//------------------------------// // Time for testing // Story: Equestria Glitch Techs // by Kaliann25 //------------------------------// Time for testing! Sonata smiled proudly as she gave Five some friendly pats, but the boy could only smile awkwardly to the girls glaring at him. But, oblivious to the tension between the Rainbooms and her friend, Sonata explained the situation. “Alright, so Five works at his family’s taco truck, and believe me. Not even his grandpa makes Al Pastor tacos as tasty as he does! Anyway, he haves another job at… where you work at, Five?” “He works at the Hinobi store.” said Sunset crossing her arms, and advancing toward Five. “Eh… hi?” “Thanks Sonata, we’ve met already. So, what happened Five? One of your videogame monsters finally went completely out of control and made you realize that you shouldn’t play with Equestrian Magic?” Five raised both hands trying to calm her down and explain himself. But before he could say something, Sonata jumped between him and Sunset. “Hey! You’ll talk my taco friend with respect! Do you understand, Sunset Shimmer?” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Tacos, really? Working at Hinobi is not cool enough for you, Five?” “Hey! There’s nothing wrong with help with the family business on your free time! And yeah, working at Hinobi is cool and all, but nothing compares to spend some time with Papi and Abuelita!” Applejack had to agree with the boy. She gave him an understanding smile and he smiled back at her. Simset groaned. “We don’t have the time for this!” protested Sunset Shimmer. “He says he haves a problem with magic. Obviously this ‘glitch’ stuff got out of hand for Hinobi, right?” Five opened his mouth and was about to explain himself, but Pinkie Pie took Sunset’s hand and calmed her down. “Come on Sunset don’t be so harsh on Five. He only works part time for Hinobi, he have nothing to do with what the company is doing.” Sunset frowned but nodded and smiled to Five. “Okay, you’re right. I am sorry, you are not at fault for what your bosses are doing. My name is Sunset Shimmer, nice to meet you High Five.” Five smiled and shook Sunset’s hand. “A pleasure.” Sonata smiled proud at them. “See? Isn’t everything when we’re all friends?” The two of them giggled at Sonata. “So, what happened with the glitches that you need our help?” asked Sunset a bit more calmed. “Well, this is why I’m here. We need to clear this misunderstanding, so I came here hoping to learn a bit more about magic. To be honest I never expected that the friends Sonata was talking about would be you.” Sonata nodded. “See? I told you I know the greatest magic experts in the whooooooole world!” “Thanks Sonata! Okay, so I was talking with… sorry what was your name again?” “Fluttershy…” “Thanks. So, I was talking with Fluttershy and the two of us believe that this is just a big misunderstanding. Magic and glitches are completely different from each other.” Sunset frowned. “Really? In my experience the only thing capable to summon creatures from a completely different world to ours is Equestrian Magic. I admit this is the first time I see videogame creatures instead of actual Equestrian monsters, but that’s irrelevant.” “Is it? Your so-called magic can only summon creatures from that world, right? Is the same with the glitches!” “But if is not Equestrian Magic, what else it could be?” Five activated his equipment and showed his bracelet to Sunset and the others. “I don’t know, but just look at this! This is the lastest piece of Hinobi Tech, designed to locate and neutralize glitches. You… at the beginning I thought that your powers were coming form some sort of glitch. But my equipment does not react to you. This doesn’t get any reaction from you.” “What do you mean?” “This wouldn’t make any sense, unless your powers are not glitch-originated.” Fluttershy joined Five. “Is like Five says, you showed us how to feel Equestrian Magic, but I don’t feel anything coming from him or the equipment he is using.” “Their ‘glitches’ are…” “Physical manifestations of a computer program that escapes to the world when the hardware is damaged. I don’t know why Hinobi Tech reacts like that but is not magic from Equ-whateever. If they were, my equipment would be reacting to you.” Sonata raised her hand. “Five… sorry I’m lost. Glitches? What are those?” Five scratched the back of hi head. “Oh about that…” In a nearby table, Rumble and his friends were talking about certain game, when he accidentally bumped his glass of milkshake with the back of his hand. He was able to grab it on time but still a small portion of the liquid spilled over the table. But he didn’t realize until the liquid touched his smartphone. The phone started to generate some sparks until a creature made of electricity emerged and took the form of a small knight armed with a hoe. “Hoe Knight?!” Following its program, Hoe Knight started to dig on Rumble’s cake with its little hoe looking for treasure. Rumble looked at the Rainbooms asking for help. “Girls look! A magical incident! Some help, please?” Five smiled at Sonata. “That’s what I call timely! See Sonata? That’s a glitch!” Five advanced toward Rumble’s table and hit a single laser to Hoe Knight. Luckily it was a small one, and it was too busy digging for treasure to pay attention to the Glitch Tech. The boy destroyed the little knight and captured the electricity creature inside his bracelet. “Glitch contained.” said the mechanical voice. He then turned to the Rainbows. “Well? Could you feel your magic coming from that?” Rumble jumped excitedly. “Hey that was so cool! What was that all about?” Five extended his hand and shot the white light to the little boy. Rumble stared to the wall blankly until he shook his head and looked at his friends. “Hey, what was I doing?” They were about to answer but Five erased their memories too, before going back to the Rainbooms’ table. “Well?” “Whaaaat?” Sunset was really confused, they were less than five feet to the creature but as Five said, they weren’t able to feel anything coming from it. All of them were trained to feel magic signatures no matter how weak. But this time, nothing. “It can’t be…” mumbled Sunset. “I highly recommend we do some testing before coming to any conclusions!” suggested Sci-Twi. “Oh come on!” complained Rainbow Dash. “We don’t have any choice parner’” said Applejack. They looked at Five who nodded. “I would speak with my partner and when we finish our shift…” The door of Sugar Cube Corner opened out of sudden and a girl with purple hair entered aiming her bracelet to all directions. “Hinobi Tech Support! Have you seen any glitches around?” “Miko just in time!” greeted Five. “Five! Oh do you have the glitch already?” “Yeah, contained!” Miko smiled. “Great job partner, now let’s go to the van and finish the round before…” Then she noticed the girls behind Five, and she aimed her bracelet at them. “And you captured the Glitch Girls! Prefect, now we can fix them. Come with us to the Hinobi store. Now!” “Hey! What’s going on in here?” asked Mr. Cake walking to Miko and the girls. “Is this girl bothering you?” Five hurried to fix the situation. “I’m terribly sorry mister, my friend and I are going to a convention and she’s already in character. Sorry!!” Then he looked at his friend. “Miko, calm down! We’re going to talk things out as civilized people, okay? Just calm down!” “But Five, the glitches…” “Your friend talked to us and we decided we’re going to clear things out!” said Sunset looking at Miko. “What?” “I’ll explain you later!” sighed Five. “Now, can we met in front of the store when our shift is over, in about four hours?” “Sounds good to me!” agreed Sunset. She and Five shook hands, and Five dragged Miko before she made a scene. But before he exited the store, he looked at Mr. Cake. “Hey, can I have two chocolate milk shakes to go?” “Sure kid but be careful with your friend. The last thing she needs is more sugar. But is up to you!” With that the two techs were back on their van and drove away with Five on the wheel and Miko taking sips from her shake. “Five, you have to try this! Is the best thing ever! Next time I would bring Lexi here, I’m sure she’ll love it!” Five smiled and tried his own milkshake. “Wow you’re right! I bought them because I felt bad for the fuss we caused, but now we know! They have the best shakes in town!” They continued with their round, but Miko was thoughtful. “So Five, how did you find the Glitch Girls?” “Long story, but Miko. Are you sure they are glitches?” She took a sip of her milkshake. “What do you mean? If they’re not glitches what else could they be?” “That’s what we were talking about before you arrived. I don’t know, I have the feeling that their powers have nothing to do with Hinobi Tech.” “Then what? Magic?” “I’m starting to believe that that’s the case. This is why we need to clear things out.” “Okay, you have my support partner. Wow, these shakes really are the best in town!” After their finished capturing some minor glitches, and exchange their experience points at Hinobi headquarters, Miko and Five walked to Sugar Cube Corner where the Rainbooms were already waiting for them. “Hey girls! Are we late?” “No, we just arrive!” said Sunset taking her S(H)witch from her backpack. “I bet we’re going to need this, right?” Miko and Five nodded. “Question, what are we supposed to do? I’m new to all this!” said Miko. Five nodded. “Yeah, I have no idea how to start. You?” Sci-Twi smiled proudly. “Of course! I’ve dedicated two whole years of my life to study Equestrian Magic. I’ve designed all kind of equipments that would help us to get to the bottom of this!” “What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” cheered Sonata. Five blinked surprised. “Sonata? You too?” She nodded energetically. “But of course! Don’t think you’ll get rid of me now that things got this interesting. Besides, believe it or not I’m actually a magical creature from Equestria. In my true form, I’m a big scary dragon. An aquatic dragon, a Siren. Grrrrrrr!!” Five laughed at this, but the Rainbooms exchanged an awkward look. “You must be really scary Sonata!” smiled Five. “I am, but don’t worry Five, I would never hurt you. Taco friends forever!” After the small exchange the group went to Twilight’s place. “My lab is on the basement. This way please!” said Sci-Twi. Spike ran downstairs waving his tail happily. “Twilight you’re home! And you brought the girls!” “What? The dog spoke?!” gasped Five. But Miko only got excited. “Hey, you have a glitch pet too!” Spike tilted his head. “What’s a glitch? Twilight, who are they?” Ignoring Spike, Miko activated her bracerlet and summoned Ally, who chirped happily and playfully pecked Miko’s head. “This is Ally, an NPC from Bravestone. Which game are you from little buddy?” Spike hid behind his owner. “Twilight…” “Leave Spike alone, Hinobi girl. He is not a glitch and didn’t came from any videogame. He was a regular dog until he was affected by Equestrian Magic and gained the ability to talk.” “For real? A Possessor-type glitch or something?” Five put his hand on Miko’s shoulder. “Miko, I don’t think they have anything to do with glitches! Let’s huyrry up and clear this out, okay?” “Okay, okay! Ally come back… Ally?!” The red bird was chocking with an apple she took from a shelf. “Ally!” Miko ran to help her bird, putting her hand inside the bird’s beak to reach the apple. “Bad Ally! You can’t do that at other peoples’ home!” “Not to mention those were wax apples. Just for decoration.” giggled Applejack. When Ally finally released the apple, Miko called the bird back to her bracelet. “Sorry about that, Ally gets excited very easily.” Sci-Twi nodded as she looked at Spike, then back at Miko. “Interesting. Do you think we can replicate that? imagine a way to carry around Spike whereve I go and summon him whenever I need! It would be such a huge help!” Spike hid behind Fluttershy, who petted him. “Easy, she’s not being serious. Okay?” “Twilight, focus please!” asked Sunset. She regained composure. “Ehem, yeah. Let’s go to the bottom of these glitches! Time for testing girls!”