Scootaloo's Nightmare

Scootaloo opened her eyes slowly, blinking the grogginess away, Hold on... Scootaloo thought as she glanced around, ..where am I? The room about her was dark and damp, a musky smell of iron filled her nostrils as she stood shakily, Scootaloo took a few steps before her hooves felt something splash beneath them, looking down, she pulled her wet hoof closer, bringing it into the only light she could find. It was dark red, and smelt strongly of iron, "Blood!!" Scootaloo gasped, stumbling backwards in horror, she began to hyperventilate, nervously glancing back and forth, the walls seemed to close in as she curled into a tight ball and cried out in fear.

  It seemed like hours, yet was only a few minutes, before the door to her horrid cell opened. Two Pegasi stallions, both wearing dark black suits, walked in and pulled the trembling Scootaloo to her feet, "You will come with us." A Pegasus mare ordered, she was a pale pink color and her hair was sky blue. She too wore a black suit, but her helmet was off, hanging on her side, "Didn't you hear me you rat?! Get a move on!" the mare became angry and pushed Scootaloo down the hall, causing the confused filly to trip over her hooves.

  The two guards yanked her back to her feet, Scootaloo began to tremble violently, her teeth chattering in fear. Who are these ponies? What do they want with me? How did I get here? Scootaloo dared not ask these questions, but they ran through her mind constantly. She was led down a dark hallway, dimly lit by tiny light bulbs, the mare opened a door ahead, it clanked loudly, as if it had never been oiled. The room ahead was filled by vats of color, each shade of the rainbow, hundreds of rows, Scootaloo began to understand, she was in a factory, the Rainbow Factory to be exact. But why was there blood in the cell? Why would there even be a cell? Something is terribly wrong with this place.. Scootaloo thought to herself.

  Ahead of them, Scootaloo notice another Pegasus mare atop a ramp, she had her back turned to them, and was watching dials on the wall. In the dark, it was hard to tell who the mare was, though Scootaloo doubted she would recognize her. "Welcome to the Rainbow Factory, dear Scootaloo." The mare said.

  "H-how did you know my name?" Scootaloo began to tremble again.

  "Oh!" the mare gasped and turned around to face Scootaloo, acting insulted, "Why, don't you remember me?" the mare began to cackle madly, taking her helmet off, Scootaloo shrieked when she saw the rainbow mane fall from the helmet. "What's the matter dear Scootaloo?" Rainbow Dash's crazed eyes glowed in the eerie dark.

  "What's happening to me?!" Scootaloo cried, hiding under her tiny mane.

  "Oh the questions again, you really are so dull.." Rainbow slowly walked across the ramp she stood on. "I'll make it simple, every now and then, we select a special pony to help make the rainbows. Need I say more?"

  Scootaloo processed Rainbow's words, "So, you just want me to work?" she asked carefully.

  Rainbow tapped her chin with a hoof, "If you put it that way..." Rainbow opened her wings and glided down to Scootaloo's level, she seemed to tower over the frightened filly. "..I'm sure you don't mind?"

  Scootaloo nodded slowly, but then a thought crossed her mind as Rainbow began to lead her away, "Wait!" Rainbow turned back to her with an annoyed look on her face, "What about the blood in my cell?" Scootaloo asked.

  Rainbow simply huffed, trotting down a corridor that seemed to have come out of nowhere. "H-hey I asked you a question!" Scootaloo squeaked as she was pushed along, the corridor led down another dark tunnel, just like the previous one. Scootaloo felt her heartbeat thumping loudly in her ears, her chest tightened until it felt like her stomach was twisting itself. Finally the corridor opened into a large chamber, one of the guards escorting Scootaloo pulled a lever, turning on the dim lights, Scootaloo let her eyes adjust to the sudden light. The first thing to meet her eyes made her scream in terror, there was a blood-splattered machine, it had four sockets placed in the shape of an X, beneath it was a boiling vat of acid, and above it lay small device that looked like a syringe with three needles, connected to the syringe was a clear tube that led to a small machine.

  Scootaloo whimpered as the guards carried her to the machine, locking her hooves in the sockets of the machine, Scootaloo noticed that Rainbow Dash had an evil glint in her eyes, "W-what are you going to do to me?" Scootaloo stuttered.

  "Your really are so daft aren't you?" Rainbow sighed, "One would think you might understand by now, but of course, no pony knows how rainbows are actually made, I shall demonstrate." Rainbow pulled another lever, and the syringe lowered itself into position, it was pointed towards Scootaloo's tiny chest, directly in between her ribs. Scootaloo began to pant heavily, realizing what Rainbow was going to do.

  "Please...don't.." Scootaloo cried, tears flowing freely from her eyes. Rainbow simply smirked, pressing a button which caused the syringe to slowly proceed towards her chest, Scootaloo shrunk back as far as she could, even flapping her wings vainly in protest. "No! Don't! Please Rainbow!" Scootaloo screamed as the syringe plunged towards her chest, but she soon realized she was looking at herself as it happened. What...? Scootaloo shook her head in confusion, she could see herself in the device, the sound of her own screams filled her ears, yet she was not screaming, Rainbow Dash's evil cackles subsided, and she seemed to be calling Scootaloo's name fervently.

  "Scootaloo! Scoots!" Rainbow's voice called, Scootaloo opened her eyes groggily, looking around, she was back in her room. She glanced at Rainbow, whose expression was nothing but concern.

  Scootaloo yelped and pushed herself away from Rainbow, "No! Get away!" she squealed, panting as she curled onto her bed, which was very cold, and wet.

  "Scootaloo..what?" Rainbow leaned forward, reaching for Scootaloo, who violently flinched as her hooves gently stroked her mane, "What's wrong?" Rainbow recoiled, hurt vibrant in her eyes.

  Scootaloo shook her head, glancing back at Rainbow for a moment, her panting stopped, It was only a dream? "But it seemed so real..." she relaxed when she realized the fact. "I had a nightmare."

  "I can see that..was it about me? You were screaming my name." Rainbow scooped Scootaloo into her hooves, gently nuzzling her cheek with her snout.

  "Yes..." Scootaloo snuggled into the comforting cyan fur.

  "Do you want to talk about it?" Rainbow hugged her tighter.

  Scootaloo thought for a moment, "No, it was just a dream." she sighed, But where did it come from? How could something so dark and evil come from my imagination? Surely Rainbow isn't part of something so, vile.....right? Scootaloo looked up into Rainbow's gentle magenta eyes, nothing but sympathy and care was conveyed in them. No, Scootaloo smiled, closing her eyes peacefully as she fell back asleep in Rainbow's arms.