It's been years since I first arrived in Equestria. Almost twenty years, to be precise. The Crusaders have grown up to be fine mares.
Sweetie Belle's a singer. Scootaloo's a stunt flier. Applebloom is an engineer.
I remember teaching them all kinds of things back when they were fillies. I remember the time Sweetie Belle wanted to know about Dragontongue, and so I taught her different songs. I remember teaching Applebloom how to carve stone efficiently. And I remember the time Scootaloo rode on my back through the sky, and we performed loops and dives for hours.
The other ponies got used to me, eventually.
I've had to protect the village from all kinds of things. Hydras, cockatrices, manticores, an Ursa Minor, and on one occasion another dragon. The Timberwolves never did come back, though.
Of course, when I wasn't defending the village, or helping its residents, I was hanging around with my friends. Sometimes, odd things happened, like the time Spike, Scootaloo and I switched bodies via magic. Or the time Pen and Malachite's friend came to visit.
But those are stories for another time.
Right now, I watch the three mares whom I helped raise. They're back from the city, to say hello to everyone they knew as fillies. I'm among them, I hope. The Princess has remained as young as she was when I first met her. I wonder what immortality must be like? Painful, I'm sure.
Spike, now a fine young dragon, has been helping me watch the village. He's bigger than I am now. He still has a lot to learn, though, and even though I'm an older dragoness now, I'm still willing to teach him.
Maybe someday I'll retell all of these stories. I'm sure the princesses would love to hear about them. Or maybe someone else is out there reading these. Who knows?