//------------------------------//
// The First Night 
// Story: A New Life 
// by Tomo-Domo 
//------------------------------//

Screaming, it was the only noise that reached my ears.
"TWILIGHT, SCOOTALOO, WHERE ARE YOU?" I screamed, desperately trying to find my family.
The screams continued. Where were they? I had to find them.
I searched the entire house, not knowing where they were, or what to expect if I found them.
I entered the last room, they had to be in here, it's the last place they could be. I opened the door, and nearly broke down on my knees from sadness.
Twilight was on the ground, motionless, Scootaloo standing next to her, crying. The thing that did this was standing above them, ready to kill my daughter as well, I may have adopted her, but I still loved her as my own.
"Get away from her," I said to the creature, it had the shape of a normal pony, but it was larger, possibly twice as large as a full grown stallion. It had a mane that glowed a bright green, and it had red glowing eyes.
It turned on me, leaving Scootaloo and Twilight alone. It approached me, growling and eyes narrowed. It seemed to say something I couldn't comprehend. It lunged at me, and I sat up, panting. It was just a dream.
"What's wrong, Violet?" Twilight asked me, waking up and sitting next to me. 
I placed a hoof on my forehead and shook my head, "Sorry, Twilight, just a bad dream. Where's Scootaloo?"
"She's in her room, she's fine. Now tell me what happened." She started to stroke my violet mane, I didn't know where I'd be if something happened to her.
I quickly explained everything that happened in the dream. She looked on in total awe.
"Wow. You don't think that the undead are coming back do you?" She asked me.
"I don't think so, the thing that was in my dream, it was bigger, and it talked, although I didn't understand it. But this thing, is different."
The door slowly opened to reveal Scootaloo, holding her Rainbow Dash plushie. "Are you okay, mom? I heard you wake up and I was worried."
"Come here, sweetie." I said to her, holding out my hoof. She climbed into the bed, lying next to me. "Everything's fine, darling. Just a bad dream. Do you want to sleep here?"
"Yes, I was worried, mom. Are you sure you're okay?" She asked, snuggling next to me.
"Yes, I'm fine, sweetheart. Now let's go back to sleep, I bet you're tired still aren't you?"
She answered with a long yawn. "Yeah, a little." She leaned her head next to me, falling asleep quickly.
"Are you sure you're okay, Violet? I can help you I'm sure." Twilight said, still worried.
"Don't worry, you're all still safe, and that's all that matters to me."
"Okay, but if you ever want to talk more, I'm here."
"Thank you, Twilight."
"You're welcome, Violet." She said, laying back down.
The next morning, I walked downstairs to find Twilight and Scootaloo waiting at the kitchen table.
"Good morning, Violet, glad to see you're awake."
"Good morning, mom. Come have breakfast with us."
"Just a second, darling. I've got a present for you. I've been working on it for a while. Follow me." I said, walking back up the stairs.
Scootaloo followed me up the stairs, excited for whatever it was I was going to give her. We stopped under the entrance for the attic. "Hold on, let me get it." I pulled down the opening, and climbed up the ladder. I returned a few moments later holding a blue box with the Cutie Mark Crusaders symbol on it.
"It's a gift for you and your friends, you should invite them over, I'll give it to all three of you then, but until then," I said, shaking my head, "No peeking at the box."
She jumped on me, hugging me tightly, "Thanks, mom, I'll invite them over now. I'll be back in a couple of hours." She said, putting on her helmet and getting on her scooter.
"Okay, sweetie, be careful. If your not back in two hours, I'm coming after you."
"Okay, mom, I'll be back."
"I love you, Scootaloo."
"Love you, too mom." And with that she sped off.
Twilight came into the room after Scootaloo left. "So what is in that box anyway?"
I gave her a wink, "You'll see."
An hour and a half passed before Scootaloo came back with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom. They all had a smile on their faces. "I'm back, mom." She said, taking off her helmet. "And early too."
"Hello, Violet." The other two greeted.
"Hello, girls. I suppose Scootaloo already told you two I have a gift for the three of you?" I asked them, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, she did." Sweetie Belle answered.
"Well," I said, pulling the box out from under the chair. "Here it is," I opened the box and pulled out the first three objects, bows. "These, are yours." I said, handing the yellow bow to Applebloom, the white one to Sweetie Belle, and the orange one to Scootaloo. I pulled the next three from the box, arrows and quivers, the same colors as their bows, and handed them to each filly. "But that's not all." I said, adding suspicion to the fillies. I put the box down and walked over to another box, it was bigger, but had the same design as the other. I brought it back and opened it. I pulled the objects out and held them up, getting a gasp from the three fillies. They were capes, each one showing something unique about them. Scootaloo's had a flaming wheel on it, representing her skills with her scooter. Sweetie Belle's had a musical note on it, representing her beautiful singing voice. And Applebloom's had a hammer and saw on it, representing her skills in building and hardware. Each accepting them gratefully.
They all got up and tackled me to the ground. Thanking me for the gifts.
"Okay, okay, you're all very welcome. But even I can't handle three fillies on me." I said, laughing at their enthusiasm.
They stood up, apologizing. Still thanking me too.
"Hey, mom, can Applebloom and Sweetie Belle sleep over tonight?" Scootaloo asked me.
"Sure they can, and besides," I said, pointing to the bows, "I can teach you how to use those."
"Yay, maybe we can get our cutie marks in archery." Applebloom pointed out.
"Yeah!" They all agreed, sprinting up to Scootaloo's room.
I simply giggled at their enthusiasm about getting their cutie marks.
Twilight walked up behind me and kissed my cheek. "That was very kind and generous of you."
"Yeah, but I just felt like doing something nice for them."
"I think she loves you just for you, just like I do."
I kissed her cheek in return, welcoming the feeling.
"I think I'll go check on the girls, they're waiting for me anyway."