Homeless Scootaloo One Shot

>You are Scootaloo.

>You're homeless.

>But, at least you're not alone out here.

>"Alright Scootsy, what've ya got?" says the tall man you met a few weeks ago.

>You don't really know what he is. He stands on two legs, like Diamond Dogs and Minotaurs, but the only hair he has is on his head and face.

>He's old, too. You can see the lines all over his face whenever he smiles. Though, you can't really see the smile through all that beard hair.

"Uh.. well I got four bits over near the corner of Emmerson and Fleet."

>He smiles through that massive, scruffy beard of his and gives you a nod.

>"That there's good, Scoots. See? Now didn't I tell ya that blowin' on that harmonica of yers would be good us?"

>You give a shy smile and nod to him, your wings fluttering a bit.

>He had this little harmonica in his backpack, and he asked if you could play.

>You told him yes, even though you really couldn't. Still, it was pretty fun to just blow into it here and there, and a few ponies put money into your hat when you were on the other side of town.

"Yeah. I guess you were right, huh?"

>"Sure as sure was."

"What about you, did you make any money?"

>Anonymous adjusts his pack, sighing.

>"Fraid not, Scooter. Seems folks over on the other side of town didn't take too kindly to me."

"Aw... well, that's okay. Here."

>You take to of your bits and hoof them over to him, holding them out for him to take.

>He just shakes his head and smiles.

>"Nope. You earned it, kiddo. C'mon. Let's go get some grub."

 

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>It's nice that four bits can get you enough food for the night.

>A tomato, banana, and one cup of oats.

>You really liked the oats.

>You asked Anonymous if he wanted to share the oats with you, but he just waved you off with a throaty chuckle. Something about them not being too good for him.

>He likes the tomato though, and he's been taking off thin slices with his pocket knife and eating them slow.

>You, you're digging into that banana like nopony's business.

>This mostly just makes Anonymous laugh, his whiskers twitching as he does so.

"Say Anon," you chew out between bites of the banana, "What're we going to do for tonight?"

>"Hmm?" his beard seems to ask.

"Do you got a place to sleep?"

>"Oh sure, got a nice box over on 7th I like to use. Found a mattress on the corner, took the cushions fer pillows! Not a palace 'r' nothin', but she'll do for ya I think."

"Me?"

>"Mmhm! Can't just let ya sleep out on the street all by yerself, Scootsy, and it ain't big enough fer the both of us. You can have it tonight."

"Aww... thanks, Anon."

>"Aw now don't worry, ain't no trouble. Now go on, get to eatin'. Nothin' worse than sleepin' on an empty stomach, let me tell ya."

>Nodding, you finish your food.

>It had been a while since you slept on something soft. You missed beds.

>But this box of Anon's was nice, and cozy.

>And you weren't alone.

>And you didn't know for sure... but you think he was happy to not be alone too.

 

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>It was kind of hard to wake up Anonymous this morning.

>You shook him for a bit, and you got kind of worried, but he must just be a really heavy sleeper because he woke up, blinking a lot. Still, he smiled when he saw you. Must be weird not sleeping in your box...

>He says that the cold nights make his bones creak. Makes sense, it get awful cold after sunset.

>The two of you wandered about the city for a while, before you came up with an idea.

>You really hoped it was a good one.

"Anon?" you ask him as he blows on the harmonica he lent you before.

>"What's on yer mind, Scooter?"

"Well, I got to thinking. It's gonna get colder and colder as winter comes, right?"

>He gives a grunt of confirmation, wiggling his whiskers. "That's right, Scootaloo. Gonna get coldaloo in the winterloo soonaloo."

"Right, so I was thinking we could-... what are you doing?"

>"What'cha mean?"

"What was all that? You were saying those words funny."

>"I don't really know what you're reffering to-a-loo."

>He gives a bushy smile before blowing into his harmonica again. You try to stifle a giggle yourself.

"C'mon, cut it out, I have a good idea!"

>"Well, I'm all ears, Scoots. Let me hearaloo it."

"Stooooop!"

>You smack his legs with your hooves, and he chuckles.

>"Okay okay, ya got me. Now. What's the big idea of yers?"

"What if we... you know... snuck on a train and just went South?"

>"Hmm?"

"Yeah! We could sneak on and just.. ride to where it's warmer! What do you think?"

>He smiles

 

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>You keep wondering when this train will come to a stop.

>It's been driving down the countryside for days now, you think.

>You and Anon have been hiding in a box car near the back of the train for some time now. Found some blankets, too, so the nights are easier.

>Anon's been coughing a lot lately... he wakes up tired more often now, too.

>Hopefully, when you two get somewhere, you can find a nice warm place to stay.

>One night, the two of you were laying near the door of the train, watching the night go by.

>It was really nice out, that night.

"Hey, Anon?"

>...

"Anon?"

>"Hmm?...Sorry, Scooter... just tired."

"Oh. Sorry. I was just wondering... if you could do anything, what would it be?"

>He gets real quiet after that... but answers.

>"Why... I'd like to fly, I thinks. Yeah... just spread some big wings, and fly off into the sky all majestic like..."

"Hehe... that's cool... I hope one day I'll fly really well."

>"Scoots, I bet you could do anything ya darn near wanted to do if ya tried hard enough."

"Really?"

>"Really."

>You smiled at that. It'd been a long time since someone had told you that you could fly one day...

>A few more days pass, and the train does come to a stop.

>Place called Ponyville. You'd never heard of it before.

>But it was sunny, and warm.. and had nice ponies.

>...

>...You're sure Anon would have really liked it here.

>But one morning... he just didn't get up.

>...that day was a bad one.

>But eventually, you smiled.

>He'd want you to.

 

End.