Ponyville
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.