Within a day, James and Crusaders had recovered from their sunburn and enjoying the last few weeks of summer. One morning Scootaloo woke up and found that James’ bed was empty and only just made, she got up and went downstairs to find out where James was. Scootaloo went into the den and was surprised that it was empty. She wandered around the house and found that Dave and Katherine were nowhere to be found. Scootaloo read the time on the clock, it was only ten forty five, James would only be just getting up or would still be asleep. Scootaloo ran back upstairs to wake Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom to see if they knew where James was.
“Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell,” Scootaloo said shaking them awake, “Have you seen James?”
“No I haven’t,” Apple Bloom groaned.
“What time is it?” Sweetie Bell asked.
“Almost eleven,” said Scootaloo.
“That’s no big deal,” said Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Bell sat up and looked toward the window.
“Can anyone else hear music?” she asked.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo could hear something. The Crusaders decided to investigate the source of the music, Apple Bloom just wanted it to stop so she could get back to sleep. The Crusaders crept downstairs and went toward the garage, the music was getting louder with each step toward it. Scootaloo slowly opened the door and looked out.
“What can you see?” Sweetie Bell asked.
“The garage doors are open, but that’s about it,” Scootaloo replied.
“I’m going back to sleep,” said Apple Bloom.
A strange whoosh and crackling made her freeze in her tracks, the noise was coming from outside along with the music. Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo slowly went into the garage and toward the open door, Apple Bloom followed them, eager to see what the noise was. They peered around the open door and saw someone standing on the driveway, the person was wearing thick overalls, a strange looking welders mask, and they had a fuel tank on their back and what looked like a long metal stick with a shower head end in their hand. The Crusaders backed away, but Apple Bloom knocked over a bike which crashed into a lawnmower. The figure span around with the strange device raised to his head level. Scootaloo peeked around the corner, the person saw her and lowered the metal device. He cocked his head to one side and reached for the backpack.
“What are you doing up so early?” a familiar voice asked.
“James?” Scootaloo said to the figure.
“In the flesh,” James replied flipping the mask visor up, it was him, but there was some speculation abut what he was doing.
“What’s that thing you have?” Apple Bloom asked.
“A weed burner,” said James, “Mum and dad bought it only an hour ago and they tasked me with testing it out by clearing out the drive.”
“That thing burns weeds?” asked Sweetie Bell.
“Best thing my parents have ever tasked me to do,” James said as he flipped the mask back down over his face, “Watch.”
James looked on the drive for any weeds that had grown in between the cracks of the driveway, he found a good sized patch of moss and a dandelion poking out of a hole in the drive. James held the torch over the plant and squeezed the trigger, a jet of fire burned the plant and caused it to combust and disintegrate. James then torched a large clump of grass and some ivy.
“See,” he said turning around, “It does what it’s designed to.”
“Can I use it?” Apple Bloom said.
“No you can’t,” James said sternly, “This is no toy, this is a civilian flamethrower. Not only can it set plants on fire but it can set you on fire as well if you’re not careful.”
“But we use your guns,” Scootaloo said, “You let us use those every time we go to the gun range.”
“That’s different,” said James, “You can be trusted with the guns but the weed burner is something that I have to do alone.”
“Can we help you at least?” Sweetie Bell asked.
James stood still for a second and mulled over ideas in his mind.
“Yes you can,” he said, “Once my parents get back from walking the dog, can you take him in the back and play with him until I’m done?”
“We can do that,” said Apple Bloom.
“Okay then,” said James, “You kids get dressed, and wait up until my parents get back from the walk before you eat, they bought donuts for all of us.”
The Crusaders ran back inside when they heard the last part of James’ sentence. James chuckled and went back to his weed burning. He hummed The Rolling Stones song “Paint it Black” as he set fire to a part of the lawn and stomped it out, James looked through the screen door to see the Crusaders sitting at the table, waiting for Dave and Katherine to return.
“They’re such cute kids,” James thought, “I hope they get home before the school year starts, I do not want to put them in a public school. God only knows what could happen.”
Dave and Katherine returned with the donuts, Dart was more than happy to greet the Crusaders by jumping up on each one to get a loving ear rub from them. The Crusaders were halfway through eating when James came through the garage door.
“So how was it?” Dave asked.
“It was okay,” said James, “The burner’s going to have to be replaced by the end of the month, and the fuel supply needs to be refilled.”
“Did you get all the weeds?” asked Katherine.
“Burned each one to a crisp,” said James, “So, do I get a donut?”
James did get a donut for his efforts, which he took into the den to eat. James was overly pleased with this month, he had be become an Enforcer, he got an Ecstasy 550 buggy. He made a new friend and got to ride in the gunner seat of an F-18, and now, he has his own weed burner. James hoped that soon, the month would get better for both him and the Crusaders.