//------------------------------// // A new start // Story: Brown Note: An Off-Color Love Story // by Starlitomega //------------------------------// It’s not unusual for a story like this to begin with something like “It was a day like any other”, or some other cliche. For most ponies, it was a day like any other. Their lives carried on uninterrupted and unsullied by the hooves of destiny. For one particular pony, this day was not like any other. For her, this day was a day of new beginnings. Picture a train moving across the vast landscape of Equestria. It is not the train most people would imagine. It has far too many pinks, blues, and girly designs on it for starters, and the cow catch on the front has never once lived up to its name. No. This is a train for ponies, which mean it relies much more upon whimsy and narrative to move, rather than coal, hard work, and the occasional industrial accident. Inside this is train is the usual assortment of ponies who, for the most part, simply want to get from point A to point B. Among them is a young earth pony who’s life consisted of more point A’s and not quite so many point B’s. Upon her flank sits a rather unassuming cogwheel that denotes to the more intelligent of her species a knack for machinery. This gray cog stands out against her pink coat and mane. This pink, while not being so pink as to offend a flamingo, is still bright enough for ponies to wonder how such a cutie mark had the nerve to intrude upon its pinkness. Clockwork, for that’s what this pony is called, fidgeted in place as if her muscles were springs wound up far too tight. Her smile threatened to spread clear off of her face much in the same way that the light of the sun poured across the vast landscapes of Equestria. Through the entire trip, her amber eyes danced to and fro, surveying every sight and experience like a young foal seeing the world for the first time. As the train came to a halt and its doors flew open, it took all of her considerable willpower to swallow a squeal of delight. Clockwork found herself stepping out into a completely new town, the same way she found herself doing anything. Dazed, confused, but determined not to let it show. It was a doomed effort from the start in this case, as this town was nothing like Canterlot. Seeing this town for the first time made her wonder why she hadn’t felt the itch to visit other places before. It wasn’t as though she’d been afraid of leaving the city—she simply never had a good reason to. A nagging voice in her head pondered what else she had missed out on in life, thanks to being captive to “reason.” Her hooves softly echoed against the hardwood platform beneath her, each step a milestone in their own right. Only a handful of ponies followed her off the train, each going their own way without the same sense of wonder. This is inevitably because one can only look at something in wonder for the first two, maybe three times. Even ponies who work in hallowed temples lose this sense of wonder right about the third time the toilets overflow in the lobby. Clockwork smiled to herself and took in a breath of fresh air. Well, she catalogued it as fresh air. What fresh air actually was, she wasn’t sure. Maybe this wasn’t fresh air at all. When she thought of “fresh air”, she usually thought of trees, grass, perhaps a bit of snow. She mostly thought this from the pictures printed on scented candles back in the city. It took her a moment to recall what scent the candles had when she lit them in her cramped workshop so that she could properly compare it to the natural version. Once she realized she had been standing there for nearly five minutes, Clockwork hurriedly classified this air as “fresh air” and continued on her way. While she wasn’t the most experienced pony, Clockwork knew enough to know that her pink coat and magenta mane stood out amongst the natural colors surrounding her, not that she or anypony else noticed. In fact, she might fit in more here than she did back at her old home where ponies regularly dyed their coat to fit in with the latest fashion. Clockwork tried to dye her coat once when she was feeling particularly moody. She purchased a bottle of yellow coat dye, but due to a small miscalculation on her part, she ended up white as a sheet. Her mother called her a ghost and pretended not to see her for the next three months, which resulted in miles of eye rolling. Ponyville: a small and humble town in the middle of nowhere. The trees and grass were humble. The shops dotting the streets were humble. The homes, the foals playing in the street, they were all humble. The giant crystal castle looming over the town was not so humble. In fact, she dared to say it was probably the least humble thing she had ever seen, barring Canterlot Castle. Stretching high above the other buildings in Ponyville, the castle seemed to shimmer and shine, almost as if it were a mirage that could disappear at any moment. The moment Clockwork ripped her attention away from the castle, she stepped off the platform and felt something she’d only seen in books. Grass. Well, maybe she hadn’t only seen it in books. Growing up in Canterlot meant every surface one could see had to be paved, decorated, shellacked or… whatever, but the city still had its share of parks. However, parks never felt right. They seemed more like zoos for plants than an actual place to stretch one’s hooves out. it felt confined, artificial. Here in her new home, grass was just as free to exist as roads—more so, even. All her life, the ground beneath her hooves remained as cold and unforgiving as ice. Now for the first time ever, she felt her hooves dig into soil. Prancing in place, she grinned even harder than before. Eeehehehehe! It feels so neat! I feel like a real earth pony! Her eyes fluttered open in a moment of realization that she was indeed, a real earth pony. Fortunately, nopony seemed to notice her little outburst as they all were absorbed in their own lives of… well, Celestia only knows what. The lack of reaction did not stop the blush from spreading across her rosy cheeks as she continued into the village. Keep it together, Clockwork. No need to show everypony how dorky you are on the first day. I suppose I should familiarize myself with the town on the way to my new home. Culture shock was the only word for it. There was so much empty space between buildings that ponies in Canterlot would likely classify it as wasted space before squeezing a shop between them. Here in Ponyville, trees grew amidst shops and homes, and cobblestones were only placed where absolutely needed. Putting her awe aside, she made a mental note of each and every building she might need to visit later. In particular, she noticed the town hall, a bakery where one might be able to get a decent breakfast, and a boutique, which would be particularly useful, as the ponies on the train had somehow lost her trunk with her wardrobe inside. Five minutes into town, Clockwork came to a stunning conclusion: nearly everypony she passed smiled or gave her a friendly wave. What in the world? Ponies in Canterlot never wave to one another. Is this some sort of Ponyville tradition? A holiday? Rather than reciprocate the greetings, Clockwork averted her eyes, keeping her head turned as if she were hiding from the authorities. "Hey! Who're you?" Clockwork’s head shot up like a rocket. Something about that scratchy voice and the tone demanded attention. Stopping in her tracks, Clockwork looked around, trying to identify the source of the noise. "Up here!" Craning her neck skywards, she saw a pegasus flapping lazily above her. Her rainbow-colored mane and sleek figure cut a striking image against the blue sky. Well, she thought it was rather striking. Back in Canterlot, the ponies would probably call it garish, but that’s to be expected from ponies who never had their houses painted anything but grey, tan, beige, or white. "You new in town? Looks like I got to you before Pinkie Pie for once. What's your name?" I haven’t been here five minutes and the locals are getting pushy. Quickly weighing her options, Clockwork settled upon her default choice. Clockwork walked neatly around her, ignoring the pest completely. Regrettably, this did not have the intended effect. In a flash, the pegasus landed in front of her, barring the way with her impressive wingspan. "Hey! Wait up! I just wanna know who you are, ya know, trying to be friendly here.” Clockwork narrowed her eyes at the pegasus who, in turn, gave a grin that looked just a little too tight. Those fuschia eyes of her’s cut like a laser, but their owner seemed friendly enough. When it became clear she had no intention of moving, Clockwork reached into her bag and pulled out a small dry erase board lightly smeared with years of one-sided conversations and a worn marker. Using her mouth and a few practiced strokes, she wrote what she needed to and held it up for the pegasus. "Clockwork? That's a pretty cool name. My name's Rainbow Dash... also a cool name, if I say so myself,” the pony declared with a smug grin. Rainbow Dash. Of course it is. Your parents must be thrilling at parties. “What’s up with the board? You sick or something? Sore throat?" Rainbow asked, raising an eyebrow. Clockwork shook her head and wrote something else down. "Something’s wrong with your voice? What's that supposed to mean?" The discussion had reached the end of what Clockwork could hastily scribble, so she lowered her marker. Putting her board away, Clockwork made another neat circle around the pegasus. Not one to be left behind, Rainbow leapt over Clockwork, flapping her wings to stay aloft. "Woah, where are you going? I wanna know what’s wrong with your voice." Pursing her lips, Clockwork cut her eyes at the pegasus, boring holes into the flapping annoyance. "Come on. Just say something. Just one little thing! I have to know!" Looking around, Clockwork made sure nopony else was close by. It was just her, and this annoying Rainbow Dash. She opened her mouth and let half a smile cross her lips. “Hi." For a brief moment, Clockwork's voice cut through the quiet country air. In her own mind, her voice sounded just fine. It wasn’t a voice meant for singing, yodeling, or belting out rock lyrics mind you, but it was a very satisfactory sounding voice. Unfortunately, the sound of her voice wasn’t the problem—the dramatic effect it had on other ponies was. "Gaaaah!" Clockwork watched as Rainbow’s wings locked up, she clutched her belly, and fell to the ground like a stone. A look of pain and confusion graced her features the same way a scrunched up face visited the lips of a pony who had just licked a lemon. Clockwork smiled and walked past the beleaguered pony as Rainbow lost all control of her bowels. Disgusting bodily noises filled the air behind her as Clockwork trotted on, keen on finding her new home in Ponyville. I doubt I’ll hear from Miss Rainbow Dash again. Like the other houses in Ponyville, Clockwork’s new home was rather small—or cozy, as the real estate agent described it. Of course, small was relative. In Canterlot, her home was a small shop that consisted of a bedroom, which doubled as her workroom, a bathroom, and a small lobby to greet customers. This meant that her new cozy home was about the size of a mansion compared to her previous lodgings. What really struck her was how quiet the area around her new home was. Years of being squished between two shops in Canterlot gave her new home a lonely feeling as the wind whistled gently around the homely building. Oh well. At least I can make as much noise as I want to without getting complaints. Maybe I’ll commission a forge and stick it in the back. I’ve always wanted to smelt and cast those expensive parts I have to import from Germane. Walking onto her front step, she approached the shiny brass doorknob and slid the key inside. The lock gave a satisfying click as the key turned, and Clockwork pushed the door open slowly, savoring the moment as she stepped into her new home. The entrance lead straight into a spacious kitchen area. Off to her right sat a small dining table. Oak and heavy, it looked like she could dance across the top and not even set a wobble through it’s legs. To her left was the kitchen proper, what with its stove, it’s sink, and it’s “Home Sweet Home” cross stitch. Though it had been cleaned with an expert’s care and attention, it was easy to see that many home cooked meals were had in the kitchen. Down the hall, everything was repainted antique white in preparation of her arrival, the faint smell of chemicals still lingered slightly in the air. Fresh paint, she decided, was one notch above fresh oil when it came to her spectrum of favorite smells. Nudging one of the bedroom doors open, she saw a room painted with a light shade of gray that reminded her of the stone bedroom she used to toil in back in Canterlot—luckily, she was able to negotiate with the real estate agent and paid extra to have some furnishings put in, such as the previously mentioned table in the kitchen. In this room sat a heavy oak desk, perfect for scattering countless bits and bobs across its top, and even drawers to shovel everything into once she got fed up and wanted to call it a night. Clockwork opened her suitcase and removed a small pouch. Placing it on the desk, she gently nudged it with her hoof, rolling the leather pouch open. With the same trained eye she used to inspect, diagnose, and repair everything from blenders to line clocks, she inspected all of her tools, ensuring they’d made the trip safely. Running her hoof across them, she smiled at the familiarity of cold steel upon her hooves. Pliers, slotted and phillips precision screwdrivers, diagonal cutters… whew! Looks like everything made it! Very few earth ponies practiced precision mechanical repair as the hooves and mouth did not offer them the accuracy a unicorn's horn would. Of course, having a cutie mark of a cog and a screwdriver meant bucking the odds. She made her own tools, and for years, repaired and created various odds and ends belonging to the highest echelons of Canterlot society. Whether it was a pocket watch, or just some busy housemare’s dishwasher, she fixed anything she got her hooves on. All of which led to this very day. After making more money than she could ever hope to burn through in three lifetimes, she had moved to the country to retire. Ponies her age were busy trying to start their own business, or break out into a lifelong career, or break into a mid-life crisis. Rather than buying an expensive new carriage and smashing it during a wild backwoods chase with the law, she decided upon retirement. Clockwork sighed. She'd never had time for anything but work. Well, that wasn't true; it was more that she didn't have anything to do except work. She was always alone with her watches, and motors, and cogs, and— *Thump thump thump* A sudden knocking on her door dragged the earth pony out of her trance. She walked back through the hall with a wary eye against the shadows of ponies that schemed against her that surely didn’t exist. I’ve been here for less than an hour. Who in Equestria could have seen me already? Opening the door, she rolled her eyes at the pony on the other side. "Heh, heh... It's uhhh, me again. You know, Rainbow Dash? I want to show you something... if you're not busy." That pegasus again. Hasn’t she learned her lesson? Clockwork cast her eye back down the hall toward her new workshop, hoping the gesture would suffice to say “I’ve got better things to do.” “Hey, c’mon. I promise it’ll be really cool. What else have you got to do? Unpack? Boooring!” Well, she doesn't seem like the type to hold a grudge, and I do have plenty of time for work later, being retired and all. Clockwork pursed her lips, but nodded, gesturing for Rainbow to lead on. The pegasus squealed with glee and flapped her wings, bringing her sleek form a foot or two off the ground. "Cool! Follow me! I'm gonna show you a very special pony! She's gonna love to meet you!" Oh no! Why did I have to follow that dumb pegasus?! The large crystalline castle sat as an imposing figure overlooking all of Ponyville. Sure, she saw it coming from the train station, but Clockwork never imagined she would even venture near it, much less be invited inside. After all, she never expected to have any business there. Perhaps, she imagined, the princess might come visit her at her humble little shop to have something fixed, but otherwise, she didn’t expect their lives to intersect at all. A tug at her hoof pulled Clockwork out of her trance. "What are you waiting for? C'mon, let's go!" Rainbow shouted, practically dragging Clockwork in. The inside of the castle was no less impressive than the outside. Past the huge entryway was a long crystal hallway with doors taller than any she had ever seen. Her eyes wandered side to side in awe of the massive structure as a filly might look down from a ferris wheel. Her hooves carried her down the hall on autopilot as she took in the splendid architecture, far too complicated and ornate for actual pony hooves. It seemed as if the crystal itself had studied pony buildings and decided to take it one step further. Grand double doors looming at the end of the room beckoned to her like a flame does a moth. "Hey, where are you going?" Clockwork stopped in her tracks. Surely the room at the far end had to be the throne room, the seat of the venerable princess' power. She gave a confused look at the pegasus behind her. Rainbow just shook her head and pointed at a different door. "No, no, no. She's almost never in the throne room. In here." Biting her lip, Clockwork turned around and followed Rainbow as she pushed the door open. Instantly, the earth pony's eyes lit up. Beakers! Burners! Machinery! There's so much equipment here! The room looked like it belonged more to a lab rat than a princess. Table after table of books and science equipment filled the room, leaving very little space for ponies to squeeze through. A chemical aftertaste lingered in the air, no doubt from an experiment gone awry, perhaps one that costed a reckless pony their eyebrows. Chalkboards with complicated equations and what looked like several ongoing experiments stood at attention. "Hey, Rainbow Dash. Is this the pony you wanted me to meet?" Clockwork's heart came to a screeching halt. A tall purple pony wearing safety glasses and a lab coat peeked around one of the machines. Her purple hair, with a pink stripe running up its length, sat in a neat bun. It was quite difficult to place her right away, but the moment Clockwork saw the wings and the horn, she immediately knew who it was. The Queller of Chaos. The Slayer of Tirek. The Bane of Nightmare Moon. The pony had many titles, none actually given to her, more bestowed upon her in whispers by the populace at large. None that is save one: The Princess of Friendship. Instantly, Clockwork dropped to her knees, bowing in reverence. Though she looked dramatically different than she did in the newspapers, there was no doubt that this pony was none other than Twilight Sparkle: Princess of Friendship. "Yup! This is her! I'll let you take over from here. Later, Twi!" The pegasus galloped off with a barely-audible snicker the same way a thief might leave a shop after surreptitiously pocketing a candy. It was only then that Clockwork managed to piece together what had just transpired. Oh no. That pegasus... that was one of the Elements of Harmony! I made one of the Elements of Harmony crap herself! I've only been in town for an hour and a half, and I've already made myself an enemy of the crown! Clockwork shivered, not daring to look up as the alicorn stepped closer to her. "Uhhh, hello there. You don't have to bow." That voice flowed like a soothing tide into Clockwork’s heart. It was a kind and gentle voice, befitting the princess’ stature. Raising her head slowly as if expecting an arrow to hit her between the eyes, Clockwork finally came face to face with the living legend. Bright purple eyes looked down at her with benevolence and understanding. The soft smile told a story of compassion and friendliness. This pony had to be the Princess of Friendship. Clockwork was sure just one look could convince even the strongest skeptic of her kindness. "That's better," Twilight said with a soft giggle that danced across the air pleasingly. "What's your name?" Oh crap! That Rainbow knucklehead didn't tell her what my voice can do! Reaching for her dry erase board, a horrific realization made itself known to her. Clockwork had left it along with her saddlebags back at her new home. Perhaps it was Clockwork’s feverish searching, or the look of sheer terror in her eyes. Regardless of why, the princess tilted her head in confusion. "Are you okay?" Clockwork shook her head frantically. She looked around for something, anything she could write with. "I know this might seem intimidating, but you don't have to be afraid. Just tell me your name," Twilight said. The tone she used sounded patronizing, and almost insulting. It struck a nerve with Clockwork. In an instant, years of self control vanished. "I'm not afra—" The earth pony's hooves shot to her mouth, muffling her words only a moment too late. All at once, the mighty ruler let out a not quite as mighty moan of pain as she crumpled to the ground. In an instant, the alicorn vanished in a brilliant flash of light, leaving Clockwork to ponder the few short moments she had left to live. Silence took hold. A stiffling, unbearable, muggy, suffocating silence. A silence that might as well have been the measurement of one’s last breath. Oh... oh no. I just made the Princess of Friendship lose her bowels. What am I going to do?! I'll have to hide for the rest of my life! I’ll be hunted like a dog! Slowly, Clockwork’s legs gave out. Falling to the floor, she covered her eyes with her hooves as tears started down her cheeks. She didn’t sob, couldn’t sob. consideration for her fellow equine forbid it. She always had to hold back to the best of her ability, no matter how much she wanted to scream or cry in anguish. She couldn't have any friends, or any sort of social life. Her stupid voice ruined any chance of that. Her cheek hit the cold, crystalline floor as streams of tears puddled beneath her. It isn’t fair! Why? What did I do to deserve this? "Hey, it's okay... You’re not in trouble, and nothing bad is going to happen. I promise." Clockwork looked up through teary eyes. She didn’t notice it, but the princess had already returned—minus the lab coat, which had probably been soiled. Strangely enough, she didn’t seem angry at all. Her lips curled downward in a thoughtful frown as she offered Clockwork a gentle hoof. Wiping away her tears, Clockwork took that lifeline and melted as Twilight pulled her into a hug. She's not mad. Why isn't she mad? I know I'd be mad if somepony did that to me. "So that’s why Rainbow wanted you to meet me,” Twilight whispered. “I'm gonna have to have a long lecture with her later. I'm guessing she pestered you until you talked to her." Clockwork pulled away from the hug and nodded, tears still rolling down her cheeks. "Well, don't worry about it," Twilight said, standing up and walking to one of her desks. "I bet you don't think so, but you have a very special voice. I've never encountered a pony like you." Oh, my voice is special alright. It's good for completely eliminating any sort of social or love life. "I mean, just think of the possibilities!" Twilight continued while rummaging through a pile of equipment. "Wars that cost countless lives could be ended in one swift, embarrassing blow. A whole new field of non-lethal deterrence could be available using the power of your voice!" Clockwork stared, not believing her ears. "Aha! Found it!" Twilight Sparkle, having procured a scroll and quill, walked over to Clockwork and lay them at her hooves. "Tell me everything," Twilight said, her eyes beaming in anticipation. Twilight finally lowered the hastily written scroll, her mouth half open in astonishment. "Retired? You're my age!" The earth pony just shrugged. "I suppose if you do nothing but work, you can retire pretty early. I mean, look at me! Before I came here to Ponyville I had no friends, and I was quite the nerd." Clockwork fixed her with a disbelieving stare. "Okay, yeah, I still am kind of a nerd," Twilight admitted. “but I have come pretty far since leaving Canterlot.” It seemed impossible to conceive. The Princess of Friendship, Champion of Equestria, locked away in solitude for days at a time doing Celestia only know what by herself. This was the pony meant to teach the rest of Equestria the value of friendship. Perhaps that’s why she was qualified to teach others of friendship. Speaking of time... Looking around the room, Clockwork tried to find anything that might tell her what time it is. Her eyes instinctively flew to the wall where she assumed a clock might be. When the first wall ended up being bare, she looked to another. Her eyes fell upon a clock featuring a garishly pink pony smiling so hard that it made Clockwork’s teeth hurt just looking at it. Nine A.M.? What? "That clock's broken," Twilight explained, following her gaze. "Pinkie Pie gave it to me as a gift after one of her parties, but it got damaged in a magical mishap during one of my experiments. I couldn't stand to throw it away, It was such a thoughtful gift. She told me that no matter what time it was, I could always look there for a smile..." That was all Clockwork needed to hear. She stood up, walked over to the wall, and plucked the clock from its perch, ignoring the alicorn’s stare as she put it upside down on the table. A quick inspection of the mechanics revealed the problem to be an easy fix for a pony of her abilities. Leaving the clock for a moment, she walked over to Twilight and pulled out the hairpin holding her hair in a bun. "Hey! What are you doing?" Twilight asked, shaking her newly freed mane into a decent shape. Clockwork ignored the question, her mind set on the damaged timepiece. The hairpin didn't offer her the precision that her normal tools would, but it would suffice for this simple repair. With a few tweaks, and a loud click, the clock resumed its ticking. Flipping it over, Clockwork smiled as the hands on the front started moving once more. She held it out like an offering to the alicorn, a bashful grin stuck on her face. It took a moment for Twilight to piece together what had just occurred. Once her roving eyes saw the hands moving once again, they flew open, a smile spreading upon her lips. "You fixed it! Thank you so much! So that's what your cutie mark means. Hold on a moment." Clockwork sat down as Twilight galloped off once more. She waited patiently until Twilight returned, carrying a set of cards connected by three small keyring hoops. "Just gotta write one thing real quick..." Twilight made a few scrawls on one of the cards with a quill before offering Clockwork the cards. "Here! These were made for mute ponies. These cards will help you communicate with others without having to speak or carry a board around. See? Look." Twilight flipped the first card open. It read "Hello, my name is Clockwork." "With these, you can ask where the nearest bathroom is, request a menu at a restaurant, or even tell ponies you're in a rotten mood and rather be left alone." Clockwork smiled and took the set of cards. At one time, she had a set of cards similar to these. They hung from her neck everywhere she went. Eventually she was so well known amongst the restaurants and businesses she frequented that she stopped wearing them altogether. It never occurred to her to bring the cards with her when she came to Ponyville as they were at her mother’s house and she hadn’t even thought of them for years. Being in a new and completely unfamiliar town, they would probably come in quite handy once again. She wanted to tell Twilight how grateful she was for the thoughtful gift, and so she set about flipping through them until she found one that said "Thank you", and held it up. A giggle worked its way through Twilight’s lips. "Aww. You're very welcome. Thank you for fixing my clock." Clockwork smiled and nodded her head, echoing the welcome sentiment. A low rumble from her stomach followed, one that was clearly audible in the quiet room. "It sounds like you're hungry," Twilight said, noting the obvious. Clockwork nodded. She hadn't had anything to eat since that morning, and a quick glance at the window told her nighttime would soon be upon the town. It wasn’t like her to skip meals, but the excitement of the day had kept her occupied. Twilight's lips curled up into a knowing smirk. "Since you're new here, I’ll bet you haven't had a chance to stock your fridge." Clockwork shook her head. "Well, there's a bakery right down the road called Sugarcube Corner that you can go to for a quick meal if you want. Just one thing. If you meet a pony named Pinkie Pie, show her this card," Twilight said, taking the set of cards and flipping to one in particular. And how am I supposed to know this, Pinkie Pie? Does she wear a name badge everywhere she goes? Ignoring Twilight’s flawed logic, Clockwork smiled and turned to leave. "Wait!" Clockwork stopped in her tracks, and turned around. Twilight had her hoof held out in a pleading manner. "Do you think you could stop by tomorrow... if you're not busy? I'd like to study your voice. I think... maybe... I might be able to help you." Clockwork frowned and gave a skeptical look at her new friend. “You said it yourself. You’re retired so you don’t have a lot going on, what have you got to lose?” Twilight asked with a hopeful grin. The smartest doctors in Canterlot spent years studying her, and every time they came up short. Clockwork knew the princess would have no better luck, but Twilight was right. Clockwork was retired. What did she have to lose? For starters, hope. She hoped all her life somepony could help her, but no pony in Equestria had been able to find a way to combat her voice’s effect. Then again, she wouldn’t be losing hope, she’d be gaining it… just to lose it again later. Clockwork nodded and then kept walking, letting the quandary fall to the wayside. Fooood... must have food! Clockwork's eyes followed the setting sun, sitting just above the horizon. She made a beeline to that bakery the princess had told her about, hoping to get a bite to eat before they closed. She pushed open the front door of the shop, barely dodging a couple sharing a quick laugh as she walked inside. Her eyes danced around the shop, taking in the scenery. If she had to put a word to its atmosphere, she would settle upon... rustic. Ponies sat in the lobby, sharing conversations about how their day went, the weather, and so on. Approaching the counter, Clockwork's mouth watered as the delicious smell of baked goods wafted out of the kitchen. "Oh my gosh!" Suddenly, Clockwork came face to face with a brilliant white smile, a pink mane, and two giant blue eyes. She instantly recognized the pony as the one whose visage graced the clock she had fixed at the castle. "Can you believe it? A brand new pony! Between this and the brand new set of spatulas I got today for half off, this has been the most awesomerrific day ever! You have a really nice cutie mark! Where are you from?" Clockwork blinked, her legs stuck in place by sheer befuddlement. This pony had thrown so much information at her in such a short amount of time that Clockwork wasn’t sure what she should respond to, if she should, and how. She was quite sure no card in particular would resolve this situation, but she started flipping through them regardless. "Oh! Silly me. I forgot to introduce myself," the pink mare continued. "My name is Pinkie Pie! I'm Ponyville's party pony professional, and since you're new in town, I totally have to throw you a party!" Pinkie Pie... wait. Wasn't she the one the princess told me about? Flipping through her set of cards, Clockwork pulled up the one Twilight instructed her to and held it in front of the excitable mare's face. Pinkie’s eyes danced left to right, and her eyelashes swayed like reeds in a hurricane as she read the card. "Ohhhh! Say no more, or is it sign no more? I’m gonna have to think this through, but that’s for later!" Pinkie Pie abruptly grabbed Clockwork by the barrel and carried her to a nearby chair seated at a vacant table and vanished. Before Clockwork could register what even happened, Pinkie materialized once more, this time with a menu, and placed it on the table. "Take as long as you need, and when you're ready, just wave at me and I'll come galloping, got it?" Clockwork nodded and managed a smile, which seemed to satisfy Pinkie enough to send her away. What was on that card anyway? Clockwork pulled out the card and read through it. “Hello, Pinkie Pie! My name is Clockwork, and I suffer from a physical condition that prevents me from speaking. I would love to have a party at another point in time, but right now I need something to eat. Could you please show me to a nearby table and bring me a menu to make a selection with?” Clockwork raised her eyebrows in amazement. Looks like the princess knows her friends pretty well. Another Element of Harmony. I thought these ponies were supposed to be heroes or something, not bakers in a backwoods sweetshop. Opening the menu, she browsed through the overwhelming pastry and candy section. Even the healthiest items on the menu were baked with copious amounts of sugar if Clockwork’s guesses were correct. Ugh. I'm going to have to watch my diet carefully here. This country food will probably go straight to my flank. After a few minutes of browsing through the menu, Clockwork raised her hoof. "Hi again!" Pinkie chirped, skidding to a halt in front of the table. Clockwork pointed to an item inside the menu, then flipped it to the back and pointed to a drink. "So you want a cranberry and raisin muffin, and a glass of two percent milk?" Clockwork tapped her hoof on the table three times. "Ohhh, three muffins. You got it! It'll be about ten minutes on the muffins, and I'll be right back with the milk!" Pinkie announced. Clockwork nodded and sat back in her chair as the pink pony disappeared, leaving a pony shaped cloud of dust in the air for a brief moment. Maybe this town won't be so bad. The locals seem friendly enough. The fragile smile Clockwork was nursing fell apart. New town or not, the underlying problem hadn’t changed. Who am I kidding? Friendly or not, I’ve got no real way of talking with them. This’ll be no different than Canterlot. Looking across her table at a nearby couple, she watched in envy as they held hooves and talked about things that most ponies would consider a waste of time. Clockwork slumped back in her seat and sighed, feeling for all the world like a deflated balloon. Nothing’s different... except the location. After her meal and a hastily-written promise to Pinkie Pie that they would have a party some other time, Clockwork came back to her new home. As soon as she opened her bedroom door to lie down, she was greeted by the unpleasant sight of a bare mattress. Awww nuts. My bed clothes were in that trunk they lost on the train. Clockwork’s eyes traveled to the window. The sun had long since fallen and the moon hung in the starlit sky. One thing's for sure: nopony is going to be selling bed clothes at this time. Guess I'm sleeping on the couch tonight. After a short jaunt down the hall and to the living room, she found herself on the couch. She didn’t specify what kind of furniture she wanted for the house aside from the heavy oak desk in the workroom, so she was pleased to find that it was a very comfortable couch. Clockwork let out a sigh as the worries of the day washed away. After all, she had a home to sleep in and a full belly; she was fortunate in many ways. I wonder what the princess is doing? I thought she would be more... regal. She looked more like a nerd than one of the rulers of Equestria. Come to think of it, none of the elements were quite what I was expecting, either. A ditzy baker and an obnoxious pegasus. If that’s what it takes to save Equestria, I could do it myself. The princess did cut quite a cute figure in that lab coat, though. Clockwork's eyes flew open in realization. Oh no. I just called the princess “cute”. I've been in town less than a day and this place is driving me nuts. Clockwork tossed over on her side in a bid to find a comfortable position. She wondered what Twilight had planned for her tomorrow. Years of study under the care of the best doctors in Canterlot had yielded no results whatsoever. Yet, Twilight somehow seemed different.. There was some small voice in the back of Clockwork's head saying that if anypony could help her, Twilight could. Ha! Who am I kidding? She couldn't even fix a broken clock! Her dismissal aside, Clockwork couldn't help but hold out hope that maybe, just maybe, Twilight could think of something.