Other Voicesby Jongoji245ChaptersChapter 7: Help is Needed (Part 2)EpiloguePrologueChapter 1: An Early MorningChapter 2: The Name's CosgroveChapter 3: HomecomingChapter 4: Old WoundsChapter 5: Tears under the StarsChapter 6: Help is Needed (Part 1)Chapter 7: Help is Needed (Part 2)Monday has come. School preparation procedures began as usual; Wake up, shower, get dressed, pack up, eat breakfast, go to school. When Apple Bloom walked up to the table, before Applejack joined her. “What’s up, sis?” Apple Bloom noticed the rather somber look on Applejack’s face. After fidgeting her food, Applejack answered, “Apple bloom, I need you to bring Cosgrove here after school.” Apple Bloom fidgeted at her request. “Is he in trouble?” The little Apple lowered her ears. Applejack looked around before leaning up to her. “This is just between us…” A few hours have passed when recess started. Apple bloom had an uneasy feeling from being told what her sister discovered. Sitting at the table with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, she spotted Cosgrove sitting alone at a hilltop. Rumble and Indigo Blue looked at him from a distance as well. “Maybe you should talk to him.” Indigo asked, leaning over to the Rumble Rumble turned his look away from Cosgrove “Colts don’t talk to other colts. We just” -Rumble gave a small nudge on Indigo’s shoulders- “give a good punch to the shoulders.” “That’s stupid…” “For a filly. To a colt, it’s 10 years worth of therapy!” Indigo still wasn’t amused. “Okay I’ll talk to him.” Rumble fluttered from the table and landed a few feet behind his yellow and purple friend. Sitting next to him, he noticed Cosgrove’s face was red and sleep deprived. Rumble looked behind and spotted Indigo, who gave a smug gesture and motioned him to ask. Rumble laid a soft punch to Cosgrove. “What was that about?” Cosgrove hissed “I don’t know…” “Rumble turned away for awhile then looked back at him - “You haven’t really said a word in class today.” “I never say anything in class.” - Cosgrove continued looking at the horizon - “You know that.” “But you haven’t sketched anything.” “Not in the mood…” “Maybe he doesn’t want to talk to you,” - Rumble turned around and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon behind them. Diamond walked up to the duo slowly - “Maybe he just wants to be with his own kind!” “Yeah among the freaks!” Silver Spoon added before bursting into laughter. Cosgrove began to snarl. Diamond walked back to her best friend, adding, “Yeah, what’s worse than being a blank flank than being a thing that even a mother wouldn’t love!” Those last few words, Cosgrove turned around, sized himself up to the light pink filly, and emitted a shrilling bray. Everyone on the students looked to the noise before seeing the two bullies run away in fear. Rumble tried to approach when Cosgrove gave a small yet threatening growl. Not wanting to risk what he just witnessed, he flew as fast as he could back to Indigo. “That’s why colts don’t talk to other colts.” Cosgrove sat back down on the hill looking to the horizon. His expression was still stern from what he just heard. He winced again when he heard the grass crunch. “For once can I be left-?” Twisting his body at those last fews words, he found Apple bloom right behind him with her ears and bow drooped. Cosgrove slowly turned back to his original position. Apple bloom began to turn around when she heard sniffling. She walked over to him and saw his face just bawling. Apple bloom sat down and wrapped an arm around him. Ms. Cheerilee, hearing the unusual sound as well, noticed the two foals together. She walked over to them, looking at them with a sorry look on her face. “Ms. Cheerilee” - Apple Bloom kept rubbing Cosgrove’s shoulder as she turned to her teacher- “could I take him home early?” Cheerilee answered with a slow nod. While lying isn’t a habit of the Apple Family, Cosgrove’s depressive state helped Apple bloom do as Applejack asked. Upon arrival, Cosgrove looked up to see the rest of the Apple Family along with Zipper, Diver, and Chelsey in the living room of the Apple Residence. Cosgrove looked at the table and found the newspaper articles from the train car. “You… You…” Cosgrove began shaking. “We’re sorry,” Diver slowly moved her tail back and forth “we thought you got over this after the past two years.” Cosgrove began faltering backwards until Applejack comforted him. “Please... Let us help you... Talk to us…” Applejack guided him to the table. Cosgrove breathed in and out heavily, then grabbed an article. “Night Dancer was a good friend, no, a parent. She’d never let me do any of the more exciting stuff.” -Cosgrove looked the other way before smiling- “But that’s what mother’s are for, right? They care for you. Sure we didn’t make enough to buy anything nice. But her love was everything.” Apple Bloom drooped her ears, “What happened to her?” Cosgrove gave a deep breath, “It was her birthday, and I wanted to give something for all the care she has done for me. Our performance was held at Prance. I used up my allowance on the most beautiful flowers. But I lost my way back. I looked everywhere for the big top. I bumped into a stallion, giving the cops time to cuff him. I was given a ride back to the circus when I saw… When I...” A memory flashed before him as medical personnel carried out a black bag. “Mama?” He walked forward when he was stopped by a younger Chelsey. She wrapped around him and began weeping. Cosgrove soon found out what was wrong and began struggling out of her grip. “Mama?! MAMA?! MAAAMMAAA!!!!” The flash ended. Cosgrove was just weeping, screaming, with Chelsey, Zipper and Diver sniffling as well. Applejack wrapped her arm around the colt and began hushing him. “It’s not your fault. There are things that you can’t control. There was nothing any of you could have done...” Applejack lead him to a picture of two ponies he hasn’t seen. To the right of the picture was a large orange stallion with crimson red hair and to the left a yellow mare with blonde hair. After giving the picture a good look, Cosgrove asked, “Your parents…?” Big Mac stepped forward before answering, “Eeyup…” Granny Smith approached the former circus pony. “It is noponies fault… Not all of us arrive together.” “What do I do? I miss her so much…” “Remember her, cherish her love…” Granny rubbed Cosgrove’s mane, “That’s what she would have wanted.” Cosgrove turned looked up at “Does the pain ever go away?” Granny Smith looked at her grandchildren; Big Mac turned his head away before giving a sniffle, Applejack slowly patted the floor as Apple Bloom embraced her older sister. The elderly mare took a deep breath and answered, “Only in time, young‘un. Only in time…” Cosgrove slowly rose from his haunches and hugged each of the Apple Family and his friends. The colt took a good look at the articles again before collecting them, filed them into a single pile, and slowly walked out the door. ... Back at the human world, classes continued and the usual back talk regarding Sunset’s current state of being still happened. But at least she now has four more classmates who believe in her. Now deprived of her jacket for the time being, she walked down the hall, trying to shrug off any of the insults thrown at her. “Sunset Shimmer,” Buzzed Luna’s voice through the hallway speaker “please report to the Principal’s office.” Some of the student body gave a sly laughter as she made her way to Principal Celestia’s office. Closing the door, Sunset sat in front of her former mentor’s counterpart. Celestia leaned forward, balancing her chin on her hands. “Is there something wrong?” Sunset asked. Celestia waved her hand, answering, “They have something to say.” Opening the door was Clamp Jaw and Claire walking to the sides of the office desk. Their faces weren’t vicious, but still serious enough that they meant business. “Mr. and Mrs. Thunderfoot…” Sunset gripped the arms of the chair. “We have heard much about you…” Claire stated, placing a hand on her hip. Sunset took in a big gulp as Clamp Jaw slowly moved towards her. “You blackmailed a few students, sabotaged last year’s Spring Fling, used two boys, stole a few permanent records, including my son’s, stole foreign property, DESTROYED SCHOOL PROPERTY, AND…” Sunset winced before a hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up and found Clamp Jaw with a more somber look on his face. “Gave my son the courage he needed to keep me and my beloved wife together.” He wiped the tear away and took a deep breath before stepping back. Claire still kept a serious face when she added, “I don’t know why we’ve been kept out after the Fall Formal.” - She curled up a smile - “But I’m glad we had.” Clamp Jaw turned to the Principal, “Have a nice day.” The two large humans walked out of the room. “You are free to go.” Principal Celestia dismissed the student before returning to her work. As she left the room, Sunset found Cosgrove and his parents just after a group hug before leaving. Cosgrove leaned on the lockers, turned his head to his older peer and winked. Sunset gave a smile before winking as well. The next bell rang, parting them to go to their respective classes. EpilogueIt was the coming Friday when the circus began to load up back into the train. Circus animals, aside from the ponies were placed back into their cages and pulled into the cart. The performers lowered their home tents. They still had one more show to do before lowering the big top. Zipper’s family just finished dismantling their tent just when he saw Cosgrove walk by. Chelsey dragged a few poles of her family tent when she saw him walk buy. Diver drained the pool as he walked by the Merpony. The three toed colt walked inside the “shrine car.” Flipping on a light, he turned over to a hanging curtain. He pulled the dusty sheet away and found an old suit. This suit had a red torso, green boots, a visor, and black cape. The colt slowly closed his eyes… “Cosgrove, come on! The show’s on in five minutes!” “Hang on, Night Dancer! I’m just trying to get the boots on!” “I can always leave without you…” As the earth pony turned around the colt, then around Pipsqueak’s size, suddenly jumped on her desk. “So, how do I look?” “It would be much more of a surprise had you finished dressing 10 minutes ago, Cosgrove.” “That’s right! I am Cosgrove, Colt Wonder!” “You sure are…” The earth pony walked out of their tent just as Cosgrove leapt over her. The colt hooted and hollered as he made several flips and spins in front of the crowd. The crowd began clapping. “This is the best day of my life!” The colt opened his eyes and looked at his reflection. His first childhood friends joined him. “I may do just one last show…” ... It was now lunchtime at Canterlot High. Taking a deep sigh, Cosgrove walked over to the empty table. Just as he sat down he was joined by another student. Chelsey was the first student other than Cosgrove to sit at the table. As Cosgrove continued to eat, Zipper and Diver joined in. “You know, since we are in a band…” Diver placed a hand on her chin, “We need a name…” Cosgrove leaned forward, “I’m open to ideas.” Zipper noticed the abstract sabretooth cat head on his yellow friend’s shirt, “what logo is that?” Cosgrove leaned back, “What this? It’s a Maximal logo, hand painted it myself.” Chelsey raised her head upwards, “That’s it,” She beamed, “We’ll be called Maximals!” Diver furrowed her eyebrow, “Why would we want to be called that?” “Think about it, we’re abnormal for our age.” Chelsey placed her hands on herself. “I’m tall, you’re-” Diver glared at her, “round…” She turned to Zipper, “You have multiple fingers and you have, well…” Chelsey could only go far on her complements. Cosgrove supported his head with his arm. It took him some time to process the idea as he eyed his friends. “Well if we are going to be treated as animals… Let’s prove them wrong.” The other “Maximals” warmed up to the idea. “Of course we would need to change the logo a little.” Just as Cosgrove finished, the cafeteria doors slammed open joined by the vocals of three new, but unusual teenage girls. ... The following evening, most of the ponies in Ponyville arrived, paid their tickets, and entered the big top. Many of the students also came over, including a dismayed Diamond Tiara since Cosgrove and Applebloom warned to tell her father what she just said about him the previous monday. Speaking of the latter, she along with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in their costumes looked from backstage, watching the massing crowd. “This will be so great!” Scootaloo “Cutie Mark Crusader Circus Performers,” The Crusaders clopped their hooves together, “Yay!” Zipper looked at the three fillies before turning to Cosgrove. “You sure youwanttodothisbecauseitisunlikelythatthesethreewouldearntheircutiemarksjustbyperformingwithus.” “It’s called a favor,” Cosgrove was just finished putting on a tailored version of his childhood costume, “She’s a good friend, I owe her that much.” Cosgrove looked up at the night sky. The group of circus ponies joined him. Diver nudged him, “She would be so proud of you.” “I hope she will find it okay...” “Maybe she has,” Chelsey wrapped an arm around him, “Maybe she sent you here.” Cosgrove continued to look as the stars twinkled. “Everypony!” The group turned to an announcer. “Five minutes!” Giving one last look at the stars, Cosgrove looked forward, a determined look on his face. “Okay guys…” - Cosgrove placed a mask on his face - “Let’s do this.” … At Canterlot High, the student body and alumni gathered in the gymnasium. They talked around and, in the case of the students competing in the Battle of the Bands, bickered with each other about who would win. The lights began dying down. Vice Principal Luna picked up a microphone. “And next up…” - Luna scanned the name - “The Maximals.” The competing students looked at the auditorium as the curtain raised up. Coming up to the spotlight was Zipper snapping his fingers in rhythm. PrologueTwo Years, 1 Week before Today It was a blustery day at the city of Prance. A majority of the citizens were snuggled up in their beds, with no weakness from the cold. Further down the suburbs, the Barn and Bailey Circus was beginning to pack up for their next city stop. Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, Horses, even Merpony and Sleipnir were hard at work to get everything together. One of the Horses stopped and turned towards what was the entrance. Two middle aged Earth Ponies, one a chartreuse mare with red hair and a hula hoop cutie mark and another a brown stallion with blue hair and a lion taming cutie mark, were walking towards him. Noticing the sad looks on their faces, the large stallion gave a deep hug to the mare. After letting her go, the Horse lead the middle aged couple to a tent adorned with a cutie mark of two stars in a tango. When they entered the tent, they widened their eyes in shock. There was nopony there, the only evidence a pony was here was the hoofprints that scattered around the floor. One hoof print had a deeper mark than the others along with the imprint of a tummy. “Dear Celestia…” - Loopty Hoop tried to hold back her tears- “Keep him safe…” The Summer Before the Fall Formal A more recent and much more warmer time, it is now a more civilized area with cars and trucks, buildings of brick, wood and iron. Among them is a school, one of the most respected of the town. Suddenly, the school bell rang, allowing the school students to leave. However, a group of them were grouped around one student. “You better not spread your little disease, or I’ll be coming for you!” one shouted. The name calling continued as a pair of black boots walked toward the group. “Hey!” The bullies turned around before jumping back a few feet. This was Sunset Shimmer, who was well known in these parts. The red and yellow haired girl obviously meant business. “Every other hair you pick from him and you’ll be answering from me!” The group ran as fast as they could, leaving behind a boy with yellow and purple hair. His body was bruised but in no way too badly wounded. The taller student walked up to him. “You all right, kid?” The boy strained himself into an upright position, “I, think so…” The boy stretched out his hand, revealing the source of the bullying; he had ectrodactyly, a condition commonly called “crab hands.” “Thank you…” Sunset eyed the other way, then turned her back to him. “Well, be careful next time.” She walked away, not aware that the boy gave her a “what-was-that-all-about” look. Chapter 1: An Early MorningIt was Nine O’clock on a very cool morning in Ponyville. Cosgrove awoke from his evening slumber. He stretched his mouth as he let out a yawn. “It’s time for school again…” he murmured as he stretched his hooves and dewclaws one by one, each with their own little pops. He hopped out of his bed with his left hoof reaching for his saddlebag when he suddenly flopped over to his right side, his right hind leg was still “asleep” from sleeping in an improper position. Shaking it awake, the colt made his way out the door when he heard a crunch under his hooves. He looked down at a new roll of newspaper. Stuffing it in his saddle bag, Cosgrove walked to school. Never the first student to arrive, Cosgrove weaved through his crowding classmates as they said their daily departing from their older relatives. Rumble, after saying goodbye to Thunderlane, caught up to Cosgrove and the two responded with a bro-hoof. The students sat in their chairs and began pulling items out of their saddlebags. Button Mash couldn’t bring his handheld consoles this time though at his mother’s discretion. Cosgrove again began sketching a costume. Once the lunch bell rang, all the fillies and colts ran out of the building. Sitting in their preferred benches, they unpacked their lunches and began to eat. Cosgrove unpacked his lunch just when the paper he received this morning dropped out of his saddlebag and revealed the front cover article. Lifting up the paper, the colt began reading. His eyes widened as he looked at the article. “Aw sweet! The Circus is back in town.” Rumble rejoiced. A few hours has passed before the end of the school bell rang. The students packed up their belongings and began walking out the door. “Cosgrove, can I have a minute with you?” The colt looked back at the source of the voice, none other than Ms. Cheerilee. After giving a brief bro-hoof to Rumble, Cosgrove walked over to the teacher. “Yes Ms. Cheerilee?” “You came from the Barn and Bailey Circus, is that correct?” “Yes, mam. They are just coming back to town.” “I usually don’t ask this, but would you give the class a tour of the Circus?” Those last few words, Cosgrove drew his ears back and eyed away from the teacher. Cheerilee knelt down, “I know that is asking much for someone-” “No, no! I am honored. Really I am...” Cosgrove noticed Cheerilee giving a worried look before warming back up, “When are we going?” Chapter 2: The Name's CosgroveNot much has happened since the Fall Formal. With help from the Mane Five, what would’ve taken a few years to repair the front foyer and the front courtyard was repaired in a few weeks. Snips and Snails have cut their ties with Sunset and have constantly begged Trixie to bring them back. But wounds still persist. The bad moments Sunset has caused in the past have still been known throughout the school. Everywhere she walked, students either moved away in a huff or even said bad things about her out of earshot. Such actions among the student body continued on at lunch. As Sunset approached the the tray cabinet, a student cut in line, took the tray and moved on. She took out a small serving of fruits and vegetables and sat with her new friends. There was an awkward silence between them. “So, Sunset,” Rarity broke the silence, “How has your day been?” Sunset stopped eating, then slouched forward, laying her head on her arms. “Like any other…” She moaned, “I said I’m not the same anymore, why doesn’t anybody-” She stopped to notice Pinkie Pie holding a dry erase board tallying each good and bad day since the Fall Formal. So far, the score wasn’t in her favor. The pink haired girl placed it back into her hair before giving an embarrassed grin. Sunset slumped her head again. Applejack moved to the other side of the table and wrapped her arm around Sunset. “Sunset, let me tell you something my Granny told me,” Applejack began looking around the cafeteria, “Even if you pull out the bad nails in an old fence post, the damage will still be there. But you can always put better fence posts to make up the bad ones.” “And the point of that is?” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. Applejack scowled at Rainbow. “My point is, no one will care about you unless you prove yourself.” Sunset raised her head up, “For the entire school?” The rest of her friends became silent in their train of thought. “Uhm… Maybe start small.” Fluttershy whispered. Sunset raised herself back up on the table and watched as the Mane Five gave a reassuring smile before she returned a smile as well. It was ten minutes before three in the afternoon when the school bell rang. The students began walking out of their classes and to their lockers. Again, the routine of “Shun the Sunset” carried on. The former inhabitant of Equestria eyed around as she walked down the hall. “Start small, start small…” Sunset repeated herself as she walked by several groups of students. “With groups this big, what could be considered-” Suddenly she was bumped into causing textbooks to scatter the hallway floor. “Oh, I am sorry-” When she knelt down to pick them up, Sunset noticed something familiar about the clothes. Slowly she tilted her head up, revealing herself a familiar yellow skinned boy with purple hair on his head and lower jaw. “Uhm… Hi?” The boy raised his hand, revealing a familiar condition. Sunset snapped back into focus as she picked up the fallen books and stood up, towering him by half his body height. “Sorry I bumped into you.” Sunset handed the books back. The boy furrowed his brow. “Well, be careful next time.” The snide remark struck her again. Sunset watched as the boy moved around her to his locker. Upon reaching his locker, he placed the books he didn’t need and packed the ones he did need into his backpack. A thorough scan of the the locker later, he closed the locker, jumping in fright and falling flat on the floor at Sunset just standing behind the door. “Do you remember me?” She crouched down to his height. The boy, glaring at her, answered, “Well, let’s see, your face is one the wall three times in a row, you became some crazed bat lady, oh and let’s not forget how you just turned away after I said, “thank you” for saving my hide, so the better question is: do you know me?” Sunset scratched her hair nervously, then lowered her head in defeat. “No…” Sunset, her eyes still closed, slowly stretched out her hand “But I want to…” The boy looked at her hand then at her face before grabbing her hand with his three-digit manus. “Cosgrove.” Sunset’s opened wide at the sound of that name, “Name’s Cosgrove.” Sunset pulled him up to his feet. “Do you still want to talk?” Sunset asked of him Cosgrove flipped out one of Sunset’s notebooks and wrote: 1988 Great Valley Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado, 01954 “5 PM.” Cosgrove walked out of the building towards home. Sunset’s face drew a big smile. “Yes!” Sunset said excitedly as she did a win pose in front of everyone else. She blushed as they stared at her. A few minutes before Five PM, Sunset arrived by bus to a suburban part of town. Compared to the houses in the neighborhood, Cosgrove’s house was much larger, with a massive set of windows in front, though the backward had a lot of dead trees. She walked up the door and gave it a few taps. She rocked back and forth on her boots before hearing the sounds of heavy footsteps approaching the door. In front of her was an elderly man, around his 60’s, skin red with grey hair in as similar pattern to Cosgrove. His large height had Sunset feel intimidated. The aged man fidgeted his glasses, “Can I help you?” Sunset snapped back to reality again, “Uhm, yes, is Cosgrove home?” “You must be the person he was talking about at school,” He stepped aside and motioned his arm towards the stairs, “Make yourself at home.” Sunset walked up the carpeted stairs and stood at the windows in the family room. The way the sun began to set behind the tree line intrigued her. Everywhere else, it doesn’t become dark at the until well into 7 PM. She furrowed her eyebrow as she felt something on her boots. Sunset looked down and yelped onto the violet-red chair. It was a monitor lizard with similar colorations to the elderly man, but with lighter stripes on it’s back. The animal flicked it’s tongue, detecting the unusual heat signature Sunset is displaying despite being in a human form. “I see you’ve met Schnookums.” Sunset looked and found Cosgrove leaning on the wall, arms crossed, before walking over to the monitor lizard and lifted him up. Sunset cowered back as Schnookums’ face was at her level. “Don’t worry, he only eats the mice in the house.” He placed the reptile down on the carpet and nudge him away. He pointed one of his fingers to the kitchen before walking into said room. Sunset sat at the table before taking a sniff. She turned her attention to two crockpots hard at work to heat up whatever the scent belongs to. “Whatever you’re cooking is gonna be good.” Sunset smiled at the thought before turning to Cosgrove. “What are you making?” Cosgrove was just about to open a lid when he turned his head to her, “Kale and bison stew.” The fire haired girl shot her eyes open. There are after all bison in Equestria, and the irony of it all, the majority of the duplicates in this world also eat flesh. She just stared into the horizon, one of her eyes twitching at the thought when a steaming green bowl was placed in front of her. “Which is why I made a meatless batch.” Cosgrove added before walking to his side of the table and sat down. “So, have you lived here all your life?” Sunset asked curiously while fiddling a fork in the bowl. “Actually, I was born in Ashley Valley, Utah. But my family moved here to get away from the heat.” Cosgrove lifted the meat-chunked fork, took a bite, then raked it clean off the utensil. Sunset paid close attention to his hands; The amazing ability to still hold a fork and write with three fingers on each hand amazes her. But remembering when she first found the freshman student being beaten up, Sunset curled back. “Have you ever thought of… getting those operated?” Cosgrove stopped his hand and looked at his older peer. A silence made Sunset uneasy. That didn’t last long when a sound rang in his pockets. Cosgrove took out a relatively archaic cell phone for this day and age, flipped up the cover and answered it. “Thunderfoot Residence,” A moment of silence “Well… Is Dad going to come over soon? ...Oh… I see… No, no… I’ll be fine. ...I love you too. Bye.” Cosgrove hung up the phone and continued to eat. Sunset cocked her head, “You’re alone aren’t you?” “Well, my parents are police officers.” The former unicorn widened her eyes. “P-police officers?” Cosgrove nodded. “But shouldn’t one of them be at home with you?” “Yes. But you see, my dad was a former SWAT officer. But always placed his own safety below that of the mission. When they removed him from the force, he became a cop instead and always took on cases lasting several weeks.” Cosgrove placed the fork down. “Mom would try to be at home here and there, but duty calls her.” Sunset moved her index finger back and forth on the table, an uneasy look on her face. “Do you ever worry that they might… you know…” She notices the boy furrowing his eyebrow at his bowl of stew. She rises up out of the table. “I’m sorry-” “No,” Cosgrove raised a hand. “No, I know what you mean, but you’re not alone on that thought.” He looks at the windows as the city is swallowed in night. “It is late, better to come home before it gets too cold.” Sunset stood up and began walking towards the staircase before turning around. “See you tomorrow?” Cosgrove approved with a nod. As soon as she left his house, Cosgrove took out his phone again and began texting. “But not by myself this time.” He added. Chapter 3: HomecomingPonyville The next day Ms. Cheerilee announced the field trip to the location the Barn and Bailey Circus would camp out. Permission slips were handed out to the students at the beginning of class. It was on Friday when the train registered to the Circus arrived. As per the meeting arrangement stated on the permission slip, the students and their relatives and guardians met up with Ms. Cheerilee at the town square. After taking roll, the whole “herd” began their trek to the site. While his classmates became more excited by the minute of their trek, Cosgrove kept a straight face, though he did respect their excitement. On the bright side, he didn’t have to answer questions such as, “Have you swung a trapeze,” or, “Have you been shot out of a cannon,” again since he arrived. They reached their destination. The fields of green where broken by unassembled tents of multiples colors with the big top already finished assembling. Though too early for the main event, there are still a few side attractions for visitors. The school group gathered around. Cosgrove stepped forward from the crowd and began scanning the area. He gave in a deep breath. “Not as how I remembered it, but this was my home alright.” Cosgrove answered to the large crowd when a shadow loomed over him. Cosgrove turned around to a peach-piebald horse filly with gray hair and eyes. Her eyes were wide open. “Hi Chelsey…” Immediately her mouth opened in excitement and scooped up the colt in one good swoop. Many of the crowd looked with confused faces. “It’s been so long!” Cosgrove gave a sly smile with an added squee. After the young horse placed him down, he announced, “Everyone, this is one of my childhood friends, Chelsey." The mare bowed her head to the crowd. “Say, my memory has been a little rusty,” Cosgrove looked to the her, “I was wondering if you could show them around?” “Sure! The others would like to see you, come on!” Immediately she began trotting away with the group following her. Indigo caught up to Cosgrove. “So was Chelsey you’re foal sitter?” she asked “What?” -Cosgrove had a double take -“No. She is just a child-childhood friend.” The unicorn eyeballed the larger mare, then back at him asking, “Then how is she-?” “Wait till you meet her parents.” As they continued around the assembling circus, a large gust of wind loomed past them. The group looked up, hoping to see the aftereffect of a Sonic Rainboom. But none was there. “Ahhh… Rainbow Dash didn’t do a Rainboom.” moaned Scootaloo Suddenly another gust of wind came in front of the group. When the wind slowed down, in front of them, they saw before their eyes a pony with eight legs and a yellow-red bicolor mane and tail. “First of all, the name’s not Rainbow Dash. As a matter of fact, I don’t recallanyonegivingmethenameRainbowDash. SomeponycouldonlyassumethatyoumaycalledmeDashtorefertomyspeed, butlackscertaincreativity.” The group looked with a confused look on their faces, much to Cosgrove’s chagrin. “This is Zipper, one of our circus’ daredevil extraordinaire.” Zipper gave a proud grin, not noticing Sweetie Belle looking at his most unusual feature. “Why does he have eight legs?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Because myfamilyandIareSleipnirs, myparentshavethem, theirparentshavethem, althoughweirdUncleWallywasbornwithonelegbetweenhis-” The fast talking pony suddenly got his snout clamped shut. “Thank you!” Cosgrove interjected. The group continued to follow the young horse around the circus. As they came across a large swimming pool, somepony was watching them. Sighting a familiar face, she surfaced. “Cosgrove?” The colt immediately looked to his left and spotted a light yellow-maned filly hanging onto the rim. She immediately submerged, then porpoised out of the pool. Her visage was also a surprise to the visitors. Aside from being somewhat heavily built for her age, she had a long hairless tail with flukes at the end. “Is that really you?” “It really is…” Cosgrove answered. A little later after introducing Diver, a Merpony, to the crowd, lunchtime began. The class sat in an open field a little distance away from the circus. Wanting to regroup with his old friends, Cosgrove sat with Zipper, Diver, and Chelsey. The latter three did have an uneasy feeling despite seeing him again. “Why haven’t you written to us?” the Merpony asked of him. “Well Diver, I have gotten into a few snags…” “Some big ones you might add?” Chelsey added “What do you mean?” “WellwehavereadtheTheDailyOathereandthere,” Zipper tossed the paper over to Cosgrove, “Notthatanythingisimportanttothematterathand.” Cosgrove started rubbing the back of his head before answering, “I… had quite an adventure…” The three began looked at each other then looked back at Cosgrove. Outside of their group, The Cutie Mark Crusaders, watching the conversation, began to ponder. “Would it be awesome to have them be part of the club?” Scootaloo wondered. “Ah’m surprised they haven’t earned their Cutie Marks yet.” Applebloom continued. “We could earn our Cutie Marks in circus performing!” Sweetie Bell added “Cutie Mark Circus Performers!” The three finished with a hoof clap between the three. The circus guests gave a surprised look at the sudden outburst. “Those… are some willy ponies…” Zipper answered. Cosgrove drooped his head and ears and looked away. “Thats what worries me…” A few hours later, it was time for the families to return to school. The Barn and Bailey Circus were waving and saying their goodbyes. “Don’t forget to come by to see us perform!” One of the circus ponies called out to the leaving crowd. As they made their way back, the students began complimenting the circus. “You have such unique friends!” Rumble stated “No wonder you are adventurous!” Dinky continued. “They would actually be proud!” Indigo said happily. “She most certainly would…” Cosgrove whispered. “Who?” Rumble asked “I mean, yeah! They would be proud.” Cosgrove restated. The group arrived back at school. After counting off each and every family, Ms. Cheerilee closed her attendance book. “Alright students, have a nice weekend! Don’t forget to see the circus!” The students and their parents/guardians departed the school and came to their respective homes. Chapter 4: Old WoundsThe sun shone once again over the dark world. From a dark gray to a golden yellow, the light shined upon the room the Human Cosgrove and Schnookums slept in. Lined on the walls are costume art, shelves lined with action figures, a bookshelf, a desk a bed, and a large container filled with shredded bark. However, since reaching adult size, Schnookums has slept on his surrogate father’s chest. The sun warming it’s chilled blood, the lizard slumped off the bed just before the alarm rang. The boy in turn slumped over and slapped the alarm. He lifted his legs and hopped out of the bed. Walking to his dresser, the boy put on a purple shirt with a white circle in the middle, striped pants, and his tennis shoes. A good walk to the school later and the Cosgrove was again with Sunset Shimmer as she stood by the repaired front foyer. The two students began their walk down the hallway, again to the dismay of most of the student body. “Cosgrove,” The younger student turned his attention to Sunset, “does it bother you now that we are hanging out? Among all of them?” Cosgrove looked around, noticing how the student body began talking about this alliance. Even his classmates were talking. “Things change.” Cosgrove turned to find Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon conversing out of earshot before a slightly taller shadow loomed over them. “They don’t like it, tough.” The two girls walked away in a huff. Cosgrove walked back to his older peer while keeping a glare at them. “Besides, that’s why I want to show you my closest friends.” he added. “Closest?” Sunset asked “Yep,” - Cosgrove raised his hand -“Zipper, Diver and Chelsey are just behind these doors.” Sunset now looked really worried just as Cosgrove turned to the doors. “Wait,” - Sunset called his attention - “Maybe that’s not a good idea. You know what happened…” Cosgrove tilted his head down before turning around - “Wait here and I’ll give you the signal.” Soon he enters the room. As muffled talks are heard in the other side, Shimmer looked to her left. She rubbed her hand on a particular dent of the locker. She closed her eyes. Four days after the new school year A school bell just rang, releasing the student body to their next class, or to lunch. As if in sync, Snips and Snails sneaked out of a room labeled, “School Alumni Only.” They made a brisk pace across school, much to the curious faces of the Freshman students. They reached their destination: an isolated hallway. Sunset Shimmer, then in the wrong, was leaning on one of the lockers before glaring at them. “Took you long enough.” She hissed. Snails pulled opened his backpack and showed her their quarry: four individual files. Sunset face palmed, she just wanted one particular file. She snatched the files from him and took a good look at the one the name Chelsey on the label. As she walked down the hall, the information contained in the folder gave her a devious grin. This was much better than nothing. Just as Sunset turned to the hall on her right, she collided with another student. Looking up from the floor with a stern face, she was in front of this world’s Chelsey, wearing green pants and a grey shirt. The similar sized Freshman immediately knelt down. “Oh, I am so sorry!” Chelsey began picking up the folders in a rush. She stopped when she found Cosgrove’s picture. She looked at another folder that had Zipper’s name then another that had Diver’s name on the tabs. She tilted her head upward, her face clenched in anger. “You thieving-” “Chelsey!” - The freshman girl turned her glare to Cosgrove - “What’s wrong?” Chelsey rose to her full height before answering, “She has our academic records. Your’s, mine, Zipper’s and Diver’s!” Cosgrove gathered them up, noticing their names on the tabs, before he too gave a sharp glare. He and Chelsey began walking past them in the direction of the Principal’s Office. “Oh man!” Snails cowered behind Snips. “They’re gonna tell!” Snips added Sunset rose back on her feet, silencing them with a wave of her hand. “And how would you explain to them where you got those?” Sunset’s question stopped the two Freshman students before they turned around. “You know what happens to students who get caught with stuff like that?” Chelsey and Cosgrove looked at each other before giving each other a look that had Sunset curve a toothy grin. “So you can either give the files to me, or get in trouble.” - Sunset tilted her body, one eye opened wider than the other - “Your choice.” A long train of thought ran through his head before Cosgrove gave a deep breathe. Defeated, he walked over to the group of bullies. As he passed along the files, Snails gave a sly chuckle when Cosgrove tightened his grip, cracking a few hand bones. Giving one last glare, Cosgrove plodded off, Chelsey following him. Sunset gave another look at Chelsey’s file. “Wait a minute,” She gave the file a thorough look, “Oh this is just too rich! She’s the sister of that Senior from last year’s Spring Fling!” Chelsey stopped in her tracks. “How is it that she is my size while being a freshman?” -Sunset continued on, unaware that the piebald student was slowly turning around- “Talk about being the runt of the litter.” Chelsey gave a slow growl. “Oh, I wonder where she is now.” Sunset began laughing. Snips raised a pointed finger, “Sunset…” Their mistress turned around and found Chelsey just six feet away from them, her face snarling, nostrils flaring. “Janey has done nothing but eat ice cream on the couch all day, you bitch!” Chelsey roared. Shady Daze caught a glimpse of the conflict before running over. “Aw sweet, a school fight.” Cosgrove gave a sharp turn, there was indeed going to be a fight. Chelsey slowly began stomping her way to her older opponent, her hands clenched. Snips and Snails stood their ground against her. “Nobody gets to Shimmer without coming through us!” Snips performed a series of karate poses. It was in vain when Chelsey clutched his orange hair, lifted him off the ground and hurled him a few feet behind her. Now the student body was getting impressed. Chelsey turned her attention to Snails, who was curling into a ball as she approached him. When she lifted her foot, a yellow blur snatched her away from the scared boy. Cosgrove struggled to hold her. “Chelsey,” - Cosgrove bent his body backwards, lifting her off the floor -“He doesn’t deserve this!” “Your damn right he doesn’t deserve it!” Chelsey elbowed her friend before tackling Sunset Shimmer against the lockers. She pinned her arm against her adversary’s throat. Sunset actively scratched and kicked, trying to get free. To no avail, the piebald teenager prepared her fist. “Chelsey!” Cosgrove yelled when a loud thunk was heard. The hall was silent, the spectators looked in horror. Breaking the silence were the footsteps of Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna approaching the scene. They looked at the bruised Snips and the scared Snails before looking at what everyone else is looking. Sunset Shimmer slowly opened her eyes and found Chelsey staring at her, breathing in and out heavily. She looked to her left and found that her fist actually punched the locker. “Chelsey! To my office, NOW!!” Luna roared. Chelsey released Sunset Shimmer from his grip. She collapsed to the floor, coughing and wheezing to catch her breath. She looked up and saw the victor gave one last nasty sneer before Luna grabbed her upper arm tightly and pulled her away to the direction of her office. “Everyone return to their classes.” Celestia ordered before joining the other two. Sunset caught her breath before turning to Cosgrove, who just glared at her before joining the rest of his class. An hour later, Chelsey walked out of the front foyer, carrying her backpack. Halfway between the main building and the portal, she stopped and slumped to her knees. Tears welled her eyes as she pulled her hair in anguish before she screamed. Today Realizing the consequences she had done, Sunset began to tear up as well. While it is true that she was in the wrong at that time, what she did was unforgivable. Was this a small step, or was she walking into shark infested waters? That answer was made when loud stamping noises are heard behind the doors. Walking up the doors, she took a deep breath, then opened the doors. Inside were Cosgrove, Chelsey, Diver, in this world in similar girth to Snips, and Zipper, who had polydactyly, twelve fingers total on his hands. The latter three gave a hard glare at Sunset Shimmer, Chelsey in particular crossed her arms. “Hello…” Sunset gave a sheepish grin as she waved a hand. The three freshman students still kept their silent glare. Cosgrove walked between them. “Are you guys going to say something?” Cosgrove asked. “Did you just lose your mind when you wrote in her notebook?” Chelsey hissed. “You knew?” “I saw.” Diver answered Zipper fixed his gaze on Cosgrove. “Whyareyoufriendswithher?” - Zipper stomped over to him - “Sheisonlygoingtostabyouintheback!” Sunset gaped her mouth trying to understand what the fast talker just said. “Zipper, she said she was really sorry.” Cosgrove rebuked “Hmph!” - Diver added, her look still on Sunset - “Says the Canterlot Monster, and oh yeah, let’s not forget how she went all Zuul on us!” “Yes, that much is true.” Sunset lowered her eyes “But I didn’t know just how interacting with the Element of Magic worked then.” “Oh yeah, andwhatotherformcouldyoutake? AJackinabox? Arhinowhenyougointomutatedslime…” Zipper continued to sarcastically list all possible forms. Cosgrove’s face tensed as the list went on before he shut his eyes and- “Enough!!” Cosgrove roared so loud that the ventilation shafts rattled - “I understand Chelsey’s grudge, but what about you two?” “Because she would’ve taken over the world.” Diver reasoned, before being given a glare. “Shewould’veruinedourfreshmanyearsanyhow.” Zipper added, before given the same glare. “See?” Chelsey approached Cosgrove. “No matter what you do, Sunset cannot escape who she was. There is no good inside of her anymore!” Cosgrove turned around slowly, fixing his glare at the taller but still same aged teenager. “You know, just the past summer I was mugged by a bunch of punks, and you know who was the only one there?” Cosgrove turned his head towards Sunset. Chelsey gave the older teen an uneasy look. “As a matter of fact, where were you on my sixth birthday?” He turned to Diver and Zipper, “Where were you two when I was pummeled in an alley in fifth grade?” He stepped back “WHERE WERE ANY OF YOU WHEN I WAS PICKED ON THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR JUST HAVING THIS!?” He yelled as he raised his three fingered hands. “Some friends you are! You want to help me now, you can start by apologizing to her and me because for all I know you are no better than what she was before being blasted by…” Cosgrove flailed his arms around “rainbows!” Chelsey, Diver, and Zipper looked at him all appalled, by his words. Even Sunset was shocked at how Cosgrove talked to his friends. Cosgrove gave them a cold shoulder and began walking out the door. The former Canterlot student looked at the group of Freshman becoming ashamed before catching up to Cosgrove. “Was that really necessary?” Sunset pointed to them as they continued to walk. Not taking a glance at her, Cosgrove answered, “The only way they’ll learn…” Chapter 5: Tears under the StarsSaturday came soon at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack and Big Macintosh rose up early in the morning, ate a quick breakfast, then began loading buckets around a select group of apple trees. It was around ten in the morning when they finished bucking half of the trees. Big Mac began loading the buckets onto the wagon while Applejack finished. Apple bloom woke up a little later, cleaned herself up, walked downstairs, ate breakfast with Granny Smith, and began her chores. Being a little filly, her current niche is handling livestock. After she fed the pigs, Apple Bloom grabbed a basket, walked into a chicken coop and began collecting the eggs out of each nest before checking off a list for which nest had or hadn’t laid an egg. After placing each egg in a carton, Apple bloom loaded them onto a sales wagon after her older siblings loaded the barrels. While they have gotten their work done by the early afternoon, usually Cosgrove would be there on Saturdays to help herd the cattle. Perhaps he was busy with a very elaborate costume needed to be done in a short while. Dragging the wagon back to the barn, they unpacked everything and sorted them by the color of the apple. This harvest was surprising, golden delicious apples were the second largest harvested apple, a place usually taken by granny smith apples. The evening began to roll on as the Apple Family sorted their produce. Once they finished, they returned to their house. While their meals aren't exquisite, they are good enough to satisfy a starved individual. Satisfied with said meal, the siblings cleaned up the table and loaded the dishes into the sink. "Ah'm gonna hit the hay." Apple bloom said after a long yawn. As the filly walked up the stairs, Applejack grabbed a rag and began to scrub the dishes. Granny Smith slowly made her way up the stairs and into her bedroom. Big Mac pulled out an empty folder, wrote the date of today's harvest and placed the documents in. Despite being a large stallion, Big Mac had just the neatest file cabinet, with just the extra space for this new folder. Suddenly a soft growl was heard from Winona. Applejack finished scrubbing on last dish and walked up to the border collie. "What's wrong girl?" She asked. Her ears rose up as she heard a soft sound coming from outside. When Applejack opened the front door, the sound was somewhat louder. It didn't sound like a howl coming from a Timberwolf. Otherwise it would be a sign of Zap Apple harvest time. Rather, it was a moan. "Big Mac, wait here." The farm pony trotted off. She followed the noise outside of the farm and into the town square. The noise came in shorts bursts, but whoever made them had an amazing set of pipes. Her investigation led her to an old house just outside the Everfree Forest. Applejack turned her head around and saw Cosgrove sitting there. She kept her distance as Cosgrove emitted a yowl at the stars. Something was wrong, and the Element of Honesty figured out where to start. The following morning, Applejack walked over to the Barn and Bailey Circus. She spotted Chelsey, Diver, and Zipper talking to each other as their parents practiced for their big acts. Chelsey spotted Applejack easily thanks to her fedora. “Oh it’s you, from the crowd on Friday. How’s Cosgrove?” The young horse asked “I’ve heard that he helps you with the farm.” Diver added out of curiosity. “That’s what Ah was gonna ask you about.” Applejack replied. The trio of circus foals closed their mouths. “Ah saw him crying last night, and he hasn’t come by to help out the day before either.” Zipper motioned his hooves to give them a moment. The three huddled up and began to whisper. Being honest doesn’t mean to intrude, Applejack kept her distance. The trio slowly came out of the huddle. Chelsey walked up to the farmer. “Come with us…” Applejack followed the three at a slow walking pace. Even Zipper didn’t didn’t move at his usual speed. Their heads hung low, something was up. They reached a train car with locks. Zipper raced over and back with the key and unlocked the door. Chelsey grabbed the handle and pulled very hard, slamming the door open. They climbed onto the train car. Chelsey and Zipper lent their hooves to help Applejack onto the train cart. Applejack looked around, but could make very little detail of what is inside. Chelsey flipped a switch, illuminating the inside with an occasional flicker. Lined up at the walls are newspaper articles and a desk. She looked walked to an article to her left and looked at it before walking to the next. “FOAL FOUND IN BEACH.” “FOAL IN CIRCUS CUSTODY.” Applejack looked at the desk and saw what appears to be an adoption parchment. “Under this process, I, Night Dancer, hereby adopt this foal under protection and satisfaction of law.” Right next to the parchment was a birth certificate, with Cosgrove’s name typed on the center and his infant hoof print, with a couple nubs from his dew claws, in the bottom. Looking at the wall to her right. Applejack looked at the photos of this so called Night Dancer and Cosgrove. She began eying one last article. When she walked in front of it, she began to read. Looking at the article Applejack’s eyes widened before looking at Chelsey, Zipper and Diver tearing up. Applejack took off her stetson and held it close to her chest. “Poor kid…” Chapter 6: Help is Needed (Part 1)In the same day at the human world, life continued as usual. Students hanging out, parents going to work, and in Pinkie’s case, sweets being baked. Over at Sugarcube Corner, the Main Five and Sunset hung out, eating their own preferred delicacies. Outside of the usual student hangout, Chelsey, Zipper and Diver were walking over to Cosgrove’s home. Zipper was struggling to come up with a good apology. “Cosgrove,wewouldliketosaysorryfornotbeingthereforyoubecauseweweretoscared.” Zipper stopped for a moment, then shook his head. “Nono, thatwon’twork.” “Zipper, just “sorry” would do.” Diver turned her ashamed eyes to her friend as they just reached his house. “Nonoweneedtogivehimareasonthatwecouldn’tbetherefor-” “Shhh!” Chelsey interjected “HeyIamjustassorryasyouarebut-” “Listen!” The taller teen whispered before slowly leaning on the front door. A conversation was going on behind the doors. When Chelsey began to understand just what they were saying, she heard footsteps running towards the door. She tried to back away when the door slammed open, pushing her into the hedges nearby. Cosgrove ran past Zipper and Diver without saying one word to them. Lifting Chelsey off the hedge, they ran after Cosgrove. The grandfather of the house looked out from the front before closing his eyes. Sunset Shimmer was walking along the sidewalk near Sugarcube Corner when she spotted Cosgrove running on the opposite sidewalk, followed by his friends. Wondering what went wrong, she began following them. The long trail led Sunset to a section of the plaza called Turtle Park, so named because of the massive statues of turtle from various species placed throughout the area. She walked around the park before spotting Chelsey, Zipper and Diver at the statue of a softshell turtle conversing with Cosgrove, who sat in a curled position on the bottom end of the turtle. Sunset took cover behind the snapping turtle statue. “It’s also that… you know how we hardly see my parents.” The rest of the group looked at him with questioning faces. “Of course, they’re police officers.” Chelsey answered “They have to protect us.” “I know.” Cosgrove tilted his head around. “So why did you run from home?” Diver asked. “My parents…” Cosgrove answered “Yes, what about them?” Diver asked again “My parents are getting…” “They’regoingtobelaidoff?” Zipper asked. Cosgrove’s faced pinched before answering, “My parents are going to be divorced!” Cosgrove shouted into the air, tears streaming from his eyes. From afar, Sunset placed her fingers to her chin, a worried look on her face. Back at the main conversation, The gigantic freshman, polydactylic boy, and slightly overweight girl were appalled by this new fact. “...What can we do to help?” Zipper talked slowly for once. “Nothing…” - Cosgrove placed his face on his knees - “There’s nothing any of us can do…” “Actually there is a lot you can do.” The four freshman students looked behind them, seeing Sunset Shimmer walking towards Cosgrove. “You don’t know just how lucky you are to have parents, whatever your circumstance is!” Cosgrove hung his head low again, “How…” “By talking to them...” Sunset Shimmer softly replied. “Just as I tried… so many times.” Cosgrove embraced her. As Sunset wrapped her arms around him, Chelsey, Zipper and Diver joined in the hug. The moment was interrupted by a familiar scream. Sunset was the first to let go as the scream is heard again. “Trixie!” Sunset ran from the group of students into the surrounding foliage. In another clearing, she stopped and looked around. Hearing the scream again, Sunset continued to her destination. Trixie was being attacked by a school gang known as the Diamond Dogs. Back when Sunset was in the wrong, their absence was on of the good things about her being in the school. But now deprived of her power, gangs like these began lurching back for dominance. Trixie tried to run one way, only for Spot to get in the way. She then ran another direction only for the towering Fido to intimidate her. When Trixie turned around, she bumped into their leader Fido. “Gems!” - Rover stretched out his hands - “Give us gems!” “Trixie does not have any riches you desire.” - Rover focused his eyes at the star shaped hairclip before snarling at Trixie, prompting her to unclip it - “But she is willing to offer anything else.” “Leave her alone!” Both Trixie and the Diamond Dogs looked over to find Sunset Shimmer walking towards them. Rover and Fido paid no mind to Trixie as they approached their new challenger. Spot gave a cruel chuckle as his partners towered over her. Sunset closed her eyes as Fido clenched his fist and prepared to punch her face. “Hey!” “Ooooohhhh!!!” Rover pulled his ears down before turning around. “What now!?” It was Cosgrove standing in a straight posture. The Diamond Dogs looked in confusion at just one Freshman boy. “Any hair you pick from her” - Cosgrove placed each of his hands into the other, popping his knuckles while cracking his neck - “You have to deal with me.” Despite his following growl, the Diamond Dogs merely laughed at Cosgrove’s threat. However, noticing his determined look, Sunset began figuring out his intention when he placed his “index” finger into his mouth, Cosgrove gave a sharp whistle. As if one cue, Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver leapt out of the bushes and began charging at the gang. Chelsey tackled Fido, Diver inched up to Spot, and Zipper rammed into Rover, Cosgrove joining him shortly. Sunset pulled Trixie away from the skirmish before the latter ran clean away. The former Canterlot student remained behind before turning around. Diver and Spot, both around the same size and girth, pushed and pulled each other, their shoes leaving marks on the grass. Spot pulled away a fist and punched her in the stomach. Down on her knees for a while, Diver curled up and somersaulted at the small Diamond Dog. After toppling over onto his stomach, Diver body slammed him, pinning him down. Zipper, the most agile of the four, toyed around with Rover, pulling his red jacket, kicking him in the ankles. At one point the leader grabbed him by the shirt and was just about to punch him. That’s when Cosgrove, the power side of the duo, rammed him. Rover pushed away the boy’s flailing “claws” and legs with one of his great arms when Zipper pulled his hair. Cosgrove then placed his feet onto Rover’s chest and began stamping him down. Despite being the tallest of the Freshman class, Chelsey was still outsized by Fido. They pulled and tugged at each other, but Fido’s upper body strength allowed him to lift her off the ground. Tilting her body, the large Diamond Dog punched her hard in the stomach before flinging her to the floor. Chelsey wrapped an arm around her stomach as she tried to recover. Fido clenched both fists and raised them up in the air. Just when was about to slam them onto the girl, he spotted a red and yellow blur coming right at him. Using Chelsey as a footstool, Sunset leapt onto Fido’s shoulders. She took off her jacket and wrapped it around his face. Fido reeled back as Sunset tugged at the sleeves, while constantly shuffled to avoid being grabbed by his arms. Chelsey slowly got up and rammed the brute, toppling him over. The freshman then wrapped around his legs, raising a fist. “YOU” - Chelsey punched Fido in the stomach - “PUNCHED” - she punches him again - “ME!!” Chelsey wrapped a fist behind behind her hand and slammed them onto his stomach. Fido managed to grab Chelsey and flung her at Sunset, tearing her leather jacket off his face. He then marched over and flung Cosgrove away. Rover, now free of one pest, grabbed Zipper by the hair before walking over to Diver and lifted her up. Now free of an organic dumbbell, Spot wheezed as he tried to recover. Tossing off the two asymmetrical halves of her jacket, she stood up, standing between her friends and the Diamond Dogs. The gang gave a devious chuckle. “Any last words?” Spot barked before giving a little chuckle. Cosgrove shuffled to four legs turned his head towards the gang and answered, “Hi Mom and Dad.” Suddenly, Spot was snatched away from the rest of the Diamond Dogs. Fido and Rover turned to find it was an adult woman with dark skin and white hair around Celestia’s size. It was his mother. When a shadow loomed behind them, they turned and found in front of them was a man of dark green skin, orange hair and stripes along his lower jaw and flaring red eyes. His body was laced with stitches and bullet wounds. His large build and expression to match, the Diamond Dogs whimpered before scattering off in the distance. The adult man turned his glare at the large group of teenagers. Cosgrove slowly stood up as his father, Clamp Jaw, and his mother, Claire, approached them. Claire hugged her son before Cosgrove kept her at arm’s length. Clamp Jaw furrowed his brow even further as Claire rose up to her full height. Cosgrove inched up to his parents. “We need to talk when we come home…” Cosgrove crossed his arms. Clamp Jaw looked at his wife before turning around. Claire joined him soon after. Cosgrove turned to his friends, curled a smile before joining his family. Sunset Shimmer turned to the remaining three classmates. Chelsey also curled a smile. “Now, we’re even.” Chelsey limped away with Zipper and Diver following her. Taking a deep breath, Sunset grabbed her tattered jacket and began her long walk towards home.
Chapter 7: Help is Needed (Part 2)Monday has come. School preparation procedures began as usual; Wake up, shower, get dressed, pack up, eat breakfast, go to school. When Apple Bloom walked up to the table, before Applejack joined her. “What’s up, sis?” Apple Bloom noticed the rather somber look on Applejack’s face. After fidgeting her food, Applejack answered, “Apple bloom, I need you to bring Cosgrove here after school.” Apple Bloom fidgeted at her request. “Is he in trouble?” The little Apple lowered her ears. Applejack looked around before leaning up to her. “This is just between us…” A few hours have passed when recess started. Apple bloom had an uneasy feeling from being told what her sister discovered. Sitting at the table with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, she spotted Cosgrove sitting alone at a hilltop. Rumble and Indigo Blue looked at him from a distance as well. “Maybe you should talk to him.” Indigo asked, leaning over to the Rumble Rumble turned his look away from Cosgrove “Colts don’t talk to other colts. We just” -Rumble gave a small nudge on Indigo’s shoulders- “give a good punch to the shoulders.” “That’s stupid…” “For a filly. To a colt, it’s 10 years worth of therapy!” Indigo still wasn’t amused. “Okay I’ll talk to him.” Rumble fluttered from the table and landed a few feet behind his yellow and purple friend. Sitting next to him, he noticed Cosgrove’s face was red and sleep deprived. Rumble looked behind and spotted Indigo, who gave a smug gesture and motioned him to ask. Rumble laid a soft punch to Cosgrove. “What was that about?” Cosgrove hissed “I don’t know…” “Rumble turned away for awhile then looked back at him - “You haven’t really said a word in class today.” “I never say anything in class.” - Cosgrove continued looking at the horizon - “You know that.” “But you haven’t sketched anything.” “Not in the mood…” “Maybe he doesn’t want to talk to you,” - Rumble turned around and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon behind them. Diamond walked up to the duo slowly - “Maybe he just wants to be with his own kind!” “Yeah among the freaks!” Silver Spoon added before bursting into laughter. Cosgrove began to snarl. Diamond walked back to her best friend, adding, “Yeah, what’s worse than being a blank flank than being a thing that even a mother wouldn’t love!” Those last few words, Cosgrove turned around, sized himself up to the light pink filly, and emitted a shrilling bray. Everyone on the students looked to the noise before seeing the two bullies run away in fear. Rumble tried to approach when Cosgrove gave a small yet threatening growl. Not wanting to risk what he just witnessed, he flew as fast as he could back to Indigo. “That’s why colts don’t talk to other colts.” Cosgrove sat back down on the hill looking to the horizon. His expression was still stern from what he just heard. He winced again when he heard the grass crunch. “For once can I be left-?” Twisting his body at those last fews words, he found Apple bloom right behind him with her ears and bow drooped. Cosgrove slowly turned back to his original position. Apple bloom began to turn around when she heard sniffling. She walked over to him and saw his face just bawling. Apple bloom sat down and wrapped an arm around him. Ms. Cheerilee, hearing the unusual sound as well, noticed the two foals together. She walked over to them, looking at them with a sorry look on her face. “Ms. Cheerilee” - Apple Bloom kept rubbing Cosgrove’s shoulder as she turned to her teacher- “could I take him home early?” Cheerilee answered with a slow nod. While lying isn’t a habit of the Apple Family, Cosgrove’s depressive state helped Apple bloom do as Applejack asked. Upon arrival, Cosgrove looked up to see the rest of the Apple Family along with Zipper, Diver, and Chelsey in the living room of the Apple Residence. Cosgrove looked at the table and found the newspaper articles from the train car. “You… You…” Cosgrove began shaking. “We’re sorry,” Diver slowly moved her tail back and forth “we thought you got over this after the past two years.” Cosgrove began faltering backwards until Applejack comforted him. “Please... Let us help you... Talk to us…” Applejack guided him to the table. Cosgrove breathed in and out heavily, then grabbed an article. “Night Dancer was a good friend, no, a parent. She’d never let me do any of the more exciting stuff.” -Cosgrove looked the other way before smiling- “But that’s what mother’s are for, right? They care for you. Sure we didn’t make enough to buy anything nice. But her love was everything.” Apple Bloom drooped her ears, “What happened to her?” Cosgrove gave a deep breath, “It was her birthday, and I wanted to give something for all the care she has done for me. Our performance was held at Prance. I used up my allowance on the most beautiful flowers. But I lost my way back. I looked everywhere for the big top. I bumped into a stallion, giving the cops time to cuff him. I was given a ride back to the circus when I saw… When I...” A memory flashed before him as medical personnel carried out a black bag. “Mama?” He walked forward when he was stopped by a younger Chelsey. She wrapped around him and began weeping. Cosgrove soon found out what was wrong and began struggling out of her grip. “Mama?! MAMA?! MAAAMMAAA!!!!” The flash ended. Cosgrove was just weeping, screaming, with Chelsey, Zipper and Diver sniffling as well. Applejack wrapped her arm around the colt and began hushing him. “It’s not your fault. There are things that you can’t control. There was nothing any of you could have done...” Applejack lead him to a picture of two ponies he hasn’t seen. To the right of the picture was a large orange stallion with crimson red hair and to the left a yellow mare with blonde hair. After giving the picture a good look, Cosgrove asked, “Your parents…?” Big Mac stepped forward before answering, “Eeyup…” Granny Smith approached the former circus pony. “It is noponies fault… Not all of us arrive together.” “What do I do? I miss her so much…” “Remember her, cherish her love…” Granny rubbed Cosgrove’s mane, “That’s what she would have wanted.” Cosgrove turned looked up at “Does the pain ever go away?” Granny Smith looked at her grandchildren; Big Mac turned his head away before giving a sniffle, Applejack slowly patted the floor as Apple Bloom embraced her older sister. The elderly mare took a deep breath and answered, “Only in time, young‘un. Only in time…” Cosgrove slowly rose from his haunches and hugged each of the Apple Family and his friends. The colt took a good look at the articles again before collecting them, filed them into a single pile, and slowly walked out the door. ... Back at the human world, classes continued and the usual back talk regarding Sunset’s current state of being still happened. But at least she now has four more classmates who believe in her. Now deprived of her jacket for the time being, she walked down the hall, trying to shrug off any of the insults thrown at her. “Sunset Shimmer,” Buzzed Luna’s voice through the hallway speaker “please report to the Principal’s office.” Some of the student body gave a sly laughter as she made her way to Principal Celestia’s office. Closing the door, Sunset sat in front of her former mentor’s counterpart. Celestia leaned forward, balancing her chin on her hands. “Is there something wrong?” Sunset asked. Celestia waved her hand, answering, “They have something to say.” Opening the door was Clamp Jaw and Claire walking to the sides of the office desk. Their faces weren’t vicious, but still serious enough that they meant business. “Mr. and Mrs. Thunderfoot…” Sunset gripped the arms of the chair. “We have heard much about you…” Claire stated, placing a hand on her hip. Sunset took in a big gulp as Clamp Jaw slowly moved towards her. “You blackmailed a few students, sabotaged last year’s Spring Fling, used two boys, stole a few permanent records, including my son’s, stole foreign property, DESTROYED SCHOOL PROPERTY, AND…” Sunset winced before a hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked up and found Clamp Jaw with a more somber look on his face. “Gave my son the courage he needed to keep me and my beloved wife together.” He wiped the tear away and took a deep breath before stepping back. Claire still kept a serious face when she added, “I don’t know why we’ve been kept out after the Fall Formal.” - She curled up a smile - “But I’m glad we had.” Clamp Jaw turned to the Principal, “Have a nice day.” The two large humans walked out of the room. “You are free to go.” Principal Celestia dismissed the student before returning to her work. As she left the room, Sunset found Cosgrove and his parents just after a group hug before leaving. Cosgrove leaned on the lockers, turned his head to his older peer and winked. Sunset gave a smile before winking as well. The next bell rang, parting them to go to their respective classes.
EpilogueIt was the coming Friday when the circus began to load up back into the train. Circus animals, aside from the ponies were placed back into their cages and pulled into the cart. The performers lowered their home tents. They still had one more show to do before lowering the big top. Zipper’s family just finished dismantling their tent just when he saw Cosgrove walk by. Chelsey dragged a few poles of her family tent when she saw him walk buy. Diver drained the pool as he walked by the Merpony. The three toed colt walked inside the “shrine car.” Flipping on a light, he turned over to a hanging curtain. He pulled the dusty sheet away and found an old suit. This suit had a red torso, green boots, a visor, and black cape. The colt slowly closed his eyes… “Cosgrove, come on! The show’s on in five minutes!” “Hang on, Night Dancer! I’m just trying to get the boots on!” “I can always leave without you…” As the earth pony turned around the colt, then around Pipsqueak’s size, suddenly jumped on her desk. “So, how do I look?” “It would be much more of a surprise had you finished dressing 10 minutes ago, Cosgrove.” “That’s right! I am Cosgrove, Colt Wonder!” “You sure are…” The earth pony walked out of their tent just as Cosgrove leapt over her. The colt hooted and hollered as he made several flips and spins in front of the crowd. The crowd began clapping. “This is the best day of my life!” The colt opened his eyes and looked at his reflection. His first childhood friends joined him. “I may do just one last show…” ... It was now lunchtime at Canterlot High. Taking a deep sigh, Cosgrove walked over to the empty table. Just as he sat down he was joined by another student. Chelsey was the first student other than Cosgrove to sit at the table. As Cosgrove continued to eat, Zipper and Diver joined in. “You know, since we are in a band…” Diver placed a hand on her chin, “We need a name…” Cosgrove leaned forward, “I’m open to ideas.” Zipper noticed the abstract sabretooth cat head on his yellow friend’s shirt, “what logo is that?” Cosgrove leaned back, “What this? It’s a Maximal logo, hand painted it myself.” Chelsey raised her head upwards, “That’s it,” She beamed, “We’ll be called Maximals!” Diver furrowed her eyebrow, “Why would we want to be called that?” “Think about it, we’re abnormal for our age.” Chelsey placed her hands on herself. “I’m tall, you’re-” Diver glared at her, “round…” She turned to Zipper, “You have multiple fingers and you have, well…” Chelsey could only go far on her complements. Cosgrove supported his head with his arm. It took him some time to process the idea as he eyed his friends. “Well if we are going to be treated as animals… Let’s prove them wrong.” The other “Maximals” warmed up to the idea. “Of course we would need to change the logo a little.” Just as Cosgrove finished, the cafeteria doors slammed open joined by the vocals of three new, but unusual teenage girls. ... The following evening, most of the ponies in Ponyville arrived, paid their tickets, and entered the big top. Many of the students also came over, including a dismayed Diamond Tiara since Cosgrove and Applebloom warned to tell her father what she just said about him the previous monday. Speaking of the latter, she along with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in their costumes looked from backstage, watching the massing crowd. “This will be so great!” Scootaloo “Cutie Mark Crusader Circus Performers,” The Crusaders clopped their hooves together, “Yay!” Zipper looked at the three fillies before turning to Cosgrove. “You sure youwanttodothisbecauseitisunlikelythatthesethreewouldearntheircutiemarksjustbyperformingwithus.” “It’s called a favor,” Cosgrove was just finished putting on a tailored version of his childhood costume, “She’s a good friend, I owe her that much.” Cosgrove looked up at the night sky. The group of circus ponies joined him. Diver nudged him, “She would be so proud of you.” “I hope she will find it okay...” “Maybe she has,” Chelsey wrapped an arm around him, “Maybe she sent you here.” Cosgrove continued to look as the stars twinkled. “Everypony!” The group turned to an announcer. “Five minutes!” Giving one last look at the stars, Cosgrove looked forward, a determined look on his face. “Okay guys…” - Cosgrove placed a mask on his face - “Let’s do this.” … At Canterlot High, the student body and alumni gathered in the gymnasium. They talked around and, in the case of the students competing in the Battle of the Bands, bickered with each other about who would win. The lights began dying down. Vice Principal Luna picked up a microphone. “And next up…” - Luna scanned the name - “The Maximals.” The competing students looked at the auditorium as the curtain raised up. Coming up to the spotlight was Zipper snapping his fingers in rhythm.
PrologueTwo Years, 1 Week before Today It was a blustery day at the city of Prance. A majority of the citizens were snuggled up in their beds, with no weakness from the cold. Further down the suburbs, the Barn and Bailey Circus was beginning to pack up for their next city stop. Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, Horses, even Merpony and Sleipnir were hard at work to get everything together. One of the Horses stopped and turned towards what was the entrance. Two middle aged Earth Ponies, one a chartreuse mare with red hair and a hula hoop cutie mark and another a brown stallion with blue hair and a lion taming cutie mark, were walking towards him. Noticing the sad looks on their faces, the large stallion gave a deep hug to the mare. After letting her go, the Horse lead the middle aged couple to a tent adorned with a cutie mark of two stars in a tango. When they entered the tent, they widened their eyes in shock. There was nopony there, the only evidence a pony was here was the hoofprints that scattered around the floor. One hoof print had a deeper mark than the others along with the imprint of a tummy. “Dear Celestia…” - Loopty Hoop tried to hold back her tears- “Keep him safe…” The Summer Before the Fall Formal A more recent and much more warmer time, it is now a more civilized area with cars and trucks, buildings of brick, wood and iron. Among them is a school, one of the most respected of the town. Suddenly, the school bell rang, allowing the school students to leave. However, a group of them were grouped around one student. “You better not spread your little disease, or I’ll be coming for you!” one shouted. The name calling continued as a pair of black boots walked toward the group. “Hey!” The bullies turned around before jumping back a few feet. This was Sunset Shimmer, who was well known in these parts. The red and yellow haired girl obviously meant business. “Every other hair you pick from him and you’ll be answering from me!” The group ran as fast as they could, leaving behind a boy with yellow and purple hair. His body was bruised but in no way too badly wounded. The taller student walked up to him. “You all right, kid?” The boy strained himself into an upright position, “I, think so…” The boy stretched out his hand, revealing the source of the bullying; he had ectrodactyly, a condition commonly called “crab hands.” “Thank you…” Sunset eyed the other way, then turned her back to him. “Well, be careful next time.” She walked away, not aware that the boy gave her a “what-was-that-all-about” look.
Chapter 1: An Early MorningIt was Nine O’clock on a very cool morning in Ponyville. Cosgrove awoke from his evening slumber. He stretched his mouth as he let out a yawn. “It’s time for school again…” he murmured as he stretched his hooves and dewclaws one by one, each with their own little pops. He hopped out of his bed with his left hoof reaching for his saddlebag when he suddenly flopped over to his right side, his right hind leg was still “asleep” from sleeping in an improper position. Shaking it awake, the colt made his way out the door when he heard a crunch under his hooves. He looked down at a new roll of newspaper. Stuffing it in his saddle bag, Cosgrove walked to school. Never the first student to arrive, Cosgrove weaved through his crowding classmates as they said their daily departing from their older relatives. Rumble, after saying goodbye to Thunderlane, caught up to Cosgrove and the two responded with a bro-hoof. The students sat in their chairs and began pulling items out of their saddlebags. Button Mash couldn’t bring his handheld consoles this time though at his mother’s discretion. Cosgrove again began sketching a costume. Once the lunch bell rang, all the fillies and colts ran out of the building. Sitting in their preferred benches, they unpacked their lunches and began to eat. Cosgrove unpacked his lunch just when the paper he received this morning dropped out of his saddlebag and revealed the front cover article. Lifting up the paper, the colt began reading. His eyes widened as he looked at the article. “Aw sweet! The Circus is back in town.” Rumble rejoiced. A few hours has passed before the end of the school bell rang. The students packed up their belongings and began walking out the door. “Cosgrove, can I have a minute with you?” The colt looked back at the source of the voice, none other than Ms. Cheerilee. After giving a brief bro-hoof to Rumble, Cosgrove walked over to the teacher. “Yes Ms. Cheerilee?” “You came from the Barn and Bailey Circus, is that correct?” “Yes, mam. They are just coming back to town.” “I usually don’t ask this, but would you give the class a tour of the Circus?” Those last few words, Cosgrove drew his ears back and eyed away from the teacher. Cheerilee knelt down, “I know that is asking much for someone-” “No, no! I am honored. Really I am...” Cosgrove noticed Cheerilee giving a worried look before warming back up, “When are we going?”
Chapter 2: The Name's CosgroveNot much has happened since the Fall Formal. With help from the Mane Five, what would’ve taken a few years to repair the front foyer and the front courtyard was repaired in a few weeks. Snips and Snails have cut their ties with Sunset and have constantly begged Trixie to bring them back. But wounds still persist. The bad moments Sunset has caused in the past have still been known throughout the school. Everywhere she walked, students either moved away in a huff or even said bad things about her out of earshot. Such actions among the student body continued on at lunch. As Sunset approached the the tray cabinet, a student cut in line, took the tray and moved on. She took out a small serving of fruits and vegetables and sat with her new friends. There was an awkward silence between them. “So, Sunset,” Rarity broke the silence, “How has your day been?” Sunset stopped eating, then slouched forward, laying her head on her arms. “Like any other…” She moaned, “I said I’m not the same anymore, why doesn’t anybody-” She stopped to notice Pinkie Pie holding a dry erase board tallying each good and bad day since the Fall Formal. So far, the score wasn’t in her favor. The pink haired girl placed it back into her hair before giving an embarrassed grin. Sunset slumped her head again. Applejack moved to the other side of the table and wrapped her arm around Sunset. “Sunset, let me tell you something my Granny told me,” Applejack began looking around the cafeteria, “Even if you pull out the bad nails in an old fence post, the damage will still be there. But you can always put better fence posts to make up the bad ones.” “And the point of that is?” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. Applejack scowled at Rainbow. “My point is, no one will care about you unless you prove yourself.” Sunset raised her head up, “For the entire school?” The rest of her friends became silent in their train of thought. “Uhm… Maybe start small.” Fluttershy whispered. Sunset raised herself back up on the table and watched as the Mane Five gave a reassuring smile before she returned a smile as well. It was ten minutes before three in the afternoon when the school bell rang. The students began walking out of their classes and to their lockers. Again, the routine of “Shun the Sunset” carried on. The former inhabitant of Equestria eyed around as she walked down the hall. “Start small, start small…” Sunset repeated herself as she walked by several groups of students. “With groups this big, what could be considered-” Suddenly she was bumped into causing textbooks to scatter the hallway floor. “Oh, I am sorry-” When she knelt down to pick them up, Sunset noticed something familiar about the clothes. Slowly she tilted her head up, revealing herself a familiar yellow skinned boy with purple hair on his head and lower jaw. “Uhm… Hi?” The boy raised his hand, revealing a familiar condition. Sunset snapped back into focus as she picked up the fallen books and stood up, towering him by half his body height. “Sorry I bumped into you.” Sunset handed the books back. The boy furrowed his brow. “Well, be careful next time.” The snide remark struck her again. Sunset watched as the boy moved around her to his locker. Upon reaching his locker, he placed the books he didn’t need and packed the ones he did need into his backpack. A thorough scan of the the locker later, he closed the locker, jumping in fright and falling flat on the floor at Sunset just standing behind the door. “Do you remember me?” She crouched down to his height. The boy, glaring at her, answered, “Well, let’s see, your face is one the wall three times in a row, you became some crazed bat lady, oh and let’s not forget how you just turned away after I said, “thank you” for saving my hide, so the better question is: do you know me?” Sunset scratched her hair nervously, then lowered her head in defeat. “No…” Sunset, her eyes still closed, slowly stretched out her hand “But I want to…” The boy looked at her hand then at her face before grabbing her hand with his three-digit manus. “Cosgrove.” Sunset’s opened wide at the sound of that name, “Name’s Cosgrove.” Sunset pulled him up to his feet. “Do you still want to talk?” Sunset asked of him Cosgrove flipped out one of Sunset’s notebooks and wrote: 1988 Great Valley Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado, 01954 “5 PM.” Cosgrove walked out of the building towards home. Sunset’s face drew a big smile. “Yes!” Sunset said excitedly as she did a win pose in front of everyone else. She blushed as they stared at her. A few minutes before Five PM, Sunset arrived by bus to a suburban part of town. Compared to the houses in the neighborhood, Cosgrove’s house was much larger, with a massive set of windows in front, though the backward had a lot of dead trees. She walked up the door and gave it a few taps. She rocked back and forth on her boots before hearing the sounds of heavy footsteps approaching the door. In front of her was an elderly man, around his 60’s, skin red with grey hair in as similar pattern to Cosgrove. His large height had Sunset feel intimidated. The aged man fidgeted his glasses, “Can I help you?” Sunset snapped back to reality again, “Uhm, yes, is Cosgrove home?” “You must be the person he was talking about at school,” He stepped aside and motioned his arm towards the stairs, “Make yourself at home.” Sunset walked up the carpeted stairs and stood at the windows in the family room. The way the sun began to set behind the tree line intrigued her. Everywhere else, it doesn’t become dark at the until well into 7 PM. She furrowed her eyebrow as she felt something on her boots. Sunset looked down and yelped onto the violet-red chair. It was a monitor lizard with similar colorations to the elderly man, but with lighter stripes on it’s back. The animal flicked it’s tongue, detecting the unusual heat signature Sunset is displaying despite being in a human form. “I see you’ve met Schnookums.” Sunset looked and found Cosgrove leaning on the wall, arms crossed, before walking over to the monitor lizard and lifted him up. Sunset cowered back as Schnookums’ face was at her level. “Don’t worry, he only eats the mice in the house.” He placed the reptile down on the carpet and nudge him away. He pointed one of his fingers to the kitchen before walking into said room. Sunset sat at the table before taking a sniff. She turned her attention to two crockpots hard at work to heat up whatever the scent belongs to. “Whatever you’re cooking is gonna be good.” Sunset smiled at the thought before turning to Cosgrove. “What are you making?” Cosgrove was just about to open a lid when he turned his head to her, “Kale and bison stew.” The fire haired girl shot her eyes open. There are after all bison in Equestria, and the irony of it all, the majority of the duplicates in this world also eat flesh. She just stared into the horizon, one of her eyes twitching at the thought when a steaming green bowl was placed in front of her. “Which is why I made a meatless batch.” Cosgrove added before walking to his side of the table and sat down. “So, have you lived here all your life?” Sunset asked curiously while fiddling a fork in the bowl. “Actually, I was born in Ashley Valley, Utah. But my family moved here to get away from the heat.” Cosgrove lifted the meat-chunked fork, took a bite, then raked it clean off the utensil. Sunset paid close attention to his hands; The amazing ability to still hold a fork and write with three fingers on each hand amazes her. But remembering when she first found the freshman student being beaten up, Sunset curled back. “Have you ever thought of… getting those operated?” Cosgrove stopped his hand and looked at his older peer. A silence made Sunset uneasy. That didn’t last long when a sound rang in his pockets. Cosgrove took out a relatively archaic cell phone for this day and age, flipped up the cover and answered it. “Thunderfoot Residence,” A moment of silence “Well… Is Dad going to come over soon? ...Oh… I see… No, no… I’ll be fine. ...I love you too. Bye.” Cosgrove hung up the phone and continued to eat. Sunset cocked her head, “You’re alone aren’t you?” “Well, my parents are police officers.” The former unicorn widened her eyes. “P-police officers?” Cosgrove nodded. “But shouldn’t one of them be at home with you?” “Yes. But you see, my dad was a former SWAT officer. But always placed his own safety below that of the mission. When they removed him from the force, he became a cop instead and always took on cases lasting several weeks.” Cosgrove placed the fork down. “Mom would try to be at home here and there, but duty calls her.” Sunset moved her index finger back and forth on the table, an uneasy look on her face. “Do you ever worry that they might… you know…” She notices the boy furrowing his eyebrow at his bowl of stew. She rises up out of the table. “I’m sorry-” “No,” Cosgrove raised a hand. “No, I know what you mean, but you’re not alone on that thought.” He looks at the windows as the city is swallowed in night. “It is late, better to come home before it gets too cold.” Sunset stood up and began walking towards the staircase before turning around. “See you tomorrow?” Cosgrove approved with a nod. As soon as she left his house, Cosgrove took out his phone again and began texting. “But not by myself this time.” He added.
Chapter 3: HomecomingPonyville The next day Ms. Cheerilee announced the field trip to the location the Barn and Bailey Circus would camp out. Permission slips were handed out to the students at the beginning of class. It was on Friday when the train registered to the Circus arrived. As per the meeting arrangement stated on the permission slip, the students and their relatives and guardians met up with Ms. Cheerilee at the town square. After taking roll, the whole “herd” began their trek to the site. While his classmates became more excited by the minute of their trek, Cosgrove kept a straight face, though he did respect their excitement. On the bright side, he didn’t have to answer questions such as, “Have you swung a trapeze,” or, “Have you been shot out of a cannon,” again since he arrived. They reached their destination. The fields of green where broken by unassembled tents of multiples colors with the big top already finished assembling. Though too early for the main event, there are still a few side attractions for visitors. The school group gathered around. Cosgrove stepped forward from the crowd and began scanning the area. He gave in a deep breath. “Not as how I remembered it, but this was my home alright.” Cosgrove answered to the large crowd when a shadow loomed over him. Cosgrove turned around to a peach-piebald horse filly with gray hair and eyes. Her eyes were wide open. “Hi Chelsey…” Immediately her mouth opened in excitement and scooped up the colt in one good swoop. Many of the crowd looked with confused faces. “It’s been so long!” Cosgrove gave a sly smile with an added squee. After the young horse placed him down, he announced, “Everyone, this is one of my childhood friends, Chelsey." The mare bowed her head to the crowd. “Say, my memory has been a little rusty,” Cosgrove looked to the her, “I was wondering if you could show them around?” “Sure! The others would like to see you, come on!” Immediately she began trotting away with the group following her. Indigo caught up to Cosgrove. “So was Chelsey you’re foal sitter?” she asked “What?” -Cosgrove had a double take -“No. She is just a child-childhood friend.” The unicorn eyeballed the larger mare, then back at him asking, “Then how is she-?” “Wait till you meet her parents.” As they continued around the assembling circus, a large gust of wind loomed past them. The group looked up, hoping to see the aftereffect of a Sonic Rainboom. But none was there. “Ahhh… Rainbow Dash didn’t do a Rainboom.” moaned Scootaloo Suddenly another gust of wind came in front of the group. When the wind slowed down, in front of them, they saw before their eyes a pony with eight legs and a yellow-red bicolor mane and tail. “First of all, the name’s not Rainbow Dash. As a matter of fact, I don’t recallanyonegivingmethenameRainbowDash. SomeponycouldonlyassumethatyoumaycalledmeDashtorefertomyspeed, butlackscertaincreativity.” The group looked with a confused look on their faces, much to Cosgrove’s chagrin. “This is Zipper, one of our circus’ daredevil extraordinaire.” Zipper gave a proud grin, not noticing Sweetie Belle looking at his most unusual feature. “Why does he have eight legs?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Because myfamilyandIareSleipnirs, myparentshavethem, theirparentshavethem, althoughweirdUncleWallywasbornwithonelegbetweenhis-” The fast talking pony suddenly got his snout clamped shut. “Thank you!” Cosgrove interjected. The group continued to follow the young horse around the circus. As they came across a large swimming pool, somepony was watching them. Sighting a familiar face, she surfaced. “Cosgrove?” The colt immediately looked to his left and spotted a light yellow-maned filly hanging onto the rim. She immediately submerged, then porpoised out of the pool. Her visage was also a surprise to the visitors. Aside from being somewhat heavily built for her age, she had a long hairless tail with flukes at the end. “Is that really you?” “It really is…” Cosgrove answered. A little later after introducing Diver, a Merpony, to the crowd, lunchtime began. The class sat in an open field a little distance away from the circus. Wanting to regroup with his old friends, Cosgrove sat with Zipper, Diver, and Chelsey. The latter three did have an uneasy feeling despite seeing him again. “Why haven’t you written to us?” the Merpony asked of him. “Well Diver, I have gotten into a few snags…” “Some big ones you might add?” Chelsey added “What do you mean?” “WellwehavereadtheTheDailyOathereandthere,” Zipper tossed the paper over to Cosgrove, “Notthatanythingisimportanttothematterathand.” Cosgrove started rubbing the back of his head before answering, “I… had quite an adventure…” The three began looked at each other then looked back at Cosgrove. Outside of their group, The Cutie Mark Crusaders, watching the conversation, began to ponder. “Would it be awesome to have them be part of the club?” Scootaloo wondered. “Ah’m surprised they haven’t earned their Cutie Marks yet.” Applebloom continued. “We could earn our Cutie Marks in circus performing!” Sweetie Bell added “Cutie Mark Circus Performers!” The three finished with a hoof clap between the three. The circus guests gave a surprised look at the sudden outburst. “Those… are some willy ponies…” Zipper answered. Cosgrove drooped his head and ears and looked away. “Thats what worries me…” A few hours later, it was time for the families to return to school. The Barn and Bailey Circus were waving and saying their goodbyes. “Don’t forget to come by to see us perform!” One of the circus ponies called out to the leaving crowd. As they made their way back, the students began complimenting the circus. “You have such unique friends!” Rumble stated “No wonder you are adventurous!” Dinky continued. “They would actually be proud!” Indigo said happily. “She most certainly would…” Cosgrove whispered. “Who?” Rumble asked “I mean, yeah! They would be proud.” Cosgrove restated. The group arrived back at school. After counting off each and every family, Ms. Cheerilee closed her attendance book. “Alright students, have a nice weekend! Don’t forget to see the circus!” The students and their parents/guardians departed the school and came to their respective homes.
Chapter 4: Old WoundsThe sun shone once again over the dark world. From a dark gray to a golden yellow, the light shined upon the room the Human Cosgrove and Schnookums slept in. Lined on the walls are costume art, shelves lined with action figures, a bookshelf, a desk a bed, and a large container filled with shredded bark. However, since reaching adult size, Schnookums has slept on his surrogate father’s chest. The sun warming it’s chilled blood, the lizard slumped off the bed just before the alarm rang. The boy in turn slumped over and slapped the alarm. He lifted his legs and hopped out of the bed. Walking to his dresser, the boy put on a purple shirt with a white circle in the middle, striped pants, and his tennis shoes. A good walk to the school later and the Cosgrove was again with Sunset Shimmer as she stood by the repaired front foyer. The two students began their walk down the hallway, again to the dismay of most of the student body. “Cosgrove,” The younger student turned his attention to Sunset, “does it bother you now that we are hanging out? Among all of them?” Cosgrove looked around, noticing how the student body began talking about this alliance. Even his classmates were talking. “Things change.” Cosgrove turned to find Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon conversing out of earshot before a slightly taller shadow loomed over them. “They don’t like it, tough.” The two girls walked away in a huff. Cosgrove walked back to his older peer while keeping a glare at them. “Besides, that’s why I want to show you my closest friends.” he added. “Closest?” Sunset asked “Yep,” - Cosgrove raised his hand -“Zipper, Diver and Chelsey are just behind these doors.” Sunset now looked really worried just as Cosgrove turned to the doors. “Wait,” - Sunset called his attention - “Maybe that’s not a good idea. You know what happened…” Cosgrove tilted his head down before turning around - “Wait here and I’ll give you the signal.” Soon he enters the room. As muffled talks are heard in the other side, Shimmer looked to her left. She rubbed her hand on a particular dent of the locker. She closed her eyes. Four days after the new school year A school bell just rang, releasing the student body to their next class, or to lunch. As if in sync, Snips and Snails sneaked out of a room labeled, “School Alumni Only.” They made a brisk pace across school, much to the curious faces of the Freshman students. They reached their destination: an isolated hallway. Sunset Shimmer, then in the wrong, was leaning on one of the lockers before glaring at them. “Took you long enough.” She hissed. Snails pulled opened his backpack and showed her their quarry: four individual files. Sunset face palmed, she just wanted one particular file. She snatched the files from him and took a good look at the one the name Chelsey on the label. As she walked down the hall, the information contained in the folder gave her a devious grin. This was much better than nothing. Just as Sunset turned to the hall on her right, she collided with another student. Looking up from the floor with a stern face, she was in front of this world’s Chelsey, wearing green pants and a grey shirt. The similar sized Freshman immediately knelt down. “Oh, I am so sorry!” Chelsey began picking up the folders in a rush. She stopped when she found Cosgrove’s picture. She looked at another folder that had Zipper’s name then another that had Diver’s name on the tabs. She tilted her head upward, her face clenched in anger. “You thieving-” “Chelsey!” - The freshman girl turned her glare to Cosgrove - “What’s wrong?” Chelsey rose to her full height before answering, “She has our academic records. Your’s, mine, Zipper’s and Diver’s!” Cosgrove gathered them up, noticing their names on the tabs, before he too gave a sharp glare. He and Chelsey began walking past them in the direction of the Principal’s Office. “Oh man!” Snails cowered behind Snips. “They’re gonna tell!” Snips added Sunset rose back on her feet, silencing them with a wave of her hand. “And how would you explain to them where you got those?” Sunset’s question stopped the two Freshman students before they turned around. “You know what happens to students who get caught with stuff like that?” Chelsey and Cosgrove looked at each other before giving each other a look that had Sunset curve a toothy grin. “So you can either give the files to me, or get in trouble.” - Sunset tilted her body, one eye opened wider than the other - “Your choice.” A long train of thought ran through his head before Cosgrove gave a deep breathe. Defeated, he walked over to the group of bullies. As he passed along the files, Snails gave a sly chuckle when Cosgrove tightened his grip, cracking a few hand bones. Giving one last glare, Cosgrove plodded off, Chelsey following him. Sunset gave another look at Chelsey’s file. “Wait a minute,” She gave the file a thorough look, “Oh this is just too rich! She’s the sister of that Senior from last year’s Spring Fling!” Chelsey stopped in her tracks. “How is it that she is my size while being a freshman?” -Sunset continued on, unaware that the piebald student was slowly turning around- “Talk about being the runt of the litter.” Chelsey gave a slow growl. “Oh, I wonder where she is now.” Sunset began laughing. Snips raised a pointed finger, “Sunset…” Their mistress turned around and found Chelsey just six feet away from them, her face snarling, nostrils flaring. “Janey has done nothing but eat ice cream on the couch all day, you bitch!” Chelsey roared. Shady Daze caught a glimpse of the conflict before running over. “Aw sweet, a school fight.” Cosgrove gave a sharp turn, there was indeed going to be a fight. Chelsey slowly began stomping her way to her older opponent, her hands clenched. Snips and Snails stood their ground against her. “Nobody gets to Shimmer without coming through us!” Snips performed a series of karate poses. It was in vain when Chelsey clutched his orange hair, lifted him off the ground and hurled him a few feet behind her. Now the student body was getting impressed. Chelsey turned her attention to Snails, who was curling into a ball as she approached him. When she lifted her foot, a yellow blur snatched her away from the scared boy. Cosgrove struggled to hold her. “Chelsey,” - Cosgrove bent his body backwards, lifting her off the floor -“He doesn’t deserve this!” “Your damn right he doesn’t deserve it!” Chelsey elbowed her friend before tackling Sunset Shimmer against the lockers. She pinned her arm against her adversary’s throat. Sunset actively scratched and kicked, trying to get free. To no avail, the piebald teenager prepared her fist. “Chelsey!” Cosgrove yelled when a loud thunk was heard. The hall was silent, the spectators looked in horror. Breaking the silence were the footsteps of Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna approaching the scene. They looked at the bruised Snips and the scared Snails before looking at what everyone else is looking. Sunset Shimmer slowly opened her eyes and found Chelsey staring at her, breathing in and out heavily. She looked to her left and found that her fist actually punched the locker. “Chelsey! To my office, NOW!!” Luna roared. Chelsey released Sunset Shimmer from his grip. She collapsed to the floor, coughing and wheezing to catch her breath. She looked up and saw the victor gave one last nasty sneer before Luna grabbed her upper arm tightly and pulled her away to the direction of her office. “Everyone return to their classes.” Celestia ordered before joining the other two. Sunset caught her breath before turning to Cosgrove, who just glared at her before joining the rest of his class. An hour later, Chelsey walked out of the front foyer, carrying her backpack. Halfway between the main building and the portal, she stopped and slumped to her knees. Tears welled her eyes as she pulled her hair in anguish before she screamed. Today Realizing the consequences she had done, Sunset began to tear up as well. While it is true that she was in the wrong at that time, what she did was unforgivable. Was this a small step, or was she walking into shark infested waters? That answer was made when loud stamping noises are heard behind the doors. Walking up the doors, she took a deep breath, then opened the doors. Inside were Cosgrove, Chelsey, Diver, in this world in similar girth to Snips, and Zipper, who had polydactyly, twelve fingers total on his hands. The latter three gave a hard glare at Sunset Shimmer, Chelsey in particular crossed her arms. “Hello…” Sunset gave a sheepish grin as she waved a hand. The three freshman students still kept their silent glare. Cosgrove walked between them. “Are you guys going to say something?” Cosgrove asked. “Did you just lose your mind when you wrote in her notebook?” Chelsey hissed. “You knew?” “I saw.” Diver answered Zipper fixed his gaze on Cosgrove. “Whyareyoufriendswithher?” - Zipper stomped over to him - “Sheisonlygoingtostabyouintheback!” Sunset gaped her mouth trying to understand what the fast talker just said. “Zipper, she said she was really sorry.” Cosgrove rebuked “Hmph!” - Diver added, her look still on Sunset - “Says the Canterlot Monster, and oh yeah, let’s not forget how she went all Zuul on us!” “Yes, that much is true.” Sunset lowered her eyes “But I didn’t know just how interacting with the Element of Magic worked then.” “Oh yeah, andwhatotherformcouldyoutake? AJackinabox? Arhinowhenyougointomutatedslime…” Zipper continued to sarcastically list all possible forms. Cosgrove’s face tensed as the list went on before he shut his eyes and- “Enough!!” Cosgrove roared so loud that the ventilation shafts rattled - “I understand Chelsey’s grudge, but what about you two?” “Because she would’ve taken over the world.” Diver reasoned, before being given a glare. “Shewould’veruinedourfreshmanyearsanyhow.” Zipper added, before given the same glare. “See?” Chelsey approached Cosgrove. “No matter what you do, Sunset cannot escape who she was. There is no good inside of her anymore!” Cosgrove turned around slowly, fixing his glare at the taller but still same aged teenager. “You know, just the past summer I was mugged by a bunch of punks, and you know who was the only one there?” Cosgrove turned his head towards Sunset. Chelsey gave the older teen an uneasy look. “As a matter of fact, where were you on my sixth birthday?” He turned to Diver and Zipper, “Where were you two when I was pummeled in an alley in fifth grade?” He stepped back “WHERE WERE ANY OF YOU WHEN I WAS PICKED ON THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR JUST HAVING THIS!?” He yelled as he raised his three fingered hands. “Some friends you are! You want to help me now, you can start by apologizing to her and me because for all I know you are no better than what she was before being blasted by…” Cosgrove flailed his arms around “rainbows!” Chelsey, Diver, and Zipper looked at him all appalled, by his words. Even Sunset was shocked at how Cosgrove talked to his friends. Cosgrove gave them a cold shoulder and began walking out the door. The former Canterlot student looked at the group of Freshman becoming ashamed before catching up to Cosgrove. “Was that really necessary?” Sunset pointed to them as they continued to walk. Not taking a glance at her, Cosgrove answered, “The only way they’ll learn…”
Chapter 5: Tears under the StarsSaturday came soon at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack and Big Macintosh rose up early in the morning, ate a quick breakfast, then began loading buckets around a select group of apple trees. It was around ten in the morning when they finished bucking half of the trees. Big Mac began loading the buckets onto the wagon while Applejack finished. Apple bloom woke up a little later, cleaned herself up, walked downstairs, ate breakfast with Granny Smith, and began her chores. Being a little filly, her current niche is handling livestock. After she fed the pigs, Apple Bloom grabbed a basket, walked into a chicken coop and began collecting the eggs out of each nest before checking off a list for which nest had or hadn’t laid an egg. After placing each egg in a carton, Apple bloom loaded them onto a sales wagon after her older siblings loaded the barrels. While they have gotten their work done by the early afternoon, usually Cosgrove would be there on Saturdays to help herd the cattle. Perhaps he was busy with a very elaborate costume needed to be done in a short while. Dragging the wagon back to the barn, they unpacked everything and sorted them by the color of the apple. This harvest was surprising, golden delicious apples were the second largest harvested apple, a place usually taken by granny smith apples. The evening began to roll on as the Apple Family sorted their produce. Once they finished, they returned to their house. While their meals aren't exquisite, they are good enough to satisfy a starved individual. Satisfied with said meal, the siblings cleaned up the table and loaded the dishes into the sink. "Ah'm gonna hit the hay." Apple bloom said after a long yawn. As the filly walked up the stairs, Applejack grabbed a rag and began to scrub the dishes. Granny Smith slowly made her way up the stairs and into her bedroom. Big Mac pulled out an empty folder, wrote the date of today's harvest and placed the documents in. Despite being a large stallion, Big Mac had just the neatest file cabinet, with just the extra space for this new folder. Suddenly a soft growl was heard from Winona. Applejack finished scrubbing on last dish and walked up to the border collie. "What's wrong girl?" She asked. Her ears rose up as she heard a soft sound coming from outside. When Applejack opened the front door, the sound was somewhat louder. It didn't sound like a howl coming from a Timberwolf. Otherwise it would be a sign of Zap Apple harvest time. Rather, it was a moan. "Big Mac, wait here." The farm pony trotted off. She followed the noise outside of the farm and into the town square. The noise came in shorts bursts, but whoever made them had an amazing set of pipes. Her investigation led her to an old house just outside the Everfree Forest. Applejack turned her head around and saw Cosgrove sitting there. She kept her distance as Cosgrove emitted a yowl at the stars. Something was wrong, and the Element of Honesty figured out where to start. The following morning, Applejack walked over to the Barn and Bailey Circus. She spotted Chelsey, Diver, and Zipper talking to each other as their parents practiced for their big acts. Chelsey spotted Applejack easily thanks to her fedora. “Oh it’s you, from the crowd on Friday. How’s Cosgrove?” The young horse asked “I’ve heard that he helps you with the farm.” Diver added out of curiosity. “That’s what Ah was gonna ask you about.” Applejack replied. The trio of circus foals closed their mouths. “Ah saw him crying last night, and he hasn’t come by to help out the day before either.” Zipper motioned his hooves to give them a moment. The three huddled up and began to whisper. Being honest doesn’t mean to intrude, Applejack kept her distance. The trio slowly came out of the huddle. Chelsey walked up to the farmer. “Come with us…” Applejack followed the three at a slow walking pace. Even Zipper didn’t didn’t move at his usual speed. Their heads hung low, something was up. They reached a train car with locks. Zipper raced over and back with the key and unlocked the door. Chelsey grabbed the handle and pulled very hard, slamming the door open. They climbed onto the train car. Chelsey and Zipper lent their hooves to help Applejack onto the train cart. Applejack looked around, but could make very little detail of what is inside. Chelsey flipped a switch, illuminating the inside with an occasional flicker. Lined up at the walls are newspaper articles and a desk. She looked walked to an article to her left and looked at it before walking to the next. “FOAL FOUND IN BEACH.” “FOAL IN CIRCUS CUSTODY.” Applejack looked at the desk and saw what appears to be an adoption parchment. “Under this process, I, Night Dancer, hereby adopt this foal under protection and satisfaction of law.” Right next to the parchment was a birth certificate, with Cosgrove’s name typed on the center and his infant hoof print, with a couple nubs from his dew claws, in the bottom. Looking at the wall to her right. Applejack looked at the photos of this so called Night Dancer and Cosgrove. She began eying one last article. When she walked in front of it, she began to read. Looking at the article Applejack’s eyes widened before looking at Chelsey, Zipper and Diver tearing up. Applejack took off her stetson and held it close to her chest. “Poor kid…”
Chapter 6: Help is Needed (Part 1)In the same day at the human world, life continued as usual. Students hanging out, parents going to work, and in Pinkie’s case, sweets being baked. Over at Sugarcube Corner, the Main Five and Sunset hung out, eating their own preferred delicacies. Outside of the usual student hangout, Chelsey, Zipper and Diver were walking over to Cosgrove’s home. Zipper was struggling to come up with a good apology. “Cosgrove,wewouldliketosaysorryfornotbeingthereforyoubecauseweweretoscared.” Zipper stopped for a moment, then shook his head. “Nono, thatwon’twork.” “Zipper, just “sorry” would do.” Diver turned her ashamed eyes to her friend as they just reached his house. “Nonoweneedtogivehimareasonthatwecouldn’tbetherefor-” “Shhh!” Chelsey interjected “HeyIamjustassorryasyouarebut-” “Listen!” The taller teen whispered before slowly leaning on the front door. A conversation was going on behind the doors. When Chelsey began to understand just what they were saying, she heard footsteps running towards the door. She tried to back away when the door slammed open, pushing her into the hedges nearby. Cosgrove ran past Zipper and Diver without saying one word to them. Lifting Chelsey off the hedge, they ran after Cosgrove. The grandfather of the house looked out from the front before closing his eyes. Sunset Shimmer was walking along the sidewalk near Sugarcube Corner when she spotted Cosgrove running on the opposite sidewalk, followed by his friends. Wondering what went wrong, she began following them. The long trail led Sunset to a section of the plaza called Turtle Park, so named because of the massive statues of turtle from various species placed throughout the area. She walked around the park before spotting Chelsey, Zipper and Diver at the statue of a softshell turtle conversing with Cosgrove, who sat in a curled position on the bottom end of the turtle. Sunset took cover behind the snapping turtle statue. “It’s also that… you know how we hardly see my parents.” The rest of the group looked at him with questioning faces. “Of course, they’re police officers.” Chelsey answered “They have to protect us.” “I know.” Cosgrove tilted his head around. “So why did you run from home?” Diver asked. “My parents…” Cosgrove answered “Yes, what about them?” Diver asked again “My parents are getting…” “They’regoingtobelaidoff?” Zipper asked. Cosgrove’s faced pinched before answering, “My parents are going to be divorced!” Cosgrove shouted into the air, tears streaming from his eyes. From afar, Sunset placed her fingers to her chin, a worried look on her face. Back at the main conversation, The gigantic freshman, polydactylic boy, and slightly overweight girl were appalled by this new fact. “...What can we do to help?” Zipper talked slowly for once. “Nothing…” - Cosgrove placed his face on his knees - “There’s nothing any of us can do…” “Actually there is a lot you can do.” The four freshman students looked behind them, seeing Sunset Shimmer walking towards Cosgrove. “You don’t know just how lucky you are to have parents, whatever your circumstance is!” Cosgrove hung his head low again, “How…” “By talking to them...” Sunset Shimmer softly replied. “Just as I tried… so many times.” Cosgrove embraced her. As Sunset wrapped her arms around him, Chelsey, Zipper and Diver joined in the hug. The moment was interrupted by a familiar scream. Sunset was the first to let go as the scream is heard again. “Trixie!” Sunset ran from the group of students into the surrounding foliage. In another clearing, she stopped and looked around. Hearing the scream again, Sunset continued to her destination. Trixie was being attacked by a school gang known as the Diamond Dogs. Back when Sunset was in the wrong, their absence was on of the good things about her being in the school. But now deprived of her power, gangs like these began lurching back for dominance. Trixie tried to run one way, only for Spot to get in the way. She then ran another direction only for the towering Fido to intimidate her. When Trixie turned around, she bumped into their leader Fido. “Gems!” - Rover stretched out his hands - “Give us gems!” “Trixie does not have any riches you desire.” - Rover focused his eyes at the star shaped hairclip before snarling at Trixie, prompting her to unclip it - “But she is willing to offer anything else.” “Leave her alone!” Both Trixie and the Diamond Dogs looked over to find Sunset Shimmer walking towards them. Rover and Fido paid no mind to Trixie as they approached their new challenger. Spot gave a cruel chuckle as his partners towered over her. Sunset closed her eyes as Fido clenched his fist and prepared to punch her face. “Hey!” “Ooooohhhh!!!” Rover pulled his ears down before turning around. “What now!?” It was Cosgrove standing in a straight posture. The Diamond Dogs looked in confusion at just one Freshman boy. “Any hair you pick from her” - Cosgrove placed each of his hands into the other, popping his knuckles while cracking his neck - “You have to deal with me.” Despite his following growl, the Diamond Dogs merely laughed at Cosgrove’s threat. However, noticing his determined look, Sunset began figuring out his intention when he placed his “index” finger into his mouth, Cosgrove gave a sharp whistle. As if one cue, Chelsey, Zipper, and Diver leapt out of the bushes and began charging at the gang. Chelsey tackled Fido, Diver inched up to Spot, and Zipper rammed into Rover, Cosgrove joining him shortly. Sunset pulled Trixie away from the skirmish before the latter ran clean away. The former Canterlot student remained behind before turning around. Diver and Spot, both around the same size and girth, pushed and pulled each other, their shoes leaving marks on the grass. Spot pulled away a fist and punched her in the stomach. Down on her knees for a while, Diver curled up and somersaulted at the small Diamond Dog. After toppling over onto his stomach, Diver body slammed him, pinning him down. Zipper, the most agile of the four, toyed around with Rover, pulling his red jacket, kicking him in the ankles. At one point the leader grabbed him by the shirt and was just about to punch him. That’s when Cosgrove, the power side of the duo, rammed him. Rover pushed away the boy’s flailing “claws” and legs with one of his great arms when Zipper pulled his hair. Cosgrove then placed his feet onto Rover’s chest and began stamping him down. Despite being the tallest of the Freshman class, Chelsey was still outsized by Fido. They pulled and tugged at each other, but Fido’s upper body strength allowed him to lift her off the ground. Tilting her body, the large Diamond Dog punched her hard in the stomach before flinging her to the floor. Chelsey wrapped an arm around her stomach as she tried to recover. Fido clenched both fists and raised them up in the air. Just when was about to slam them onto the girl, he spotted a red and yellow blur coming right at him. Using Chelsey as a footstool, Sunset leapt onto Fido’s shoulders. She took off her jacket and wrapped it around his face. Fido reeled back as Sunset tugged at the sleeves, while constantly shuffled to avoid being grabbed by his arms. Chelsey slowly got up and rammed the brute, toppling him over. The freshman then wrapped around his legs, raising a fist. “YOU” - Chelsey punched Fido in the stomach - “PUNCHED” - she punches him again - “ME!!” Chelsey wrapped a fist behind behind her hand and slammed them onto his stomach. Fido managed to grab Chelsey and flung her at Sunset, tearing her leather jacket off his face. He then marched over and flung Cosgrove away. Rover, now free of one pest, grabbed Zipper by the hair before walking over to Diver and lifted her up. Now free of an organic dumbbell, Spot wheezed as he tried to recover. Tossing off the two asymmetrical halves of her jacket, she stood up, standing between her friends and the Diamond Dogs. The gang gave a devious chuckle. “Any last words?” Spot barked before giving a little chuckle. Cosgrove shuffled to four legs turned his head towards the gang and answered, “Hi Mom and Dad.” Suddenly, Spot was snatched away from the rest of the Diamond Dogs. Fido and Rover turned to find it was an adult woman with dark skin and white hair around Celestia’s size. It was his mother. When a shadow loomed behind them, they turned and found in front of them was a man of dark green skin, orange hair and stripes along his lower jaw and flaring red eyes. His body was laced with stitches and bullet wounds. His large build and expression to match, the Diamond Dogs whimpered before scattering off in the distance. The adult man turned his glare at the large group of teenagers. Cosgrove slowly stood up as his father, Clamp Jaw, and his mother, Claire, approached them. Claire hugged her son before Cosgrove kept her at arm’s length. Clamp Jaw furrowed his brow even further as Claire rose up to her full height. Cosgrove inched up to his parents. “We need to talk when we come home…” Cosgrove crossed his arms. Clamp Jaw looked at his wife before turning around. Claire joined him soon after. Cosgrove turned to his friends, curled a smile before joining his family. Sunset Shimmer turned to the remaining three classmates. Chelsey also curled a smile. “Now, we’re even.” Chelsey limped away with Zipper and Diver following her. Taking a deep breath, Sunset grabbed her tattered jacket and began her long walk towards home.
