The morning started pretty plain, but things changed up fast. I greased myself as I got ready for my daily routine and stepped out of my dorm. I was surprised to see Bee to introduce me that morning. We usually only had time to meet each other on days off and evenings, but she seemed like she had something important to say. I could tell by the satchel on her side.
“I’m going to be on a mission,” She bluntly claimed.
“Wait, you got an assigned to a mission by Chasy?” I presumed. Chasy was the only one who assigned Clockwork to leave the Steam Empire area, but that was only with trusted individuals.
“Well,” Bee turned her eyes away. “He assigned me to deliver this letter to you, but I was curious.”
The blue-eyed clockwork pulled out a paper and let me read it. The gist was Chasy was sending me to Equestria to examine some areas for him. Check their condition and report it to him. He made a harsh note of not touching anything and referred to it as simple errands and nothing more. He was generally plain in his writing, it was empty writing with no real emotion except some pushy words. All the literature he collects is for us to understand pony culture. Not a fan of writing himself. I was dragging off point and shook my head. Bee put the letter away.
“So, you want to do this assignment for me?” I inquired coming to my conclusion instantly. “No.”
“What?” She was in disbelief with my rejection of her choice.
“It’s the duty assigned to me,” I regretfully explained. “I should be the one to carry it out.”
“You know how much I’ve wanted to see Equestria Whistle,” She pointed out. “We can go together if you want to go!”
“I know you really want to see it,” I assured her. “But I’d rather not see you throw your life away for me and yourself. Me allowing you to go would also get me in trouble. I enjoy getting in small trouble with you when it’s safe, but this is not one of those times.”
The reality had dawned on Bee that she wasn’t going to see the magical land she had hoped for so long to see. I wasn’t able to stand with myself after that. I may have pushed a point too hard.
“Look,” I continued. “We’re Clockwork and we can live forever unless we’re dismantled. We’ll have plenty of time to go sight-seeing in Equestria eventually, but we have to wait. Sometimes, our best choice is to wait it out.”
Bee showed a gentle smile and rose her head a little bit. We nodded and made some brief small talk before I headed into my dorm once more to gather some material for my voyage. I needed packed my greaser, fuel, and a couple of repair kits in case of emergency. I also packed a few cloths just in case things got dirty. An umbrella as well. My research dictated that rain would be a nuisance in Equestria. I began to walk out, but turned to my abode one more time. The shelves were neat, furniture was organized, and files were sorted. I smiled and moved on.
I traveled to the gate out of the Empire. It was a big and glorified door to me, but at least it looked nice. Just before I took off, I heard a voice call out. It was Wheel.
“Whistle!” She waved her metal hoof as I heard her voice again. “Going to Equestria I hear?”
“How do you know that?” I wondered.
“Word about that type of thing spreads pretty fast,” She came over to me.
“I suppose,” I shrugged as she came closer. “I think it’s nice that you and Bee have both offered some form of good-by for me, but Chasy didn’t. I expected that of course, it won’t be a long trip I’m guessing. I just have to wonder around different areas. I’d expect a week if I’m really unlucky.”
“Equestria is more primitive than Clock Face Whistle,” Wheel told me in her own way it’d be longer than I was expecting. “But I also wanted to warn you about the bandits within the badlands.”
I was able to guess it came from an experience she had leaving the Empire herself. She was one of the best Chasy had after all. I liked a lot about her myself. I couldn’t deny my attraction to confidence.
“What should I watch out for with these bandits?” I pondered.
“Just try to avoid them,” Wheel bluntly stated. “If they do find you, run for Equestria as fast as you can. They’re the group of Changelings Chasy was talking about yesterday. They have an outpost near the border of Equestria so they can steal supplies from unsuspecting travelers. Even having small baggage is enough to catch their attention.”
“Thanks for the warning I guess.” I tilted my head with a smile and began to turn.
“Wait!” She reached a mechanical hoof for me and I looked at her. “Keep an eye out, and good luck!”
I felt something pulse within me, and I loved it. I gave a thankful smile and transformed. My hardened outer shell went under the guise of a pony’s exterior under the steam I produced. A purple Earth pony with green eyes. The Earth pony had a gold bit and a coin bag as my cutie mark. I could see something flash in Wheel’s eyes, she stared at me in an awe. I felt amazing getting an awed look from Wheel, but I wondered why. I had no time to ask though, we smiled, nodded to each other and went our separate ways.
Walking into the badlands was a drastic change of scenery. Compared to the dynamics of the Steam Empire, the badlands were static and empty of motion. I walked into it before remembering to put some wings on. Steam covered my sides as I added wings to my pony form and flew in the direction of Equestria. I had an odd yearning for the gold beneath the dry soil, but it was unrefined. I had no idea why I had the desire for it, but I did. I wasn’t bothered by the gold back in Clock Face, but I didn’t necessarily own it. I pushed it aside and continued to fly towards Equestria. I whistled as I flew.
After a flight that was long and uneventful, I was able to see Equestria. I let out a sigh of relief as I was close now. I landed a distance away from the border and let my wings evaporate. I didn’t want to attract too much attention in this form, and I could use Equestrian transportation once I got there.
I trekked along the rugged ground when the wind picked up. I could sense gold, but it was moving fast. I turned to see a band of Changelings rushing in my direction, they wore some wrappings to withstand the environment. The dark and decorated bugs flew in my direction at an alarming speed.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I stammered away in a clumsy fashion. “I’ll be taking my leave!”
I ran so fast that dust was kicking up behind me. The Changelings picked up their speed to try and catch up, but I was a surprisingly talented sprinter. I made it onto a rocky slope where I could see a densely wooded forest. I was excited, I was likely going to get away.
I leapt into the woods and landed on my front hoof. That all would’ve been fine, except a bolt came loose when I landed. It was excruciating and I tumbled into a bush. My disguise had fallen, but at least I would be difficult to see in these woods. I wanted to scream in pain, but I didn’t safely have that privilege.
I remained still and silent despite the pain for many minutes. I was sure they weren’t chasing me anymore. I pulled a repair kit out of my satchel and used some tools to patch up the bolt in my leg and other loose screws I didn’t know I had loosened. I sat still for a moment longer, there was silence aside from the nature around me. I let out a quiet sigh and transformed back into my pony form. I moved out of the bush and continued into the woods.
I wasn’t entirely sure of the layout of Equestria, but I could ask around. Chasy had programmed the general areas into my data, but I had only uncovered them for this errand. The objective areas were just another bit of data I could look at.
I wandered through the woods to a slightly brighter area. The extra light was nice. I could actually see normally. There was a shovel hitched in the ground, and there were some birds in a tree. As I walked by a tree I heard something moving quickly in the wind. Instinctively ducking, I saw an ax coming at me in the corner of my eye. I let out a swift yelp as I hid my head. It was very close. Realizing that predicament I found myself in was still dangerous I recalibrated to a more poised stance.
“Dang,” A monotone female voice hissed. “I missed your neck.”
“… My neck?” I inquired. “Or were you aiming at something else. You nearly decapitated me in case you didn’t know.”
“I know what I’m aiming for.”
The female stepped into the light to reveal a dark colored Pegasus. Well I would say Pegasus, but she wasn’t. The “Pegasus” from the night of the party was wearing a hat that was too mechanical for the woods in my eyes. She also had some goggles that matched the fashion of hat she wore. She took off the goggles revealing red, cat-like eyes. The Pegasus who had featherless wings was a Bat Pony. I was frankly surprised, couldn’t see it well under her dress. I shook my head and got back into the moment.
“So,” - I pointed at the ax. - “was that meant for me?”
“What gave you that clue?” She sarcastically smiled.
“May I ask why you’re trying to kill me?” I was internally nervous asking that. “I’m just another run of the mill Pony, taking a stroll in the woods.”
“I see through your disguise,” she leered at me. “Clockwork.”
“Not bad,” I thought I hid my fear pretty well under that statement. “If you’re done, may I plea- “
I was cut off by the dark pony rushing in and knocking me into the air. I landed on my face and my disguise faded. I pulled my head out of the ground and shook my head. I saw her floating in the air with her wings clearly visible.
“Don’t take this personally,” She oddly said. “I just have a grudge with your creator.”
“I remember you mentioning something at that party.” I tilted my head trying to remember.
“You’re Seven-Two?” She leaned her head down towards me. “I’m surprised you weren’t replaced yet.”
“I hope I don’t get replaced,” I thought aloud. “That’d be very inconvenient.”
“I know,” The bat Pony claimed. “Keep in mind, I said ‘yet’ there.”
“...Oh darn…”
She proceeded to charge me, I dodged to the left. The mare let out a brief gasp and turned her momentum into a kick aimed at the back of my head. I ducked being grazed slightly. Despite being a small graze, it hurt a little. I stepped further aside and hoped to gain some distance. She seemed to glare at me more and was still a bit more. She landed and gave me a curious look.
“Can you fight back?” She practically requested. “Some resistance makes this a lot easier on me.”
“Sorry, I can’t hit a girl.”
“That’s you’re excuse?” She was dumbfounded and disappointed. “You were programmed to not hit a girl?”
“Not really programming,” I explained. “Ponies would get offended if I did.”
“No other ponies are here!” She shouted.
“I’d offend you.” I argued.
She placed her hoof on her face. I had the distinct feeling this was underwhelming to her.
“I think it’s just my bad luck we met,” I tried to assure.
“Didn’t you at least bring a weapon?” She sighed.
“Well,” – I started unpacking the items I brought. – “Greaser, fuel, reapair kits, cloths, umbrella… Nope.”
“Can’t you use fire breath or something?” She questioned. “I know Chasy built you with that!”
“I could,” I declared. “But that uses a lot of fuel.”
“I’m about to try and tear you apart and you’re worried about fuel consumption?”
“I’m conservative,” I explained.
“I can tell!” She hissed. “I may just lose my mind. Just improvise a weapon, I don’t care anymore!”
“Ok.” I glanced around quickly. I saw some sticks then the shovel in the ground. I levitated it out of the ground and over to me with my magic. “This good?”
“A-are you toying me?” She just stared at me in disbelief. “You could use some of the rocks on the ground, perhaps use some of your equipment like your fuel to set this forest or me on fire, even the ax I threw at you earlier, which is right next to me! Out of your creative options, you choose a rusty abandoned shovel…”
“Aye,” I confirmed. The Bat Pony was very confused by the position she found herself in. She shook her head and stepped towards me, I took a step back. In her eyes I saw something, briefly it was aggressive, but it changed quickly. I couldn’t quite make it out then. She sighed and walked over to me, I kept stepping back until I bumped into a tree. I pulled my shovel to my side with my magic. The Bat Pony was in my face rather quickly. The light of my eyes must have shrunk quite a bit, but I kept my composure for the most part. “I have a shovel.”
“You don’t say.” She looked at me with those mysterious eyes. She raised a hoof and I shut my eyes. I felt a hoof gently caress my head. I slightly opened one eye to see she was in a state of contemplation. She took her other front hoof and pulled us together. I couldn’t tell why she was doing it, but it was comforting. I wrapped a hoof around her in return. “Stupid.”
“Mind if I ask why we’re cuddling?” I interrupted our little moment. She pulled herself back quickly and I could see a blush.
“Th-that was nothing.” She looked away. Her eyes looked a bit more neutral and tame now. She turned around briefly and turned back astutely. “Alright, I’ll let you go through your errands, but I’ll accompany you.”
“I won’t reject help,” I stepped forward a little bit. “What’s your name? I’m Seven-Two, or you could just call me Whistle.” I held out my hoof. I couldn’t deny my attraction to confidence.
“Whistle…” She looked at my outreached hoof and then to me. “I’m Night Light.”
She turned around and started walking. I placed my hoof on the ground and went into my disguise again after placing the shovel on my back. I walked beside her. She noticed the shovel.
“Why are you bringing that shovel?” She wondered. “It’s just extra baggage.”
“I’m just taking it for emergencies.” I tilted my head.
“I see…” She turned her head forward again. “Stupid.”
I began to whistle as we walked. Despite all of the shadows, I could make out a genuine smile on Night’s face.