Just Tonight.

"Nah. I'm going to spend Nightmare Night inside tonight." Scootaloo giggled softly with a perky smile across her muzzle, The small white unicorn Sweetie Belle gazing down in a bit of disappointment dressed as none other than Princess Celestia.

With a small cardboard crown atop her head and a pair of plastic wings on her side.

"Are you sure? We always spend Nightmare Night as a group." Sweetie sighed her ears folded back, light green eyes locking on Scootaloo's violet ones.

"I know just..." Scootaloo paused nudging behind her into the house softly, a orange colored mare poking her head out of the kitchen area happily, her mane was a dark purple like Scootaloo's yet just a bit longer and wavier.

"Well alright. If you change your mind, we'll be at Applebloom's farm for the Nightmare Night Festival!" Sweetie smiled gently giving her friend a hug, breaking the embrace as she galloped off into the darkness afterwards.

Scootaloo gently clicked her door shut not wanting to wake her father, he always went to bed early on this night. He didn't care for it at all or any holiday for that matter, allowing his daughter to know to keep it down, or go out with friends every year.

"Who was at the door honey?" Her mother spoke from the kitchen, the young filly slowly walking into the light of the room, and out of the darkness of the living area.

"Just my friend Sweetie Belle, mom." Scootaloo could see her mother sitting on a chair at the kitchen table, a small bowl of candy set before her in the middle of the table.

Jumping up onto the chair opposite of her, Scootaloo happily helped herself to a bit of sweets. Her mother rolled her eyes slightly yet smiled afterwards, she was happy to see her little girl still had a taste for the sweet.

"You know you didn't have to stay inside, and keep me company tonight?" The mare added on. Her violet colored eyes gently gazing across the dirty kitchen counter, and to outside from the kitchen window.

"Mmmm...I wanted to mom! Nom-nom always fun to chat with you."Scootaloo swallowed a mouthful of candy, her small hooves reaching for another hoofful.

"Scootaloo don't eat too much now." The mare giggled her filly just blushing slightly, perhaps she just wanted to stay in so she didn't have to travel for her candy.

"Oh! I almost forgot! My friends and I are planning on redoing the CMC Clubhouse!" Scootaloo fluttered her small wings excitedly, her face beaming with delight.

"Awww. Why so?" Her mother questioned, the small filly just flaunting a hoof down towards her flank, which was no longer blank.

"Duh! We're no longer Cutie Mark Crusaders! But more like Cutie Mark Masters!! " Scootaloo pounced up onto the table swishing her backside happily side to side, her mother holding a hoof in front of her lips giggling.

"Honey get down! You'll fall!-So my little crusader thinks she's a master now?" The mare asked her daughter who jumped off the table, and back onto her seat with a small thud.

"Maybe not master, but trust me! My friends and I will make a huge splash here in Ponyville!" The filly squeed aloud, her small hooves sneaking in another piece of candy from the small blue bowl.

"Sorry again for not being there when you got your Cutie Mark honey." Her mother sighed hating she missed such a important moment in her daughter's life, ears folding down slightly.

"Totally alright mom! Rainbow Dash was there for me!! " Scootaloo shrugged it off light hearteningly, popping in a small butterscotch candy into her mouth.

Her mother smiling sweetly to her. She was so happy that her daughter wasn't mad at her for that, thankful that Rainbow Dash looked after her when she couldn't. Perhaps there was still good in the world?

A spark for hope.

"Will you keep it down!?" The gruff voice of Scootaloo's father broke into the kitchen as he walked inside, his coat was tangled and eyes bloodshot. His short magenta mane wildly frazzled out.

"Sorry dad." Scootaloo huffed gently plopping her head cutely down onto the table.

"We're just chatting dear. You know a girls night out." Her mother giggled aloud with a wink to her daughter, Scootaloo couldn't help but laugh aloud with her.

"I just want some rest! Please can you just behave?" Her father let his voice become stern and serious, as his eyes darted over to the table in silence.

Her mother pouted at her husband's sour attitude, muzzle opening to say something yet Scootaloo spoke up instead deciding on handling things.

"Sure dad I promise." Scootaloo flashed a warm smile to him as he nodded and did the same, walking over to his filly he placed a soft kiss on her forehead and exited the room.

"I swear that stallion always has so much on his mind." Her Mother sighed aloud shaking her head side to side softly, bangs cascading over her eyes.

"He just doesn't like the holidays..." Scootaloo replied as she slumped down into her seat, the room growing silent for a few minutes before her mother spoke up.

"Well if you ever feel like you father needs a helping hoof. Just remember we're both here for him alright?" Her mom smiled gently, placing a delicate hoof over her daughter's.

"I know..."Scootaloo pulled away sadly from the touch of her mother, eyes gazing behind her towards the dark hallway leading to her father's room.

"Hmmm. Honey you look so sad right now. I know you should go to your room get dressed and have a fun night with your friends!" Her mother slowly slid out of her seat and smiled happily to her daughter.

"I don't want to go out with them! I want to stay in with you." Scootaloo folded ears back slowly, her large violet eyes staring deeply towards her mother.

"I insist. You are just a child, you need to have some fun I'll be ok." Her mother walked over and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"Mom..." Scootaloo shivered, tears rolling down her cheeks slowly. Doing everything in her power to fight the growing lump in her throat.

"We'll go to your room and pick out a costume. You look so beautiful in anything you wear." She smiled with delight softly lowering down, and nudging her daughter with her muzzle.

"No!!" Scootaloo yelled aloud, in a stern but hushed tone.

"Honey..." Her mother bit her lower lip in shock, tears slowly building in her own eyes.

"I just want to stay here with you mom! I want to talk, laugh and...smile." The filly gazed up to her mom in silence, sobbing as her mother thought on this deeply.

"You can't stay here with me. But you can still have a night of talking, laughing and smiling." Her mother kneeled down at her daughter's side, wrapping hooves around her softly.

"You have friends who just adore you! Rainbow Dash who will be there to guide you and of course your father that stubborn  stallion." The mare giggled aloud as her daughter hugged her back tightly, whole body shivering.

"I don't care! I miss you! Please don't leave me again!" Scootaloo let her tears fall freely, as she did her best to not let go of her mother's embrace.

"Every year is harder! Every year dad sleeps longer and I always just act like I'm ok!!" Scootaloo winced in pain as she pulled away slowly from her mom.

"I'm not..." The filly shivered in fear and anger, the light in the kitchen growing dim.

"You will be. Whenever you need me just say so and I'll be there." Her mother spoke in a soft soothing tone. Placing a hoof across her daughter's heart gently.

"Can I please just stay here with you tonight?" Scootaloo asked her voice cracking with each word.

"Of course. I'd be honored to have your company." Her mom kissed her cheek lovingly, using her hoof to wipe away the tears from her eyes.

"Just Tonight..."Scootaloo gazed to her side with tear stained eyes, the dark kitchen empty save for the small child alone.

"Just Tonight." She spoke once more, gazing above the fireplace in the living room.

Violet hues never leaving a framed picture of her mother, placed gently in front of a lovely decorated urn.