//------------------------------//
// Chapter One: Clockwork 
// Story: Just Be Yourself 
// by Feather Scroll 
//------------------------------//

You know, I never thought I'd ever be a sister. I never thought of having an older brother or sister. I never thought of having a younger brother or sister. Until Little Moon arrived.

I have memories of when my brother arrived to the family. I dream of it every night. The memories of childhood. The memories of us. I grew up in a family that makes clockwork and steampunk relates clocks and pocket watches. I worked alongside my parents, Astral Clock and Mystic Blossom. I was their only child. Their only biological child. I went to school and was picked on for being dull, for having a name of my father's business or having a stallion’s name, and for being a blank flank.

But when Little Moon arrived, he encouraged me to work at getting my cutie mark. By the time I got it, I was so happy. But after eleven years, Little Moon moved to Canterlot to become a royal guard. I stayed home in Manehattan. I had my job here. I still had the family business here to worry about. The business was a hotspot for wealthy ponies to come and try to buy out the business to try and make it into something more relatable for the younger generations, as the craft of steampunk and clockwork became rarer and rarer. But Astral Clock is a stubborn mule when it came to a family treasure as the business that's been open for many decades. But, those good memories of when Little Moon was still around. It made me smile. He was only a few years older than I was. Much older. For being a male pegasus, he was different. But...I know going back and think of the past won't help. Storm Scroll and Electric Drop would be here soon and I wasn't even ready yet! Mystic Blossom and Astral Clock weren't home, so I went and took a quick bath. I heard a knock at the door while I was drying off.

"Dammit," I muttered to myself. I heard the front door open and heard Electric Drop calling in her greetings. "I'll be down in a sec!" I called out to them and finished of drying off. I went off to my bedroom to get my plum colored scarf and grey collar. I couldn't leave without it. I felt naked without having it on.

Making sure I looked good, hair and tail brushed, teeth brushed, and feathers perfectly in line, I went off to the living room where Electric Drop and Solar Scroll were already sitting in the living room.

"You are a little early, don't you think?" I asked as Electric Drop got back on her hooves. Her bright sky blue eyes didn't match her pastel colors of her pastel purple and blue stripped mane and tail. Even her cutie mark was a dark pastel blue raindrop with a dull rainbow, zigzagged pattern along the middle of it. It almost resembled a life-line, but didn't even any straight lines.

"My little concert isn't starting in five hours. We still have time," Electric Drop smiled. That's right. She was an inspiring DJ. "Besides, you're the last one. Sapphire Daisy and Galaxy Candy are already waiting at my place."

"Are you going to be bringing those powdered chalk guns?" I asked. "It took you almost a month to get the chalk stains out of your white pelt."

"No, no, of course not," Electric Drop chuckled. "Those to in my closet anyway. I doubt Sapphire Daisy or Galaxy would be looking for them. I doubt they even care for that anyway."

"Are we leaving?" Solar Scroll asked, now on his hooves. "Sapphire Daisy and Galaxy Candy wouldn't be happy with us if we're late getting back to Electric Drop's place."

"Right," Electric Drop sighed. "Let's go."


***


We gotten to the place Electric Drop's concert is being held. We had gotten there an hour and a half early. Electric Drop had Solar Scroll, Galaxy Candy, and myself help with most of the placements of equipment.

"Thanks for helping," Electric Drop said, as she hooked up her dashboard. "I know wouldn't have been able to do this is on my own." 

"Too bad I couldn't help..." Sapphire Daisy lowered her ears, her front hoof in wrappings. A cloth was tied around her neck, to keep the wrapped hoof off the ground. "I'm useless with this stuff."

"Don't say that," Electric Drop smiled at her. Walking to her, she placed her hood on Sapphire Daisy's shoulder. "You don't have to worry about anything. Just be glad that you got in for free."

"Yeah, like we have to worry much about paying," I chimed. "You always give us free tickets to your concerts."

"I'm surprised Vinyl Scratch hasn't heard of you yet, Electric," Galaxy Candy joked. "You’re becoming more well-known as a DJ, as well as increasing popularity. Think you two are going to battle who's best DJ?"

"Very funny," Electric Drop rolled her eyes. She went back to her dashboard to make sure it was working the way it was supposed to.

We hadn't spoken for the next hour. Everypony who gotten a ticket were already pouring in. There was a mixture of ponies there as far as I could tell. Many unicorns and earth ponies, and a good amount of pegasi. Electric Drop had us get off the makeshift stage, and I trotted to the drink stand.

I was disappointed when Little Moon hadn't shown up. He promised to come to Electric Drop's concert. I couldn't help but to think of Little Moon. He would have done anything for Electric Drop. Until I heard Silver Moon's voice, along with Mystic Wish and Fruitcake’s, somewhere nearby.

"The concert should start in less than twenty minutes," Furitcake glanced around, sounding almost cheerful. "I hope you don't have anything to ruin everyponies good time."

"It's Electric Drop's concert," Silver Moon grinned. "Besides, who here really cares about this pathetic concert?"

"I hope you would listen to your friend, there, Silver Moon," Little Moon stated, walking up to her. "You know that there would be no other DJ to take over the one you're going to ruin."

"Oh, Little Moon!" Silver Moon hopped, turning to face him in the process. "Why are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Canterlot?"

"I'm here for a friend," Little Moon narrowed his eyes. "Would you mind not going off destroying others good time?

Silver Moon nodding, taking a deep breath. Little Moon rolled his eyes and trotted over towards the drink stand and stood next to me. He had gotten the berry mix smoothie. I saw Silver Moon watch him before Fruitcake nudged her away.

"Didn't think you'd make it," I glanced up at him. "Didn't think the Princess' would allow you to leave. How'd you convince them?"

"I didn't," Little Moon smiled, walking to his place with myself following. "How are mom and dad doing? Is the business still going strong?"

"Yeah," I sat down once we got to our spot. "We have a hundred more customers than we used to."

"How?"

"Snow Cone kind of screwed himself over."

I told him how Snow Come fucked himself over and how his customers moved over towards us or gone to another sweet shop across town. Little Moon smirked, shaking his head. Though it was dark, I could still his whitish-purple mane and pale plum colored coat looked like it was washed. In fact, I could see why stallions mistake him for a mare. He always has the funniest stories to tell about some stallion trying to hit on him.

"Have you found a stallion yet?" Little moon asked suddenly.

"No, why?"

"Hearts and Hooves day is in a few weeks."

Well, shit. I was so busy that I didn't realize what month it was. Solar Scroll already has a marefriend, Sapphire Daisy and Electric Drop both have their eyes on somepony and I knew Galaxy Candy couldn’t care less about the holiday or a stallion. I didn't know whether or not Little Moon had somepony he had his eyes on, but I personally didn't care.

"You still like Solar Scroll?"

"He already has a marefriend," I stated as I nearly finished my drink. "Besides, what could I give?"

"That's too bad, Clockwork," Little Moon patted my shoulder, a hint of both joking and longing in his voice.

Then suddenly, some of the lights started to go dim, and Sapphire Daisy, Storm Scroll, and Galaxy Candy came to sit next to us. I've never been to one of Vinyl Scratch's concerts before, but I always found it a bit odd why Electric Drop greets her crowd before starting the concert. There were so many pastel-ish colors flashing lights. That was always her thing. She hated neon based lights.

Electric Drop eventually starts her little concert and everypony started to dance by the time music started. I couldn't help but to laugh at my friends and brother, all who can't dance at all. Solar Scroll had invited his marefriend, though I still had no idea what her name was or what her occupation was, though her capture mark was of a rose. Solar Scroll has never introduced us to her yet. Or, I don't think he has, but hasn't introduced me to her.

But while I was just standing there, enjoying the last bit of the drink, I couldn't help but notice Silver Moon and Fruitcake. Silver Moon was pretending to tip-hoof to the back stage while Fruitcake didn't even bother trying. Fruitcake just looked annoyed as all hell. I glanced over at a stern-looking stallion, which Electric Drop hired. He didn't even realize what was going on until we caught eyes and I was nodding my head towards Silver Moon and Fruitcake. He realized what was happening, and yelled "Hey!" while trotting to the two mares.

"What was that all about?" I heard Sapphire Daisy call to me, as she trotted to me.

"Silver Moon and Fruitcake," I responded. The music was loud, so we could barely even hear each other. "Silver Moon was trying to get back stage."

"What?"

I wasn't sure if Sapphire Daisy couldn't hear me well over the music or if she was generally asking for details. I shook my head and repeated my statement.

"Oh, I heard..." Sapphire Daisy responded. "I didn't understand why."

"I don't know. I presume she wanted to fuck over Electric and ruin her party."

I looked around to see if I could see Pebbles anywhere, the stallion who went after Silver Moon and Fruitcake. I couldn't see them over the crowd and flying was forbidden. Though it was Electric Drop's rule, it did keep others from dropping drinks and foods on other ponies but it didn't stop them from throwing their drinks. I stopped worrying when I saw Pebbles walking back to his place. Sapphire Daisy noticed, but pulled me to where the rest of the gang, without a single word being spoken, and started to have fun.


***


"How was seeing your brother again?" Astral Clock asked when I walked in, but then added in an annoyed tone. "How was the party?"

Astral Clock is my father. Always the strict, cold and annoyed kind of pony, but he was genially was this good-natured, sarcastic father. But he raised me and Little Moon pretty well, despite Little Moon is now a royal guard in training instead of working in the family business. Little Moon obviously wasn't my biological brother, nor was he good with gears, but he was always good-looking in armor.

"Little Moon never looked better. Has he stopped by before going back to Canterlot?" I asked. "The party was pretty good, other than a few mishaps that the security couldn't handle."

"No stallions?"

I rolled my eyes. I had little to no interests in stallions or mares. My father knew that. "I swear..."

I went off to work before he said anything more. I went out back and looked for my mother. I might have some orders to fulfil while I was out. Usually, that's how it's done if one was not on shift. As I made my way around machinery and ponies, I spotted Mystic Blossom talking to two of the new blank flanks that were hired, hoping to get their cutie marks here.

"Got it?" Mystic Blossom finished, glancing at both the two new stallions.

"Yes ma'am!"

"Then get to it, then!"

"Right away!"

Both of the lightly trotted away, passing me without passing me a glance. Mystic Blossom turned around, she faced me and smiled. "Oh, Clockwork."

"Mother," I nuzzled her. "Is there any orders that came in for me?"

"No, but there is a very special delivery," Mystic Blossom went over to retrieve my bags and a small box. "Astral had this made before you got here. All our delivery ponies are all out, so Astral is expecting you -"

"To get it done," I sighed. I grabbed my bags and flung them over my back. "Where is this box supposed to go to?"

Mystic Blossom gave me the box, which already had the directions to where I had to go. Mystic pushed me out for to the front of the store. "Do not worry; they do not expect this pocket watch for the next week."

"And be careful," Astral Clock called as I trotted for the front door. "I don't want anything bad happening to you or the watch!"

"We'll be fine," I said, smiling as I carefully placed the small box in my bag. "You have nothing to worry about!"


***


I had to get a ticket from Manehattan to Ponyville. It'll be a long ride. Normally, I'd fly there, but since then, stormy weathers have prevented me from flying overseas. A train ride won't take more than two days. So I'd be there in no time!

"Where you going?" A familiar mare's voice called.

Flickering my ear to the sound, I glanced over. The sound of the train not far off.

"Electric?" I tilted my head. "What are you doing here?"

"Going off to Ponyville," Electric Drop chuckled, a small smile on her face. "One of my big days. Vinyl will be there."

I smiled in return of hers. Vinyl was her idol. She was the main reason Electric Drop got into DJ'ing in the first place. I could tell Electric Drop was excited for this.

"Um, you okay Clockwork?"

"I'm fine," I put a hoof to her shoulder. "You'll do great."

"Thanks," Electric Drop smiled, eyeing back and forth from me and the approaching train, that came to a screeching halt. "You never answered me when I asked you were going."

"Oh, right," I chuckled softly. "Ponyville. Mom needed me to drop something off."

"I guess it's important?" Electric Drop asked, but shook her head and pushed me off towards the train. "If it's important, then we better off be getting there!"

Electric Drop was different from other ponies I've met. She was always so lively, while most where dull or in a panic to get somewhere. Electric Drop and I sat in the same area, talking. I hadn't realized that she had feelings for a stallion. Then I realized I forgot that I was just talking about it with Little Moon, Hearts and Hooves day. Hearts and Hooves day wasn't far off and that I usually try to spend it with Little Moon, but I had the feeling that that's not going to be an option this year.

"What about you?" Electric Drop had asked, taking me away from my thoughts. "I doubt Little Moon will be free this year."

"Why this all of a sudden?"

"You are without a stallionfriend! You must have your eyes on somepony."

I did. Solar Scroll. But he was with another mare. What was her name? Crystal Rose? Though it was almost dark when I saw her, she did seem to have a pinkish-lavenderish pelt, a dark lavender mane and tail that looked poofy and short, and grass green eyes. But...Solar Scroll was the only pony with her, right?

"N-no," I started. "I don't."

"By the looks you were giving, I doubt not anymore?"

As I was about to answer, the train screeched again, but this time it was warning it was about to leave in a few seconds. I saw a pony rushing to get on the train, an Earth pony, which missed her chance to get on but was racing as the train started to move. Unfortunately, she didn't get a chance to get on without getting hurt on the interceptions of the train. She couldn't have been older than myself, but yet I was a pegasus.

I turned back to Electric Drop and sighed. Did I truly need a stallionfriend? My father always joked about it, that if I was caught with a stallion he'd have my head. But, the fact that I have no interest in really having a family...

"I think I know who you'd be interested in," Electric Drop smirked, as if a light bulb just came on. She gave me a face as if I should know who she's talking about, but tries to play it dumb when it came to it.

"...And that is...?"

"Like I haven't noticed you looking for that one grey stallion."

That grey stallion? Pebbles? Was she serious?

"What are you going off about?" I tried to play it off as it was nothing, but almost sounded like those young school kids who tried to play off their feelings when being called out on it.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

Truly, I wasn’t even sure why she would bring this up. Pebbles was just some guard pony she hired for the party she held. I was uncertain why she’d assume I would be interested in somepony, especially one I could only assume was older than me, that I just barely met.

"Near the end of the party, you were looking for somepony. Sapphire said you were watching -"

"It wasn't any of her business, and it's not your either," I cut in. "It's nothing. I was not looking for anypony other than my brother. He left during the party..."

Electric Drop's enthusiastic self dropped to disappointment. As if I broke something special to her. She was so happy when she thought I had my eyes on a pony, Pebbles maybe, but deflated when it wasn't presented as truth. I knew Electric Drop and Sapphire Daisy want me to find love. Even if it wasn't in the best of places.

"You try too hard," I told her. "I don't want love. I don't want a stallion. I don't even want a mare, if that that's your next plan of attack!" I took a sigh. "You have your own future. I don't care where my life takes me. I know you, Solar Scroll, Sapphire Daisy, Galaxy. And Galaxy already has somepony already!"

I added that jokingly. Electric Drop chuckled and sighed. "I guess you’re right."

We fell silent for the train ride. I stared out the window as Electric Drop went for some snacks. I hadn't thought of the multiple train lines to and from Manhattan. There could have been a good four lines, but two of them would have been used more than the others. I don't think I had any books to keep my attention. I rarely never bring a book with me anyways...As I glance back to Electric, she had her muzzle halfway down a bag of roasted and salted peanuts. She took her muzzle out and grinned at me, peanuts in her teeth and roasted peanut skins around her white muzzle. It didn't make her look appealing at all.

We both chuckled after she cleaned her muzzle off and finished her mouthful. Again, we traveled in silence, with exceptions of the noises of the train and ponies around us talking. It was always nice to travel with Electric Drop, even if we rarely talked during our travels. Maybe, just maybe, she knew more than she was holding up? Why she was more to herself than she usually was? But...It did feel nice...Just being with her...