I was thankful to that farmer that lent me the cart, and returning it was much faster, and coming back to Ponyville again was even faster. I love my new speed. I can get anywhere just like that. Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack were confronting Blinkie. They brought all three of the crusaders along with them. I laughed again when I saw Scoots. I was almost sure she still hadn't noticed thanks to that cape. Of course mostly I was standing there trying not to be bored out of my mind as they chewed out Blinkie. She just stood there, saying nothing, and blinking a great deal. Her name is nearly as obvious as Pinkie's. Though it was creepy when that was all she did for long stretches of time.
"…and you've terribly traumatized these three fillies."
"The orange one does not seem traumatized to me. Or am I wrong?"
"Wait, Rarity that sounded sincere and…" Began Twilight
"Ah reckon it did." Added Applejack
"I do not care. How can you be so irresponsible as to let children pilot some experimental aircraft? That is beyond irresponsible."
"They passed my safety tests, and the orange one was perfect on the simulator. She overstressed the current safe speed limit, but I clearly…"
"That doesn't matter you ignorant little…" Rarity then pulled up her nose and let out a snooty little huff. "Look at this, you have me so angry you have inspired me to vulgarity. Can you really not understand what you've done is wrong?"
"She can't ya know."
They all turned to me. Great, now I have to explain this. I rolled my eyes and walked over to Blinkie, putting one hoof over her shoulder.
"See, it's like this. Pinkie may be the queen of random and as weird as they get, but she's not actually crazy."
"Now Rainbow, really, you seem to have some insight but…"
"Well, maybe she is, but mostly she gets the universe and understands it. She knows what's going on, even if she doesn't react to the universe in a normal way."
"Ah guess that sorta makes a bit of sense."
"You have a point, though sane may not seem to be the right word to describe Pinkie it may be technically correct. But Blinkie…"
"Is crazy, right Blinks?"
She nodded. "Yes, I am quite mad, everyone says so. I don't see it, but that's the point." She laughed. "Logic dictates I follow the evidence, and that is overwhelming."
"So she literally doesn't understand why giving the crusaders a…" Rarity paused
"Jet." Said Blinkie
"I like that word. It's cool. By the way I noticed you guys didn't check for cutie marks."
All three went wide eyed at this. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom began shaking and only stopped when they checked. Then I quickly covered my ears as Scoots let out an ear shattering whoop. She had a black rocket with a trail of smoke behind it on her flank. It seems to me like it should have been a jet, but I don't really get what it means so maybe it somehow makes more sense.
"Oh thank Celestia, it's not there." said Sweetie Belle
"Ah was so worried that somehow somethin' about that would be my special talent. That woulda been just awful."
"Oh my." added Twilight
"Oh dear." Said Rarity
"Ah reckon that can't mean anything safe."
Then the two cutie mark crusaders turned to their friend who was now staring at her flank and shaking slightly with a huge smile on her face. Then they were suddenly all in a great big group hug.
"Cutie mark crusaders test pilots is a success."
Then came the supersonic squealing I heard even though my quicly repositioned hooves. I felt bad for all the earthbound ponies who had trouble covering their ears. The crusaders hopped and giggled in place for a good long while.
"Now girls…" began Twilight. "You do understand that just because one of you…"
"We already figured that out Twilight." Said Applebloom. "Ah realized it when Twist was feeling a bit left out. Though for some reason once we took her with us crusading she said she's okay being left out."
"I totally don't get why she was so upset. I mean it's just a little tree sap and few broken bones. I've hurt myself way worse." Added Scoots.
I laughed. "Oh, so great."
"So I figured that we should make a vow. That we'll be crusaders forever. Even after we get our marks. No mater who gets what when."
"This means we can do safe things for now on, can't we?"
"No way." said Scoots. "This means we gotta go more extreme. I pushed things to the limit in that thing and I did it. I totally get it now. When I was controlling that thing, that vehicle more than just me, almost like a scooter…"
"A flying metal scooter?" asked Sweetie Belle
"Hmmm." Said Rarity, leaning into to look more closely at Scootaloo's mark.
"I said almost. But it was then I knew this is what I really wanted to do. That's it. So we gotta push things more. If we're going to get your cutie marks we gotta try some really crazy things."
Twilight and AJ both face hoofed. That was when Rarity's horn lit up, and with a flash Scoots cutie mark vanished. Then Applebloom and Sweetie Bell gasped. Scootaloo spun around and I covered my ears again.
"It's gone."
Everypony else cringed.
Rarity sighed. "Sorry, but it was just some stray oil or some such. If you looked closely it was obvious it didn't have that certain clean vividness of a true cutie mark."
Scoots looked down and sighed. "Awwww, but I was so sure."
"It's okay Scootaloo. It just means we all gotta try that much harder."
"Yes, and you wouldn't really want to fly one of those things all the time, would you?"
Scoots turned to Sweetie Belle. "Of course I would. It was like super awesome. I mean it probably exploded or whatever but the next one won't."
"Most likely." Added Blinkie
"Now listen here, all a ya." Said Applejack
"Come on girls, I know I was close and now I have the best idea ever. Lets go."
"You did look really happy."
"Yea, ya must know what you're doing." Added Applebloom
"Cutie Mark Crusaders go."
And with a high hoof they were off. I think they forgot they were in trouble too, not just Blinkie, but Rarity and Applejack just stood there. I began to laugh once the crusaders were out of range. I thought taking action to get your cutie mark is one of the best ideas ever, but they had actually already found what they were good at, but refused to focus on it. Then I noticed Rarity and Applejack glaring at me.
"What, it's funny. Besides unless Blinkie gives them another jet or something similar, there won't be a problem."
"I'm sorry, I still don't get it. Look, how about you girls just act like a grant approval board, and oversee matters regarding them."
"What the hay does that mean?"
"It means she's going to ask you two if it's okay to give the crusaders something or not. Of course my guess is they will come looking for more stuff."
"For any other foals, just ask Cheerilee." Said Twilight. "During school hours would also add an extra layer of safety, making them wait."
Blinkie nodded. "Sure, there is always something else to work on."
"Cool. Okay, you can yell at Blinkie more if you want, but I'm gone. Later."
Then I took off. It was still strange how fast I could fly, but I was getting used to it, and it was awesome. Plus there was that whole time stop thing. Pinkie got shape shifting, and I got even faster. I wonder if this means everybody will get something. Then I laughed. Oh, Applejack is already crazy strong, isn't she? That just leaves Fluttershy and Rarity, and I guess Twilgiht. Though with the way she handled that ursa I can't think how she can get much more awesome.