Me: Hello! Thank you so much for the reviews. To pay you back, I present you...chapter 10!

Dark Chocolate: Hi!

Me: Oh hey Dark - wait, where's Indigo?

Dark Chocolate: Uh, he's with White Wind right now.

Me: Oh...okay. *stares suspicously at DC*

Review Replies RAWR! :3

Hermione Sparkle: Yup, and thanks. :)

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RandomPony:

1. It's fine.

2. Hmm...I shall try.

3. Maybe...or maybe not. DUN DUN DUN...

ShiningShadow1965: Thanks! I would do the same thing, too.

Biggmomma46: Cudos to you, too!

echo hart: Thank you, and maybe I will...or maybe not. :P

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pjb1234: Diamond Trollara much?

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Chapter 10: Lost Forever

A pony, hidden by the shadows, looked out in the dreadful downpour. The trees' green leaves were practically blowing off the branches. Thick fog swirled around the gloomy atmosphere.

The pony kneaded the floor with its hooves, wishing for a chance to go outside and get some fresh air. But this was no weather for anypony to be taking a walk. The pony sighed, then set its hooves onto the window pane, staring out into the rain. There was nothing to do in this terrible weather. The pony sighed once again, then jumped and fell to the floor as it heard a loud boom. The pony scrambled up to look outside.

A crack of lightning emerged from the dark gray blanket covering the night sky, blinding the pony for a split second. The pony stood with its hooves on the window pane, watching the thunderstorm rage on outside.

The bright light from the jagged lightning illuminated the scene every so often, making the pony stare in awe. Then, as the bright light from the raging lightning illuminated the world for about a second, the pony caught sight of something in the distance.

As the lightning went, the light faded too and the atmosphere was dull and dreary again. The pony rubbed its eyes, then leaned closer and squinted into the storm. The thick mist was making the object difficult to see, but the pony made out some orange and purple.

The pony squinted even harder, trying to make out the unknown object. It appeared to be pretty small...

The pony grunted, straining its eyes, dying to know what was out there. The pony pressed an eye against the clear window but instantly retreated, covering the eye with a hoof, grumbling.

"Dinner!"

The pony straightened up, hearing the familiar voice. The pony forgot all about its determination to find out what that thing was out in the storm, and got down from the window. The pony stepped out of the shadows, revealing a cream yellow body and a light blue mane.

"You really did it?"

"Yeah, and it was like, so funny!"

"That idea was so genius of you..."

"I know, I'm so smart."

"Uh-huh."

"I love being special!"

"Oh! Like, how did the little loser react?"

"She had a temper tantrum!"

"Oh my gosh! Like, did she really?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Tell me about it!"

"Well, after I threw all those paper balls, she broke down, wailing and crying! She kept crying to herself that those things I wrote weren't true! She even tore up the papers!"

"Oh, not only is she a loser and a blank flank, but also a stupid baby!"

"So true!"

"What did the idiot loser do after that?"

"She just plopped down and cried her eyes out!"

"Wow, what a loser."

"I know, right!"

Scootaloo woke up, rubbing her eyes delicately with a hoof. The sky was no longer gray, and the sun was just beginning to rise. Scootaloo yawned, rubbing her eyes absent-mindedly with a hoof. The mud still stuck to her coat, giving her a messy appearance. She glanced around the clearing, still damp from the heavy rain that occurred yesterday.

Then she spotted the paper balls.

Scootaloo, not wanting to relive that memory, forced herself to look away but it was too late. Memories of what happened last night flashed through her mind, and it was that moment that Scootaloo wanted to cry more than ever. But she couldn't. She had to be tough...like Rainbow Dash would have done. Scootaloo forced back the tears that were beginning to slip out of her eyes.

She pushed herself up from the muddy ground, flicking off the specks of mud from her coat. She shook her head violently, trying to get all the mud and dirt out of her ragged mane. The process made no difference. Scootaloo could still tell that she looked like a crime against fashion, as Rarity would say. She began to pace around the tree, sending up a cloud of dirt and grit. Finally she plopped down on the ground and groaned. "I'm so bored!" she complained. "There's nothing to do, I can't go anywhere, and nopony likes me!"

Scootaloo rolled over so she was lying on her back and staring up at the cloud-filled sky. She watched the clouds pass for a few minutes, until she said, "I never knew being alone could be so...alone." She rolled over again, and got up. "That's it. I can't stay here...maybe I can find a temporary place to stay!" Scootaloo, encouraged by her own thoughts, set out to find a place she could stay for a while...or at least rest.

Scootaloo first stopped at Twilight Sparkle's place, thinking she might have some luck there. She felt a pang of nervousness as she raised a hoof to knock on the library door. However, Twilight did not appear in the doorway, but Spike. Spike opened the door, and when he saw who it was, his face instantly changed to an annoyed look.

Scootaloo wondered if Spike knew about everypony hating her, or whether he was just in a bad mood today. She decided to risk it and said, "Oh hey Spike. Is Twilight there?"

"No," Spike responded, still looking irritated. "What are you gonna do, beat her up too?"

"What? I'm not - "

Too late; Spike had already shut the door. Scootaloo stared, feeling her heart break a little. Guess I can rule out Twilight Sparkle's place... Scootaloo thought, trotting away to another destination.

Scootaloo stopped at Carousal Boutique, hoping Rarity would take her in. She half hoped Sweetie Belle would be here but also half hoped she would not. She raised a hoof and pounded on the door. Sweetie Belle appeared this time. Her cheerful expression turned annoyed when she saw her, just like how it went with Spike at Twilight's place. "Hey Scootaloo..." Sweetie Belle said without much enthusiasm.

"Hey Sweetie Belle," Scootaloo replied. "Is Rarity inside right now...?"

"Nope," Sweetie Belle responded, again no eagerness hinted in her voice. "She's out collecting gemstones for her new outfit."

"Oh...er, okay. That's fine. Can I come in, though?" Scootaloo asked hopefully, even though she knew what her reply would be.

"Nope," she said, and slammed the door, right in Scootaloo's face. Scootaloo let out a deep sigh, her heart cracking some more. She turned away from the boutique and began walking someplace else.

Scootaloo raced over to Sweet Apple Acres, hoping that Applejack would let her stay. She swiftly rushed past the apple trees and skidded to a stop near the barn. She knocked on the barn door, waiting patiently for somepony to open the door. This time Big Macintosh came. "Hello Big Mac," Scootaloo began.

"Eeyup?"

"Have you seen Applejack or anypony?"

"Eenope."

"Oh, okay," Scootaloo said, feeling a bit disappointed. "Could I stay here for a while...you know, to live temporarily? I'm kind of out of a place to stay right now..."

"Eenope."

The door was closed until Scootaloo had time to react...Her heart was almost completely broken. How did he figure out about...oh well. There's still Pinkie Pie, I guess, she thought glumly and headed over to Sugar Cube Corner.

Sugar Cube Corner had a extra-long line of customers today, which was unusual. Scootaloo brushed it away, however, assuming it was probably just a special sale or something. Scootaloo walked to the end of the enormously long line, stamping her hooves in frustration. "Come on," she grunted. "Hurry up already!" Every minute felt like an hour. The line seemed to move as slow as a sloth. Every so often she glanced up and down the line, groaning.

When she finally reached the front of the line, she somehow got shoved back a few ponies and had to wait even longer. When she finally trotted up to Mrs. Cake, she questioned, "Have you seen Pinkie Pie?"

She nodded. "She's upstairs," Mrs. Cake responded.

"I was wondering if I could kinda live here...you know, just for a while. Is that okay with you?" Scootaloo asked, sweat trickling down her forehead.

"Oh, I don't know. I'll check with Pinkie, I guess!" Mrs. Cake replied. "Pinkie!"

Pinkie Pie's pink head poked out from upstairs. "Yes?" she answered in her cheery voice.

"Scootaloo here would like to live here temporarily," Mrs. Cake told her. "I'm just checking with you if it is okay."

Pinkie's smile vanished as her blue eyes darted from Mrs. Cake to Scootaloo. She hesitated, then said, "...No."

Mrs. Cake turned back to gaze at Scootaloo. "I'm sorry, Scootaloo, but it seems that we can't take you in."

That was it.

Scootaloo's heart completely broke. Scootaloo forced a smile and a nod, then whirled around to rush out of the store. Her mane blew in the wind, covering her tear-soaked face as she raced back to the muddy clearing with the tree, the only place she could call home now. The broken remains of her heart were shattered, lost forever.