I am so sorry for the long wait. School just started, and...well, you know. Oh, and if you like Harry Potter, please check out my friend Hermione Sparkle's fanfiction, "The Next Generation."
Crimson Banner: I know. Fluttershy's so adorable. ^3^
ShiningShadow1965: Thanks. She probably won't tell anypony about her feelings yet. When the time comes. ^.^
Hermione Sparkle: Here you go. :)
Guest (ebk21): Thanks!
Pkbiggums: Thank you!
Chapter 5: Chocolate Horror
Scootaloo woke up on Fluttershy's couch. At first she didn't recognize the place, but then she remembered that she had fallen asleep during the game of Scrabble. Fluttershy must have set her on the couch. Scootaloo groaned and pushed herself up on the couch. Fluttershy came in with a tray containing bowl of steaming bowl of soup and a daisy and daffodil sandwich. "Oh good, you're awake," she said, smiling softly. She placed the tray on the desk next to the couch. Scootaloo wasted no time and dug into the meal.
"Careful now, Scootaloo. Eating too fast isn't good for you," Fluttershy warned. Scootaloo ignored her and kept munching at the same speed.
She slurped the warm soup and licked her lips. "That was excellent, Fluttershy!" Scootaloo complimented.
"Oh...thank you," Fluttershy smiled modestly. She looked around and glanced up at the clock. "Oh dear, it's already eight o' clock. Scootaloo, you should be getting to school by now!"
"Huh? Oh right, thanks Fluttershy!" Scootaloo sprang out of the couch and headed straight out the door. She raced as fast as she could, huffing and puffing along the way.
She got there right on time, leaping into her seat and planting her hooves on the desk, breathing heavily. She noticed that Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked exhausted, too. Scootaloo leaned over and whispered, "How did the babysitting go?"
"Terrible," Sweetie Belle answered. "The Cakes needed babysitting, and Pinkie was out-of-town, so we volunteered. They were reluctant at first, but finally agreed. It went so bad...we couldn't get the two babies to even sit!"
"When they came back, the shop was a mess," Apple Bloom added. She pointed at her flank, which was blank as usual. "And we didn't get our cutie marks."
Sweetie Belle gazed at Scootaloo. "How did the day with Rainbow Dash go?"
"Oh, err..." Scootaloo rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof, fidgeting slightly. "It was great, and Rainbow actually showed me a few moves," she lied.
"That's good," Sweetie Belle whispered. The friends turned back to their teacher. Suddenly, Scootaloo felt a pair of eyes burning into her. She turned and saw Dark Chocolate staring at her. But as soon as Scootaloo turned, he quickly whipped back to Cheerilee. Scootaloo narrowed her eyes, suspicious, and gradually turned back to her teacher as well.
"Okay class, we are going on a field trip today," she announced.
Most of the class cheered, including the three new colts. Scootaloo noticed that Dark Chocolate's face brightened up right away. "Where are we going?" Sweetie Belle called out.
"To Finest Chocolate's Shop," Miss Cheerilee answered. "It's owned by Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate's parents."
Dark Chocolate grinned when the class turned to gaze at him.
"Will we be able to sample some chocolate?" Twist called out.
"Maybe, if the Chocolate's are generous enough. But remember, you may not touch without permission," Miss Cheerilee said. "Now My Little Ponies, we shall be going now. Line up behind me."
The class instantly obeyed and rushed to line up behind their teacher. Scootaloo lined up in the back, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in front of her. Scootaloo decided not to whisper to her classmates today like she usually would; she wasn't in the mood.
Scootaloo trotted after the class, her hooves thumping loudly against the ground. Her eyes seemed to be containing worry, even though she was going to a sweet shop. Scootaloo shook her head and instead tried to smile at the thought of the field trip she was going on.
They soon arrived at Finest Chocolate's Shop, and Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate greeted them politely. Scootaloo gazed at the shop in awe. She had never heard of this place, so it must have just opened up. The inside of the shop was magnificent. The floor was painted in beautiful pink and white stripes and the walls were a delicate chocolate-brown. Mouth-watering chocolate sweets were stacked on the bright yellow shelves and there was a pretty glass case filled with delectable chocolates. Scootaloo's mouth watered just at the sight of the shop.
Scootaloo wandered from the class to look inside the chocolate-filled case. There were all sorts of assorted chocolate goods inside. The smell drifted out of the container and met her nostrils. Scootaloo took a deep breath, grinning.
"Scootaloo!"
Cheerilee's voice made Scootaloo whip around and smile nervously. She walked over to Scootaloo while Scootaloo's classmates watched the scene. "Scootaloo, you must stay with the class," Cheerilee said sternly. "You're a big filly now, and you should do what is expected of you. I was just saying something to the class." Scootaloo's ears flattened as her teacher continued.
"Now go back to your classmates and listen carefully," Miss Cheerilee finished.
"Yes, Miss Cheerilee. I'm sorry," Scootaloo stated her apology, staring down at the polished pink and white floor. She trudged back to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Her ears were flattened against her skull as her teacher smiled once again.
"Now class, how about we let the Chocolate's talk?" Cheerilee suggested, waving her hoof to the Chocolate's standing by the counter.
Scootaloo's classmates nodded impatiently. Cheerilee stepped aside and the Chocolate's walked to the front of the class.
Scootaloo examined them carefully. Milk Chocolate had a smooth pale yellow coat with a large chocolate cake for a cutie mark, and a long mint-green mane and tail. Her blue eyes sparkled with cheerfulness. White Chocolate was a pure white color, with a cup of chocolate pudding for his cutie mark. He sported a spiky gray mane and daring green eyes.
"Hello," Milk Chocolate said in a cheery voice. "We're the Chocolate's, and we own the Finest Chocolate's Shop, the best place in Ponyville where you can get a chocolate treat! Not to brag, of course."
"We have all sorts of chocolates in this shop. Now, I know all you students don't want to hear this little lecture and just want to go off and sample some chocolates," White Chocolate said, clearly understanding the class's impatience. "So we will let each student sample some chocolate from our store! Just don't break anything."
The students all separated into little groups. Scootaloo was about to trot off to her friends when Dark Chocolate came up to her nervously.
"Um, hey Scootaloo. I was wondering if you wanted to sample some chocolates together...?" Dark Chocolate fidgeted around a bit.
Scootaloo narrowed her eyes, meeting Dark Chocolate's nervous brown eyes.
"Sorry Dark Chocolate, but...I gotta meet with my other friends! See ya!" Scootaloo trotted away, glancing over her shoulder to see a disappointed Dark Chocolate. Her eyes softened a bit, feeling some sympathy for the brown colt. She bounded over to Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, who were chattering noisily. Scootaloo lowered her head, listening to her friends' eager conversation.
Sweetie Belle craned her neck to stare at Scootaloo. "Hey Scootaloo. What's up? You're not usually this quiet!" she said.
"Ah - it's nothing...come on, let's go sample some chocolates!" Scootaloo responded, trying to gain some of her enthusiasm back.
"Okay!" Sweetie Belle replied, obviously satisfied.
"Girls, look!" The girls halted and Apple Bloom pointed her hoof to a shelf of delicious-looking chocolate treats. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle gazed at the display, licking their lips longingly. "I sure would like to sample that."
"Come on!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed, trotting towards the tasty chocolates. She sniffed the sweet aroma and waved her hoof indicating for her friends to come join her. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo followed Sweetie Belle, breathing in the delicious scent as well.
"Ahhh! It smells just as good as apple pie!" Apple Bloom commented.
"Yeah! Don't you think so, Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle said, turning her head to stare at Scootaloo once more.
"Huh? Oh, yeah!" Scootaloo exclaimed, trying to look excited and curious. But to be honest, she was neither. When Sweetie Belle smiled and turned to gaze at the row of chocolates again, Scootaloo put on a dull, uninterested look.
Apple Bloom leaned forward and stretched out her hoof to take three chocolates. She didn't notice a candy wrapper on the floor that some careless pony had littered. She leaned even closer and took the chocolates in her hoof. "Got it!"
Right at that moment, she slipped on the candy wrapper and fell, the chocolate candy flying into the air. "Watch out!" Sweetie Belle cried, ducking.
Scootaloo widened her eyes and prepared to duck, but it was too late. The gooey chocolate landed on her head. Scootaloo blinked her eyes open, her eyes rimmed with chocolate.
For a moment, everyone was awkwardly silent. Then everyone burst into a loud, tearful laughter, pointing their hooves at Scootaloo. Scootaloo's eyes watered, but she was determined not to cry. She desperately blinked back the tears, and then...she saw a sight that made her sick to the stomach.
Diamond Tiara.
She had her arm around White Wind, laughing snootily at Scootaloo's unfortunate mishap. White Wind was laughing along with Diamond Tiara, not seeming to care that she had him in an embrace. She saw Dark Chocolate next to them, with a more concerned look, but she didn't care if the whole world was concerned for her right now. All she could do was look at the scene of Diamond Tiara and White Wind.
Scootaloo felt the tears coming. But she didn't try to hold them back. She let the tears stream from her eyes...all the sadness she had felt stream out of her.
She ran. Out of the shop. To somewhere...where she would be secure of the laughter...of the pain. She kept running, not sure where she should go. Somewhere...with a pony that cared for her. Scootaloo paused. Of course! Fluttershy's cottage! Scootaloo halted to a stop and spun around, racing to Fluttershy's cottage where she knew she would be safe.
Bits of chocolate flew from her purple mane as she hurried on the familiar route to Fluttershy's cottage. The image of Diamond Tiara and White Wind lingered in her mind, taunting her.
D'aww, poor Scootaloo.
Indigo: Yeah, I know.
Me: O.o Where did you come from?
Indigo: Oh, I thought I'd drop by to keep you company. You seemed a bit lonely.
Me: Uh...thank you? Well, read and review guys!
Indigo: Yeah, what she said!