It was another hot summer afternoon in Ponyville. There were no clouds to provide shade which resulted into the entire town being layered with heat. This wasn't new news, Ponyville has been having high temperatures the past week.
Yet, the streets of Ponyville were still filled with activity. Ponies bustled through the streets lugging around building materials and tools. All the ponies of Ponyville were repairing the damage caused by Trixie's shenanigans.
Everypony knew that Trixie always was egotistical until that magical confrontation when Twilight hoodwinked her into swapping the Alicorn Amulet for Zecora's door knob.
Everypony accepted her public apology but still, can't help but be mad at all the damage she caused. In her small reign Trixie had painted the entire town in her own image, erected numerous statues of herself, and had all the wheels in Ponyville destroyed. All because of the Alicorn Amulet, thankfully, now in the hands of Twilight Sparkle.
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Golden Oak Library, Ponyville
Twilight was in the library's basement studying her newest piece, the Alicorn Amulet. She made a request to Princess Celestia permission to study the Amulet and learn it's magical properties. She was thrilled when the Princess accepted her request.
Twilight now looked closely that the amulet realized something. Despite being an amulet of great power the amulet wasn't ancient, the designs of the Alicorn Amulet looked like it was made 1,000 years ago after the era of the three pony tribes. Twilight levitated the object focusing on finding the source of the amulet's power. She then focused her magic on the large red crystal in the center, that was when she heard a faint voice.
"Hello?"
Twilight immediately jumped at the voice and let out a small squeal. she looked around finding nopony in the room. Twilight remembered that she closed the library for the day to study the amulet in private and sent Spike out to do some errands. Twilight looked around room seeing nopony. Twilight then looked at the amulet which had fallen to the ground. Twilight face was of pure shock, but it was slowly replaced with a smile.
Twilight then let a small giggle. "For a minute I thought that you.-" Twilight's giggle then turned to an all out laugh "-Oh! I'm having a conversation with enchanted jewelry!"
Twilight then recomposed herself and resumed studying the Amulet. Again she focused her magic on the crystal.
"Yeah like that would ever happen," Twilight snorted.
"You're damn right!" Shouted a voice. "You're not talking to an amulet but to a pony inside-"
The voice was cut off as Twilight dropped the Alicorn amulet again on the floor. She was having a hard time fathoming what she just heard. The amulet no, a pony (whom she assumes is a male) inside the Amulet and he just spoke to her. There was silence, . Twilight couldn't hear anything except herself breathing heavily.
Twilight theorized that the only way to communicate with this pony inside is to have a magical link with the amulet. Twilight then focused her magic on the amulet. "Hello?"
"Ah, you're a quick learner Twilight Sparkle," spoke the voice, " most ponies that have ever wielded the amulet aren't as intelligent as you."
Twilight was flattered but tried her best not to show her blushing. "How do you even know my name?"
"The previous wielder of the Alicorn Amulet, Trixie, always speaks ill of you whenever she has the chance. While at night or alone her personal opinion about you is quite the opposite." The voice then finished with an quirky laugh.
"I don't understand why would Trixie change her opinion of me so often?" asked a confuse Twilight
"That doesn't matter right now," interrupted the voice trying to make the situation less awkward than it already is. "What's important is that I haven't even introduced myself. Hello, my name is Bright Light, but you can call me Bright."
Twilight could hint the jovial tone in her new acquaintance. This Bright Light sure is ecstatic talking to somepony who he just met in the most strangest situation. Twilight decided to respond. "You sure seem excited to have a conversation...... Bright."
"Why yes, I haven't had a hearty conversation for over two hundred years."
"Two hundred years, "Twilight's eyebrows went up in shock. "How long have you been inside the Alicorn Amulet?"
There was a sudden silence in the basement. Twilight instantly regretted asking the question. Her eyebrows soon reduced to a small frown.
Silence was finally broken when Bright spoke. "I've been trapped inside this amulet for over a thousand years." Bright's tone now became dreary as he spoke. "I've been separated from my family, my friends, and the love my life. All because I wasn't there for a friend that needed me in his time of need. This is my punishment"
For someone she just met Twilight felt sympathy for Bright. Being trapped in the amulet not being able to anything but observe as the world around you change. Knowing your friends will never discover your fate, and the love of your life heartbroken. Here she was talking to a poor soul who has suffered that same fate. The most Twilight thought she could do was provide comfort to Bright.
"Bright, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay Twilight, you didn't know."
Bright was happy she couldn't see him in person, because if he was you would see tears running down. He hated when ponies who hardly knew him felt sorry for him, but it was a great relief to tell somepony about his issues.
Suddenly, there was spark inside that reignited Bright's hope. Another chance to escape this prison that had demented his very sanity. He could return to the life he once had, start anew, and make reconciliations to his past and fix them.
"Twilight?" traces of Bright's grief disappeared.
Twilight looked up to the amulet. "Yes?"
"Could I ask a favor from you?" Before Twilight could respond Bright spoken. "Can you free me from my prison so that I may return to my life in Canterlot?"
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Canterlot, 1,018 years ago
"Bright , wake up my sleepy apprentice," Spoke a hoarse voice. "We're finally here."
A young stallion by the name of Bright Light awoken with a drowsy yawn. "Thank the Goddess the train ride is over. I thought I was gonna die of boredom."
"Yes," The voice replied. " It was so boring that you died just within two hours of our train-ride to Canterlot. Now go to the restroom and fix yourself up, Bright, we must look handsome if we are to present ourselves to the Princesses."
"Yes Clockwork."
Bright Light gave out a chuckle as he got up and left the confines of his and his mentor's room. He looked out one of the train's windows and nearly blinded from the instant exposure of sun. When he recovered he gazed at Canterlot, the city made on the side of a mountain. It was right next to river that came down from the mountain, which provided fresh water and a natural defense. Bright watched the city still being made as he saw scaffolds blanketing the tall buildings. Bright's eyes finally rested on the castle. The center of Canterlot and Bright Light's new home.
Bright resumed his walked to the restroom. when inside Bright saw himself in a mirror an Earth pony with dark green fur, a brown mane riled up from sleep, tired brown eyes, and a cutie mark which showed a illuminating lantern. He looked at a toilet and the sink, and was thankful that these appliances were invented, he was sick of using chamber pots. He then started to wash his face and combed his hair. Bright preferred to leave his hair by itself, but he and his mentor was being addressed by both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
Inventors have started to gain more notoriety in the recent years. It was all because of Clockwork's introduction of the aqueduct system that they are both here now. Canterlot is the capital city of Equestria, and intends on being the highest example of a good city, so streets being layered with pony feces isn't gonna help. Celestia has appointed his mentor, Clockwork, to lead the construction of Canterlot's waste system, and may even appointed as Grand Maester.
Bright contemplated these thoughts and looked at a lantern which had a candle inside. His nonchalant converted to a face of fear as he watched the candle go out. Complete darkness covered the room.
Despite the darkness Bright's pupils shrunk in fear. "No, no, no, no, no!"
Thoughts of being crushed and suffocating went through Bright's mind. Bright immediately looked for the handle of the restroom. Once he found it, Bright hastily charged out of the pitch black restroom and stumbled onto the floor.
Sprawled on the floor, tears started to form in the corner of Bright's eyes until he wiped them away."No, gotta stay strong," - Bright picked himself up from the floor- "that was the past."
Bright returned to his booth to see that Clockwork and their possessions are gone. Presuming that his mentor left with their luggage Bright decided to exit the train.
As Bright exited he saw the team of Stallions that were pulling the, they all looked exhausted. Bright's face formed into a face of curiosity. He noted that during his ride how often the train had to stop because of their fatigue. Hiring a team of stallions wasn't cost effective. If there was an alternative then there would be more room for passengers, train tickets would cost less, and the train ride could be more safer (Bright remembering the fact that Canterlot was on the side of a mountain). Bright let out a light smile. This is why Inventors are becoming well respected, they strive to improve the lives of everypony. Bright wanted to find a way to improve railway system, but first he got to find his mentor.
Canterlot train station filled with ponies of all kind. Both rich and poor coming to visit it's capital city and get a chance to see the princess.
"Bright!"
Bright turned around to see his mentor next to a carriage waving at him. He was Unicorn, his fur a a dark shade of blue, his purple mane combed back to show a level of intelligence, his purple eyes which had bags under them, and his cutie mark which shows a five gears and cogs connected together.
"Come on, get your flank over here!" shouted Clockwork. "The princess has sent us a chariot. she's expecting us."
Sensing the impatience in his mentor's voice Bright quickly trotted over to him, and stared at the chariot.
It was beautiful chariot. Wood white like snow made up the frame while gold layered the edges and the wheels. On the front of the chariot it showed Celestia's cutie mark, a blazing sun. In the back there was a compartment en which Bright Light presumed that's where his baggage is stored. In the front were two Pegasai guards who were in charge of pulling the
chariot.
They were doned with golden armor each containing a jewel chiseled into the shape of star. One of them was grey with a silver mane while the other was white with a blueish mane.
"Master Clockwork, are you both ready to depart to the castle?" spoke the white guard.
Clockwork turned his head towards the guard and smiled. " Why yes, me and my apprentice are ready." all traces of his raspy voice was gone as he continued to speak. "And please, just call me Clockwork."
Clockwork climbed onto the chariot followed by Bright and they were on their way to the castle.
Bright spent most of ride on the back of the chariot trying to avoid any eye contact of any ponies gawking at them. Bright looked at his mentor having a friendly conversation with their escorts, Then at the ponies walking the streets. Most of the ponies he saw were Unicorns, adorned with robes of exquisite design to signify to others that they are high-class. When Bright saw Earth ponies none of them wore fancy apparel, only helmets to protect their heads when working on the buildings. Seeing this tied knots in his stomach.
He was an alien in this city. He was an apprentice to a Inventor, a job more suitable for a Unicorn. As an Earth pony he was expected to do laborious work. To die face down on the fields you worked so hard to cultivate or die in the darkness of the mines while mining for resources. This is how Earth ponies in Equestria usually die while working at their craft, and Bright Light wanted none of that. He didn't want to depart from this world like his ancestors and his parents.
Bright wanted to prove to all ponykind that an Earth pony can do more than just physical labor. He wanted to soar through the skies and touch the clouds like Pegasai, and he wanted to be mental inspiration like all the Unicorns he had read about. He wanted to become a legend, but now he was having doubts.
Bright feared he would be rejected by society, not being able to live up to the works of his mentor. If he failed at being an inventor he would be viewed by both Unicorns and Earth ponies as a lazy imbecile.
Bright turned his face away from the sidewalk and looked down. his mane covered his eyes but his mouth showed revealing a pained expression. In his softest voice he muttered to himself, "Why am I even here?"
"Because you're an inventor," Clockwork answered with a stern voice, "If you don't believe me, then think about how you got your cutie mark in the first place."
Bright remembered how he first got his cutie mark. He saw himself now as a little colt. He finished what would be his first creation ever, the very first lantern.
Bright looked up to see his mentor looking down on him. Clockwork showed a light smile to him and rested his rump right next to Bright's.
"I remember going through the local cave to look for gems to sell when times were tough for us. One time when I didn't you used the lantern to go through the caves to look for me. That's really brave of you since you're afraid of the dark." Clockwork's smile widened to an all out grin. "And there you found me unconscious on the cold stone floor knocked out because of a falling stone. Not only did you save my life, but you made a good amount of bits too by making and selling lanterns. That was how you got your cutie mark"
Bright Light remembered those times he was filled with joy when he made Clockwork proud.
Clockwork then put his fore hooves on Bright's shoulders and turned him towards his direction Clockwork's purple eyes staring into Bright's brown eyes. Clockwork's voice turned into something that of a military general giving a speech before battle and rose in volume as he spoke. "Bright just because you're an Earth pony doesn't mean you're not capable of doing great things. You have so much potential to do great things. Don't let it go to waste because of the opinions of other ponies. Inventors face ridicule from everypony everyday because they believe in the impossible and the questionable, but in the end their perseverance made them endure and they were able to prove themselves correct. Now Bright" - Clockwork's voice was finally calming down- "remember what I have told you."
Bright was touched as he was shocked. Just when his passion for inventing was extinguished from fear Clockwork was there giving him support, immediately rekindling the fire in his heart.
Knowing that words wouldn't be enough Bright exploded with energy and gave Clockwork a hug enveloping his fur with his own. Tears of joy and gratitude cascaded down Bright's face as Clockwork returned the hug.
Their physical affection ended when one of the guards spoke pretending that he had never heard the whole conversation. "We're close to the castle."
Bright Light was awestruck by what he saw. It was much more beautiful up close. The Castle was by far the biggest landmark he has ever saw. The castle had its own private garden filled with species both common and rare. He saw towers which anyone of them could be his future residence. Bright's mouth watered at the thought of the extensive collection of books within the Royal Library. Bright was now prepared to live in this new home where he plans on being the best inventor Equestria has ever known.