Hey, be happy that the biggest plot thread in 5 years finally got resolved!

@Tetragrammapony  
Apple Bloom didn’t choose the Crusader life. The Crusader life chose her.

@Background Pony #BF80  
@ElCid  
My interpretation is that through their years of failure, they’ve learned what will not get you a cutie mark. And by extension, they can see when other ponies aren’t using their talents properly, and then help them figure out what their marks truly mean.
 
Or a different way of looking at it is that they’re like Mormons, going door to door making sure everypony is living according to God’s will.

@Background Pony #BF80  

 
Yeah, basically all of this.

Their special talent is BEING A GANG YO.

No, their special talent is crusading.

@VermiIIion  
I’d have to say more thought was put into the design of these cutie marks than ~95% of all important cutie marks.

The triple stripe shield - representing their uniformity, how they found their marks together… as well as their mane color.
 
The star, apple, and wing, symbolizing how we’ve come to see them; the rising star, the youngest Apple, and the future flier.
 
The music note, heart, and lightning bolt - their own individual skills; Sweetie’s singing, how Applebloom puts effort and heart into her work, and Scootaloo’s speed.

@Miss Shy  
It’s friendship all the way down

They’re talency agents, numbnuts!

@Marusame
 
I know what they are going for and do not need any of it explained, I still feel it was mishandled and the designed are lazy.

@Background Pony #78F0  
*make

@Background Pony #BF80  
Your comments makes me cru.

FRIENDSHIP? AGAIN?

@Background Pony #BF80  
the shields are their crest as “crusaders” the colors represent their unique colors as one, the emblem in the middle represents the special talents they have for themselves.
 
They were NEVER going to get their special talent in a specific thing and no longer be the CMC’s (which was also their fear) and everyone elses. But ALL ALONG they have been helping others discover who they were and even THOUGH someone has their cutie mark, it does NOT mean they know what it means to them. Even after getting ones cutiemark there is still a journey of discovery (much like twilight and her magic) and the CMC’s are destined to continue what they’ve ALWAYS DONE, which is to help others find out what their own cutiemarks represent to themselves. I love the symbolism and in all honesty makes sense.

@Marusame
 
You know it is all true, people are all just high on the fact the CMC even got their cutie marks that they are not seeing the glaring problems with how poorly this was handled and the crappy designs.

@Background Pony #BF80  
you, door, now.

So the special talent they all discover while being the Cutie Mark Crusaders is…that they are Cutie Mark Crusaders. What? No, seriously, what the fuck? 5 years of waiting for them to discover the talents we’ve known about since Show Stoppers and this is how they handle it? I, mean, yeah, the marks inside those ugly ass shields obviously represent their true talents, but wtf is with those shields anyway? Well, I guess the girls put it best themselves, CMC forever and like with most CMC episodes there is always a little bit of disappointment.

Guidance counseling cutie marks

Singing, lightning, apples and shielding.

Moron, it’s helping other’s find thier own special talents!

@Fwelin  
You can have your cake and eat it too. Which is why I hate the ending to Cars; why not have friends, humbleness and all of your dreams?

@Telaros  
Friendship > Cutie Marks  
Friendship + Cutie Marks > Friendship
 
I don’t see a problem.

@Telaros  
It’s a reward for the deserving ones.

@Telaros  
You’re trying way too hard, man. The friendship is still there and it’s still important.