//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 - The Clockmaker // Story: The Toll of Clockwork Tower // by Faindragon //------------------------------// “And I want the background to show the star constellations as well.” I floated up my small notepad, rolling my eyes towards his back. What is it with these nobles and the star constellations? I thought for myself as I glanced over the paper. I kept two different notepads; one blank and one that was specially prepared for the nobles. In the later, I had already beforehoof written down all the normal decorations and requests. It didn’t take long to find ‘star constellations’ on the list, and I quickly circled it. That makes six. I kept my thoughts to myself and prompted, “And what metal do you want the stars in, Sir? May I suggest silver? It would go very well with the night-sky background. Or perhaps you wish—” “No, no, no! Diamonds, of course!” The stallion sounded offended that I could even suggest something as cheap as silver. “My daughter is only going to wear the best to the gala!” Then may I suggest something that isn’t... this, and instead something that would actually be unique? I wanted to ask him. Instead, I merely circled yet another overly common decoration and replied, “Of course, Sir.” The tan pony turned around and looked me over; not unlike he would if he saw a rat on his dinner table, I assumed. “I trust that it will be done tomorrow?” I felt my forced smile slipping. These... nobles. Had the nerve to think that they could just... Before my thoughts had the chance to continue down that path, the words my master had told me after I had lashed out at a noble during the first year of my apprenticehood echoed in my head. “They’re customers, Clockwork, and should be treated as such.” Quickly, I swallowed the comment I had on my tongue and plastered on the smile again. “I’m sorry, Sir, but you’re not the only one requesting Master Pendulum’s services. Especially now, with the construction of the clock tower, the demands of his services have reached new heights. I cannot simply—” “Then I will take my request to another clockmaker.” He harrumphed. “If he can’t even make time to talk with me personally, much less make sure that it’s finished before the gala next week, then he’s not worthy of my time! I’m not the one losing a customer.” “With all due respect, Sir,” I said, bowing quickly to hide the twitching of my eyelid. “I thought you said that you wanted only the best for your daughter? I can reassure you that no other clockmaker can make something that would compare to Master Pendulum’s works.” With a sigh, I levitated the notepad in a manner resembling defeat. “You have to understand, Sir. Pendulum is a busy stallion. But I’ll see what I can do. Unfortunately, I can’t make any promises. I hope you understand.” He glared down at me and opened his mouth, and for a moment I thought he would lash out at me for my words. Instead, he closed his mouth again and took a deep breath, nodding and looking away from me. “I understand that Pendulum is a busy stallion, apprentice.” He nearly spat the last word. “But I want you to let your master know that I’ll pay the double for the clock if it’s done before the gala, or nothing at all if it’s done after it.” “I’ll let him know that, Sir.” I bowed slightly again, hoping to come off as polite.  “I will personally deliver it to you the day it’s ready, Sir.” He turned around and looked down in one of the many glass cases, displays for the more expensive clocks and pocket watches. “Oh, and one more...” It took another five minutes of extra modifications, during which I circled two more things on the notepad and crossed out one, before the stallion seemed satisfied. When he was, and I had informed him that no, Master Pendulum still didn’t have time for him as well as once again reassuring him that I would deliver it to him the day it was done, he decided to leave. He had barely gotten a block down the street before I took a deep breath. Carefully, I closed and locked the door after him. It was nearly lunch hour, and it was unlikely that somepony would come in this close to closing hour. Not that I would be able to assist another customer right now, I thought bitterly, the forced smile vanishing. Looking up from the locks, I froze. Across the street, I could see how a pegasus resiliently hoofed over a bag of bits to a smiling earth pony, neither of them who had been there before. I exhaled slowly. It was the third time this week… The earth pony waved happily at me, but I only answered with a hard glare, fueled by my irritation over the noble, that caused him to shrink back slightly and stop waving. Can’t you just take no for an answer? I turned around and walked into the workshop placed in a room adjacent to the shop. I managed to put down the notepad and quill before I started cursing. “Stuck up nobility that thought they could boss everypony around, just because they had enough money to buy what or who ever they wanted. As far as I’m concerned, they could all stick that money where the sun never shi—”  “Easy there, boy,” Pendulum chuckled. He sat hunched over one of the many workbenches, carefully manipulating a couple of tools with his hooves. “No use in getting all worked up over someone as trivial as Filthy.” He slowly lifted up the small mechanism he had been working on to see it in a better light. “Besides, you handled that well. Personally deliver it, huh?” I sat down on the floor. “Might as well offer it directly,” I said bitterly. “They all demand it anyway. I swear, at times they’re not seeing me as more than a servant.” “You’re an apprentice, Clockwork, still learning the craftsmanship. Until the day you have earned your master certificate, that’s the way they will look down at you.” He shook his head and put down the mechanism on the workbench again, carefully picking up the tools. “Unrightfully so, I should add. You’re a fine clockmaker and will have that certificate in your hooves soon enough. You just need some more experience, that’s all.” “Thank you, Master.” The pride I felt over his words grew into a smile on my face. I had been his apprentice for less than five years, nearly to the day. If what he said was true... From what he had told me when he took me in, it was rare that someone mastered this craft in less than seven years.  Pendulum nodded slowly, but never took his eyes off the small mechanism on his workbench. I relaxed and turned my attention to the soothing sound of the ticking clocks as they watched the irritation I had felt over Filthy away. In the workshop, the sounds of the streets were damped to such a degree that one could hear the heartbeats of the devices.  My thoughts wandered for a few moments. As I levitated up the golden pocket watch that Pendulum had given me two years ago, he spoke up again. “Got the mare in your thoughts again, Clockwork?” He didn’t look at me, but I could hear the smile in his voice. “I...” I smiled sheepishly. “Yes. Is it okay if I take an early lunch?” I asked, rubbing the back of my head with a hoof. “I know we have some work to do before the gala, and that—” “Have you locked the store?” Pendulum interrupted me, glancing back at me with an amused smile. I quickly nodded as I put down the watch in the pocket again and rose from the floor. “Both the locks, Master.” “I can’t see why not, then.” I hurried to the door and levitated up my apron onto one of them, carefully making sure that each and every tool was in the right pocket. “But,”—I stopped in the middle of hanging my money pouch around my neck and looked back at him—”I want you to take this letter to the post office first.” He motioned towards a letter lying beside him. I quickly levitated the envelope and eyed it. A dozen flowers were spread out in various patterns around it, and a snake-like creature wound along the edges. It wasn’t the first time I had been sent to deliver a letter, but I had never seen him send an envelope like this.  It was far too thin to contain a clock, but maybe it was just a way to let the customer know that it was finished? I turned it around, peering after the name that should be there. “It doesn’t have any recipient. Who’s it for?” Pendulum shrugged. “One of the other clockmakers. They’ve called for a meeting, but I’ll have to decline.” I blinked and looked down at the letter. A meeting? I thought and looked up at him again. Pendulum would never miss one, I wonder what... I opened my mouth to ask him, but quickly closed it again, shaking my head. It’s none of my business, I reminded myself. The apprentices aren’t allowed on them anyway, only the masters. I nodded. “I’ll make sure to take it to the post office, Master.” “And don’t forget your key again, Clockwork,” he said without looking up from the clock he had returned to. “I might be at the clock tower when you come back. If I am, the shop will be in your hooves until I get back.” I blinked and threw a fast glance at the key hanging next to the workshop door. “Yes, Master.” I said with a nod. This wasn’t the first time he had left the shop to me while he overlooked the construction of the clock tower that would adorn Canterlot Palace. It was, however, the first time he said that he might leave before I got back. “Run along now. I’ll leave you a note with things to do,” he said, nodding towards the letter. “And don’t forget to get that letter to the post office.” “I won’t,” I said. “Thank you, Master.” I quickly levitated my flat cap over my brass-colored mane and picked down the key.  “Remember the time, boy.” He chuckled as I opened the door leading out to one of Canterlot’s many alleys. “And you should try to talk with her instead of just looking, you know?” “Don’t worry, Master. I’ll be back long before we open for the afternoon!” Stepping outside, I shivered and quickly closed the door behind me. The early spring air was colder than it had been for the last couple of weeks. I took a deep breath of the crisp air and slowly exhaled a thin wisp of fog through a small grin. Even here in the alley behind the clock shop, the sound of the Dock District outside could be clearly heard. I could hear voices shouting from the zeppelin docks, likely from ponies anchoring one of the zeppelins or unloading another. A murmur, weak in comparison, rose from the ponies walking past on the street outside the alley. Over it all, I could clearly hear the sound of the never-freezing river that ran through the Dock District. I took one last look at the envelope, then I opened my money pouch and—after quickly counting the bits I had for today—carefully placed the envelope and key inside it. With everything in its rightful place, I started making my way down the alley towards the street in front of the shop. Pendulum called the city a giant clockwork, where each and everypony had their own part in making the machinery work. As I stepped closer to the streets, the sounds of the city growing louder for each step, I could see the truth behind his words. Each and every pony moved at their own speed, some of them hurrying while others took their time, and along the street salesponies called out their wares to whoever showed the slightest interest. Some apprentices like myself hurried past on one or another errand for their masters and a few foals ran around the legs of everypony, caught up in their own games. Farther down the block, the crowd divided for the gleaming royal guards who patrolled the streets, giving stern looks to the ponies around them. My stomach rumbled, breaking me out of my appreciation of the city. It also reminded me about the breakfast I had skipped this morning, and that I wouldn’t get any food just by standing and enjoying the views of the city. Of course, there was one problem. The earth pony, juggling the small bag he had won earlier, still sat in front of the shop. His eyes darted between the guards walking a couple of blocks down the street and the entrance of Pendulum’s Clockworks. Even if he tried to look unfazed about the guards walking closer and closer, I could see how he shrunk back slightly from them. I threw a glance towards the bridge connecting the two shores, and the two parts of the Dock District. If I wanted to spend some time in the tavern before I had to hurry back to the shop, I wouldn’t have the time to take the long way around. The only other way would be to walk straight past him. With a sigh, I headed towards the bridge. If I was lucky, he would be too busy keeping a watching eye on the guards to see me. Trying to walk as much in the crowd as possible, I levitated up the pocket watch again. Sixteen past eleven—that meant I had lot of time to... “Well, if it isn’t Clockwork?” a familiar voice said behind me. I sighed. I had gotten farther than I actually thought I would. “And a good morning to you, Spot,” I said, returning the pocket watch to my breast pocket. Without turning around, I lightly tugged at the string around my neck that held my money pouch. As I suspected, it was lighter than it had been a moment ago. Rolling my eyes, I finally turned around to look at him. “Now, can I have my money pouch back?” The earth pony thief, Spot, was more than a head taller than me. Not that it said much, seeing that I was pretty thin even for a unicorn, even more so for an earth pony. But even if he was bulky, he had the softest hooves in the city. According to himself, he could steal the wedding garter of a bride without being noticed.  He smiled at me with the money pouch in his mouth. “It’s getting heavy,” he noted as he flicked his head and threw the pouch to me. “Next time I might keep it instead.” “Still no luck with the gambling?” I asked drily. Then, even though the guards were nearly a block away, I lowered my voice. “I could have you arrested for that, you know.” “You wouldn’t!” Even if I hadn’t known him I wouldn’t fall for that fake tone of shock. “No, I wouldn’t.” I paused as the guards passed by us, not five steps from where we stood. “I don’t have time for it. But the answer is still no, Spot. And I won’t change it just because you keep asking.” His smile wavered slightly. “Hey, who said I was here about...” He went silent as I raised my eyebrow. “Okay, it was about that, but—”  Turning around, I started walking again. “You know I left that life behind.” “You can’t turn it down, Clockwork! Please! Pocket Slip asked specifically for you, and—” I spun around and jabbed a hoof in his chest, causing him to go silent and look down on my hoof. “No. I’m not going back to that life. Not after somepony left me to die!” I hissed. A few ponies glanced towards us, but the quickly returned to their own business. Spot looked up from my hoof, opening his mouth to speak, but I spoke before he could have any say in it. “Oh, don’t try to talk to me about it again. I know as well as you do that whoever left me for dead that time was one from the gang.” I turned around. “Besides, I have a job, Spot! I don’t have to steal for my survival anymore.” “But this is the theft of the century!” he said quickly. “You’ll never have to work again, Pocket Slip got it all—” “I don’t care!” I interrupted sharply, glaring at him from the corner of my eye. Spot shrunk away some under my glare. “I’m done, it’s not my life anymore. Is that so hard to understand?” I picked up my pace, continuing down the road to the bridge. Spot followed me half a step behind, and we were nearly over the bridge before he spoke up again. “Pocket won’t be happy. Not at all.” My eyes shifted to the small tavern situated where the bridge connected with the other side. The sight of the small two story building with a snow-covered terrace, completely abandoned in the cold, hanging out over the river and the music floating out of there that could be clearly heard all the way from where I stood, was enough for my smile to return. I sighed and, without looking away from the cozy tavern, asked the question that had been on my mind since Spot showed up the first time. “What does Pocket want with me anyway?” I spoke slowly. “You’ve been trying to get me to agree with this theft for what, three days now? Without even once saying what it’s all about, or why it has to be me.” I shook my head with a slight smile and looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. “Sounds to me like he’s pretty desperate to get my help.” Spot took a quick look around himself, before he leaned closer to me. “Can we go somewhere more... secluded? Away from the crowds? I...I don’t think Slip would be very happy if I talked about the details in the open.” He paused, before he shivered slightly. “Preferably somewhere warm.” For a moment, I thought it over. I really just wanted Spot to leave me alone so that I could hurry to the tavern and spend some time there before I had to take care of the shop, but my curiosity had been piqued. Why would Pocket want anything to do with me? He’s been silent for five years, I didn’t even think he knew I was alive. So, against my better judgement, I motioned towards the tavern with a shrug. “I’m on my lunch break. Keep me company.” Without waiting for an answer, I steered my steps towards the tavern. He hurried after me and walked in before me not far from the door into the tavern, glancing back at the building before he looked worryingly at me. “A tavern? Secluded?” “It is at this hour.” I shrugged as I motioned towards the close to empty street. “This part of the district aren’t highly visited before the last hours before curfew, and few workers eat this early anyway.” “I don’t know...” He hesitated as his eyes walked down to my money pouch. I rolled my eyes. “My treat.” “When you put it that way...” He smiled as he stepped aside, and I couldn’t help but shake my head as I pushed open the door into the tavern. Music, slow and soothing, filled the warm tavern. I stopped just inside the door, closing my eyes and took a deep breath, allowed the music and scents of the dimly lit tavern fill me up. As Spot closed the door behind us, a pleasant warmth had already started spreading through my body. With a smile, I turned to the deep orange pegasus sitting on a chair next to the door. “Hello, Gust.” Even over the sound of both the solo musician who stood on the scene with her cello and the murmur of the few ponies that had gathered here this early, my keen ears were able to hear the low sound of the small gears turning and moving as he looked up at me with his mechanical eye. I shrank back some under the intimidating gaze, but he just nodded—the only greeting I would get—before he moved his eye to look at the mare on the stage again. All the time had his biological eye stayed on the ponies sitting around the table. I shuddered as I moved past him. It didn’t matter how many times I saw his eyes move like that, it was still unsettling. Spot hurried after me, his otherwise brown coat now noticeably paler, as I made my way towards one of the booths in the far end of the tavern. Here we would be left alone, and I would still be able to see the scene and the mare standing there. “Did... did he just... look two ways at the same time?” Spot asked, sitting down on the place oppose me. I nodded. “An advanced clockwork mechanism that have been magically enhanced. Pendulum created the eye and explained for me what it was and how the mechanics worked,” I said, averting my eyes towards the mare on the stage.  She stood on her back legs, using her front hooves to balance on the string instrument she played skillfully. One of her hooves moved the bow while the other one slowly fretted the strings on the instrument’s neck, filling the room with slow, soothing music. She wore a flat, black hat that seemed to be equipped with some sort of goggles over her grey hair and a pink bowtie was tied over her shirt and waistcoat. Boots went from her back hooves and halfway up her legs, and the rest of her back legs were covered by trousers. She had her eyes shut, all her focus in the music filling the tavern. After losing myself in her music for a minute, I shook my head and looked away from the earth pony on the stage. I motioned to the proprietress, a  plump earth pony mare wearing a blue and grey dress. With a smile, she walked over to us. “Ah, Clockwork. I haven’t seen you in here since yesterday!” She laughed heartily at her own joke. “Oh, just kidding, dear. It’s marvelous to see you again.” Her eyes moved towards Spot. “And a friend?” “Madame Rose, this is Spot, an old friend of mine,” I said with a slight smile. “Spot, Madame Rose, the owner of The Prancing Pony.” “Spot? That’s a really cute name for such a handsome fella.” Rose looked him over. “Welcome to The Prancing Pony.” “Thank you, madame.” How the earth pony managed to bow while sitting down without looking absolutely ridiculous was beyond my understanding. ”It’s a beautiful place you have here.” I looked at the mare on the stage again, who played faster and faster, the bow nothing more than a thin line winding over the strings. Then, she stopped abruptly and opened her eyes, a thin smile adorning her face as she received the applause, and vulgar suggestions, from the small crowd. Myself, I applauded heartily, and got a bright smile in return. I quickly looked away from the scene. “Your daughter shouldn’t play here, Rose. She should be up among the rich ponies and earn a fortune,” I said lowly. “You know that I tell her the same, Clockwork, but it’s her choice and not mine,” Rose said absently, glaring hard at the ponies sitting closer to the scene. “Maybe you could talk some sense in her?” She looked back at us as the mare on the stage started playing another song. She shook her head with soft laugh as I looked down in the table, before she continued. “Now, now, you didn’t come here to chit-chat with me, young man. You wanted to order, didn’t you?” “Ah, yes. Two mushroom pies and two pints of ale, please,” I said, looking up at her again. She smiled at us, glancing towards Spot. “Of course, dear.” Without another word, she left us, giving one of the ponies, likely the one that had shouted the vulgar comment, sitting around the other table a smack atop his head. Spot didn’t look away from me as she left. I shook my head as I loosened my money pouch and took off my cap, placing them on the table next to me. With a thin smile I glanced towards the mare on the scene, before I looked back at him. “So, Spot. You promised me answers. What’s this theft that Pocket has planned, and why does he need me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. He met my gaze and nervously licked his lips. “He...” He paused and leaned in closer to me. “He’ll give you twenty percent of everything we take. You chose first, and—” “Spot,” I said sharply. “You are avoiding the question. What does he plan, and what does he want me for?” Looking from side to side, he gulped. “He... he’s going to go against the palace. He needs you t—” “Forget it,” I snarled, pushing away from him. “I won’t open up any doors for him there.” “But you have access to it with that giant clock tower thingy being built there and all! He only needs a night, and you’ll become rich! Twenty percent of any riches we can take, and the only thing you need to do—” “No, forget it!” I took a deep breath and shook my head. “Pendulum trusts me, and I will not risk to change that, not for all the riches in the world.” I sighed. “This is his life’s work, Spot—the clock tower of Canterlot Palace. I will not do anything at all that could hurt it. I owe him that much, and more.” “You owe Pocket Sl—” “I don’t owe him anything.” I slammed down a hoof in the table, causing more than one pony to turn around and look at me, the mare on the scene stopping in her music. After a moment of me glaring towards the ponies at the table, they continued on with their own business. The mare shot me a quick, worried glance and I looked down in the table, my cheeks heating. After a short moment, I looked at him again. “I saw the knife sticking out of me, Spot,” I whispered softly, letting the hoof fall of the table again. “I know that it was one of Pocket’s ponies, with or without his order, trying to kill me. I didn’t have to see who did it to know that. Pocket didn’t try to protect me from that, neither did he try to contact me before last week. Tell him that he can just forget about it. I’m never returning to that life!” Spot glanced to the side and quickly leaned back. Following his eyes, I could see Rose walking towards us, a tray in her firm grip and her eyes wandering between us. “Is there a problem, Clockwork? I heard you—” “No, Rose. We’re fine,” I quickly reassured her. “Thank you.” “Are you sure? I can tell ol’ Gust to throw him out, if he’s a burden.” I shot the earth pony a hard glare. “No need, Rose. We’re just... talking.” Rose didn’t look completely assured as she placed down the brick. “If you say so. But do try and keep your voices down, will you? You’re not the only customers here.” “Of course, madam.” I smiled apologetically and levitated up the payment, adding a couple of extra bits to it. “Sorry.” With an uncertain nod, she took the bits and left us to ourselves again. I shook my head and took one of the pies and pints from the tray, looking at him again. Spot took the tray and took a bite from his own pie. “You know Pocket wouldn’t have let that happen if he knew about it, Clockwork!” he said between bites. “Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time that one of the other gangs used our knives.” He lowered his voice until it was barely a whisper loud enough for me to hear. “We thought you were dead.” I looked at the pint of ale before me and, knowing very well that my magic was too weak to levitate it, picked it up with my hooves to take a sip. He was right. It wouldn’t have been the first time another gang used Pocket’s symbol to frame him, but... why would they keep away from me like this? I took a bit of the musty mushroom pie and another sip of the ale, and for a good minute we sat in silence. “It’s been five years, Spot,” I whispered. ”Five years! I find it hard to believe that Pocket didn’t know that I was alive during this time.” I put down the pint with a sigh. “But it doesn’t matter. Whatever you say, the answer will still be no.” The earth pony sighed. “Okay, sorry, I lied. We have known about it. Or, rather, I and Pocket have. He... forbid me to talk with you. I wanted to! But he was afraid that they would try to kill you again if they found out that you had survived. This district... we don’t work here much, too many guards around the docks. The chances that whoever tried to take you down found out that you had survived were slim, and Pocket wanted to keep it that way. Especially if it was somepony from his own gang. So he spread the word that you were dead.” He put down his own pint, looking me into the eyes. “He has protected you for five years, Clockwork. He searched his ranks for who did it, but couldn’t find who it was. Still he refused to let me talk with you!” He sighed and looked away from me. “He have practically made sure that you would get to live the life you have wanted, and now he just wants a simple favor. Isn’t what he has done for you worth anything?” I took a deep breath, bringing a hoof up and rubbing my temple. “It is, Spot. It’s worth a lot. But not this. No matter what you say, I won’t—” “F-forty percent,” Spot interrupted me quickly, swallowing and looking at me again. “Forty percent, but that’s how far Pocket will go.” I laughed bitterly and took a bite from my pie, swallowing it down with another mouthful of ale. “It’s not about the money, Spot.” I spoke slowly so he might understand it this time. “It never has been. I... I just can’t do it. Pendulum took me in. He gave me a place to live, a craft to master. He took me as apprentice and son.” I blinked and shook my head. “He... he has done more for me than Pocket ever could do.” “Okay. Okay. I understand.” The earth pony sighed and pushed away his food, rising from the table. “Horse feathers, Pocket won’t be happy about this. Not happy at all.” He hesitated for a moment, his eyes wandering around the tavern. “If you change your mind... he’s given you until curfew. You know where to find us.” He started to go, but paused and looked back at me. “Take care, Clockwork. And watch your back.” I slowly shook my head and returned to the food. I would never be able to betray Pendulum like that. Not after what he did to me, I thought and took a bite from the food. But still... I looked up, catching a glimpse of Spot just as he left. It’s been five years, and I still miss them at times. Canterlot was an unforgiving place for those less fortunate. Even if some parts, like the church, spoke about having something be done about the poor souls, nothing was ever done. Foals without parents wandered the streets, practically invisible for the rest of the world. Adult ponies, coming to Canterlot to find their luck, could sit in dark alleys, desperately trying to keep their warmth and hoping that some kind soul would donate a few bits for food. In the sewers under Canterlot, refugees had grown forth from the ponies that desperately tried to survive. Criminal gangs, formed by nothing but ponies who tried to survive in the dark world. Pocket Slip was the leader of one of the bigger gangs, but there were more of them out there. I sighed as I took another bite. Once, I had been a part of that gang. When I was a foal, Pocket had offered me a place among his ponies. How could I’ve refused? They gave me something nopony else could. A place to sleep and the possibility of food. Of course, I had to work for that food. Pocket was of the thought that it wasn’t Canterlot itself that had abandoned us, but the rulers. The nobles and the princess. I had passed many nights with plundering a shop in the richer districts together with other ponies, while yet more stood guard. We never took any gold or valuables, only food. With a smile, I leaned back. There had been two ponies in particular that I had grown close to. Spot and Honey. We had been inseparable. As long as we weren’t participating in a raid or were assigned to guard duty, we would be spending the time together, day as night. I wonder if they feel the same, I thought as I continued eating, only duly noticing the taste. Spot said he had been forbidden to talk with me, but... did Honey know? Did she even know that I was alive?  Honey had been like a bigger sister for both me and Spot. Always looking out for us and making sure that we had food, a place to sleep and warmth. Even if she was only one or two years older than me, she had been in the gang for a few years when I joined it. Spot had been the youngest of us. Always eager to be close to us, sharing stories and just talking. He had a knack for getting in trouble, but most of the times he got out of them without too much trouble. When I had stopped growing he had continued, and never missed a chance to joke about it. I smiled at the memory. They were always there, whenever I needed them. Always happy to cheer me up in any way, just as I did for them. The smile slippered. Five years... and I’ve not tried to contact them? Pushing the food away from me, I looked down in the table with a frown. I had wanted to return to them. They had been like a family for me. But how could I? I thought bitterly. I’ve walked to the sewer entrance more than once. Never able to enter. I shuddered, one of my hooves running over my chest. Under the coat, I could still feel multiple old scars. What if they’re still there? I shivered. It had been five years. I had been on my way to a raid towards the zeppelin that would dock during the night, carry food resources that would last us for months. Just outside the entrance to the sewers, I had been attacked. I never saw who did it, only the blade they left inside of me. They had left me for dead. I removed the hoof from my chest, looking at the empty sofa on the other side of the table. I would’ve died that day if it hadn’t been for Pendulum. He had not only saved my life, but also offered me a work. Shaking my head, I pushed the thought of that night away. It wasn’t something I wanted to remember. Taking another bite from the pie, I smiled slightly as another thought came to mind. I don’t doubt that Spot will search me up again. When he do, I should ask him and Honey to come and visit. Maybe even to come and live with me instead. Pendulum think that I should soon be a journeystallion... and... I shook my head. Who am I fooling? It had gone five years, and— The sound of the clock over the bar counter striking pulled me out of the thought. I quickly levitated up my pocket watch. Twelv— The envelope! Cursing, I put it down in the pocket again, nearly tipping the still half-filled plate over as I took my cap and hung my money pouch around my neck. Today’s post just left, I thought as I hurried away towards the door. If I’m lucky, I might catch it before it’s too— My gallop was grinded to a sudden halt as an orange wing flared up before me, catching me and turning me around. I could only blink in surprise as I looked down at Gust who slowly moved his head to look at me, his mechanical eye adjusting to stay still on the other guests in the tavern. I froze as he slowly looked me over, still blocking the way with his wing. “Stay away from that stallion, Clockwork,” he finally said with gruff voice, looking directly at me. “He means nothing but trouble.” It took a moment for me to understand what he had said. Blinking, I looked back at him. “Spot?” He nodded as he removed the wing. “If that’s the name on the stallion that followed you in.” His mechanical eye moved away from me. “Involved in shady businesses, that one.” H-How did he... I thought as I slowly nodded. “I-I’ll remember that,” I said, my voice not as steady as I had wished. D-Did he hear what we talked about? With another nod, he looked away from me again. I stood like that for a few moments longer, the worried thought echoing in my mind, before I remembered the envelope again. Without another word, I turned around and galloped out of the door. ⌚ The post office in the Dock District was placed at one of the other bridges that connected the two shores across the lake. If I had taken the long way around, I would both have avoided Spot and remembered the envelope, I thought, a bit annoyed, as I galloped along the river, dodging the few ponies that had already finished their lunch. Not that it would’ve mattered, Spot would’ve found me anyway, or wait for me to get back. I didn’t even stop to catch my breath before I opened the door to the building and quickly stepped inside. The post office was emptier than the streets outside. The only other pony there was a mare standing behind a counter, lazily fixing one of her hooves with a hoof file. She didn’t even look up as I stormed in. Slowing down my pace, I glanced towards the multiple clocks hanging over the counter, filling the air with their mechanical buzzing and ticking. Seven past twelve, I thought and quickly trotted past the few empty waiting chairs and up to the counter. Levitating up the envelope, I quickly started speaking. “I need this to be sent with today’s ma—” “Too late for that,” the mare interrupted without even bothering to look up at me. “The mailponies just left with today’s mail.” I groaned and floated down the envelope on the counter. “Could you get this with tomorrow’s mail, then?” “Certainly,” she said, looking at her hoof before she finally put down the hoof file. Looking me over, she took the envelope with a smile. She eyed it quickly. “It... doesn’t have any recipient ?” She gave the envelope back to me, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t take it if it doesn’t have any recipient.” “It’s...” I trailed off as the realization that I didn’t know who it was for hit me. Pendulum said it was for one of the... “It’s for one of the masters of the Clockmaker’s Guild.” I nodded. “I’m sorry, Sir, but that doesn’t help much,” the mare said, her smile straining some. “Without any direct recipient , I won’t be—” “Surely something on the envelope can tell you which one?” I asked quickly, putting down the envelope on the counter and pointing on the flowers. “Like these flowers or something? I’ve never seen any like them before!” She didn’t even look down on the envelope. “I’m sorry, Sir, but I can’t help you.” Her smile strained even more as she forced herself to keep it there. “Without any recipient, I won’t be able to promise that it gets to the correct pony. And that”—she pointed towards the emblem hanging behind her—”is something that we want to reassure the customers using our services to deliver the mail.” My eyes followed her hoof to the dark golden emblem. It portrayed a letter with wings and horn, and around the corners I could read Canterlot Postal Office, we bring your mail where you want it. Sighing, I levitated the envelope back into the pouch. “Fine.” It wasn’t like I would get it with today’s mail anyway. I hung my head slightly and turned around. Guess the clock master would had to wait one day more. “Have a good day, mister,” the mare said. I blinked. She... hadn’t even cared when I had walked in. For a moment, I wondered if she was forced to say that to all customers, but I dropped the thought. Not like it mattered. “The same to you,” I called out with a shrug. Once outside the post office again, I stopped and took a deep breath. Pendulum would not be happy. I sighed as I started to walk again, steering my steps towards the workshop. Part of me wanted to blame Spot. If he hadn’t showed up I wouldn’t have completely forgotten about the envelope. But deep down I knew that I couldn’t blame him. It had, after all, been my responsibility, no one elses. Hanging my head, I tried to come up with what to say. I could just say that the post office refused it without a recipient. Of course, then I would have to explain why I didn’t hurry back directly to get the name to whoever it was to be delivered to. Maybe I could say that I encountered an old friend, and when I got there the mail had already left? It was close enough to the truth, but... No, he would see through that one directly. Sighing, I turned into the street where the workshop sat, walking along the river. The street was completely empty, not even guards wandered it. That was unusual for this time... any time, really of the day, but I didn’t think more off it. Instead, my quickly returned to the envelope. I couldn’t lie. Not to Pendulum. But what could I say? That an old friend showed up, offering me a job, and that I then had lost myself in memories? As long as I didn’t mention what kind of job, I supposed it would be fine. Worst case scenario, I would get a lecture about it and have to deliver the letter myself, but... I would deserve that. Nodding for myself, my mind set, I opened the door to the workshop. Or, at least I tried. To my surprise, the door was locked. Did Pendulum already leave for the clocktower? I floated up the clock and blinked. Twelve thirty... I didn’t think he would leave this early. Shaking my head, I floated it down and quickly started digging in my pockets. I knew I had the key there somewhere. I wasn’t in a hurry. The shop didn’t open before one o'clock, which gave me close to half an hour. At least I’m could hold onto one promise. Of course, if Pendulum had left, I would most likely have a list of things to do before opening, as well as things to do during opening hours, to look forward to. Besides greeting customers and take orders of clocks, of course. I despised working with clockworks and having to keep an eye on the shop at the same time. It forced me to sit in the shop and work with them, and while the light might be better to some extent, the sound from the road outside made it impossible to concentrate properly. I sighed. If Pendulum had left a list for me to do, I would have to live with it. It was a part of the apprenticeship, after all. Even if it was a part I didn’t like. Unable to find it in any of my pockets, I quickly started go through my money pouch. I know for certain that I brought it with me, I thought as I started levitating up all bits in it. Where is— Groaning, I dropped down the bits again. I must’ve dropped it at the post office. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t even notice. I turned around and started to run. I didn’t even take two steps before I stopped again. No... I don’t have time for that. I’ll have to go and pick it up after I’ve closed the shop. Sighing, I turned around towards the door again. Better to make sure that everything is as it shall before opening time. Granted, I had been unlocking my own door with my magic on a regular basis. I had more than once forgotten key back in the shop, but unlocking the door to the workshop like this?It reminded me too much about the life I had left behind. Second time today, I thought with a groan as I slowly started working the lock. As a unicorn, I hadn’t stood a chance against either earth ponies or pegasi in the terms of strength or agility, and even among unicorns I had been weak. Not even my levitation had been anything to brag about, I had been one of the weakest when it came to that as well. The only thing I really had been able to do with it was unlocking doors and, if I really needed it, throw knives, two skills I had made sure to— The click of the lock interrupted my train of thought. Blinking, I looked down at the handle. It took me a moment to realize that I had unlocked it. With a quick glance around me to make sure that none had seen me, and mentally slapping myself after reminding myself that I had every right in the world to enter the workshop, I opened the door and stepped inside. The air in the workshop was heavy, and beside the sound of multiple clockworks ticking and buzzing it was completely silent. Scanning the benches for any note left behind by Pendulum, I quickly realized that something was wrong. Very wrong. Tools and clockworks lay in a complete mess on the floor where they had been thrown. The door out to the shop only hanged on one hinge, it’s upper half leaning over one of the workbenches at the other side of the room. Two of the benches had been knocked over, and the walls had been stripped on what had once hung there. My heart started racing, but I quickly took a deep breath to try and calm it down. Turning around, only one thought was in my mind. I have to tell Pendulum. He-he will know what to do. A sudden sound, barely heard over the ticking of clocks, stopped me mid-step. Perking my ears, I tried to pinpoint it. My mind screamed at me to do the logical and seek out Pendulum, but instead I started walking towards the sound, carefully looking where I walked so as to not step on anything. The sound came from the workshop, and the closer I got, the more it... The more it sounded as if someone was breathing with great trouble. No. I quickened my pace, no longer caring about what I stepped on or what might break under my hooves. Please, don’t let it be true. A quick glance around the shop didn’t show anything outside of the ordinary. The glass cases containing the more expensive of our clockworks and pocket watches were whole and none of the benches were knocked over. It looked exactly as I had left it. But that wasn’t anything I cared about. Not now, not with that sound in my ears. My heart sunk in my chest as my eyes were drawn towards the floor. And not with the blood. “Pendulum?!” I screamed out, galloping over to the blood, not caring about the bench I knocked over. Please... no. A weak cough instantly caught my attention, and I snapped my head to the side. It felt as if time slowed down close to a stop. The earth pony lay on his side, bleeding out of numerous wound. Slowly raising his head up, he looked at me with unseeing eyes. “Clockwork.” He coughed again, blood running from his mouth. “Is that you?” At the sound of his voice, the time rushed back. I hurried to his side without a care in the world about the blood staining my vest. “We have to get you to a doctor. They... they can save you! Just like they did with me!” His small chuckle ended in another cough. “Don’t waste your time, boy. It’s too late for that.” His voice was weak. I could barely hear his words. I could feel the tears burning in my eyes, and I had trouble keeping my voice steady. “No, it’s never too late! Just... let me get help!” “Clockwork, listen to me. It’s my time.” He smiled sadly. “I have lived a long life, but in the end, we all have to be replaced. Just like a clockwork. A gear may run for years, decades, without any need to be replaced. But in the end, it will be worned out, and a replacement will be needed.” “Don’t say so!” The tears ran down my cheeks. “Don’t ever say so!” The clockmaker carefully lifted his foreleg, revealing the knife buried deep in his chest. “I’m a clockmaker. I don’t know much about knives and weapons, but being stabbed by this repeatedly and have it left in your chest... That kills ponies, that I know.” His painful chuckle ended in a cough, more blood spraying over me. “My time to be replaced has come, Clockwork. My heart skipped a beat as I looked down on the knife. No. It... It can’t be. The hilt was brass colored, and a simple asphodelus was engraved on it. I had worn a knife with that engraving myself once. That very same mark had been on the knife that was left in my body five years ago. Why... who would... I shook my head and tore my eyes away from the weapon. Right now, it was more urgent matters to attend to. “You—you will survive,” I stammered, my voice stuck in my throat. “I will get help.” “It’s too late for that, son.” He placed a hoof over my cheek, trembling. “You survived wounds like these five years ago, but I won’t. I’m old, Clockwork. Old and so, so tired.” He looked up at me locking eyes with me. His voice was barely more than a whisper. “Do you have the envelope?” I blinked. “Protect it. At all cost, protect it.” His hoof left my cheek as he took a last deep breath- I couldn’t say anything, couldn’t do anything. I don’t know for how long I sat there, unable to do anything but looking into his dead eyes, before a jolt spread through my body. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I caressed his cheek. Please... you can’t die. Not like this. I shifted my eyes towards the knife. Not like this! Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. Why would they do that? I asked myself, wiping my tears away from my cheeks. Opening my eyes again, I looked down on the knife, trying to hold the tears away. It didn’t have a hoof handle or the specially made mouth grip. It also lacked the threads that distinguished the pegasus version from the others, leaving only one alternative. A unicorn knife. I slowly wiggled it out of his limp body, careful as to not worsen the wound. “I’m sorry,” I whispered as it glided out. I gave the life-less body a hug, my tears blending together with the blood. “I—I couldn’t do anything. I...” I rose slowly, levitating the bloody knife with me. “I won’t let this go unpunished.” Even if my entire body trembled and the tears dripped off my chin, my words were steady. “Celestia be my witness, Pendulum. I won’t let this go unpunished.” I tried to wipe away the tears again. Looking up from the body, I froze in the middle of the motion. On the street just outside the window stood a guard, the only pony in sight, staring right at me. I quickly looked from the knife in my levitation field to the guard, shaking my head. No... I blinked and took a step back. This... I didn’t do anything.  The guard turned around. Following his eyes down the street, I could see more guards galloping towards the shop. Shaking my head, I took another step back. I didn’t kill him. I would never— The guard that had been first to see me started galloping towards the door, his eyes locked at me. I gulped and did the only thing my mind screamed me to do. What instincts I hadn’t felt for more than five years told me to do. I turned tail. And ran. The moment I heard the door into the shop shatter I had already gotten halfway through the workshop. When the guard had gotten into the workshop, I had already disappeared into the city, leaving nothing but tears in my wake.