//------------------------------// // Ch 07 Spark-ling Example // Story: Cherry Tune: A New Tune // by CherryTune //------------------------------// Sapphire Spark equips her mechanical wings and steps outside hers and Sugar Clouds house i Ponyville. She adjust her goggles and her horn begins to glow. The wings adjust to the open position and start to flicker on. “Alright, the best part of my day!” Sapphire says with a grin. She squats down and forces herself off the ground. At the top of her jump her wings burst into life and she is thrust forward. “Aaaaaaah Yeeeaaaaah!” Sapphire shouts as she flies through the air. She glances back at her wings and the third aileron on her left wing begins to shake. “Aww man, just like last time.” She says to herself. Her horn dims and her speed begins to wane. “Better take it easy until I figure out why I can’t go any faster.” Sapphire says. As she is slowing down she approaches the Canterlot City limits. Just then Cherry Tune pops up out of nowhere. “Hiya Lovie!” She says. “Oh hi Cherry! Great morning for a flight aye?” Sapphire replies. “Sure is! If you aren’t as clumsy a flier like me!” Cherry chuckles whilst feigning turbulence.   Sapphire removes her mechanical wings as it is not permitted on guard duty nor would it fit with guard armor. She and cherry do their daily patrol as well as placing some presents and pranks for moonlet. “Hey now, you’re a more graceful flier than you give yourself credit for!” Sapphire said. “Me on the other hoof shouldn’t even be up here!” She continued. “Forget that noise! You are living what some ponies dream about!” Cherry Tune replied “You’re living a dream and you worked hard to get here!” She continued. Sapphire smirked and said, “I guess, but this is just barely what I wish I could do! Nothing quite like reading the stories of great warriors, most of which come from the early days of the EUP. Especially the early wonderbolts.” “Oh yeah, stunning performers all of them!” Cherry said. “Not just performers Cherry! Heroes!” Sapphire Spark said staring of into the distance with hope and determination. “Oh to be a hero like the Wonderbolts. That’s is the truest dream of mine.” she explained. “Hey, from what I’ve heard from Sugar’s and your stories, Kluge Town and those in Sand Dune all see you two as heroes after your help with Reaper.” Cherry reassured. Sapphire thought about it and replied “Fair enough I guess, but that’s just two towns in the badlands. One of which was an abandoned castle occupied by pirates!” Cherry Tune and Sapphire Spark touch down outside the guard quarters and head. As they walk over Sapphire sees the Wonderbolts fly overhead lead be Rainbow dash. “See, look at them! Lucky bastards!” Sapphire says in aww. “ I’d give up my magic, horn and left eye for a pair of wings!” She continued. Cherry says “They aren’t that fun.” as she flaps her wings trying to get airborne. “But again! Clumsy flier!” She says poking her tongue at Sapphire Spark. Cherry Tune and Sapphire Spark head inside and change into their armor. Sapphire removes her wings as they are not authorized for wear on duty. They don their armor and they meet up with Moonlet. “Hey girl! How was your night!” Sapphire asked. “Oh it was fine.” Moonlet replied. Cherry and Sapphire look at each other and then back to Moonlet. “ So pretty bad then?” Cherry asked. “Uh…. no not really,  just some changes with the shift again. You know how that goes!” Moonlet says sarcastically nudging Sapphire with her elbow. Moonlet quickly continued before either one could ask questions, saying “Nightfall moved to days so the only time we get to interact is during shift change.” “Aww man that sucks, soor Moon.” Sapphire said. “That’s okay! After we had the same thing happen to us we manage to keep up with each other! I am sure you two will do the same thing!” Cherry replied. “I mean it was shakey at first but we worked it out Moonlet, there’s nothing saying you two can’t do it to!” she continued. Moonlet thought to herself, “Oh yes there is.” She looked at Cherry and Sapphire and changed the subject saying, “ Yeah I guess you’re right, anywho! Y’all going to Promenades birthday party?” “Uh, of course, I am hosting it!” Cherry said. “With the help of Vinyl Scratch of course!” she went on to say. “Oh no way! You didn’t tell me that!” Sapphire said. “I know I said I’ll go but I don’t even know where it is.” she continued. “Yeah Cherry! You didn’t tell me this!” Moonlet said smiling. “Oh! Well I forget sometimes! You ever forget? It happened to me!” Cherry replied with a smile. “It’s going to be at the “Light and Sound” nightclub. Vinyl will be providing the music, naturally. She said “She knows the singer in a great band called the “Waste Land Wailers” and they might make an appearance!” She replied. Sapphire smiles saying, “Wow that sounds like fun! I’ve never been to a nightclub before and Sugar Cloud has always mentioned that she wanted to experience city nightlife!” Moonlet’s eyes widened. “The Waste Land Wailers? You’re telling me Vinyl knows Velvet Remedy?! She’s my favourite singer hooves down!” She said with excitement. “Yeah! Her number one song “Fly like you” is totally my song! Definitely kept me motivated with my mechanical wings project! She’s really big in the Badlands!” Sapphire added. Cherry Tune rubbed her nose and brushed off her shoulder. “Yeah, it’s gonna banging.” She said half seriously with a smirk crossing her arms. Moonlight’s mood brightened up and she said “That sounds like so much fun! Well I gotta go prepare now and get some sleep. I’ll talk to you two later!” “Bye Moon!” Sapphire Spark replied. “Have a good night! Err, sleep cycle!” Cherry added. “Will do!” Moonlet said while trotting off to her home in Cantermore. Cherry Tune and Sapphire tune start their patrol along the wall heading to the fountain. Sapphire had been rambling about other musical artists in the badlands but kept bringing the conversation back to how amazing Velvet Remedy is. A shadow wips past them and Sapphire looks to the sky. She sees Rainbow Dash and the other Wonderbolts flying back from where they went earlier in the day. “Every since I saw the first griffon fly in the badlands I wanted to fly.” Sapphire said. “It didn’t help that my sister and I were the only ponies in the Badlands and our only friends were hippogriffs before the Storm King ran them off. That was before Twilight showed up searching for them. Then when you and Moonlight arrived to search for Reaper, and the princesses bringing the Hippogriffs back to Klugetown! I knew I had to make it to Equestria!” She continued. “Wow I hadn’t realized you two were the only ones out there. That must have been tough.” Cherry said. “It was, Sugar might be my big sister but I made sure the creeps left us alone ya know.” Sapphire replied. “So how’d you make it here to Equestria? My crew left the badlands many moons before you arrived in Ponyville.” Cherry asked. Sapphire replied “Well it wasn’t until Celestia and Luna asked for our help that I even thought we’d make it, but meeting, not one, but TWO princesses who kicked so much tail was inspiring!” “Yeah they’re pretty amazing!” Cherry said with a smile. “How’d you get your wings though? Did you make them?” she continued. Get this after learning that the Hippogriffs could transform freely between their Hippocamp and Hippogriff forms I tried to create a similar gem to turn me into something that could fly. After many failures I ended finding a piece of Luna’s damaged armor and made my wings from it.” Sapphire explained. “Whoa! So those wings are made from Luna’s armor that Moon and I sent her out with?! That’s so cool!” Cherry Tune said. “Yeah it’s quite amazing the small connections that have been bringing us together.” Sapphire Spark said. “I’ve been meeting so many new faces. Some who I’d never thought I‘d meet and others I didn’t know I needed to meet!” She continued. “I hear Sugar met with Rainbow Dash quite early since you two got here. Have you not tried to meet her yet?” Cherry Tune asked. “I mean, no. Not really. It’s never a good idea to meet your heroes ya know?” Sapphire said. “I don’t know about that! I’ve met a couple of my heroes! My mum, my sister! Several of the pony guard! Not to mention Luna!” Cherry replied. “That’s fair…..” Sapphire said, pausing for a moment. “But even if I do meet her, it’s not like I won’t still be a unicorn.  AND it still doesn’t mean I’ll be able to fly with the Wonderbolts… or as one.” she continued. “Oh I am sorry Sapphire, I feel like this conversation has bumbed you out. If I could trade you my wings I would do so in a heartbeat!” Cherry said reasurangly. “Eh it’s alright!” Sapphire said bouncing back. “I am totally amazing as I am anyhow! How many other unicorns do you know that can fly?” she continued. “Ummm…” Cherry said. “Princesses don’t count. They’re alicorns…” Sapphire interrupted. “Welp! You got me there!” Cherry said. "Hey let's start setting up our scavenger hunts! I feel like all this sappy talk has interrupted our shenanigans!” Sapphire said with glee. “Absolutely! I have something special in store for Luna and Moonlight tonight!” Cherry said. The two continue their patrol and set up the new pranks and hunts to Sunny Sides specifications. “Aaah Yeah! This is gonna be great!” Sapphire said. “Sure is! I hope Moonlet likes it.” Cherry replied. “She’ll love it!” Sapphire said. Cherry paused for a moment before saying “Do you think she’ll be alright without Nightfall?” “Yeah, he’s just her commanding officer, any captain should be good enough to know when Moonlet is in charge she’s IN CHARGE, even if she’s just a lowly guard like us!” Sapphire said. “I thought she WAS the one in charge when I first met her for Celestia’s sake.” she added. “Yeah she’s can be pretty assertive when she’s got that spark in her eye.” Cherry said. “It’s just that. I don’t think Nightfall is just a commanding officer to her.” she continued. “Oh! That’s…. That might be an issue.” Sapphire said. “Well perhaps, but him moving is kinda good in a away.” Cherry said Sapphire looked confused and asked “How you figure that?” “Well because now Nightfall isn’t her boss anymore, kinda.” Cherry said. “Hmm maybe, but the Code of Guard is rather thorough with these matters.” Sapphire added. “At any rate, she seemed to be in good spirits this morning so maybe the party will take her mind of it!” She continued. “That’s true! Plus I’ll be there to look out for her! And you too! She warmed up to you a lot faster then most of my other friends.” Cherry said with a chuckle. “Not gonna lie, it was kinda awkward at first but she’s really cool and the two of you remind of me and my sister. Always goofing off when we’re together, getting into trouble. Well, if we were still fillies that is!” Sapphire said. “I can’t wait to meet Sugar Cloud! If she’s as you say I am sure we’ll have an outrageous time at Promenades birthday party!” Cherry said. “Ooooo I’m excited now! Promenade is gonna have a blast with us four causing trouble! I mean... eh heh, having fun.” she continued. “You know it! Hey, it’s almost time for shift change, let’s lay out these last pranks and head over to HQ for the passdown!” Sapphire said. “Yeah! And after work we can go to the Light and Sound to preview the venue and get the party reserved with management.” Cherry said. “And hey! I hear Vinyl Scratch will be there tonight, maybe Sugar would like to come out and join us!” She added. “That sounds like a great idea! I’ll stop by Sugar Cube Corner on my way back and let her know!” Sapphire added. They spend the rest of they day in high spirits and after all the pranks had been set up they head over for the shift passdown.