Cherry beamed at her massive train, broken and rusted as it may be. "Today's a fine day to work!" She pulled out a wrench with a manic grin and practically dove into the poor engine of the ailing locomotive.
"Wow, you must be the best at mechanical things," praised Indie, watching her work furiously. "I can't imagine another sea pony being half as good."
"It's what I was born to do~" sang Cherry as she pulled out a part and studied it carefully as it balanced on her hoof before she set it aside. "You just watch and see. I'll have this thing fixed by dinner time!"
"I doubt you'll be quite that fast..." Indie wriggled free of his wheeled chair and flopped to the ground, only to rear up. "But I bet you'll have fun doing it."
"With a friend at my side, and a train all of my own, what more could I ask for?" Cherry clopped her hooves. "Life is good!"
An angry banging on the door of the castle summoned Spike to open it. "Yeah?" It was a familiar pony. The stallion they had rented the sea-exploring device that Cherry eventually re-purposed. "Oh, hey, what's up?"
"Another!" The stallion stepped in, fuming. "Another of my precious machines has been stolen by sea ponies!"
Spike raised a brow. "She didn't steal it. She salvaged it, and you didn't want to buy it off of her, remember?"
"The camera didn't fail this time." The unicorn's horn shone, projecting a picture on the wall of a dark sea bottom before a sea pony of bright purple rushed the camera and it went to static. "See? It attacked my device! It didn't break down. What is Princess Twilight going to do about this?!"
It wasn't quite the right purple for Twilight, so Spike dismissed the idea that it was her. Another sea pony? "Huh, well, it wasn't Cherry. She's been here the whole time."
"Good for her. Where's the princess?" He scowled at Spike.
Spike held up his claws. "Hey, she's out at the moment and she left me in charge."
"So what are you going to do about it?" He raised a brow at the baby dragon.
Spike raised a finger before letting it fall. What was he going to do about it? "Uh... hold that thought." He flashed a nervous smile.
A metal hoof propelled its rider forward as a shrewd smile spread across its owner's face. "You think you're the only one that can play this game? I think not." She let out a peal of laughter as she emerged onto the sand and amidst the confused land ponies that gawked at the purple sea pony. "I'll have my little Indie back in my hooves by the end of the day."
She looked to one of the surprised land ponies. "Hey, you! Where's Indie?"
"Indie?"
"Sea pony, just like me?" She pointed at herself.
"Oh!" Everyone in that town knew about the other sea ponies. It was hard to forget. "They went to Princess Twilight's castle."
"A castle?!" She snorted loudly. "Tell me how to get there!"
Another pony shook her head at the sea pony. "Is this about the sea ponies?"
"Of course it is." She rose to her full height. "It's of utmost importance."
Certain that this was a diplomatic affair, the people of the town showed the sea pony to the train and got her on her way to Ponyville. They had done their civic duty for the day and they returned to their peaceful lives, unaware of what exactly they had set in motion.
Riding on the train, the new sea pony gazed out the window at the dry land moving past. "Cherry, you went far to take my stallion away from me, but even The Dry won't keep me away." She raised a hoof, waving it at the window. "Sea Berry's coming, so you'd better be ready!"
Cherry trotted along with Indie into town. They both bore a basket full of rusted parts in their mouths but looked quite cheerful despite it. They approached the driest building in town, the forge. The pony inside basked in heat all day and seemed toasted for the effort. How could one weather such long exposure to dry's power without becoming dry?
Despite that, the mare smiled at them. "Twilight mentioned you might be stopping by. What have you got for me, sea ponies?"
Cherry set down her basket. "We need these, but new."
Indie set down his own basket. "Mine too. We have more parts, but we'll start with these."
The dry pony approached the basket. She was neither horny nor had air flippers, but she looked strong. She grabbed one of the metal pieces, turning it one way and the other. "Delicate little bits here. What is this for, an engine?"
Cherry lit up. "Yes, that's exactly what it is. A train engine."
"Steam?"
Cherry and Indie both nodded emphatically.
"I'd better be extra careful with them then." She set the piece down. "I'll have the batch ready by the end of the week."
That was the second time caution had been specifically expressed and Cherry frowned a little. "Is steam that dangerous?"
The mare pointed to her forge and its blazing dry power. "See that? You get a bust in a steam engine and that'll seem cold in comparison. It'll burn you clean in half before you know what happened." She looked over the sea ponies. "I'm new to sea ponies. You two look like you're barely adults, if that. Are you sure it's safe to be messing around with this kind of thing?"
Indie wheeled forward. "She's been warned and she'll be extra careful, promise."
Cherry smiled at Indie's defense of her, but gently waved him side. "He's right. I'll take every precaution. We're a long way before we get to the part when it starts moving, promise." She blinked with a sudden idea. "You can come and see it if you want."
The smithing mare leaned forward, suddenly interested. "Don't suppose it's that Red Rocket that was marched through town?" Cherry nodded with a grin. "I'd love to have a peek at that..." She tapped her chin. "Restoring that would be quite a feather in my hat. Fine, I'll help, but I get to inspect it before you go lighting any fires in it. I will not be responsible for cooked ponies!"
hmmmn. unfortunate to see this go, just means u better have a good ending! ah well...
7253480 Me? Bad endings?! ... I'll try, but no promises!
I am randomly reminded Project A-Ko.
Looks like Indie may have an admirer. Or a stalker depending on how you look at it.
Last episode? Such a sweet story to have a mercenarys heart
...huh? This is the last arc?
...I really hope you don't rush it. There are so many story points left to explore. Cherry and Indie's relationship after the train is either finished or destroyed. The Master of Waves. This sea pony who is starting to look like a Yandere. What Twilight will find in the ocean...
I know that all journeys come to an end, but this just seems so short...
7253481 that person has too much cash.
I'm not seeing enough overly attached girlfriend pics on this chapter
7253580
Had.
7253618 kek. each chapter was 2k words
practically dived into - practically dove into
Yea? - Yes? --or-- Yeah?
that it was here - that it was her
She raised to her - She rose to her
I'll take every caution. - I'll take every precaution.
*****
What a cliffhanger to leave us dangling from!
I'm tempted to budget a few more dollars for you once a month to let this continue. I'll have to think it over.
Lol Stalker alert
What? Last episode? That's a shame, I was really enjoying this.
Oops. I misunderstood. I thought you were ending with today's post, but it seems you'll be finishing out the chapter before you put it down. Do I have it right, now?
A challenger approaches!
Keep going! ;)
I hope this isnt heading towards evil jealous ex girlfreind hits Big Red Button, and Spike opens a Sushi Bar.
Well, we wanted her Tuna new leaf.
And the unknown love interest appears!
So, this is a commission? Okay then. Thanks for sharing
7254083
Yeah, I'm with you on that, hoping for a well rounded ending, no jump to the finish for me.
... "Jealous mare hits big red button, and Spike opens a sushi bar."
Sounds like the perfect tittle for a silly medium-short story.
By the way, I don't think porpoise counts as sushi
7253865 Typos fixed, and yep, this is the last -episode-, so there will be more chapters until the episode is complete, and with it, the story. Will all the hooks be addressed? Probably not, but we should get to a place.
Capitalize Spike
Question mark
Seapony Trixie
She was neither horny nor had air flippers, but she looked strong. She grabbed one of the metal pieces, turning it one way and the other.
7255913 Fixed!
I DON'T WANT THIS STORY TO END!
I hope you find someone(s) to fund more chapters for THIS story.
I hope it was a joke.
Instead of gaping at money for the story you should continue it for the sake of those who love it
7258001 Some people make a money working retail, others by working to produce TPS reports. I write horse words. You're welcome to comission this story continue, but implying I'm unkind for making what I'm asked to make is itself an unkindness, to put it mildly.
7258286
It's more like you're grabbing money to continue what has begun. You're making others to ASK for you to make more. By paying. It's like time trial of a good game. You started it, wrote it for a period, and now for us to have more, we must pay. I'm already paying for my games and stuff, don't tell me that stories on FiMFiction will become payed for... I would understand if someone else came with idea to you, and asked to write on it. It would be okay to ask for funding for a story from nothing. Or for you to make a print. But to make additions for money? THAT is unkind.
7269683 Then the story ends here.
Or not. We're many chapters ahead now.
"She was neither horny nor had air flippers."
I just started reading this again and that part made me laugh. I forgot how funny this was.
So when is Cherry going to build some mechanical legs for Indigo?
You mean fish fry?
And wow, we already have a determined mare seeking revenge.
I think it's a little to early for a "you stole my stallion, now imma mess you up!" character, but I'm sure she will add a little spice to this story.
...Berry?
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/yandere/images/0/0f/Berry.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150210195757
*shudders*
I'm really enjoying this so far
Oh god
Any time I see the name Berry or Barry
I think pokemon
Oh this will end well
I'm getting some crazy girl vibes from this one