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// Air Battle on The Tower 
// Story: The Great Circus-Catastrophe 
// by Dableaxcheaz 
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Magnus continued to climb up the fancy palace tower as the royal guard awaited the arrival of the Wonderbolts. As he carefully crossed over the gilded tops of the towers, ponies gathered to the city’s edge in a large group behind a police barricade. They all watched in terror as Magnus climbed, and fearing for the ponies in the castle as well as Fluttershy’s life. With one last leap, Magnus climbed to the tip top of the farthest tower of the castle; holding Fluttershy in one hand, while holding on to the flag pole with the other.

He saw that he had nowhere to go but he did feel safe and secure with his great distance from the guards and Big Top especially. If he was to ever come up to Magnus in his balloon, the ape would have the pleasure of making his ex-master plummet into the pit below him.

While Magnus made himself comfortable on the tower, Fluttershy noticed some things happening down below. She saw that the royal guard was now repositioning the cannons to the center of the path, and had them all pointing at Magnus. She then realized that they were in preparation to fire, and could tell that they were waiting for something. And then a terrible thought had occurred to her.  

At that moment, Magnus saw what Fluttershy suddenly feared would come. Off in the distance came trio of blue uniformed pegasi. It was none other than the Wonderbolts; the greatest team of flyers in all the land, who were just moments ago informed about what had happened in Canterlot. They flew in a vee formation as they had Magnus in their sights.

Magnus growled at this new threat as they started to circle the mountain. As the team rounded the mountain, Magnus prepared himself for the battle. He wrapped the hand with Fluttershy around the pole and began to howl at the pegasi for intimidation. With his sharp teeth showing and fury in his eyes, he was prepared for battle, as the Wonderbolts began diving one by one. 

The pegasi locked onto their target and began to swoop past him as a means to wear him down. They went back to the sky to prepare for the next attack as Magnus roared and shook his fist. The team went in for another attack, as Magnus began to swat at them. He swung his arm and tried to catch them, but the Wonderbolts were too fast to catch. Fluttershy tried to tell the Wonder bolts to stop as they flew by, but they were so fast that they could only hear them as cries of help.

After a few more waves, Magnus began to feel real tired and began to pant, he then sat down to regain his strength. As the Wonderbolts circled above the castle, Spitfire saw the ape was now vulnerable to their next attack. She signaled the others and they flew towards the tower, circling Magnus while they were still out of reach. They flew around and around, and began to create a vortex with high winds that surrounded the ape. The winds soon began to pick up as the group flew closer, causing the twister to trap Magnus inside. Magnus began to feel light headed from oxygen becoming scarce, and he could feel his tight grip on the pole loosen as he held on with all he had left.

As he and Fluttershy began to lose consciousness, another one of his flashbacks appeared in a mere flash. He saw the large ape again, and saw all the times he failed and made a fool of himself. When he saw him falling after trying to balance on a large ball; he realized that the ape in his visions was him, and that terrible ring leader was Big Top. He had come too far to give up now; and as the vision cleared up, he felt the will to fight return

He shook his head and brought himself closer to the pole. While the Wonderbolts were busy flying around him, Magnus managed to find their weak spot. Since the three were busy flying in circles and were close enough to him, Magnus swatted into the wall of the tornado. His hand managed to hit two of them, which then caused the tornado to vanish away and brought air flow into Magnus’ lungs and head.

The Wonderbolts flew off in retreat to a nearby cloud to catch their breaths. Magnus knew that it was only the end of round one, but now he was ready for anything. When they flew towards him in formation again, Magnus watched their flight path and waited for them to pass over him. The giant ape crouched down and awaited for his chance to strike.

As the Wonderbolts flew directly above Magnus, he sprang up into the air and roared at them. The Wonder Bolts couldn’t react quickly enough to this surprise, not even Spitfire as focused as she was. Magnus then raised his open hand and swat Spitfire out of the air. The others managed to avoid the attack as they broke formation, but they soon realized that their leader was in trouble.

Magnus landed back on the roof, damaging some of the tower with his weight, while the two Wonderbolts quickly dived in to Spitfire’s aid. The swat must have injured her wing, otherwise she would have recovered from the hit in seconds. The two members caught Spitfire as she was tumbling, and quickly retreated to the guard to tend Spitfire’s injury. Magnus banged his chest with one hand when he saw that victory was his.

The Wonderbolts landed safely on the ground over by the royal guard. The greatest flyers in Equestria defeated by an ape. ” That ape is dynamite!” Spitfire exclaimed,” We didn’t even see that one attack coming!” 

The commander looked at Shining with high concern, “Now what do we do? We can’t even beat him with the Wonderbolts! That was our last resort!” Shining armor then began to quickly think of something else.

While Magnus began to celebrate over his victory, Fluttershy had just about had enough. She had just about had it with all this madness and would like it all to just stop. She had tried talking with Magnus yet it didn’t work, but this time he was going to listen to her whether he liked it or not. With one giant inhale, she yelled out from the top of her lungs. “YOU STOP THIS RIGHT NOW MAGNUS!!!”

The shout echoed through the air as a sudden burst of energy that did indeed get Magnus’ attention. Not only that, but the shout managed to travel all the way to the crowd in the city. Everypony in that large group as well as the royal guard, watched the events unfold without saying a word.

The ape felt brought Fluttershy up to his face and gave off a mean look, but his intimidation couldn’t effect the yellow Pegasus while she at him in the eye, ”You heard me mister! I want you to stop this behavior at once! I demand to have a word with you! And I will not stop yelling until you talk! Now talk, I know you can!” The ape took a deep breath, and began to make all sorts of angry gorilla grunts that expressed how he felt.

He told all of his feelings towards Big Top, how much he pushed him and how much he relentlessly abused him. Fluttershy after hearing this softly said,” I understand your feelings towards Big Top.” After hearing this, Magnus’ anger was replaced with surprise. He didn’t expect her to understand him.” I heard awful rumors about him, and I went back stage to investigate. When I saw you in pain inside your cage I had to alert Big Top of your condition. He lied to me when he said that nothing would go wrong.” Magnus began to feel her sympathy towards him.” I felt absolutely awful for when you fell down, and I hated the way Big Top whipped you.”

Magnus nodded as he began to make some soft small noises at her. He told her that it wasn’t fair that he was the only one being abused, and that no one could help him. Fluttershy felt saddened to hear this,” That’s just absolutely awful, but you’re not alone Magnus. It saddens me to say that there are animals just like you around Equestria who are abused day and night, and they too feel what you are feeling. I will not let you stay with that horrible stallion any longer, you deserve better than this.” 

The ape looked down at the city and felt very guilty for what he did. He started to sniffle a little and began to cry out tears. “There there, it’s okay it’s okay. You were just stressed out, that’s all.” Magnus wiped away his tears and started to smile. ”I want you to make your way down the castle, and we can sort this all out with Big Top. I promise.” The ape looked grinned at Fluttershy as he soaked up his tears.

“Now,” Fluttershy added, ”could you let me go please?” The ape did as she requested and realesed her from his grasp. The Pegasus felt her pelt exposed by the cold air after being held in the ape’s sweaty hand for so long. Magnus didn’t even remember why he even took Fluttershy in the first place. Fluttershy began to float herself up with her wings as Magnus began to feel nervous, ”It’s okay Magnus, as long as I’m with you nothing bad will happen.”

Back at the open field, everypony who was watching saw Magnus making his way down the towers. The soldiers saw that Fluttershy was free, but they didn’t shoot at him. They all saw the ape to be friendlier than he was hostile, but there was still tension in the air. Despite this feeling, Shining could see that Magnus had indeed changed. Twilight had told him about Fluttershy’s gift of caring for animals, but he never expected it to save the city. 

The captain then said,” Stand down, I think Fluttershy can take it from here.” The troops looked at each other and stepped a few feet back. Magnus climbed up and over the wall, climbed down and put his feet to the edge of the moat. Fluttershy landed on the ground as Magnus stepped forward. Some ponies among the crowd and the guard were still fearing this as a trap; but Magnus simply sat himself down crisscross applesauce style. He gave an innocent looking grin and relieved the last of the tension among the city.

Shining armor walked up to her trying to find the right words” I thought that you were good as gone! I-I don’t even know what to say.” He looked up at Magnus,” I mean, you saved the city!”

Fluttershy blushed a little,” Oh, it was nothing.”

Spitfire then said,” Nothing!? You call taming a giant wild animal with your own voice nothing?! If only it was that easy to us.” She pulled up her goggles,” you’ve got quite the gift there.” The shy pony began to blush some more.

Fluttershy flew herself up to Magnus and presented a hoof for him to take. He then stood up and took her leg with his large fingers. He was then brought to the crowd like a little child, as the unicorns became fond of his goofy smile. They began to smile and giggle, making Magnus feel warm and welcome. It wasn’t every day that you would see a 30ft ape up close.

Shining armor then said,” What did cause this ape to flip out?” 

As Magnus waved at the crowd, he heard a voice he thought he’d hear the last of. “Magnus! Oh Magnus you’re all right!” It was the voice of Big Top, coming from within the crowd. He pushed his way to quickly get to the front of the group. With his suit all crooked and mustache all frizzled up, Big Top emerged from the crowd with a giant grin on his teeth.

”You have caused quite the mischief today, and looking around this city nothing appears to be damaged (hopefully).” The crowd began to murmur about his strange behavior.” Now before anypony gets any ideas, I would like you to come along quickly please?” Magnus only frowned down at him and refused to obey.” Come now Magnus, let’s go!” 

“He’s not going with you!” Fluttershy scolded.

“Who said that?” he looked to see Fluttershy with a serious look. “Ah Miss Fluttershy, I see that you tamed my ape for me.” Fluttershy wasn’t going to buy his smooth talk, and neither was the crowd.

“He’s not your ape. You don’t deserve him, after all the mean things you did to him!” 

The crowd began to murmur louder, making Big Top sweat a little. “I don’t recall what you’re talking about, but if you would recall my words Fluttershy I found Magnus out in the jungle. Technically, he his company property you see.”

Fluttershy walked up to the master, “I speak for the animals Mr. Big Top. And I say that you have been abusing you’re animals.” The crowd gasped at this news.” Magnus has told me that you have whipped him, called him mean names, and never cared about him one bit!”

Magnus twitched in his eye as the crowd’s murmurs pressured his anger.” Alright!” he yelled,” So I may have been a little bit hard on Magnus, big deal!”

The shy Pegasus then said,” I never thought that I would be saying these words ever, but there is a special place in Tartarus for animal abusing scum just like you!” 

As the group of high class civilians agreed and gave Big Top dirty looks, he blew his fuse. “And you know what else Ms. Fluttershy, I push all my animals to perform at the Big Top Circus and I don’t care! It’s not like they have feelings; all they do is sleep, eat, and perform! I would rather snap their necks then let my company die! I’m taking Magnus with me and there is nothing you can do stop me!”

Fluttershy didn’t say anything. She took a few steps as a white figure dropped down in front of Big Top. He tilted his head up to see that it was princess Celestia. Everypony bowed down in her glory, except for Big Top who felt like he might have said too much. Celestia turned to Fluttershy, “I see we’ve had quite the trouble while I was gone.” She looked over to Magnus, who was very fascinated to see her magnificent light,” but at least it was stopped before something bad happened.”

“Everything is alright your majesty.” Fluttershy said,” Magnus here was just a little bit stressed out, that’s all.”

Celestia turned to Big Top who was sweating out hail and quaking,” And this is your ape?”

With a shaky voice, he said,” And what if it is?”

Celestia raised an eye-brow,” If it was your ape, you would be fined for all of the damages caused by him.” Big Top was afraid that she would say that,” On top of that, you would probably be sentenced to 3 years in the dungeon for animal cruelty.” She turned and looked up at Magnus.” He may be just an animal, but there does exist laws that protect them from cruelty.” She turned back to Big Top, only to find that he had vanished. Everypony was busy looking at Celestia to notice him slip away.

“He’s gone!” said one of the guards. Everypony in the crowd twisted their heads to see where he had vanished to.

“There he is!” said one pony in the back who saw him turning the corner. He was running like mad to make his escape to his red balloon.

The guards ran off to start chasing after him, but Fluttershy then said, “Wait!” The guards stopped and turned to her,” I think he’s learned his lesson.” The guards didn’t understand why she would be as merciful as to let him go, but I guess that’s just Fluttershy being Fluttershy.

Then out from the crowd, stepped forward one earth pony and three pegasi. It was Big Top’s second in command Pegs along with the pegasi that pulled their company’s balloon. “I guess we’ll be paying for all of this.”

“And you are?” asked Celestia.

“My name is Pegs your highness, and I’m my boss’ assistant manager.” He scratched the back of his neck as he felt guilt,” for what it’s worth, we are very sorry that this all happened. Big Top explained to us that he was doing it for the good of the company. We are going to have to pay for the damages in the street and maybe the castle.”

“You have my forgiveness, though you don’t have to pay for this.” Celestia said,” It was Big Top’s fault not yours.”

“I know, but Magnus is our responsibility.”

A new voice then came from the crowd,” That won’t be necessary.” The voice sounded like Big Tops, only it was deeper and more soothing sounding. As he passed through the crowd, the citizens themselves were astounded to look at him. He was a buff unicorn stallion, with a black mane and white pelt. He had a short beard, blue eyes, and wore a blueish black top hat. The suit he wore was blue and was lined with gold, and he was easily recognized by the crowd as his suit glistened in the sun.

It didn’t even take Pegs a second to realize who he was. “It can’t be, your-“

“I am Moscow of the Moscow Circus. The one and only show with the world with the best acrobats to be found in one place.”

Pegs was speechless by the stallion’s presence,” It’s an honor to meet you sir!”

He chuckled a little,” Ah, that’s what they all say. It’s like I give off a bright light in a dark room (must be the lighting) But enough about me, I see that you’re leader has told everyone here about his habits, making him unfit to run his business. You would all be out of work if that happened. So I would like to offer you and the others to jobs. We’ll expand my circus and show case your animals.”

Pegs heart jumped, thinking that he was dreaming,” What?!”

“It would sadden me to see you all out of work. I have seen Big Top’s animals perform as well and I know of his secret, and I think they would be better off in a place that respects them. Besides, I do not think that it is right for Big Top to leave all of these reparations on his company’s shoulders, so it will be me who will be paying for the damages.”

Fluttershy then said,” Wait, you knew about Big Top’s animal cruelty?”

“For the longest time yes.” Moscow looked to the sky, seeing Big Top flying away in his hot air balloon.” I wanted to merge with him at one point, but I couldn’t because of his ways.” He turned to the assistant,” And now that you’re going to be in charge um…”

“Pegs sir.”

“Pegs, I’m hoping that maybe you can turn the show for the better. I want you to be in command of the Ex-Big Top employees, and we’ll bring one massive show to the public. I’ll also set up your half with venues all across the land. How does that sound?”

Pegs ran up to him and got down on his knees,” Oh thank you sir, I won’t let you down!”

Big Top smiled at his over exaggerated behavior. He then helped him back on his hooves and turned to the ape,” Can I talk to you Magnus.”

The ape nodded and lowered his hand down to him. He hopped on, and was raised up to his face,” Oh Magnus, I see that Big Top has caused so much pain for you. That isn’t what you wanted at all did you?” The ape shook his head,” Now I’m not sure if you’re interested due to your past as a performer, but I was wondering if you could be my grand finale?” Magnus looked a little bit nervous towards the decision,” Don’t you worry, I promise that I will treat you like a new friend. Like Fluttershy, I don’t want to see you being abused. I want you to have a good life, and a good home. So what do you say?” Magnus smiled and shook his head up and down.

The ape placed him next to Fluttershy,” So you’re the one who tamed Magnus correct?”

Fluttershy softly said,” Yes, I have a way with animals sir, It’s my calling. I was also questioning Big Top’s methods too. I was probably the only other pony who found out I suppose.”

He grinned at her,” Well Ms. Fluttershy, I promise you that I will take good care of him. I will even allow you free access to the backstage to see him. All I request from you, is for your trust. That is all I ask.”

She nodded with a smile,” He’s in good hooves sir.”

“Good.” He turned to the crowd,” Attention everypony! With the approval of Fluttershy, Magnus, and Mr. Pegs. From this day onward, my circus as well as the remainder of the Big Top circus, shall come together to form an even grander circus. Where my stunning performers, shall perform along with great animal talent. It will be my new goal to make the animals become the best they could be, and make our stand as the greatest show in Equestria!” The crowd began to cheer and clap their hooves for this great unity, and Celestia grinned with as her own approval.

Peg’s was so happy, that it brought a proud tear to his eye. Magnus has never felt so happy in his life. Fluttershy giggled, looking at Magnus’ goofy face,” I think that he’s fond of you already.”

Moscow looked up to Magnus as he smiled back at him,” I think you’re right Ms. Fluttershy, I’m most certain he is.”

-The End-