Rise of the Maximals

by Jongoji245


History Repeats Itself

November 12th - December 2nd/2012

Three years have passed since the investigation and much has indeed changed in the mountain town of Estes Park. Now much older, Sunset, Flash, Crescendo and Hooflock (the first of them as he is older by three years), along with many other classmates have since graduated from Great Valley Elementary and have enrolled in Canterlot High. Their younger companions, ironic to be free from the torment of older bullies, have succumbed to boredom. In time, the coalition force broke apart, with only Cosgrove (now slightly more muscular and began sporting his facial hair on his lower jaw), Chelsey (now the tallest student with Hooflock and Big Mac now in Canterlot High), Zipper (now among the most athletic along with Scootaloo and Rumble) and Diver (who received the honor of being their class' premiere swimmer) and Dapplewood (just as tall as his brother when he entered Kindergarten and has taken an interest in saxophone lessons).

With Night Dancer being Sunset's adopted parent, the latter would meet with them occasionally on holidays. Being a parent does fill a gap in Night Dancer's life that has been widening as the years went by. In the meantime, she has gained a full-time job at the Barn and Bailey Entertainment, 20 minutes away in good weather.

But even in a different dimension, certain events good or bad happen.

It was Thanksgiving Day and the families of Great Valley Drive gathered in Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop's homestead, placing each of their dishes on the table.

"What's keeping Night Dancer?" asked Loopty Hoop - "she's never late to help us set up."

"Heh, heh," chuckled Cosgrove "she's not the only person."

Indeed, in the Centennial State Winter comes early and leaves a while after Spring comes. A good distance away, Clamp Jaw and Claire drove up to an accident on the highway. A few other highway cop cars were parked alongside to control traffic.

"Officer Blurr," Clamp Jaw shook hands with the highway cop "any reason why you would want to call a city patrol unit?"

Blurr waved his arm, "Do you recognize this vehicle?"

The two Thunderfoot adults inspected the wrecked car. While Clamp noticed the familiar license plate, Clair inspected the inside of the car. In horror, she covered her mouth.

"Oh... My... God..."

A couple hours later and everyone was at the table, trying to stall their appetites long enough for the missing individuals to return.

"So..." Zipper broke the silence "shallwesayourrthanks?"

"Uhm," - Chelsey held a glass - "I'm thankful for having a wonderful summer over at Pismo Beach.

Dapplewood made a series of hand signals, translated by his brother as, "I'm thankful for improving my saxophone skills and my brother and his friends for staying with me."

Sunset fumbled her glass before announcing, "I'm thankful to have such great friends... so much that I have found that you all are the closest to my family."

After a moment of silence, Dapplewood stood up, walked over to Sunset and gave her a hug, before his brother and friends gave her a hug too.

Suddenly the door was immediately opened, showing the snow-covered Clamp Jaw and Claire putting away their coats and hats. As the children sat back on their chairs, the policemen joined their neighbors, but the silence became nerve wracking.

"How was work?" Asked Cosgrove before being silenced by a raise of his father's hand.

"At 5:05 PM today, Night Dancer has been found... Killed... by an accident on the freeway." - Clamp Jaw answered, trying not to break down - "We apologize to the friends and loved ones."

As this news sank in, the people at the table joined hands.

"Dear God," Loopty Hoop whispered "please watch over our daughter as she joins your Holy Domain. Please tell her that we love her just as you have wanted us to." She sniffles "In your name we pray."

Though the prayer was over, no one ate, but began to weep, starting with Cosgrove, then Dapplewood, and so forth. As the Thunderfoot family returned to their home, Cosgrove took out his scrapbook, looking at every picture he could find that had Night Dancer in in the frame. Dapplewood, dragging his bed sheet, walked over to his brother as he took a peek at the scrapbook. Trembling, Cosgrove snapped the book shut before embracing his younger brother, shedding tears once more. He could hear the sniffles and hisses from him even though Dapplewood was in fact screaming. Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop had Sunset stay for the time being. When Lion Tamer walked down to the restroom, he heard his adopted granddaughter crying from behind the door.

The first Friday of December, the funeral commenced, with the majority of Great Valley Drive watch as their departed member was lowered into the hole.


March/2013

Wounds like these are hard to recover. Akin to the Pony Cosgrove being cared for by Lion Tamer and Loopty Hoop after their daughter's death, so too is Human Sunset cared for by their human counterparts. As they sort through her clothing they did come across a black jacket with orange chevrons and boots to match.

"We don't usually keep all her old clothes, but," - Lion Tamer turned to their foster child, holding the items - "maybe they would look good on you."

Trying on the leather jacket and boots, Sunset found that they are a good fit, though a matching set of clothes would work better later on. Noticing Night Dancer's portrait, she droops her shoulders. Taking out her phone, she dialed up the numbers of her friends.

Sorry, I'm not available at the moment. But Dapplewood says hi. answered Cosgrove's voice message.

Not available at the moment. answered Chelsey's voice message.

Sorry Ican'ttalkathemomentbutifyouleavemeamessagei'llcomebacktoyou. Answered Zipper's voice message, though here, it was barely audible.

Meditating, please leave a message Said Diver.

After the beep of each phone, Sunset answered, "Hey... It's Sunset. I just wanted to call to check up on you guys. I am so sorry that Night Dancer had passed away. Cosgrove, I know how much she meant to you. I mean," - She sniffled, trying not to break down - "you were with her since we were kids. Whatever it takes... I'll make this right, I promise."

Hanging up the phone, Sunset pinched the bridge of her nose before looking at the Night Dancer's portrait again.

The once talkative Zipper hasn't spoken much since but is often seen making a jog around the neighborhood. Chelsey took this loss the most; every day she would throw a tantrum on an old Volkswagen before sobbing. Diver sought out meditation, using the indoor swimming pools to calm herself.


At Sweet Apple Acres, Cosgrove sat on a hilltop, underneath a tree, the horse he rode grazing nearby. Onward he stared into the horizon as the ghost of last Winter vanished the Rockies in a veil of mist. His ear flicked to the sound of heavy hoof steps. Looking over, Cosgrove found an unusual sight: Granny Smith also rode a horse to his sitting spot.

"Wheweee, forgot how riding a horse could be so refreshing." - Granny complemented before struggling to dismount. With a little help, she does before she looked around - "Mighty fine spot this is."

Cosgrove leaned on the tree, his eyes closed and brow furrowed.

"Ah remember when Applejack would come her often... After my son and daughter in law passed on."

Cosgrove flicked his head to the elderly woman, "Passed on? For how long?"

Granny Smith lowered her head, "Since Apple Bloom was two..."

Cosgrove looked around; all this land for the past ten years was managed effectively by Granny Smith's grandchildren. Granny placed a hand on his shoulder

"You see, sonny, the reason we Apples have a neighborhood get together is because we view the people around us as family."

Enlightened by this fact, Cosgrove helped Granny onto her horse before turning to his horse.

"Did the pain ever went away?" Cosgrove asked.

"Not all the way." Granny steered the horse towards the Barn "But it will in time."

After mounting the horse, Cosgrove looked up to find the sun's rays piercing the clouds. Holding the reins, he crossed his heart before bringing the horse to a gallop. Dismounting, he clocked himself out and took the bus back home.


Further away, Dapplewood was with the Syrup Family. Strawberry watched the depressed boy from inside as her daughter tried to comfort him. They were interrupted when Cosgrove's shadow loomed over them.

"Dapplewood, it's time to get our family together." - Confused, Dapplewood made a few slow hand signals - "where it all began ten years ago."

Taking out his cell phone, Cosgrove sent a message that soon reached Chelsey, Zipper, Diver, and Sunset's phones. Taking them out the same time at different places, they read the message:

Meet me and my brother at Turtle Park.
Cosgrove

Being the closest to Turtle Park, Sunset took a bus over to the park. In a form of coincidence, she found an unlikely sight. Reeka and Draggle were being attacked by a school gang known as the Diamond Dogs. They also came from Great Valley Elementary, and now are among the gangs fighting for dominance in Canterlot High.

“Gems!” - Rover stretched out his hands - “Give us gems!”

"You heard her, Draggle give them money!" Reeka bumped her sister.

"No, you!" Draggle rebuked.

Rover lifted them up and growled.

“Leave them alone!” Both sisters and the Diamond Dogs looked over to find Sunset Shimmer walking towards them.

Rover and Fido paid no mind to them as they approached their new challenger. Spot gave a cruel chuckle as his partners towered over her. Sunset charged at the gang, but on a three to one scale, the fight was not on her side. Reeka and Draggle watched as their former sister got pummeled to the ground. Rover kicked her in the stomach, Spot punching her in the face before Fido grabbed her and flung her to the side. Sunset spat out blood as she tried to get up when Rover lifted his foot over her head.

“Hey!”

“Ooooohhhh!!!” Rover pulled his ears down before turning around. “What now!?”

It was Cosgrove and Dapplewood standing before them, the latter just baring his teeth. The Diamond Dogs looked in confusion at just two small children.

“Any hair you pick from them” - Cosgrove placed each of his hands into the other, popping his knuckles while cracking his neck - “You have to deal with us.”

Despite his threatening growl, the Diamond Dogs merely laughed at Cosgrove’s threat. However, noticing his determined look, Sunset began figuring out their intention when Dapplewood took out his whistle and blew a sharp blast.

The Diamond Dogs covered their ears to protect them from the pitch. While they weren't looking, Sunset tackled Fido, and Cosgrove rammed Rover. Dapplewood continued to make repeated whistles, especially in front of Spot. The smaller Diamond Dog reached out and plucked the whistle from Dapplewood's neck, crushing it in his hands. The larger members recovered and fought back, effortlessly pummeling the daylights out of them.

Spot was just about to punch Dapplewood when Diver shoved him away with her great bulk. As she inched up to Spot, Chelsey tackled Fido long enough for Sunset to escape, and Zipper leaped onto Rover, Cosgrove recovering and joining him shortly.

Sunset pulled her former stepsisters away from the skirmish.

"You came back to us," said Draggle

"But why?" Reeka added "We haven't been kind to you all your life."

"Because looking back now," - Sunset looked at the battle - "you deserve a life I have now even before I was born."

Diver and Spot, both around the same size and girth, pushed and pulled each other, their shoes leaving marks on the grass. Spot pulled away a fist and punched her in the stomach. He would have done so again had Dapplewood not bite down hard on his arm. Down on her knees for a while, Diver curled up and somersaulted at the small Diamond Dog. After toppling over onto his stomach, Diver body slammed him, pinning him down.

"You two shouldn't be the ones who also have to suffer like I have."

Zipper, the agilest of the four, toyed around with Rover, pulling his red jacket, kicking him in the ankles. At one point the leader grabbed him by the shirt and was just about to punch him. That’s when Cosgrove, the power side of the duo, rammed him. Rover pushed away the boy’s flailing “claws” and legs with one of his great arms when Zipper pulled his hair. Cosgrove then placed his feet onto Rover’s chest and began stamping him down.

"And now, with one problem gone, we can start building our own lives. Our own families."

Reeka and Draggle stood up and gave Sunset a hug.

"We wish you the best." Said Draggle before scampering away with her sister.

Despite being the tallest of the five younger children, Chelsey was still outsized by Fido. They pulled and tugged at each other, but Fido’s upper body strength allowed him to lift her off the ground. Tilting her body, the large Diamond Dog punched her hard in the stomach before flinging her to the floor. Chelsey wrapped an arm around her stomach as she tried to recover. Fido clenched both fists and raised them up in the air. Just when was about to slam them onto the girl, he spotted a red and yellow blur coming right at him.

Using Chelsey as a footstool, Sunset leaped onto Fido’s shoulders. She took off her jacket and wrapped it around his face. Fido reeled back as Sunset tugged at the sleeves, while constantly shuffled to avoid being grabbed by his arms. Chelsey slowly got up and rammed the brute, toppling him over. The freshman then wrapped around his legs, raising a fist.

“YOU” - Chelsey punched Fido in the stomach - “PUNCHED” - she punches him again - “ME!!” Chelsey wrapped a fist behind behind her hand and slammed them to his stomach.

Rover struggled to get up as Cosgrove slowly applied pressure to his chest, "Stop Stop!! We surrender!!!"

All the other fighters released the Diamond Dogs, but Cosgrove still had his foot on Rover's chest.

"You all fight like animals!" Rover complemented "Even if spootsy named gang split up."

"We are not the 'Anti-Bullying Coalition Force'" - Cosgrove said in a whiny voice before bending down to Rover, looking furious - "We're under a new name. We are the Maximals, and this is our territory, where our pack first met."

Rover noticed Sunset Shimmer kneeling down, seeing the bloodied face as she looked at him. "I do not want to see you mess around with my family and friends."

Cosgrove lifted Rover by the collar, "Understand..." he growled.

"Yes, kid."

Sunset pulled Rover's ear, "It's Cosgrove!"

"Yes, Mr. Cosgrove and Ms. Shimmer!" Rover said in a polite tone before scurrying away from them as fast as they could.

Noticing the rest of the newly Christened Maximals growling (or in Dapplewood's case, hissing through his teeth) at them, Spot and Fido Immediately scurried away from the park, Cosgrove almost snatching the first. The yellow and violet preteen roared in their general direction, much to their bemusement, before returning to them.

"Maximals?" Asked Chelsey.

"Think about it, in a way we have been treated like animals. They can have weird features" - Cosgrove pointed to his hands and Zipper's - "be tall or fat" - he points to Chelsey and Diver before kneeling to Dapplewood - "some can't make a sound," - he then turns to Sunset Shimmer - "and you, you have been caged for most of your life, but then you found all sorts of friends in shapes and sizes."

Thinking about it, they warmed up to the idea as Cosgrove took his leave.

"Better than Flash' name." Added Diver before she and the others joined him.

Sunset caught up to him, before seeing his eyes turn to her.

"I got your message, too." - Said Cosgrove - "And I forgive you."

Sunset smiled, though the teeth are still stained with blood from the fight before she almost collapsed. The others decidedly helped Cosgrove carry her the rest of the way home.