Yo! I'm back with another chapter of the Rise of Ultraman!
And as promised this chapter is gonna cover the Rainbow Rocks shorts
I just wanna thank those that favorited and followed this fic, thank you very much! that's all I'm gonna say. Enjoy the chapter !
Disclaimer: My little pony Equestria girls Belongs to Hasbro and Ultraman Belongs to Tsuburaya Productions i do not own anything But my Oc
Chapter 10: Rainbooms, Unite!
A New Ability and Stronger Magic?
It's been three months since the battle with Black King, and have been normal thankfully, or at least as normal as it could get for Miko Tsuburaya and the (Hu)Mane Six anyways.
Even though Miko had been keeping tabs for any normal activity and trained even harder in his free time, he was still surprised that It's been quiet the past three months, not that Miko was gonna complain about it.
It was just another day in school as Miko opened up his locker, the clang of metal echoing through the hallways as students chatted and laughed around him.
"Hey man." A male voice greeted Miko as he slammed his locker shut.
Flash Sentry leaned against the locker next to Miko, a friendly grin on his face. "How's it going, Miko?"
"Yo Flash what's up?" Miko asked with a smile, sliding his backpack over his shoulder.
Flash Sentry shrugged. "Just the usual, you know, trying not to fail math," he chuckled. "But hey, have you seen Twilight, is she back?"
"Uh no, Sorry dude she's still back in Equestria." Miko said with a small chuckle. "But I'm sure she'd be thrilled to hear that you've been thinking about her."
Flash's cheeks flushed slightly, and he cleared his throat. "It's not like that man, she's just... really smart and..." He said trying to recover from the slip.
"Pretty?" Miko smirked, teasing his friend.
Flash's blush deepened. "You know what I mean," he said gruffly.
Miko just laughed as they started walking through the halls. "Okay so besides asking me about Twilight, is there anything else you need help with?"
"Nah I was just wondering if you wanna hang with me and some of the others during lunch today. you know the Musical Showcase next month, remember sophomore year?" He replied, trying to change the subject.
Miko smirked at him trying to change the subject but answered anyway. "Yeah I do," he remembered when he watched among the crowd before his powers manifested later in that year. "Also, about lunch I'd be glad to, but I was talking with Rainbow Dash earlier today and she wanted to talk to me along with the other girls, so I have to decline the invite." He grinned sheepishly.
Flash nodded understandingly. "Ah, the ever-elusive Rainbow Dash," he said with a roll of his eyes. "What's going on with you two?"
Miko felt his cheeks warm slightly, and he avoided Flash's gaze. "It's nothing," he mumbled, trying to play it cool. But deep down, he couldn't deny the butterflies in his stomach every time Rainbow Dash was mentioned.
Flash gave him a knowing look. "If you say so," he said with a smirk. "You know, you've been hanging out with them more than I've anticipated lately."
Miko raised an eyebrow at this. "Is that a problem?"
"Nah, just wondering." He shrugged it off with a nonchalant wave of his hand, but Miko knew Flash was onto something.
He had indeed been spending more time with the girls, especially Rainbow Dash and Sunset but he shrugged it off just as getting closer to his friends .
"Well they're my friends obviously and they're a lot of fun to hangout with, plus..." Miko leaned a little closer to whisper in his ear. "Somebody has to keep an eye on things, remember the seven of us were at Magic Ground Zero, especially Sunset and the girls. so I need to make sure if another magical incident or something else pops up, they...We will be ready."
Flash's eyes widened a bit as he nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. "Yeah, that makes sense." He said with a nod. "But don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
Miko gave him a firm nod. "I won't," he promised. "But if anything does come up, you know where to find me."
"Anyways, changing the subject, did you guys manage to find them last night?" Miko asked Flash, referring to the mysterious player that easily wiped out their entire team online.
Flash rolled his eyes. "Nah, man. They're like a ghost, always disappearing just when we think we got 'em."
"Damn, whoever NightmareMoon2010 is we'll get them next time." He said with determination in his voice.
Meanwhile at the Vice Principal's office.
Vice Principal Luna was doing some paperwork while having lunch when she sneezed suddenly. "Odd, I don't seem to be getting a cold." She said rubbing her nose before getting back to work.
Back with Miko and Flash.
"I swear that name sounds familiar," Miko said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But I can't quite put my finger on it."
"Yeah, it's like they're messing with us," Flash grumbled.
As they walked both of them noticed a girl with moderate cerise eyes, moderate cobalt blue hair with brilliant opal stripes, light yellowish gray skin, with dark purple glasses pass them.
She is wearing a white track jacket with blue linings and light-green collar, white office skirt with a note design, dark purple tights, blue and white sneakers, lavender arm warmers, dark purple glasses and blue and white headphones.
This was Vinyl Scratch, Also Known as DJ Pon-3 the school DJ.
She was wearing her headphones over her ears and jamming to some dubstep music while walking past both Miko and Flash as all they can do is stare at her blankly before Miko decides to speak up.
"Someone's gonna get caught by Principal Celestia." He said dryly.
Flash nodded in agreement. "Uh-huh."
Soon they both laughed it off, before the bell rang.
"Well I gotta go before I'm late, got English class with Miss Cheerilee," Miko said with a grin.
Flash nodded about to go to his math class. "Right. Catch you later bro."
Both of them shared a fist bump before rushing to go to their respective classes before they were considered late. As Miko predicted, Vinyl got caught by Principal Celestia for having her headphones on in the hall and being late to class because of it.
Principal Celestia punished her by confiscating her headphones for the rest of the day, but Vinyl decided to enjoy more of her music by using ear buds instead.
Later that day at Lunch.
After getting in line and getting his food Miko headed to the (Hu)Mane 5's table Unfortunately Sunset wasn't at the table due to her being too busy with community work.
"Hey girls." He said as he took a seat next to Rainbow Dash, his tray clattering down on the table.
As he was about to take a bite of his chili dog, he slowly noticed they were either giving him sly looks or smiling at him knowingly, which made him a bit uncomfortable.
"What?" He asked before taking a bite of his food, trying to play it cool.
Applejack, who was sitting across from Miko, leaned in with a knowing smile. "Come on Miko there's no need to play dumb, we know you've been hiding something from us."
Miko paused at this before scoffing. "I have no idea what you are talking about." He said before taking a sip of his soda.
Rarity chuckled, having a sly smile of her own. "Oh come now dear we all know that you have-"
"A girlfriend!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, cutting Rarity off with a burst of excitement. "You got a girlfriend and didn't tell us? Who is she? Tell us everything!"
Miko spit out his soda in surprise, coughing and sputtering as it went down the wrong pipe. "What?!" He coughed out, trying to catch his breath.
The girls stared at him, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement.
He narrowed his eyes. "Who told you?" He demanded, his face flushing a shade of red.
He heard snickering coming from his right before glaring at the culprit. "Dash?"
Rainbow looked at him with feigned innocence. "What? I didn't say anything."
"You're the only one that currently knows, so who else could it be?" Miko said dryly, glaring at Rainbow Dash.
"Well, I might have slipped it to Applejack, and she told Pinkie, and well, you know how Pinkie is with secrets." Rainbow said, her grin widening as she took a bite of her apple.
Miko sighed. "It's not like it's a secret, I just didn't think it was necessary to tell everyone yet, okay?" He mumbled, his face red as a tomato.
Applejack leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Well, who is she? Spill the beans, Miko."
Rarity nodded in agreement with Applejack. "Yes, do tell," she said with an eager smile, her eyes shining like the gems she loved so much.
He scratched the back of his neck. "Look girls she isn't... exactly the most social person so I'll Introduce you to her when she is ready, okay?" He said hoping to get out of this conversation.
The girls nodded in understanding but Miko knew they were all dying to meet the person who had captured his heart.
Rainbow Dash had a look of jealousy which no one noticed.
"Okay, okay, we'll wait. But remember, we're your besties, and we're all here to support you through thick and thin!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, nudging Miko's shoulder playfully.
Miko nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed by their sudden interest but also touched by their care. "Thanks, guys, I really appreciate it." He took a deep breath, trying to change the subject. "So, what's going on with everyone else?"
"Well Rainbow here has been talkin' about formin' a band." Applejack said, popping a fry into her mouth.
Miko raised an eyebrow. "You want to form a band?" He asked. 'right on queue.' he thought to himself.
"Yeah, I do! We should totally form a band! The musical showcase is coming up and you can totally play guitar and sing!" Rainbow said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
The others turned to Miko in surprise, they knew he could play the guitar but sing?
"You can sing?" Rarity asked, her voice filled with intrigue.
One more thing Miko learned while growing up in this universe is that he can sing which surprised him since back in his old life he couldn't sing to save his life.
"Yeah, but it's nothing special." He said with a shrug eating his chili dog.
Rainbow gave him a disbelieving look. "Nothing special? Dude I heard you sing Live and Learn in the shower once, you're like a rockstar waiting to happen!"
"Pssh, come on Dash I'm not-" Miko cut himself off when Rainbow's words registered. "You've been listening to me in the shower?" His eyes widened in surprise and embarrassment. "When?!"
Rainbow's cheeks flushed pink. "Well, it was back in middle school, when we had one of our sleepovers! And you were just belting it out like you were on stage!"
"Hey! Don't turn this back to me!" Miko protested, his voice rising slightly in embarrassment. "You're the peeping Tom here!"
"Idiot! I was listening, not peeping!" Rainbow Dash retorted, her cheeks burning red.
The others looked at them going back and forth with their banter, and couldn't help but smile at the sight. Fluttershy giggled behind her hand, while Applejack took a moment to enjoy her sandwich, smiling at their antics.
Later after school.
After school was finished for the day, Miko and the (Hu)Mane 5 decided to head to the music store. Once Inside Miko saw Vinyl Scratch who got her headphones back and was listening to something on her phone before she notices Miko and smiles at him.
"Hey look who it is. The Hero of Canterlot High." She said with a smirk before taking off her headphones.
Miko rolled his eyes in amusement at his unofficial title. "Hey, Vinyl. Looks like someone's finally got their precious headphones back after being distracted in the hall."
Vinyl sheepishly rubs the back of her head from that with a nervous smile. "Yeah. I'll think twice before listening to music when transitioning classes again..."
She cleared her throat, looking slightly embarrassed. "So, what brings the hero here today?" She asked, her eyes glancing over at the instruments.
"No not me, Rainbow Dash was hoping that she can get a new guitar... And she didn't exactly say why" He said leaning back on the counter.
"Rainbow Dash, I simply don't understand why you can't just play the guitar you have." Rarity said, sounding slightly exasperated as she and the others entered the music store.
In response to this, Rainbow placed her guitar case on the counter and opened it which revealed it's contents... it's broken... shattered contents of what used to be an electric guitar but was now nothing but pieces.
Rarity gasped. "Oh, now I understand." Rarity said with a wince, eyeing the broken instrument.
"This thing isn't just broken, It's F.U.B.A.R." Miko said as he inspected the guitar.
"F.U.B.A.R?" They all looked at Miko in confusion.
"Fucked up beyond repair." He clarified with a shrug before turning to Rainbow. "What happened to it?"
Rainbow gave a sheepish grin. "I had a bit of an accident with it last week, I was practicing a new solo and kind of... over did it." She admitted, her cheeks a rosy pink.
Miko deadpanned at her. "You went overboard and smashed it down like some crazy rockstar again didn't you?"
"N-no I didn't!" Rainbow Dash stuttered, trying to maintain her dignity, though her blush betrayed the truth.
He crossed his arms raising an eyebrow not believing that for a second. "Right... well ,we'll find a guitar that'll fit your style and hopefully it'll survive longer than that one did." He said with a smirk.
Pinkie zips into view behind them, holding up a blue one with black tiger stripes. "How about this one?"
"No." Rainbow shook her head.
Pinkie then pulled out a banjo. "Lookie here!"
"No." Rainbow said again, her expression unchanged.
Miko turned to Applejack. "Hey, doesn't Big Mac play the banjo sometimes?"
She nodded. "Eyup, he hasn't done it for awhile though." She said.
Pinkie then holds up a sousaphone. "Super groovy."
"No Pinkie." Rainbow deadpanned.
"Well, whatcha lookin' for?" Applejack asked Rainbow as they perused the instruments.
"That's the problem." She said walking forward. "I need something that looks as awesome as I'm gonna make it sound."
Her feet stop short, her eyes widen, and she sucks in an incredulous gasp, as hanging vertically on the wall, directly in front of her, is a shiny red double-neck model with stars and lightning bolts adorning the body.
'Here we go...' Miko thought to himself rolling his eyes as he crossed his arms knowing what was about to happen.
The reflection of the guitar shining in Rainbow's pupils as she reaches forward to grasp one of the necks of the guitar, but suddenly another hand takes hold of the other neck. The hand is revealed to belong to Trixie who tries taking the guitar from Rainbow.
The reflection of the guitar shining in Rainbow's pupils as she reaches forward to grasp one of the necks of the guitar, but suddenly another hand takes hold of the other neck. The hand is revealed to belong to Trixie who tries taking the guitar from Rainbow.
"Hands off my guitar, Trixie!" Rainbow exclaimed pulling on the other neck of the guitar, her grip tight.
"I touched it first, Rainbow Dash!" Trixie protested, her grip equally firm.
Before things could escalate further Applejack intervened. "Sounds to me like this is a makin' for a nice, friendly competition." She said as the others gather round.
Rainbow smiles at this. "All right! Let's see who plays best!" She says, her grip tightening around the guitar's neck.
"A shred off?" Trixie smirked with a raised eyebrow.
Rainbow smirked back. "Shred on." She said narrowing her eyes.
Vinyl Scratch then took the double-necked guitar as Rainbow was quickly given another guitar by Pinkie as they both started the shred off with the both of them playing an awesome solo.
At first, it was a back and forth scenario until it lead to Trixie seemingly gaining the upper hand and began to overpower Rainbow. It seemed like Trixie was gonna win until...
Suddenly Miko felt something strange happening, the air around them began to crackle with Magic and he sensed it was coming..from Rainbow Dash.
Even though he already knew this would happen he was still surprised by it as Rainbow Dash's eyes glowed white and began to Pony-Up.
This resulted in not only herself transforming but it also changed the look of the guitar she was holding. She then began to float up into the air as her current guitar solo began to overwhelm Trixie until she ended it with a slam to the ground.
This caused a mini sonic rainboom which knocked Trixie across the store. Luckily Miko was able to catch her before she could land on the ground.
"You okay, Trix?" Miko asked her as he set her down on her feet.
She groaned but nodded. "Yes, thank you Miko."
He nodded before turning his attention at where Rainbow Dash landed to see her kneeled down on the floor while still in her Pony-Up form. The others soon began to cheer for her stellar performance.
But it wasn't the fact that she ponied up again made his eyes widen, but something else.
'Her magic... While it doesn't show... Somehow I can tell, It's more powerful than it should be.' he thought to himself, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Then he gasped as he remembered his talk with the Giant of Light after the fight with Black King.
'Could it be...' he thought trailing off, his mind racing with possibilities.
Miko then took out his phone and took a picture of Rainbow Dash in her Pony-Up form. 'Better show this to Sunset Shimmer later just in case.' He thought to himself, as he put his phone away.
"Check me out!" She exclaimed with an excited grin as she admired her Pony-Up form.
Vinyl walked up and presented the double-necked guitar to Rainbow Dash."I have no idea what just happened at all, but I think that we can all agree that Rainbow Dash is the victor and deserves this sick, new guitar!"
Rainbow was about to take it before she took a second look at the current guitar she was holding before coming to a different decision.
"Uh, she can have it. Turns out this is the one that really speaks to me." She said before she hugged her new guitar close to her.
Vinyl just shrugged before handing the double-necked guitar over to Trixie.
She soon gained a smug look on her face after receiving it. "The Great and Powerful Trixie always wins in the end!" She declared before laughing.
"I doubt it." Rainbow said before she walked to the front counter where Vinyl was, paid for her guitar, and soon left out the front entrance with the others following her.
She grew confused by that and turned the guitar over to see the price for the guitar... WAS A WHOPPING 12,000 DOLLARS!
This made her gasp. "Twelve-thousand dollars?!" She exclaimed in shock before angrily pointing at where Rainbow Dash and the others left. "You'll pay for this, Rainbow Dash!"
Pinkie then popped out from behind the corner. "No, silly! If you want it, you have to pay for it." She smiled and winked before disappearing.
Miko rolled his eyes in amusement at Pinkie's antics before he turned his attention to Trixie seeing her dejected expression. "Trixie, are you okay?" He asked in slight concern.
She nodded but the look on her face remained unchanged. "Yes, I'm okay, just... I guess the Great and Powerful Trixie shall be guitarless at the musical showcase." She said with a sigh.
Miko smiled a bit. "Okay first, "Guitarless" isn't a word." He paused for a moment before continuing. "And second, I'll pay for it if you want." He said with a shrug.
Trixie then looked up at him in surprise. "S-Seriously Miko!? Did you not hear me say twelve-thousand dollars?" She stuttered.
"Then watch and learn. " He said before Miko walked up to the counter where Vinyl smiled at him. "I'd like to pay for this guitar for a friend who believe it or not. . . kind of deserves it."
Miko pulled out his wallet from his pocket and inspects it before bringing out twelve, thousand dollar bills and layed them down on the counter.
Vinyl looked down at this surprised before she looked back up at Miko who crossed his arms and smirks before nodding. Vinyl regains her composure as she takes the money and gave you the guitar along with the case.
Miko then turns back to Trixie and presented her with both of the products. "You're welcome."
Trixie stared at the guitar in astonishment as she can't believe that Miko literally payed for something that is so expensive just for her. Nevertheless, she slowly takes the guitar from his hands
"H-how were you...b-but...How the hell can you even afford this?!" She sputtered out in disbelief, her eyes wide with shock.
Miko just winked at her with a knowing smirk. "Some secrets are just meant to be kept, but don't worry I did get my money through a source that only I'm familiar with."
"I...don't know what to say...This is so generous of you." she stammers, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and gratitude.
Miko shrugged smiling. "Eh, I guess I learned a thing or two from Rarity."
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're my friend Trixie. What was I gonna do? Let you walk out of here all upset and empty handed? No way!."
"You really didn't need to do this for me, Miko." Trixie said, still in shock.
He just shrugged again. "I didn't...but I did."
Trixie looks at him for a second before back at the guitar before getting second thoughts about her decision.
"Actually... why don't you take it?" She said holding out the guitar to Miko.
His eyes widened at this. "But... Trixie... You really wanted this guitar. I even payed for it so you can have it. Besides, I already have a guitar so it's no big deal at all." Miko said trying to give it back to her.
"I know. " She nodded before continuing. "But the Great and Generous Trixie demands that Miko Tsuburaya should take this guitar that he just so generously himself bought for Trixie. In fact. You've done so much for not just me but for everyone at CHS. So please, take it. Consider it a gift from all of us to you. And I won't take no for an answer."
He tentatively took the guitar from Trixie, the weight feeling surprisingly good in his hands. "Are you sure?"
She nodded before smiling. "More than sure. Besides, Trixie can always get another one."
Miko was rather surprised that she really wanted to pay him back for everything he did to help CHS. At first he wanted to tell her that she didn't need to do this but he saw in her eyes that she had made up her mind about this.
Miko sighed before speaking. "Okay, if you really insist. Then who am I to deny a friend's gift Thank you Trixie." He said with a genuine smile.
"No, thank You Miko for becoming the hero that we can always rely on. Also, Trixie expects to see you play that guitar during the musical showcase. So, please don't let her down." She said with a wink before walking away leaving Miko standing there with a shocked look on his face.
'Hero' He thought to himself with a sigh as he looked at the guitar. It had been a strange turn of events but he couldn't deny that he was touched by Trixie's gesture. He placed the guitar in the case and left the store with a slight spring in his step.
The Next Day.
We see Miko, Fluttershy, and Rarity walk into the animal shelter and place their backpacks on the front counter.
"Thanks for coming you two. The rescue center needs all the help it can get." Fluttershy said with a grateful smile.
Miko smiled. "We're happy to help Fluttershy." He said, looking around the shelter, the sounds of barking dogs and meowing cats filling the air.
"Oh, but of course, darling. Helping cute little puppies and kitties will never go out of style." Rarity said as she lifted up a kitten and nuzzled its cheek while Miko was petting a puppy.
He turned to Fluttershy and asked. "So what're we going to do first, Shy?"
"Once a year, a lucky volunteer gets to clean the hamster habitat." Across the way, Fluttershy has come to a large, glass-walled enclosure in one corner.
A door leads into a maze of translucent, multicolored tubing pieces and a cage equipped with a hamster wheel. Even from this distance, plenty of stains and splotches can be seen within the brightly hued plastic.
It was very filthy and in definite need of a good cleaning. "I signed up for it months ago to be sure I'd get it." She then steps to a hatch and opens it as Miko and a noticeably unsettled Rarity reluctantly moves closer, having put down the kitten.
"Housecleaning!~" Fluttershy shouted in a sing-song voice down the tube which got all of the hamsters' attention before they started exiting the habitat.
Rarity looked a little unsure. "Ooh. Uh, Fluttershy, darling, aren't hamsters, uh, rodents?" She asked, her nose wrinkling slightly.
Fluttershy kneels and opens a hatch at floor level. "They sure are. But they're cute and cuddly like bunnies."
"No arguments there. So, what's mine and Rare's first task, Shy?" Miko
"Miko, I was hoping you could help me with cleaning the habitat and Rarity, I would like for you to watch over the hamsters while we're cleaning." Fluttershy requested with a hopeful look.
Rarity gives an uneasy look as she looks down at the hamsters coming out of their tubes. "I...suppose that won't be a problem" she hesitantly agrees.
"Okay, everyhamster, follow Rarity into the next room. She'll take good care of you while Miko and I give your home a nice scrub." She gently coaxes them, and the rodents obey, scurrying into the designated area.
Rarity leads them out of the cage and just cringes at each of them before she forces herself to give a small smile.
About thirty minutes later, Fluttershy is seen plying a cloth on part of the habitat and Miko was using a sponge before he dries it off with a cloth as well. As soon as they put their finishing touches, the whole rig is now squeaky clean.
"Aaand done! Shiny and spotless. Exactly how it needs to be for an animal's health. And it only took us-" He checked his wrist watch. "Thirty minutes."
"Thank you so much for your help, Miko." Fluttershy said with a grateful smile.
Miko nodded with smile of his own. "No problem Shy, now let's check on Rarity before-"
He was cut off when they heard loud pounding from behind them making him deadpan a a bit. 'that happens...' he thought dryly.
They both turned to see Rarity, seen from inside was the one banging on the glass in a panic. She backs cautiously away before a salvo of very tiny articles of clothing that are flung up from below.
Fluttershy and Miko stepped out of the cage once outside the former's eyes widened in shock while the latter deadpanned further.
Hamsters are all over the floor, most of them wearing at least one item and arguing at the top of their squeaky little voices. One is even riding the kitten and twirling a lasso like a cowboy. Rarity is too scared to move amid the tumult or the scatter of other items that litter the floor
"Somehow this does not surprise me..." He said dryly as surveyed the chaos that had ensued while they were cleaning.
Fluttershy looked at Rarity, her eyes wide with concern. "Rarity, What happened?!" She exclaimed.
"Oh! Aah! Well, uh, Carl Pettington's coat just begged to be accessorized." Rarity said picking up a hamster wearing a suit, before picking another this one wearing a blonde wig and blue dress. "But Emilia Furhart refused to be left out," She then pointed to another hamster this one was very muscular and seem to be harassing smaller hamster. "And got Curtis Pawpower to chew right through Carl's little scarf, and before I knew it, I had a habitat-wide feud on my hands! Also, I named them." She finished explaining with a nervous smile.
Miko blinked still deadpanning before speaking. "Of course you did Rare..." He said drly before pointing to the dressed Hamsters " Also, how in the world did you manage to not only make AND put tiny clothes and wigs on hamsters, but you were also able to do it in a short span of time?!" He exclaimed.
"Well, darling, you would be surprised on just how fast a fashionista like myself can come up with such ideas quickly when she is bored." She replied with a small giggle as she looked down at the hamsters, who were now fighting over a pair of miniature high heels.
He facepalms at that. "I shouldn't have asked..." He muttered before turning to Fluttershy. "Shy, try and calm them down please."
She nodded and approached the squabbling rodents. "Ladies and gentlehamsters, please!" She shouted getting their attention.
"Now, I know you're all upset, but why don't we head back into the habitat and talk it over?" Fluttershy suggested calmly.
Rarity crosses to her holding the first two Carl and Amelia. Carl puckers up as if to kiss Amelia, only to get his tie ripped off instead. The drama starts all over again, prompting a gasp from all three teenagers, and Rarity dashes across to empty her backpack onto the counter.
The menacing Curtis and a couple of his would-be victims squeal and clear out ahead of her advancing shadow and here she comes, swinging the open bag low to scoop him up into it.
Miko grabs his backpack and empties it as well before cornering a couple more hamsters on his end and just when he was about to catch them, they run under his wide open legs which surprised him as that made him hit his head onto a wall with a groan.
Soon Fluttershy dumps out her own pack, but as soon as a tambourine falls free, rolling across the countertop and falling to the floor, the sound of its agitated jingles instantly pacifies and hypnotizes the little guys.
Miko still still holding his head in pain saw this, his eyes widened slightly in recollection. 'Of course.' he thought before he picked up the tambourine and handed to Fluttershy with again. " Fluttershy, I don't know how but your tambourine has the power of hypnosis... which is really cool by the way. Try playing it to get us out of this mess."
"O-okay I will." She nodded before she picked up her tambourine and started playing it.
When she did this however, the same thing happened to her much like with Rainbow Dash at the music store yesterday, she began to Pony-Up! She floated up into the air while still playing her tambourine as all of the hypnotized hamsters started going back into their habitat.
Miko quickly pulled out his phone and took a picture of her in her Pony-Up form.
He looked at the Picture with a look of speculation. 'Its the same as Dash, Fluttershy's Magic when she's Ponying-Up is Stronger too, It doesn't make any sense.' he thought to himself.
As Fluttershy slowly floated back to the ground Rarity couldn't help but comment as the Hamsters return to their habitat.
"Huh! I never would have guessed hamsters could be so touchy about fashion!" She said before Curtis Pawpower smugly poked out his head of her backpack and snapped his little fingers three time.
Miko deadpans from this before he takes him out of Rarity's backpack and opens the cage to place him down in there before quickly closing it back. After that, he looks at his phone again and sees Fluttershy's form before he swipes his finger to the right to show Rainbow Dash too with all of the pony features as well intriguing him.
The next day at Canterlot High.
It was just another casual day CHS as Pinkie Pie was in a little cooking club with Granny Smith teaching her how to make some really good cookies.
The lunch lady holds a bowl of batter in one arm and lifts a wooden spoon to it. "Just remember, the most important thing about sugar butter cocoa cookies is to fold your batter." She said before passing the bowl to Pinkie. "Too much arm turnin'll make your cookies tougher than a lump of coal."
She winks on the end of this, then walks away as Pinkie Pie drops the bowl onto the table in front of her. A quick one-handed twirl of the spoon, and she is ready to start working the batter.
As soon as she starts though, Rainbow Dash and Miko enter the room as they looked like they've been searching for Pinkie.
Miko looked at Rainbow with a smug smirk. "Told you she'd be here." He held his hand out. "Pay up."
Rainbow rolled her eyes before slapping a five-dollar bill into his hand. "Whatever, I can't believe you actually knew where she'd be." She said as they walked up to Pinkie.
"Oh, hey Rainbow Dash, Miko," Pinkie said cheerfully, not looking up from her bowl of cookie batter. "What's up?"
Rainbow leaned against the table, her hands on her hips. "Come on, Pinkie. You're supposed to help me find a drummer for my band." She said Impatiently.
"Our Band." Miko corrected her with a raised eyebrow.
Rainbow Dash glared at him for a second before letting out a sigh. "Fine. Our band." She conceded.
Pinkie thought for a minute still mixing before she spoke. "I guess I could fold a little faster."
A careless flick of the spoon sends a glob in Rainbow's direction, after which Pinkie thinks for a second and then grins as a brainstorm hits.
She quickly ducks down and starts rooting through the cabinets underneath the countertop, sending kitchen implements flying past Rainbow Dash and Miko.
"Most people don't know how hard it is to find someone who could use both hands the way a drummer does." As Rainbow said this, Pinkie had procured a second full bowl and spoon and starts mixing both at once.
Miko sees Pinkie do this and tries to get Rainbow's attention. "Hey, Dash? You might wanna-"
"Not right now, Miko. You'll make me lose my focus." Rainbow said sharply, still trying to think of who could be a good drummer.
"But-" Miko tried to say as Pinkie suddenly lifts both bowls off of the table and stirs as her spoons fly even faster, and the bowls sail up and over her head to barely miss one another.
They fall and a loud crash and splat marks their touchdown. Granny Smith, who glances back from a cabinet of supplies, eyes pop open in surprise, and she manages a strangled cry of shock.
Across the room, one bowl lies on the table, the other upside down on Rainbow's head. Both she, Miko, and Pinkie are thoroughly splattered with the cookie batter.
Pinkie gives a big, squeaky, sheepish grin as Rainbow glares and growls at her.
Miko tries to hold back from laughing which Rainbow noticed and grabs a handful of the batter and splats it straight into his face who deadpanned after. "Yeah, I deserved that..." He said dryly before wiping his face. 'this is going to be a long day...'
Later out on the soccer field, the three of them had cleaned themselves up as they were now on the soccer field with a banner spread out on the grass. The cloth is blank and white, weighted down with rocks at the corners, and a couple of small cans of paint are on hand, with Rainbow Dash holding a brush.
Miko arrives holding two more cans of paint in both hands before he kneels and sets them down which made Rainbow smile before she looks over to Pinkie.
"Now, it's important that our banner look awesome! So feel free to use as much glitter as you want." Rainbow said dipping her brush in purple paint before stroking it on the banner.
"Just a reasonable amount though." Miko cautioned with a knowing look at Pinkie.
Pinkie looks off to one side, beams, and zips away. As Rainbow continues to paint, Miko grabs a brush and does the same thing before Pinkie returns just as quickly with a large shaker can.
"A drummer can't just be anybody." Rainbow mused, stroking the paint in a smooth arc.
Pinkie nodded in agreement. "Oh, of course not." She said while turning the shaker upsidedown.
Pinkie begins to tap on it, dispensing puffs of purple glitter from the holes in the lid. A couple of individual taps quickly transition into a rhythm of quick strokes, the can gripped under one arm as if it were a hand drum.
Rainbow pays no mind, Miko on the other hand stops painting and notices Pinkie with a look of surprise. "Hey Dash, you might wanna take look at-"
He tried to get Rainbow's attention but she waved him off. "After we're done with this, I'll see what you want to show me on your phone, Miko."
'She didn't even let me finish my sentence...' Miko thought his left eye twitching slightly before looking at Pinkie continuing to tap the container rhythmically.
"They need to have the right instincts, you know?" Rainbow said, still absorbed in her painting.
Pinkie still tapping the container agreed. "Totally."
One last thump produces enough of the sparkly particles to completely create a smoke of glitter and when it clears, Rainbow was irritated and Miko just blinked blankly as they were both tinted purple from top to toe.
Rainbow coughs up a little bit and glares daggers at an innocently smiling Pinkie Pie, who has set the can on the banner upside down and knelt behind it with her elbows on the bottom and her head resting on her palms.
During lunch time at the cafeteria, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Miko were eating lunch together at a table as Rainbow was still discussing on who the perfect drummer for the band should be.
"It's gotta be someone with a lot of..." Rainbow said trying to think of the right word to describe the perfect drummer while Pinkie squirts strawberry syrup from a bottle into her glass of milk. "Energy."
Pinkie nodded in agreement. "Absolutely!" Once she has the syrup mixed in, she regards her spoon with a big smile and begins tapping out a fast rhythm against the rim of the glass.
The fork is soon brought into play, but as before, Rainbow is oblivious while Miko saw this as he sighed in exasperation.
"Dash, can't you clearly see-" he tried to interject again, but Rainbow cut him off with a wave of her hand, her focus solely on the topic at hand. "Miko I get that you really need to tell me something, but I can't think with you constantly interrupting me all day."
Miko's eyebrow twitched in anger about to blow a gasket from how oblivious Rainbow Dash is to this entire thing. "Sonuva- Rainbow Dash look at Pinkie!'
Miko turns Rainbow Dash's head towards Pinkie Pie who is on her feet and really getting into the impromptu percussion performance.
Rainbow watched confused. "What? I don't get it." She said clueless, making Miko facepalm hard in exasperation.
'Seriously?!' he thought as he watched Pinkie tap away, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
The pink-haired goofball shows off by banging the table hard enough to shake all five trays out of place.
Applejack makes a snatch to save her sandwich and milk, then kneels on the table to grab the ends of Pinkie's utensils. "Pinkie!"
"Whaaaaaaaaat?!" Pinkie said in mock annoyance, before she goes right back to it as soon as Applejack lets go, then zips away from her seat.
Rainbow takes Miko's hands off of her head before turning towards him to cross her arms and glare at him. "Okay, wise guy. If you're so desperate for attention, why don't you tell me who should be the drummer of the band?"
Miko deadpanned at her before he facepalmed again.
"Sweet Celestia! Pinkie! Follow me!" Miko exclaimed having enough of the chaos. He grabbed Rainbow Dash's arm and pulled her out of the cafeteria. "You need to see this!"
Rarity and Applejack looked at each other before they followed Miko.
"What's gotten into him?" Rarity wondered aloud.
Applejack shrugged. "I dunno, but I reckon we should go check."
Pinkie followed alongside Miko while he dragged Rainbow Dash. "Fluttershy!" He called to the bearer of Kindness who was sitting with the eco kids.
Fluttershy looked up from her salad, a leaf stuck to her cheek. "Miko?"
He gestured for her to follow as well.
Fluttershy set down her fork, wiping the leaf off her cheek as she followed the group outside. "Is everything okay?" She asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
He lead them into the Music Room and let's go of Rainbow Dash's arm before walking to the drum set that was in the corner.
"Pinkie!" He called like a drill sergeant, pointing at the drums. "Play the damn drums."
Pinkie's eyes widened before a huge grin spread across her face. She dashed over to the drum set. Rainbow Dash looked confused, still clueless to the message Miko was trying to convey.
Miko stood with his arms crossed, watching as Pinkie took her seat at the drums, her pink hair bobbing with excitement. She grabbed the drumsticks and without wasting a beat, she started playing a fast-paced rhythm that echoed through the room. Each hit resonated with a passion that was unmistakable. Rainbow Dash's eyes widened as she finally made the connection.
Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy watched in amazement as Pinkie Pie's drumming filled the room with a contagious rhythm. Rainbow Dash's expression shifted from confusion to understanding, and she finally turned to Miko with a smack of realization. "Oh. Oh! Yeah, I see it now." She chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Finally, you see it." Miko said with a sigh of relief as he leaned against the wall, watching Pinkie play the drums with unbridled enthusiasm.
As she keeps cranking out faster and faster riffs, her entire body starts to sparkle and her pony ears emerge from underneath the mass of fluffy hair. The sparkle turns into a glow, and she rises partway off the stool as her hair extends into its long, tied-back tail to complete her half-pony transformation.
The four girls let out exclaims of surprise But Miko was expecting this as he pulls out his phone and takes a picture of the transformed Pinkie Pie once more as this all is getting more interesting to Miko by the minute.
'Yup, just like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, Pinkie's Magic is stronger too.' he thought to himself putting his phone away.
One final twirl, one last turbocharged burst of strokes, and Pinkie lands back on the stool to hit both cymbals at once. The magic fades away, leaving her half-crazed, panting for breath, and with hair noticeably disheveled.
Miko smirked. "And now she has an outlet for all that energy." He nodded towards the drum set, his gaze lingering on Pinkie's now slightly less chaotic form.
"So that's what you were trying to tell me all of this time?" Rainbow asked, her eyes wide with amazement.
Miko nodded. "Eeyup." Was all he said.
"Whatever made you think of Pinkie for the drums?" Rarity asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Miko winked at her with a smirk. "Call it a hunch."
BADUM-TSHH!
Pinkie plays a sting and grins broadly.
The Next Day
It was another day at Canterlot High, students were congregating at the front lawn statue and walking along the street.
Miko was about to head inside in order to meet up with the girls for band practice when he spotted something that made him deadpan.
He saw Rarity struggling to push a grand piano across the courtyard while she was sweating and her hair was a complete mess.
He raised an eyebrow at this. 'and now it looks like our generous fashionista's turn...' Miko thought to himself.
Rarity took a moment to catch her breath before speaking to herself. "Come on, Rarity! You simply must get this piano to band practice!"
She then continued pushing the piano while only making little progress as she went. "What kind of person doesn't put a piano on wheels?!"
She then tried to push with her back before she slid and fell on her butt. She then stood back up, groaned slightly, and noticed her current condition. "Just look at me. I'm a mess. What I need is a bit more muscle."
Miko seeing she was looking for help and glanced to his right to see the Diamond Dog boys digging a hole in front of the school, he blinked blankly. 'Nnope.' Was all he mentally said before walking to Rarity.
"Hey Rarity. What's going on here?" Miko
called out as he approached her, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Rarity looked over her shoulder with a smile. "Oh, hello, darling. As you can see, I planned on bringing this piano to band practice today with the others, but I appear to be having trouble doing so." She gestured dramatically to the piano that hadn't moved more than a few inches despite her efforts.
Miko raised an eyebrow at this looks at the piano and then the scrapes on the concrete. "Just how long did it take you to bring this thing here on your own?"
"What time is it?" She asks, glancing down at her wrist as if she had a watch.
He checks his watch and inspects it before looking back at Rarity. "It's nine thirty, Rare."
Rarity's eyes widen from that before she gets a sheepish smile on her face as she laughed nervously. "Then...two hours?"
Miko gained a look of disbelief. "Two ho- seriously? So why didn't you get this one with wheels." He said while pointing to the piano.
She looks away from him as she puffs her cheeks out in annoyance. "Tell that to the insignificant scoundrel who would design a piano in such a way."
"Well, I have no idea how you're going to get that inside now. Our practice might be over by the time that you get it to the music room." He said scratching his head.
Rarity gives a slight smirk from that as she decides to be the drama queen that she is and pretend that she is in desperate need of help. "If only there was someone strong, helpful, and handsome enough to push this for a lady like myself..."
She then looks at Miko once more as he raises an eyebrow on why she was acting like that before his eyes widen and he shakes his head getting the idea on what she wants him to do.
"Oh, Nononono. No! I am Not going to be your... your... pack mule!" Miko protested, his arms in an X in front of him.
Rarity chuckled at his protest. "Oh, come now dear~ You wouldn't leave a friend to handle herself now would you~?" She said, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
Miko's cheeks turned slightly red from her flirting. "Rarity I can't just use my powers for-" before he could say more, Rarity moved closer to him.
"Pretty please~?" Rarity said as she gives Miko a rather alluring smile and she flips her hair as she got even closer to him. She bats her eyelashes at him and even rubs her finger across his chest which made him blush up a storm as not even he can resist Rarity's charms no matter how much he tried.
Miko's resolve crumbles faster than a cookie in Cookie monster's mouth. "O-okay, okay! I'll do it!" He sighs slumping in defeat.
Rarity giggles as she parts herself from Miko and the man himself looked at the piano before looking towards the door and shrugs his shoulders with a smile.
His eyes glowed blue before he gently lifted the piano from the ground.
Just as he was about to carry it inside the school he felt an extra weight on the piano. He looks up to see that Rarity had hopped on top of it. "Seriously!?"
"Oh, come now darling, your not a going to let a lady walk especially if they're tired and weary are you?" Rarity said with a coy smile, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
Miko just sighed and started to walk towards the school with Rarity sitting atop the piano, her smile growing wider with each step he took.
"The things I do for friendship." He grumbled, making her giggle even more.
Once inside the school students around the halls were watching as Miko carries a section of the piano on his back before dragging it across with his strength.
Teens go flying every which way as discordant random notes sound off due to the contact of bodies against piano keys.
"Excuse me! Pardon me! Excuse me! Thank you!" Rarity called out as they passed by the stunned students, waving a dainty hand as Miko awkwardly maneuvered the piano through the crowded halls.
Inside of the band room, the rest of the gang were seen waiting impatiently for the others as Rainbow Dash stares at a wall clock for a few seconds with her guitar slung up before she turns away from it with an irritated groan.
"Ugh! Where is Rarity?! And where is Miko?! I figured at least he would be here on time!"
Applejack who was sitting on the steps with her bass guitar on her lap, her head resting on her hands had a bored look on her face. "That gal probably just wants to make some sort of grand entrance. And I'm willing to bet that she somehow conned Miko into her mess." She said with shrugged.
As soon as she said that the doors were burst opened from Miko's kick as he pulls the piano in one last time before gently set it down.
"Ta-Da~!" Rarity exclaimed as Miko finally set the piano down with a thud, looking not exhausted but exasperated. She gracefully slid off the piano, not a single hair out of place.
Applejack deadpanned before turning to the rest of the girls not really surprised at all. "Told ya."
"Hey AJ, throw me bottle of cider please, i can carry that piano easy with my powers but I got a bit parched." Miko said with a deadpan expression before he caught the bottle that Applejack threw to him and took a sip of it.
"Rarity, couldn't you have chosen a more portable instrument?" Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow at the grand piano that had just been lugged into the band room.
"Heavens, no!" Rarity exclaimed. "The grand piano is the most refined and elegant of instruments. With it, I will be able to express my full musicality." She said walking to the piano.
However before she can get her fingers onto the keys to make her point, the ringing of a kitchen timer cuts her off which was from Pinkie's hand.
The drummer is now standing by a shelf, and Rainbow Dash has returned her instrument to its case and is holding it. "Well, our time's up. I guess we'll have to move our practice to the gym."
"Guess you're gonna express your "full musicality" clear across campus." Applejack said with a smug grin as Rarity pouts in dismay. "Huh? Awww..."
Pinkie then quickly jumps up to sit on the piano before she pulls out a white keytar. "Or you could play this! It's part guitar, part keyboard! It's a guitarkey!"
"Pinkie... that's called a keytar." Miko deadpanned before he pulled out a literal key shaped guitar from... somewhere. "Now this is a guitar key."
"Ohh." Pinkie looked from the keytar to the guitar key, then back again. "Well, I guess that makes sense."
The others looked bewildered on where he got guitar key from. "Uhh, Miko where did you get that?" Rainbow asked, pointing at the guitar key.
Miko shrugged. "Eh I know a guy." Was all he said before he put the guitar key back... somewhere.
He takes the keytar and inspects it with a smile before looking over to Rarity. "Anyways, the keytar is a great alternative to a piano, Rarity. It make look smaller, but it's just as efficient. Give it a try Rare."
"I suppose it is worth a try." She said before grabbing the keytar and started playing it. After a few short seconds, she grew more and more excited as she played. "Ooh! Oooh! Oh, my!"
The other girls gather around, she adds a lower harmony and twirls in place, her fingers now flying over the keys.
A drum part comes in at this point. Shafts of golden light radiate out from under her touch, and a sparkly glow envelops her form to lift her clear of the ground. Her pony ears manifest themselves, then her tail, and now she is all the way into the groove.
The others watch from the floor, having put their instruments aside and Miko who was this as he takes a picture of this new form of Rarity as well like the other three before.
He closed his eyes using his new ability to sense magic tried to get a feel for Rarity's Magic and just like before with Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, Rarity's Magic was stronger than it should be.
'Eyup. Just like with the other three her Magic is stronger, I shouldn't even be surprised anymore...' he mentally thought looking at the pictures on his phone before putting it back in his hoodie pocket.
Rarity lands on the piano and slides across its lid on her knees to finish the solo.
"Well, look at that!"
"Cool!"
"Wowee!"
"Oh, my goodness!"
The rest of the girls cheered for her little performance as they can clearly tell that she's got some potential.
"Well, then, how about ya take that keytar and move your tail to our next rehearsal space?" Applejack asked with a smirk.
Rarity playfully roll her eyes. "Fine, fine." She agreed before turning to Miko. "Miko dear, I don't suppose..." She said with a hopeful smile.
Miko rolled his eyes before they glowed blue and he carried the Piano out of the music room with her still on top of it, so that they can make their way towards the gym. Rarity whips off one last run of notes as they exit the music room.
The Next Day
Things went well during the practice besides Miko being annoyed from pushing Rarity's piano around.
However, the very next day at Applejack's home at Sweet Apple Acres, a yard was in progress as a couple of teens were looking over the wares, but the (Hu) Mane 6 were gathered around Granny Smith at the central as she apparently had accidentally sold someone her bass guitar which was needed if they want to continue their band.
"Okay, Granny, one more time. When ya accidentally sold my bass at the garage sale, who did ya sell it to?" Applejack calmly but firmly questioned, trying to keep her cool.
Granny Smith stammered her words a bit before answering. "I sold it to the owners of that new pawn shop. Uh, Flibbity Flabbity, somethin' like that." She said smiling sheepishly.
Miko raised an eyebrow trying to find the actual words that Granny Smith was looking for. "Wait, do you mean Flim and Flam?"
"Oh, right, yeah. Those are the ones that have the bass there, sonny." She said nodding her head.
He blinked at her for a minute before slowly rubbing his hand down his face in exasperation. "Greeaat...those two." Miko grumbled.
"What's the matter, sugarcube? Who's Flim and Flam?" Applejack questioned, her and others curiosity piqued by Miko's reaction.
Miko looked at them before answering. "Twin brothers who are notorious for scamming just about anybody who crosses their way." He started explaining just who Flim and Flam are.
"They'll use catchy songs, charming gestures, or even exaggerate their description of a product itself just to get what they really want the most...money or something that costs a lot of money. I saw them once try to sell someone a TV, but it turns out that "TV" was actually some glass over a large piece of cardboard. In other words AJ, we're going up against con artists..." Miko finished his explanation with a sigh.
Applejack looked concerned at this. "So they might just try and swindle me for something in order to get mah bass back?" She frowned.
"Most likely...ah, who am I kidding? They may as well take just about anything valuable!" He said with a hint of annoyance.
The girls looked at each other for a minute before looking back at Miko. "How are we going to play this then?" Applejack asked as they might need a plan to get back the bass without getting scammed.
Miko rubbed his chin for a minute trying to think of something of before as a light bulb appeared on his head he got an idea.
He beamed like a cheshire cat as he chuckled like some cliche supervillain. "hehehe..."
The others were little weirded out by Miko's sudden villainous laugh but Rainbow Dash just sighed at her best friend's antics.
"Great he's making that face again..." She muttered with a slight shiver.
Fluttershy glanced at her with a look of confusion. "What face?"
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "That face." She said pointing to the evil grin on Miko. " The one that says "I gonna prank you so hard you'll have nightmares for days." Face" she said with a playful smirk.
"Uh, Miko?" Appejack called out to him, snapping him out of his plotting daze. "What're ya thinkin'?"
Miko cleared his throat before waving their worries off. "Don't worry about it AJ, listen let's just try and get your Bass back the normal way, if things go south just let me handle it." He said
with a devious grin.
The girls gave each other skeptical glances at Miko's devious grin but decided to trust his judgment.
When everything was settled, the gang made their way into the city of Canterlot to find the exact pawn shop that Granny Smith described and once they did, they went inside.
They all looked around for a minute before spotting two men right in front of them wearing matching outfits of blue and white collared shirts with black bow ties.
They were both twins as they both had pale, light grayish olive skin, moderate red hair with white stripes, and moderate pistachio eyes. One had a mustache while the other didn't. One had a pin of a left facing apple slice while the other had a pin that had an apple with a slice missing on it. These were the clever scamming twins, Flim and Flam.
"Welcome to the grand opening of the Flim Flam Brothers' Everything Under the Sun Emporium!" Flim announced with a flourish.
Flam with his hand behind his back spoke next. "If you want it..." Flim jumped into his arm.
"...We've got it!" They said in unison before zipping away to show off the items that they have for display.
Flim bounced a Pogo Stick said. "Need a Pogo Stick?"
"A bowling ball?" Flam asked holding a purple bowling ball in his hand.
Flim pulled out a small clown doll. "A stuff clown?"
"Whatever this is?" The "this" Flam was holding was a metal helmet studded with lights and wired to a control unit.
Appejack pointed to her bass guitar on the window display. "I'd like that bass."
Flim quickly grabs it up as Flam tosses the helmet aside. "I can give you this bass for a non-negotiable price of one thousand dollars"
This shocked everybody but Miko who looked at the girls with a deadpan expression. "See what I mean...?"
"Why, you only paid Granny Smith two dollars for it!" Rarity said with a frown, her hands on her hips.
Flim cleared his throat fixing his tie. "Yes, well, we have to cover our overhead and transportation costs." He said with a sly smile.
"Listen, Granny never should've sold my bass. I'll give ya the two dollars back and we'll call it even." Applejack said, holding up the money as the others voice their agreement.
Flim and Flam looked at her with raised eyebrows "Likely story." They said in unison with matching skeptical looks.
"It is. That's my bass." She said firmly. "Now, if you don't mind, we'd like it back."
Flim held the guitar with a smug smile. "And can you prove that this is, in fact, your bass?" He challenged.
"Her initials are monogrammed right on the strap." Rarity pointed out, trying to sound as sophisticated as possible.
Flam bends down for a closer look, and sure enough, a gold "AJ" is stamped onto the leather.
He looked back at them in skepticism. "That could mean anything. It could stand for..."
""Aardvark Junior"..." Flim suggested, his smile never wavering.
""Anvil Jokers"..." Flam added with a snicker, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Or "Animal Jane"..." Flim smirks.
Miko narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. "You Idiots just pulled those names out of your asses." He said with a snort.
"Maybe so, but I'll bet she doesn't even play the bass, Applejack - if that is her real name. Like you said, that name could've just been the very first thing that came to your mind." Flim said as he gets into Applejack's face.
She backs off just in time for Rainbow Dash to take her place and back the mustachioed man down. "Of course that's her real name!
"And she does play the bass!" Pinkie Pie piped up, beaming as she rode a seesaw horse for... some reason.
'I don't know whether that should be funny or ironic.' Miko thought with a sweatdrop.
He then turned his attention to the twin scammers. "Heh, cowards. If you're so sure that Applejack can't play that bass, then why not just let her test it out." Miko suggested, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Why it's because that there may be a chance that we gave this to you, you could just run out of the store and steal it." Flim said with a smirk, still holding the bass like a treasure.
Flam spoke up next with his own smirk. "As we would fall for such a simple trick."
Miko smirks from that as he decides to taunt them some more, soon he began sniffing the as if he smelled something. "Hmmm. What's that I smell? It smells two familiar con artists who are too afraid to man up and face the truth..."
Flim and Flam's jaw dropped from that while the rest of the girls were giggling from that.
"Eh, figures...They're not men." Miko said shaking his head with a sigh before he smirked pointing at them "they're chickens!"
He then started making chicken noises to taunt Flim and Flam and at this point they both had just enough of the humiliation as they get into Miko's face to stop while he kept his smirk on them.
"Okay, mister! If you want to turn this into a gamble, we'll give this base to your friend if she can indeed play it herself!" Flam snapped back, his cheeks flushed with a hint of anger.
Miko's smirk widened knowing he got them. "She can play an entire solo of it. Show them, AJ!"
The farm girl takes advantage of the momentary distraction to get it out of Flim's grip and sling it up.
Right fingers dance across the strings while the left ones race up and down the neck, cranking out a solo that would make any veteran bassist sit up and take notice and throwing out faint sound waves.
Beaming smiles take hold on the faces of Fluttershy and Rainbow as she works her way up to a higher register.
Flim and Flam on the other hand, look as if someone has just hit them upside the head with a two-by-four.
One last attack on the strings turns the whole background red, leaving her visible only as a silhouette on which her pony ears and long tail-like braid appear. In addition, new white-glowing features appear on the body and neck of her bass and pulses of blue energy radiate in all directions.
Flim and Flam nearly had their faces and hair peeled off by the sonic blast.
Once everything was back to normal, the other four girls stare incredulously for a moment before breaking into wild cheers.
Miko looked Applejack's new form with an expectant smirk before he takes out his phone and takes a picture of her. 'And that's all five of them. And as expected like with the others, AJ's Magic is more powerful too.' he thought with a knowing smile on his face.
"Perhaps this is her bass." Flim said as Applejack smugly proffers the two dollars once again, but Flim just shakes his hair back into place and some sense back into himself, resuming in his usual fast-talking manner. As he speaks,
Flam sorts out his own coiffure and straightens his mustache.
Flim smirks fixing his tie. "But there are still the transportation costs and overhead." He says holding his hand out for more money.
"Don't forget the stocking fees." Flam smugly reminded, his brother.
Flim nodded at his brother in agreement. "Wouldn't dream of it, brother!"
Applejack was crestfallen by this as she sighs and drops her head.
Miko glares at the two con artists 'ain't happening' dipshits' he thought to himself before stepping up towards them.
"You two are going to take the two dollars, give her bass back or else." He said with a hint of warning in his tone.
They didn't flinch at Miko's warning, instead, they both looked at him with a cocky grin. "Or else what, hotshot?" Flam asked, clearly enjoying the challenge.
Miko pulled out his phone tapping it a couple of times before looking them showing an ID number on his phone. "Or else, I'm gonna have to get Filthy Rich involved."
The girls eyes went wide as they recognized the name of one of the richest men in Canterlo City.
Flim and Flam however just laughed at Miko's threat. "Oh, please. You think we're scared of some old billionaire?" Flim scoffed, not buying it for a second.
"For all we know that caller Id on your phone could be fake." Flam retorted, his eyes narrowing as he studied Miko for any signs of a bluff.
Miko just raised his eyebrows and tapping call and putting it on speaker.
[Hello?] A voice boomed from the phone's speaker.
Miko smirked at the twins stunned looks before answering Filthy Rich. "Hey Rich, I just called to see how everything is." He said casually into the phone.
The girls looked at each other in shock, not expecting Miko to actually know Filthy Rich, but his confidence was infectious. Rainbow Dash leaned closer to whisper to Fluttershy, "Is he bluffing?" Fluttershy's wide eyes suggested she wasn't so sure anymore.
[Oh, Miko. I'm doing splendidly, how is my little girl doing in school, she doesn't talk much about it.] Filthy Rich's voice said from the phone, filled with a hint of curiosity and a touch of pride.
Miko chuckled "Diamond Tiara's doing fine, she's a bit rough around the edges with acting like a spoiled heiress sometimes but she is a good kid at heart." He said into the phone with a smirk, watching Flim and Flam sweat as their confidence started to waiver.
[Good, good. Now, what seems to be the issue at hand?] Filthy Rich's voice was still calm and collected, but it had a hint of authority that made even Miko's friends a bit nervous.
Miko smirked. "Nothing is wrong just called to see how you doing my friend. Oh, and Rich?" He called out before the line could be cut off.
[Yes?] Filthy Rich said with a hint of curiosity.
"A word of advice tell your to wife reel in on influencing poor Tiara about how rich people shouldn't interact with normal people. We wouldn't want your wife's hollier than thou attitude ruin our business now do we?" Miko narrowed his eyes slightly as he spoke into the phone, his voice still casual yet firm.
Rarity and Applejack gave Rainbow question gazes mouthing 'business?' to each other. Rainbow shrugged as she had no idea what Miko was up to.
Filthy Rich could be heard chuckling nervously surprising everyone. [Y-yes, I'll make sure to tell her that.] He said before hanging up.
Miko put away his phone before looking at Flim and Flam with a smug expression. "Now about the bass."
The twins exchanged glances, their earlier cockiness dissipating. "Ah, well, about that..." Flim began to stutter.
"You know Filthy Rich isn't the only one I have on my phone. I have... connections, Lawyers good ones, that could easily put you yahoos behind bars." Miko's tone was deadly serious, and the twins' smirks slipped away.
He then took a step further making them nervously take a step back. "So, you have 2 choices: take the two dollars and give Applejack her bass back, or I'll see you in court Your choice." Miko smirked crossing his arm.
The twins looked at each other for a moment weighing their options.
The (Hu)mane 5 and Miko step out of the pawnshop with Applejack carrying her bass.
"Pleasure doing business with ya!" Miko called out after them, his smirk never leaving his face.
As the gang walked they started asking questions about how Miko knew Filthy Rich.
"How do you know Filthy Rich?" Rainbow Dash asked, her curiosity piqued.
Miko shrugged nonchalantly, his smirk still present. "You'd be surprised who I know, Dash." He replied, dodging the question with ease.
"Still, knowing Filthy Rich is a shocking Miko." Rarity said, her voice a mix of amazement and suspicion.
Miko just chuckled. "Let's just say I have my ways of knowing people." He said as he began to walk away from the pawn shop.
"Now when you said "business" when you were talking to Filthy Rich on the phone, are you working with him?" Rainbow Dash inquired, her curiosity peaked.
Miko burst out laughing as he turned around to face them, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Work with him? No, no, you guys misunderstood, He works for me." He winked playfully, leaving the girls with their jaws on the ground.
"Wha...What?!" Applejack stuttered, her grip on the bass tightening. "How?!"
"Yeah! What she said, Miko I know you're loaded with having a Camaro, Living in a your own house, plus there's your vintage comic book collection and a crap ton of video game consoles, now Filthy Rich working for you? Dude just how rich are you?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed with astonishment, her eyes wide as saucers.
Miko looked at the girls and shrugged. "Eh, somewhere between Bruce Wayne and Scrooge McDuck." He said casually.
This left the group even more astonished than before, except for Pinkie Pie who just nodded as if she already knew that.
"Well, rich or not, thank fer gettin' my bass back Miko." Applejack said with a grateful smile, patting Miko on the back.
Miko chuckled, his eyes gleaming. "No problem, AJ. It's what friends do." He said before winking at her.
He looked at his phone and grinned. "Heheh, it's almost time." He said chuckling.
The girls looked at each other in confusion before looking back at Miko. "Almost time for what?" Rarity asked, her curiosity peaked.
Miko said nothing as held out five finger counting down.
The group looked at each other before looking back at Miko, who was now counting down with his fingers. "Three...Two...One."
Boomf!
The sound echoed through the street, and the group looked back to see to green smoke seeping out of the door to Flim and Flam's pawnshop.
"What the...?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.
Flim's voice could be heard from inside. "Oh, god! It stinks!"
Flam's voice followed. "What is this?!" He exclaimed coughing.
They tried opening the door but it was stuck, the smoke was thick and smelled like rotten eggs and dog shit.
"You think they're okay?" Fluttershy asked with worry in her voice.
Miko chuckled. "Don't worry, it's just a little surprise I had set up for them." He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Rainbow Dash deadpanned at him. "You planted a stink bomb didn't you?" She said dryly.
Miko shrugged with a smirk. "Call it karma for those two con artists."
The girls couldn't help but chuckle, breaking the tension. Applejack grinned, slapping Miko on the back. "You're one sneaky son of a gun."
They laughed together as they watched the green smoke billow out of the pawn shop. The sound of sirens grew louder in the distance, and Miko knew that the local authorities would soon arrive to handle the situation. He had made sure that the stink bomb was non-toxic and would only last for a short while, but the chaos and embarrassment it would cause Flim and Flam was priceless.
During that evening
Miko had already arrived home as he tosses his backpack near the couch and walks over to sit on it as he inspects his phone with curiosity.
He was expecting to Pony-Up, but what threw him off was his new ability to sense magic and the girls having Magic stronger than Canon.
"But, the question is why?" He muttered as he scratched his head, lost in thought.
He heard barking at his feet and looked down to see Hunter, who had grown a bit in the past few months, wagging his tail excitedly. Miko couldn't help but smile as he ruffled the pup's fur. "You're growing up so fast, buddy." He said before looking up to the clock. 'It's about time for dinner, and then I need to make a call.' He thought to himself.
Miko stood up and went into the kitchen, pulling out ingredients for dinner. As he cooked, his mind raced with thoughts about the girls' newfound magical abilities.
"Could it be because of... The Light of Hope?" He wondered out loud, referring to his own mysterious powers. Honestly, the thought of his own powers affecting the girls was intriguing and slightly alarming.
After feeding Hunter and eating dinner, Miko sat in the living room with a sigh, his thoughts swirling around the events of the day.
He knew he needed to talk to someone who could provide insight into these developments, someone who knew the implications of the magic that seemed to be growing around them. He picked up his phone and dialed a familiar number.
The next day
Miko was at Sunset's house showing her the pictures on his phone of the girls in there Pony-Up forms explaining how they transformed when they play their Instruments.
Sunset's eyes widened in astonishment as she looked through the pictures. "Miko, what the heck is going on?" She asked, her voice a mix of shock and excitement.
"I have no idea, I was hoping you could know." He said deciding to leave the part about the girls' Magic being stronger because his powers might be affecting them, for now.
Sunset took a deep breath, her eyes still glued to the screen. "Well, it's definitely not something we've seen before. Unfortunately, my knowledge of Equestrian magic is limited to what I've experienced here in this world."
Miko sighed as he slumped on the couch next to her. "Yeah, I was partially expecting you wouldn't. Though I was hoping you did but, oh, well." He said shrugging helplessly.
"Sorry I couldn't be of more help, Miko." Sunset said, handing the phone back to him.
He waved off her apology with small smile. "Eh, It's fine. We'll just have to figure it out as it goes along, like we usually do." He said placing the phone on the coffee table.
"Honestly, after Twilight went back to Equestria and after the battle with Black King, I was hoping we'd get some R for awhile. But I guess the universe decided three months of normalcy was good enough." He Lightly joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Sunset nodded in agreement, her mind racing with the implications of what she was seeing. "It does seem like we attract the weird stuff around here. But hey, that's what makes life interesting, right?" She said with a forced chuckle, trying to keep her own concerns at bay.
Miko laughed. "Yeah I guess so." He said with a sigh before looking at Sunset. "You okay?"
Sunset nodded, but her expression was pensive. "I just can't believe it. The magic of Equestria is really spreading here."
"Well there's nothing we can do, but make sure nothing crazy happens." Miko said with a sigh, trying to sound reassuring.
Sunset nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. "I wish Twilight was here she might have the answer."
Miko leaned back into the couch, his gaze drifting to the TV. "Unfortunately I doubt it. Why? Because she's busy with her own life in Equestria. Plus, she has her own problems to deal with."
Sunset nodded, her eyes distant. "Yeah, I know. It's just..."
"It's just you think she has all the Answers." Miko finished her sentence.
Sunset looked at him with a sad smile. "Yeah, she usually does."
Miko shook his head and looked into here eyes. "Sunset , no one is supposed to have all the answer."
Sunset said nothing as she nodded sighed slightly frustrated. She knew Miko was right, but she couldn't help feeling a bit lost without Twilight's guidance. She looked down at her hands, her thoughts racing.
She then felt his hand on her shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze. "But, You can count on your friends to help you find them." He said with a gentle smile.
Sunset looked up at Miko and smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Miko. I guess you're right."
Miko nodded before his phone buzzed, he picked it up from the coffee table to see he received a message from Rainbow Dash.
"What is it?" Sunset asked in curiosity, looking at the phone in Miko's hand.
He shrugged. "Dash just texted me asking me if I wanted to go to the movies at the mall and watch Sonic the Hedgehog 3 with her and the others."
Sunset's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, I've heard that's supposed to be good!" She exclaimed, jumping up from the couch.
Another thing she had in common with Miko is she's a huge Sonic fan.
"Good is an understatement, fans online are saying it's on par with Avengers Endgame. Wanna come" Miko said with a smirk as he typed back to Rainbow Dash.
"Are you kidding me?!" Sunset exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've been waiting for that movie forever!"
Miko chuckled, "Thought you might be interested." He sent a quick text back to Rainbow, confirming they were both in.
Sunset's excitement grew as she grabbed her bag. "Let's go before the best seats are taken!" She practically pulled Miko out of the house.
They ran outside with excited grins, the cool evening air brushing against their faces as they made their way to the mall.
End of Chapter 10
While there is no physical changes to their Pony-Up forms the Rainbooms Magic is stronger than canon? And Miko can sense magic? What could this mean for our heroes? Find out next time!
And that's chapter 10 hope you like it.
And who here has watched sonic 3, because unfortunately I haven't... why? Because I can't afford movie tickets.
Anyways please read and review, I'll see you guys in Rainbow Rocks!