It was the coming Friday when the circus began to load up back into the train. Circus animals, aside from the ponies were placed back into their cages and pulled into the cart. The performers lowered their home tents. They still had one more show to do before lowering the big top.
Zipper’s family just finished dismantling their tent just when he saw Cosgrove walk by. Chelsey dragged a few poles of her family tent when she saw him walk buy. Diver drained the pool as he walked by the Merpony.
The three toed colt walked inside the “shrine car.” Flipping on a light, he turned over to a hanging curtain. He pulled the dusty sheet away and found an old suit. This suit had a red torso, green boots, a visor, and black cape. The colt slowly closed his eyes…
“Cosgrove, come on! The show’s on in five minutes!”
“Hang on, Night Dancer! I’m just trying to get the boots on!”
“I can always leave without you…”
As the earth pony turned around the colt, then around Pipsqueak’s size, suddenly jumped on her desk.
“So, how do I look?”
“It would be much more of a surprise had you finished dressing 10 minutes ago, Cosgrove.”
“That’s right! I am Cosgrove, Colt Wonder!”
“You sure are…”
The earth pony walked out of their tent just as Cosgrove leapt over her. The colt hooted and hollered as he made several flips and spins in front of the crowd. The crowd began clapping.
“This is the best day of my life!”
The colt opened his eyes and looked at his reflection. His first childhood friends joined him.
“I may do just one last show…”
...
It was now lunchtime at Canterlot High. Taking a deep sigh, Cosgrove walked over to the empty table. Just as he sat down he was joined by another student. Chelsey was the first student other than Cosgrove to sit at the table. As Cosgrove continued to eat, Zipper and Diver joined in.
“You know, since we are in a band…” Diver placed a hand on her chin, “We need a name…”
Cosgrove leaned forward, “I’m open to ideas.”
Zipper noticed the abstract sabretooth cat head on his yellow friend’s shirt, “what logo is that?”
Cosgrove leaned back, “What this? It’s a Maximal logo, hand painted it myself.”
Chelsey raised her head upwards, “That’s it,” She beamed, “We’ll be called Maximals!”
Diver furrowed her eyebrow, “Why would we want to be called that?”
“Think about it, we’re abnormal for our age.” Chelsey placed her hands on herself. “I’m tall, you’re-” Diver glared at her, “round…” She turned to Zipper, “You have multiple fingers and you have, well…” Chelsey could only go far on her complements.
Cosgrove supported his head with his arm. It took him some time to process the idea as he eyed his friends.
“Well if we are going to be treated as animals… Let’s prove them wrong.”
The other “Maximals” warmed up to the idea.
“Of course we would need to change the logo a little.”
Just as Cosgrove finished, the cafeteria doors slammed open joined by the vocals of three new, but unusual teenage girls.
...
The following evening, most of the ponies in Ponyville arrived, paid their tickets, and entered the big top. Many of the students also came over, including a dismayed Diamond Tiara since Cosgrove and Applebloom warned to tell her father what she just said about him the previous monday.
Speaking of the latter, she along with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in their costumes looked from backstage, watching the massing crowd.
“This will be so great!” Scootaloo
“Cutie Mark Crusader Circus Performers,” The Crusaders clopped their hooves together, “Yay!”
Zipper looked at the three fillies before turning to Cosgrove.
“You sure youwanttodothisbecauseitisunlikelythatthesethreewouldearntheircutiemarksjustbyperformingwithus.”
“It’s called a favor,” Cosgrove was just finished putting on a tailored version of his childhood costume, “She’s a good friend, I owe her that much.”
Cosgrove looked up at the night sky. The group of circus ponies joined him.
Diver nudged him, “She would be so proud of you.”
“I hope she will find it okay...”
“Maybe she has,” Chelsey wrapped an arm around him, “Maybe she sent you here.”
Cosgrove continued to look as the stars twinkled.
“Everypony!” The group turned to an announcer. “Five minutes!”
Giving one last look at the stars, Cosgrove looked forward, a determined look on his face.
“Okay guys…” - Cosgrove placed a mask on his face - “Let’s do this.”
…
At Canterlot High, the student body and alumni gathered in the gymnasium. They talked around and, in the case of the students competing in the Battle of the Bands, bickered with each other about who would win. The lights began dying down. Vice Principal Luna picked up a microphone.
“And next up…” - Luna scanned the name - “The Maximals.”
The competing students looked at the auditorium as the curtain raised up. Coming up to the spotlight was Zipper snapping his fingers in rhythm.