The CMC's New Wagonby Wiz AhmadChaptersChapter 2 (After school)Chapter 3 (Three days later)Chapter 4 (Two months after finding the car)Chapter 5 (Final touches and the grand reveal)Chapter 6 (Start-up and test runs)Chapter 7 (Show and tell and dealing with bullies)Chapter 8 (Daredevil Scootaloo)Chapter 9 (The summer harvest parade…and the unexpected event)Chapter 10 (An unexpected opportunity)Chapter 11 (Crusaders of the Lost VTEC)Chapter 1 (During lunch break)Chapter 2 (After school)“But you gotta help us!” Apple Bloom pleaded to her sister with puppy eyes. “It’s important! This could be a great step to attain our cutie marks!” Applejack sighed. “All right, sugarcube, let’s bring that long-lost monstrosity to where it should be.” “Hey Big Mac!” she called to her older brother, who was working in one of the carrot fields. “Could you come over for a while?” “Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied in his typical deep voice. Together the three of them, armed with ropes and harnesses, walked deep into the forest along the path that Scootaloo had taken until they arrived at the large bush. “Sweet Celestia, that is quite a chariot!” Applejack exclaimed. “Well, let’s get to work.” Together, Apple Bloom, Applejack, and Big Macintosh each wore harnesses, tied ropes to them, and then to the “chariot’s” frame. With all the strength they could muster, the trio pulled the heavy object all the way back to Sweet Apple Acres, where they then heaved it into a spare barn. “So this is where you’ll be keeping it?” Applejack asked her little sister. “Yep, and we’ll do everything we can to fix it up,” Apple Bloom replied with a groan and a back rub. “But for now we gotta get some rest and regain our energy.” The next morning (which was a weekend), the Cutie Mark Crusaders decided to split up to begin work on their new finding. Sweetie Belle would get some cleaning accessories from the Carousel Boutique, Apple Bloom would talk to Twilight Sparkle about their discovery, and Scootaloo would buy some basic necessities in Ponyville’s shops, such as rust remover and brushes. Sweetie Belle entered the boutique in earnest. Her older sister, Rarity, was busy arranging a new pattern for her latest dress skirt design. “Hi, sis,” she said, running towards the storage room. “Rarity, can I borrow the brushes, combs, the soap, the bucket and mop, as well as the rags?” “Oh Sweetie Belle, why would you need those for? Accidents aren’t that big to clean up. Besides, I need to make sure that this place looks clean and proper for my newest fashionistas that will be arriving this afternoon.” “Oh Rarity, please? Pretty please?” Sweetie Belle replied with pitful eyes. “All right,” Rarity groaned, fussing over the alignment of gems on one of her dress designs. “Just make sure you’re back before sunset and that you’ve cleaned the tools as well!” “I promise, sister,” Sweetie Belle replied, and marched out the door onto the streets of Ponyville, carrying the bucket full of items on her back and the mop on her shoulder, using her telekinesis to stop the bucket from wobbling too much or falling over. Meanwhile, Scootaloo was trying to make a bargain with a shop owner over the high price of 200 bits for a single jug of rust remover. Apple Bloom had given her prized allowance, but it was only 175 bits. Finally, the shop owner agreed on condition that Scootaloo pay a slightly higher price of a second item for compensation. Apple Bloom gave a few gentle knocks on Twilight’s castle door. Twilight opened the door in surprise. “What brings you here, Apple Bloom?” she asked kindly. “You normally would be at the clubhouse with your friends.” “Well, we found something amazing, but we don’t know what it is. I thought you might know. It’s quite large, with four wheel-like parts, two on each side, it has this slender profile with a sort of hump on the back…” Apple Bloom trailed off as she described every detail she could remember about the object. “Great detail, but I may need to have a look at it myself,” Twilight said once Apple Bloom had finished her descriptive speech. “Then I’ll do what I can and get back to you in my free time.” “Thanks Twilight!” Apple Bloom exclaimed with joy, hugging her with a smile. “Good luck on your studies!” “Good luck getting that cutie mark!” Twilight replied with a little giggle as the little filly bounded off into the streets of Ponyville. As the Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered in the barn, Twilight Sparkle then arrived, having flown rather than walking. Scootaloo opened the barn door and Twilight Sparkle stepped in. The instant she saw the object, her eyes widened with a mix of memory recalls, surprise, and worry. “Fillies, this is no ordinary ‘object’,” Twilight Sparkle announced. “It is a car, specifically a hatchback. I’ve seen a few like this on the road when I went to Canterlot High in the human world. But how did it end up here? I may have to try and send a letter and a picture to Sunset Shimmer. She knows best about these moving machines.” “Who’s Sunset Shimmer?” Sweetie Belle asked. “An evil girl I faced at Canterlot High,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “But after I defeated her, she repented for her wrongdoings and became my new friend. Now she keeps in touch with me every now and then.” Apple Bloom did a rough sketch of the car, and Sweetie Belle borrowed a small camera from Photo Finish. Twilight took the photo and the sketch and flew straight to Princess Celestia’s castle to deliver the letter. “So, in the meantime y’all,” Scootaloo began, “we can still remove more of the plants and mud that has entangled and encrusted itself onto and into this car.” She paused for a moment. “With the tools and items we have on hand, of course.” The three fillies set to work. Scootaloo removed the last of the entangled vines, while Sweetie Belle scrubbed and wiped down the body, removing the moss and grassy stains on the car’s paint. “Hey guess what!” Scootaloo said excitedly. “The doors open!” With even more enthusiasm she climbed inside and removed even more vines and leaves. The interior of the car was unlike anything she’d seen before, with a circular wheel that had three spokes on it and a large hub. It also had nice leather seats with soft padding. Unfortunately most of that had been worn away. Apple Bloom got a scraper, and with it she chipped away some of the rusted paint and the stubborn bits of dried mud. After many hours of work, the car began to look more presentable, and the white paint underneath was much more visible. The interior was still a mess, though, being full of cobwebs and chipping rust. Following the instructions on the jug and with some help from Applejack, the three fillies removed most of the rust on the exterior of the car. The paint still looked scratchy and uneven, though. “Maybe we should look under here,” Sweetie Belle said, pointing to the front of the car as they took a well-earned lunch break. “There’s bound to be more than just the interior and exterior.” So after a meal of apples, apple cobbler, and some pasta, Apple Bloom tried to lift the hood of the car, but it wouldn’t budge. “I think there should be a latch of some sort inside the car. I’ll look,” Scootaloo said, jumping into the car and examining the dashboard. Most of it was now rusted with brownish holes and ripped-out shreds of leather and fabric. A few gauges still hung loosely in their sockets. After continuous tugging at various switches and levers, she finally found one that made a distinctive loud “click”. “It opens! It opens!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed with joy. Apple Bloom climbed onto the car’s roof and used a rope to pull the hood all the way open. Sweetie Belle then aligned the prop bar upwards, Apple Bloom released the hood, and it stayed upright. Now the Cutie Mark Crusaders got their first look at the car’s powerplant. “This must be what powers this machine,” Scootaloo thought. “Now only if there was a way to start it up.” “We don’t even know how this functions,” Apple Bloom groaned with a facehoof. “The least we can do is clean out the interior until Twilight returns.” Chapter 3 (Three days later)With a fair amount of hard work, the car was looking more like a real car. Apple Bloom had cleaned and removed a good amount of rust from the dashboard in addition to applying a new layer of aluminum to restore its original shape; Scootaloo had removed every bit of vegetation she could from the interior and wiped it down thoroughly. As the CMC were taking a bath outside the farmhouse at Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight Sparkle arrived, this time with a wagon full of items. “You…have no idea what you’ve just found,” Twilight told them, panting, though she did sound a bit excited at the same time. “What is it?” Sweetie Belle asked eagerly, jumping out of the tub and drying herself off with a pink towel. “Crusaders, you’ve found a Honda Civic EK9 Type R. Sunset Shimmer is very proud of you. Even in her world it is hard to find a car like that – only one she’s ever seen. She and I have agreed to try and send you car parts from her world to fix and customize it properly. She sent me a few tools and three books already to help you understand how it works. I’m not sure if ponies can drive human cars though.” Scootaloo’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm. A Honda Civic EK9 Type R. That name sounded cool, awesome, and…fast. “So, crusaders, are we ready to begin the next stage of our project?” she announced. “You bet, Scoots!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said simultaneously. The team split the workload amongst themselves. Scootaloo would read the books and papers that Sunset Shimmer had given them, Apple Bloom would ask around in Ponyville for a metal specialist, and Sweetie Belle would try to convince Rarity to design a new interior for the car. Over the next three weeks, the three fillies spent all the bits and labor they could into restoring the Honda. Applejack hired a welder, and with advice from Scootaloo (who was addicted to reading the books), polished and reinforced the important parts, such as the drivetrain support braces, the A-pillars, and the suspension framework. Twilight helped too, sending messages with progress pictures back and forth so Sunset Shimmer could guide them through the hard parts. Rarity immediately agreed to produce a new design for the car’s interior, although she was not fond of having to completely remove all the old rotting leather and moldy sponge foam. The Cutie Mark Crusaders agreed to keep the interior to its original blackish brown color, although the seats and carpets would be a different color – red for the seats and pink for the carpets. The dashboard would be one of her special tan-colored fabrics that would be fairly thick and strong, in addition to being water-resistant. With the dashboard successfully repaired and the car’s floor panels polished and reinforced with new, stronger metal, Rarity installed her new special fabric covering and carpets. “There’s still one big thing, though,” Apple Bloom said with a yawn as they relaxed in the clubhouse before heading off to sleep. “What’s that?” Sweetie Belle asked with concern. “The engine, clutch, drivetrain components, wiring, fluid lines, and fluid containers,” Scootaloo finished. “We might have to replace a lot of parts, and these ones are not easy to get. Twilight said that the Crystal Mirror only opens once every thirty moons!” “We’ll have to just wait and see,” Sweetie Belle replied sadly. “Without Sunset Shimmer, we can’t fix this car.” After school the following day, Scootaloo applied more rust remover to the Honda’s rear floor panel, and then took another look at the Honda VTEC engine repair book while the chemicals settled in. There, she noticed in a drawing that the engine wasn’t permenantly attached. It could be removed and re-installed! After a quick look under the car, she saw some nuts and bolts. “Hey Apple Bloom!” she called out. “Could you get that power drill and the wrench from your sis’s shed?” “Sure!” Apple Bloom replied. “Just gotta ask permission.” Applejack agreed, and even brought the tools over for her little sister. With some effort, Scootaloo pushed the drill tip onto a bolt and squeezed the power trigger on the drill. The bolt began to ease out. Soon the front bumper was removed from the car, and Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened with joy. Now they could reach right inside the engine bay and remove all those vines and branches they couldn’t reach before!” The engine service book was beyond the comprehension abilities of the little fillies’ brains, so Applejack and Twilight Sparkle pitched in to help. Big Macintosh jacked up the car, Scootaloo did most of the mechanical work (with some assistance from Apple Bloom), while Sweetie Belle read out the instructions. “And…last large bolt of size 2.5 on the far right!” she called out. Scootaloo undid the last bolt, and the engine came loose with a jolt and it began to slide a little. “Get a scooter board!” Scootaloo yelled, and Applejack ran out of the barn and was back in less than a minute. She rolled it underneath the car’s front, Scootaloo gently pushed the engine…and it gently moved onto the board. Applejack pulled on a rope attached to the board, and the engine came free from its container. With the engine removed, Scootaloo could now eliminate the vegetation that was not previously accessible. More rust remover and patch metal was added to the body behind the engine, as well as the wheel arches. Now came the challenge of repairing and tuning the engine itself. Sweetie Belle wanted to keep it stock, while Scootaloo wanted to turbocharge it so it could go faster and therefore be really awesome. The argument continued until Sweetie Belle was about to throw a punch, when Scootaloo spoke loudly. “If we want this car to be awesome and eye-catching, we need to make it fast and powerful.” That made the other two shut up, and they agreed. Just then, Twilight Sparkle flew in with her book bag. “Crusaders, the portal to Canterlot High has opened. It will close tonight. Sunset Shimmer has agreed to buy you all the parts you need, but you’ve got just this week before the portal closes,” she told them, handing out a few magazines and a few sheets of paper. Sweetie Belle grabbed the magazine and began flipping the pages. There were so many to choose from, she had to ask Twilight about what Sunset Shimmer had suggested. After many hours of fussing, they narrowed down their selections and wrote out a long list that was almost as long as the engine itself. Still, Sweetie Belle was pleased to see that it was shorter than the list made when Babs Seed became a Cutie Mark Crusader. The list consisted of more than twenty different engine parts, engine oil, various fluids, a few head gaskets (in case of blow-ups), a new radiator fan, suspension parts, 949 6UL racing sport rims and corresponding street tires, a steering wheel, a gauge cluster, brake fluid lines, sealant paste, a carbon fiber hood and spoiler, Brembo brakes and brake calipers, a complete Greddy single turbo kit, new waste gate manifold, new drivetrain mountings, a new fuel pump and fuel filter, a HKS exhaust and air filter for the turbo, Bride racing seats, new pedals, various electrical wiring, new high-power headlights(front and rear), three gauges to monitor the car’s conditions, and a C-West body kit to give the car a cool look. Not to mention some car-related tools and equipment. “That’s…quite a lot,” Twilight said, surprised. “Are you sure this is all you need?” “We’re sure of it,” Apple Bloom replied confidently. “And if we have forgotten anything, I’m sure Sunset Shimmer will notice and inform you.” As noon struck, the Cutie Mark Crusaders set out to Ponyville to buy some nice smoothies for lunch, while Twilight Sparkle headed to her castle to send the list to Sunset Shimmer and assemble the convoy of helper ponies, who would deliver the items from the castle to Sweet Apple Acres. Chapter 4 (Two months after finding the car)Over the course of the next eight weeks, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their friends worked harder than ever on the Honda. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo worked on the engine, repairing and replacing parts, while Sweetie Belle and Rarity worked on the interior, giving it a new smooth tan leather dashboard, interior trim, and floor liners, in addition to the new gauge cluster, engine monitoring gauges, and Momo racing-type steering wheel. Applejack read out instructions from the book that were too hard for the fillies to comprehend or understand, then simplified the info so they could follow them properly. One day, Babs Seed came over for a brief visit, and noticed the partly open barn door and heard some weird noises. She walked over and pushed the barn door open – and her jaw dropped in surprise. Apple Bloom was working on the engine’s pistons and valves, while Scootaloo was welding something to the underside of the car. Assorted car parts lay scattered at the back of the barn, and off to one side lay a small table with papers and various books atop it. “What’s y’all doin’ in here?” she asked in her thick Bronx accent. “Babs!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, dropping her tools and running over to greet her cousin. Babs embraced her in a warm hug. “Well, we found this car in the forest, and we’re repairing and restoring it. I’m working on the engine.” Babs Seed noticed the empty engine bay. “Back in Manehattan, I’ve come across various wiring systems in the basements of the tall apartments while they were being fixed by my classmate’s dad. Maybe I can give you a hand with this.” By the end of the day, the engine was completely fixed with the turbo kit installed. It was time to re-install it into the jacked-up car. Using an engine crane that Sunset Shimmer had bought for them and a team effort, they lifted the engine up and gently over to the engine bay, with help from Applejack. Scootaloo crawled underneath and tightened all the bolts, reattached the now repaired driveshaft and the HKS exhaust, and the fuel, brake, and oil lines. Babs Seed showed them the different types, gauges, and colors of wires and where to attach them. Scootaloo used pliers and a soldering iron to attach all the wires where they belonged, according to the service and repair manual. Finally, Sweetie Belle – of all of them – got down under and finished attaching the HKS exhaust to its mounts, then installed the rear headlights as a final step before going to sleep. The next day would be the pinnacle of their time. It was time to add the final touch-ups to the car, along with a few other vital things. Babs had school, so she had to leave. While Apple Bloom went to the train station to say goodbye to her cousin, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle continued working on the Honda. Sweetie Belle cleaned out the fuel filler cap and the inside of the pipe that led to the fuel tank, while Scootaloo removed the old broken headlights and installed the new ones. Finally they installed the body kit, filing down uneven edges and tightening nuts and bolts, with assistance from Applejack and a few other members of the Apple Family. Scootaloo was just about to open the box of screws when Apple Bloom walked in. But instead of being energetic and excited, she looked glum. “What’s the matter, Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle asked. “We’re about to blow the whole of Ponyville away soon with our amazing car!” “It’s nothing, crusaders,” Apple Bloom replied. “I just wish Babs could stay for a little longer. I also realized that this car needs fuel, but where are we gonna get fuel?” “Maybe from Baltimare,” Sweetie Belle suggested. “Rarity’s been there before and she said that there’s been a discovery of some black fluid under the water! Some have even begun to try to use it in their inventions! Maybe we should ask!” Scootaloo pulled a this-is-super-duper-awkward-crazy face, but shrugged. “All right, why not. But we’ll need a big container to put it in. It can be dangerous, you know.” Apple Bloom whipped up a quick excuse, Sweetie Belle offered to buy some fabric there for Rarity as well as sell a few new dresses, and Scootaloo found a large wheeled container with a siphon pump. Together they boarded the train and headed off to Baltimare to get the fuel. Baltimare was unlike any city the fillies had ever visited. It was busy, like Manehattan, but the people were a bit “countryish” compared to other cities. As they walked through the noisy streets, Sweetie Belle noticed a fashion store and the trio split up; she would sell the dresses (and maybe establish a business relationship with the owner), while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo would find the “black fluid” extraction place. After a brief ride on a cart from a friendly passerby, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo made it to the docks, where the “black fluid” was being produced and processed into various types. Many people were busy buying some, including the Flim Flam brothers. “I should have brought my scooter,” Scootaloo muttered as they waited in line. Unfortunately, after her successful selling and buying adventure, Sweetie Belle could not find her friends. Every street looked the same. Every corner store looked the same. “Oh come on!” she groaned. “Where are they?” Just then, an advertising cart rolled past her, promoting about new resources found at the docks and their amazing potential. On the poster was a picture of splashing black liquid. “The black fluid!’ Sweetie Belle exclaimed, and followed the cart towards the docks, carrying her bag of neatly wrapped fabric for her big sister. Soon she noticed the large crowd, who were chatting excitedly. Combined with the loud hissing and roaring of the machines, it was impossible to make out a single word of whatever any pony was saying. Finally Sweetie Belle noticed her friends and shoved and pushed her way through the tall legs of the older ponyfolk towards them. “I got a lot of bits from those dresses!” she announced happily. “They should be enough for the fuel.” By the time they had gotten to the fill-up taps and the payment counter, the evening was already approaching. Scootaloo chose the one with the right consistency, smell, and appearance (based on what Sunset Shimmer had explicitly described in one of her letters), filled the container up to its maximum capacity, and Sweetie Belle paid for it. The amount of bits from the dresses were just enough. Having accomplished their goal, the three fillies set off to return to Ponyville, with one problem. The full container was now very heavy, and even with wheels, the trio could only just about pull it with considerable difficulty and pain. “Can I help you three in any way?” a stallion kindly asked them. He looked a bit like Big Macintosh, only with more elaborate clothing and a different color. “Ummm, sure,” Apple Bloom replied shyly. “We just gotta get to the train station.” “Great! I’m going there too!” the stallion replied with joy. So the Cutie Mark Crusaders walked to the station, and the helpful stallion pulled their heavy load of fuel. “Thanks very much!” Scootaloo said with a high-hoof as the trio boarded the train to Ponyville. “Anytime, fillies!” the stallion replied. “Anytime.” As the sun went down and the moon rose, the trio arrived in Ponyville, with an anxious Applejack waiting at the stop. “Where were you, sugarcube? I was so worried.” “Ah, what originally was going to be a brief blast became a slow heave-ho,” Apple Bloom replied. “But we got what we needed.” Applejack sighed. “Let’s get you home then.” Applejack pulled the container of fuel back to Sweet Apple Acres and left it in the barn, while Sweetie Belle walked home to the Carousel Boutique and Scootaloo slept in the clubhouse. Tomorrow would be the defining moment, but for the time-being, the three fillies needed a good sleep from their busy yet exciting and entertaining day. Chapter 5 (Final touches and the grand reveal)The morning came with a gentle breeze and the distinctive cry from the rooster at Sweet Apple Acres, and Applejack, Big Macintosh, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were all eyes, ears, and hands. It was time for the final touches to be added to the car. After a nice breakfast, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom used wrenches to attach the spoiler to the back of the car, neatly on the crest tip where the tailgate met the roof. While relaxing on the new red seats, Sweetie Belle noticed an odd metal shape sticking out of the side of the steering wheel mount, and pulled it out. It was badly rusted, but its shape thankfully stayed in place. “I found the key!” she announced happily. “I just gotta get somepony to make a duplicate of it.” There was one blacksmith in Ponyville by the name of Rust Block, and Sweetie Belle knew where he was. Most of his customers were older ponies or younger colts who were going to be enlisted as one of the guards in Canterlot. So it was more than a surprise when Sweetie Belle walked in with a small odd-shaped piece of metal in her mouth. “Hi there,” she said in a sweet voice. “Can you make two copies of this key? They need to be exactly the same, down to the finest detail.” “Not a problem,” Rust Block replied, and set to work while Sweetie Belle patiently waited. It definitely is hot at the blacksmith’s, she thought, wiping her forelock. But in less than an hour he was done with two shiny, durable keys that looked identical to the rusted one, except without the rust. “Thank you so much!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed with a little joyful jump, and paid him with a little tip. She threaded the keys onto a thin piece of rope, tied a knot, made a loop in the rope, tossed it over her neck, and trotted back to Sweet Apple Acres. In the barn, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, along with Applejack, were now bleeding the brake fluid system, ensuring that all the old fluid and dirt was completely removed. “I got the keys!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, running inside the barn. “Great!” Scootaloo replied. “We’re almost done. Now we just need to drain and clean the engine oil system, attach the new carbon fiber hood, attach the brakes and hook up the fluid system, screw on the wheels, and apply a final coat of paint.” Always caring and helpful, Applejack took some time off from her apple bucking to help out, attaching the tires to the wheels, while her little sister undid the bolts of the old hood. Scootaloo then dragged the new one over, and together with Apple Bloom attached it to the mounts. The hood closed perfectly with no awkward gaps or angles. Applejack then jacked up the car. “Now on to the oil,” Sweetie Belle announced, pushing the oil pan under the engine bay in the right place, and then unscrewing the drain cap. The old oil was full of black and brown particles and smelled like a mixture of diapers and cow saliva. Once it was all out, she wiped the outlet clean with a rag and brushed the area of any remaining particles, then reattached the outlet cap. Apple Bloom then unscrewed the inlet cap and cleaned the area of any dirt or foreign particles. Then she poured in the new oil up to the recommended amount. Sweetie Belle crawled out from under the car, and then they proceeded to removing the old rusted brakes and attaching the new ones. Because she was somewhat of an expert with connecting parts, Scootaloo attached the brake fluid to the new brakes, while Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Applejack attached the brakes themselves. Finally came the task of attaching the wheels with their pre-fitted Bridgestone tires. Big Macintosh came over to help, while Applejack returned to her farm duties. “Could you lift the tires into place while Scootaloo drills the nuts in?” Apple Bloom asked her brother. “Eeyup,” he replied in his typical deep yet kind voice. Big Macintosh lifted the wheels to the right height, and Scootaloo used a drill to firmly fasten them to their respective mounts. Once all the wheels had been attached, Big Macintosh and Scootaloo lowered the jacks and removed them. The car was now able to stand on its own for the first time. Having bought some paint beforehand, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo donned masks, covered up parts of the car, and gave the Honda a new coat of pearl white paint, along with a protective clearcoat. Leaving the car’s paint to settle, the Cutie Mark Crusaders then took a break and had lunch with the Apple Family. Sweetie Belle enjoyed cakes, strudels, and brownies, while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo dined on soup and crackers instead. “So, are we ready to see the fruits of our hard work?” Apple Bloom announced, noticing the muscle development on her fellow crusaders’ arms from all the hard work that they’ve been through. “Yes!” Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applejack, and even Big Mac replied simultaneously. Chapter 6 (Start-up and test runs)After lunch, the three fillies opened the barn doors wide, and Sweetie Belle (who had the keys) stepped forward towards the door. With a boost from Apple Bloom, she gripped the door handle and opened it. The three fillies stepped inside. Sweetie Belle was a bit baffled by the assortment of levers and switches around them, but Apple Bloom and Scootaloo knew what they were all for. “Sweetie Belle, I need you to reach the pedal on the right hand side down there,” Apple Bloom ordered, taking charge. “Scootaloo, keep an eye on the gauges to make sure they work. With everyone in position, Apple Bloom pushed the key into the ignition and turned it. There was a brief flutter sound and then utter silence. “It didn’t work!” Sweetie Belle pouted. “Not so fast, crusaders,” Scootaloo replied as she pulled the hood lever, disappointed that her best friends would give up on something so easily. “We forgot to pour the gas in the tank, and moreover, I should check the clamp on the alternator wire and the battery terminals to be sure that they’re fastened properly.” The trio hopped out of the car, and set to work. Scootaloo opened the hood and felt the battery terminals. Yep, they were a little wiggly, and so was the alternator wire. She grabbed a pair of pliers and a screwdriver, and tightened up the battery terminal nuts. Then she reached down to the starter motor and turned the screw that held the wire in place a little more until it was firm. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had finished pumping fuel into the car’s tank. “You done?” Scootaloo called out, shutting the hood and walking around to the driver’s side. “Yep!” Sweetie Belle replied, wiping excess fuel off the siphon pump’s tip and securely shutting the tank’s valves. Apple Bloom screwed the car’s filler cap back on and shut the lid. The two opened the passenger door and hopped in, taking their positions once more. “Ready?” Apple Bloom said, trying to hold back her excitement and anticipation. “Ready!” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo replied. Taking a deep breath and a little prayer, Apple Bloom gripped the key, pushed it into the slot, and turned it. There was a brief fluttering sound as before, but this time it was followed by a low roar. “Gently press it, Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom called out. Sweetie Belle gave a little push on the gas pedal, and the engine came alive with a rumble and a hum. The gauges lit up, indicating that they were taking in the data from the turbo and the sensors attached to the engine. “IT WORKED! YAY!” the Cutie Mark Crusaders yelled in joy, jumping up and down on the car seats. But after just a few seconds the engine came to a halt. “I forgot to engage the fuel pump, so only a bit of fuel came through,” Scootaloo explained. She flicked a switch on the center console and squeezed a button a couple of times. “Wait for a moment,” she ordered. “Now start it,” she then said after thirty seconds had passed. Apple Bloom pushed the key into the hole and turned it while Sweetie Belle pushed the gas pedal a little to get the flywheel spinning a bit more. The engine roared to life once more, but stayed on. “What do think, crusaders?” Sweetie Belle said, crawling out from the pedal area. “Was this effort worth it or what?” “It definitely was!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo replied joyfully. “But, how will we reach the pedals? Sunset Shimmer said in one of her letters that you have to hold the steering wheel, touch the pedals, and the central lever all at the same time, not to mention watching the gauges.” “We’ll attach an extension to the pedals so you can reach them,” Apple Bloom told Scootaloo. “I’ll get some pillows from my bedroom so you can see ahead,” Sweetie Belle suggested. Scootaloo patiently waited in the car while Apple Bloom made three dumbbell-shaped contraptions out of wood. They had straps on one end so they could be attached to the pedals, and Scootaloo could push on them from the other end like the pedal itself. In a sense, they were pedal extensions. Sweetie Belle soon came back with a wagon-ful of colorful pillows. “That’s…quite a lot,” Scootaloo said, pulling a skeptical face. “You’ll see,” Sweetie Belle replied in a sneaky-type voice. “Let’s load them in.” After a couple of pillows had been placed on the driver’s seat, Scootaloo instantly noticed the difference. Now she could hold the steering wheel properly, see out of the windshield clearly, and reach the gear lever. Apple Bloom then turned up, with her wooden “dumbbells”. “You’ll see once they’re in,” she said with a snicker. With help from Sweetie Belle, she firmly attached the straps on one end to each of the pedals, as well as holding them to the dashboard’s underside with rope and tape to stop them falling over. Scootaloo was now in legs’ reach of the other end, and she could now press each pedal with ease. “Ready for a drive?” Scootaloo suggested, revving the engine. “Um, sure,” Sweetie Belle replied, hopping into the front seat. Apple Bloom sat in the back. With seatbelts fastened, Scootaloo remembered the letter from Sunset Shimmer. “Left hoof on the clutch, ta ta and ta, na na and…” she repeatedly whispered to herself. “Okay, Crusaders, here we go.” Scootaloo pushed the clutch down, moved the gear stick into first gear, let go of the clutch, and gently eased on the gas. The car began to move forward smoothly. “This is amazing!” Sweetie Belle whooped. “Turning right now, towards the exit. We’re heading for the country roads, to see how this machine will perform.” As the trio left the farm, Scootaloo was starting to get the hang of the gears, and learned to react quickly. Sweetie Belle also reminded her of a few more pointers. “When you see the light on the gauge cluster, you need to shift, and make sure you downshift at lower revs, or you’ll lose control.” “Thanks for reminding me,” Scootaloo replied. “By the way, I set the turbo to low, which is 9 PSI. The higher it is the faster the car will go. Let’s test it out.” Scootaloo made sure the road was clear, and smoothly pressed the gas until the engine suddenly sounded like it was screaming. The VTEC had kicked in, knocking the Crusaders back in their seats. The feel of the raw power was almost overwhelming, and it became even stronger as the turbo then arrived after spooling up. The revs shot up to 9900 rpm. “Shift!” Sweetie Belle yelled over the noise, noticing the light on the dashboard turn on. Scootaloo hit the clutch, shifted into third gear, and quickly pressed the gas again. “Whoooooo!” Apple Bloom squealed with joy as the needle passed the 100 km/h mark. Scootaloo shifted again and the turbo kicked in, bringing the revs up to 9000 rpm. The Honda was flying at more than seventy miles an hour down the country road, and the grassland seemed to just be a total blur. “Corner coming up!” Scootaloo announced, lowering the revs, then downshifting to third, then second. Their speed was now just at 70 km/h, which Sweetie Belle still found dangerously fast. “Slow down!” she pleaded. “We’re only at 70 kilometers an hour,” Scootaloo said with a slight chuckle. “But I’ll slow down a bit more.” Scootaloo slowed to 50 kilometers an hour, and smoothly turned through the corner. Ahead lay a bridge that crossed the Ghastly Gorge. Before the other two could stop her, Scootaloo hit the gas hard again, bringing up the speed as quickly as the VTEC would allow. The turbo kicked in as the bridge’s crest came into view, and Sweetie Belle gasped in fright. The Honda’s wheels hit the bridge’s edge, and it went flying over the bridge’s crest, landing with a hard thunk and a brief bounce on the other side. “Nice moves, kid!” a voice rang out of nowhere. Apple Bloom’s head span around, looking for any sign of movement or color. Then she saw it: Rainbow Dash, flying above the car. Rainbow Dash thinks I’ve got…nice moves! Scootaloo thought happily to herself, almost forgetting that she was still driving a rare car travelling at over 100 km/h. “SCOOTS!” Apple Bloom yelled from the backseat. “Oh, yeah. Sorry,” Scootaloo replied, blushing. She gripped the steering wheel and downshifted, lowering the speed down once more. Scootaloo wanted to test the Honda on a higher boost setting, but Sweetie Belle firmly said no. After a few handling test runs near Appleloosa, it was time to return to Sweet Apple Acres. Once again, Scootaloo opened the taps, bringing the car up to 130 km/h on the country roads before slowing down once more. Finally they turned into the narrow dirt lane that led to the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres, with mixed feelings. Sweetie Belle enjoyed the ride comfort, Apple Bloom liked the handling, and Scootaloo liked the brutal acceleration and the impressive speed. In one of the fields, Applejack was busy rounding up some cattle, but she had to do it with only two other ponies, as Big Macintosh was busy with the apple trees. “Maybe we can help,” Apple Bloom suggested. Being raised on the farm, she knew the technics and movements of herding livestock. “Applejack!” Scootaloo called out, winding down the window. “We can help!” “I’ll go to the rear!” Applejack yelled back. “You take the right-hand flank!” “Got it!” Scootaloo replied, shifting and zooming towards the midpoint of the herd on the right side, remembering to close the window. “This is where the Honda suddenly comes alive,” Scootaloo told her fellow Crusaders, spinning the steering wheel so the car slid sideways a little, then she gave it gas. The car began to ease back into line, and as it did so, it veered to the left slightly, forcing the cattle to move left as well. “Yee-haw! There ya go,” Apple Bloom cheered from the back seat. Soon the cattle began to move properly in line towards the large pen near the northeast side of the farm. Good work, Crusaders, Applejack thought with a smile under her breath as she drove the cattle forwards along with another pony. At the pen, several other ponies had kept the gates wide open, and Scootaloo yanked the steering wheel hard to the right, pulled the handbrake, spun the wheel in the other direction, and zoomed away from the fence, since the herd was now channeling into a funnel shape into the pen. It was time to join Applejack in driving the herd from the rear. “For a front wheel-drive car, this handles quite well,” Sweetie Belle admitted. At last, all the cows were safely in the pen. Apple Bloom hopped out to help close the gates as the dust settled. Scootaloo gave the engine a few brief revs as a sign of triumph. “That was amazing, sugarcube!” Applejack bellowed with joy. “It sure was!” Apple Bloom replied, hugging her big sister with liquid pride. Out of nowhere, Rainbow Dash arrived, along with a few members of the Apple Family that had been helping Applejack with herding the cattle. “That was…so awesome!” Rainbow Dash declared, ruffling Scootaloo’s mane. Members of the Apple family arrived, firing questions left and right so quickly that Scootaloo couldn’t even answer them all. “How fast is it?” “Can it spin and speed instantly?” “Where did you get it?” “Can I drive it?” Rainbow Dash saved her by clearing away the crowd. “No questions, please,” she said firmly, pushing her way to the driver’s side window, blocking the Apple Family from asking Scootaloo anything. With the job done, Scootaloo drove the Honda back to the barn, giving Apple Bloom and her big sister a lift on the way. Rainbow Dash was just happy that her little “sister” had accomplished an awesome feat that no pony had been able to achieve before. Chapter 7 (Show and tell and dealing with bullies)News of the Honda was spreading like wildfire across Equestria. Princess Celestia was proud of Sunset Shimmer to help the Cutie Mark Crusaders to build the car, and Rarity got a new business offer from the dude Sweetie Belle met in Baltimare. Rainbow Dash even agreed to hang out with Scootaloo a bit more, now that she’d gained more admiration. But on the day of school the next week, something happened that would change everything. It was Show and Tell day, and Apple Bloom really wanted to bring the car to school. Scootaloo, however, was worried that Diamond Tiara might become jealous of (or worse) steal or sabotage the Honda. “We’ll always be there with the car,” Apple Bloom stated firmly. “Yeah! And if they try to take it, we’ll tell Cheerilee and everyone else!” Sweetie Belle added with a huff. Scootaloo sighed. “Okay then. Let’s show Ponyville what we’ve got!” Sweetie Belle packed the lunches and books, Apple Bloom pushed the barn doors open, and Scootaloo (who was now the official driver) started up the Honda. They hopped in and drove away to school, taking the shorter route through Ponyville. No sooner did the Honda’s tires roll onto Ponyville’s stone and dirt streets did just about every pony turn their heads in shock. Scootaloo honked the horn a few times, encouraging them to make way. As they approached the school, the mere exhaust note of the Honda caught the other fillies’ attention, as well as Cheerilee herself. Thankfully a bunch of trees hid the car from view, and Scootaloo parked it behind one large tree, where it would be hidden from view. The only way to see it would be to jump a row of bushes and walk around to the other side of the tree. Satisfied with their narrow escape, the Cutie Mark Crusaders hopped out and headed to the school entrance. “Always lock your car,” Scootaloo mimed a line from one of Sunset Shimmer’s letters, locking the Honda’s doors and boot securely with the key. She then hid the key in her bag, and caught up with the rest of the fillies just as class was about to begin. “So, fillies, I would like each of you to present what you’ve brought for show and tell,” Cheerilee kindly asked the class. Slowly but surely, each little filly came up to Cheerilee’s desk to show and/or tell about something they owned and a backstory, or simply an exciting moment in their life. Halfway through, one of them spoke up. “Hey Miss Cheerilee, I think we need a bathroom break,” Silver Spoon interrupted. “Me too,” Diamond Tiara chimed in. Scootaloo’s jaw set in anger. She knew that this would be the perfect excuse to allow the two bullies to commit a sinister action or two. “All right, you may go, but please be back as soon as possible,” Cheerilee replied kindly. “You don’t want to miss out on these exciting stories, do you?” The two fillies just nodded and dashed out the classroom door. Sweetie Belle dropped her pencil and gently kicked it towards the door, while Scootaloo got up from her seat. “Where are you going?” Cheerilee interrogated. “Uh, just gotta get Sweetie Belle’s pencil,” Scootaloo spat out. “Ended up rolling away.” Cheerilee and the rest of the class were so interested in the story told by one student that they forgot about Scootaloo’s absence. Meanwhile, Scootaloo herself picked up the pencil and tiptoed down the school hall to the bathroom door and listened. Not a sound. She peeked through the tiny gap between the door and the floor. No feet could be seen – which meant that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon weren’t inside! Oh no, Scootaloo thought, running outside. “They’re going to find the Honda!” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were now walking across the school yard, chatting in sneaky voices. Scootaloo hid behind a bush and listened closely. “I wonder what sort of crazy fiddlestick figure those blank flanks are gonna show this time,” Diamond Tiara sneered. “Probably some cutie mark mold made out of rice.” “Yeah,” Silver Spoon replied. “Or some farty party cannon!” Scootaloo thought better and ran back to the school. “Miss Cheerilee, Cheerilee!” she called out. “I was getting my pencil, and I saw Diamond Tiara…she...” Scootaloo spilled all the beans. Cheerilee held a look of surprise but inside she was disappointed and upset. “I’ll bring them back in,” she replied firmly. “Class, it is now Featherweight’s turn. Be quiet and enjoy his story.” After Featherweight had told his story and Cheerilee had rounded up the two rebellious aristocrats, it was finally the turn of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Remember, Apple Bloom, don’t mess it up,” Sweetie Belle warned her friend. Apple Bloom walked up to the teacher’s desk, cleared her throat, and spoke. “My story is about how we built and restored something extraordinary. Something which would literally be impossible to find in the whole of Equestria. However, if we are to show it to you all, we need to go outside. It’s too big to fit in here.” Cheerilee sighed. “Oh very well. Come on, class! Out we go!” Scootaloo grabbed her bag and climbed out the back window and snuck around the bushes to the large tree. Thankfully the Honda was still there and in one piece. However, someone had scratched the phrase BLANK FLANKS SUCK on the front bumper. “Argh!” she growled. “You bullies! I’m gonna tell Cheerilee…if only she’d believe me.” Mentally fighting to get over the fact that their – her – prized Honda’s front bumper had been scratched with an offensive message, Scootaloo pulled the key out of her bag, pushed it into the door slot, and jumped in. While Cheerilee and the class could not yet see the “extraordinary thing”, they certainly could hear its smooth yet loud rumble. Scootaloo burst from the grass and bushes and yanked the handbrake, spinning the Honda 180 degrees counterclockwise and coming to a stop, blinding the group with a cloud of pollen and dust. “Whoa!” the entire school whistled. Now that the dust was settling, they could see the Honda. Scootaloo opened the door and hopped out. “That is it, fillies and gentlecolts! It’s a Honda Civic Type R EK9. Only a few made and the only one in the whole of Equestria. Beautifully restored and modified to perform like a true speed machine.” While Apple Bloom told the story and a few of the classmates walked around to admire the car, Scootaloo explained what she’d seen on the front bumper to Sweetie Belle, who became fueled with rage. “Don’t be angry,” Scootaloo consoled her. “It’s only a light scratch, we can repair it after school with some polishing compound, a sponge, water, and a cloth. No big deal, but it will require some effort. For now though, stay in front of the bumper so they won’t see the scratch marks.” Scootaloo then took in all her pride to explain the components of the car, how it worked, and what each part was for. Even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were amazed, and also upset because the “blank flanks” they had tried to tick off apparently gave no hoot to the hideous scratch message. “I am so putting this in the newsletter!” Featherweight said excitedly, jumping up and down. Diamond Tiara was as eager as ever to denounce the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but no one could deny the beauty and perfection of the Honda. If it wasn’t included in the newsletter, it would be a total embarrassment to the whole school, and possibly to the whole of Equestria that the headline “Diamond Tiara thinks rare Equestria invention is ‘not cool because blank flanks made it’” would be printed across the top of Ponyville’s newspapers. “Yeah! How’d ya like them apples, Diamond Tiara!” Apple Bloom chuckled, sharing a high-hoof with her best friends. After school, Apple Bloom took her very first turn at driving, with advice from Scootaloo. The gears got a nasty grind twice, but soon Apple Bloom got the hang of shifting. Unlike Scootaloo, she didn’t care much for speed, so it took some time before they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. In the barn, Sweetie Belle headed straight for the pile of books and letters from Sunset Shimmer and began flipping desperately through them. “Where the topic about scratches and paint…is where is…ah! There it is!” She pointed to a page that read “How to remove light scratches.” Scootaloo took out the polishing kit and, with the book at their side, the Cutie Mark Crusaders removed the offensive message and restored the bumper to its original white beauty. The Honda now shone proudly once again, ready for the parade. Chapter 8 (Daredevil Scootaloo)After having a sudden dream of flying fast with Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo awoke with a start. She had to faster to be able to impress Rainbow Dash. The best place would be the long, straight road that led through a mountain to the White-Tailed Woods. Sneaking out of the clubhouse (which she had now preferred to sleep in), she ran to the barn and undid the bolts and latches, trying to keep them from squeaking. Thankfully it was a bit windy, so the squeaks were somewhat muffled. Scootaloo opened the hood and turned a tiny knob, opening the turbo valve all the way, increasing the boost to 18 PSI. She shut the hood, opened the door, and hopped in. “I know you got a reputation, and that reputation’s not been great,” she whispered to the car, “but I promise. You get me a good reputation, I’ll give you a good reputation here in Equestria.” With a hopeful sigh, Scootaloo pushed the key into the ignition, started up the engine, and slowly drove off out of Sweet Apple Acres. Heading for the smooth open road, she aligned the wheels and activated the launch control, stomping on the gas. The wheels spun like crazy, leaving billowing clouds of smoke. “No grip!” she yelled. “Come on!” After another gear, the Honda finally got a hold of the road, and Scootaloo floored it all the way to the limiter, changing gears as fast as possible to avoid losing boost and the VTEC. “120 kilometers an hour!” she exclaimed in desperation. “150, 180, 200, 220, come on!” By fifth gear, the Honda was cranking out 485 horsepower to the front wheels and exceeding 150 miles an hour, and for a few moments, Scootaloo felt like she would lose control. But there was still room for a bit more speed before the road gave way to gravel pathways through the woods. Scoootaloo pushed the gas down even harder, and the speed climbed to 260, then 270. Suddenly the forest, which seemed so far away a few seconds ago, was just a minute away! “Whoaaaaa!” Scootaloo screamed in fear, lifting off the gas slightly and downshifting to third gear. Then she gently pressed the brake in hopes of reducing speed enough for a safe stop. But it didn’t. The Honda’s wheels hit the loose pebbles and spun around twice before hitting a few bushes and finally coming to a stop inches from a tree trunk and a boulder. Scootaloo was so shaken she could hardly breathe. She had nearly crashed the Honda. The one thing her friends and she had worked so hard to restore and build and enjoy. The one thing that had allowed them to cleverly silence Diamond Tiara, their number one nemesis. Now she nearly destroyed it just to gain love and admiration from Rainbow Dash? That didn’t sound or feel like something a loyal and true friend would do. Feeling happy, sad, and regretful all at the same time, Scootaloo started the engine up again (she had stalled it in the spin-out), and drove back to Ponyville, while still in the dead of the night. Body pains poked at her from every angle. In the morning, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gathered together and headed up the clubhouse steps, eager to form another plan to attain their cutie marks. “Scootaloo! We’re here! Shall we—” “Scootaloo?!” the two fillies gasped in shock at the absence of their pegasus friend. “Ah, maybe she’s just gone off solo crusading or enjoying herself on her scooter somewhere,” Apple Bloom said, trying to shake it off. With their worry relieved a little, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle checked the barn. “Hmmm, the barn doors are open,” said Apple Bloom. “I remember I closed and bolted them last night.” Curious, she entered. The Honda was not in the same state. Instead of facing the doors, it was now facing the back of the barn. Sweetie Belle examined the bodywork. There were little streaks of mud and grit all over the side skirts and the rear bumper. A slight dent was noticeable on the left-hand side skirt just behind one of the front wheels, and the engine still felt warm. “Scootaloo’s gotten into an accident!” the two gasped in unison as they simultaneously realized what had occurred during the night. Without further ado they ran to the hospital and burst through the doors, almost forgetting their manners. Scootaloo was in her bed, drinking a cup of tea. She had a sore neck from the spin-out, a slightly torn cartilage stem in her left wing, and a little bang on her forehead, but overall she was still well and strong. The room doors burst open as if a grenade had been thrown at it. In walked Rarity, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and even Rainbow Dash. Questions and caring words poured out like water from a broken dam. “Are you okay?” “Can you walk?” “I was soooooooooooooooo worried!” “Why were you out alone in the night?” Scootaloo sighed and turned to look at her idol. “I…I’m fine. Just a few minor injuries. I wanted to prove that was just as awesome as you, Rainbow Dash. So I tried to go as quickly and as fast as I could in the Honda, but the road suddenly ended, and…and I lost control while trying to slow down. I’m sorry guys.” “That machine is dangerous!” Rarity exclaimed. “It must be extinguished!” “NO!” Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all shouted at the same time, before realizing that they were in a hospital and lowered their voices. “No, no no!” “This was just my driving mistake,” Scootaloo told everyone firmly. “This Honda can go fast, and I actually did achieve my top speed goal. It just needs to be driven fast on roads which have a smooth surface and are mostly straight. I still have to get used to the car’s power and increase my driving experience. That’s all.” “We’ll see ya tomorrow, sugarcube,” Applejack replied, heading out the door. “Wish you a good sleep today and a successful recovery and healing!” Scootaloo finished her tea and slumped down under the bed’s soft white blanket, all the while a many thoughts running through her mind: how could she make the Honda go fast with stability and control? Would she be able to successfully control the speed machine at full tilt? And had she let her heart’s desire to be as awesome and cool as her idol cost her the high level of reasoning she was known for amongst her friends? Chapter 9 (The summer harvest parade…and the unexpected event)After cleaning and repairing the Honda, Scootaloo made a Pinkie Promise never to race alone or at night, in addition to reading the books containing info about the Honda more often. The big day had come – the Summer Harvest Parade. It was time to showcase the Honda to all of Ponyville. Granny Smith had knitted a special cover for the car that had an apple design embroidered into it. Apple Bloom draped it over the car, while Scootaloo tied it down to stop it falling off. It was made to represent the Apple Family, its passion for farming, and its strong heritage. “What do think, Crusaders?” Sweetie Belle said. “Will this really be able to blow everyone away?” “Yeah!” Scootaloo huffed with confidence. “Cutie Mark Crusaders, hoofbump!” Applejack and a few members of the Apple Family gathered together and headed out of Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all jumped into the Honda and drove down the road to Ponyville to join the parade. Octavia had also been preparing a melody for the parade’s instrument players, which was a ponified version of ‘Scotland the Brave’. As the parade started and the drums, bagpipes, and horns began playing, the Cutie Mark Crusaders prepped themselves to join the lineup. However, Scootaloo noticed something. “Guys, all of the floats are shaped like food! Ours doesn’t fit in!” “Yes it does,” Sweetie Belle replied. “It fits because it’s unique. Theirs are shaped like the fruits and veggies, but ours has a cover that symbolizes our top fruit. Just because it sticks out like a sore wingtip, doesn’t mean it’s not gonna be good. C’mon, let’s go and promote the Apple Family!” But then the stinkers – Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon – showed up. “What do you want?” Scootaloo demanded before they could even speak. “Where’s your float? Aren’t you gonna be in the parade too?” “Nah, we’re just here to admire yours, since blank flanks shouldn’t be in parade for that matter,” Silver Spoon sneered. Diamond Tiara began to walk around to the back of the car, approaching Sweetie Belle in a threatening posture. Scootaloo jumped into the Honda, turned the key in the ignition, and slammed her hoof on the gas. VROOM-VROOOOBANG! The exhaust let out a ferociously loud scream and a backfire that sounded like a gun. Everyone jumped back, except for Diamond Tiara, who was literally knocked back by the blast. “My ears are shaking!” Sweetie Belle cried. “What was that?” Silver Spoon exclaimed. “I haven’t heard anything like that before,” Scootaloo replied to them all. “But it has one—” “C’mon, Silver Spoon, let’s leave these misers to be humiliated in the parade. They’re already late! Haha!” Diamond Tiara said with a cruel laugh, although she was still traumatized by the backfire and her legs were shaking a little. Yeah! Owned you again! Scootaloo thought with a sneaky grin, before turning to her best friends. “We gotta go now, or we’ll be late! The floats are already making their way through the town!” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom jumped into the passenger seat and Scootaloo drove off to join the parade. As they quietly drove through town, Scootaloo began to talk about the engine’s systems while Sweetie Belle waved to the cheering crowds. “You see, there’s a little knob in the turbo kit that I installed. It allows more air into the turbo than normal, so you can control how much boost you want. Right now it’s fully open for maximum power.” “Shouldn’t we be more focused on the crowd?” a reminder came from the back seat. “Right. Sorry, Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo replied, blushing. She then took her turn to wave to the crowd and blow them kisses and beam happy smiles. After a while it became clear that the Honda Civic Type R EK9 was getting the most attention, with twice as many ponies surrounding it compared to the other floats. “I told you it wasn’t bad,” Sweetie Belle teased. “This is great!” At the end of the road there was a sharp bend, which was easy to turn on – if you had proper steering abilities. As the first float turned the corner, ahead of the band players, its rear wheels moved sideways a little. Scootaloo passed it off as bad driving and continued forward with the rest of the floats. But as the float in front of them turned, its rear wheels slid sideways, the front wheels turned around…and it slipped over the steep edge and crashed. By the time Scootaloo noticed as they turned, it was too late. The Honda’s rear wheels slid on the slippery road surface and slid sideways, getting ever closer to the edge. Acting fast, Scootaloo gave it gas, spinning the front wheels, trying to straighten the car and keep it away from the curb. Then she yanked the handbrake and spun the car 180 degrees around, stopping just feet from the edge. “Are you okay?” Scootaloo called out, leaping out of the car and running down the muddy cliff. “Yeah, I’m fine,” the pony in the now wrecked float replied, rubbing the mud and dirt off herself. Chapter 10 (An unexpected opportunity)Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 11 (Crusaders of the Lost VTEC)Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 1 (During lunch break)As the CMC returned to their clubhouse for a break after their morning class at Cheerilee’s school, they decided to go separately to avoid being seen by Diamond Tiara. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom took the long route down the village’s side road, while Scootaloo drove through the woods to the back of Sweet Apple Acres, where the clubhouse was located. Sometimes beasts and hidden creatures from the Everfree Forest lurked here, but Scootaloo had no fear of them. As she plowed on through the forest, pushing through branches and leaping over bushes in her way, Scootaloo made one last big leap over a spiky bush. But at the last minute, the back wheels of her scooter caught on one of the curly branch tips and she crashed and fell to the ground, her scooter dangling from the bush’s branch before it finally fell beside her. But instead of falling on soft grass and leaf litter, she landed on a patch of vines and other vegetation that felt rock hard, although there was a bit of bang. “Ow!” Scootaloo yelped. “Hmmm, that sounded like metal. I wonder what’s underneath here.” With some effort, she caught her scooter, placed it aside, and began tearing and pulling at the vines until they snapped and broke free to reveal a patch of a white, hard material with many flaky brown patches. Over the next half hour, Scootaloo continued tearing and pulling away the vines until she had uncovered half of the object. It was unlike anything she’d seen before, and it was enormous, standing over twice as tall as she did. There was a distinctive smell coming from it as well, and many parts were missing. Still, its unique shape fascinated her. Leaving a mental note of its location, Scootaloo leapt onto her scooter and zipped off to the clubhouse to relate the news to her friends. As she pulled up to the clubhouse, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were already there, talking about their newest cutie mark ideas. Scootaloo flew up the steps and burst in with a heap of excitement. “Hey Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom began. “We were just thinking of a brand new idea of how we could get our cutie marks.” “Yeah, sounds good,” Scootaloo replied, panting. “You guys gotta see what I found in the forest! It’s amazing!” “The forest?!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle replied in shock. “You went through the forest?” “Well, it’s better than getting attacked by a rich bully,” Scootaloo scoffed. “Anyways it’s not that far. I just hope I can remember the way I came.” Reluctantly, the two fillies jumped into the wagon, and Scootaloo towed them across the grass and into the dense trees at the border of Sweet Apple Acres, where they entered a strip of forest that led in a huge curve from Sweet Apple Acres to the back of the schoolyard. “Oh come on! Are we there yet?” Sweetie Belle groaned. “My back hurts from all these bumps and hard rocks!” Scootaloo was trying so hard to remember where she saw the object that she wasn’t even listening. Suddenly she noticed a large dome-shaped mound off to the right next to a huge curly-stemmed bush…and screeched to a halt so quickly that the wagon almost fell over. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle leapt off the wagon and stretched to regain their strength after the rough ride, while Scootaloo went to more closely examine the object. “Um, shouldn’t we get back to class now?” Apple Bloom asked as she walked over to Scootaloo, who was now trying to rip off more vines. “Ah, we’ll be fine,” Scootaloo replied through a green mouthful. “Just another few minutes to find out about this object.” The large bush was under a tree’s canopy, so it was hidden from above. Nonetheless, the sun’s rays still shone through to fill the area with considerable light. Sweetie Belle was reluctant at first, but soon joined in with Apple Bloom, and the three fillies soon had nearly uncovered the entire object. “Woah,” Sweetie Belle whistled. “You were right, Scoots. This is amazing!” “The only trouble is, what is it?” Scootaloo added. It looks like some kind of weird rock formation. Apple Bloom then noticed something circular sticking out of the ground. “Wait, what’s this?” She dug at the ground with her hooves to reveal a large circular piece of metal. A brief dig the other end of the object revealed the same circular piece. “They look like wheels,” Sweetie Belle commented. “I’ve seen similar circular pieces like those in Canterlot, only those were a lot shinier and cleaner.” “That’s because they’re what the wheels are attached to,” Scootaloo replied, her eyes widening as she remembered how she assembled her scooter a long time back. “What we’re looking at, Crusaders, is a chariot or wagon of some complicated sort that was abandoned a long time ago. Now, let’s get to our next class before Cheerilee gets upset.” By now, the other two were now more interested in the “object” that Scootaloo had found. It appeared to have a classic, lonely, almost pleading feel to it, like a long-lost gem at the bottom of a pond that dearly wanted to be at the centerpiece of a magnificent dress. “Why don’t we try to remove it and fix it?” Apple Bloom suggested. “It doesn’t belong in these woods.” “And how in the hay are we supposed to do that?” Sweetie Belle shot back. “It’s not like we can carry that on our backs or something.” “I’ll ask my big sis and bro if they can help us out. They certainly know how to pull heavy stuff.” “And we can tell Twilight Sparkle about it,” Sweetie Belle added. “She’s bound to know some info on these kinds of stuff.” “Ah, why not,” Scootaloo replied. “Right after school we’ll get on with it. The Summer Harvest Parade is only a few months away.”
Chapter 2 (After school)“But you gotta help us!” Apple Bloom pleaded to her sister with puppy eyes. “It’s important! This could be a great step to attain our cutie marks!” Applejack sighed. “All right, sugarcube, let’s bring that long-lost monstrosity to where it should be.” “Hey Big Mac!” she called to her older brother, who was working in one of the carrot fields. “Could you come over for a while?” “Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied in his typical deep voice. Together the three of them, armed with ropes and harnesses, walked deep into the forest along the path that Scootaloo had taken until they arrived at the large bush. “Sweet Celestia, that is quite a chariot!” Applejack exclaimed. “Well, let’s get to work.” Together, Apple Bloom, Applejack, and Big Macintosh each wore harnesses, tied ropes to them, and then to the “chariot’s” frame. With all the strength they could muster, the trio pulled the heavy object all the way back to Sweet Apple Acres, where they then heaved it into a spare barn. “So this is where you’ll be keeping it?” Applejack asked her little sister. “Yep, and we’ll do everything we can to fix it up,” Apple Bloom replied with a groan and a back rub. “But for now we gotta get some rest and regain our energy.” The next morning (which was a weekend), the Cutie Mark Crusaders decided to split up to begin work on their new finding. Sweetie Belle would get some cleaning accessories from the Carousel Boutique, Apple Bloom would talk to Twilight Sparkle about their discovery, and Scootaloo would buy some basic necessities in Ponyville’s shops, such as rust remover and brushes. Sweetie Belle entered the boutique in earnest. Her older sister, Rarity, was busy arranging a new pattern for her latest dress skirt design. “Hi, sis,” she said, running towards the storage room. “Rarity, can I borrow the brushes, combs, the soap, the bucket and mop, as well as the rags?” “Oh Sweetie Belle, why would you need those for? Accidents aren’t that big to clean up. Besides, I need to make sure that this place looks clean and proper for my newest fashionistas that will be arriving this afternoon.” “Oh Rarity, please? Pretty please?” Sweetie Belle replied with pitful eyes. “All right,” Rarity groaned, fussing over the alignment of gems on one of her dress designs. “Just make sure you’re back before sunset and that you’ve cleaned the tools as well!” “I promise, sister,” Sweetie Belle replied, and marched out the door onto the streets of Ponyville, carrying the bucket full of items on her back and the mop on her shoulder, using her telekinesis to stop the bucket from wobbling too much or falling over. Meanwhile, Scootaloo was trying to make a bargain with a shop owner over the high price of 200 bits for a single jug of rust remover. Apple Bloom had given her prized allowance, but it was only 175 bits. Finally, the shop owner agreed on condition that Scootaloo pay a slightly higher price of a second item for compensation. Apple Bloom gave a few gentle knocks on Twilight’s castle door. Twilight opened the door in surprise. “What brings you here, Apple Bloom?” she asked kindly. “You normally would be at the clubhouse with your friends.” “Well, we found something amazing, but we don’t know what it is. I thought you might know. It’s quite large, with four wheel-like parts, two on each side, it has this slender profile with a sort of hump on the back…” Apple Bloom trailed off as she described every detail she could remember about the object. “Great detail, but I may need to have a look at it myself,” Twilight said once Apple Bloom had finished her descriptive speech. “Then I’ll do what I can and get back to you in my free time.” “Thanks Twilight!” Apple Bloom exclaimed with joy, hugging her with a smile. “Good luck on your studies!” “Good luck getting that cutie mark!” Twilight replied with a little giggle as the little filly bounded off into the streets of Ponyville. As the Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered in the barn, Twilight Sparkle then arrived, having flown rather than walking. Scootaloo opened the barn door and Twilight Sparkle stepped in. The instant she saw the object, her eyes widened with a mix of memory recalls, surprise, and worry. “Fillies, this is no ordinary ‘object’,” Twilight Sparkle announced. “It is a car, specifically a hatchback. I’ve seen a few like this on the road when I went to Canterlot High in the human world. But how did it end up here? I may have to try and send a letter and a picture to Sunset Shimmer. She knows best about these moving machines.” “Who’s Sunset Shimmer?” Sweetie Belle asked. “An evil girl I faced at Canterlot High,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “But after I defeated her, she repented for her wrongdoings and became my new friend. Now she keeps in touch with me every now and then.” Apple Bloom did a rough sketch of the car, and Sweetie Belle borrowed a small camera from Photo Finish. Twilight took the photo and the sketch and flew straight to Princess Celestia’s castle to deliver the letter. “So, in the meantime y’all,” Scootaloo began, “we can still remove more of the plants and mud that has entangled and encrusted itself onto and into this car.” She paused for a moment. “With the tools and items we have on hand, of course.” The three fillies set to work. Scootaloo removed the last of the entangled vines, while Sweetie Belle scrubbed and wiped down the body, removing the moss and grassy stains on the car’s paint. “Hey guess what!” Scootaloo said excitedly. “The doors open!” With even more enthusiasm she climbed inside and removed even more vines and leaves. The interior of the car was unlike anything she’d seen before, with a circular wheel that had three spokes on it and a large hub. It also had nice leather seats with soft padding. Unfortunately most of that had been worn away. Apple Bloom got a scraper, and with it she chipped away some of the rusted paint and the stubborn bits of dried mud. After many hours of work, the car began to look more presentable, and the white paint underneath was much more visible. The interior was still a mess, though, being full of cobwebs and chipping rust. Following the instructions on the jug and with some help from Applejack, the three fillies removed most of the rust on the exterior of the car. The paint still looked scratchy and uneven, though. “Maybe we should look under here,” Sweetie Belle said, pointing to the front of the car as they took a well-earned lunch break. “There’s bound to be more than just the interior and exterior.” So after a meal of apples, apple cobbler, and some pasta, Apple Bloom tried to lift the hood of the car, but it wouldn’t budge. “I think there should be a latch of some sort inside the car. I’ll look,” Scootaloo said, jumping into the car and examining the dashboard. Most of it was now rusted with brownish holes and ripped-out shreds of leather and fabric. A few gauges still hung loosely in their sockets. After continuous tugging at various switches and levers, she finally found one that made a distinctive loud “click”. “It opens! It opens!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed with joy. Apple Bloom climbed onto the car’s roof and used a rope to pull the hood all the way open. Sweetie Belle then aligned the prop bar upwards, Apple Bloom released the hood, and it stayed upright. Now the Cutie Mark Crusaders got their first look at the car’s powerplant. “This must be what powers this machine,” Scootaloo thought. “Now only if there was a way to start it up.” “We don’t even know how this functions,” Apple Bloom groaned with a facehoof. “The least we can do is clean out the interior until Twilight returns.”
Chapter 3 (Three days later)With a fair amount of hard work, the car was looking more like a real car. Apple Bloom had cleaned and removed a good amount of rust from the dashboard in addition to applying a new layer of aluminum to restore its original shape; Scootaloo had removed every bit of vegetation she could from the interior and wiped it down thoroughly. As the CMC were taking a bath outside the farmhouse at Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight Sparkle arrived, this time with a wagon full of items. “You…have no idea what you’ve just found,” Twilight told them, panting, though she did sound a bit excited at the same time. “What is it?” Sweetie Belle asked eagerly, jumping out of the tub and drying herself off with a pink towel. “Crusaders, you’ve found a Honda Civic EK9 Type R. Sunset Shimmer is very proud of you. Even in her world it is hard to find a car like that – only one she’s ever seen. She and I have agreed to try and send you car parts from her world to fix and customize it properly. She sent me a few tools and three books already to help you understand how it works. I’m not sure if ponies can drive human cars though.” Scootaloo’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm. A Honda Civic EK9 Type R. That name sounded cool, awesome, and…fast. “So, crusaders, are we ready to begin the next stage of our project?” she announced. “You bet, Scoots!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said simultaneously. The team split the workload amongst themselves. Scootaloo would read the books and papers that Sunset Shimmer had given them, Apple Bloom would ask around in Ponyville for a metal specialist, and Sweetie Belle would try to convince Rarity to design a new interior for the car. Over the next three weeks, the three fillies spent all the bits and labor they could into restoring the Honda. Applejack hired a welder, and with advice from Scootaloo (who was addicted to reading the books), polished and reinforced the important parts, such as the drivetrain support braces, the A-pillars, and the suspension framework. Twilight helped too, sending messages with progress pictures back and forth so Sunset Shimmer could guide them through the hard parts. Rarity immediately agreed to produce a new design for the car’s interior, although she was not fond of having to completely remove all the old rotting leather and moldy sponge foam. The Cutie Mark Crusaders agreed to keep the interior to its original blackish brown color, although the seats and carpets would be a different color – red for the seats and pink for the carpets. The dashboard would be one of her special tan-colored fabrics that would be fairly thick and strong, in addition to being water-resistant. With the dashboard successfully repaired and the car’s floor panels polished and reinforced with new, stronger metal, Rarity installed her new special fabric covering and carpets. “There’s still one big thing, though,” Apple Bloom said with a yawn as they relaxed in the clubhouse before heading off to sleep. “What’s that?” Sweetie Belle asked with concern. “The engine, clutch, drivetrain components, wiring, fluid lines, and fluid containers,” Scootaloo finished. “We might have to replace a lot of parts, and these ones are not easy to get. Twilight said that the Crystal Mirror only opens once every thirty moons!” “We’ll have to just wait and see,” Sweetie Belle replied sadly. “Without Sunset Shimmer, we can’t fix this car.” After school the following day, Scootaloo applied more rust remover to the Honda’s rear floor panel, and then took another look at the Honda VTEC engine repair book while the chemicals settled in. There, she noticed in a drawing that the engine wasn’t permenantly attached. It could be removed and re-installed! After a quick look under the car, she saw some nuts and bolts. “Hey Apple Bloom!” she called out. “Could you get that power drill and the wrench from your sis’s shed?” “Sure!” Apple Bloom replied. “Just gotta ask permission.” Applejack agreed, and even brought the tools over for her little sister. With some effort, Scootaloo pushed the drill tip onto a bolt and squeezed the power trigger on the drill. The bolt began to ease out. Soon the front bumper was removed from the car, and Sweetie Belle’s eyes widened with joy. Now they could reach right inside the engine bay and remove all those vines and branches they couldn’t reach before!” The engine service book was beyond the comprehension abilities of the little fillies’ brains, so Applejack and Twilight Sparkle pitched in to help. Big Macintosh jacked up the car, Scootaloo did most of the mechanical work (with some assistance from Apple Bloom), while Sweetie Belle read out the instructions. “And…last large bolt of size 2.5 on the far right!” she called out. Scootaloo undid the last bolt, and the engine came loose with a jolt and it began to slide a little. “Get a scooter board!” Scootaloo yelled, and Applejack ran out of the barn and was back in less than a minute. She rolled it underneath the car’s front, Scootaloo gently pushed the engine…and it gently moved onto the board. Applejack pulled on a rope attached to the board, and the engine came free from its container. With the engine removed, Scootaloo could now eliminate the vegetation that was not previously accessible. More rust remover and patch metal was added to the body behind the engine, as well as the wheel arches. Now came the challenge of repairing and tuning the engine itself. Sweetie Belle wanted to keep it stock, while Scootaloo wanted to turbocharge it so it could go faster and therefore be really awesome. The argument continued until Sweetie Belle was about to throw a punch, when Scootaloo spoke loudly. “If we want this car to be awesome and eye-catching, we need to make it fast and powerful.” That made the other two shut up, and they agreed. Just then, Twilight Sparkle flew in with her book bag. “Crusaders, the portal to Canterlot High has opened. It will close tonight. Sunset Shimmer has agreed to buy you all the parts you need, but you’ve got just this week before the portal closes,” she told them, handing out a few magazines and a few sheets of paper. Sweetie Belle grabbed the magazine and began flipping the pages. There were so many to choose from, she had to ask Twilight about what Sunset Shimmer had suggested. After many hours of fussing, they narrowed down their selections and wrote out a long list that was almost as long as the engine itself. Still, Sweetie Belle was pleased to see that it was shorter than the list made when Babs Seed became a Cutie Mark Crusader. The list consisted of more than twenty different engine parts, engine oil, various fluids, a few head gaskets (in case of blow-ups), a new radiator fan, suspension parts, 949 6UL racing sport rims and corresponding street tires, a steering wheel, a gauge cluster, brake fluid lines, sealant paste, a carbon fiber hood and spoiler, Brembo brakes and brake calipers, a complete Greddy single turbo kit, new waste gate manifold, new drivetrain mountings, a new fuel pump and fuel filter, a HKS exhaust and air filter for the turbo, Bride racing seats, new pedals, various electrical wiring, new high-power headlights(front and rear), three gauges to monitor the car’s conditions, and a C-West body kit to give the car a cool look. Not to mention some car-related tools and equipment. “That’s…quite a lot,” Twilight said, surprised. “Are you sure this is all you need?” “We’re sure of it,” Apple Bloom replied confidently. “And if we have forgotten anything, I’m sure Sunset Shimmer will notice and inform you.” As noon struck, the Cutie Mark Crusaders set out to Ponyville to buy some nice smoothies for lunch, while Twilight Sparkle headed to her castle to send the list to Sunset Shimmer and assemble the convoy of helper ponies, who would deliver the items from the castle to Sweet Apple Acres.
Chapter 4 (Two months after finding the car)Over the course of the next eight weeks, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their friends worked harder than ever on the Honda. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo worked on the engine, repairing and replacing parts, while Sweetie Belle and Rarity worked on the interior, giving it a new smooth tan leather dashboard, interior trim, and floor liners, in addition to the new gauge cluster, engine monitoring gauges, and Momo racing-type steering wheel. Applejack read out instructions from the book that were too hard for the fillies to comprehend or understand, then simplified the info so they could follow them properly. One day, Babs Seed came over for a brief visit, and noticed the partly open barn door and heard some weird noises. She walked over and pushed the barn door open – and her jaw dropped in surprise. Apple Bloom was working on the engine’s pistons and valves, while Scootaloo was welding something to the underside of the car. Assorted car parts lay scattered at the back of the barn, and off to one side lay a small table with papers and various books atop it. “What’s y’all doin’ in here?” she asked in her thick Bronx accent. “Babs!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, dropping her tools and running over to greet her cousin. Babs embraced her in a warm hug. “Well, we found this car in the forest, and we’re repairing and restoring it. I’m working on the engine.” Babs Seed noticed the empty engine bay. “Back in Manehattan, I’ve come across various wiring systems in the basements of the tall apartments while they were being fixed by my classmate’s dad. Maybe I can give you a hand with this.” By the end of the day, the engine was completely fixed with the turbo kit installed. It was time to re-install it into the jacked-up car. Using an engine crane that Sunset Shimmer had bought for them and a team effort, they lifted the engine up and gently over to the engine bay, with help from Applejack. Scootaloo crawled underneath and tightened all the bolts, reattached the now repaired driveshaft and the HKS exhaust, and the fuel, brake, and oil lines. Babs Seed showed them the different types, gauges, and colors of wires and where to attach them. Scootaloo used pliers and a soldering iron to attach all the wires where they belonged, according to the service and repair manual. Finally, Sweetie Belle – of all of them – got down under and finished attaching the HKS exhaust to its mounts, then installed the rear headlights as a final step before going to sleep. The next day would be the pinnacle of their time. It was time to add the final touch-ups to the car, along with a few other vital things. Babs had school, so she had to leave. While Apple Bloom went to the train station to say goodbye to her cousin, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle continued working on the Honda. Sweetie Belle cleaned out the fuel filler cap and the inside of the pipe that led to the fuel tank, while Scootaloo removed the old broken headlights and installed the new ones. Finally they installed the body kit, filing down uneven edges and tightening nuts and bolts, with assistance from Applejack and a few other members of the Apple Family. Scootaloo was just about to open the box of screws when Apple Bloom walked in. But instead of being energetic and excited, she looked glum. “What’s the matter, Apple Bloom?” Sweetie Belle asked. “We’re about to blow the whole of Ponyville away soon with our amazing car!” “It’s nothing, crusaders,” Apple Bloom replied. “I just wish Babs could stay for a little longer. I also realized that this car needs fuel, but where are we gonna get fuel?” “Maybe from Baltimare,” Sweetie Belle suggested. “Rarity’s been there before and she said that there’s been a discovery of some black fluid under the water! Some have even begun to try to use it in their inventions! Maybe we should ask!” Scootaloo pulled a this-is-super-duper-awkward-crazy face, but shrugged. “All right, why not. But we’ll need a big container to put it in. It can be dangerous, you know.” Apple Bloom whipped up a quick excuse, Sweetie Belle offered to buy some fabric there for Rarity as well as sell a few new dresses, and Scootaloo found a large wheeled container with a siphon pump. Together they boarded the train and headed off to Baltimare to get the fuel. Baltimare was unlike any city the fillies had ever visited. It was busy, like Manehattan, but the people were a bit “countryish” compared to other cities. As they walked through the noisy streets, Sweetie Belle noticed a fashion store and the trio split up; she would sell the dresses (and maybe establish a business relationship with the owner), while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo would find the “black fluid” extraction place. After a brief ride on a cart from a friendly passerby, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo made it to the docks, where the “black fluid” was being produced and processed into various types. Many people were busy buying some, including the Flim Flam brothers. “I should have brought my scooter,” Scootaloo muttered as they waited in line. Unfortunately, after her successful selling and buying adventure, Sweetie Belle could not find her friends. Every street looked the same. Every corner store looked the same. “Oh come on!” she groaned. “Where are they?” Just then, an advertising cart rolled past her, promoting about new resources found at the docks and their amazing potential. On the poster was a picture of splashing black liquid. “The black fluid!’ Sweetie Belle exclaimed, and followed the cart towards the docks, carrying her bag of neatly wrapped fabric for her big sister. Soon she noticed the large crowd, who were chatting excitedly. Combined with the loud hissing and roaring of the machines, it was impossible to make out a single word of whatever any pony was saying. Finally Sweetie Belle noticed her friends and shoved and pushed her way through the tall legs of the older ponyfolk towards them. “I got a lot of bits from those dresses!” she announced happily. “They should be enough for the fuel.” By the time they had gotten to the fill-up taps and the payment counter, the evening was already approaching. Scootaloo chose the one with the right consistency, smell, and appearance (based on what Sunset Shimmer had explicitly described in one of her letters), filled the container up to its maximum capacity, and Sweetie Belle paid for it. The amount of bits from the dresses were just enough. Having accomplished their goal, the three fillies set off to return to Ponyville, with one problem. The full container was now very heavy, and even with wheels, the trio could only just about pull it with considerable difficulty and pain. “Can I help you three in any way?” a stallion kindly asked them. He looked a bit like Big Macintosh, only with more elaborate clothing and a different color. “Ummm, sure,” Apple Bloom replied shyly. “We just gotta get to the train station.” “Great! I’m going there too!” the stallion replied with joy. So the Cutie Mark Crusaders walked to the station, and the helpful stallion pulled their heavy load of fuel. “Thanks very much!” Scootaloo said with a high-hoof as the trio boarded the train to Ponyville. “Anytime, fillies!” the stallion replied. “Anytime.” As the sun went down and the moon rose, the trio arrived in Ponyville, with an anxious Applejack waiting at the stop. “Where were you, sugarcube? I was so worried.” “Ah, what originally was going to be a brief blast became a slow heave-ho,” Apple Bloom replied. “But we got what we needed.” Applejack sighed. “Let’s get you home then.” Applejack pulled the container of fuel back to Sweet Apple Acres and left it in the barn, while Sweetie Belle walked home to the Carousel Boutique and Scootaloo slept in the clubhouse. Tomorrow would be the defining moment, but for the time-being, the three fillies needed a good sleep from their busy yet exciting and entertaining day.
Chapter 5 (Final touches and the grand reveal)The morning came with a gentle breeze and the distinctive cry from the rooster at Sweet Apple Acres, and Applejack, Big Macintosh, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were all eyes, ears, and hands. It was time for the final touches to be added to the car. After a nice breakfast, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom used wrenches to attach the spoiler to the back of the car, neatly on the crest tip where the tailgate met the roof. While relaxing on the new red seats, Sweetie Belle noticed an odd metal shape sticking out of the side of the steering wheel mount, and pulled it out. It was badly rusted, but its shape thankfully stayed in place. “I found the key!” she announced happily. “I just gotta get somepony to make a duplicate of it.” There was one blacksmith in Ponyville by the name of Rust Block, and Sweetie Belle knew where he was. Most of his customers were older ponies or younger colts who were going to be enlisted as one of the guards in Canterlot. So it was more than a surprise when Sweetie Belle walked in with a small odd-shaped piece of metal in her mouth. “Hi there,” she said in a sweet voice. “Can you make two copies of this key? They need to be exactly the same, down to the finest detail.” “Not a problem,” Rust Block replied, and set to work while Sweetie Belle patiently waited. It definitely is hot at the blacksmith’s, she thought, wiping her forelock. But in less than an hour he was done with two shiny, durable keys that looked identical to the rusted one, except without the rust. “Thank you so much!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed with a little joyful jump, and paid him with a little tip. She threaded the keys onto a thin piece of rope, tied a knot, made a loop in the rope, tossed it over her neck, and trotted back to Sweet Apple Acres. In the barn, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, along with Applejack, were now bleeding the brake fluid system, ensuring that all the old fluid and dirt was completely removed. “I got the keys!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, running inside the barn. “Great!” Scootaloo replied. “We’re almost done. Now we just need to drain and clean the engine oil system, attach the new carbon fiber hood, attach the brakes and hook up the fluid system, screw on the wheels, and apply a final coat of paint.” Always caring and helpful, Applejack took some time off from her apple bucking to help out, attaching the tires to the wheels, while her little sister undid the bolts of the old hood. Scootaloo then dragged the new one over, and together with Apple Bloom attached it to the mounts. The hood closed perfectly with no awkward gaps or angles. Applejack then jacked up the car. “Now on to the oil,” Sweetie Belle announced, pushing the oil pan under the engine bay in the right place, and then unscrewing the drain cap. The old oil was full of black and brown particles and smelled like a mixture of diapers and cow saliva. Once it was all out, she wiped the outlet clean with a rag and brushed the area of any remaining particles, then reattached the outlet cap. Apple Bloom then unscrewed the inlet cap and cleaned the area of any dirt or foreign particles. Then she poured in the new oil up to the recommended amount. Sweetie Belle crawled out from under the car, and then they proceeded to removing the old rusted brakes and attaching the new ones. Because she was somewhat of an expert with connecting parts, Scootaloo attached the brake fluid to the new brakes, while Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Applejack attached the brakes themselves. Finally came the task of attaching the wheels with their pre-fitted Bridgestone tires. Big Macintosh came over to help, while Applejack returned to her farm duties. “Could you lift the tires into place while Scootaloo drills the nuts in?” Apple Bloom asked her brother. “Eeyup,” he replied in his typical deep yet kind voice. Big Macintosh lifted the wheels to the right height, and Scootaloo used a drill to firmly fasten them to their respective mounts. Once all the wheels had been attached, Big Macintosh and Scootaloo lowered the jacks and removed them. The car was now able to stand on its own for the first time. Having bought some paint beforehand, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo donned masks, covered up parts of the car, and gave the Honda a new coat of pearl white paint, along with a protective clearcoat. Leaving the car’s paint to settle, the Cutie Mark Crusaders then took a break and had lunch with the Apple Family. Sweetie Belle enjoyed cakes, strudels, and brownies, while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo dined on soup and crackers instead. “So, are we ready to see the fruits of our hard work?” Apple Bloom announced, noticing the muscle development on her fellow crusaders’ arms from all the hard work that they’ve been through. “Yes!” Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applejack, and even Big Mac replied simultaneously.
Chapter 6 (Start-up and test runs)After lunch, the three fillies opened the barn doors wide, and Sweetie Belle (who had the keys) stepped forward towards the door. With a boost from Apple Bloom, she gripped the door handle and opened it. The three fillies stepped inside. Sweetie Belle was a bit baffled by the assortment of levers and switches around them, but Apple Bloom and Scootaloo knew what they were all for. “Sweetie Belle, I need you to reach the pedal on the right hand side down there,” Apple Bloom ordered, taking charge. “Scootaloo, keep an eye on the gauges to make sure they work. With everyone in position, Apple Bloom pushed the key into the ignition and turned it. There was a brief flutter sound and then utter silence. “It didn’t work!” Sweetie Belle pouted. “Not so fast, crusaders,” Scootaloo replied as she pulled the hood lever, disappointed that her best friends would give up on something so easily. “We forgot to pour the gas in the tank, and moreover, I should check the clamp on the alternator wire and the battery terminals to be sure that they’re fastened properly.” The trio hopped out of the car, and set to work. Scootaloo opened the hood and felt the battery terminals. Yep, they were a little wiggly, and so was the alternator wire. She grabbed a pair of pliers and a screwdriver, and tightened up the battery terminal nuts. Then she reached down to the starter motor and turned the screw that held the wire in place a little more until it was firm. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had finished pumping fuel into the car’s tank. “You done?” Scootaloo called out, shutting the hood and walking around to the driver’s side. “Yep!” Sweetie Belle replied, wiping excess fuel off the siphon pump’s tip and securely shutting the tank’s valves. Apple Bloom screwed the car’s filler cap back on and shut the lid. The two opened the passenger door and hopped in, taking their positions once more. “Ready?” Apple Bloom said, trying to hold back her excitement and anticipation. “Ready!” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo replied. Taking a deep breath and a little prayer, Apple Bloom gripped the key, pushed it into the slot, and turned it. There was a brief fluttering sound as before, but this time it was followed by a low roar. “Gently press it, Sweetie Belle!” Apple Bloom called out. Sweetie Belle gave a little push on the gas pedal, and the engine came alive with a rumble and a hum. The gauges lit up, indicating that they were taking in the data from the turbo and the sensors attached to the engine. “IT WORKED! YAY!” the Cutie Mark Crusaders yelled in joy, jumping up and down on the car seats. But after just a few seconds the engine came to a halt. “I forgot to engage the fuel pump, so only a bit of fuel came through,” Scootaloo explained. She flicked a switch on the center console and squeezed a button a couple of times. “Wait for a moment,” she ordered. “Now start it,” she then said after thirty seconds had passed. Apple Bloom pushed the key into the hole and turned it while Sweetie Belle pushed the gas pedal a little to get the flywheel spinning a bit more. The engine roared to life once more, but stayed on. “What do think, crusaders?” Sweetie Belle said, crawling out from the pedal area. “Was this effort worth it or what?” “It definitely was!” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo replied joyfully. “But, how will we reach the pedals? Sunset Shimmer said in one of her letters that you have to hold the steering wheel, touch the pedals, and the central lever all at the same time, not to mention watching the gauges.” “We’ll attach an extension to the pedals so you can reach them,” Apple Bloom told Scootaloo. “I’ll get some pillows from my bedroom so you can see ahead,” Sweetie Belle suggested. Scootaloo patiently waited in the car while Apple Bloom made three dumbbell-shaped contraptions out of wood. They had straps on one end so they could be attached to the pedals, and Scootaloo could push on them from the other end like the pedal itself. In a sense, they were pedal extensions. Sweetie Belle soon came back with a wagon-ful of colorful pillows. “That’s…quite a lot,” Scootaloo said, pulling a skeptical face. “You’ll see,” Sweetie Belle replied in a sneaky-type voice. “Let’s load them in.” After a couple of pillows had been placed on the driver’s seat, Scootaloo instantly noticed the difference. Now she could hold the steering wheel properly, see out of the windshield clearly, and reach the gear lever. Apple Bloom then turned up, with her wooden “dumbbells”. “You’ll see once they’re in,” she said with a snicker. With help from Sweetie Belle, she firmly attached the straps on one end to each of the pedals, as well as holding them to the dashboard’s underside with rope and tape to stop them falling over. Scootaloo was now in legs’ reach of the other end, and she could now press each pedal with ease. “Ready for a drive?” Scootaloo suggested, revving the engine. “Um, sure,” Sweetie Belle replied, hopping into the front seat. Apple Bloom sat in the back. With seatbelts fastened, Scootaloo remembered the letter from Sunset Shimmer. “Left hoof on the clutch, ta ta and ta, na na and…” she repeatedly whispered to herself. “Okay, Crusaders, here we go.” Scootaloo pushed the clutch down, moved the gear stick into first gear, let go of the clutch, and gently eased on the gas. The car began to move forward smoothly. “This is amazing!” Sweetie Belle whooped. “Turning right now, towards the exit. We’re heading for the country roads, to see how this machine will perform.” As the trio left the farm, Scootaloo was starting to get the hang of the gears, and learned to react quickly. Sweetie Belle also reminded her of a few more pointers. “When you see the light on the gauge cluster, you need to shift, and make sure you downshift at lower revs, or you’ll lose control.” “Thanks for reminding me,” Scootaloo replied. “By the way, I set the turbo to low, which is 9 PSI. The higher it is the faster the car will go. Let’s test it out.” Scootaloo made sure the road was clear, and smoothly pressed the gas until the engine suddenly sounded like it was screaming. The VTEC had kicked in, knocking the Crusaders back in their seats. The feel of the raw power was almost overwhelming, and it became even stronger as the turbo then arrived after spooling up. The revs shot up to 9900 rpm. “Shift!” Sweetie Belle yelled over the noise, noticing the light on the dashboard turn on. Scootaloo hit the clutch, shifted into third gear, and quickly pressed the gas again. “Whoooooo!” Apple Bloom squealed with joy as the needle passed the 100 km/h mark. Scootaloo shifted again and the turbo kicked in, bringing the revs up to 9000 rpm. The Honda was flying at more than seventy miles an hour down the country road, and the grassland seemed to just be a total blur. “Corner coming up!” Scootaloo announced, lowering the revs, then downshifting to third, then second. Their speed was now just at 70 km/h, which Sweetie Belle still found dangerously fast. “Slow down!” she pleaded. “We’re only at 70 kilometers an hour,” Scootaloo said with a slight chuckle. “But I’ll slow down a bit more.” Scootaloo slowed to 50 kilometers an hour, and smoothly turned through the corner. Ahead lay a bridge that crossed the Ghastly Gorge. Before the other two could stop her, Scootaloo hit the gas hard again, bringing up the speed as quickly as the VTEC would allow. The turbo kicked in as the bridge’s crest came into view, and Sweetie Belle gasped in fright. The Honda’s wheels hit the bridge’s edge, and it went flying over the bridge’s crest, landing with a hard thunk and a brief bounce on the other side. “Nice moves, kid!” a voice rang out of nowhere. Apple Bloom’s head span around, looking for any sign of movement or color. Then she saw it: Rainbow Dash, flying above the car. Rainbow Dash thinks I’ve got…nice moves! Scootaloo thought happily to herself, almost forgetting that she was still driving a rare car travelling at over 100 km/h. “SCOOTS!” Apple Bloom yelled from the backseat. “Oh, yeah. Sorry,” Scootaloo replied, blushing. She gripped the steering wheel and downshifted, lowering the speed down once more. Scootaloo wanted to test the Honda on a higher boost setting, but Sweetie Belle firmly said no. After a few handling test runs near Appleloosa, it was time to return to Sweet Apple Acres. Once again, Scootaloo opened the taps, bringing the car up to 130 km/h on the country roads before slowing down once more. Finally they turned into the narrow dirt lane that led to the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres, with mixed feelings. Sweetie Belle enjoyed the ride comfort, Apple Bloom liked the handling, and Scootaloo liked the brutal acceleration and the impressive speed. In one of the fields, Applejack was busy rounding up some cattle, but she had to do it with only two other ponies, as Big Macintosh was busy with the apple trees. “Maybe we can help,” Apple Bloom suggested. Being raised on the farm, she knew the technics and movements of herding livestock. “Applejack!” Scootaloo called out, winding down the window. “We can help!” “I’ll go to the rear!” Applejack yelled back. “You take the right-hand flank!” “Got it!” Scootaloo replied, shifting and zooming towards the midpoint of the herd on the right side, remembering to close the window. “This is where the Honda suddenly comes alive,” Scootaloo told her fellow Crusaders, spinning the steering wheel so the car slid sideways a little, then she gave it gas. The car began to ease back into line, and as it did so, it veered to the left slightly, forcing the cattle to move left as well. “Yee-haw! There ya go,” Apple Bloom cheered from the back seat. Soon the cattle began to move properly in line towards the large pen near the northeast side of the farm. Good work, Crusaders, Applejack thought with a smile under her breath as she drove the cattle forwards along with another pony. At the pen, several other ponies had kept the gates wide open, and Scootaloo yanked the steering wheel hard to the right, pulled the handbrake, spun the wheel in the other direction, and zoomed away from the fence, since the herd was now channeling into a funnel shape into the pen. It was time to join Applejack in driving the herd from the rear. “For a front wheel-drive car, this handles quite well,” Sweetie Belle admitted. At last, all the cows were safely in the pen. Apple Bloom hopped out to help close the gates as the dust settled. Scootaloo gave the engine a few brief revs as a sign of triumph. “That was amazing, sugarcube!” Applejack bellowed with joy. “It sure was!” Apple Bloom replied, hugging her big sister with liquid pride. Out of nowhere, Rainbow Dash arrived, along with a few members of the Apple Family that had been helping Applejack with herding the cattle. “That was…so awesome!” Rainbow Dash declared, ruffling Scootaloo’s mane. Members of the Apple family arrived, firing questions left and right so quickly that Scootaloo couldn’t even answer them all. “How fast is it?” “Can it spin and speed instantly?” “Where did you get it?” “Can I drive it?” Rainbow Dash saved her by clearing away the crowd. “No questions, please,” she said firmly, pushing her way to the driver’s side window, blocking the Apple Family from asking Scootaloo anything. With the job done, Scootaloo drove the Honda back to the barn, giving Apple Bloom and her big sister a lift on the way. Rainbow Dash was just happy that her little “sister” had accomplished an awesome feat that no pony had been able to achieve before.
Chapter 7 (Show and tell and dealing with bullies)News of the Honda was spreading like wildfire across Equestria. Princess Celestia was proud of Sunset Shimmer to help the Cutie Mark Crusaders to build the car, and Rarity got a new business offer from the dude Sweetie Belle met in Baltimare. Rainbow Dash even agreed to hang out with Scootaloo a bit more, now that she’d gained more admiration. But on the day of school the next week, something happened that would change everything. It was Show and Tell day, and Apple Bloom really wanted to bring the car to school. Scootaloo, however, was worried that Diamond Tiara might become jealous of (or worse) steal or sabotage the Honda. “We’ll always be there with the car,” Apple Bloom stated firmly. “Yeah! And if they try to take it, we’ll tell Cheerilee and everyone else!” Sweetie Belle added with a huff. Scootaloo sighed. “Okay then. Let’s show Ponyville what we’ve got!” Sweetie Belle packed the lunches and books, Apple Bloom pushed the barn doors open, and Scootaloo (who was now the official driver) started up the Honda. They hopped in and drove away to school, taking the shorter route through Ponyville. No sooner did the Honda’s tires roll onto Ponyville’s stone and dirt streets did just about every pony turn their heads in shock. Scootaloo honked the horn a few times, encouraging them to make way. As they approached the school, the mere exhaust note of the Honda caught the other fillies’ attention, as well as Cheerilee herself. Thankfully a bunch of trees hid the car from view, and Scootaloo parked it behind one large tree, where it would be hidden from view. The only way to see it would be to jump a row of bushes and walk around to the other side of the tree. Satisfied with their narrow escape, the Cutie Mark Crusaders hopped out and headed to the school entrance. “Always lock your car,” Scootaloo mimed a line from one of Sunset Shimmer’s letters, locking the Honda’s doors and boot securely with the key. She then hid the key in her bag, and caught up with the rest of the fillies just as class was about to begin. “So, fillies, I would like each of you to present what you’ve brought for show and tell,” Cheerilee kindly asked the class. Slowly but surely, each little filly came up to Cheerilee’s desk to show and/or tell about something they owned and a backstory, or simply an exciting moment in their life. Halfway through, one of them spoke up. “Hey Miss Cheerilee, I think we need a bathroom break,” Silver Spoon interrupted. “Me too,” Diamond Tiara chimed in. Scootaloo’s jaw set in anger. She knew that this would be the perfect excuse to allow the two bullies to commit a sinister action or two. “All right, you may go, but please be back as soon as possible,” Cheerilee replied kindly. “You don’t want to miss out on these exciting stories, do you?” The two fillies just nodded and dashed out the classroom door. Sweetie Belle dropped her pencil and gently kicked it towards the door, while Scootaloo got up from her seat. “Where are you going?” Cheerilee interrogated. “Uh, just gotta get Sweetie Belle’s pencil,” Scootaloo spat out. “Ended up rolling away.” Cheerilee and the rest of the class were so interested in the story told by one student that they forgot about Scootaloo’s absence. Meanwhile, Scootaloo herself picked up the pencil and tiptoed down the school hall to the bathroom door and listened. Not a sound. She peeked through the tiny gap between the door and the floor. No feet could be seen – which meant that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon weren’t inside! Oh no, Scootaloo thought, running outside. “They’re going to find the Honda!” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were now walking across the school yard, chatting in sneaky voices. Scootaloo hid behind a bush and listened closely. “I wonder what sort of crazy fiddlestick figure those blank flanks are gonna show this time,” Diamond Tiara sneered. “Probably some cutie mark mold made out of rice.” “Yeah,” Silver Spoon replied. “Or some farty party cannon!” Scootaloo thought better and ran back to the school. “Miss Cheerilee, Cheerilee!” she called out. “I was getting my pencil, and I saw Diamond Tiara…she...” Scootaloo spilled all the beans. Cheerilee held a look of surprise but inside she was disappointed and upset. “I’ll bring them back in,” she replied firmly. “Class, it is now Featherweight’s turn. Be quiet and enjoy his story.” After Featherweight had told his story and Cheerilee had rounded up the two rebellious aristocrats, it was finally the turn of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Remember, Apple Bloom, don’t mess it up,” Sweetie Belle warned her friend. Apple Bloom walked up to the teacher’s desk, cleared her throat, and spoke. “My story is about how we built and restored something extraordinary. Something which would literally be impossible to find in the whole of Equestria. However, if we are to show it to you all, we need to go outside. It’s too big to fit in here.” Cheerilee sighed. “Oh very well. Come on, class! Out we go!” Scootaloo grabbed her bag and climbed out the back window and snuck around the bushes to the large tree. Thankfully the Honda was still there and in one piece. However, someone had scratched the phrase BLANK FLANKS SUCK on the front bumper. “Argh!” she growled. “You bullies! I’m gonna tell Cheerilee…if only she’d believe me.” Mentally fighting to get over the fact that their – her – prized Honda’s front bumper had been scratched with an offensive message, Scootaloo pulled the key out of her bag, pushed it into the door slot, and jumped in. While Cheerilee and the class could not yet see the “extraordinary thing”, they certainly could hear its smooth yet loud rumble. Scootaloo burst from the grass and bushes and yanked the handbrake, spinning the Honda 180 degrees counterclockwise and coming to a stop, blinding the group with a cloud of pollen and dust. “Whoa!” the entire school whistled. Now that the dust was settling, they could see the Honda. Scootaloo opened the door and hopped out. “That is it, fillies and gentlecolts! It’s a Honda Civic Type R EK9. Only a few made and the only one in the whole of Equestria. Beautifully restored and modified to perform like a true speed machine.” While Apple Bloom told the story and a few of the classmates walked around to admire the car, Scootaloo explained what she’d seen on the front bumper to Sweetie Belle, who became fueled with rage. “Don’t be angry,” Scootaloo consoled her. “It’s only a light scratch, we can repair it after school with some polishing compound, a sponge, water, and a cloth. No big deal, but it will require some effort. For now though, stay in front of the bumper so they won’t see the scratch marks.” Scootaloo then took in all her pride to explain the components of the car, how it worked, and what each part was for. Even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were amazed, and also upset because the “blank flanks” they had tried to tick off apparently gave no hoot to the hideous scratch message. “I am so putting this in the newsletter!” Featherweight said excitedly, jumping up and down. Diamond Tiara was as eager as ever to denounce the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but no one could deny the beauty and perfection of the Honda. If it wasn’t included in the newsletter, it would be a total embarrassment to the whole school, and possibly to the whole of Equestria that the headline “Diamond Tiara thinks rare Equestria invention is ‘not cool because blank flanks made it’” would be printed across the top of Ponyville’s newspapers. “Yeah! How’d ya like them apples, Diamond Tiara!” Apple Bloom chuckled, sharing a high-hoof with her best friends. After school, Apple Bloom took her very first turn at driving, with advice from Scootaloo. The gears got a nasty grind twice, but soon Apple Bloom got the hang of shifting. Unlike Scootaloo, she didn’t care much for speed, so it took some time before they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. In the barn, Sweetie Belle headed straight for the pile of books and letters from Sunset Shimmer and began flipping desperately through them. “Where the topic about scratches and paint…is where is…ah! There it is!” She pointed to a page that read “How to remove light scratches.” Scootaloo took out the polishing kit and, with the book at their side, the Cutie Mark Crusaders removed the offensive message and restored the bumper to its original white beauty. The Honda now shone proudly once again, ready for the parade.
Chapter 8 (Daredevil Scootaloo)After having a sudden dream of flying fast with Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo awoke with a start. She had to faster to be able to impress Rainbow Dash. The best place would be the long, straight road that led through a mountain to the White-Tailed Woods. Sneaking out of the clubhouse (which she had now preferred to sleep in), she ran to the barn and undid the bolts and latches, trying to keep them from squeaking. Thankfully it was a bit windy, so the squeaks were somewhat muffled. Scootaloo opened the hood and turned a tiny knob, opening the turbo valve all the way, increasing the boost to 18 PSI. She shut the hood, opened the door, and hopped in. “I know you got a reputation, and that reputation’s not been great,” she whispered to the car, “but I promise. You get me a good reputation, I’ll give you a good reputation here in Equestria.” With a hopeful sigh, Scootaloo pushed the key into the ignition, started up the engine, and slowly drove off out of Sweet Apple Acres. Heading for the smooth open road, she aligned the wheels and activated the launch control, stomping on the gas. The wheels spun like crazy, leaving billowing clouds of smoke. “No grip!” she yelled. “Come on!” After another gear, the Honda finally got a hold of the road, and Scootaloo floored it all the way to the limiter, changing gears as fast as possible to avoid losing boost and the VTEC. “120 kilometers an hour!” she exclaimed in desperation. “150, 180, 200, 220, come on!” By fifth gear, the Honda was cranking out 485 horsepower to the front wheels and exceeding 150 miles an hour, and for a few moments, Scootaloo felt like she would lose control. But there was still room for a bit more speed before the road gave way to gravel pathways through the woods. Scoootaloo pushed the gas down even harder, and the speed climbed to 260, then 270. Suddenly the forest, which seemed so far away a few seconds ago, was just a minute away! “Whoaaaaa!” Scootaloo screamed in fear, lifting off the gas slightly and downshifting to third gear. Then she gently pressed the brake in hopes of reducing speed enough for a safe stop. But it didn’t. The Honda’s wheels hit the loose pebbles and spun around twice before hitting a few bushes and finally coming to a stop inches from a tree trunk and a boulder. Scootaloo was so shaken she could hardly breathe. She had nearly crashed the Honda. The one thing her friends and she had worked so hard to restore and build and enjoy. The one thing that had allowed them to cleverly silence Diamond Tiara, their number one nemesis. Now she nearly destroyed it just to gain love and admiration from Rainbow Dash? That didn’t sound or feel like something a loyal and true friend would do. Feeling happy, sad, and regretful all at the same time, Scootaloo started the engine up again (she had stalled it in the spin-out), and drove back to Ponyville, while still in the dead of the night. Body pains poked at her from every angle. In the morning, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gathered together and headed up the clubhouse steps, eager to form another plan to attain their cutie marks. “Scootaloo! We’re here! Shall we—” “Scootaloo?!” the two fillies gasped in shock at the absence of their pegasus friend. “Ah, maybe she’s just gone off solo crusading or enjoying herself on her scooter somewhere,” Apple Bloom said, trying to shake it off. With their worry relieved a little, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle checked the barn. “Hmmm, the barn doors are open,” said Apple Bloom. “I remember I closed and bolted them last night.” Curious, she entered. The Honda was not in the same state. Instead of facing the doors, it was now facing the back of the barn. Sweetie Belle examined the bodywork. There were little streaks of mud and grit all over the side skirts and the rear bumper. A slight dent was noticeable on the left-hand side skirt just behind one of the front wheels, and the engine still felt warm. “Scootaloo’s gotten into an accident!” the two gasped in unison as they simultaneously realized what had occurred during the night. Without further ado they ran to the hospital and burst through the doors, almost forgetting their manners. Scootaloo was in her bed, drinking a cup of tea. She had a sore neck from the spin-out, a slightly torn cartilage stem in her left wing, and a little bang on her forehead, but overall she was still well and strong. The room doors burst open as if a grenade had been thrown at it. In walked Rarity, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and even Rainbow Dash. Questions and caring words poured out like water from a broken dam. “Are you okay?” “Can you walk?” “I was soooooooooooooooo worried!” “Why were you out alone in the night?” Scootaloo sighed and turned to look at her idol. “I…I’m fine. Just a few minor injuries. I wanted to prove that was just as awesome as you, Rainbow Dash. So I tried to go as quickly and as fast as I could in the Honda, but the road suddenly ended, and…and I lost control while trying to slow down. I’m sorry guys.” “That machine is dangerous!” Rarity exclaimed. “It must be extinguished!” “NO!” Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all shouted at the same time, before realizing that they were in a hospital and lowered their voices. “No, no no!” “This was just my driving mistake,” Scootaloo told everyone firmly. “This Honda can go fast, and I actually did achieve my top speed goal. It just needs to be driven fast on roads which have a smooth surface and are mostly straight. I still have to get used to the car’s power and increase my driving experience. That’s all.” “We’ll see ya tomorrow, sugarcube,” Applejack replied, heading out the door. “Wish you a good sleep today and a successful recovery and healing!” Scootaloo finished her tea and slumped down under the bed’s soft white blanket, all the while a many thoughts running through her mind: how could she make the Honda go fast with stability and control? Would she be able to successfully control the speed machine at full tilt? And had she let her heart’s desire to be as awesome and cool as her idol cost her the high level of reasoning she was known for amongst her friends?
Chapter 9 (The summer harvest parade…and the unexpected event)After cleaning and repairing the Honda, Scootaloo made a Pinkie Promise never to race alone or at night, in addition to reading the books containing info about the Honda more often. The big day had come – the Summer Harvest Parade. It was time to showcase the Honda to all of Ponyville. Granny Smith had knitted a special cover for the car that had an apple design embroidered into it. Apple Bloom draped it over the car, while Scootaloo tied it down to stop it falling off. It was made to represent the Apple Family, its passion for farming, and its strong heritage. “What do think, Crusaders?” Sweetie Belle said. “Will this really be able to blow everyone away?” “Yeah!” Scootaloo huffed with confidence. “Cutie Mark Crusaders, hoofbump!” Applejack and a few members of the Apple Family gathered together and headed out of Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all jumped into the Honda and drove down the road to Ponyville to join the parade. Octavia had also been preparing a melody for the parade’s instrument players, which was a ponified version of ‘Scotland the Brave’. As the parade started and the drums, bagpipes, and horns began playing, the Cutie Mark Crusaders prepped themselves to join the lineup. However, Scootaloo noticed something. “Guys, all of the floats are shaped like food! Ours doesn’t fit in!” “Yes it does,” Sweetie Belle replied. “It fits because it’s unique. Theirs are shaped like the fruits and veggies, but ours has a cover that symbolizes our top fruit. Just because it sticks out like a sore wingtip, doesn’t mean it’s not gonna be good. C’mon, let’s go and promote the Apple Family!” But then the stinkers – Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon – showed up. “What do you want?” Scootaloo demanded before they could even speak. “Where’s your float? Aren’t you gonna be in the parade too?” “Nah, we’re just here to admire yours, since blank flanks shouldn’t be in parade for that matter,” Silver Spoon sneered. Diamond Tiara began to walk around to the back of the car, approaching Sweetie Belle in a threatening posture. Scootaloo jumped into the Honda, turned the key in the ignition, and slammed her hoof on the gas. VROOM-VROOOOBANG! The exhaust let out a ferociously loud scream and a backfire that sounded like a gun. Everyone jumped back, except for Diamond Tiara, who was literally knocked back by the blast. “My ears are shaking!” Sweetie Belle cried. “What was that?” Silver Spoon exclaimed. “I haven’t heard anything like that before,” Scootaloo replied to them all. “But it has one—” “C’mon, Silver Spoon, let’s leave these misers to be humiliated in the parade. They’re already late! Haha!” Diamond Tiara said with a cruel laugh, although she was still traumatized by the backfire and her legs were shaking a little. Yeah! Owned you again! Scootaloo thought with a sneaky grin, before turning to her best friends. “We gotta go now, or we’ll be late! The floats are already making their way through the town!” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom jumped into the passenger seat and Scootaloo drove off to join the parade. As they quietly drove through town, Scootaloo began to talk about the engine’s systems while Sweetie Belle waved to the cheering crowds. “You see, there’s a little knob in the turbo kit that I installed. It allows more air into the turbo than normal, so you can control how much boost you want. Right now it’s fully open for maximum power.” “Shouldn’t we be more focused on the crowd?” a reminder came from the back seat. “Right. Sorry, Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo replied, blushing. She then took her turn to wave to the crowd and blow them kisses and beam happy smiles. After a while it became clear that the Honda Civic Type R EK9 was getting the most attention, with twice as many ponies surrounding it compared to the other floats. “I told you it wasn’t bad,” Sweetie Belle teased. “This is great!” At the end of the road there was a sharp bend, which was easy to turn on – if you had proper steering abilities. As the first float turned the corner, ahead of the band players, its rear wheels moved sideways a little. Scootaloo passed it off as bad driving and continued forward with the rest of the floats. But as the float in front of them turned, its rear wheels slid sideways, the front wheels turned around…and it slipped over the steep edge and crashed. By the time Scootaloo noticed as they turned, it was too late. The Honda’s rear wheels slid on the slippery road surface and slid sideways, getting ever closer to the edge. Acting fast, Scootaloo gave it gas, spinning the front wheels, trying to straighten the car and keep it away from the curb. Then she yanked the handbrake and spun the car 180 degrees around, stopping just feet from the edge. “Are you okay?” Scootaloo called out, leaping out of the car and running down the muddy cliff. “Yeah, I’m fine,” the pony in the now wrecked float replied, rubbing the mud and dirt off herself.
Chapter 10 (An unexpected opportunity)Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter 11 (Crusaders of the Lost VTEC)Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter 1 (During lunch break)As the CMC returned to their clubhouse for a break after their morning class at Cheerilee’s school, they decided to go separately to avoid being seen by Diamond Tiara. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom took the long route down the village’s side road, while Scootaloo drove through the woods to the back of Sweet Apple Acres, where the clubhouse was located. Sometimes beasts and hidden creatures from the Everfree Forest lurked here, but Scootaloo had no fear of them. As she plowed on through the forest, pushing through branches and leaping over bushes in her way, Scootaloo made one last big leap over a spiky bush. But at the last minute, the back wheels of her scooter caught on one of the curly branch tips and she crashed and fell to the ground, her scooter dangling from the bush’s branch before it finally fell beside her. But instead of falling on soft grass and leaf litter, she landed on a patch of vines and other vegetation that felt rock hard, although there was a bit of bang. “Ow!” Scootaloo yelped. “Hmmm, that sounded like metal. I wonder what’s underneath here.” With some effort, she caught her scooter, placed it aside, and began tearing and pulling at the vines until they snapped and broke free to reveal a patch of a white, hard material with many flaky brown patches. Over the next half hour, Scootaloo continued tearing and pulling away the vines until she had uncovered half of the object. It was unlike anything she’d seen before, and it was enormous, standing over twice as tall as she did. There was a distinctive smell coming from it as well, and many parts were missing. Still, its unique shape fascinated her. Leaving a mental note of its location, Scootaloo leapt onto her scooter and zipped off to the clubhouse to relate the news to her friends. As she pulled up to the clubhouse, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were already there, talking about their newest cutie mark ideas. Scootaloo flew up the steps and burst in with a heap of excitement. “Hey Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom began. “We were just thinking of a brand new idea of how we could get our cutie marks.” “Yeah, sounds good,” Scootaloo replied, panting. “You guys gotta see what I found in the forest! It’s amazing!” “The forest?!” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle replied in shock. “You went through the forest?” “Well, it’s better than getting attacked by a rich bully,” Scootaloo scoffed. “Anyways it’s not that far. I just hope I can remember the way I came.” Reluctantly, the two fillies jumped into the wagon, and Scootaloo towed them across the grass and into the dense trees at the border of Sweet Apple Acres, where they entered a strip of forest that led in a huge curve from Sweet Apple Acres to the back of the schoolyard. “Oh come on! Are we there yet?” Sweetie Belle groaned. “My back hurts from all these bumps and hard rocks!” Scootaloo was trying so hard to remember where she saw the object that she wasn’t even listening. Suddenly she noticed a large dome-shaped mound off to the right next to a huge curly-stemmed bush…and screeched to a halt so quickly that the wagon almost fell over. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle leapt off the wagon and stretched to regain their strength after the rough ride, while Scootaloo went to more closely examine the object. “Um, shouldn’t we get back to class now?” Apple Bloom asked as she walked over to Scootaloo, who was now trying to rip off more vines. “Ah, we’ll be fine,” Scootaloo replied through a green mouthful. “Just another few minutes to find out about this object.” The large bush was under a tree’s canopy, so it was hidden from above. Nonetheless, the sun’s rays still shone through to fill the area with considerable light. Sweetie Belle was reluctant at first, but soon joined in with Apple Bloom, and the three fillies soon had nearly uncovered the entire object. “Woah,” Sweetie Belle whistled. “You were right, Scoots. This is amazing!” “The only trouble is, what is it?” Scootaloo added. It looks like some kind of weird rock formation. Apple Bloom then noticed something circular sticking out of the ground. “Wait, what’s this?” She dug at the ground with her hooves to reveal a large circular piece of metal. A brief dig the other end of the object revealed the same circular piece. “They look like wheels,” Sweetie Belle commented. “I’ve seen similar circular pieces like those in Canterlot, only those were a lot shinier and cleaner.” “That’s because they’re what the wheels are attached to,” Scootaloo replied, her eyes widening as she remembered how she assembled her scooter a long time back. “What we’re looking at, Crusaders, is a chariot or wagon of some complicated sort that was abandoned a long time ago. Now, let’s get to our next class before Cheerilee gets upset.” By now, the other two were now more interested in the “object” that Scootaloo had found. It appeared to have a classic, lonely, almost pleading feel to it, like a long-lost gem at the bottom of a pond that dearly wanted to be at the centerpiece of a magnificent dress. “Why don’t we try to remove it and fix it?” Apple Bloom suggested. “It doesn’t belong in these woods.” “And how in the hay are we supposed to do that?” Sweetie Belle shot back. “It’s not like we can carry that on our backs or something.” “I’ll ask my big sis and bro if they can help us out. They certainly know how to pull heavy stuff.” “And we can tell Twilight Sparkle about it,” Sweetie Belle added. “She’s bound to know some info on these kinds of stuff.” “Ah, why not,” Scootaloo replied. “Right after school we’ll get on with it. The Summer Harvest Parade is only a few months away.”
