Violet Runner leaned over the railing of the Airship Sky Queen, sighing as he looked up at the night sky. As he turned around to head back to his room the Airship suddenly shook. Ponies started screaming as Griffins started to board the Airship.
“Griffins!” Violet said angrily charging at the closest one, tackling him and sending him and another one over the side.
Two more Griffins charged at him but he took them out with two quick bursts of magic. All of a sudden he heard two mares scream from somewhere in the Airship. Recognizing the voices he ran to where the screams were coming from. Opening the door he saw Derpy and Rarity in the tight grip of a Griffin that was bigger than the others.
“Hello Violet.” The Griffin said turning around.
“Sharp Wing!” Violet said angrily firing up his horn.
“Now, now Violet you wouldn’t want to hurt these fine mares would you?” Sharp Wing said putting Derpy and Rarity in front of himself.
“Violet *Cough* help!” Derpy managed to wheeze out.
“Let them go Sharp Wing!” He yelled, each word dripping with venom.
“Hahahaharr,” The Griffin Pirate Captain laughed. “You obviously care for these mares, so I’ll tell you what I’ll do; I’ll let you chose which one you want to live and I’ll kill the other one. Ahahahahah!”
“How can I chose between my friends? With either choice I loss one.” Violet thought looking between Derpy and Rarity.
“Better hurry up and make your decision or I’ll kill both of them.” Sharp Wing Laughed tightening his grip cause the two mares to grunt in pain.
“Ok I’ve made my decision.” He said swallowing a lump in his throat.
“Too late.” The Griffin said snapping both their necks and dropping them both to the floor.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Violet screamed sitting up.
Panting he looked around the room. He was in his bedroom in Ponyvile. It had all been a dream, Derpy and Rarity were still alive and Sharp Wing was sitting in a Jail somewhere in the Griffin Kingdom.
“*Huff, Puff, Sigh* It was just a dream.” He said rubbing his face.
Looking over at the clock hanging on the wall he saw that it was almost time to open shop so he went to his dresser to get his clothes for the day.
“Well I guess in a way it wasn’t a dream.” He said looking at the two tickets to the Gala sitting on his dresser. “I still need to decide who I’m going to give the extra ticket to.”
He pulled out his clothes for the day and went to have a shower before opening the shop.
Violet walked through town on his launch brake to see if he could find any of his friends. As he walked into town square he heard some kind of commotion going on and a small crowd.
“Hey watch where you going you freak.” A mean female voice yelled.
As Violet got closer he saw his friend Derpy on the ground crying with a bunch of mail and muffins lying on the ground around her.
“Aww, you going to cry now?” A Griffin said in a mocking tone.
“Hey! Leave her alone!” Violet said stepping in-between the Griffin and his friend.
“Oh ya, what are you going to do about it?” The female Griffin asked.
“I’ll kick your flank that’s what.” He said levitating a portable welding torch out of his saddle bag, lighting it well putting his goggles over his eyes and taking a defensive stance.
“Whatever, I’m out of her, later lamewads.” The Griffin said taking off into the sky.
“Griffins.” Violet said shaking his head putting the Welding torch away and his goggles back on his forehead. “Are you alright?” he asked helping Derpy up.
“Y-yeah.” She said still crying a bit as she started to pick the mail off the ground.
“Who was that anyway?” The craftspony asked as he helped her pick up the mail and the crowed despised.
“Some Griffin by the name of Gilda, supposable she’s an old friend of Rainbow Dash.” The mail mare explained.
“The captain of the weather team?” He asked.
“Ya, that’s the one.” Derpy said as she placed the last of the mail back in her bag.
“Boy does she know how to pick them.” Violet said sarcastically.
“Yeah, anyway I better get going, because of her I’m running behind on my deliveries.” Derpy said taking off.
“See you later.” He said as she flew off.
“Ok, if I make the barrel 1 1/4" - 3/8" that should give me a half inch bore.” Violet said to himself, drawing out blue prints for a new invention not noticing that someone had entered the store. “Now, what type of wood should I use for the handle?”
“Excuse me, Mr. Runner?” The Mayor said getting his attention.
“Huh? Oh, hi, welcome to Steam & Clockworks, how can I help you Miss Mayor?” He said looking up from the blue prints and putting them away.
“Well you see, recently I’ve been receiving noise complaints form a few of your neighbors. They’ve been complaining about small explosions and lowed banging.” The Mayor stated.
“Oh, uh, sorry I’m a bit of an inventor you see and I’ve been experimenting with some explosive materials such as gun powder and gasoline. Sometimes the invention or experiment doesn’t work and that what cause the explosions.” Violet explained.
“I hope you have a permit to be handling such dangerous items?” Mayor Mare said raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t worry I do.” He said levitating the permit out of his office and putting it onto the counter for the Mayor to see.
“All right everything seems to be in order. But do you think you can lay off the explosions for a while?” She asked.
“Alright, I have a few orders I have to fill anyway.” Violet said looking at the stack of order forms on the counter.
“That’s good to hear. Any I have to go attend to other matters. Apparently there’s a Griffin who’s been going around town harassing ponies.” The mayor said turning to leave.
“Oh, before you go.” He said pulling a pocket watch out from behind the counter. “A nice stallion asked me to fix and give this to you.”
“Oh, wow.” She said looking at the watch. “Who is this nice stallion?”
“Sorry mam but he paid extra for me not to tell. But I can say he has a lot of bits to through around.” Violet said with a bit of a smile on his face.
“Well if you see him again tell him thanks.” Mayor Mare said walking out the door.
“Can do.” He said as the door closed. “Now if I use maple wood that should make it easier to carry…” He said putting the blue prints back on the counter.