The bell rang and Cheerilee declared, "And that's all for today, my little ponies! Have a good weekend!"

The colts and fillies cheered as they poured through the door though some returned Cheerilee's good wishes and as they breathed in the fresh air of freedom, Scootaloo and her fellow Crusaders began talking.

"So, what're we gonna do for our crusades this weekend, Cutie-Mark Crusaders?" she asked as she rolled along on her scooter.

"I've got some magic lessons with Midnight and Sunburst," Twinken said apologetically, "Sunburst wants to experience Telepathy and asked if I could assist him and Midnight."

"Blueblood and Rarity are renovating the boutique," Sweetie Belle brought up, "I think they wanna expand the house, make it roomier."

"Weren't they planning to move into a new house?" asked Button Mash.

"They were, but after they checked it out," Sweetie Belle explained, "they decided it was just too big and... Well, not very homey. So Rarity suggested they add more to the boutique, a couple more bedrooms, another bathroom... I think they might be preparing for when they wanna have foals one day."

"Hey Scoots, is that your mom?" Rumble pointed ahead and Scootaloo saw Rumble was right!

Standing at the path beyond the schoolyard, stood a pegasus mare with a light blue coat, her mane a soft red with yellow-orange highlights, soft and warm brown eyes, and her cutie-mark was a book resting on a cloud. She smiled big and wide and yelled out, "MOM!"

Throwing her scooter aside, Scootaloo ran up to her mom, who happily caught her filly in an embrace and they laughed as she spun Scootaloo around before setting her down, and Scootaloo asked, "What're you doing here? I thought you'd still be at work!

"Well, I have some big news for you, sweet girl," Scootaloo's mom responded with an excited smile.

"Oh hi, Missus Scootaloo's mom!"

Scoots and her mother looked to see the Crusaders coming their way, and the mare said, "Apple Bloom, I told you before, call me Sunny!"

"Sorry, AJ an' Granny Smith always tell me t' respect adults," Apple Bloom blushed.

"So what's up, Mom?" Scootaloo looked up at her mother with excited curiosity.

"Somepony we both love so very much is coming home today!" said Sunny in a singsongy tone and bright smile, causing Scootaloo to gasp.

"You don't mean...?!" she didn't dare say it.

"That's right, sweetie," Sunny pulled Scootaloo into another hug and kissed her on the forehead, "Daddy's coming on the 4 o'clock train!"

"YAY!!" Scootaloo cheered and she hopped up and down, along with her mother, leaving the rest of the Crusaders a little perplexed but still happy for their friend.

"Hey Scoots, I don't think we've ever met your dad before," Rumble brought up.

"Yeah! You've never told us much about him either," Button Mash added, "except that he likes hoofball."

Scootaloo and her mom shared a cheeky look.

"Likes hoofball?" Scootaloo chuckled, "Guys, my dad doesn't just like hoofball. He's a pro! He plays for the Baltimare Blackbirds!"

That little tidbit about her dad got exactly the reaction from the Crusaders as Scootaloo expected: Dropped jaws, eyes as wide as dinner plates, and stunned silence. But moments later, the expressions pulled back into ear-to-ear grins, those eyes twinkled with excitement and each of them began to squeal in rising intensity that Scootaloo and Sunny both covered their ears before the Crusaders all WOW'd and WHOO'd and it took all of forty minutes to calm them down. But then the questions flooded in.

"What's he like?!" "Why didn't you tell us?!" "Can I ask for an autograph?!" "Does he have a hoofball he doesn't use anymore but I can have?" "Can I introduce him to my dad?"

"Kids, kids, please calm down!" Sunny raised her wings, trying to beckon silence, and when they finally quieted down, all eyes turned to her and she explained, "I'm afraid I have some ice to break here regarding Scootaloo's dad."

"What're you talking about, Mom? Is Dad okay?" Scootaloo suddenly felt a little worried.

"Oh he's better than okay, honey," Sunny assured, "It's just, well... He's retired now! He made the announcement yesterday!"

"WHAT?! How come?!" Scootaloo was surprised, her dad was retired? "Did he get hurt? Or in trouble?! Did they knock him off the team?!"

"No, no, Scoots, nothing like that," Sunny assured again, "Your dad, he... Well, he decided he was tired of being away a lot, away from us. So, he retired, cashed in his last check, and... he's coming home today, has plans, and it also means I'm quitting my job at the Cloudsdale Library."

"How come? You like the library!" Scootaloo was confused.

"Well, honey, Cloudsdale moves around Equestria a lot," Sunny sighed, "And... even though I was only working part-time there, it was still hard going back and forth whenever Cloudsdale got further and further away from Ponyville. I'm gonna find a job here in town and your dad- Oh! Sorry, can't tell you that."

"Tell me what?" Scootaloo asked.

"That's a surprise your dad wants to tell," Sunny clarified, "But never mind that. Let's all have a quick snack and then afterwards we'll go welcome your dad home at the train station."

"OKAY!" The Crusaders all cheered.

Sunny treated her daughter and the rest of the Crusaders to a round of milkshakes and cupcakes (though Sweetie Belle made sure to prevent Button Mash from starting another milkshake race), and Scootaloo and her mom told her friends a little more about her dad. They met in Stratusburg when they were teenagers and got off to a rocky start, which Sunny didn't feel like going into.

Despite aforementioned rocky start, Scootaloo's dad eventually worked up the courage to ask Sunny out on a date, and though she had reservations she accepted. To her surprise, Scootaloo's dad treated Sunny to a wonderful night, with dinner, dancing at a nightclub, and then watching a show of fireworks after.

"The entire time, he never did anything to make me feel uncomfortable," Sunny sighed as she remembered that night so fondly, before smirking, "though he did keep teasing me and, oh Faust, the way we bickered! It was as if we were already married, because during dinner the waitress thought he was my husband at the time. I was about to correct her but the big oaf immediately said we were celebrating our anniversary by recreating our first date, which we weren't!"

Although it was mushy, the Crusaders couldn't help but laugh and think how nice it must have been, and they laughed even harder when Sunny added, "I got even though, because when they brought out our desert I mushed his cake into his face!"

They laughed even harder when Apple Bloom noticed the clock in Sugarcube Corner, "Uh-oh, Sunny! Looks like th' train's gonna be pullin' real soon."

Sunny glanced at the clock too, "Oh my! 3:52 already? Time really does fly when you're enjoying yourself!"

"Let's finish up and go see him at the station," Button Mash then declared, "MILKSHAKE RACE!!!"

"BUTTON, NO!" Everypony tried to dissuade the colt-

"Auuugggghhh, AAAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!" the colt clutched his head in agony before falling off his seat, "It hurts, it HURTS SO MUUUUUUUCCCCHHHH!!!!"

Everypony sighed and shook their heads while the rest of the customers in the bakery glanced their way, confused or concerned by whatever the screaming was about.

"Smooth..." Sweetie Belle huffed, but as Button's wails quieted down a bit and the colt clutched his still-aching head, she couldn't help but smile a little at how adorkable he was.

Eventually, Button calmed down enough and they all hurried to the station and were just in time to see it pull in. Ponies stood back on the platform, some awaiting to disembark, others waiting to welcome those arriving. The passenger car doors opened and out spilled weary travelers, some of whom brightened up and smiled to see friends and family welcoming them back.

"So what does your dad look like, Scootaloo?" asked Twinken as they scanned the crowd, "Is he a pegasus like you and your mom?"

"No, he's actually an earth pony," answered Scootaloo, "and, well... He's probably not what you're gonna expect. He'll probably be wearing his lucky jersey."

"He'd better have washed that thing before going out in public," Sunny huffed, "Honestly, it's so embarrassing the way he insists it's luckier the more he sweats in it!"

The Crusaders all laughed at Sunny's words when they heard heavy hoofsteps coming their way and all but Scootaloo and Sunny gasped at the sight of the earth pony before them. He was large and tall, somewhat bigger than Big Macintosh even! His coat was purple, a darker shade of Scootaloo's mane, his own mane was black, and his eyes were metallic gold, and his cutie-mark was a hoofball helmet, and he was wearing saddlebags.

He was imposing to the Crusaders, looking like a bar bouncer rather than a hoofball player.

He looked to his wife, saying, "Sunny."

"Tackle," Sunny responded back.

Then he gazed down at his daughter, "Scootaloo."

"Dad," Scootaloo responded in the same manner, and the Crusaders sensed some tension building... until the family could no longer keep their straight faces, stifled chuckles escaping their lips until finally..

"DADDY!" "SCOOTS, SUNNY!"

The big stallion boomed with laughter as he hugged his wife and daughter, the three of them laughing and happily nuzzling each other.

The Crusaders were stupefied. What they thought was an oversized brute was really a big teddy bear, the way he laughed and hugged and cuddled his family. Then Button Mash gasped, "I know you! You're Tackle, one of the OTs for the Baltimare Blackbirds!"

The Crusaders all looked at Button Mash, surprised by the video gamer's knowledge of hoofball positions and pro players, and Button Mash shrugged, "Big Mac showed me his limited edition rookie card from his collection."

Tackle chuckled as he set Scootaloo down and finally regarded these colts and fillies, "Well, well, the Cutie-Mark Crusaders! My little girl's told me all about you guys from her letters. Having a hard time keeping up with this little speedster?"

"You can say that again," Button joked.

"Says the one who constantly has milkshake races and freezes his brain," Scootaloo retorted. "Sometimes I wonder about you."

"And I wonder about you as well," Button retorted in kind.

"And it's retired OT of the Baltimare Blackbirds now," Tackle corrected with an "oh well" shrug before they all heard a gurgly GROWL, causing them to flinch until Tackle laughed and patted his barrel, "And this beast in my belly hasn't been fed since this morning."

"Then it's time we head home," Sunny decided, "It's been entirely too long since we've had a family dinner."

"Sorry guys, looks like we gotta cut this short," Scootaloo said to her friends.

"No big, Scoots, have a good time with your mom and dad," Twinken insisted. "Maybe we can come over tomorrow and hang out with you guys then."

"That'll have to wait, Cutie-Mark Crusaders," Sunny spoke up, "Scootaloo has a checkup at the hospital tomorrow morning."

"But I'm not sick!" Scootaloo protested.

"Oh, sweetheart, it's just a checkup," Sunny assured, "The doctor will just o a quick examination, see how you're doing, and once it all checks out..."
"...You, your buddies, and I? We'll play touch hoofball and I can tell you all about my best plays with the Blackbirds!" Tackle smiled excitedly, causing the Crusaders to cheer.

"Okay, that all sounds awesome!" Scootaloo hopped and flapped her little wings, though she dropped back onto the ground after hovering for only a few seconds, but she didn't let them see it bothered her.

"C'mon, loves of my life," Sunny bade, "I'm making our favorite, Spaghetti and Wheatballs with angel food cake for dessert!"

"YES!!" Scootaloo cheered before promising her friends, "See you all tomorrow!"

"Bye!" "Seeya!" "Aw, I want angel food cake!"

Scootaloo happily hurried ahead on her scooter, leaving her parents free to talk privately as they followed her home.
"Any improvements since...?" Tackle whispered hopefully.
"None. I just hope the doctor will see signs that that will change," Sunny replied, though somewhere deep down she feared she already knew the answer.

"Hey Dad!"

"YOW!" Tackle jumped in surprise and landed on his rump with a noticeably loud THUD and blushed in slight embarrassment at his daughter's laughter, as well as some stifled chuckles from passerby. Dusting himself off, he stood up and said, "Uh-heheh, baby girl, what have we said about sneaking up on your pop?"

"Sorry, Dad, but Mom said you have some kind of surprise to tell me about," Scootaloo brought up, "I'm guessing it's not your retirement."

"Uh- No, it's not!" Tackle mentally sighed, glad Scootaloo hadn't heard him and her mom talking, "Even though I'm not playing for the Blackbirds no more, I got a nice severance package once I left, so... I'm opening my own sporting goods store right here in Ponyville!"

"Really? That sounds cool!" Scootaloo found herself intrigued, "Tell me more!"

"Sure thing, sweetheart, but..." Tackle gave his wife a look and cleared his throat, "During dinner. Gotta feed the beast or he might decide to eat you!"

Scootaloo gave her dad a cheeky look, "The beast would have to catch me first!"

She zipped off, and Tackle chased after her, roaring, "I'm a hungry beast and I'm gonna eat a naughty little filly for dinner! ROOOAAARRRR!!!!"

Sunny giggled, hearing Scootaloo scream and laugh as her dad chased after her, so happy to have her family together again, but...

O Faust, let tomorrow turn out alright!

And so I finally introduce my own version of Scootaloo's mom and dad: Sunny Bookmark and Tackle

The basic design in appearance (apart from his colors) for Tackle were inspired by this guy:

Similar mane style but a somewhat larger tail.

Tackle
Type: Earth Pony
Sex: M
Eyes: Metallic Gold
Coat: Purple (darker shade of his daughter's purple mane)
Mane: Black
Cutie-mark: Hoofball Helmet
Occupation: Pro Hoofball player (retired), Sporting Goods store owner

Despite his big and gruff appearance, Tackle is a big teddy bear who prefers to give hugs and noogies rather than shake hooves, and a loving father and husband. He and Sunny met and fell in love in Stratusburg until they married and moved to Ponyville. However, due to their respective jobs they were both often busy, with Tackle often away training and playing in pro Hoofball games.

He finally got tired of being away from his family and retired to focus on being a father and husband while also opening his own sporting goods store in Ponyville.

As for Scootaloo's mother, her basic design is based off this mare:

Sunny Bookmark
Type: Pegasus
Coat: Light Blue
Mane: Faded Red with Faded Yellowish-Orange highlights
Eyes: Soft Brown
Cutie Mark: Book resting on a cloud
Occupation: Librarian

Until recently, Sunny Bookmark worked as the librarian in the famed Cloudsdale University, as well as a part time substitute teacher in the subjects of literature and writing. She may look young, but don't let her age startle you, as she can quote circles around you. She also takes no nonsense, often times stepping into a situation and rightly talking down the bully without resorting to physical violence.

She grew up in Stratusburg where she met and fell in love with Tackle, and after they married they moved to Ponyville to raise their daughter.

Apart from her job at Cloudsdale University's librarian and a part-time teacher, she was a stay at home mom, looking after Scootaloo while her husband was often away, playing for the Baltimare Blackbirds. His recent retirement has caused her to start looking into new employment in Ponyville

Her love of books and even her rather unique teaching style made her popular with students and visitors to the library. In fact, word about her spread so much, a new library in Ponyville was planned. To hear anything negative about her isn't impossible, but it's rather rare.

PLZ note - The ponies in the pictures aren't Scootaloo's parents, their designs helped inspire them and give an idea of what they look like