Over the course of the past year, the Human Equestrian world has dealt with its own set of ordeals, none as spectacular as the Battle of the Bands. It is with this winning that has earned Sunset Shimmer a place among her fellow classmates. While two of the Dazzlings, Aria Blaze and Sonata Dusk have begun making amends, Adagio’s whereabouts are currently unknown.
A few days after receiving his driver's license, Cosgrove drove to the Cloudsdale Airport. Paying for parking, the teenager made his way to terminal A. Patiently he sat on the bench at gate 93, amusing himself with an occasional tapping of his two conjoined fingers on his knees.
"Just as long as nothing wacky happens this time." He thought to himself, considering the last encounter with a pack of magical beings.
"Australia Aires now landed at gate 93." An announcer buzzed.
Cosgrove turned his head to the open gate, watching the passengers walk out. Children pulled their parents as they tried to move ahead of the business men, who groaned at having to carry their folders and luggage to their respective appointments.
One boy managed to spot Cosgrove as he dragged his suitcase to the gate. Upon exiting, he walked up to the yellow teen and hugged him at the waste. Cosgrove knelt down and hugged the boy, his white hair against his shoulder.
"Welcome home bro." He whispered
The two boys drove back to the Canterlot suburbs, back to the two floor building called home. In the first floor was an elderly man reading a newspaper. Hearing the door unlock, the adult looked and found both boys come in.
"GPT, we're home." Announced Cosgrove.
Tremor, or GPT as his eldest grandson called him, stood up and walked up to them. He lifted up the younger of the two.
"Welcome home Dapplewood!" Said Tremor happily with a slight Western drawl. He put down the boy before sitting back down on his chair. "So how was it?"
Dapplewood clenched his fists, brought them together then spread them out with a large smile. Cosgrove and Tremor chuckled.
"Well your mom and dad should be coming home in two hours" - Tremor leaned forward - "How about you get comfy?" Said Tremor
Dapplewood cocked his head. Cosgrove looked at his grandfather before kneeling to his little brother.
"We talked it over and... We felt there wasn't much of a point just going after criminals for several days straight."
Dapplewood gaped his mouth a bit before looking up and hugging his brother. He then leapt a few inches from Cosgrove before happily dragging his suitcase to his room.
Cosgrove lowered his shoulders before a red hand was placed on one of them.
"You did the right thing talking to your parents earlier. Dapplewood couldn't be anymore happy." Said Tremor before walking back to his newspaper.
The following evening after a good eating of kale and bison stew, Cosgrove and his parents eyed Dapplewood sleeping with a warm smile on his face and a dinosaur plushie in his arms. With a satisfied grin, they walked quietly to their rooms. Cosgrove laid back on his bed as Schnookums joined him.
"Tomorrow, we have quite a big day." Cosgrove said to himself before drifting into sleep
...
The morning shined bright on Canterlot High. The students made their usual rounds: talk, text, eat, rush through homework at the last minute.
"Sunset Shimmer, please report to the front hallway." Announced Vice Principal Luna
Sunset Shimmer, nowadays wearing a sky blue skirt, jeans, and a different jacket and boots, walked up to the front door and found both Cosgrove and someone new to her.
"Oh and who is this, Cosgrove?" said Sunset as she bent down to the boy’s height.
"This is Dapplewood, my brother."
Dapplewood waved his hand at the taller teenager.
"Oh," - Sunset rose up to her full height - "you never told me you had a brother."
Turning to the younger boy, Cosgrove asked, "Can you give us a little moment?"
Dapplewood sat on a bench near the front door. Cosgrove tapped his fingers together.
"He was away for the Australian Foreign Exchange for the Deaf Mute."
Sunset then eyed the younger boy as he idly shuffled around.
"You see, Dapplewood's vocal cords don't function. I am the only one who can communicate with him."
"Why didn't you tell me that he was gone?" Sunset waved a hand at Dapplewood.
"It was in that year when you..." - Cosgrove tilted his body to the right - Well..." Sunset looked as well to the now blank wall where her Fall Formal/Spring Fling pictures were.
"Should I tell him?"
Cosgrove looked around the school. Knowing there hasn't been any backlash since the Battle of the Bands he answered,
"Let him know the person you are now."
Sunset nodded as the two high schoolers walked back to Dapplewood.
"Dapplewood, this is Sunset Shimmer. She will show you around throughout the school day. If anything goes wrong, come and find me." Cosgrove handed his class schedule to his younger brother when the five minute bell rang. "Have a nice day."
Sunset motioned her hand the other way, prompting the little guy to follow her. Their first stop was at the math class, lead by Square Root. The students groaned as he gave the students the new test. As a joke, he gave Dapplewood one for him to try. Being a mere ten year old, the equations were new to him, but he grabbed a pencil and began to write his answers. Garble, eying the boy, gave a chuckle-
"Garble!" - Shouted Square Root - "Mind yourself!" The red head snapped back into focus.
Dapplewood was among the last to turn in the test. Once the school bell rang, the teacher first took a look at the prospective student's copy; it was a jumbled mess, but that didn't upset him.
After the next few classes, lunch period. Dapplewood sat with Sunset along with the rest of the Rainbooms. They gave a good look at him.
"Dapplewood, these are my friends: Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie." Sunset and Dapplewood sat next to her friends. "
"So squirt," Rainbow Dash ruffled the boy's hair "got any awesome relatives?"
Dapplewood looked around before pointing at Cosgrove sitting across the cafeteria with his friends.
"Cosgrove has a brother?" - Rarity asked of him
"He just came back from Australia." Sunset answered
Pinkie gave a shocked gasp before reaching into her hair, pulled out a green balloon, blew it up, ran to the culinary and back with a vanilla cake slice icing that spelled "welcome home". Rainbow Dash gave a weird look as her pink friend smiled with an added squee.
"Wow, I've never been to Australia before." - said Fluttershy - "Have you seen any kangaroos?"
Dapplewood placed his right index and middle fingers on the table and motioned a hopping action. After a few bounces, he laid his wrist down, curled said fingers then sprang them out. He pulled down his collar and rubbed the fingers across his chest.
"Whoa..." Admired Rainbow Dash
Cosgrove was watching the whole ordeal with Chelsey, Zipper, Diver, and Indigo Blue was sitting across from him.
"So you think that Dapplewood could graduate?" Indigo caught his attention "Seeing as he's... Mute."
Cosgrove fingered his chin, "Come to think of it, while Night Dancer and I were picking him up from Preschool, I overheard her asking the same thing. And do you know what the teacher said?"
Indigo furrowed her eyebrow as Cosgrove raised his hands.
"Not really." Quote - Unquoted Cosgrove.
Three hours later landed Dapplewood in one of the last places a boy his age would want to be: Girls gym class. Sunset Shimmer went away to change clothes, leaving him at the mercy of students around his brother's age. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were pulling his cheeks before Spitfire blew a whistle.
"All right girls, leave the kid alone!" The fire haired teacher yelled.
Dapplewood laid limp on the bleachers, recovering from the admiration. Upon regaining his senses, Dapplewood looked around as his brother's older classmates competed in a variety of games, though Rarity, not wanting to chip a nail, sat this class out.
What got his attention though was Applejack and Chelsey playing tug o war. Since first arriving, the tall piebald sophomore had a respectable competition with the Apple Farmer, but every time, a family of body building is no match for years of lifting Apple barrels, wrangling cattle and the likes. This time, Chelsey really was practicing. Slowly, she pulled the rope as the farmer strained to maintain a foothold. Looking left and right, the little boy then gave a devious smile.
Chelsey was just about to make one last pull when she her body twitched. She tried to keep herself under control, but it was just too much for her. She let loose of the rope, causing Applejack to fall onto the green grass. After picking up her stetson, the farmer found her freshman rival rolling back and forth with a bellied laugh as Dapplewood tickled her sides.
Chelsey sat up, grabbed the boy and wrapped him in her arms as a shadow loomed over the two. Applejack lend her hand and pulled her to her feet.
"Good game, sugarcube." Applejack complemented
"Still there for a" - Chelsey rubbed Dapplewood's hair in a frazzled mess - "proper rematch."
The final bell rang as the teenage girls changed out of their gym clothes. Cosgrove waited in the front hall just as Sunset and Dapplewood approached him. The smaller boy hugged his bro.
"Were there any problems?" Cosgrove asked
Sunset looked up and recalled a recent memory. In the music room, the Rainbooms were practicing a new song. Just as Rainbow Dash began to play a solo, a saxophone was heard. The band turned and found Dapplewood effortlessly playing the saxophone to the notes of the solo. He eyeballed the silent band, then to Rainbow as she was just about to blow her fuse when Fluttershy began to beat her tambourine to the tune followed by Pinkie tapping the drumset. Rarity added a little synth to her keyboard guitar before Applejack began playing her bass guitar and the song continued.
"Wondered what the Saxophone was. So, see you on Monday?"
"Always."
The Thunderfoot brothers made their way to the CRV when Dapplewood stroke his hair before shaking his hand.
"Yes, her hair is like bacon."
...
There is another problem though. Because Dapplewood returned from an exchange program near the end of the school year, he wouldn't have to go to school until August. The result would be a good two months of boredom. Cosgrove needed to find Dapplewood a place to go. He alone volunteered at Sweet Apple Acres for personal reasons. But farm work requires communication, and Dapplewood wouldn't fit well.
Then it occurred to him. Fluttershy was always wanting to find additional volunteers at the animal shelter. A person who doesn't talk much goes well with a mute one. Taking a little tour of the shelter, Dapplewood felt content; usually he wouldn't find himself with a large energetic pet, but the closest were rabbits and ferrets. Signing the volunteer form and attending an initiation event, Dapplewood was now part of the community.
A few days later, Dapplewood was scrubbing one of the empty kennels when he spotted a rabbit run past him. Dapplewood eyed to his left as a large object toppled him over. He opened his eyes and found him face to face with a girl his age. The two children got up and merely stared into each other. The girl then began making hand gestures to introduce herself. Dapplewood gave a little smile as he introduced himself as well. Louder footsteps were heard as a larger woman approached the children.
"Aw that is sweet! Oh" - The woman approached the boy and tapped her ears. Dapplewood tapped his then gave a thumbs up. She continued with additional gestures to have the girl understand. "Well I am Strawberry Syrup and you already know my daughter Golden Caramel. And who is this?"
Golden Caramel responded with a few hand gestures.
"Dapplewood? What a cute name." Said Strawberry as the boy gave a warm smile. "You know, we are having a birthday party tomorrow" the woman gave him an invitation. "Why don't you come?"
Dapplewood scratched his head, and gave an uneasy look to the girl before looking at her mother and giving two thumbs up.
An hour later, Dapplewood wrote his check out time and rode on his bicycle to his home. The house contained the scent of apples. Reaching the living room, he found Cosgrove sitting on a chair, his left foot in a bucket of apple cider, wincing as he pulled out a quill and putting in on a tray. He looked to his brother before reaching down again.
"Hi Dapplewood," - Cosgrove yanked a quill -"How was the shelter?"
The smaller boy shook out of the trance and began making hand gestures. One of which caught his brother's attention.
"Oh... That is interesting."
Dapplewood then took out the invitation and made a few unsure gestures.
"You could show off your saxophone skills."
Dapplewood tapped his ears and waved his index finger. Cosgrove softened his expression before leaning forward.
"My advice to you then is to give a little "hello" gift, something obviously better than this." Cosgrove just before he lifted his quill covered foot.
Dapplewood fingered his hair before snapping his fingers and ran to his room. Cosgrove dipped his foot back to the mixture and resumed his treatment.
Dapplewood shuffled through an old box. He looked and shook his head as he tossed a few novelties such as a Garindan doll, a pinewood derby train, and a rubber duck. His eyes widened when he pulled out an old Furby doll. He placed it on his desk and gently washed it with a damp cloth before searching for his Joyboy Color and scavenged the batteries. He inserted them into the bottom of the toy. The Furby's lit up and began to flick its ears.
“Hello!”
Dapplewood waved his hand.
“Much Happy! Must play!”
Dapplewood waved his finger and reached down.
“Uh Oh.”
Dapplewood pulled out a dry erase board, scribbled on it, and showed it to the furby.
I am giving you away-
Dapplewood erased the words, and wrote new ones.
to my new friend for her birthday.
The Furby remained silent, even when the boy gave him a questioning look.
“Dapplewood, can you get the bandages in the kitchen cabinet?” Shouted Cosgrove outside the room.
Dapplewood gave his toy one last look before walking out. The Furby squinted and drew it’s ears back.
“Boo…”
After tending to his brother’s foot and hanging the invitation onto the fridge, Dapplewood returned to his room with a box and gift wrapping, only to find the Furby mysteriously disappeared. He looked around the desk, under the bed, inside his dresser, and the closet but no sign of it. Dapplewood merely raised his shoulders before walking out.
After dinner, Dapplewood slept peacefully, unaware of the impending danger.
...
Cosgrove left in the morning to Sweet Apple Acres, leaving his brother to sleep in for the party. It was 11 AM when he shifted from his sleep and found the Furby on top of him, a knife pointed at his chest.
"Bye-bye."
Eyes widened and lips pursed, Dapplewood flipped the covers over the Furby and rolled off the couch. The toy shredded the covers and jumped on the boy. Outside his room, Tremor heard the commotion. He turned back to his newspaper.
"Kids these days..." He murmured before biting off a piece of toast.
Dapplewood flung the toy to his desk. The Furby turned to the boy.
"Time to go..."
Dapplewood bared his teeth with a hiss seeping through The toy leapt to the air as the boy raised his fists. Upon closing in, Dapplewood slapped the toy the ground and applied pressure with his foot. The Furby made a sound as if screaming before muffling out. A slow but steady crunch ended the toy's life.
Dapplewood slowly lifted his foot as he faltered back to his bed. His flicked his ears to a "legend of Zelda" jingle. He turned to his custom cocu clock, it was almost time. He rushed out of his room grabbed the invitation off the freezer, hopped on his bike and rode off. On weekends, traffic is big on Main Street. Dapplewood pondered on what to do when he heard a police siren. A cop car pulled up next to him. Rolling down the windows, the cop in question was his mother.
"Need a police escort?"
Dapplewood hooked the bike to the carriage attachment and hopped into the passenger seat. The address took them to another house. At the front was a vegetable garden, but none too spectacular. The car pulled over to the front. Dapplewood unhooked the bike and walked to the driver’s side.
“I’ll have Cosgrove come by and pick you up when you’re done.”
Dapplewood shook his head before walking up the stone stairs. All around him were children with similar problems; at least two were blind, a few with learning disabilities to say a few. As he leaned his bike on the wall he spotted Mrs. Syrup and Golden Caramel.
“So glad you can make it.”
Caramel took his hand and ran into the festivities. They were placed in a group for the Deaf Mute to play charades. After a few rounds, they walked to the area of the blind and got first hand experience in writing in braille. Dapplewood and Caramel had a few letters mixed up as well as where to capitalize letters and punctuation, receiving a heartfelt chuckle. As they continued writing, Derpy and her sister Dinky placed a new batch of raisin muffins on the table.
"Muffin?" Asked Derpy, before being translated by Dapplewood.
It was a few hours later when Cosgrove drove over to the house. He saw Dinky on top of the stairs. The other guests have left. The two Sophomores walked through the grass in silence. They came across a touching sight.
Dapplewood and Golden Caramel were resting under a tree, with the latter's head on his shoulder.
Cosgrove gave a small chuckle joining Dinky and began eating a muffin.
Author's Note
The story regarding Dapplewood's preschool teacher saying that he might not graduate actually happened in my life because I have a slight learning disability that has become evident to my parents. Fortunately I proved them wrong.
