//------------------------------// // The Flying Graysons fall to earth // Story: Nightwing // by ZettaGolden //------------------------------// The steady sound of a mallet pounding against wood reverberated through the camp. Travelling construction crews walked this way and that, carrying supplies and work materials from one location to another. The lions had to be fed, the concession stands and gift shops erected, and the performer’s temporary make-up and preparation area had to be set up as well. Not to mention the colossal big top tent that the circus performed its main attractions in. Tightropes, trapezes, trick rings, and stationary stilts had to be set up and checked for safety, performers had to practice their new acts to wow and dazzle the crowd. The lion tamers, strong men, and ‘freaks’ were all out, practicing their own individual routines by themselves, before the grand rehearsals began later once the camp was set up. Big Top, owner and ringmaster of the Cirque du Triomphe, gazed on proudly from the top of the only set of stands that had been built so far in the huge circus tent. He had worked his entire life to create the single greatest performing troupe in all of Equestria, and perhaps even beyond. Now, it seemed his work had paid off. The Cirque du Triomphe had travelled all over Equestria, performing in various locations and earning quite a name for itself. The overweight ringmaster twirled his handlebar mustache between two white gloved fingers, reflecting on his –almost surprising- success. Everywhere that his troupe had performed, they weren’t just a hit; they were a colossal success. All across the kingdom, Big Top and his team had earned rave reviews on the sights and wonders his circus had to offer. But one act in particular was favoured over all others, and Big Top knew it. The Flying Graysons. The ringmaster smiled to himself as he considered how fortunate he was to have a family like the Graysons under his employ. John and Mary Grayson had approached him when, five years ago, they were faced with the prospect of raising their only son, Richard, while both of them were unemployed. As luck would have it, John Grayson was an outstanding gymnast, having even won a gold medal for it in the world championships. His wife was extraordinarily talented too, and the passion the two of them had for each other was practically palpable. It was this reason that their act was so popular. Working the trapeze was all about trust. Trust in yourself to be able to pull off daring flips and twirls while working fifty feet in the air, trust in your equipment, and most of all, trust in your partner. If you lacked trust in even one of those things during a trick, you would fail and fall to the ground below. The complete and total devotion Mr. and Mrs. Grayson had for each other was obvious even during their act. They leaped without hesitation off of platforms and narrow stilts, knowing that the other would be there to catch them. And so, the net was removed during a performance, to add another layer of excitement. To top everything off, even Richard had appeared in the shows at the last two locations, Las Pegasus and Manehatten. The fact that an eight-year old boy was fit, agile, and brave enough to perform acrobatics right alongside his parents was almost too much for the audience to behold. People travelled to the travelling circus, following it from location to location to experience its splendors again and again. “Yes,” Big Top thought to himself as he puffed his chest out in pride, “I’ve done alright for myself.” “Behold!” Richard Grayson stated boldly, standing atop some crates that the circus strongmen had yet to unload from caravan, “Watch in awe as I reach the top mast of the big top… wait for it… WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE GROUND!” He raised his arms above him with an air of exaggerated showmanship, waiting for applause from the men working down below. “Get down from there, Dick,” One of them, Leadfist, said. “We’ve gotta unload those cases now.” The young Grayson ground his teeth. “It’s Richard,” he muttered, before regaining his composure. “And I will not get down… But I shall get up! Observe!” He shouted, leaping from the crate he stood on to one that was currently being moved by two other performers, a man of pegasus descent named Archon and a unicorn descent that Richard didn’t know. He paused for a second, planning his next move, much the chagrin of the two working men, before he leapt up again and flung himself onto the top of a nearby concession stand. “Haha! And now for the hard part…” He muttered to himself, brushing some of his black hair out of his eyes. The pint sized acrobat somersaulted into the air hopped from the tops of the various booths that had been built along the outskirts of the giant tent. He worried briefly about getting splinters on his bare feet from the rough wood, but stowed the thought. Fear was for sissies. Glancing forwards at the tent, Dick noticed a tethering line that ran all the way from one of the securing tent spikes to the central mast of the big top, his destination. Maybe this would be easier than he thought. He continued leaping from stand to stand, before landing tip toed on the tent spike. His balance perfect, he looked down to make sure no part of him touched the dirt that was inches away from his feet. He was clear. Perfect. Tightrope walking was actually far easier than it looked. Anyone could do it. All you had to do was make sure that your center of gravity was lower than the rope, and then it would be almost literally impossible to fall. That’s why so many tight-rope walkers used a large staff while they performed; it dropped their balance to a point where the deed was almost laughable. Richard Grayson, however, had no such staff. He’d have to compromise. Luckily, he’d ‘borrowed’ a couple of crowbars from Archon and the magic user. Hopefully, if he held them out at his sides, and dropped to a crouch, he would be able to achieve the perfect balance. Dick took a tentative step forward. Then another. Then another. Suddenly, he found himself almost running up the taught line, relishing the strain on his young muscles as his arms ached from holding the two crowbars out to his sides. “HAHA!” He laughed to himself, feeling wind blow through his hair as he ran higher and higher, finally reaching the top of the mast. What he saw there took his breath away. “Wow…” The boy mumbled, gazing out at the Canterlot skyline. Even more light shone from here than Las Pegasus, and the image of the giant castle rising up in the distance, surrounded by the tall buildings that Equestria’s elite lived in was truly awe inspiring. Sitting cross legged on top of his new domain, he wondered how many people from the city would come to the show. Ten? One hundred? One thousand? In Las Pegasus, they had sold ten thousand tickets a night. There was barely enough room in the stands for everyone to fit. Richard shivered in the night air, his bright red and green spandex doing little to keep out the chill of the wind. “Maybe” He thought to himself, “Maybe the princess will come and see the show!” The little boy blushed as he thought about the woman he knew he was destined to marry, and suddenly the wind didn’t seem so cold anymore. Giggling to himself, and snapping out of his daydream, he returned back to the ground. Tonight, the grand rehearsals would begin. In a mere two days, the circus would open. He needed to practice and rest. Princess Celestia sighed deeply to herself as she strode past the Royal Equestrian School for those of Unicorn Descent. Soon, very soon, Nightmare Moon would return from her one-thousand year imprisonment. The Princess of the Day very much doubted that her little sister would be terribly pleased to see her after one-thousand years of isolation. And yet, what could she do about it? Celestia no longer represented the Elements of Harmony, and her power alone wasn’t enough to defeat Nightmare Moon. No, she needed to find someone who could take up her mantle. She needed to find an apprentice. She needed to find- FWOOOOMPH A giant rainbow arced across the sky, the chromatic blast extending all the way to the tower of the school, where she knew Twilight Sparkle’s entrance exam was being conducted. “I wonder how she’s doing…?” CRASH Princess Celestia’s train of thought was brutally derailed as the booming sound of a roof being destroyed reached her ears. Spreading her wings, she immediately looked up, fearing the worst. There, in the academy tower, there was a… dragon? Celestia gasped, realizing what this meant. The dragon egg had been delivered by the princess herself one year ago. It was a trick, however. No one that young was able to hatch a dragon’s egg. The test was merely in place for the instructors to be able to measure the ingenuity and cleverness of someone when confronted with an unsolvable problem. But, it seems someone had hatched the egg. But they didn’t just hatch it; they had performed a growing spell of immense power on the baby dragon, causing it to swell up. That someone was Twilight Sparkle. Celestia smiled. Maybe, just maybe, she had found her new apprentice. The princess immediately took off, flying straight for the hole in the roof, intending fully intending to meet with the young girl who, Celestia noticed, now had a cutie mark, easily visible on her shoulders. After Twilight had been calmed down, and Celestia’s offer had been (very enthusiastically) accepted, the Sun Deity looked upon her new ward with adoration. Maybe she should take her out for a treat. The Cirque du Triomphe was in town. Celestia would bring her and her family to the opening performance tomorrow night. Things were beginning to look up for the revered princess. Dick Grayson stared at his blank shoulders in frustration. His lack of cutie mark was starting to become a worry for him. The young boy brushed some hair out of his eyes and considered what he was doing wrong. Was gymnastics not his special talent? But if gymnastics wasn’t, than what was? Weight lifting? Fire breathing? Richard grunted and turned away from the mirror in his family’s dressing room. His mother and father were already prepared, and had begun stretching. The show started in a mere two hours, and people were already walking around the circus grounds, buying cotton candy and peanuts, taking in some attractions, and generally waiting before the flap to the big top opened and the real show could begin. The youngest Grayson wondered how many people were here. From the sounds of things outside, there were a lot. Possibly more than they had ever had before. Dick had never been one to get nervous, but there were rumours that Princess Celestia herself was going to be here, and while the prospect of performing for one of the most powerful beings on the planet was exciting, it was also quite daunting. “But seriously mom, do you think Celestia will really show up?” He asked, sounding rather shaken. “Dick, I’m very sorry that you’re nervous,” his mother began irritably, “but if you ask me one more time, I’m going to be very upset.” “Alright, alright, don't get your knuckles in a knot,” he pouted. “But if you had to guess, like on a scale of one to ten or whatever, how likely do you think it is that she’ll show?” “RICHARD GRAYSON-“ “Maybe you should go for a walk, son,” his father intervened. It wouldn’t do for any of them to be stressed before a show. “Right, I’m gone.” Dick dashed out the door of the small trailer that they had been provided, and witnessed the huge throng of customers that lay just outside the fence that separated the performers living quarters from the entertainment area. “Jeeze… And I thought the Canterlot folks would be too stuck up to come to a circus…” Dick ambled from trailer to trailer, not really sure what to do with himself. He supposed he should be stretching, but… that was boring. “Maybe Big Top knows if she’ll be attending.” Grinning to himself as he pictured his secret crush, he decided to kill two birds with one stone and jog to Big Top’s trailer. Privately, he almost hoped that Celestia didn’t show. His lack of cutie mark was all too clear in his performers outfit, and he wasn’t sure how comfortable he was displaying his bare arms to someone he respected so much. He shook his head. Whether she came or not, he was going to perform. And hey, maybe if he was good enough she’d adopt him or something. Richard chuckled at the thought. Being adopted by a princess may sound nice, but when you have to sit still at huge banquets with all those rich, stuffy fat cats, things would get dull real fast. Plus, he would miss his parents more than he would care to admit. As the daydreaming young performer approached the largest trailer on the lot, he began to get an uneasy feeling. Tack it up to instincts, or maybe just a reluctance to find out whether or not his idol would show up, but he paused at the door. Hearing muffled shouting inside, Dick eased it open and sneaked into the trailer. “…solutely preposterous!” Big Top’s voice rang out. That made Richard uneasy. Big Top was such a kind, friendly man. If he was yelling, something must be really wrong. “Listen, big boy,” another voice said, low and menacing, “Mr. Zucco is givin’ you a reeeeal nice offer here. You fork over fifteen percent of your profits, and we give you some… protection. Things can get real nasty ‘round these parts” “Now, see here!” Big Top’s booming voice shot back. “You tell your Tony Zucco that he would be wise to never attempt to consort with me, or any of my associates again!” “Take. The. Deal.” A third voice said, the words sending chills down the eavesdropper’s back. “It would be a real shame if an accident were to happen during your show here tonight.” “Are you threatening me!?” “Of course not. I’m simply making a prediction. One last chance here, baldy. You gonna take the deal, or not!?” There was silence for a moment, then… “No. Leave. Now.” “You’re gonna regret that, pops.” Panicking, Dick threw himself back out the door, and quickly pulled himself on top of the trailer. Thankfully, the two unwanted visitors didn’t see him as they exited the steel structure. One was a magic user, as evidenced by the stubby horn atop his bald head. The other was a Pegasus descent, his midnight black wings folded up tightly against his suit. “So… Plan B?” The winged crook asked. “Yup. Don’t say we didn’t warn him.” Not really sure what to do, Richard just watched as they walked off towards the actual big top, the enormous tent looming in the distance. “Maybe I should follow them. Hey... Wait a minute is that…? OHMYGODDESS IT’S CELESTIA!” All thoughts of the two men vanished as Richard spotted the magical, flowing, rainbow coloured hair. As the crowd parted around her, the enamoured Grayson took in her appearance, from the flowing white gown to the beautiful smile she wore as she waved to her subjects. Around her walked four magic users, all of them seemingly related. There was a little, purple haired girl around his age, an older boy, and what seemed to be the parents of the children. Surrounding the group were four members of the Royal Equestrian Honour guard. Two grim, unblinking, white winged men clad in golden armour and two magic users in white and gold embroidered robes. “Wow…” Dick said to himself, leaping off of the trailer and running up to get a closer look. The princess actually came! The little athlete climbed to the top of a face painting booth that the convoy would have to pass by on their way to the entrance to the big top, which was now accepting patrons. “She’s coming this way! Ooooooh, man, my heart is beating out of my chest!” Closer and closer they came, and Richard decided it was now or never. Leaping to his feet, he jumped up and down on the little booth waving his arms in the air, his red leotard and green leggings making him stand out from the crowd below. “HHEEEEEYY!!! PRINCESS!!! OVER HERE!” He screamed, desperate for acknowledgment. Noticing her enthusiastic young fan, she laughed, winked at him, and waved, noting with pleasure the huge grin and red cheeks the boy now sported. “Wow.” He said aloud to himself. “Life. Complete.” It was time to get back to his parents. The show would be starting soon, and he had a princess to impress. Big Top sat in his trailer, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief, making sure to mop up the sweat that had accumulated at the base of his horn. He would have to cancel the show tonight. If anything happened to his performers, he’d never forgive himself. It was unfortunate, as ticket sales were through the roof, and he would have to refund these people’s money, but he really didn’t have much of a choice. Tony Zucco’s mobsters had threatened him, and Big Top had no doubt that those thugs would follow through with it. Making his decision, he grabbed his top hat and put it on his head, marching out of the door to his trailer. As disappointed as he was sure his patrons would be, they would have to understand. Police would need to be called, investigations would need to be performed, and the Cirque du Triomphe would need to pack up and leave, after only just arriving here. Sighing heavily to himself, he looked at the excited crowd gathering at the entrance of his palace of wonders, the glorious big top tent. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of something fluttering in the wind, and his heart sank. He’d recognize that fluttering, rainbow coloured head of hair that bore testament to the awesome power of the goddess it adorned. The Princess of Equestria had come to the show. Big Top’s decision to cancel the show suddenly seemed rash. The princess was here. The princess was here. If he could get a good review from her… he would be set for life. People would come worldwide to see his circus, and he could smell an early retirement. Not that he wanted to retire, he loved working the circus too much, but the option certainly seemed appealing. “No,” He thought to himself, “the show must go on.” After all, the princess was here. What could possibly go wrong? “LAAAADDIEEEEESSS AAAAAAAAANNNNNDDD GEENNTLLLEEEMEEENN!!! Gathered here today, for YOUR viewing pleasure, are the greatest entertainers to ever come to Equestria! See the young Trixie create works of magical art before your very eyes! See winged wonder perform jaw dropping aerial tricks! See the Flying Graysons, the wingless acrobats who truly do not know the meaning of the word fear, leaping through the air in perfect form! All these wonders and more await you here on this very night! Welcome… TO THE CIRQUE DU TRIOMPHE!!!” Richard could hear the crowd hoot and cheer in the stands from the wings of the tent where the performers awaited their moment to steal the spotlight. In an effort to allow everyone to shine individually, Big Top never put two acts on at the same time. The lion tamers went out first. It was a strategic move to put such a dangerous act out front; it got the audience totally absorbed in what happened to the center of the tent. The rest of the show after that would be a cakewalk. Even if the performances were mediocre, the atmosphere in the tent would more than enough to compensate. Of course, there was no chance that the performers would be anything but spectacular. “You nervous, Dick?” a voice behind him asked with a hint of mischief. “It’s Richard. And ya, I guess I am a little bit. I mean, Princess Celestia is here. She’s totally my idol. Are you?” “What, nervous? Of course not! I don’t get nervous!” “Of course you don’t. The great and powerful Trixie is far beyond us mortals,” He teased. “Great and Powerful Trixie, huh? I kinda like that…” “You would. Now get a move on, you’re up next.” Trixie blushed for a second, before stammering “Can I uh… have a hug for luck?” Richard raised his eyebrows, but gave in. “Good luck, Trixie.” “Thanks, Dick!” “RICHARD.” “AAAAANNNDD NOOWW…. THE MAGICAL STYLINGS OF TRIIIIIIXIIIIIIE!!!” He watched as his friend took a deep breath, her cutie mark moving in circles as she rotated her shoulders, trying to get as loose as possible, before running out to meet the ring masters summons. The crowd let loose a thunderous cheer, and he saw her beaming up at the crowd before the tent flap closed again. Dick stood there for a minute, contemplating his best friend’s uncharacteristic show of embarrassment, before another voice spoke up. “Hanging out with your girlfriend, Rich?” “Shut up, Soarin.” “Uh-huh. Hey, guess what? I hear the one of the Wonderbolt scouts are in the audience tonight!” “That’s nice.” The blue haired twelve-year old huffed and walked away. “You could at least pretend to be interested.” Act after act went on, and Dick found his mind racing as he waited in the wings. He found himself thinking about those two shady figures that had threatened the ring master. Who were they? They had mentioned a name… Tony Zucco. And something about plan B. Were they planning on hurting someone? If so, they picked a bad night. With the Royal Equestrian Honour Guard here, they would be taken down before they could even draw their weapons, much less use them. “Hey, Dad?” Richard asked nervously. “Yes, son?” “I love you.” “I love you too, son.” “Hey mom?” “Yes, Dick?” She replied, predicting what was coming. “… D’you think Princess Celestia will like my triple somersault?” “I love you too, Richard.” Big Top's voice rang out again as the act before them drew to a close, and Soarin flew off into wings. “Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The single most daring family to ever grace the earth, it’s the FLLLYYYYIIIING GRAAAAYSOOOOOONS!!!” The trio ran out, and the crowd sang their approval. It was this moment that got Richard Grayson more pumped up and excited than anything in the world. They were all waiting for him to wow them, to amaze them, to take their breath away. Dick flashed a cocky smile, and raised his hands to the crowd, feeling the spotlight on him and his parents. Even with the blinding lights on him, he could make out the princesses luminous hair in the VIP box. Gazing straight at the tell-tale hair-do, he gave it what he hoped was a rougish grin followed by a wink, and proceeded to climb the mast at the far side of the tent. He had a show to perform. His parents, having climbed up the mast opposite, were waiting on their respective platform. The two masts were connected by a single steel cable attached to the platforms that were built fifty feet into the air. Dick got into a handstand position, and began to traverse the cable using only his eight-year old hands, and spreading his legs out horizontally to balance him on the cord. Richard began panting as he got around half-way across. Time for the real show to being. He lifted one hand, leaving one had firmly around the cable, and displayed his act of supreme balance to the crowd. He heard them gasp and cheer, and decided it was time to go into phase two. He replaced his hand on the cable, wincing as he felt it dig into his palm, and allowed himself to fall backwards. The plan was to spin almost three-hundred and sixty degrees, and the let go of the cord at the last minute to send him flying through the air, where he would be caught at the peak of his acrobatics by his mother on the trapeze. Grunting with exertion, he let go of the cable, and, as planned, his mother swung down from her platform to grab him. The crowd went nuts. “Alright, guys, your turn.” His part of the act complete for a little while, he rested as his mother placed him on the platform from which he came. The next part of their performance was simple. Mary Grayson would swing back across the gap, using her legs to grip the trapeze bar, and his father would leap from his platform and be caught by her. Easy. But tonight, something felt off. Dick glanced up at the lines holding the trapeze up that extended from the supports on the ceiling. Did they seem… thinner? As the thought entered his mind, his mother propelled herself back across the gap, rapidly approaching the waiting gymnastics master on the other side. “So… Plan B?” “Yup. Don’t say we didn’t warn him.” John Grayson leaped off of his platform, into the arms of his loving wife. The three trusts briefly flashed in the back of mind. Trust in yourself, trust in your partner, and trust in your equipment. He looked up into the eyes of his wife and smiled. SNAP The audience screamed as the combined weight of the two adult Graysons proved too much for the trapeze, and they began falling. “It would be a real shame if an accident were to happen during your show here tonight,” Richard Grayson watched as his parents never ceased looking into each other’s eyes as they fell. Just before they hit the ground, the two shared one last kiss. With a sickening crunch, they landed. The audience fell silent for a moment before the screaming started again. The Flying Graysons had fallen to earth.