Featured songs:

1. Timber by Pitbull ft. Kesha

2. Listen Up from Tangled series

"So, they seriously rehearse without a script?" Gabby gasped in disbelief. "How do they not mess up on show night?"

At the moment, Gabby was having a chat with Teatra, an expert on musical theater, as she helped Tech brush her coat and mane. She had a lot of questions about musical theater, like how some of the most well-known ones throughout history were made, like this rather unusual one they were talking about now called Cats.

"Professionals learn a thing called improv." Teatra said. "Cats is considered to be strange, seeing as the set is literal garbage, yet it is still one of the most watched musicals today. I'm more of a Dear Evan Hansen fan, however. Do you have any favorite musicals?"

"The Sound of Music." Gabby said. "And Wicked. Carousella loves that one too"

That was when Maybelle entered the room.

"Gabby, there ya are." Maybelle said.

"Hi, Maybelle." Gabby smiled.

"Are ya too busy to talk?"

"No, I'm almost done here. What's going on?"

"I need some advice... about Crosshair."

"He still hasn't bonded with you?" Teatra said in disbelief.

"Crosshair is not particularly known for being actively social," said Tech. "especially not with animals."

"Well, that's just the problem." Maybelle said. "I'm supposed to help him loosen up, but he ain't givin' me the time of day to even get to know him or vice-versa. I've tried everything. A gentler approach, playing him game of Run and Chase, even managed to hold him in a magic spell until somepony distracted me and Crosshair ran off when I wasn't lookin'. I get if uptight is just him, but it couldn't hurt if he would just gimme one chance to know what I'm really like."

"Hmm." Gabby thought. "That sounds tricky."

Gabby decided to have Maybelle sit down to talk, and she asked her lots of questions about who she was as an individual and why she was matched with Crosshair despite that they appeared to be complete opposites.

"You know, Maybelle. You are a musicorn. Maybe you can sing to him." Gabby said. "Show him how fun you can be. Music brings a lot of people together. It worked for Boba and Remix. And for Ahsoka and Fiesta too."

"Hmm. I can't believe I hadn't thought of that before." Maybelle said. "Ya think if my brothers join in, it'll be even better?"

"Sure. Music is always better in a group. And knowing Pinto, it'd be a fun hoedown."

"Well... I'll see what my brothers think." Maybelle said, getting up.

"I'll go talk to Crosshair. Maybe he just needs to hear some things from someone who has more experience with horses."

So, Gabby went to look for Crosshair. He wasn't the easiest clone to approach, but Gabby believed everyone had a heart somewhere. She knew from experience that some simply needed help to unlock it. Her brother was one of them.

Gabby didn't know Crosshair that well, but she knew how much it meant to Maybelle that she and Crosshair could bond. It took time for Obi-Wan to bond with Peppermint, and now they were a great team.

"Crosshair, where are you?" Gabby said. "I need to talk to you about something important."

Gabby passed by Wrecker and Pinto as they were laughing after having a great time riding.

"Hey, you guys seen Crosshair anywhere?" Gabby asked.

"Nope," shrugged Wrecker.

"Neither have I. Sorry." Pinto said.

"Thanks, anyway." Gabby said. "Crosshair, where the hay are you?"

Elsewhere, Crosshair was cleaning his weapon, feeling relieved that Maybelle finally seemed to give up chasing after him.

Gabby looked into the room and saw Crosshair. Knowing he was armed at the moment, she approached slowly so she wouldn't startle him.

"Hi, Crosshair." Gabby said quietly.

Crosshair glanced and saw it was Gabby.

"What do you want, Princess?" Crosshair asked.

"Just to talk to you." Gabby said, sitting down. "I know you might not like to talk about it, but I really need you to hear me out before you make any decisions."

"This is about that horse, isn't it?"

"Maybelle is her name." Gabby said.

"Whatever her name is, I don't want a horse. I don't need one."

"The Equinary seems to think otherwise, and so do a lot of people."

"What do you know about who needs a horse?"

"More than you think."

Gabby started to tell Crosshair about everyone she knew who'd been matched with a pony for various reasons. She even mentioned how Obi-Wan met Peppermint.

"He didn't think he needed a horse either." Gabby said. "But like Maybelle now, Peppermint didn't give up. And she and Uncle Obi-Wan eventually bonded and became great friends."

"Maybe he can take Maybelle instead." said Crosshair.

"Crosshair, you're missing the point. Did you ever stop to think that maybe you and Maybelle have more in common than you do differences?"

"What could I possibly have in common with a wild horse?"

"For one thing, you're both great shots." Gabby said. "She's tried lassoing you, and how many times has she missed?"

Crosshair thought and said, "Zero."

"And how many times have you missed a target?"

"Zero."

"Exactly. Maybelle's a great shot, just with ropes and magic. And she's tough, stubborn, and will literally break down walls to finish her goals. She doesn't hesitate to keep going, no matter how big the challenge is. Like you."

Crosshair was silent at that moment.

"I'm not gonna tell you what to do. But, my advice now is that you should at least try spending time with Maybelle. Get to know her before you decide you want her. Your brothers all get along with their horses even though they're totally different. It takes more than one note to make harmony. Why can't you make that with her?"

Crosshair was once again silent. Gabby left Crosshair alone to think about what she told him.

Outside in the corral, Maybelle got Banjo and Pinto together so they could band together like they always did back home. And to make it even better, some of the kids came out to see them and learn to square dance.

"Alrighty there, kids!" Pinto announced excitedly. "Get ready to hoedown like ya ain't never hoedowned before! Yeehaw!"

Pinto made the beat, Maybelle did the harmonica music, and Banjo made music from... well, a banjo. And together they sang and played a really fun song.

Maybelle: It's going down, I'm yelling timber You better move, you better dance Let's make a night, you won't remember I'll be the one, you won't forget

Ooooh, Oooh

Pinto:

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

This biggity boy's a diggity dog

I have 'em like a fire set off

Making this party hot, timber

Face down, shake it up, timber

Banjo: That's the way we like the what, timber

I'm slicker than an oil spill

She say she won't, but I bet she will, timber

As the ponies sang, it made the kids dance. Wrecker swung Echo round and round like in a western movie, but poor Echo started to get dizzy by how quickly Wrecker made him go. Gabby laughed as Boba spun around with her like in a game of Ring Around the Rosie.

Pinto:

Swing your partner round and round

End of the night, it's going down

One more shot, another round

End of the night, it's going down

Pinto & Banjo:

Swing your partner round and round

End of the night, it's going down

One more shot, another round

End of the night, it's going down

Maybelle:

It's going down,

I'm yelling timber

You better move, you better dance

Let's make a night, you won't remember

I'll be the one, you won't forget

Everyone seemed to be having so much fun as the party went on. Even the Batchers seemed to loosen up and have some fun with the ponies and the kids as they were dancing to the music.

Eventually, Crosshair came along and watched from the other side of the fence as everyone seemed to be having fun.

Maybelle even jumped offstage and showed more of the kids how to move to dance like where she came from, and she was making everyone happy. And at some point, she did some tricks with her rope and lassoed a couple of apples from a nearby tree, never once missing.

Crosshair had to admit, Maybelle did show to be pretty exceptionally talented. She was a great singer, dancer, excellent with kids, and was a great shot with her lassoes. He couldn't say he'd met anyone with so much talent with such a primitive weapon compared to his. But, he still wasn't sure about approaching Maybelle.

Maybelle saw Crosshair and decided to change the song to something that would express her feelings and who she really was.

"Carousella? Ya mind helpin' with a little piano music?" Maybelle asked, showing Carousella a journal with sheet music in it.

Carousella complied with just the right melody for Maybelle.

Maybelle: Since I was a filly,

just a sweet young thing,

all I truly longed to do

was make up songs to sing

Sure, my voice was rotten

And had a pitchy twang

But I had dreams, and in my dreams

this is what I sang

Listen up, all you goons

Listen up and hear my tunes

Every line, boys, is mine

So listen up

Carousella: Catchy. (giggles)

Maybelle: How I yearned to sing it

I used to be afraid

Guess I feared

they call me weird

And mocked the songs I made

So I shut my PIE HOLE

And hid my work away

Carousella: But you have dreams

Maybelle: And in my dreams

this is what I play

Listen up, if you please

Listen to my melodies

Carousella: Folks she wrote

every note

Both: So listen up

Maybelle: I kept my song a secret

But wrote it in this book

Waiting till the perfect moment came

At last I worked the nerve up

And now at me you look

I let the notes

come through my throat

And now I sing it loud

Gabby: Loud?

Carousella: Strong?

Maybelle: Yeah!

And now I stand before you

singing from my heart

Years and years

of doubts and fears

Gabby & Carousella: It's time to heed your heart

Maybelle: I can show my truth now

If I can end the song

Boba: Like in your dreams

Maybelle: But in my dreams

You ALL must sing along

Maybelle went around and tapped her hoof to the beat, encouraging everyone to sing along

Listen up, all you friends

Don't you dare be hesitant

Don't be shy,

let it fly!

Kids: Listen up

MaybelleHa! That's it!

Pinto: Listen up

Banjo: Listen here

Boba: Raise the roof

Remix: And rock the house!

Kids: Make it loud,

sing it proud, listen...

Maybelle: WAIT!

Carousella: What's wrong?

Maybelle:Him!

Maybelle motioned to Crosshair, who was confused and a bit shocked by Maybelle lassoing him into the party.

"Come on, Crosshair." Gabby said. "Join in."

Carousella: Come on, everyone needs to sing!

Crosshair: I... I haven't sung before. What if I'm off-key?

Gabby: I'm sure you're not that bad. And singing isn't about showing off. It's about expressing. Maybelle's expressing for you. You can do the same for her.

Crosshair thought

Crosshair: Listen up, listen close

You're a crazy and loud horse!

But your song

is quite strong

Listen up

All: Listen up, listen up

Everybody raise your cup

Here's to you,

that's the truth

Listen up

Maybelle: Listen up

All: Listen up

Maybelle: Listen up

All: Listen up

Crosshair suddenly felt himself being tackled to the ground and Maybelle started licking him again.

"Okay, okay! Enough, Maybelle!" Crosshair said. "Enough licking."

"Okay," said Maybelle, getting off her human. "How do ya like me now?"

"I'll admit, your persistence is admirable." Crosshair stood up and wiped the horse saliva from his face. "But if we're gonna be a team, we gotta set some boundaries. Particularly keeping the licking to a minimum. And no more tackling me."

"Done and done." Maybelle said, snorting on Crosshair affectionately. "Can't promise I won't do that, though. Or this."

Maybelle nuzzled Crosshair. This time, Crosshair gently scratched under her chin, finally starting to warm up to her.