Hello, here's Chapter 4!

Hermione Sparkle: Thank you!

ShiningShadow1965: Thanks. :)

Crimson Banner: Well, yeah. But you know Dash.

As Pinkie Pie would say: "Okie dokie lokie, let's start this chapter!"

Chapter 4: Dreams and Board Games

Scootaloo was stuck in a dark, dark room. She glanced around, sweating like crazy. She could make out a few chairs and a small desk. "Where am I?" she wondered out loud.

"In the Tiara Prison, of course."

Scootaloo jumped, but then put her hoof to her chin and rubbed it thoughtfully. "Wait...I know that voice...Diamond Tiara?!"

A cackle echoed around the room. "Of course, who would you think it would be?"

Scootaloo changed her thoughtful look to an aggressive one. "What do you want, Diamond Tiara?!" she growled, baring her teeth.

"Well, it's obvious, really. We're both after the same colt."

Scootaloo narrowed her eyes. "What are you playing at?"

Another laugh sounded about the room. "Really, you don't even know your own crush?

"Crush?" Scootaloo gasped.

"Of course. But I wouldn't let you get him."

Scootaloo sat down, her rear touching the cold, black floor. "What do you mean, 'but I wouldn't let you get him?'" she asked.

"Well, that's what you have to figure out for yourself, loser."

"Huh? But I don't get it!" Scootaloo cried.

"Too bad..." Diamond Tiara's voice echoed around the prison.

"Wait!" Scootaloo tried to call out. But the room was fading...and all Scootaloo could see was the darkness. Somewhere in the distance, she could also hear somepony chanting her name...

"Scootaloo...Scootaloo..."

Scootaloo woke up, her eyes wide with fear. "Huh?" she cried, jumping up on the couch.

Fluttershy, who was tapping her gently with her hoof, jumped back in surprise. She smiled when she saw Scootaloo awake on her couch. "You were talking in your sleep," Fluttershy told her.

"Oh..." Scootaloo said. She silently sighed.

"You were talking about some Diamond Tiara," Fluttershy added. "What was that all about?"

Scootaloo widened her eyes again and gazed down at the floor. "It's nothing," she said softly.

Fluttershy put a hoof to her mouth. "Oh, is it personal? I'm so sorry, Scootaloo! I guess I let my curiosity get the best of me. I understand if you don't want to tell me."

Scootaloo weakly smiled at Fluttershy. If there was one pony she could tell her secrets to, it would definitely be Fluttershy above any pony, even Rainbow Dash. But she didn't want to say anything right now.

"It's fine, Fluttershy," Scootaloo said, not wanting her to become concerned about nothing. She suddenly got an idea. "Say, Fluttershy, do you think I could spend the night here in your cottage?" she asked.

"Of course!" Fluttershy happily agreed. "I'll get you a pillow and a blanket." Fluttershy trotted off to retrieve the sleeping supplies.

Scootaloo looked around the cozy cottage, but for once it didn't seem cozy to her. Something in the back of her mind lurked, something that made her feel sick. Scootaloo gazed up at a clock. It was 6:30 in the afternoon. The dream felt so long ago. Scootaloo tapped her hoof against the couch. She felt that she would just die of boredom. But she didn't really want to leave the house either.

Fluttershy came back with a pillow and folded blanket on her head. Scootaloo took them, feeling their warmth and softness. She figured they must have just been washed. Fluttershy turned to leave, but suddenly looked back. "Do you need anything else?" Fluttershy questioned in a sweet tone.

Scootaloo shook her head.

"Okay," Fluttershy answered. "I'll bring you dinner at 7. You can go out if you want, too. Just don't go into the forest."

"I won't," Scootaloo promised. But in the back of her mind, she thought it'd be interesting to go into the Everfree Forest again. Her last time might have been bad, but it might be nice this time.

Scootaloo shook her head. What was she thinking? The Everfree Forest was super-dangerous, with predators at every corner. She couldn't go in there.

Scootaloo yawned. "I'm so bored," she said out loud. She began to regret coming here in the first place. She thought about what happened before. So what if Rainbow Dash, her idol, was laughing at her? She could have taken that, if it meant she could spend time with her afterwards. "But it already happened," she blurted out. Scootaloo covered her mouth with her orange hoof, hoping Fluttershy didn't hear her.

Scootaloo stepped off the couch and walked towards the cottage door. She opened it and stepped outside. The wind was blowing hard against her purple-colored mane. A brown bunny hopped past Scootaloo, escaping to the safety of its home. Scootaloo looked up at the darkening sky. Dark rain clouds were rolling in. A flash of lightning and a roll of thunder made Scootaloo jump. Fluttershy somehow miraculously appeared at Scootaloo's side.

"Oh dear. I wasn't expecting rain today. You'll have to stay inside, Scootaloo. I'm sorry," Fluttershy told her.

Scootaloo groaned and went back inside. She sat down, right in the middle of the living room. Fluttershy shut the door and looked at Scootaloo, feeling sorry for the young filly.

"Hey, how about if we play a game?" Fluttershy suddenly asked to brighten the mood.

"Eh..." Scootaloo shrugged. She wasn't really in the mood for a game, but she'd do anything to pass the time somehow.

Fluttershy let out one of her adorable squees. "Alright! Come on, I have an old board game in my closet. It's called 'Scrabble.'"

Scootaloo followed Fluttershy to her closet. Fluttershy rummaged around a little until she found the old board game.

After that, she set it up in the living room, read the rules out loud, and they began playing. Scootaloo sighed under her breath. This is gonna be a long night, she thought as another boom of thunder sounded outside.