What wife?"
Twilight thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have animal friends who are couples, or mates?" 
"Yes. Forrest know lot..." he replied. 
"Same thing...." 
"Oh.... you orange Pegasus wife?" Forrest asks.
Twilight blushes, "Oh no!! We're not yet...... I mean, right now we're....." she smiled sheepishly. 
"Close friends?" Flash Sentry asked. 
"Yes, exactly! We're friends, and friends can hug each other too..." added Twilight. 
"Okay.... Forrest go back Sweet Apple Acres. Bye!" Forrest replied and walks outside with Applejack. 
"Would you like to go out for dinner?" Flash asked, making Twilight blush again. 
"Sure, I love too!" see turns back to her friends, "See you later!" then she leaves with the Pegasus knight. 
"Maybe Twilight really does have the hots for him...." Rainbow Dash whispered to Pinkie Pie. 
"I heard that!" Twilight yelled back. Then everypony in the room and Spike laughs.