Here's chapter four, and quite a lengthy one at that!

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Part 4: Fluttershy's Secret

"He's your nephew?!" Fictionary, Dinky and the Cutie Mark Crusaders could not believe what they were hearing.

"Yes," Fluttershy said.

"W-why didn't either of you say anything earlier?" exclaimed Fictionary, still in shock.

"I think it would be best if you told the rest of the gang to come to my cottage," said Fluttershy, "I'll explain everything."

"Can I have Vincent come too?" asked Fictionary.

"He's more than welcome to."

And with that, the five fillies set off to do what Fluttershy had told them.

---

Scootaloo found Rainbow Dash taking a nap on a cloud.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow Dash woke up and looked down at the orange Pegasus filly below her.

"Oh, hey kiddo," she said, "what's up?"

"Fluttershy said she wanted you to come over to her cottage," said Scootaloo, "she said it was important."

"I hope she doesn't expect me to look after her butterflies," muttered Rainbow Dash.

---

At Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom was telling Applejack and Big Macintosh.

"So Fluttershy wants us to come to her cottage for some reason, right?" asked Applejack.

"Eeyup," said Apple Bloom.

"That's my catchphrase!" said Big Macintosh indignantly.

"Ya snooze, ya lose," Applejack teased.

---

Dinky found Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner and told her to go to Fluttershy's cottage as well.

"Is she throwing us all a party with her animal friends?" Pinkie asked eagerly.

"Not exactly," said Dinky, "just come to Fluttershy's cottage."

"Okey-dokey-lokey!"

---

Sweetie Belle had just made her way to Carousel Boutique to find Rarity inside with Spike.

"Hey, you two!" she called, "Quit flirting and come on over to Fluttershy's."

"Flirting?!" gasped Spike, blushing bright red, "Who said we were flirting?"

"Sweetie Belle, you'd best have a good explanation for barging in like that," said Rarity.

"Fluttershy wants you to come to her cottage," said the little unicorn filly.

---

Fictionary found Twilight at Golden Oak Library. Vincent was also there borrowing a book.

"Oh, hey, sis," he said, "what's up?"

"Fluttershy wants you two to come to her cottage," said Fictionary.

"Ooh! What for?" asked Twilight.

"She didn't say," said Fictionary, "but it must be important."

---

Before long, everypony (and dragon, in Spike's case) was all gathered at Fluttershy's cottage.

"Hello, everypony," said Fluttershy, "I bet you're all wondering why I had the fillies call you here."

"This better not involve me looking after butterflies," groaned Rainbow Dash.

"Oh, nothing of the sort, Rainbow Dash," said Fluttershy. The cyan Pegasus sighed in relief.

"Besides, we don't have enough time. There is somepony I'd like you all to meet. Butterscotch?"

The pale yellow colt wheeled into view.

"Everypony," said Fluttershy, "meet my nephew Butterscotch."

"H-h-hi," he said, obviously nervous around the presence of adult mares and stallions in the case of Vincent and Big Macintosh.

"You never told any of us you had a nephew," said Rarity.

"What's with keeping it a secret from your closest friends?" asked Rainbow Dash, "Especially me?"

"I'm sorry," said Fluttershy, "but I felt uncomfortable about you finding out what happened."

"You mean like why Butterscotch looks like that?" asked Vincent.

"Boomer said he was born that way and their mother died giving birth to him," said Fictionary, "plus, he said the scar was from an attack by a neighbor's cat."

It was then that Butterscotch spoke up.

"He's lying," he said, "he's always been lying."

Everypony except Fluttershy looked at Butterscotch in surprise.

"Then what really happened?" asked Scootaloo.

"Allow me to explain," said Fluttershy, and this is what she told her friends…

---

It was the year before Twilight and Spike arrived in Ponyville. I was at Trottingham for a while to visit my brother Scattered Marbles. His color scheme was darker than mine – dark yellow and an equally dark purple mane and tail. His eyes were also a dark blue, his hooves were blue, and his cutie mark was three marbles going in different directions.

The reason he was called Scattered Marbles was because he was a bit crazy, but back in those days, he was still nice. He was also married to a beautiful Pegasus mare – orange fur, green mane and tail, light green eyes, and a plant for her cutie mark. Her name was Ivy, and he loved her more than anything in Equestria.

The two of them had two sons; Boomer the elder son, and Butterscotch the younger. Back then, Butterscotch was a normal Pegasus colt. He had two strong wings, both of his ears, all four legs, and the cutest light green eyes you'd ever set your own eyes on.

Unfortunately, all of that was soon to change…

---

One day, Ivy was near a forest doing some research on rare plants with Butterscotch. He had been warned to stay on the forest path or he would be in danger, but the colt's curiosity got the better of him.

While Ivy wasn't looking, he snuck into a thick part of the forest. Then, from out of nowhere, came a Timberwolf!

Butterscotch was scared and cried out for help. Ivy heard her son's screaming and raced to the rescue. She found the Timberwolf attacking Butterscotch and in a fit of rage, charged at it. Unfortunately, it was much stronger than her.

It was at that moment I came by to look after a lonely little bird. I heard the noise and raced to help as fast as I could. When I got to the scene, I shooed the Timberwolf away with my "Stare", but I was horrified to see what I was too late to prevent. Butterscotch had been seriously injured; his left eye had been scratched, and was bleeding a lot. His left ear and wing had been mostly bitten off, and his hind legs had also been damaged. Sadly, Ivy didn't make it – the Timberwolf had mauled her to death.

"M-m-mom!" Butterscotch managed to cry out in horror. The poor colt couldn't believe what had happened. I held him closely and tried to calm him down. At the same time, I was trying to calm my own nerves as well.

---

When we finally made it home, we broke the news to Scattered Marbles on what had happened. He was so angry that the only mare he loved was gone, he blamed Butterscotch for not listening to her and beat him.

"Leave him alone!" I shouted, "It wasn't his fault!"

"You're right," said Scattered Marbles, "it's your fault too, Fluttershy! If you had been quicker, she could've been saved!"

"Please leave aunt Fluttershy out of this!" sobbed Butterscotch, "It was my fault! I shouldn't have let my curiosity get the best of me! I'm sorry!"

"You should have thought about that before you caused your mother to get mauled to death!" snapped Scatted Marbles.

Scattered Marbles never forgave Butterscotch for what happened. And he's been hurting him ever since. Boomer, who had up to that point gotten used to having a brother, refused to help him.

---

Spike and the ponies could not believe what they had heard.

"Wait a minute," said Rainbow Dash, "you knew this whole time that your nephew was being beaten up by your brother, and yet you did nothing to stop him?! You should have told the police and had him arrested for foal abuse!"

"I wanted to," said Fluttershy, "but when I told him what I was going to do…"

---

"You what?!" Scattered Marbles snarled.

"I'm telling the police," I said, "this abusiveness towards Butterscotch is going to stop!"

That was when he slammed me against the wall and shouted in my face.

"Listen to me, you pathetic, crybaby sister of mine!" he shouted, "I can beat up that worthless son of mine whenever I want! He deserves to suffer for what he's done. And if I were you, I'd mind my own business!"

"How long are you going to keep bullying him?" I demanded.

"Until I am satisfied with my revenge," he answered in a tone that I took as threatening, "and unless you want Butterscotch's suffering to be even worse, you'll be a good sister and stay out of my way! Got it?"

I whimpered, but slowly nodded.

"Good," said Scattered Marbles darkly, "I think it is best you get to the station before you miss your train."

He was no longer my brother who cared for his family; he had become a bully and a monster. I was so worried about Butterscotch's safety I didn't have the courage to contact the authorities and put an end to his father's abusive nature.

---

"Why did Boomer lie if he knew what was happening?" asked Fictionary.

"Because he's selfish," said Butterscotch, "he's making sure no one finds out what dad is doing so that nopony calls him a horrible brother."

"Fluttershy," said Twilight, "you have to tell the police before Scattered Marbles goes too far and possibly kills somepony."

"But I can't!" cried Fluttershy, "I'm too scared that he might kill Butterscotch if I do!"

Normally, Rainbow Dash was not the type of pony to get all soppy, but this was Fluttershy, her foalhood friend, who was telling everypony – including Rainbow Dash herself – about what she was afraid to tell them.

"That jerk is going to pay for what he's done, Fluttershy," she said with determination, "and if he tries to hurt you or Butterscotch, then he'll have to answer to us. Tell us where he lives so we can punch his lights out."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" said Vincent, flying up in front of the cyan Pegasus, "We are not resorting to violence! It doesn't solve anything. If Scattered Marbles is to be taught a lesson, he'll have to face the authorities. I reckon we let Twilight handle this herself."

"But that stallion is a monster!" objected Rainbow Dash, "He's making his son's life a living nightmare and threatened Fluttershy. Nopony threatens my friends and gets away with it!"

"I'm as angry as you are, Rainbow, but still!" argued Vincent, "Let Twilight have a word with him; the Princess knows what she's doing, after all!"

"And what if he threatens her too?" Rainbow Dash countered, "He's crazy enough to try it."

"Alright, break it up!" shouted Twilight, "Arguing about this isn't going to solve the issue with Fluttershy and Butterscotch."

"Then what do you suggest?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"We will confront Scattered Marbles ourselves," said Twilight, "if he tries to harm Fluttershy or Butterscotch, then we will report him to the authorities."

"Alright," said Rainbow Dash, "where does that stallion live?"

"I'll show you where," said Fluttershy.

"Should we go with?" asked Fictionary.

"No," said Twilight, "I don't want to risk him trying to hurt any of you foals. You six will stay here with a guardian so we know you're safe."

"Big Macintosh, would you please stay here and look after them until we get back?" asked Fluttershy.

"Eeyup."

So Vincent, Spike and the mares set off to find Scattered Marbles while Big Macintosh stayed with the foals.

"Be careful," called Butterscotch sounding worried.

---

Farther from Ponyville, Twilight and the gang came across a cottage.

"This is where he lives," said Fluttershy.

"Sheesh," remarked Vincent, "Scattered Marbles needs to do a lot of work on the place."

Twilight trotted up closer and knocked on the door.

"Is anypony home?" she called.

"Who is it?!" a male voice shouted. Fluttershy squeaked in fright and hid behind Rainbow Dash.

"This is Princess Twilight Sparkle," the light purple alicorn said firmly, "am I speaking to a stallion by the name of Scattered Marbles?"

The door slowly opened and the ponies could see it was indeed Fluttershy's brother – Scattered Marbles. Fluttershy gave a squeak of fright; Rainbow Dash stood protectively in front of her friend.

"Well, what do you want?" demanded Scattered Marbles.

"For one thing, partner, if Ah may call you that" said Applejack, "we want to know why you enjoy abusing that son of yours named Butterscotch. That is a very serious crime!"

"Who told you about that?!" snapped Scattered Marbles. Then he peered through the group and spotted Fluttershy. "Well, well," he sneered calmly, "it's been years, hasn't it?" Then he shouted, "You told them all, didn't you?!"

"So what if she did?" snapped Rainbow Dash, glaring face to face with him, "If you mess with our friend, then you mess with all of us!"

"You're Rainbow Dash, aren't you?" Scattered Marbles smirked, "Yes, I've heard all about you. You're the one that they all called 'Rainbow Crash' back in Cloudsdale, and last I heard, you kissed a mare according to one stallion. What was his name again – Vector von Klutz?"

Vincent took insult to that, and flew up alongside Rainbow Dash, and also glared crossly at him. "The name," he said sternly, "is Vincent van Colt, thank you very much!"

"Are you going to insult us or are you going to answer why you enjoy abusing Butterscotch?" demanded Rarity.

"That's only for me to know, and you to find out Ms. Prissy Hooves!" retorted Scattered Marbles.

"Ms. Prissy Hooves?!"

"How dare you speak to a mare like that!" snapped Spike, "She happens to have a name, and would so appreciate it if you called her Rarity!"

"Yeah, well, what's an irritating lizard like you gonna do to stop me?" said Scattered Marbles rudely.

"Oh, that is it!" snapped Rainbow Dash, "No more Miss Nice Mare!" Before Applejack could bite her tail, Rainbow Dash charged at Scattered Marbles, punching him in the face and sending him crashing into a wall.

"Rainbow Dash!" gasped Twilight.

"Well, he deserved it!" said the cyan Pegasus.

"And I thought I had anger issues," Vincent muttered.

Scattered Marbles slowly got back onto his hooves. He now had a large black eye from where Rainbow Dash had punched him.

"Right," he snarled, "you asked for it!"

He prepared to charge towards Rainbow Dash, who was ready to counter when suddenly, he was made immobile by a lavender aura.

"Scattered Marbles," said Twilight sternly, "we need to have a little talk. Why do you enjoy abusing your son?"

"It was Butterscotch's fault Ivy was mauled to death by a Timberwolf!" snapped Scattered Marbles.

"It wasn't his fault at all!" snapped Fluttershy. Up to that point, she'd been quiet while her brother insulted her friends, but accusing Butterscotch once again for his mother's death was the last straw.

"It was nopony's fault, and you know it! If Ivy was still alive and heard what you had been doing to poor Butterscotch, she would be as disgusted with you as we all are!"

"He was the reason she's dead!"

"No, he wasn't!" shouted Fluttershy angrily, "I am sick of you bullying a defenseless colt for something that wasn't his fault! You used to be a caring stallion who loved his family, but now, you're a bully and a monster!"

Everyone else stared at Fluttershy in shock.

"Yeah… I still go with what I said earlier," said Vincent quietly.

Rarity and Pinkie knew she'd been angry at them before, and that one time at the Grand Galloping Gala as well. However, this was anger from Fluttershy they'd never seen before. The pale yellow Pegasus just trotted to Spike and asked him to send a message to Princess Celestia.

"What are you doing?" snapped Scattered Marbles.

"Something I should have done four years ago," said Fluttershy firmly, "I'm reporting your crimes to the highest authority in all of Equestria – Princess Celestia!"

"We'll see about that!"

Using all his strength, Scattered Marbles broke free from the aura.

"Stop him!" cried Twilight

"You'll never take me alive!" Scattered Marbles shouted as he took to the air and raced off.

"You're not getting away!" shouted Rainbow Dash, and took off after him, only to be stopped by Applejack.

"Easy there, sugarcube," she said.

"What did you do that for?" snapped Rainbow Dash, "He's getting away!"

"Not for long," said Twilight, "I'll inform Celestia about this and send in a staillion-hunt. Spike, take a letter."

"Right away, Princess Twilight," said the purple dragon.

---

Oh no! Scattered Marbles is on the loose! How will the Mane Six and Vincent stop him? Will Dinky and First Base ever get together? Does Boomer truly love Diamond Tiara? What will become of Butterscotch now? Why am I asking all these questions?!

Well... wait and see!