The Last Crusades

"Oh, come on wings! Fly!!" I groaned as my pitiful wings buzzed. "Come on come on come on!!!"

It didn't work. After four or five more tries, I gave up and got on my scooter to head home- if you could call the orphanage home.

As I zipped along the path, I waved to ponies heading home. It was late already, and I still had homework. My private flying lessons were taking me way to long. Somepony cried, "Scootaloo!" and I stopped.

It was Applebloom. "Where ya' headed?"

"Home," I answered, taking my helmet off.

"Can ya help me on mah homework on Saturday? Sweetie Belle is gonna try to come to the tree house so we can all finish our homework together, then maybe to some crusadin'!" Applebloom trotted over, her smile wide.

"That sounds like fun! I can try." I responded casually, fluffing my wings.

"All right, see ya Scootaloo! I better get home before Applejack worries. She says there's gonna be rain tonight, so hurry home!"

I laughed and waved as we parted ways and thunder made Applejack's prediction come true. Thank heavens for my helmet, it kept my mane dry at least. The rain began to fall hard, and I used my leg as well as my wings to go faster.  The orphanage came in sight, and I gave a tiny sigh of relief. I was always worried that by the time I got home from school and practice, I would go 'home' and find the shack in pieces. But it was still standing, and I hurried towards it.

Featherweight greeted me at the door and helped me put my scooter in the secret spot behind some bushes. My scooter was my pride and joy, I made it with my own hooves (and a little help from Featherweight's), and I didn't want it being stolen.

The storm raged around me, and I was almost blown away, if not for the white hoof of my friend grabbing mine and helping me into the door.

"My, you were out late." Said Sugar, the old mare who runs the orphanage, as she used her white magic to dry us off with towels.

"Sorry Miss Sugar, I lost track of the time." I said, hoping she wouldn't pry further.

"I was about to send Featherweight after you. You missed dinner- that shall be your punishment. Now, off to bed, both of you."

Featherweight grinned and gave me a playful shove as we headed up the rickety staircase to the room that me, Featherweight and 6 other ponies shared. The youngest didn't go to school yet, and the oldest had almost enough money saved up to get a home of his own.

"Hey Scootaloo!" squeaked the youngest. The pegasus was still in diapers, a young little filly with yellow hair and a blue coat, with bright gray eyes. I guess the little squirt looked up to me, and sometimes I felt bad for the bad example I set on occasion. She was the main reason I stayed out of trouble. Most of the time.

"Hey there Bluebell. Shouldn't you be in bed?" I gave her a noogie, smiling at her giggles.

"No! Sugar sayed I could stay up 'n wait for you!" The little blue filly said slyly.

"Well, I'm here now. You aughta get in bed now."

"Awwww!!" she pouted, but was already snuggling into her bed, her small body wrapped around a ratty teddy bear. I sighed with the happy memory of me giving that bear to her. I still couldn't believe I used to sleep with a stuffed animal. It was embarrassing. Almost.

"Can you tell us that story about the dragon again tonight Scootaloo?" Bluebell's voice knocked on the door of my thoughts, waking me.

"What?" I asked, shaking my head.

"Yeah, tell us about the purple dragon! That one's my favorite!"  The two other young foals were catching on, all sat up, requesting a story.

I blushed. "I'm not that good of a story teller you guys."

They all hopped out of bed and gathered round me, eyes wide.  "Please, please Scootaloo!"

"Yeah, you promised!"

"The one about the purple dragon!"

"All right, all right!" I laughed as all the little foals sat down expectantly. "But you have to get in your beds. And ask the bigger ponies if it's okay."

"Okay, okay!!" Daffodil squeaked, pushing past her twin brother and leaping towards the 3 other ponies. The eldest, Kindly, smiled encouragingly at me while the other two, Basil and Moon Quiver, shrugged their answer. All three of the foals zoomed back to me, trampling each other.

I laughed again. "Slow down, be careful!" I helped them gather their thin blankets and featherless pillows, then we sat down in the corner farthest from the window, where the world outside was howling.

"Once upon a time, in a small country town just like this one, there lived a family with three foals...."