Scootaloo trotted up the stairs of the Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse and opened the door. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Cozy Glow looked over towards the entrance and saw Scootaloo.
“You’ve totally gotta come over tonight!” Scootaloo said, “I’ll make it seem like the most rad sleepover ever!”
“Scootaloo, I thought we discussed about this!” cried Apple Bloom, “We ain’t goin’ to have no...” She paused. Then, she suddenly gasped. “A sleepover ya say?”
“Yeah!” Scootaloo said, “It’ll be fun!”
“I don’t know if a slumber party with Rainbow Dash this close to Nightmare Night seems like a good idea,” said Sweetie Belle.
“Yeah, consider her scary stories,” Apple Bloom said with a shudder.
“Oh, c’mon guys! Don’t act like such chickens!” Cozy Glow said, “So what if she tells scary stories? It’s not like something’s gonna go after us.”
“Cozy’s got a point, guys,” said Scootaloo.
“But we remember how scared you were that one night,” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said in unison, “You couldn’t sleep ‘cause you thought the Headless Pony was on the loose.”
Scootaloo blushed and flashed a nervous smile. “I-I don’t remember that at all. There’s no way in Equestria I-I’m afraid of anything.”
“Look at your face now,” Cozy Glow said, “Are you still sure you’re not scared of anything?”
“Crap, you got me,” Scootaloo said, “But don’t tell Rainbow Dash! If she finds out that I’ve lost my cool, she’ll flip!”
“Uh huh,” the others said in a non-interested manner, “We promise.”
“What’s wrong, guys?” Scootaloo asked.
“Oh, now you wanna know!” Apple Bloom said, “What the hell’s goin’ on here, Scootaloo? I thought we told you about this already at school! Don’t try to force us to do something we don’t wanna do!”
Scootaloo hung her head and cried. “I just wanted to have fun with you guys tonight! I understand if you don’t wanna come because she’s gonna tell ghost stories no matter what!” she rage quitted.
“Scootaloo, wait!” Apple Bloom called, “I didn’t mean it like that!”
Scootaloo, her face red with anger and with hot tears streaming down her eyes, turned around to face Apple Bloom. “DAMN YOU!”
Scootaloo trotted to the door and stormed out of the Clubhouse, with the door slamming violently as she left. So she stomped all the way home, where she was greeted by Rainbow Dash.
“Scootaloo, are you OK?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“You wouldn’t understand!” Scootaloo sobbed.
“Don’t say that. I’ve been there for you through all these years. Surely there’s something you can talk to me about,” Rainbow Dash said.
“No, I’m fine,” Scootaloo lied, “I’ll just be in my room crying and crying until they....”
“They what?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Scootaloo shook her head, unable to hold in more sobs. “Never mind.”
So she went to her room and locked the door. In her bedroom, Scootaloo crawled into her bed and hid under the covers. Also hiding her head in her pillow, muffled crying could be heard from where Rainbow Dash was.
Rainbow Dash didn’t know what to do. She felt so bad for her younger sister and the very filly that she’s been taking care of for quite a while now--- how long was it again? Rainbow Dash shook her head. There was no reason to put her thought in something as worthless as that now. Now she had to do something about Scootaloo. No, she decided to give her time and when she was ready, they’d talk about it. She couldn’t force Scootaloo to do something she didn’t want to do and she knew that.
Then, Rainbow Dash knew just what was going on, or so she had a good guess to what was going on to make Scootaloo so down in the dumps. So she flew to Scootaloo's room and knocked on the door. "Scootaloo, may I come in?"
Scootaloo peeked her head out from under the covers. "If you want to see me in most unbadass way, then hell yeah. Make your freaking way in here."
"Scootaloo, I for one know firsthoof that I can't always pull off a cool demeanour all the damn time," Rainbow Dash admitted, "Sometimes, ponies are gonna see the ugly parts, but who cares? It doesn't matter how much of a badass you are, it only matters if you are true to yourself. I understand that at times it can be hard, I agree. You've gotta put on a facade and be strong, but not always. You can talk to me. It's way better than you just hiding up here and waiting for depression to develop."
Scootaloo sniffed. She emerged from the door and fluttered into Rainbow Dash's hooves. They embraced each other in a hug. "I love you, Rainbow Dash," she said.
"I love you too, Scoots," Rainbow Dash replied, "Now it's getting late. Get to bed. You have a big day tomorrow."
"Oh right," Scootaloo said, "It's Nightmare Night."
So she nodded off to bed.