//------------------------------// // Clowning Around // Story: Fair of Wonders // by Zubric //------------------------------// Applejack’s day started like most days for her. After getting Apple Bloom ready and sent off to school, the farm mare headed out into the fields, having only momentarily spotted Big Mac before he had wandered off somewhere out of sight. She shrugged it off at first, figuring he had just gone for a short morning stroll before work, but as an hour ticked by, he had yet to return. Even stranger was the Carnival music heard in the distance, even from her farm. She suddenly paused after bucking a few more trees realizing that she had no memory of ever hearing about a fair coming to town. Figuring that the fair was in the same direction her brother had wandered off in, she trotted onwards towards it, determined to find him so they could get back to work. After all, there was no time for fun and games while farm work needed to be done. Flags of almost every colour fluttered in the breeze as Applejack trotted towards the gate, eyes taking in the sight of the numerous tents and attractions. She’s left baffled as she stares, muttering softly, “How in tarnation did I not notice this fair before? It’s so big.“ Finding that admission was free, she quickly made her way inside, weaving her way through the crowds, keeping a sharp eye out for Big Mac. There was no way to tell if he had gone into the fairground, but a strange thought in her mind subtly told her to keep looking regardless. Applejack, after all, wasn’t the sort to ignore a gut instinct. Moving deeper into the fair, she passed through a section with various games on either side of a dirt pathway. Despite how alluring they seemed to be, the farmer kept her focus. During her search, it took her no time at all for her to notice the unmistakable sight of Rainbow’s bright mane poking out from amongst the sea of ponies. Figuring that her friend could help her look, she approached from behind, watching as Rainbow tossed a few gold rings, which landed perfectly on some long poles. As Rainbow cheered,  Applejack spoke up. “Hey Rainbow, have you seen Big Mac around?”  Rainbow jumped at first startled wings glaring in surprise. She turned and smiled. “Oh hey, Applejack. Come to have some fun for a change?” She teased, poking Applejack in the chest.  Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you be working too?”  “What? It’s my day off.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Why would I work on my day off? That's something you’d do.” She teased, peering around at all the events.  “Yeah yeah, but have you seen Mac? He wandered off and didn’t come back.”  “Maybe he is just enjoying himself. This fair is amazing.”  Before Applejack could reply, a tall brown stallion with a rainbow-brimmed top hat approached. “Why, thank you.” He smiled, tipping his hat. “I’ll do my best.”  “And who are you?” Applejack asked, getting an odd feeling about the stallion. “My mane is Top Hat Progenitor of this fine fairground.” He approached the farm pony giving her hoof a shake. “I hope you are having a wonderful time here today.”  Applejack pulled back her hoof, shaking her head. “I just came in to find my brother. We have farm work to do.”  Top Hat pulled out a red button giving it a quick push, surprised when it made no noise. “Oh, we got a buzzkill.” He remarked, tossing the button away.  “What, I am not. I’m just focused.” Applejack snorted, stomping her hoof. “Come on, Applejack. There are all kinds of things to do here. Why not have some fun as you look?”  “I don’t have time to clown around,” Applejack said, feeling another odd impulse. “Clowns? Oh yes, we have those around somewhere. Clowning around is fun,” Top Hat remarked with a smile.  A few sparkles shined off Rainbow that went unnoticed by the group. “Yeah, you should have some fun! You can even hang with me while you search,” Rainbow said, nudging her friend on the shoulder.  “But I didn’t bring any bits,” Applejack said, hoping it would work. “I haven’t been asked for any bits yet.” Rainbow pointed out, rolling her eyes.  Applejack sighed, “fine!”  Top Hat grinned, gesturing down the path. “I believe I saw Big Mac go that way if that helps. But please, goof around if you want ” With that, he tossed down a smoke bomb and vanished as Applejack and Rainbow coughed.  When the smoke cleared, ponies who had witnessed the scene resumed whatever they were doing. “Top Hat sure is strange,” Applejack said, adjusting her hat. The multi-hued circus tents standing tall a few rows away caught her eye. “Is this a carnival or circus?” She asked, looking at Rainbow with a raised eyebrow.  Rainbow shrugged as they made their way past a few stalls. “I don’t know, I’ve seen all sorts of activities. It even has a dog show. How weird is that?”  “I don’t know sounds like somethin Rarity would like. Besides, I’m more into rodeos.” Applejack said, scanning the crowd for her brother, taking in all the happy sounds around her. It wasn’t long until they reached a sizable open area, short hay bales surrounding it. In the center were two large rubber balls striped in alternating colours. Having an idea, Rainbow flew over the two bails, chuckling. “Bet I could balance on this better than you can,” she taunted. Applejack felt tingly as she followed her friend over. “Ha, that's somethin a rodeo clown would do,” she laughed, poking at the red and white ball. “Afraid you’ll lose, huh?” Rainbow teased as she nudged her ball with her hoof. “I ain’t afraid of nothin!” Applejack retorted. “You’re on!” A few ponies gather to watch the sight, amused as the two fail to get on top of the balls at first. Rainbow was slightly better off using her wings to try and balance, only to fall off just the same. Despite the failures, the two didn’t give up, making faces at each other as they kept trying. After a few minutes, the two mares managed to climb up on them, wobbling as they learned. The small crowd chuckled, entertained by the show, but the two mares were too focused on their dare to notice. Applejack had her hooves out to her sides as she floundered, glaring at Rainbow. “You’re cheatin! Stop using your wings.” “I am not!” Rainbow retorted, her wings indeed spread out like her hooves. Applejack’s eyes narrowed as she moved her ball, rocking it into Rainbow’s, causing the pegasus to flail, flapping her wings to catch herself. “Ha, I knew it! Now cut that out, cheater!” Rainbow caught herself and groaned. “Fine, but I don’t have the fine earth pony skills.” She thumped her ball into Applejack’s ball as payback, closing her wings to her sides. As they kept up their act, Rainbow kept her glance on Applejack, wondering how long her friend had a red apple painted over one eye and pear over the other. The crowd started to grow as the two circled each other, taunting one another as they attempted to bump each other's ball while keeping balanced. “Oh, they should juggle.” One filly called out, suddenly tossing out small plastic balls at Applejack. Applejack gasped and instinctively reached out, snatching them up before starting to juggle them without a second thought. A few balls almost fall, but she manages to catch them just in time. The gathered pones clap at the act. “Hey, are you trying to outdo me?” Rainbow said, bumping Applejack’s ball again. She didn't notice that she had white paint over her muzzle with a blue triangle over her left eye. “Ha, you are just jealous.” The farm mare stuck her tongue out, tossing a few balls across to her friend. Rainbow squeaked. “Oh yeah, I’ll show you!” She began to juggle alongside Applejack, watching as the audience around them grew. The more the crowd cheered, the easier it became for the two mares to goof around. Soon enough, they were balancing on one hoof as they juggled. Amongst the ponies watching, baby Twilight was there too, unable to help but coo in delight. It was strange at first, but they just seemed so silly. Across the ring, Spike and Ember watched the show as well, both seeming puzzled. In Ember’s claws was the Big Mac plush. Spike had told her to keep it for a while since it was a sharing doll. The Dragon Lord continued to blink as she watched the act before her. “Um, are those your friends acting like uh...what’s the word again?”  “Clowns?” Spike replied, munching on a gem as the juggling balls passed between the two mares. “Yeah, that’s it, clowns. They don’t normally look like that do they?” “No, not really, but it’s fun to watch,” Spike said, eating another gem happily. The two mares had hardly noticed the commotion around them as they tried to one-up each other. From the crowd, somepony tossed a small horn towards them, Rainbow catching it with ease in her mouth as the pegasus gave the bulb a squeeze letting out short honks in Applejack's face. The farm mare gasped and tried to roll away from the noise, but the rainbow clown kept pursuing her, keeping up as they circled the arena, all while continuing to juggle. Rainbow’s mane had poofed out, morphing into the perfect afro clown wig. Top Hat came out from the crowd clapping his hooves as he watched. “Oh, how wonderful the clowns are here,” he remarked, clapping to get the attention of the two mares. “Come along, you two.” Rainbow honked her horn, following behind Top Hat without a second thought with Applejack right behind her, proceeding into the backstage of a big central tent. The back room was full of various props and costumes and another section with a few animal cages. Top Hat smiled at the two. “Well, while you two sure have the energy, you need to look the part as well.” He waits for the two to hop off their balls and stand in front of him before he opens a wardrobe nearby. “Now, Clownbow Dash, since you like your horn so much, I have just the shoes for you.” Rainbow honked her little horn happily as Top Hat retrieved special shoes with small horns sticking out the sides, the middle of the hoof having a tiny airbag to make the horns honk. Slipping them onto her forehooves, he pulled out a patchwork jester attire next decorated in blues and yellows along with green squares. Letting the pegasus slip it on, he turned his attention to Applejack, slipping a big red nose to muzzle. “Now it’s your turn, Rodeo Jack.”  “Yeehaw!” Applejack cheered, pinwheeling her forehooves and smiling ear to ear.  “That’s the spirit! '' Top Hat said with a flare as he retrieved Applejack’s attire. The patchwork pattern was similar to Rainbow’s, but hers were red and green with yellow stars printed throughout. In a flurry of limbs, the cowmare was all dressed up along with a matching silly hat. “There, don't you look the part.” As Rodeojack was about to speak, a cream pie suddenly smacked into her face, followed by a horn honk from Clownbow. Letting out a gasp, she pulled out a water spritzer from thin air and fired a full blast into her friend's face.  Their rivalry continued for several minutes before Top Hat pulled open a flap that led into the main ring area of the tent, directing the two through abs watching as the many eyes in the bleachers caught sight of them. As the crowd laughed at the shenanigans, the charismatic stallion slid to the other side of the tent and peered into the open carnival, soon spotting a certain yellow and pink pegasus. “Good, she’s right on time.”