//------------------------------//
// Nothing Left To Live For...Or Is There? 
// Story: The Final Crusade 
// by Enfield 
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James lay on his bed and cried for an hour before he wore himself out and buried himself under a pillow. James stayed under the pillow, trying to find something in his mind that might bring him happiness. All he could see was the betrayal of his parents and himself dying over and over again with his entire family laughing as the bodies piled up. James needed to find someone to help him now more than ever.
“James?” a familiarly squeaky voice asked.  
James pulled the pillow off his face and found Sweetie Bell standing next to his bed.
“What do you want?” James asked, bitter and angry about everything.
Sweetie Bell stood there and said nothing, James was getting more and more annoyed. 
“You’re here for something, what is it?” James sat up and asked.
Sweetie Bell threw her arms around James and started crying. James didn’t know what to do at first, but he slowly put his arms around her. 
“Please stop being like this,” she sobbed. 
“How can I?” James asked, “I’ve lost everything.”
“Please stop being angry,” Sweetie Bell said. 
“How am I supposed to stop?” James said, tears slowly forming, “I’ve lost my job, my dog, my dream and my family. I have nothing left!” 
“You still have us,” said Sweetie Bell. 
James looked up and saw Apple Bloom and Scootaloo standing in the doorway. They carefully walked over to James, once they were next to him they hugged him as well.
“You’re right,” James said, “There is still something left for me in this bleak little world.” 
“We love you James,” said Apple Bloom. 
“All of us, no matter what,” said Scootaloo.
James could feel the tears in his eyes, but they were tears of joy. 
“I love you kids too,” James said.

They let go of each other and stared into each others eyes, Scootaloo then handed something to James, it was his 1911. James sighed and released the slide.
“I’m sorry for taking a shot at you,” he said, “I just wanted to be alone for a bit.” 
“It’s okay,” said Scootaloo as she wiped the tears off James, “We forgive you.”  
James hugged the Crusaders once more and went downstairs. He headed for the freezer and grabbed a tub of vanilla ice cream, then he tore the top off and put the tub in the microwave and set it for a few minutes. Once it was ready James took the tub and drank the melted ice cream. The Crusaders watched James as he drank the ice cream.
“What are you doing?” Sweetie Bell asked.
“I only do this when I’m really depressed,” said James, he took another gulp of melted ice cream and then dropped the tub in the bin. 
“Feel better?” Apple Bloom asked.
James nodded as he wiped the ice cream off his face with his hand. 
“Much better,” said James. 
“I think you should sleep a little,” said Scootaloo. 
“I was planning on that,” James said as he went upstairs, “Don’t bother me.” 
James went into his room and fell asleep. He woke up a few hours later with Scootaloo sitting on the end of his bed.
“What are you doing?” James chuckled. 
“Keeping an eye on you, just in case,” said Scootaloo. 
James sat up and hugged Scootaloo, the Crusaders had managed to keep James sane and happy even after the most traumatic thing that ever happened to him. 
“What do we do now?” Scootaloo asked.
“Survive,” said James. 
“What do you mean by ‘survive’?” Scootaloo asked.
“Well we’ve got to make it until I can get you home,” James said.
“I hope we have enough food,” said Scootaloo. 
James tapped his chin as he formulated a plan. He knew that there wasn’t enough food to last him and the Crusaders for any longer than three days. But then James realized that he could help the Crusaders if they helped him out with getting supplies from the neighbors. 

The next day James was downstairs in the garage with the Crusaders. They had spent the past night and morning practicing their act in order to obtain food from the only people who James fully trusted, Seth’s family.
“Okay, do we know what to do?” James asked. 
“We cry and look scared while you hold your arm to make it seem as if it’s broken,” Apple Bloom said. 
“Good thing you didn’t clean off your bloody nose,” said Scootaloo. James still had a dried stream of blood running down his face from his nose. 
“Alright then, one last practice run,” James said. The Crusaders huddled around him and Sweetie Bell managed to make herself cry.
“Please help us,” she said through tears, “James’ parents left us with nothing and we’re running out of food.”
“I need enough to keep the girls alive,” James said, “Can you please help us until we can get help from the authorities?” 
James sighed and looked down at the Crusaders. 
“I think we’re ready,” James said.