“And sure as sugar, there it was,” said Apple Bloom, displaying the hammer and wooden apple that made her Cutie Mark.
Once again, the story was received with the appreciative stomping of hooves from most of the small audience and an exasperated sigh from Pound. “That was even girlier than the last one! C'mon, we need to find Scootaloo. She's the coolest pony in Ponyville, her Cutie Mark story has the be more awesome than these!”
Apple Bloom chuckled and shared a wink with Sweetie Belle. “Does all this sound a little familiar to you too?”
“Brings you back, doesn't it? But where is Scootaloo, anyway? Wasn't she going to help you guys with everything?”
“She buzzed over to the train station awhile back. Ah think she's meetin' up with-”
“Everypony, look out!”
They could hear the yells from all the way across the meadow. Two speeding blurs had come into view on the road out of Ponyville, and startled ponies dove out of their way as they barreled toward the farm. The figures resolved into two ponies, both riding dangerously fast on flat wheeled boards. The orange pony riding farther back rode smoothly, steering expertly around the wide curve leading up to the farm. The blue pony in front, on the other hoof, was clearly not in control of the situation. She wobbled and leaned, swinging wildly back and forth across the road all the way up to the farm. Heads turned at the noise, and there was a collective gasp across the entire farm as the unfortunate pony finally crashed into the roadside ditch and was sent flying head over hooves. The group at the hilltop shared winces and groans as they watched the pony, now close enough to be recognized as a rainbow-maned pegasus, faceplant in the grass at the foot of the hill.
The group clambered down the hill to help, with Pinkie Pie and Pound galloping to the front and Pumpkin hanging back to stay with Twilight, who made her way down more slowly due to her leg. The blue pegasus was rising to her feet and brushing off her wings when Scootaloo caught up and expertly turned her board, bringing herself to a halt.
“You know, Rainbow Dash, I know plenty of earth ponies who have no problem with this, and they don't even have wings to help balance.”
“I'll get the hang of it one of these days. Besides, flying's more my style. Hey guys!”
“Dashie!” Pinkie Pie cried out, tackling the pegasus in another of her patented high-speed hugs. Pumpkin had caught up with the group, and stood curiously to the side as everpony exchanged greetings. As Rainbow Dash disentangled herself from Pinkie Pie and gave Twilight Sparkle a much gentler hug, Pumpkin noticed that her brother looked like he might be choking on something.
“Are you okay there?”
Pound's voice cracked as he leaned over to whisper. “Do you know who that is?”
“A very clumsy pony?”
“That's Rainbow Dash.”
This earned nothing but a blank stare from Pumpkin.
“One of the Wonderbolts!”
“That flying team you're always going on about? So you don't know who Twilight Sparkle is, but you freak out over some showpony?”
“SHOWPONY? She's just about the coolest pony in EQUESTRIA!”
Pound's outburst caught the attention of the other ponies, who all turned to stare. Rainbow Dash chuckled as she trotted over to the two foals.
“Holy cow, is this the Cake twins? Pound and Pumpkin, right? Heh, you probably don't remember me, but your aunt Pinkie and I go way back. Name's Rainbow Dash.”
“Very pleased to meet you, Rainbow Dash,” said Pumpkin smartly, relishing the chance to show off her manners. Her brother, on the other, seemed incapable of doing anything other than sitting stock still and twitching an eye.
“Uh. You okay kid?”
“Rainbow Dash knows my name,” he breathed.
“Haha. Um?” Rainbow Dash turned nervously to the other ponies, looking for help. Pinkie bounced to her rescue.
“Hey Pound, you remember why we came out here, right? To hear Scootaloo's Cutie Mark story!”
Scootaloo stepped forward, posing and flipping her hair. “You wanna hear that story huh? Well, okay, but I gotta warn you, it might be just about the awesomest thing you ever‒ oh. Um...”
She was interrupted by a quick nudge from Apple Bloom, and she looked questioningly in Rainbow Dash's direction. Dash, however, just rolled her eyes.
“Geez, I'm fine. I love this story, it really is just about the coolest thing ever.” She sat on the ground between Pound and Pumpkin, and leaned down to Pound, who still looked a little nervous. “Trust me, kid, this Cutie Mark story is only second to my own. You're in for a treat.”
Scootaloo regained her confidence, and began telling her story to the Ponies who were settling in a circle in the grass around her.
“Well, one night, there was this wicked awful storm...”