What is in the abandoned house near Rarity's home? Why is there so much noise coming from there at night?
There is a house abandoned near the Carousel Boutique, no pony has been in it nor has no pony came out the house. But why is there so much noise during the night. The Mane Six want to know what is up so they go and explore the house, they find something that they don't except what could it be? English is my second language and have dyslexia so sorry for the bad grammar Cover art is made by me. if its not up please look at http://animewinner.deviantart.com/art/Steampunk-Pony-411737767
In Ponyville close to the famous Carousel Boutique sat a house, it was old and badly damaged. Roof tiles were missing, ivy was covering the house and some of the windows were broken. No pony ever went near it; the residents of Ponyville didn’t know who lived there, if anyone lived there. All they knew was they haven’t ever seen anypony go in nor any come out. Several ponies had asked the Mayor to tear the old building down, but she refused every time since it was paid for by an unknown pony, the house was theirs even if was abandoned. Since they bought the land that the house was on.
Recently the house seems to have started to become alive at night, the sounds of banging and hissing was heard throughout the night as well as lights flashing periodically. The pony that suffered the most was Rarity; the house was a horrible eyesore and it was causing her to lose her beauty sleep with all that noise. She was too scared to go into the old house, since it had an extremely unearthly aura about it, so she went off to try and gather information about the house stopping first at the Mayor’s office.
“Miss Rarity, The Mayor is ready to see you.” Rarity looked up from the magazine that she was reading and nodded to the other mare, before trotting into the office. As she entered she saw the beige Mayor sitting at her desk looking over some papers that was sat on her desk, looking up she smiled at Rarity.
“Rarity! How may I help you?” Mayor gestured to the chair in front of her; Rarity sat down on the chair and spoke to the mare in front of her.
“Hello Mayor, I am here to talk about that ghastly house near my home.” she paused as she saw the mare in front of her frown, Mayor Mare sighed and shook her head “I’m sorry, Rarity but I cannot do anything about that house, even if it has been abandoned.” Rarity frowned at her and countered her “Why not? No pony lives there anymore, and I'm sure that many ponies have asked for it to be removed.”
Mayor Mare sighed and shuffled through some papers, a few moments later she pulled out some old papers. “This is a copy of the signed deed to the land that the house is on, as you can see here it states that if no pony is living in the house it will remind untouched. Before you ask I don’t know the owner of the land” Mayor Mare tapped on a section of the deed, Rarity read the deed but then notice the date, 1937ANM (After nightmare moon)
“Wait, this deed is over 70 years old?! When was that house built?!” Rarity was completely shocked by the date, the house has survived so much even went the parasprites invaded, and the house was untouched. Mayor Mare nodded, “Look, I know that the house is an eyesore, but we can’t do anything without the owners approval, the land was brought so destroying the house can quite easily cause a lawsuit.” Rarity nodded and hung her head, “I understand Mayor, it’s just recently the house has been so noisy please at least allow me to enter and see what's causing such a rukus.”
Mayor mare thought for a bit, Rarity was able to find something then maybe she was about to do something about the house. Nodding to herself she approved Rarity’s idea giving her permission under the condition that she didn’t go alone. Rarity agreed to the terms and went off to get her friend to look into that house.
Night time
All of her friends have jobs to do in the day but they promised them that they would be there later that night. So as Rarity gathered all her friends and explained to them what she was going to do. “So does everypony understand what we are going to do?” she questioned her friends, and got a nod from them each “I still don’t understand why we can’t go charging in and kick whoever’s flank is in there” Rainbow said crossing her front hooves, Twilight looked up at her friend and sighed “Rainbow, we can’t do this because if we break anything we will have to pay to get it repaid, we don’t know what is in there being that place is over 70 years old.” Before pushing the door open with a loud creaking sound coming from it, as Twilight light her horn up to see in the house dust flew around the house causing a few of them to sneeze.
The wooden floor was caked in a layer of dust untouched by hooves for many years, the sides of the walls seems to have been cramped with all sorts of metal some rusted other seem to use have cobwebs on them, but they were all piled on top of each other in uneven piles. If something would of hit them in the wrong way the pile would of collapsed, “See Rainbow, if ya of charged in ya would of caused all over this to crash” Applejack pointed to one of the piles that had some metal tumbling down from it.
Rainbow scowled and walked close to one of the piles to see what was in it, “Yeah, Yeah, AJ. What is in this? All I can see is some gears and nails.” she picked up a nail from and looked at it, the nail was completely rusted and twisted out of place before Rarity floated it towards her and took a look at it before cringing. “This place is so dirty! My hooves are getting dust all over them!” she whined as she flicked the nail away; as the others rolled their eyes they spotted a door that was open there was a fading light glowing.
Every now and then they saw a shadow trot back and forth in the light; the group froze and looked at each other “There is somepony here! What are we going to do?” Applejack whispered to her friends as she leaned down, the others swallowed and shook their heads they didn’t know what to do “Look we came here for a reason, and whoever is down there is the cause of all the noise.” Rarity spoke up, and started to trot towards the door, pushing it open slowly as she open her door she saw some wiring stairs with a distorted shadow moving about, followed by some metal hitting a stone floor. Pinkie looked at the stairs and smiled “Let’s go girls!” she started to bounce down the stairs with the rest of her friends running after her, “Pinkie stop! You don’t know what is down there!” Twilight whispered out harshly as she used her magic to grab hold of her friend she grabbed her as she was about to jump off the last step. “Oh my dear, did you enjoy the tea I made?” a female voice was hear when some machine noise was heard mixed with some bird tweets. “Well my dove, I think that I have added some oil in to get that smooth taste” the noise appeared again, “Yes, yes I know.” the group looked at each other before something pushed Fluttershy causing her to crash into everypony else.
The girl groaned as they saw stars as they piled on top of each other, a whirring noise was heard from behind them mixed with metallic barking. Applejack was the first one to recover as she saw a dog that seems to have been fused with metal, its back was infused with sheets of metal and it had cogs attached to its chest small pipes came out of its body that was pumping out steam one of its eyes was glowing red, scars was scattered its body. “What in tarnation is tha thing?” she shuffled away as the machine infused dog as it gave out a low growl. “My, what is this my dear pet? What have you found?” Applejack turned around and saw a mare stepping out of the shadows with a bird perched on her shoulder that looked like it was made like the dog in front of her. She looked over at her friends as she saw them getting too, “Ugh, what happened?” groaned Rainbow as she held her head, she looked up as Applejack to as she saw her friend with a frighten look turning around she saw the dog her jaw dropped as it growled louder. They all grouped together as the dog closed in on them, till they heard a loud snap on the stone floor turning to the sound they saw a mare appear from the shadows. “Now, now, Fefe that is not how we treat guests.”
The mare looked like she was too fused with machine, her left back leg was missing and was replaced with metal that seem to have been created to be a leg, where her cutie mark was meant to be it was replaced by three cogs that had pipes connecting it t where the joints were meant to be with a small plate of metal resting on her back with a leather strap that seem to hold the piece, close to her tail she had several pipes that puffed out steam. The same was on her left front hoof but there was no cogs attached onto that leg it seem that it was made so it can bend without the movement of the pipes. Her other back leg looked like some of lower guard attached on the leg, the same could be said about her other front leg but on the top three cogs was fused on her leg a pipe connected to the largest cog.
The portion of her coat that was visible was dusty brown, and if you looked at her body long enough, you could see thick pink scars that shown that the metal was indeed fused onto the mare in front of them, she had a well tamed milk chocolate mane and tail, that was shining with health. Sitting on her left eye was a bronze colour monocle with a golden chain attached to a small top hat which had a purple band around it, which was sitting on her head the hat was decorated with the same cogs pattern that was on her body. Under her monocle was bright red eyes framed by thick black lashes, to match her eyes she had a darker red bowtie on her neck.
The mane six looked at the mare in front of them in awe and horror, never have they seen anypony fused with metal, Twilight looked at the mare as she saw her circling them every time she moved she saw the pipes blow out steam and the mechanics of the two metal legs work. It didn’t seem like the mare had hooves since all of them was either covered with sliver metal or just replaced completely. Rarity was in a mixture of emotions since she saw a pony that had style even with all the metal attached to her ideas was going through her head for her next collection, that is, if she could get this pony to model for her. Fluttershy was in shock and felt a bit sick when she saw the dog and bird fused with the metal she looked up at the mare and gave her the stare. “How could you!” the mare stopped circling them and looked at the butter coloured pony as she was caught by the stare, “You treated these poor animals like they were some type of test! How can you do that to them! You should be ashamed of yourself!” She inched closer to the mare not noticing that she was a lot taller than her, maybe a tiny bit smaller then Big Mac but it didn’t seem to matter to Fluttershy.
That was till, the said dog jumped in of her and growled loudly “You will not hurt mistress Clockwork!” a metallic voice came from the dog causing Fluttershy to lose her stare as her wings snapped shut “yo-you t-talked?” the mare gave a tinkling laugh, “Of course she talks I did make her that way before she died. As with my little dove.” the bird on her shoulder flapped then nuzzled her.
“Now my dears why are you in my house?” she turned to the mares that was sitting in her workshop, the mares looked at each other before any of them could answer Pinkie jumped in front of them and hugged the mare “Hello! My name is Pinkie Pie and welcome to Ponyville!” the mare just gave her tinkling laugh again, “My dear, I have been living in this town for 50 years! I don’t think I need a welcome.” she smiled as she patted Pinkie’s back. The others looked at her in shock she didn’t look like she has aged since she was an adult “Wait, if you were living here for that long, why has no pony seen you, and why have you let your house get so run down? But more importantly, and you still haven’t told us your name!” Rainbow butted in the mare in question smiled and straighten up.
“Why, it’s Clockwork my dear.” the mare flashed a smile at the group in front of her.
The mane six stared at Clockwork trying to progress what they saw in front of them, there stood a pony, that seem to as old as Granny smith if not older. Clockwork looked at the six ponies sitting in front of her as her pet dog sat at her legs, watching them carefully. In the 50 years since she been living here for the 30 years she has not seen another pony step into her home, well not one that was that was ‘dared’ to enter her house they would be in and out before she got to the tenth step.
Clockwork’s thoughts were cut off when she hears a sharp whistle of a kettle. “Oh tea is ready, who would like a cup?” she walked up to a large machine that looked like a stove and pushed a button that was next to the stove, a shelf popped opened as it held seven porcelain cups and saucers that were decorated with a floral pattern that was outline with gold.
Clockwork then picked up a tin and dropped a few of the dry leaves into the boiling kettle before pouring the golden coloured liquid into the cups. She placed each one into a tray before carrying them to a brass table and placing them down. She then pushed another button that was on the table and a loud hissing noise was heard, gears and steam were seen moving from the outside of the table. Several compartments seem to have opened from table and as the steam cleared up they saw items to go with the tea, including fresh milk.
Pinkie was the first one to bounce over to her and pick up a tea cup gulping it down at once. “Why this is delicious! What blend is this tea oh can I have some cookies, and the sugar.” Clockwork smiled at the pink pony in front of her and pushed the basket of cog-shaped cookies to Pinkie, she watched as the cookies disappeared before looking at the other ponies.
“Do you want to join my dears? I have plenty more if you want some. The tea is an aged elderwood mixed with some spices” Clockwork looked behind her at some jars, the others carefully walked to the table and took a sip of their tea. Clockwork walked back with a jar in her mouth and sat in between Applejack and Pinkie, placing the jar down and opening the lid. She dipped her teaspoon in and tasted it.
“Ah yes! This is the oil that I needed for my tea.” Clockwork smiled as she scooped some up and placed it into her tea, causing it to turn black she took a small sip smiling at the taste. She looked up and saw that Pinkie was about to do the same thing, she pulled her jar closer to her and closed the lid shaking her head. “Oh no dear you can’t drink this you will get sick. I only drink it since I need it for these old parts.” Clockwork petted Pinkie’s head as she pushed another button to bring out more cookies and shook one of her metal hooves.
“So... Who exactly are you?” Twilight looked at Clockwork as she placed her cup down, curious in what kind of pony was sitting in front of them since all in all she looked like a slightly larger earth pony if she didn’t have all that metalwork on her. She continued to eye the dog and bird creature that sat near the said pony, the bird stood on the table pecking on some of the cookies that was on a plate as the dog was drinking from a bowl that seem to be full of oil.
Clockwork placed her cup down and tapped her chin thinking, before looking at Twilight. “Well my dear it is rude not to introduce yourself first.” She looked at the purple unicorn before taking another sip and a bite of the cog cookie that she took. Twilight on the other hoof blushed as she was about to speak up, Pinkie bounced in to talk.
“Well, I’m Pinkie pie, the one next to you with the hat is Applejack, Rainbow dash is the Pegasus over there next to her is Fluttershy the one who you were talking to is Twilight sparkle and lastly that is Rarity!” Pinkie pie pointed to each pony as Clockwork nodded refilling her tea, taking a sip she pulled her monocle off and wiped it with oil stained handkerchief before placing it back on.
“Well, my full name is Industriae Arcanorum Horologium, but I please call me Clockwork, sating my name is a bit of a mouthful.” Clockwork spoke her name in the olden language of pony’s the others but Twilight looked at her like she grew another head. “Wait, how in the hay do you say your name and what does it even mean?” Rainbow looked at her as she turned away from the strange machine that was puffing out steams, every once in a while it glowed and hummed. Clockwork looked at the machine before pushing a button, a loud ping was heard and cookies came out and were pushed into a chute before filling itself up with dough again then go back into the machine.
“My name is from the olden language of ponies, if translated it means Industry, Arcane, Clock. All those words suit me I guess, but I like Clockwork the best and works for this pony’s generation.” Clockwork spoke up repressing the button and picking up a fresh cookie Rainbow looked at her still in confusion making Clockwork sigh. “My dear, do you not know what these words mean?” Rainbow scowled at her and yelled back at her.
“Of course I know what they mean! I’m not stupid.” Rainbow scowled at her as the others glared at their friend since she was being rude.
Clockwork, frowned and sipped her tea again shaking her head she was about to speak till the white unicorn interrupted her. “Rainbow please don’t be so rude! She just is asking since those words have been barely used anymore but the word clock.” Rainbow calmed down and hung her head in shame, muttering a sorry before turning away.
Clockwork waved her off showing that she wasn’t offend, “No worries my dear I had ruder guest than your friend, though I do miss one of my guests, maybe you have heard of her Granny Smith? I called her Little Smith she was a delightful dear to be around with but she stopped coming in, though she does drop of some food and letters once in a while.” Clockwork had a smile on her face as she started to remember the time she spent with that filly.
“Wait ya knew ma Gran?” Applejack looked at the pony as she stopped drinking the tea that oddly tasted nice to her, unlike Rarity’s fancy tea that she got from Canterlot. Clockwork nodded her head, tapping her chin as she remembered that she arrived the village was still small and it was cheap to get a land.
“Ah so you’re the granddaughter that she keeps telling me about in her letters, she is really proud of you my dear please tell her to come and visit soon.” Clockwork smiled as Applejack pulled her hat over her face to cover up to hide the blush that was growing on her face, ‘She has her father’s eyes and her mother’s coat’ she thought as she studied the mare next to her.
“Well my dears, I don’t think this is a normal visit no one has visited me for 20 years I mean I do go out once a month for a couple of days but I do have Fefe here to guard the house when I’m out. Also Little Smith posted letter to me once a week.” Clockwork looked at them over her cup that was between her hooves.
Rarity shifted in her oddly comfortable seat, as she felt Clockwork stare at her she gulped down the mouthful of tea before talking. “We are here because well, you are making a lot of noise darling and I live close to you, so the noise is causing me lost sleep. I was wondering if you can do whatever you were doing in the morning.” Rarity pleaded the taller pony in front of her.
Clockwork tapped her chin, she remembering why she was making so much noise. Fixing a few of her machines and one of her legs was the cause of the noise, after a group of rowdy fillies came into her home and caused a pile of cogs to crash down. Luckily she got there in time to push them out the way but it cause a bit of damage. She just finished fixing her machines and was working on her hind leg, the spring was broken inside and one of her joint pipes was dented in not to mention one of her chimney on her flank was broken.
“There won’t be much noise soon, all I have left is to repair my leg but please tell the local fillies to not enter my home without an adult a group of them came in a couple of weeks ago, talking about getting their symbols in ghost hunting. They knocked down a large pile of cogs that I was going to use and almost got crashed by it.” Clockwork sighed as she sat down and pulled her hind leg off to remove the bend and broken spring.
The other ponies looked a bit sick when they saw her leg being removed even if it was just metal; Rainbow stared in wonder as she watched Clockwork work on repairing her leg. “That is so cool” she muttered in awe, Twilight started to write some notes on what she was seeing that was till Clockwork looked up.
“What are you writing dear?” Clockwork had an idea what she was writing and narrowed her eyes at the notepad.
“Why notes of course this is a huge discovery! The way the metals work together actually work like a real leg, I need to tell princess Celestia about it!” Twilight grinned widely not noticing the growing frown on Clockworks face, after placing on her newly repaired leg she stood up and took Twilight’s notepad in her mouth.
“Hey what are you doing that is my research! You can’t take it from me” Twilight shouted at her trying to take her notepad back with her magic, but once the magical glow was around the notepad Clockwork jerked her head to the side and the magic was cut off. Clockwork placed it down and gave a quick flick through the notes that was written, there was detail notes on her machines and on her as soon as she finished Twilight tried to get her notepad back.
Clockwork looked at Twilight and her eye that as covered by her monocle flashed gold, causing the magic on the notepad to stop even after Twilight’s many tries. “You aren’t allowed to keep this to yourself! The world needs to know about the machines here and what did you do to me!” Twilight panted out as she tried again to lift up the notepad.
“I believe I can Twilight Sparkle, I am the creator of these machines and everything in this house including the parts on me. I have patented and copyrighted every machine and stuff that I built; I have the paper work here along with my deeds, I will have lawsuits to ponies who have tried to copy my work and research that don’t have permission.” Clockwork spoke as she pulled out a new joint pipe and started to replace the bent one, Twilight frowned at the mare in front of her all she wanted was to recorded data and send it to the princess.
“Bu-but all I want to do was to get information and tell the princess and why can’t I pick up my notepad.” Twilight muttered as she watched Clockwork finished repairing her leg.
“I did a spell to stop you from picking it up it will wear out in a couple of hours, but I’m still not giving you, your notepad back Princess Celestia knows about my work, she was the one that allowed the patent. I can’t let my life time work be in the wrong hooves again, even if you know the Princess personally, too many risks.” Clockwork shook her head and sighed as she gently oiled her leg and gave it a test.
“Wait you said some fillies came in did you get a good look at them?” Rarity looked at Clockwork as she broke the tension in the air, Clockwork thought for a moment before remembering that she found some sort of cape that was under the pile with her, so she walked over to and picked it off from her coat rack.
“If I remember there was a white filly unicorn with pink and purple hair, an orange coloured Pegasus with dark purple hair and a yellow earth pony with red hair that had a pink bow in it. They left this behind” Low and behold it was the CMC’s cape, it was a bit ripped at the ends but nothing much. The groups eyes had widen three of them were going to have a long talk the CMC with not entering places where they are not meant to be.
“I’m so sorry that my sister caused you trouble please let me make it up to you” Rarity said with Applejack nodding with her, Clockwork thought and smiled before speaking to the group.
“How about giving me tour of your farm Applejack, I love to see it again and Rarity I love to see your designs and maybe create one of the designs I done I was planning of making this to wear when I go to Canterlot.” Clockwork smiled at the girls in front of her.
“Oh and Twilight please don’t be disappointed, I just can’t risk letting my machines out again without somepony being trained in using them, I be happy to have a talk.” Twilight smiled back at her and nodded replying that she would try and get some time with the princess to talk to them; she was excited since she wanted to know how Clockwork machines worked.
“Pinkie, Rainbow and Fluttershy I would love to spend a day with you girls too, but it is getting late let’s discuss this another time.” Clockwork walked the girls back up the stairs and held the door open for them to exit. “Farewell, my dear friends till we meet again” Clockwork took her top hat off and bowed to them as they walked out the door, waving Clockwork goodbye. “bene vale et novum amicis meis nocte” Clockwork whispered into the air as she walked back into her home, thinking of what going to happen after wondering out her home that she has been in for so many years... she wondered how has the world changed since she last stepped out.
Lying on a bed in a darken room was Clockwork, the sun was just peeking out from the horizon with the mare snoozing away her head lying in her front hooves that was folded on top of her pillow. She was bare of her top hat and monocle; they both lied on the bed stand next to her red bow tie. As soon as the sun hit dawn Clockwork’s body alarm rang, shaking her body awake. Yawning out from her bed, she sat up and sluggish clapped her front hooves together three times each time the shakes of her body lessen to she stilled.
As she stretched out her body and scratched the back of her neck messing up her mane, she walked out of her door with her clothing in her mouth and shut her bathroom door but not before pressing a button above the oven that said BK on top of it. She listened to her machine come to life as she grabbed her face towel and dunked it into the steaming water, as she wrung it out and washed her face as she flicked a switch without looking.
The room glowed as mechanical arms came down, with a series of cleaning equipment they got to work on their mistress. Cleaning her mane and tail returning them to their former glory, polishing her hooves one at a time picking them up one by one by oiling and giving them a check before moving on to the next one. When they came to her front hooves, a claw gently grabbed the towel from her and gently gave her face a once over.
Once done the arms placed her hat and bow-tie on and straighten them, Clockwork gave each one them an affection pat as they drew themselves back up to where they came from. Clockwork chuckled as she placed her monocle on before looking over herself in the mirror, her creation were so good to her.
Freshen, Clockwork wondered out of the bathroom to her table. Just as she reached at the table fresh tea and breakfast, her breakfast contained what other ponies thought was taboo to eat was meat. She had some bacon and eggs with toast to eat with some oil tea waiting for her like every Sunday morning.
Just as she sat down in her seat a several small pipes came out from the side, it entered into her fuel compartment that was in her flank. Clockwork felt more energized as the different fluids filled her up for her weekly refill, she started to chew on the bacon when she was making improvements on herself she gave herself canines. As she was about to take a bite out of her egg toast there was a loud knock at her door, blinking at the noise she picked up the toast and continued on eating it as she went up the stairs.
Clockwork opened the door to relieved Applejack behind it; Clockwork tilted her head as she swallowed the last bite and wiped her mouth with a napkin, that she always kept on hoof before talking to her friend’s granddaughter. Wondering why the farm mare has came so early, being that it's the weekend.
“Good morning! Applejack you are here very early dear, but what can I do for you?” Clockwork smiled at the mare in front of her, Applejack scratched the back of her neck and smiled at the large equine she had told her granny about meeting Clockwork just saying the name got her granny excited in wanting to see the mare again.
“Well ya see ah told ma Gran about you and she really wants to see ya ah was wonderin if ya was free for the day” Applejack asked Clockwork, the said mare thought she had nothing really to do she was thinking of drawing up some new blueprints of some machines. So she shook her head before telling Applejack that she was heading back to grab her saddle bag.
“Right I am ready let’s get going if I remember the farm is a bit far away” the duet trotted along the path towards the farm looked at the mare that was trotting next to her, wondering if she was like this when her Gran met her. Did she look like this went Gran met her, she got to ask her soon.
“You know, this is the same path me and your Gran walked each time I visited. The last time I walked down this path was when your Gran was showing off you.” Clockwork smiled as she watched the new spring leaves whistle in the wind, she turned to see Applejack looking at her in surprise.
“Ya knew me when ah was a filly?” Applejack was shocked about it her Gran never told her about this, and if Clockwork saw her then her brother must have seen her before. Clockwork chuckled and nodded her head as she could see the top of the barn. “Yes I did, you was really adorable cuddling me your family called me auntie Clock whenever I visited I brought tools and toys for you guys.” Clockwork stopped at the arch and smelt the air; it was the same fresh air that she knew from those years ago. Looking at the porch she saw Little Smith on the rocking chair that she made for her, just wood nothing just plain and simple.
She cantered up to the rocking mare and stopped in front of her. “My little smith how long has it been? You have grown so much, where is little mac?” Granny smith’s head shot up how long since she has heard that voice looking up she saw the same face of her old friend Clockwork...
“Clocky! Where have ya been? Ah haven’t seen ya for so long ah have missed ya” The green mare wrapped her fragile hooves around the metal mare, who gave back the gesture by wrapping her large hoof around the old mare. Applejack smiled at the tender moment that was happening in front of her, she hasn't seen her Gran this excited for a long time she was happy about it.
Clockwork took a step back to take in her friend; the strong mare that she knew had aged into a fragile pony. How long has it been since she last visited now she remembered it was when Applejack’s parents disappeared, she remembered trying to find them for years before given up and locked herself in her home.
“Auntie Clock?” a deep voice shook her from her memory and she turned her head spotting the young colt that she once knew. Now standing a head shorter then her was a strong stallion, he looked so much like his father with his yolk to complete the look it was like looking in a mirror.
“Little Mac how have you grown! Why I remember when you were only up to my barrel and now look at you come here and give your auntie a hug” she stood on her hind legs not even wobbling as she widening her front hooves as Big mac galloped into her hug wrapping his hooves around his neck.
“Ah miss ya Auntie it has been too long” as the two lowered themselves with one hoof wrapped around each other, Clockwork gave the stallion a quick nuzzle and gave him a nudge on the shoulder. She missed the strong and hard working boy that use to always follow her when she came to the farm.
“You have grown my boy! I guess all that farm work has worked on you; I bet you get plenty of attention from mares.” Big Mac blushed and shook his head, causing Clockwork to giggle and nuzzle to boy in front of her; he is the same since she knew him. “So what are we going to do? I know the farm like the back of my hoof is there anything new?” Clockwork questioned the trio as they thought there was the clubhouse the CMC were now using, when suddenly something came up into AJ’s head.
“The Clubhouse... you were the one who made it for me how can ah not remember!” Applejack spoke out loud, she remembered now Clockwork built the clubhouse so fast that it was done in a hour with all of the machines helping she remember sitting there watching in wonder.
Clockwork chuckled and nodded as she walked towards the clubhouse but not before stopping at the old plough. She looked at it, as Big mac attached it to his yolk trying to pull it but the thing didn’t really move. She walked up to it and examined the poor tool, the thing was dulled down so much that she couldn't even recognises her own creation till she got up close .
She made Macintosh to take off the rope as she effortless lifted it up with one hoof and examined the bottom, she saw all the nicks and hairline cracks. Not to mention the whole thing was rusted. “Yea that old thing needs replacing but we don’t have enough money to do so.” AJ said but was dismissed by Clockwork waving hoof, she studied it carefully she knew that she could fix it easily but she still needed to lecture the duo for not taking care of their equipment.
“I see no problem with this beautiful tool, she just needs a bit of a touch up which I can do but I most ask you how do you take care of her, seeing that her wheel and back has gone missing.” Clockwork looked at the siblings the duo looked at each other, the tone of her voice sounded like she was talking like a disappointed parent.
“Her? The plough doesn’t have a gender and we just leave it here in the felid when where are done.” Applejack spoke but then she gulped when the disapproving look that Clockwork gave her, the said mare sighed and shook her head no wonder why Gaia was like this no pony took care of her.
“You can say that but I can say the same bout your trees, I bet you have names for some of them and gave them genders dear. This ploughs name is called Gaia, I named her after the earth goddess and I can tell that you haven’t been taking care of her. Did you know anything about Gaia?” Clockwork questioned the younger apples, Granny Smith knows the reason and that’s why she refused to get rid of it.
“I made her and gave her to your parents as a wedding gift. They needed a plough so I created her, she was created with the hardest steel known to pony kind, she was given a special place in the barn where she would been place as well as how she meant to be taken care of. All farmers were envy of the plough I created, you know how much she is worth if you took care of her?” Clockwork raised an eyebrow at them as the sadly shook their heads if they knew that the plough was special they would of taken care of it. Though how could they not see the signs, Granny refused to replace this plough with even the cheapest ones that they could easily afford darn sometime they would see her talking to it.
“She is worth over a thousand bits or seven flawless gems that has to be the size of my hoof.” The siblings’ jaws dropped that plough was worth that much? It was simple when the back came off they just used it like it was. “I can fix her up for you, since my heart is weeping for her. You know I only made three more of these? Brothers and sisters to Gaia, she is the eldest but I am going to teach you how she is meant to be taken care of but for now go on and do your work.”
Clockwork pulled off her saddlebag and pulled out some tools she firstly unscrew the blades then studied them, there was no way in recovering them. Not without her forge anyways, next she studied the body it was covered with layers of rust frowning she pulled out some bottles and splashed them on the mouldboard then waited for a while for the liquids to soak it. As she waited she pushed a button and music came out of her, the music drifted out of her body as she calmly listened to it as she worked on her machine. (Here is the song if you want to hear it
She treated it like a children talking to her every now and again, not noticing the three fillies gather near her. As they watched the mare in front of them work on the plough, as she continued to polish it you could see there was some engraving on it. The engraving was letters it was Applejack’s parents’ names, she paused on there as she stared at it.
“Sweet apple and full harvest together forever” Clockwork ran her hoof over it as she allowed the music to die off. She snapped out of it and quickly fixed up Gaia and stashing away the old blade so she could repair it but before she could place them in her saddlebag she saw some fillies looking through her bag.
“Hey you girls leave Clockwork’s bags allow Ah thought we taught ya girls better than this!” A yell froze the girls that were looking through her bags; she made her eye glow lifting the three fillies with a red aura away from her bag. She slowly studied each one and what was when it clicked, these fillies were the ones that were in her house.
“Hello girls, it seems like you haven’t learnt not to look through my equipment first my house now my bags? I think I will have a talk with your guardians about this my dears” as she placed her bags on her back away from paring hooves, while the other looked at her in shock Clockwork was a earth pony no? So how can she do a spell that only a unicorn knows?
“Hey how did you do a spell only unicorns can do that sort of stuff? Your an earth pony” Scootaloo spoke out to her Clockwork looked at the girls and shrugged her head then spoke to them, but not before giving Applejack the manual on how to take care of Gaia and she be coming once a month to check on her.
“I was born from a long line of unicorns, so I have their magic running deep in me so my family taught me how to use magic without a horn. Where unicorns use their horns for an outlet I use my eye and it is not your dear it’s you are” Clockwork tapped at the bottom of her eye as she watched the Big Mac use Gaia smoothly easily tearing up the ground.
“Please remember to put her to bed after using her, she maybe a strong girl but she still a lady.” Clockwork called out the Big Mac and got a reply from him the CMC looked at her in awe and followed her into the farmhouse as she went to help Granny with Lunch.
