Chapter 6: Getting ahead

The pilots heads to a bar in the town in Germany to relax and sing until the next leg. Music players play German music while the crowd cheers as they are clinging glasses. At one table, Scott was whispering something to Zoey, making Courtney roll her eyes at this.
At the bar, Mike groans a bit, looking miserable as he comments, "Awww, man; Dead last again. Can't believe what we just did."
"Well, it was the right thing to do, Mike. Homer would've been killed." Gwen said to Mike, assuring her friend that what the trio did for Homer was the right thing.
"Yeah, but still, we aren't getting anywhere near the front at all!"
"Calm down, Mike; who knows; Maybe someday our act of kindness could repay us." Cameron assures Mike, making him sigh a bit. "Still, I wonder how the next leg would do better. We should think about improving our performance."
A female bartender came over, putting down drinks as she said, "You said, you drink, ja?"
As the bartender left, Mike took his drink while saying, "Thanks; Great advice."
"Hope this stuff is Canadian root beer." Gwen mumbles a bit as she drank some of the stuff. The girl hiccups a bit. "Yep, root beer."
Just then, the trio saw Soarin' sitting at the bar, sniffing as he sadly drinks his sorrows. Mike and his pals can guess that the Pegasus didn't get any luck with Rainbow Dash yet.
"At least you three aren't last in the race for love." Soarin' said to Mike's group in sadness.
"Let me guess: Rainbow totally hates your guts?" Mike guesses though he doesn't really need an answer.
"Sadly, her passion isn't for me at all."
"Wow, tough break, pal." Gwen said in concern as she pats Soarin' on the back. "But cheer up. I'm sure if you can keep trying, you could win her over."
"Right; A friend once told me: women are like a wall." Mike said to Soarin' wanting to help him in his quest to win Rainbow's heart.
"Hard and nasty," Cameron asks Mike, arching a eyeball at this.
"No! Hard to knock down; Joshua told me that of course."
Suddenly the four hears a whistling, making them all turn around. They saw three boys; one of them is wearing a beanie hat. The first one waved, saying, "Hi! I'm Ed!"
"I'm Edd!" The boy known as Edd exclaims with a smile as he nods to the last boy. "And this is Eddy. We're big fans of yours!"
"Wait, wait, I got fans?" Mike asks in surprise and disbelief. The boy was already an unknown and yet, he got fans?! Amazing!
"What you kidding? Just us," Eddy laughs to the trio eagerly. "And my pals and I want to say danke for representing us men!"
"Men; But you're, what, kids or something?" Cameron asks the boys puzzled.
"My sister said that I'm older for my age!" Ed exclaims with a smile to the group.
"Anyway, yeah, yeah, but my buddies and I are what you called junior pilots, one of the rarest folks in Germany!" Eddy exclaims to Mike and his pals with a smirk.
"Wait, hang on, time out; 'junior pilot'," Gwen ask Ed, Edd n' Eddy in disbelief. "But where's..."
Edd is now seen wearing a cape of sorts, waving his arms out while flashy fireworks appear. Mike, Gwen and Cameron yell out in surprise, "Whoa!"
"Yes, Herr Mike and friends! We are the Incredible Ed, Edd n' Eddy!" Edd exclaims to Mike's group as if he is doing an introduction. "And we are great magicians!"
"And con artists to boot!" Ed laughs stupidly making Edd nudge him a bit to keep quiet.
"Okay, these kids are a bit weird out." Cameron said to his friends in concern.
"'Incredible'; I thought you were just plain Ed, Edd n' Eddy." Mike asks the three fans of his in a puzzled way. "And what's with the 'Incredible' look?"
"Nah, the old us are a bunch of wimps who are in charge when we tries to pull scam on the neighbors and putter about the cobblestones." Eddy explains to the trio with a smirk. "But when we are in the air, we are in charge...with this!"
Edd removes a curtain that is hiding something, revealing some sort of flying car from underneath it. Gwen gasps in amazement, "Wow! That car is more shocking then Fuzzy's truck...and that was rusty."
"Thanks, I do my best to keep shiny and clean." Edd admits to Gwen sheepishly.
"Geez, these kids needs to get their heads checked." Soarin' remarks to his pals in amusement. "Serious identify issues and bad relationships with the neighbors."
"What? This is coming from a pony with wings?"
"Well played, my beanie hat wearing friend. Well play."
Edd removes his hat, smiling to Mike while saying, "My friends and I are all pulling for you, Herr Mike."
"Yeah, thanks for the support." Mike said with a sigh while shaking his head. "My friends and I need all the help we can. But...some folks think that my plane isn't built for this."
"Awww, you just need some confidence!" Ed remarks to Mike with a stupid smile, "Oooh, how about a song?"
"Clans, may I have a beat, if you please?" Edd spoke to the Germans.
The Germans smiled before beginning to play.
"Ja, that's it." Eddy grinned while Mike, Gwen and Cameron looked confused.

Ed: Derpy Hooves is in ein postal truck.

Ed shone his lights to a postal worker, whom noticed before the crowd shouted.

Crowd: Postal truck!

Ed: Postal truck!

Derpy grinned a bit.

Edd: He brings the mails through mud and muck.
But add a blate and what do you know?

The blate was given to Derpy to show her postal truck looking like a snow plow while the drink fizzes flew up.

Eddy: The postal truck can plow the snow!

Crowd: Sing ja, ja, ja!

The truck zoomed by with some of it covering Mike and his pals.

Edd: If a postal truck can plow the snow,
Then a crop duster can race.

The Eds departed with Mike uncovering his eyes while the German forklifts played. Ed came toward a girl nearby.

Ed: Nazz is a floating plane.

Crowd: Floating plane!

Edd: Floating plane!
She can fly in sun und rain.

Then, the prop waves were taken while they lifted a plane up and making it like a boat.

Eddy: But her big pontoons conveniently
Let her float like a boat on the big blue sea.

As the crowd continued to sing, the bopping Hispanic plane began singing as well.

Crowd & Soarin': Sing ja, ja, ja!

One critter peeked up wearing floating gear.

Edd: If a floating plane can float in the sea,
And a postal truck can plow the snow,
Then a crop duster can race.

Mike pondered a little bit before grinning.

Ed: My pals and I got just a teensy car.

Crowd: A teensy car!

Edd: A weensy car.
We cannot go fast or far,
But add some wings and who are we?

The three of boys got into the flying car on as Eddy spoke toughly.

Eddy: Ed, Edd n' Eddy in the sky!

Crowd & Soarin': Sing ja, ja, ja!

The boys came near Mike and got out of the flying car.

Eds: If a teensy car can (with crowd) fly in the sky,
And a floating plane can (with crowd) float in the sea,
And a postal truck can (with crowd) plow the snow,

All: Then a crop duster can race

Ed came to the spotlight with a grin while winking.

Ed: And maybe win first place.

The drinks splashed while they sang their final line.

All: JA!

The crowd cheered a bit.
"Duncah, Duncah," Ed said, bowing while Mike grin.
"Well, that was interesting." Gwen said, a bit awkward towards the song of course.
"Wow; that was good." Mike said to Edd with a smile, approving of the song itself.
"Thanks, now would you like to hear 'Haben Sie Gehürt Das Deutsche Band' from The Producers?"
"Oh, no thanks. We're good, maybe some other time."
"Say, my buddies and I got a humble suggestion. Wouldn't your plane be much faster without the pipes, tank and whatever you got weighing you three down?"
"Sprayer thing," Ed exclaims, pointing to the sprayer on Mike's plane that the boy put on the counter nearby.
"Wait, my plane sprayer?" Mike asks the trio of boys in shock. They want him to get rid of the sprayer on his plane.
"You got that right, bud!" Eddy remarks with a nod. "Why bother carrying all that dumb weight around?"
"Well, it was in my plane when I started my dust cropping job back home. I don't see..."
"These boys are crazy but they are right." Soarin' said, getting to some thinking about what the Eds are suggesting. "Perhaps it's time you stop thinking like a dust cropper and think more like a racer."
"Yeah...but I got a job to get back to home once we get home." Mike said in hesitation. It wouldn't be right to get rid of his sprayer for his job, right? "Also..."
"Come on, Mike, just do it." Cameron insists to Mike with a smile. "Besides, I betcha Zoey would like it if you do that for her."
"Well...okay, for Zoey."

Mike took his plane to a hangar the next day to have the sprayer removed. The boy is heard talking to a mechanic inside, "So is this reversible for my plane?"
"Sure, whatever, kid." A rough voice remarks as the mechanic is working on taking the sprayer off the plane. During this time, Soarin', Gwen, Cameron and the Eds watch from outside, waiting for the results.
"Oh, whoa, hey! Better be careful down there! WHoa, oh! Man, that's cold! That ice is really cold in my soda!" After a while, the hangar opens up as Mike drives his plane right out. As he looks at his pals, Mike asks, "So, lady and gentlemen? Whatcha think?"
Mike points to the bottom of his plane: the sprayer has now been removed. What's more interesting is that there are now newly attached parts on his wings.
"Wunderbar, Mikey," Ed calls out to Mike, impressed.
"Amazing and fantastic, if I could use both in the same sentence," Soarin' exclaims impressed by the improvements.
"Yeah, it is freeing, yes?" Cameron asks Mike with a chuckle.
"Yep," Mike remarks, smirking as he moves his plane, "Oh yeah! You definitely took the words right out of my mouth."
"I wonder what Jack would say." Gwen said in amusement. Jack wouldn't be happy if he finds out that his employee has the sprayer removed.
"Who cares? It is awesome!"

Mike and his pals took the plane for a test drive as the next leg is about to begin. The flying vehicle is moving faster without a sprayer weighing it down.
"Ha ha ha ha," Mike exclaims eagerly. He now laughs in a sing-songy voice, "Bye-bye, sprayer!" Soon he, his pals and the others planes head off for the next leg, "Hey, thanks for everything...Incredible Ed, Edd n' Eddy!"
"Guten luck, Herr Mike," Edd exclaims as he and his Pals wave goodbye to Mike, wishing him luck for the next leg.
"Kick some tail!" Eddy exclaims eagerly.

"Leg 3: Germany > India"

Soon planes and flyers are on their way to the next part of the race which is to fly to India. While they do so, Jet is heard speaking, "It is now our third leg and already we've lost several of our racers due to equipment failure."
Indeed, another engine was forced to head down into the city...but of course, Mike, Gwen and Cameron flew near the waters in their plane in fast speed. The removal of the sprayer as well as some new parts had helped them!
Another Pokémon reporter, Articuno, is heard, "Articuno here and the real story, Jet, are Mike, Gwen and Cameron!"
The camera shows the two as Jet laughs a bit eagerly, "Oh yeah; absolutely, my friend!"

All over the world, folks are watching the race, cheering on in amazement for the rookie that no one would give a thought to.
In a Japanese restaurant, the crowd there, including a familiar Dragon and halfa are watching the TV. They are becoming amazed by Mike's group and their progress. Why, not too long ago, these folks don't even give a care about them...but now, the rookies are the biggest thing to talk about!
"They're passing one flier after another!" Articuno's voice heard looking amazement.
"Right, the main pilot was born to ride in a plant that dust crops, but both are dusting the competition!" Jet's voice exclaims in amazement. Mike is really going by these guys!

On a US Navy ship, a lot of Sailors cheers wildly for Mike and his pals, while a black hedgehog and an ape looks amazed. Mike and his pals are really winning respect and attention!

In Cloudsdale, a lot of Pegasus ponies cheers wildly for not just Soarin', but Mike and his pals as well! Who knew that a dust cropper pilot would be able to be so much better?

Back in Pilotwash Junction, Mike's friends watch as Jack peeks in to see the TV. Jet spoke, "So what's next Articuno?"
"Well, Jet, this could be Mike's leg all the day!" Articuno's voice comments in amazement. In the mountains, the pilots flew through as officials watch to make sure there aren't any violations. "The racers got to fly under a hard ceiling of 1,000 feet, stay under the clouds and in the hills."
Mickey spots a plane marked 20 doing something illegal, frowning as he announces, "Number 20 is qualified!"

C'mon

Mike and his pals zooms through the area, twirling around.

I wanna fly
Makes everything alright

Mike and his pals flew over an competition, smirking at the shocked pilot and navigator. How did they do that?
"Whoa, what a move," Jet exclaims, amazed by what Mike just did.
"Incredible!" Articuno spoke hearing.
"Check out that radial-G pass!"
"Oh yeah, I'm watching all right!"

Way up in the sky (Yea, yea)
Got to feel alive (hey)

Jack's jaw dropped in shock as he watch the race back home. The pirate never actually knew how great Mike was at this! Why did he choose to be a jerk to his dreams before?!
The rest of Mike's friends cheers wildly, watching as the TV shows the current standings on the list: Scott and Courtney, the Beagle Boys, Soarin', Rainbow Dash, Homer Simpson, Zoey, and Mike are on the list.
"From last place all the way to eighth," Articuno remarks in amazement. Mike is moving up and is not slowing down!

Scott and Courtney arrive first at the finish line, as usual, and already reporters are at the Agra Airbase reviewing them.
A female reporter spoke to Scott, "So, Scott, you were born for racing."
"Hey, yeah! You know it!" Scott exclaims with a devilish smirk. He loves these interviews.
"So let me ask you this: how can a crop duster out-fly you two?"
"Wait, what?" Courtney asks in surprise and shock. Scott looks confused. A crop duster is out-flying him and his girl?! Insane!
"Hey, there they are! Mike and his pals," A male reporter gasps as he saw Mike and his friends leaving their plane.
To Scott and Courtney's shock and disbelief, the crowd rush over to Mike's group, wanting an interview. The female reporter yells out, "Mike!"
"Mike!"
The friends at Pilotwash Junction, including the hiding Jack, smiles as their friends are getting interview. The Mole laughs, "Wow!"
"How are you friends being able to keep up with the pros?" The male reporter asks Mike curiously.
"Did working on the farm make you so strong?" The female reporter asks Mike with a smile.
"Mike, why you fly so low," A Hindu reporter asks Mike curiously, wanting to know why the boy is flying so low when the other pilots are flying high.
"Hey, hey, one question at a time, please," Gwen exclaims to the reporters with a chuckle. She appreciate the attention but these people need to slow down.
"What can I say? In racing, good guys always get ahead." Mike remarks to the press with a smile.
"Good, you could seriously use one." The Hindu Reporter remarked. Mike is not sure if that was a joke or an insult.
Courtney looks disgusted as she, Scott and the Beagle Boys watch Mike and his pals being questioned. The girl snaps, "Ugh! First Gwen stole my boyfriend, now she stole my press; the nerve of her!"
"And why are those dorks wasting their time with the farmer dork?" Scott asks, glancing angrily at Mike. "His plane is a smelly tractor with wings for crying out loud!"
"Actually, boss, it's a really good underdog story." Burger exclaims eagerly to Scott. "It's like the Rocky movie series."
"More like David and Goliath." Bouncer said, remembering another underdog story.
"Or 'Of Mice and Men'," Big Time said, getting into the whole time.
"And 'Forrest Gump'!"
"Or 'Billy Elliot'."
"Or 'Snoopy Comes Home'!" Burger exclaims stupidly, making his pals look at him in annoyance.
"Burger you dope, that isn't an underdog story!" Bouncer snaps to Burger with a frown.
"There's a dog in it, right?"
"Oh, enough already," Courtney snaps angrily to the Beagle Boys in irritation.
"Right, knock it off you mugs!" Big Time scowls as he hits his brothers. Now is not the time for this nonsense. They got to figure out what to do with Mike.
"Anyway, the dumb block head wasn't the dog's original owner." Scott remarks to Burger dryly. "And the dog would've left him if it wasn't for the ‘no dogs allowed’ rule!"
"Awww, what a way to spoil it," Burger whines to Scott for ruining the ending to 'Snoopy Come Home'.
"Ugh! If that idiot wins this, we will be overrun by every banner tower, skywriter and air freighter morons who thinks they can be one of us! Obviously, that farm boy and his pals forgot who they are and where they came."
"They aren't going to stop us from making history." Courtney said, giving an angry glare to Gwen who doesn't seem to notice her, "Especially that so-called friend of mine!"
Scott and Courtney are going to do what it takes to win...even if it means cheating and knocking Mike and his pals out of the race once and for all...
Back in Pilotwash Junction, the gang there watches as the female reporter ask Mike, "Mike, Gwen, Cameron, let me ask, where did you learn to race?"
Mike smiles as he spokes, "Well, Cameron is just my navigator while Gwen is my extra help. But me? I've learned from my coach Peppy Hare of Star Fox, the same one who trained Fuzzy Lumpkins for the current Star Fox team! He's the reason me and my pals are here! Peppy is an amazing instructor...and a great friend."
Rob 64 gave an amusing smile to Peppy who looks touched. However, he winces a bit when Cameron adds, "The hare flew a lot of missions all over the world! I'm sure that, if he could, the hare would be with us right now!"
"WHOOO," Most of the group cheers on wildly. Of course, Peppy just looks down, feeling a bit...sad. If only Mike and Cameron knew the truth...

It was nighttime in Pilotwash Junction. As the moon shines, Peppy sat in an old Arwing ship and look at the runaway. He looks at the wings while lowering them down, pondering whatever or not that he himself should do this.
During this time, Rob 64 was watching Peppy from inside the school, smiling in hope. He knew of his friend's secret, why Peppy hasn't flown in years. Maybe the day has come for the hare to finally do so.
Peppy then turns his engine on, his Arwing twirls a bit as some dust came off of it. The hare looks up at the sky seriously, preparing to head away...
That is until Peppy looks worried and turns his engine off, stopping the whole thing dead. The hare looks down, heartbroken. He just couldn't do it...not after what happened years ago.
Rob 64 looks worried as the wings of the Arwing retract up. The robot left the building and came over to his friend who is in need of support right now.
"Hey, your engine sounds kind of rough, Peppy. Got to be a mag misfire," Rob 64 said with a sad chuckle. Once Peppy is out of the Arwing, the robot uses a crane to push it back into the hangar. Well, perhaps it wasn't a good night for flying anyway."
Peppy sighs, covering his eyes in shame; If only anyone else knew the truth...

Author's note
Mike is doing fine, but what is Peppy hiding? There will be more to come so read, review and suggest.

The song that the Eds sang is a deleted musical scene from the actual movie which can be found on the DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack.

Derpy Hooves is one of the funny background rarely seen ponies of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'.

Nazz is from 'Ed, Edd n' Eddy'.

You folks get the references that the Beagle Boys were saying.