With a soft chime, Starlight entered the store, already looking around. The proprietor appeared ready to greet her when his expression faltered at the large tub following her. "Ma'am? Water doesn't exactly agree with my quills or the sofas. Can that wait outside?"
Cherry popped up from where she had been submerged a moment. "I can handle it!" Feeling energized being so close to getting a watch all of her own, she launched herself free of the pool and flopped wetly to the ground. The energetic motion sent water splashing dangerously.
Fortunately, it only created puddles and spills on the floors. The quills and sofas were safe for the moment. Starlight tucked the tub of water outside for the moment. "Sorry for the trouble, we're just looking for some clocks."
"You mean watch, right?" Cherry tilted her head a little as she righted herself. "We heard you had wall watches."
The new pony smiled at the exotic sea pony. "Hello there, are you new in town? I'm Davenport and it's nice to meet you." He offered a hoof.
"Oops, one moment!" She whipped out her wrench and got to tweaking just enough to get her hind legs to deploy against the ground before she could offer a hoof without wobbling dangerously. "Nice to meet you too! I'm Cherry, and I'm hunting for watches."
Starlight shook her head. "A watch and a clock are about the same thing, but clocks are meant to remain still, while watches are often worn on a pony for timekeeping on the go."
Cherry frowned with thought. "That means clocks are probably bigger, right?" Starlight nodded. "Then a clock is good. I'll be able to figure out the parts easier if they aren't teeny tiny."
The idea of disassembling a clock made Davenport raise a brow, but it wasn't his bits on the line. "We have a small selection of clocks, meant to add some dignity to the room, this way." He turned away from Cherry, seemingly ignoring her oddness in favor of remaining professional. "Would you like... this? A grandfather clock is both stately, and as you can see, large!" He gestured over the tall instrument with a bright smile.
Starlight followed after Cherry. "Wherever did you get those mechanical legs? They're working really well."
Cherry's cheeks warmed. Being complimented like that by a powerful friend of Twilight's seemed extra special. "Toying with mechanics is my specialty. You can't see it with the belt on, but it's my cutie mark."
Starlight tilted her head slightly. "You're more than your cutie mark. I'm surprised you even have one, but you wouldn't be less of who you are with or without that mark." Reformed or not, Starlight still held to some of her beliefs. "You should be proud of your accomplishments, cleverness, and ingenuity, not writing it up to 'destiny'."
The idea of not accepting a cutie mark as it was? It clearly confused Cherry and she made a little frown, though it faded almost instantly as she looked over that grandfather clock Davenport was indicating. It was large! She carefully directed her legs up to the clock so she could reach out and brush her hooves up and down its wooden sides. It was pretty and she nodded at it. "I like it. How do you open it?"
Davenport winced before he turned it slowly and pointed to the access port in the back, then turned it back around and flipped open the glass front, allowing access. "You can reach inside from either direction, as you can see."
Cherry clopped her forehooves and crashed to the ground in a failure to balance on her mechanical legs. "Oof! I'll take it!"
Starlight shook her head as she approached. "I can't imagine such a large piece is cheap. How many bits are we talking?"
Davenport reached up with his mouth and pulled down a dangling price tag that was attached near the top of the ticking clock, revealing a large number that sent Starlight recoiling several steps.
Cherry frowned at the reaction as she got herself upright. "It can't be that much."
Davenport gave it a light tug, freeing the tag from its string and showing it to Cherry. Even she wilted at how many zeroes were in the number.
Starlight frowned a moment before a thought came to her with a slowly spreading smirk. "Did we mention we live with Princess Twilight Sparkle? She sees all kinds of important foreign dignitaries. I'm sure they'd be so impressed with some Quills and Sofas furniture."
Davenport perked an ear. "Good ole Twilight? She's been a loyal customer for what feels like forever. She keeps the quill part of things thoroughly in business." He glanced between the two a moment. "If it's for her..."
Cherry brightened with hope. "Oh, it is! She said I was a guest."
Starlight leaned forward with a little smile. "I'm sure she'll take care of any reasonable expenses incurred by this important diplomatic guest. Can you have this delivered up to the castle?"
Davenport looked a little spaced out for a moment. "Oh, yes, important guest, of course." He bobbed his head. "I'll have it brought up before the end of the day. Will there be anything else?"
Cherry leaned forward dangerously. "Have anything else mechanical by any chance?" Her eyes darted around the room. Besides a few other clock/watches, she saw nothing obvious.
"Afraid not. That's not really our specialty." Davenport shrugged softly. "I do hope you enjoy it!" He dipped his front in a bow.
Starlight nodded at him. "You're too kind. Thank you." She grabbed Cherry up in a secure field of magic and moved to depart.
Cherry blinked softly from her suddenly higher vantage point. "Are we going?"
"Sure are." Starlight gently set Cherry back in her pool. "We should get ourselves back up to the castle before Twilight notices you're not there and starts to worry where you might be." She leaned towards Cherry a little. "She's especially good at worrying. Let's avoid that."
Cherry did a quick lap around the tiny pool, her tail slapping at the water. "We don't want her to be upset. Let's get back. Besides, the big clock is going to be brought up there anyway! We should be there to greet it." She flashed a smile, likely already thinking of tearing into the machinery and divining the purpose of its countless parts. By the time she came out of her daydreaming, they were already at the castle.
Twilight came rushing out of the castle with a relieved expression and a loud gust of breath. "Oh thank goodness. Starlight, I hope everything went well? Did you enjoy yourself, Cherry?" She looked between the two with bright smiles. "You haven't seen anything yet until you see your new room!"
Starlight perked her ears. "What have you arranged? Oh, there's going to be a grandfather clock brought up from Quills and Sofas."
Twilight blinked. "I didn't order one of those..."
Cherry raised a hoof. "I might have."
Twilight tilted her head at Cherry, then glanced at the nervously grinning Starlight. "You know better than that, Starlight. I'll let it slide this one time, for our guest, but no ordering things 'for' the castle without my express permission." The magic holding up the pool changed in color as Twilight took control of it and started bouncing away with an energetic canter. "Now come on! I'm sure you're going to love it."
Cherry blinked as she was carried. "You must be really excited." Twilight wasn't having any trouble holding her up, or was there less water? Cherry splashed a little at the water, quickly determining that there was indeed less water, lost to splashing and evaporation over time. She hoped whatever room Twilight prepared wouldn't have that... problem? "Wow."
They were at the edge of a submerged room. It was still tiny compared to, say, the ocean itself, but compared to the pool she had spent the day in, it seemed like a small piece of home. Twilight was smiling brilliantly. "This is actually the second story door to this room. I flooded the entire first floor, and it's yours while you stay with us. I even PH balanced the water to the average sea level." She clopped her hooves excitedly. "I plan to get some plants and small fish for you and I even have an aerator to keep the water fresh." Twilight thrust a hoof to where bubbles rose from the depths constantly.
Starlight whistled softly. "You've gone all out." Her expression turned understanding even as her brows waggled. "You always do. You have a book on it?"
Twilight glanced away. "What? I mean... of course..." She lowered the tub until it floated on the surface of the water, from which Cherry launched easily into the water and began exploring her new home.
Starlight shook her head a little. "How do you have a book on what sea ponies need?"
Twilight's smile turned a little nervous as a book appeared beside her. The book was not about sea ponies, but how to create large fish tanks for ocean-dwelling fish. "I figured it was close enough to keep her happy."
Cherry suddenly broke the surface, soaring through the air with her momentum before she came down and surfaced smoothly, her head above the surface and the rest concealed. "I love it! It's not the ocean, but it's as close as any place in The Dry is ever going to be. You're the best, Twilight! Thank you for taking me around, Starlight." Her hooves came up, clopping excitedly. "Dry ponies can be so thoughtful! I'm glad I ran into you two."
Starlight dipped her head towards their guest. "We're both happy to have you. I'm a guest here too, so I know what you're going through, in part. If you have questions getting around, let me know and we'll get it straightened out."
Twilight nodded. "That goes for me or Spike as well. Even if you feel overwhelmed, you won't bother us with your questions, promise."
Once his name was uttered, Spike came running. "Twilight! Letter!" He was waving a scroll excitedly in a clutched claw. "It came from Celestia!"
Hope the doors on the first floor are securely locked...
Dang. Grandfather clocks have never been cheap.
7173787 Now I'm imaging Starlight wandering around trying to find the bathroom and opening the first floor door.
That's one way to get a bath
Flooded an entire level? Twilight...
Perhaps she needs more cake?
Or she had some horrible nightmare about Sea Ponies
Ground is an adverb now?
his
OOOoooo, is it a great and powerful letter?
7173825 Oops! Fixed, with an extra lurking nearby.
7173810 you are evil very very evil
of
slightly
held to
It clearly confused Cherry and she made a little frown,
Haha, don't forget the snails and little pebbles.
7173993 Not so many errors today, fixed! I'm sure Twilight will make the best ever fish tank for the not-fish pony with them.
Just be glad a fish tank in one of the upper spires isnt connected to a basement storage tank.
Now that is an intresting thought, given solitons in canals and prisoner communication. A pipe from Canterlot to Ponyville and a clerk with a hammer, notepad and quill at each end.
Cherrys next problem. How to keep clockwork working under water.
7173791 I'm pretty sure Twilight took precautions, like replacing the door with just wall.
I LOVE THIS STORY ITS BLOODY GOOD
7174187 So I noticed the story and it seems super interesting. Happen to see your comment then I'm like, 'bam, sold, gunna read this.'
Great Chapter.
There is not a proper expletive to describe the feeling I have when I want to click next chapter on a good story only to find it lacking said button. Also I want to find a way to press the like button more.
I hope the letter is about Cherry's parents. That would be really fun.
I wonder what will happen when she meets the Doctor and sees his home...
7174259 I do see your encouragement every day. Thanks. :)
7173810
The sea ponies are invading, thinking Cherry has been foalnapped.
7174321 Time Turner won't know what hit him.... or she might become an apprentice. *shrug*
Oh snap, out of chapters. I have to say that this has been a very entertaining, and adorable, read from start to current.
7173810 Celestia's gotten an inexplicable craving for fish and chips!
7173810
Celestia heard that Twilight captured an alien, and is sending the Mares In Black to "examine" it
This is getting boring. But I really like Cherry's character, even though a Mer-Pony shouldn'y know what a cherry is, therefore her name makes no sense. Please introduce some conflict in the next chapter, because things are too happy go lucky la la land here.
I thought a whole bunch of important stuff was on the first floor?
7175203 As much as I hate to say it, this is kind of right. The premise is interesting and I like Cherry's character, but not much is really happening. I mean, yes she's learning about dry land and everything, and there's nothing particularly wrong with that, it's just a tad bit dull. I think the issue is that there really isn't that much of a conflict going on here. I would say this would be fine if had the charm of a good slice of life story, but this has the adventure tag. While adventure stories have their ups and downs and, on occasion, properly spaced "boring" moments to just let the characters breathe, this is nine chapters in and we still don't have any major conflict or driving force other than the simple "Cherry wants to explore dry land". There's nothing wrong with this driving motive, but not much is really being done with it.
It'd help a lot if some humor was injected into this, but as it is this story has gotten just a little dull at this point. I'm still going to track it because I like the premise and characters, but I hope it picks up soon.
7176213 Wait...this story would be better if it had the Slice of Life tag, is that what you're saying? Isn't the point of Slice of Life is to not have many things happening? Just characters being characters?
7176403 Not necessary "better" per se. Rather, the adventure tag comes with some connotations of excitement and a building conflict, some drama: in other words, what makes an adventure. So far, this seems far more fitting for a slice of life tag, just in this case the "slice" here is Cherry exploring dry land. However, while the slice of life tag would be more fitting for this story as of the moment, I would say this is getting somewhat dull as I mentioned in my previous post, and seems to lack some of the charm excellent slice of life stories have.
On a completely unrelated note, didn't Twilight just kidnap a child? Didn't think of this in my previous comment, but just occurred t o me. I'm not sure how old Cherry is, but she just got her cutie mark and she still lives with her mother and goes to what seems to be a elementary or primary school of some sort, so I'm assuming she's about the CMC's age. I know Cherry was quite willing to go along with this and Twilight made a promise to bring her back, but that really doesn't take away from the fact that she took Cherry from the ocean and pretty far inland without telling her mom, and according to some, that's kidnapping even if Cherry was willing.
pool she spent - pool she had spent
*****
An entire day late to this chapter of the story, but still a nibble left over to be thankful for.
Still enjoying each chapter as it comes and I'm waiting for Cherry to get the tools and knowledge she needs to really hit her stride, so to speak.
Making an underwater suite for Cherry is an awesome application of magic! Since her reference book is about creating large tanks for sea creatures, I'm going to guess that Twilight magically reinforced the floors and walls as well as making them water tight. Water is deceptively heavy by volume and the weight of a roomful of water, at a guess, would weigh dozens to hundreds of tons.
I have to admit, I feel more and more sympathetic to Starlight after s6e6, so reading about how she interacts with Cherry is especially interesting.
7176453 Typo cleansed from the pool! Glad you're enjoying things, even if things may get a bit heated around here in short order.
Commence read.
Glad I wasn't the only person hoping that any other doors or openings were sealed.
Wonder if that letter has anything to do with Cherry?
The dry swimmers should resign and submerge Ponyville under water... making it a water town
You focus a lot on typos don't you?
7240858 Only eternal vigilance will win us the war.
Really enjoying this so far, chapters are easily digestible, and you dont get alot of talk about the ocean around here so its new and fresh. I like how Cherry has her own terms that she holds on to and her relating of new things to her prior knowledge I feel is well done. Its not just basically a baby learning from the bottom up, she has ideas to go off of that may or may not be correct.
she had
7257160 Fixed!
7173787
7173791
Hope the doors on the first floor have been securely welded shut, more like.
7173810
That is a terrifying video. Please remove the link as to not pain anybody with *shudder* G1 content.
7173845
Or is it a letter asking for her presence, so Celestia can tell her something that could've easily been sent through the letter? #Trollestiastrikesagain
7174321
Even worse, the TARDIS. She would probably have to borrow Rarity's drama sofa.
7175073
By examine, you mean lock down and dissect, along with performing genetic scans and taking flesh samples. Also other things that I don't remember.
Trinity chimes, Wittington chime or Westminster Quarters?
Royal typos? That sounds like a funny story, hoho.
Nicely done!
7173787
LOLZ
Let's just hope Twilight didn't mess up, royally.
Bringing a (not)Hippocampus represenative to their Country could spell disaster for both nations.
7845045
Good Point
It must be kind of aggravating to Starlight that even weird half-fishy ponies get cutie marks. (Kind of aggravating to mules, too, but for a different reason.)
10368911
Poor mules...