Tuesday, May 22nd
They gathered at the break of dawn, as they always would. Six mares and a purple-scaled dragon, looking over the town as the sun slowly began to rise into the air. Fluttershy brought breakfast, Rarity the blanket, and Applejack the cider.
Rainbow Dash cleared away the faintest hint of morning weather, and Pinkie pulled out her emergency stash of cutlery and plates.
Twilight and Spike moved to the top of the hill they had gathered upon, and took a seat in a spot that overlooked the road into town. Twilight even pulled a pair of binoculars out of her saddlebags, passing them to Spike as she stared towards the edge of the road as it curved over the horizon.
Behind them, the mares began to eat and make soft, idle chatter. Today was Twilight’s turn to stand vigil, and Spike had decided to keep her company, as always. As the sun crept higher and higher into the morning sky, Spike gently tapped Twilight’s side and pointed.
A stallion was making his way along the winding road to Ponyville, pulling a cart full of goods behind as he crossed by the border sign pointing to the town proper. Silently, Twilight and Spike stood. They made their way back to the group together, even as they finished eating and began to pack away their supplies.
Twilight trotted up next to Rarity as she folded the blanket in her magic, and sighed. “He’s on his way into the marketplace now. If everything goes according to schedule, he’ll have his stall set up in five minutes or so.”
Rarity nodded, stuffing the blanket into her saddlebags somewhat roughly. “Good luck today, darling. Just let one of us know if we’re needed; you know where to find us.” The mare turned, trotting back towards her boutique down the hill. She still had to prepare to open for business today.
The rest of the group finished cleaning up and passed by Twilight, patting her on the back or giving a nod of pity and understanding as they made their way back to their respective homes. Applejack was last, stopping next to Twilight as the mare stared at the ground in deep thought.
“It’ll be mah turn tomorrow, hun. Who knows, maybe today’ll be the day?” The false cheer in her voice was sharp and brittle, like the edges of a smashed pane of glass. The two stood there for a moment, awkward silence settling in with a comforting familiarity.
Finally, Twilight spoke. “Y-yeah, maybe it will be today.” She raised her head, looking in the direction of Ponyville’s market and struggling to put a determined look on her face. “I’ve still got a few ideas to try out, a-and I’m sure Spike can…”
She trailed off, fighting to keep the sorrow from her voice and the tears from falling. Faintly, she whispered “It’s so hard, Applejack. It’s always so hard.” Rubbing her snout, Twilight cleared away the faint wisps of her tears and began to trot away, Spike settling in a pace behind her.
Applejack watched them go, rubbing her fetlock as her face remained stony. Once they had disappeared from sight, she too began the hike back to her home as she whispered beneath her breath.
“Ah know Twilight. We all do…”
Spike and Twilight entered the market, seeing the various merchants opening their stalls and unloading their wares into nearby stands and bins. Twilight waved to Roseluck and the flower mares as their stall passed by, stepping slightly to the right to avoid another impatient early-morning shopper.
Spike ducked as a frisbee flew over his head, a couple of foals chasing it and laughing with the joy of youth. As they passed a baker’s stall he quickly dashed to the side, setting two bits on the counter and pointing wordlessly to a pair of warm fritters.
The salespony smiled, wrapping the fritters in a cloth napkin and handing it over to the young dragon. “Well good morning Spike! You and Twilight sure are out early today!”
Spike grumbled, grabbing the bundle and turning away. The salespony frowned, then shrugged. Perhaps the studious pair had been up late doing research in the castle’s library, or performing some strange magical experiment in the so-called ‘Friendship Dungeon’.
As Spike returned to Twilight’s side, he held up a fritter and waited until she distractedly grabbed it in her magic field. She was staring across the marketplace, looking at a newcomer to the town as he began to set up his temporary stand, fabric and wooden poles quickly erecting a workable awning against the side of his cart.
They began to near the stallion, and Twilight devoured the warm fritter in a few bites. It was blueberry, of course, and she paused to enjoy the taste. Spike did his best to grab something different each time they made this voyage, but the marketplace only had so many options at this time of day.
She had memorized them all, after so long.
The stallion finally noticed them as they journeyed closer, perking up and giving them an inviting wave over to his wares. “Well, hello there, Princess! This must be Sir Spike, huh?” The stallion gestured at Spike, grinning wide and giving a quick bow.
“I am Echoed Beat, a humble watchmaker from dear Canterlot. But please, call me Echo. Have you come to peruse my wares?” He stepped back, allowing Twilight and Spike full view of the many assorted timepieces and pocket watches on display beneath the awning. There were silver watches, gold hoofbands, even decorative watches set into delicate fans or brass gadgetry.
Twilight looked down, eyes trailing blankly over the different assorted pieces. Her hoof snapped out at random, winding up pointing to an elegant silver pocket watch on a fine gold chain. “I will take that one, please.”
Echo smiled, deftly snapping up the indicated item and setting it within a velvet-lined case. “An excellent choice, Princess Twilight. For a mare of your standing, I would be delighted to part with this particular piece for onl-“
A resounding crash sounded behind the group as they jumped in surprise. A hint of excitement flared in Twilight’s eyes as she turned to see that the baker’s stall had collapsed, spilling pastries all over the market square. She turned and gave Spike an inquisitive look, and he whistled innocently in response.
Echo turned back to the pair, slightly shaken. “Ah, my apologies. Where was I? Oh yes, price. I could part with this piece for no less than… twenty bits.” He smiled expectantly at Twilight, knowing the price he’d named was almost three times what a similar watch might cost.
To his surprise, the dull-faced mare appeared to have had new life breathed into her being. She scoffed at the starting price he’d named, a slight shadow of a grin appearing beneath her snout. “Twenty bits? You think to take advantage of a poor, gullible princess with more bits than sense, is that it? I am no fool, Echo. Perhaps for three bits I would consider purchasing this knick-knack.”
Echoed Beat felt a grin begin to stretch across his own face, an unexpected challenger appearing this early was a treat indeed. It appeared they both knew the game, which always made it more fun. He reared back in shock, clasping his chest.
“Three? Three measly bits for this delightful work of art? Are you truly to be a tyrant, to demand such treatment from your loyal subjects? Well madam, I will not stand for it. Call me a rebel, but I could not let you simply take my livelihood for such a price. Perhaps for eighteen bits, certainly, but three? Not a chance.” He grinned, slamming the metaphorical ball back into Twilight’s court.
Spike sat quietly to one side as the two haggled and bargained, idly tossing the bit purse up and down in his claws as he thought about the day ahead. He wasn’t sure if what he’d done would have any real effect on this afternoon, but seeing Twilight smile today had certainly been worth weakening the baker’s stall in the dark of the morning.
The sun crawled overhead as the watchmaker and the princess bickered, slowly working its way towards the peak of the sky.
Twilight looked down into the coffin with tears streaming down her face, anger and sorrow clearly evident. Reaching into her saddlebag, she brought out a familiar velvet case and opened it, taking out a silver pocket watch on a golden chain.
In her anger she just about slammed it down onto the deceased stallion’s chest, letting the coil of golden chain slip from her hoof as she screamed her frustration into the sky above. Behind her, townsponies watched in shock and fright at the way their Princess was behaving. The gently falling rain only seemed to make her yells louder, and more disturbing.
This was a funeral. A some-what hastily done funeral for some unknown visitor to Ponyville it was true, but still. Princess Twilight had only met the gentlecolt this morning when she noticed his temporary spot in the marketplace, as far as anypony knew. She simply shouldn't be showing this much disrespect to the poor fellow.
It wasn't proper.
At the rear of the funeral five mares stood with a purple-scaled dragon and watched Twilight vent her anger at the fact that Echoed Beats had died, cradled in her hooves. She had once again failed to save the stranger from out of town, had once again failed to prevent this loss of life. For the umpteenth time, Echoed Beats ceased to live, passing away on his business trip to Ponyville.
Applejack sighed. “Ah was half-hopin she could do it this time.”
Rainbow Dash nodded, shaking the light drizzle she had arranged for the stallion out of her eyes and mane. “I getcha AJ. I think we all would wish one of us could get it done, y’know? But it’s been practically forever, and we’re still no closer to figurin this bucking crap out.”
AJ nodded, and turned away from the back row of mourners. Twilight was being carried off the stage by a couple of the local police who had dropped by to keep the peace. Spike hurriedly ran towards them, concern evident on his face. The crowd slowly began to disperse as Big Mac and Bulk Biceps began to carry the coffin towards the local cemetery.
The rest of the mane six watched it go, tears mixing with the gentle shower of rain as the watchmaker’s corpse was slowly shuffled down the street. Rainbow Dash rubbed her eyes and tried her best not to sniffle, angrily snarling “It’s just not fair. It’s not fair.”
Nopony responded to her outburst. There was nothing to say.
Tuesday, May 22nd
They gathered at the break of dawn, as they always would. Six mares and a purple-scaled dragon, looking over the town as the sun slowly began to rise into the air. Fluttershy brought breakfast, Rarity the blanket, and Twilight a full box of wine. Rainbow Dash cleared away the faintest hint of morning weather and Pinkie pulled out her emergency stash of cutlery and plates.
Spike and Applejack moved to the top of the hill they had gathered upon, and took a seat in a spot that overlooked the road into town. Spike firmly held a pair of binoculars in his claws as he stared towards the edge of the road, where it curved over the horizon.
As the sun crept higher and higher into the morning sky, Spike wordlessly tapped Applejack’s side and pointed. Echoed Beat was making his way along the winding road to Ponyville, pulling a cart full of various watches as he crossed by the border sign pointing to the town proper. With tears already streaming down her stony face, Applejack stood and pulled Spike to his feet.
Slowly, they walked down the hill to where their friends were waiting.
Echoed Beat continued into the Ponyville Marketplace, unaware of his silent watchers. Perhaps he would finally manage to sell his fine goods here in Ponyville, when nopony would look twice at them in Canterlot. If he was lucky, maybe he would even meet one of the fabled Elements of Harmony, get an autograph or something.
Echoed Beat snorted. Heroes like them would never even look twice at a simple watchmaker.
Why would they care about a stranger like him?