Harmony Reborn: The Steam 6 (Story)

[Splattershade]

Hello everyone/everypony. A while back, I got the idea for a Pony story, and thanks to a little encouragement from Alexis, I actually got around to starting it. It's currently a work in progress, taking place in a not-too-distant future Equestria with plenty of Steampunk themes. I won't give away too much, but it involves a group of 6 OCs which will be introduced in the first of what I hope to be many updates.

Please feel free to give me any and all kinds of feedback and criticism. Good, bad, ugly, hate mail, death threats, I'll accept it all... although I think I'm legally obligated to inform the police about that last one... Anyway! Please feel free to also speculate any hints, foreshadowing, etc, because I will be putting small, subtle things like that into the story.

In this first update, each of the main characters will get a chapter:
Windup
Shining Reflection
Smogbloom
Glimmerlode
Chance
and Sawbones

You'll get a brief description of who they are through their own perspectives in these chapters. In the next update, they'll start meeting each other, and you'll get more accurate descriptions of what they actually look like.

Hope you all enjoy!

[Splattershade]

Prologue:

Welcome to Equestria, an industrious nation of productivity, factories, and high society. All across Equestria are signs of progress for a brighter, wealthier tomorrow:


A well-dressed unicorn stares out her window overlooking her factory, and casually tosses a gemstone to the dragon watching over her wealth from below...

Tipping back her hat, another pony laughs to herself as another dumb businesspony forgets to read that deceitful fine print and essentially signs away their life’s work and earnings...

A single pegasus soars around the quiet, smoglike remains of Cloudsdale with a satisfied smirk on her face...

Another half-built mechanical creation is shattered against the wall, falling to join the remains of his brethren. The cursing pony starts again in the dim light of her workshop...

A lone pony trudges along an empty catwalk, watching over the churning automated vats of batter. She sighs sadly, left only to her thoughts with nopony in sight...

By candlelight, a unicorn looms over book after book, her goal was long forgotten, and their pages are her only comfort...

A lone pedestal where a statue once stood, now only a few traces of rubble hint that anything was ever even there...

A young unicorn looks in her mirror sadly, forced into yet another ridiculous dress to please her parents...

Among the smog and sludge dumped from the city, an odd-looking pony inspects with strange looking devices...

Deep in the darkness, a small hoof is knocked up against stone, and an ear as pressed to the cool cavern wall. She nods, indicating to the other miners to dig, with a big grin on her face...

Galloping into an alley for a place to hide, a young colt frowns, realizing that he’s sought shelter with somepony even hungrier than him. He sighs, and drops his ‘winnings’ in front of her, before silently walking away...

A unicorn looks at the clipboard floating before him. He sighs, knowing that he’s going to have to inform the patient that it’s too late for her...

A lonely pony looks out over the city from behind the tinted glass of the clocktower, wondering if there’s something else out there for him... for anypony...
Welcome, to the city of New Canterlot! We hope you enjoy your stay!

[Splattershade]

Shining Reflection

“...alright dear, one more time.”

I sighed, “Really mom? I mean... ugh...”

“Come on now Shining Reflection~” My mom chirped to me in a singsong voice, “You can be a bit more productive than just stare at yourself in the mirror while we work on your new dress! Come on now, history of New Canterlot, keep that mind sharp!” She was always so cheerful... why was it that I was the only pony who seemed capable of bringing her down? I’ve only ever seen her upset with me...

“Ugh... fine...” I deadpanned, looking at myself in the mirror as a small team of ponies made adjustments to my dress. “After the invention of the first mechanical assembly, all of Equestria went into a boom of industry, and before long, factories popped up all through the city and the surrounding areas.”

“Good, good, keep going” My mother encouraged, tightening a portion of the dress painfully tight. But I knew better than to say anything, I just stared back into the mirror, letting my thoughts collect on the smooth, shiny surface.

“Soon, major companies took hold, and our two princesses stepped back from their roles in the government, allowing the ponies of Equestira to rule themselves as they saw fit. It was decided that to aid the transition in government, Canterlot should annex the nearby areas, making them into districts of the newly-reformed New Canterlot. And so, now the ponies work together in industrious harmony, in the biggest boom of prosperity that Equestria has ever seen.”

“Very good darling!~” She melodiously encouraged. I just responded with a forced smile, counting down the minutes until they would all go away. But I should have known better, after all, tonight was a big night... for my parents at least, I couldn’t care less.

Tonight was the night of the big Heart’s Warming Eve party in the Old Canterlot castle. This was the night that my parents looked forward to all year. This was the only night they could show off to the higher-class rich families and try to get some better recognition... but with the stress they’ve been putting on me to look my best... I’m pretty sure they were planning on using me as their means of recognition.

Of course, once she continued, I knew I was right all along. “Aaaand~... I hear that the lovely Rarity herself will be there!” she clopped her front hooves on the ground excitedly. “Just imagine it Shine, You, getting to meet the most prominent pony in all of Equestria! Oh, she’ll be so dazzled, that she’ll have to ask you to be one of her dress models! Oh, just imagine it! Being one of her exclusive dress models, oh you’ll be the talk of the town!”

Needless to say, her excitement was neither mutual nor infectious, I just quietly stood there with an uninterested expression as the tailor ponies worked on the dress. I stared into the mirror, losing myself in my thoughts as I watched the scene around me unfold. Time seemed to speed by while I contentedly slipped into thought.

It’s amazing what a mirror reveals to you, and I don’t just mean looks. I began to lose myself in a different kind of reflection, my own thoughts seemed to play themselves out on the reflective glass. After a while, it was just me, alone in the room with just the mirror and my thoughts... The longer I stared, the clearer my thoughts became. I knew this was not what I wanted. I didn’t want to go, I didn’t want to meet Rarity or anyone else my parents pushed me in front of... but I also knew... that I didn’t have any other option. They were my parents, after all..

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Old Canterlot castle never was the way I originally imagined it. Maybe at one time it was, but I just wished that it wasn’t so cold, or so unwelcoming. Even on a night that as supposedly happy and joyful as tonight, it was just the same as any other party. Festive decorations hung about, as if they were just afterthoughts.

I trudged along behind my parents, preparing myself for the usual fit of boredom. And that’s just what I got. “Oh she’s so lovely, isn’t she? She’s sure to get noticed! I hear Rarity herself is here somewhere, she will certainly make a good impression!” And that was just from my parents. Their various ‘friends’ were just as bad, if not worse.

After what seemed like ages, I finally found a point where I could escape into the crowd, and I began to wander on my own. I thought I was finally free of the dry, needless pleasantries and formal re-introductions. But, as happy as I was to be hidden in the crowd, I started to feel uncomfortable with all those people around me... and without my parents nearby to act as a buffer... the looks that all these strange ponies were giving me didn’t make me feel any more comfortable than I was to start.

Finally, I was able to escape all of it, I found myself in what looked like the old throne room. It clearly showed its age and disuse, even decorations seem to have neglected this room. It was perfect. I strained myself, trying to focus my magic to shut the massive double-doors. They groaned in protest, and were so heavy that it became tough to move them, even with my magic. By the time the doors were shut... well, I never realized my horn could get sore like that!

On the bright side, I finally had a place to rest. I slumped back against a statue of a triumphant-looking Alicorn, with her wings spread, reared back on her hind hooves. I found the image somewhat comforting, and leaned against it a bit more heavily.

Looking around, I noticed something interesting in the stained glass windows... “The old mare’s tale... The elements of harmony...” I knew the story by heart, but there was no way it could be true. After all, it seemed like whichever ponies fought off Nightmare Moon and Discord would still be around. I silently wished that they were. After all, there were so many times in my life... every day when I felt like there isn’t a single grain of harmony in my life.Then again... some of them were real for sure. But that thought only crushed my spirits even more, after all, some of them probably just bought their way into the story, like Rarity.

Speaking of whom... that was the exact moment that I started to hear my mother’s voice, echoing through the halls. “Oh, I can’t express enough how much of an honor it is to meet you in person! You really have been an inspiration to our daughter, I know she’ll be absolutely thrilled to meet you.”

“Yes, yes, well I do try to take time to meet with the undiscovered talent. You never know who might gallop out of the woodwork, after all...”

Oh no... SHE was here... That voice could only be Rarity’s I just new it. I leapt to my hooves... but a little too quick. The statue of began to teeter above me. I stumbled to get out of the way, tripping over hem of the dress. but I was just barely not fast enough. The statue’s horn drove it’s way through my dress, narrowly missing my flank.

It’s strange how near-death situations cause you to lose your awareness of the world around you... It was as if my brain shut down for a moment to try to register everything that just happened. Unfortunately, that was the worst possible time to lose my grip on the situation... the next thing I remember was feeling the threads of the dress give way with an angry RIIIIIP!

“Oh no....” My dress tore almost completely in half... the crimsons and yellows of the dress lied under the statue’s horn, as if some poor creature was impaled... For once, I didn’t want a mirror... I knew I looked like a mess, shredded and otherwise destroyed. There was way I could leave this room with any form of reputation intact, for me or my parents... At this point, only my shoulders and front hooves were even covered...

“What was that noise? Is anyone in there? Hello?”

“Oh no...” It was my father, and it sounded like both my mother and Rarity were with her.

“Shining Reflection? Was that you? Are you in there?” Great, they heard me... It would only be a matter of time before... wait... I did my best to see past the panic to realize something else... the statue fell perfectly to block the door with her outstretched wings. The statue actually bought me some time.

“Is this some kind of joke? I really don’t have time for all this nonsense...” Rarity sounded rather annoyed. “OH NO!” that was the nail in my coffin. Rarity would finally see me, but like this? There was no way this could end well, I would forever ruin my parents’ reputations, and earn myself their eternal disappointment... I looked to the statue, hating that it had ruined everything... but there was something strange about all this... as if there was some final clue as to why this was all happening to me. I stared into the alicorn’s eyes... and then down at the whole lifeless form. It was pointing with it’s raised hooves... they pointed at the window.

There was no way it was actually pointing, after all, it had just fallen... but I did feel myself drawn to the window, looking at the surprisingly close alley below. I could probably make it... But the thought was so ridiculous! Jump out the window!?

“SHINING REFLECTION! GET OUT HERE THIS INSTANT! DON’T LEAVE MISS RARITY WAITING!” My mother’s voice boomed with impending disappointment. I didn’t have any other choice but escape, for both of us. Her reputation would remain mostly intact, and I... Well... I guess I never was happy living that life... I just hoped that my family could forgive me...

I took a few steps back, hearing the slamming of hooves against the door, and a screeching whine as the stone statue ground against the smooth tile floors. I stared at the window, trying to look past it, knowing that the alley was only a safe distance below.

“Be brave, you’re doing this for them.” I coached myself, before breaking into a full gallop, and jumping... I was amazed at how easily the glass shattered, though it did knock the wind out of me. I tumbled through the air, a cloud of tattered fabric and pony, raining glass down on the street below.

I braced myself for impact against the cobblestone road... but instead my landing was a lot softer. I felt the fur of another pony beneath me. My ears were suddenly filled with the sound of a scream of pain... it wasn’t mine.

My eyes were wrenched shut tightly, but after I felt myself roll off of some poor pony’s back... I ventured a peek. The sight wasn’t pleasant... as it turned out that a young colt, not much younger than me, had served as my cushion, and now a huge shard of the stained-glass window, nearly twice the size of a dinner plate, was jutting from his flank, and bleeding.

I felt sick to my stomach...

[Splattershade]

Smogbloom

Pollution report - Western Wall Drain - Coloration: Glowing purple, green floating debris

Readings show no improvement, just like the other locations. In fact, I’m beginning to consider that the quantity of waste output has been increasing. I have been trying to keep a positive attitude... but every day, my goal seems farther and farther away...
Why is it that I am the only one who can see beyond these walls? New Canterlot is not the world, not even Equestria is the world. But everypony refuses to look to what’s truely around them... All they see is a tree full of resources, ripe for picking, yet they mash the fruits of the land beneath their hooves, and let the seeds die and rot in pools of refuse. I await the day that it floods up over their hooves, I only pray that they see it before they drown in their own filth.
The aches are back, it’s been making me lose sleep, but I’ve been able to manage. Perhaps I have been rushing my attempts with removing the mask. Every day, it gets more painful, and I can only withstand less and less. Why am I growing weaker? I know where the answer lies, but there are so many other questions in my way.
I’ve had to increase the pain dosage, but it has only proved as a minor aid. However, there has been an upside, my flight has never been stronger. The modifications I have made make my wings feel more natural than ever. Will update pending any other news, otherwise will begin next report on North Drainage Wall in two day’s time. I’m trying to remain positive, but the facts are against me.

I shut the journal, laying the pencil down. Another productive day...

I gave my wings a creaky test-flap, the corrosive air was getting to them again... I was going to have to find repairs soon, a thought that I dreaded. After all, most ponies didn’t exactly look to kindly at my... well they just don’t really look at me very fondly. It’s why I usually try to stay outside the city, after all.

I figured I would get as much use out of my wings at the moment, and decided to go for a practice flight. I gave my wings a few strong flaps. Before long, I was off the ground, drifting over the city. I rose as high as I could, until the tips of my wings grazed the smog clouds above. I always imagined that I could tear deep slices and gashes into the smog, tearing it away bit by bit...

If only that were true... But in reality, I was too scared to even think of breaking through that cloud cover. Sure, if anypony would have been safe attempting that, it would be me... but the very thought... It would have been like staring into a well, and considering jumping in just to see how deep it was. Possible? Of course. Sane? Not at all. So, I just let the blanket of gasses act as my ceiling, how ironic it is, that even now, the pollution of the city is restricting me and holding me back outside my body as well as inside...

[Splattershade]

Glimmerlode

I always wondered if i was meant to be born something else. After all, it’s not often that you find a pegasus like me all the way down here. I was born to fly in the skies, but feel more at home with the ground over my head in these mines. Come to think if it, I definitely was meant to be born something else, since both my parents are Earth Ponies. I’m just one of those little genetic hiccups thanks to my family’s ancestry.

I really enjoyed being down this deep in the mines, with only the light of the occasional air shaft to disrupt the darkness. It was also very quiet, at least for me it was. Far off in the distance, I could easily hear the echoing chimes and clanks of the other miners, far behind me. There really was no way of knowing just how far away I was from the worksite, not that I minded at all. For all I knew, I was miles away, and the echoing curvature of these tunnels made them sound like I was right there working with them.

Of course, I knew better than that. I knew that I was actually more like a half-mile away. I had an important job that not many others could do, after all. I was the foremares’ go-to-pony about these tunnels. Janie and I made sure that these tunnels were safe for mining, which directions would be best to find more coal, and which areas needed more supports. Janie really was my only company most of the time, and she didn’t really talk much, being a shovel. Yes, I named a shovel, like I was saying, it gets lonely down here when there’s a chance that somepony could get hurt.

Being one of the few pegasi in the mine had its benefits. I could soar over potential cave-in areas, checking the ground with a few taps, and likewise the ceiling. After spending most of my life with the ground over my head, I’ve learned to listen to the rock, hearing the force of my strikes rumble through the rock. I don’t even need to hit that hard to know what lies buried.

I continued to flap down the cavernous tunnel. Tap, tap here. Listen... Tap, tap there. Listen...

I paused, holding an ear to the air instead of the stone walls this time. Listen....

Somepony was coming this way, using the minecart track to be precise. I listened a little more carefully, and my suspicions were confirmed. The flapping of wings confirmed that it was one of the Foremares, and the only other pegasus pony I knew of down here. I landed and started walking back along the tracks, as a silent sign to the Foremare that the tunnel was safe this far.

SCREEEEEEEEE! I gritted my teeth, the sound of the braking minecarts always got to me. Metal on metal was never a pleasant sound. When the foremare dismounted from her unique means of transportation, I gave a little salute. A bit over-formal, but she and the two other foremares knew I held the utmost respect for them. “Things are looking good down here so far Foremare Scootaloo.
The messy-maned pony just rolled her eyes. “Just Scootaloo is fine, Glimmerlode.” She smiles. “And I actually came to get you, we reached quota a bit early, so we’re calling it quits for the day.” she smiled.

I looked over the foremare with a smile. She, just like the other two foremares, were perpetually covered in a thick coat of coal dust. Not even their cutie marks were visible under all the black. In fact, the only way I knew that Scootaloo had orange fur was because of her feathers, which flapped so often that a single speck of the coal dust couldn’t hang on if it were coated in glue.

She gave her wings a little flap, hopping up into the minecart. “You coming, or what? If you’re feeling up to it... we can even try to jump Bedrock Basin!” A mischevious smirk crossed her face, and pure excitement crept over me, to the point I was giggling almost uncontrollably when I followed behind.


After all, this was big. Being the only other pegasus miner that I knew of, she developed a unique way of getting around the mines, possibly even faster than just flying.

“Remember, it’s just like flying, but you’re pushing the air back, so think of it like flying down.” By flapping her wings quickly pushing the air back, she got the minecart rolling. For the first time, I did the same. I was always scared to try it on my own, since even a gentle roll in one of these carts can easily start rolling out of control.

The fact that we were headed for Bedrock Basin was even bigger. It was the only place where the track was broken, forming an impromptu “jump” across the gap. On top of that, bedrock basin was HUUUUUUGE understatement, given it’s name simply for the coolness’ sake more than anything. In reality, it was a naturally-formed drop-off carved out by an underground waterfall, that seemed even deeper than infinity!

It was scary, but in the most exciting way.

KLANG! Janie sang out when I held her out to hit the old track switch. “You ready?” Scootaloo encouraged as the cart rose over a massive rise, gaining unbelievable speed. I had never gone this fast, and I was terrifed. But that only made me flap my wings faster.

Then, with a jarring jolt, we were airborne. But it was different than flying, we were completely weightless. If I hadn’t been holding Janie in my teeth, I was sure she would have been lost forever. Even then, I could feel myself drifting from the cart. Thankfully, the foremare had hooked her hoof in mine, and held me safely close through the longest seconds of my life.


I tried to scream, I was in a panic... but instead of screams, whoops and hollars interrupted the laughter that escaped my lips. This was the most terrifying and amazingly fun thing I had ever done.

With a more painfully loud screech than I’d ever heard, I felt my hooves connect with the bottom of the cart again... and then the cart with the rails, just a little off-center. The cart lurched forward, unable to continue rolling properly, and launched the two of us forward. Thankfully, we were both still wearing our mining helmets.

By the time we had both climbed to our feet, it seemed like the worst of the damage was just the broken light on the foremare’s helmet and the destroyed minecart. We just stared at each other in shocked silence... until I finally got giggly again. Before we both realized it. we were laughing and cheering at our successful jump. We hugged and bumped hooves. “OH! I can’t wait to tell everyone else! That was awesome!”

“I know, right? I haven’t done that in ages!” I laughed and laughed nonstop until we both made it back outside, to greet the rest of the miners at camp.

“Sound like you two had yourselves a bit of fun.” One of the foremares said in greeting.

“Oh... just a little jump over Bedrock Basin, nothing special.” Scootaloo said with a smirk, nudging me.

“IT WAS INCREDIBLE!” I blurted out

“Please tell me y’all made it out with the minecart in one piece?” The third foremare approached us.

“Yeeeaaah... about that...”

“Aww Horseapples! Ya mean ah got another minecart ah gotta fix up?”

“I’m sure it won’t be that bad, but you really should be more careful with these things Scootaloo...”

“Yeah, yeah. It was worth it, right Glimmerlode?”

I couldn’t feel more at home around these ponies. After my parents got caught in that cave in...

Well, I considered them my new family. Foremare Applebloom, Foremare Sweetiebelle, and of course, Foremare Scootaloo. My coal-coated family, with Janie being my only fr-

...Oh no...

“Janie!” I looked back towards the cave. Where was Janie?

[Splattershade]

Chance

Let me just say this: This wasn’t my first choice. I tried all kinds of stuff before I got to where I am. I tried all kinds of odd jobs, from refueling street lamps and hoof shining and street sweeping. But, even if I could have held those jobs, I’d be just another mindless, miserable sad-sack of a pony, working every day for just enough to get me to the next day of work.

That’s not for me. I see the big-ticket risks, and I snatch it. Now, my line of work has a lot of names. Some people call it swindling, others call it ripoffs, still others call it illegal, criminal, or a con. Me? It’s just a... just another field of business that most ponies shy away from, since the law doesn’t take to kindly to it. Neither do most of my “customers”, come to think of it.

Anyway, never bothered to explain the justification of my actions when I sat back, watching some random, well-dressed pony who thought he could make a quick buck. But that unsure look in his eye told me everything I needed to know. “C’mon, just gotta find the right card is all. Two outta three chance.” I smirked.

Normally, winning didn’t make me /this/ happy. But this pony put more than just money on the line. I really liked that hat, after all. Fedora, I think it’s called. I didn’t care, I wanted it. It would look way better on me.

The poor pony flipped his card. Spade. “Ouch, tough luck. Maybe next time, if you’re up for another round, double or nothing?” I asked, probably looking a little too happy as I scooped up both his hat and the pocketfull of bits that went with it. My annoyed ‘customer’ flipped a second out of the three cards. Also Spade. “Wow, looks like your second guess would have been wrong too.”

I tried to casually place a hoof over the third card, hoping he wouldn’t suspect anything of me. Of course, I should have known better than that. He slid the card out from under my hoof. Damn unicorns and their magic.

I was already starting to backpedal slowly as the pony looked at the third card. Also Spade. Realization set in that he had been cheated. “Better luck next time” I said, bucking the cardboard box “table” I was using, into his face before bolting down a nearby alleyway. “Well hay, the hat’s a perfect fit too! Totally worth it.” I grinned in my own amusement, weaving and dashing from one alley to another, until I was certain I had lost my pony pursuer.

I was just starting to catch my breath. “Now time to make my way over to the bar and finally get something to eat” It’s been a while since I’d last eaten, after all... At least a day, I’d say. Of course, those were my plans up until... “Horseapples!” I cursed, a little too loudly. Two hulking stallions stood at the other end of the alley, and they spotted me.

They started marching in my direction. Ironic that me, of all people, would have the most horrible luck, isn’t it? Now, I didn’t know these ponies... but I had a good idea I knew who they worked for. Hay, even if I was wrong, I didn’t like they way they were zeroing in on me. I bolted, galloping as fast as my hooves would carry me.

Left here, next right, straight shot into three more lefts. I knew these streets and alleys all too well, and, thankfully better than those two thugs. By the time I collapsed into a barstool at “The Bait and Switch Bar” I was certain that I had lost them.

“Business as usual?” My ears perked up at the voice, directed at me. I raised my head from the counter. “Yeah, just gimme the usual, Bait” The bulky pegasus wobbled a bit in the air when he flapped up to the top shelf to grab a jug of old-fashioned cider. A few feathers dropped, as if to explain his unsteady flight.

“You uh... feeling alright lately?” I asked, looking down at the dark grey feather that settled down on the bar in front of me. Closer inspection of his wings only made me more worried for him. These defintely weren’t the first to fall out. In fact, I was amazed he could still fly at all. He didn’t respond, he merely brushed some of his rusty-orange mane out of his face, dropping my food in front of me. “Cinnamon baked apple and a glass of cider. Bon appetit.”

I dropped my bits on the counter, but for a moment, Bait only looked at them. “Your ‘winnings’ from today, I take it?” he asked.

It was odd, he never really asked about my money before. I assumed he always knew. “Yeah, the hat too.” He just nodded

“It’s a nice hat. Keep your bits, it’s on the house today.” He commented with a straight face. Now, I of all people should have been suspicious. It was basically my job to lie and deceive people. But never look a gift pony in the mouth, I guess. “From what I hear, you’re owing quite a few bits to Shylock.” That should have set the gears turning in my head, but I was so wrapped up in my first meal so far that week, that I couldn’t think straight.

“Yeah, yeah...” I said between mouthfuls of baked apple. Switch was famous for her baked apples, after all. “I’ll pay him back eventually. It’s not like I can’t pay him. I just-”

“Well that’s good to hear.” a voice by the back door interrupted me. A dark, yellow-orange earth pony stood in the doorway. Her fur was as dirty as ever, if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a new stain or two, probably from the kitchen. She had a bat clenched between her teeth. The fact that she was so articulate with the bat in her mouth was... concerning to say the least.

“Switch, what’s with the-”

“Save it, Chance” She interrupted again. “Shylock’s promised a cut of the profits for anypony who collects from you. Time to pay the piper.” she smirked, stepping closer to me.

My natural reaction was to back up, of course. She wasn’t blocking the front door, after all. “Switch, I-” Bump! “Horseapples!”

Those two thug ponies had caught up. Looks like they were only slow to their hooves, not their wits.

“Look... Can’t we just talk about this?” I stepped back over to my seat by the bar. “I have some of your money right... here!” I shoved my bits off of the counter and onto the floor.

Now, it’s probably important to mention that this bar was in one of the poorest areas of New Canterlot. When even a single bit hits the floor, ponies come running. There was a mad dash for my scattered money, ponies came running from all directions. It wasn’t long before it turned into a good, old-fashioned bar brawl.

I didn’t take any chances. Once Switch’s attention was off of me, I dashed through the doorway behind her. Once outside, I started running faster than I’d ever galloped before. Left, Right, it didn’t matter to me now. I wasn’t going anywhere but away.

Finally, I was forced to a stop. Dead End. I looked up at the purplish stone walls, covered in... what looked like it was once Ivy. I was panting for breath, utterly exhausted. “I really need a change...” I mumbled to myself.

Be careful what you wish for. I only had a moment for the crashing sound above me to register as a breaking window. Less time than that to notice that among the shattered glass was a pony... and even less time to think to move out of the way of the insane pony and the falling glass.

I was rewarded with being knocked to the ground under her weight, and a searing pain through my flank less than a split second later. Today was not my day.

[Splattershade]

Sawbones

“Hello, how are you feeling today?” I asked, stepping into one of the clinic’s many curtain-rooms.

“Where’s the doctor? I want to see the doctor!” the aged pegasus said demandingly from her bed.

I sighed, giving her the best answer I could. “Doctor Shepard isn’t in today, I’m afraid. I’m Sawbones, his assistant and trainee. I’m here to take over for him while he’s gone, if that’s alright with you?”

I didn’t like the annoyed look she gave me, could she tell that I didn’t give her the whole truth? After a few dreadfully long moments, she gave me a reluctant nod. I trotted to her side.

“Excellent. Now, could you spread your wings for me?”

She hesitated again.

I sighed, people were always so concerned around me. “It’s just a name, okay? I’m not really going to do any cutting.” That seemed to satisfy the pegasus, and she extended her... well, they hardly looked like wings anymore. There were hardly any feathers left.

Shaking my head solemnly, I jotted a few notes down on my clipboard.

“What? What is it?” The patient demanded once again.

“Calm down, it might just be nothing.” I explained, once again dodging the whole truth. “Now... Are you certain you’ve avoided the smog?”

“Of course!” she seemed offended. “Why I didn’t trust those black clouds from the first day they spilled out into the sky.” she nodded her head matter-of-factly. “Besides, they’ve already done studies and whatnot, it isn’t the smog that’s doing this anyway, it’s an advanced strain of the featherflu I hear!” She folded her wings back up, and crossed her forehooves. “That’s why I want to talk to the doctor! You should know this! I’m sure he does!”

I didn’t bother to respond, I just quietly excused myself.

There was no point arguing with her. After all, that’s exactly what the factories have been paying for everyone to believe. As for my oppinions? Well, Doctor Shepard had been doing some research, research I had been continuing in his absence. This was no featherflu. It was something else.

As much as the doctor and I wanted to believe the ‘reports’ from the factories, our research showed different. I stepped into the next curtained room, about to face what I hoped was not a grim truth...

Inside were two young colts, one a unicorn, and the other an earth pony. The two of them lied in adjacent beds, chatting with each other. They seemed to get along well, that was good. They certainly had something in common. I greeted them both and checked their charts, almost exactly the same.

“Alright, Clacker? Oil Lamp? how are you two feeling?” I asked with a warm smile, trying to hide my disappointment as they both started a coughing fit. Their blood test results were even worse.

“We’re fine” Clacker, the earth pony wheezed.

“Well...” I heaved a sigh. “Not by the looks of these results...” I looked between the two of them. “Have either of you been up in high places lately? Near the smokestacks of the factories?”

Both of them shook their heads confusedly. “The doctor has been calling it ‘blacklung’.” I sighed. “We had hoped to only find it only in pegasus ponies... but it looks like the smog is slowly settling into our air...” Both of them looked upset, thankfully, not at me. “Look, you’ll get the best care I can give. We have a few possible treatments that can put off any symptoms, especially the cough, but-”

I looked into their eyes, they both looked upset, yet at the same time... hopeful. I sighed, and just couldn’t bare to keep this up. “Look, I need to tell you two something. We have no idea how to actually treat this, just guesses... and even then the treatments would be intense. You two are probably going to have that cough for the rest of your lives. Other than that, I’m pretty sure you can keep living your normal... although... a bit shorter... lives...” I sighed, seeing how upset they were by this. But, that hope was still there, so I couldn’t help but continue.

“Look, I won’t be able to treat you two... or anypony else for much longer. You see, Doctor Shepard is long gone. He left the city. We’ve been running this clinic for free for a long time now, and... well, the doctor was loaned a lot of money...” I sighed. “I’m the only one left around here, since I just can’t abandon you little ponies... or the rest of the patients for that matter.” I sighed. “But... I honestly think you two are the best off here. I’ll get you two some medicine, and I suggest you two find somewhere to get more and just keep taking it from now on. I’ll-”

“Hello!? Is anypony here? We need a doctor!” A voice snapped my attention away, the magically floating clipboards clattered to the ground when my attention was pulled from them. “I’ll be back later” I promised, running to the door.

The sight that awaited me was... strange to say the least...

A young unicorn was carefully supporting a colt about the same age. A massive shard of a stained glass window was jutting from his flank. Amazingly, the majority of the image seemed to be intact as well.

“You have some explaining to do after this.” I informed them both, rushing over to help the colt to a bed.

[Splattershade]

Visitors and Trust

It’s amazing how time passing can make you redefine a word, if only for yourself. I had spent so much time in the clocktower, that the constant rumble and grind of gears in constant motion were nothing more than a gentle hum to me, whereas for other ponies, they would have to shout just to hear themselves. I laid back, looking up at the gears spinning. I was alone here, sitting on a secluded platform deep in the clock.

I wasn’t even supposed to be there, not by design at least. It was only really supposed to be accessible when the clock had come to a full stop, when major repairs and renovations needed to be made. Of course, that design didn’t count for a pony like me. I had practically grown up in this clock, even before I had my cutie mark. I knew this old clock’s movements exactly, since it moved... well, like clockwork. Plus, I was much smaller and thinner than most ponies my age, and could easily hop through the holes in the cogs as they passed in their repetitive revolutions. Being so small always used to get me made fun of... okay, it still did get me bullied now, but I was glad that my size did at least have a few benefits.

I raised a hoof up to touch a gear above me. Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!. My hoof gave cheerful little beats as every tooth of the gear above me spun by, over and over and over. “Every day, the same motions. Round and round we go.” Now don’t get me wrong, I love clockwork, gears, springs, cogs, all of it. It’s half the reason I became Old Timer’s apprentice, and probably entirely the reason that my cutie mark is a wind up key. Yes, my cutie mark matches my name, it’s definitely not the first time it’s happened to anypony.

But as much as I love clockwork, working with the big clocktower, and all of that... well, living here has taught me just how boring and repetitive life can be. I wanted something... or better yet, someone to bring an end to this monotony. It was always the same. Nothing would change unless something was broken.

...Speaking of broken...

I noticed that the clock was making a strange thumping sound... it was off-beat with the rest of the clock’s patterns... it was coming from behind me. No, wait... I was lying down, so... beneath me?

“Hello?” I called out hesitantly. The knocking went silent. I was about to dismiss it entirely, until I heard it start up again. I dove and wove through the teeth, gears and cogs of the massive clock, looking for the source of the knocking. Once I was free of the mechanism, I could hear it more clearly. It definitely wasn’t coming from the clock. I searched all around, pressing an ear to the ground.

By the time I was able to track down it’s source, I was sliding along the floor, pushing myself along with my hind hooves and my ear pressed to the floor. But once I was at the source of the noise... there was nothing there... just floor.

But wait! One of these floorboards felt... different. Softer? No, springy! I could almost picture the floorboards’ springloaded locking mechanism. Easy as pie to open, too. I raised up onto my hind hooves and stomped down hard... Nothing. Well, that was embarassing. I knew it worked, I could probably guess the exact parts used off the top of my head. The problem, I was embarassed to discover, was that I was not strong enough to release the the spring lock.

I never felt more small and weak. I couldn’t even open a door! No, I wouldn’t let that happen. I looked around the room, next to me was a massive gear, spinning upwards. Bingo.

I took a single step to the side, onto the upward spinning tooth of the gear. I kept my eyes locked to that spot. I readied myself, and leapt into the air. I landed perfectly, the spring mechanism cushioned my fall perfectly. I felt the mechanism give way, swinging open.

Unfortunately, my leap was more than enough to open the door... and all that extra energy was sprung back at me... and catapulted me across the room. WHAM! Right into Old Timer’s workbench.

“Oooh... Ouch...” It took me a moment to regain my senses, I was still seeing stars when I spat out a mouthful of washers and gears.

“Hello? Old Timer?” a strange voice finally pulled me back to my senses.

“Huh?” I stumbled over to the trapdoor, where I heard the source of the voice. “Who’s... who’s there?” My eyes had finally stopped rolling in my head, and came to rest on a very strange... well, what I was pretty sure was a pony, though it.... he? looked very strange, and he was climbing up that hidden passage.

His entire head was completely covered. I couldn’t even see his eyes behind the green tinted glass. The rest of this strange helmet was only vaguely pony-shaped, The back of this mask only opened up for his short, mane as much as comfort would allow. The mouth... if you could even call it a mouth was vented, like some kind of coal furnace, and a pair of round filters on either side of the vents.

When he had finally climbed all the way up, I could see that his fur was a deep, dark shade of gray, and his mane was a dark shade of green, streaked with black. He had this... strange thing strapped around him too...

I thought I knew machines, but this was like nothing I’d ever seen. There were fluids, valves, some kind of pump and bellows... I just couldn’t understand what it was even meant to do. But one part of it caught my eyes. His wings...

“Woah...” I wondered aloud, looking it over. “A 4.09 cubit, custom build, streamline, hinge-jointed-double-span, root-build prosthetic wing system!” I was in complete wonder and awe of this amazing feat of mechanical wing perfection. The owner of the wings just stared back, at least it looked like he did, considering I couldn’t even see his eyes. His response was... unexpected and... well, obvious.

“You’re not Old Timer” He kept his voice steady, as if he didn’t have an ounce of emotion in him.

“Uh... No, no he’s not” I replied, unsure what else to say. He kind of threw off my moment of awe.

“I need Old Timer.” Once again, almost completely emotionless.

“Umm... well, he’s out right now, restoring an antique grandfather clock across town. He won’t be back for the rest of the day... But I can help, what do you need?” I looked over what I understood of his... ‘setup’. Of course, the only part I did understand commanded my attention.

“Looks like your outer spans could use some calibration... and your hinge releases could use a little TLC too. I could take care of that if you-”

“I only trust Old Timer with my repairs.” I was rudely interrupted. “I’ll come back another time.” He turned, peering down the hole a moment, as if gauging his descent. I just then got a good look at his cutie mark... It was kind of hard to miss, after all. It was vibrant green to the point where it almost looked like it was glowing, like some kind of neon light.

It was a sickly green flower, bending over under its own weight, with only three petals left. The flower had just let a single, glowing-green drop of dew fall into a puddle of the same strange liquid below. Sometimes ponies were easy to read from their cutie marks. This one? It only brought up more questions.

“Wait!” I blurted out, just as he was about to leave. That creepy masked head turned to me slowly.

“What?”

Honestly, I had no idea what to say, or why I even wanted him to stay, for that matter. I just sort of acted on an impulse. “I... Old Timer’s been teaching me everything he knows, I could probably help you just like Old Timer does it!” I forced a smile, hoping to seem friendly and comforting to this strange pony. I still wasn’t sure why I was so desperate for him to stay, I just couldn’t explain it.

“Sorry, but I’d rather trust the master than the student.” His creepy gaze lingered on me a little longer, before he turned back to the hole, and climbed back down. I stood there for a few moments, trying to figure out what just happened.

Some strange pony hooked up to machines just climbed through a trapdoor I never knew was there, demanded to see Old Timer... then left because I wasn’t him... Naturally, I was a little suspicious... Okay, I was just really curious, and bored and... well, lonely. But he really was being suspicious too.

So, I started to pack up my bags for a trip into the unknown. I made sure to fill my saddlebags with every last bit of my tools, and some spare parts that Derpy brought in today. After all, I wanted to get a chance to work on that pony’s wings, and if he would let me, I wanted to be more than prepared.

After almost an hour, I finally finished packing, and had written a note for Old Timer. I just hoped he’d understand. “Alright Windup, you can do this...” I stared down into the lightless abyss that I never knew existed. I took one last look at the clock, still turning and spinning, ticking and tocking like nothing had happened to change this day.

“Round and round it goes. Time to stop, here we go.” I said, getting myself psyched up before I finally took the plunge and started to climb down,

[Splattershade]

Bedside Manner

“You can’t honestly expect me to believe that there’s no story to this” I bit my lip, this doctor pony was staring me down. He didn’t look angry, or demanding, just... expectant. I wasn’t sure what to tell him, I just sat there and stared for a moment in silence. I was about to make something up... but then the other colt sold me out. “Ask her. I was just... minding my own business... when she fell on top of me.”

That caught the doctor’s attention. “Fell on him?” he looked back at the embedded shard of glass more carefully. “I knew I recognized this... It’s from the Canterlot castle, isn’t it? It is! The heroes of harmony against Nightmare Moon. But how...” he turned back to me. “How did you manage to drop this on him?”

“I didn’t drop it anypony!” I snapped. Both of the colts jumped in surprise. I could feel the blush on my face, and I bit my lip. “B-but nothing happened.”

The doctor pony just sighed, going back to his work. “I don’t like being lied to... If you didn’t want to tell me, you could have just said so...” He frowned. He was looking at the wound, but I could tell that he was frowning at me.

“I’ll be able to remove it, but It’ll definitely hurt. And you’ll need to be careful not to strain it too much so it will heal right.” The doctor pony told the other colt.

“Ouch... don’t exactly sugar coat it, do you doc?”

“Don’t see how it would help if I lied to you.” the unicorn replied nonchalantly, not even glancing up as he inspected the wound more. “You’re just lucky this thing stopped up most of the bleeding. It shouldn’t be a problem until we try to pull it out... Oh, and call me Sawbones... I’m uh... technically not a doctor yet.”

“Sawbones?” The wounded colt asked with a worried tone.

“Relax, it’s just my name. I plan on doing as little cutting as possible”

That didn’t make me feel any better. Getting this pony hurt so bad, and then not even taking him to a real doctor? I don’t think I could have screwed up any more at this point.

I looked him over carefully. He certainly looked like he took good care of his health. But then again, why wouldn’t a doctor... or ‘apprentice doctor’ keep himself in peak health? His fur was white, but up close I could tell that it was very faintly speckled with bits of grey and black. He only seemed a year older than me at the most, so it was definitely the natural shade of his fur, and had nothing to do with his age. Overall, it made up a slightly off-white shade that went well with his faded black mane and tail. Like most of his appearance, he didn’t seem to bother with styling either more than keeping it brushed straight and clean. His mane seemed to droop naturally to one side where it hung mostly flat, except for along the top of his head where it was a bit more unkempt. His green eyes were squinted slightly, peering through the little pair of spectacles that were perched on the bridge of his muzzle. Al in all, he seemed alright. But just like his name, his cutie mark concerned me.

Sawbones’ cutie mark was a single bandage unrolling, the edges of which looked like they were stained with fresh blood. Crossed over this was a clean and shining bonesaw, angled as if it were in mid-cut. It was worrying to say the least... But still, nothing about it said he wasn’t a good doctor.

“We’ll have to pull it out slowly, all in one piece.” He announced, draping his stethoscope around his neck.

“What? Can’t you like... break it apart or something?” The other colt replied in shock.

“Not unless you want to risk a piece of glass getting stuck in your flank, and having the whole thing get infected.” He shook his head. “Treating that is no picnic for either of us.”

“Now... all of the nurses are occupied at the moment, so I’ll need you to lend me a hoof here miss...” He let the statement hang, looking at me. It’s clear he wanted an introduction.

“Sh...Shining Reflection...” I stammered, suddenly aware of how nervous I was. I didn’t even notice how much my legs were shaking.

“Right, Shining Reflection... I’ll need you over here to help me pull this out.” He levitated a round, wooden stick right in front of the Earth Pony colt’s mouth. “You’ll want to bite down on this while we work...”

“What? Why? Is this some kind of... experimental med-stick-thing?”

Sawbones shook his head and responded sternly. “I said this would hurt. This’ll make sure you don’t bite down on your tongue or yell out.”

The colt looked at Sawbones with wide, fearful eyes, and bit down.

Sawbones’ expression turned to one of great severity. It was almost a little frightening, just how seriously he was taking this, even though I wasn’t the one he was helping. “Good, now Shining Reflection, was it? I need you to help me levitate this out SLOWLY.” He put as much stress as he could into that one word. “If the edges of this thing got caught on anything, I’ll need to cut away anything that I can that will stop us from removing it. He’ll start bleeding as soon as we try to move this, so you’ll need to put pressure on these bandages...” rolls of medical bandage began to float from a nearby doctor’s bag and wrap themselves around the colt, at the base of the glass shard.”

The colt began to struggle a bit “Mmmph!” He was preparing to spit the stick out, but Sawbones placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Listen here... If we’re going to do this, I’m going to need you to trust me. This is going to hurt, but I promise you that you’ll heal up as good as new. I need you to trust me that you’re in good hooves.” The colt looked up at the doctor pony for a long moment before finally nodding and wrenching his eyes shut, mentally braced for the inevitable pain.

“Ready?” He looked to me. Was I ready to help operate on somepony I didn’t know? Of course not! I didn’t know his name, or anything about him, let alone about the doctor who was asking for my help. The only reason I was even there was because I felt guilty for hurting this stranger. And the only reason that had happened was because I had panicked and decided to jump. I should have never left my parent’s side last night, I should have...

“Shining Reflection?”

“Hm? Oh... uh... yeah, I’m ready”

No I wasn’t.

“1...”

“2...”

“3”

[Splattershade]

A Miner’s Best Friend

Oh, where was Janie?

The moment I realized she was missing, I had broken away from the foremares and headed back into the mines. It’s kind of funny how they trust me to check unstable tunnels, yet they don’t want me venturing into the mine alone. It was silly, really.

But that was their rule, which meant I was sneaking in alone to look for Janie. They wouldn’t have come with me for just a shovel. They would have just brushed it off and said I could look for it tomorrow.

I didn’t blame them. They didn’t really know how much Janie meant to me...

It wasn’t hard to sneak in. It’s not like we had anything of incredible value in there. We were all coal miners, so anypony who wanted coal that bad may as well have just grabbed a pickaxe for themselves and joined us. So naturally, nopony bothered to guard it.

Once I was inside, it was just a few measured steps through the darkness to the racks where all of the mining gear was kept. I wasn’t sure how long I would be looking for Janie, so I decided to grab as much as I could. A mining helmet, a lantern, a canteen of water or two, even a few snacks for the road. I wasn’t about to give up my search on account of getting hungry!

The next step was a matter of transportation. I wanted to cover a lot of ground as quickly as I could. Sure I could have just flown, but I didn’t want to tire myself out, flying through every inch of the mine. Besides, I had a better idea on how I could slip out unnoticed.

I gently fluttered over to the “corral” where we kept all of the minecarts locked up. All I had to do was unlock the front cart, and I was good to go. I ducked down where nopony could see me, and started to flap my wings, just like how Foremare Scootaloo taught me. It was tough to get the old metal wheels rolling along the track, but once I did, the cart kept its momentum well.

After a minute or so, the mouth of the mine was nothing more than a speck of light behind me. All around me was nothing but black. Not coal-black, but pure empty darkness black.

I fumbled for a while with the lantern, before finally getting it lit, and managed to illuminate an orb of the world around me. The light of my lantern danced along every crack, chip and crevice in the walls around me. I couldn’t help but smile. I was all alone, and though I knew exactly where I was, being the only light in this darkness made me feel like an adventurer in some bleak, uncharted territory.

After what seemed like ages, I had checked every tunnel I had been in all day, with no sign of Janie. I continued to retrace my steps.

“...and then I checked this tunnel, and I had Janie with me... and then...” My eyes went wide with realization. “Bedrock Basin.”

[Splattershade]

Curiousity Killed the Pony

Life always seems to have a cruel, ironic sense of humor. The very moment I had finally finished the climb down from the Clocktower trapdoor, I instantly regretted it. Not only did I think it was a bad idea in the first place to follow some strange pony wrapped up in machines, but I came to realize that the trapdoor led directly into the sewers. At least I finally knew what that horrible smell was that I discovered about halfway down the ladder.

The city’s sewer system was surprisingly accommodating for ponies, probably intended to have ponies working down here on a daily basis, not that I had ever heard of anypony ever working down here.

The tunnels of the sewers were massive tubes, though the disgusting sewage and waste only filled them about halfway. Grated platforms donned either side of these tunnels, allowing me to (thank Celestia) avoid trudging through the disgusting muck.

Some tunnels, I discovered, didn’t even have an opening, and were completely covered by the grated platforms. I was even more surprised to find out that not all of the tunnels held “normal” sewage, but also different kinds of strange multicolored chemical wastes, a few of which seemed to even glow. Either way, I still had no desire to learn exactly what was in them.

With all of these discoveries, the last of them hit me the hardest: I was lost. I had no idea where to go, no leads on where that other pony would have gone, and now I had completely forgotten where the ladder back was. Today really wasn’t my day. Of all the places to get trapped, I was stuck in the most sickeningly-smelling one

“Way to go Windup. This is what you get. You should have just stayed up in the Clocktower where it was nice and safe...” I chided myself.

My voice sounded strange, reflected against the curved walls of the sewers. It sounded foreign, unnatural. It almost reminded me of that strange pony’s muffled, mechanical voice.

“Hello?” Yes, just like that.

“Who’s there?” That wasn’t my thoughts... that was the pony himself! I had finally found him.

“Yes! Over here!” I blurted out, trotting forward. It only occurred to me moments later that I should have been a bit more careful. “I... I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to follow you...” I turned the corner... but the pony was nowhere to be found.

“Followed me? You’re that pony from the Clocktower? Old Timer’s apprentice?”
His voice was coming from somewhere else entirely. At least, that’s how it seemed. It was surprisingly hard to pin down where the voice was coming from with the way every sound echoed and bounced around the tubes of the sewers.

“Yeah, I just wanted to help you out. Old timer won’t be back for a while. You can trust me, he taught me everything I know!”

I rounded another corner. Dang, he wasn’t here either.

“You’ve been following me, and now you want me to trust you?” He had a point.

“Okay, okay, fine... Let me show you that you can trust me.” I rounded another corner. There was definitely something there. “Aha-....” I stopped dead in my tracks. I found myself face-to-face with the biggest animal I’d ever seen. In fact, it’s the only one I’d ever seen. Most of the animals near New Canterlot had either gotten sick or fled into the Everfree Forest years ago. But this was even bigger than I imagined animals to be.

The hulking alligator’s eyes seemed almost completely unaware of my presence, simply staring forward as if it were in deep thought... or simply empty of any thought.

“Fascinating!” I head that strange pony’s voice behind me. I didn’t dare move. I couldn’t even risk turning my head, but I could tell that he was really there, right behind me. He must have rounded that same corner that I did, without realizing what lurked on the other side.

“It looks as if this creature somehow thrived off of the pollution of the city, instead of getting any ill effects. It seems totally immune to its environment. This is perfect!”

I just kept staring at gater, who slowly turned his head to face me. “Fascinating? Perfect? If you haven’t noticed, we’re about to get eaten.”

“Yes, but imagine how much we could learn from studying this creature. Why, it could-”

That must have set off something in the alligator’s brain, because it immediately stepped forward and gave a low, hissing roar, right in our faces.

“Run!” I shouted, shoving the other pony along with me. I didn’t know who he was, but I wasn’t going to let either of us get eaten today. He didn’t argue, though he seemed a bit resistant up until the gater started to give chase. That sure put some speed in his hooves.

[Splattershade]

Shylock

That handsome colt in the mirror had seen better days. Still, they managed to get me all cleaned up and bandaged up pretty well. I had to re-style my jet-black mane though. I had just gotten it slicked back under my new hat just the way I liked it too. Well, at least they were able to bandage my flank up nicely. In fact, the area around my cutie mark had already healed. That good ‘ol four leaf clover was just as green as ever... In fact, with that fourth leaf in a permanant state of being plucked. In fact, it almost looked like that glass cut the leaf off.

Still, the rest of my flank was still cut pretty bad, even with all the doctor’s attention. He kept rambling something about how my cutie mark healed so fast because it was innately magical and vasculo-something. I don’t really know, I just sort of zoned out.

Speaking of which... sompony cleared their throat behind me... I guess I had been staring for a while. I turned around, it was the mare, Shining Reflection. She was the one who fell on me and caused all this mess. Still, she at least brought me here... But she definitely didn’t look like she belonged anywhere near here. She looked like she belonged with those fancy ‘proper ponies’ in the Castle District.

She was giving me a look... was I staring? No... the doctor was giving me the same look... Did I miss something?

“Sorry?” When in doubt, apologize, you might get lucky, and if you’re not, you just look polite.

“I said...” Sawbones started. “...I didn’t even get your name, I need it for the records” He waved a clipboard in the air on a thin stream of magic.

“Oh... right.” I really didn’t trust this guy. Sure, he was a good doctor, but it’s not like I had much of a choice to start with. “Name’s Chance....” I flashed the mare a smile at that. After all, you never know.

But, it looks like my attempt backfired. If anything, she looked even more uncomfortable, keeping her eyes locked on the ground. It figures, the rich ponies were either too proud to even give you a look, or meeker than anypony should be. And this one.. well, she definitely didn’t seem like the type who would jump out windows.

Speaking of which, it looked like the two of them held onto the window. Doc Sawbones had turned his attention to it. “The Heroes of Harmony. As if they or the elements were real. Where are they now? At least two of them are sitting pretty on a pile of bits and poisoning the city.”

“Still...” The mare spoke up. “It’s nice to think that there was once a time like that...”

“Oh give me a break...” I rolled my eyes at her. “Things ain’t never been like that. Trust me. Elements of Harmony? They’re about as believable as five aces.You’re dreaming in the past.” I waved a hoof to the window. “Welcome to the modern world, sugarhooves. Industry, starvation, pollution, and-”

“Shylock” Sawbones interrupted me.

“Sure, him too. In fact, probably the worst of them all.”

“Oh, and I thought we were such good... ‘friends’... Chance” I looked over to the window, and there he was. Shylock himself, with a small entourage of thugs, of course. The grey unicorn stepped around from the window and in through the front door.

Shylock had two of the three things you need to turn out on top in this city. He had money and power, but never saw the point of class. If there’s one thing he liked to do, it’s show off that fact. He was dressed in a top hat that was almost as high as his wavy, dull-green mane was long. His suit jacket was covered in buttons and buckles and fastenings. It definitely wasn’t something as well known as a Rarity piece, but like I said, he really didn’t have a thing for class.

“What luck that we’d find you here, Chance... We actually came to see if the doctor is in. We’ve been expecting him all week. I don’t like being kept waiting.” He glanced at a few sick ponies in their beds. “In fact, you get to see why firsthand. Now, be a good little colt and get the real doctor, will you?”

“He’s not here” Sawbones sounded stern and unafraid. Clearly he’d never met Shylock in person before. “Doctor Shepard is probably halfway to Appleoosa by now.”

Shylock didn’t even seem phased. He was probably expecting things to get this way. Judging by the surly ponies who still stood waiting in the doorway. “Well then, I guess we can’t collect all the money he owes us... After all, he doesn’t have any family to pass his debts on to...” He turned, facing the door. But my relief was short-lived.

“Then again... He did have an apprentice, if I’m not mistaken... Sounds like next-of-kin to me.”

“Well, I’ve got bad news for you. I don’t have a single bit to my name.” For being such a good doctor, Sawbones really was dull. He could have come up with anything, anything at all to say. And he just flat-out tells Shylock the one thing he hates hearing most.

“Well then. I’m sorry to hear that. Boys? Why don’t you see how well this doctor can practice on himself... with his horn broken.” He raised a hoof, ready to clap it down as a signal to his thugs. “Oh, be sure to collect from Chance here too... And their mare friend here, as well.”

“WAIT!” I blurted out, stepping in front.
“Oh? What’s this? Let me guess. You’ll have it tomorrow? Just because your name is Chance doesn’t mean I’ll give you another. It’s the end of the line.”

I rolled my eyes. Shylock loved theatrics, it’s always helped him intimidate everypony much better. But sometimes it was just plain annoying. “No, I think I just might be able to pay you off.”

I walked over to the intact shard of the stained glass window. “Shining? Doc? Mind helping me here?” The unicorns’ horns glowed and levitated the shard over to Shylock. “A piece of the Canterlot Castle, story of the Heroes of Harmony, completely intact.

Shylock, if nothing else, was smart. He was already inspecting the window very closely. “It looks legit... how did you get it?”

“Oh, it just sort of fell into my lap...” I mumbled to myself “Or flank, rather...”

Shylock nodded slowly, his face was . “Look, you should know I ain’t a art collector. That’s not worth a stale Applesnack to me, but I’ve got no problem taking it off of your hooves.” He smirked “Looks like you and your friends are in a whole mess of trouble.”

I smirked, turning my back. “Fine... You want to take it off my hooves? Take it!” My entire flank flared up in pain as I reared up and bucked the glass as hard as I could. It in turn smashed into Shylock’s face and shattered, sending glass everywhere.

I don’t know why I even did it!. I panicked!

Sure, I was all calm and smirking. But I was bluffing the entire time.

The moment I turned around was filled with shocked silence, with Shylock lying barely conscious in a multicolored sea of shattered glass, I had a sinking feeling in my gut that it was going to be my last buck for a while... and not because of the cuts I already had...

“Run!” Sawbones shouted.

I heard two sets of hoofbeats erupt behind me. And I just stood there like a stump. My legs didn’t even hurt anymore, they were just numb, glued to the floor. Shylock’s thugs looked at each other in confusion, unsure what to do.

I finally willed myself to start moving again. My legs felt as stiff and cold as pipes. It felt like ages before I could even turn around.

“Get ‘em you idiots!” I heard Shylock cough

What do you know? My legs started moving again like magic!

[Splattershade]

Run!

Fascinating. To think that I woke up, expecting a wing tune-up would be the most eventful part of my day. It seems that I acquired a stalker, some scrawny little apprentice of Old Timer. And now, after all of the time I spent studying in New Canterlot’s sewers, I finally come across this... this magnificent creature!

How could this ferocious reptilian behemoth have escaped me for so long? How could it have reached such a size down here? How did it thrive so well among the most condensed pollution and waste in the city? I wanted to study every inch of this beast, and learn what made it tick.

Then again, there was the issue at hoof as to whether I would even survive this encounter. After all, I was about to find out this sewer Alligator’s diet up close and personal if I didn’t run fast enough. I knew these pipes and tunnels well. He knew it better.

For a little pony, that strange colt from the clocktower sure could move fast, and he did a good job of staying in front of me the entire time. The problem was, had no idea where he was going. Our only hope was that he didn’t accidentally lead us into...

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“A dead end!”

Chance slammed his hooves in frustration, and immediately winced. “That’s your escape plan?”

While I had planned for this day to come and coordinated with the nurses, I hadn’t really thought much about my own safety... just the patients. Then again, I hadn’t really counted on Chance owing him money too... or his aggressive attack against Shylock... Or even Shining Reflection getting mixed up in all of this.

And now, our only means of escape was out of a backdoor and into a narrow alleyway on the side of the building. Shylock’s ‘collectors’ were already waiting for us at the end of the alley. We were backed into a corner. “Looks like there’s...

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“No turning back now.” I heaved a sigh,

If I lost Janie when we jumped bedrock basin, the only way I’d find her again is by jumping it again. I couldn’t even see the basin from where I was, only the steep drop of the track that would get me up to jumping speed.
I was terrified. But I refused to turn back. I wouldn’t let Janie go. She was the best friend a pony could have... you know, despite the whole “being a shovel” thing. She was always there by my side. I wouldn’t let that go.

I pulled back the brake lever and felt the cart lurch forward and start to roll. Then, out of nowhere... I giggled. I was never so scared for my life. Trying to jump Bedrock Basin was bad enough... but doing it alone? I was giddy with excitement and fear all at the same time.

I spread my wings and started flapping as fast as I could. “I need to go...”

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“Faster, or we’re not gonna make it!” I shouted behind me.

I don’t even think this strange pony heard me... or if he was even paying attention. Not that I’d blame him. That huge alligator was definitely a distraction. I had always heard stories of a sewer monster, but I never thought I’d actually see it!

I ran as fast as my hooves would carry me. “Stupid, stupid, stupid! I should have never left the clock tower! I should have stayed home!” I knew blaming myself wouldn’t solve anything. It didn’t really make me feel any better either. But at least it kept my mind off of just why I was running for a moment.

In the dim light of the sewer’s tunnels, one tunnel ahead seemed to light up brighter than the others. “Finally!...”

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“A way out!”

The two colts stopped their panic to look at me in confusion. I felt some color flush into my cheeks. Was I staring off into space again? My parents always tried to break that habit...

“I swear, if you’re pulling my tail right now...” Chance sounded really annoyed. I could practically feel it pressing down on me. “Down...” I murmured.

“What?” Sawbones asked, tilting an ear closer.

I didn’t have time to explain, Shylock’s ponies were almost on top of us. I could feel the tingle of magic in my horn as I wrapped the sewer cover at my hooves in a stream of magic. The rusty metal gave a groan of defiance, and for a moment, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to lift it!

Finally, by some miracle, I was able to wrench it free, and was immediately greeted with the ripe stench of sewage. “Go! Quick!” I grabbed the old ladder and started climbing down as fast as I could.

“Way to go, Sugarhooves!” Chance cheered as he followed right behind me.

“Go, go go!” Sawbones urged from above. Shylock’s thugs weren’t taking their sweet time anymore, by the sound of it.

The few moments it took to climb down felt like years. I was never so happy to have my hooves on solid ground. The metal grate separated me from the raw sewage by mere inches.

My head was spinning from the smell, I wanted to throw up. My legs felt weak, as if the entire floor beneath my hooves was rattling.

Chance finally climbed down and stood at the bottom of the ladder, urging Sawbones to hurry. “Wait... do you feel that?” He looked around in confusion.

“The floor’s shaking!” Sawbones exclaimed as soon as he reached the bottom. It wasn’t just me then...

Something was getting closer, there were noises now. It sounded like shouting and roaring, like a derailed train. It got closer... and closer...

Finally, a single pony rounded the corner. He was galloping so fast his hooves skidded on the ground and he nearly fell over. But he somehow managed to keep his balance and keep on galloping. He was terrified of... something that was getting closer.

Somepony... or maybe something rounded the corner behind the little pony, but the rumbling was still getting closer. Until finally a green, scaly monster rumbled around the corner.

“Run!”

“Run!”

“Run!”

“Run!”
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“EVERYPONY RUN!”

This day just couldn’t get any worse. Just when I thought my luck had run out, I find out I still have more to lose. I couldn’t run from Shylock, and then I end up in the sewers, trying to limp away from some giant sewer monster. We had a little head start compared to that little pony and that... whatever the hay that pony thing was. But the more I ran, the more my flank hurt. I wouldn’t be able to keep on like this. My flank may as well have been on fire.

I could feel that scaly thing’s breath on my back, it reeked worse than the sewage. I felt my stomach flip over, but I refused to vomit. It probably would have been like chum for sharks at that point.

It turns out that there was still at least one more card in the unlucky hand I was dealt. A dead end. Even the sewage didn’t flow down this tunnel. Of all the places to die, it had to be in a rusty forgotten corner of the sewers, surrounded by a bunch of crazy ponies.

The big sewer-thing stopped. It had us cornered, and now just stood there watching us with it’s big yellow eyes. It blinked, one eye first, then the other. It’s like its eyes were dead, and the rest of its body didn’t even know yet.

It stepped forward.

The metal tunnel groaned in protest against its weight.

It took another step forward.

The entire tunnel shifted.

“Oh no... Nonononono!” I raised my hooves, as if that would stop the massive lizard from taking that last step.

It didn’t.

The floor gave way beneath us. I heard the sewer-lizard roar above us. We were...

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falling....

I was so scared the entire time, it felt like I was falling even before the mine cart left the tracks. The weirdest thing was, I was laughing the entire time! This was different from the first jump. This wasn’t me just trying to deal with the fear... This was... something else. Something genuine. I loved it. I loved the rush, the terror, the...

It occurred to me a little too late that I had stopped flapping my wings... and I was headed right for the wall below my landing point. I went from genuine laughter to genuine screams.

My wings spread and I leapt from the cart as fast as I could. I winced as I heard the screech of the mine cart smashing into the wall and tumble into the abyss below. After a few moments, I finally came to realize I was hovering in place... still screaming... with my hooves over my eyes.

I heaved a sigh of relief, and frowned. I lost my one chance to find Janie. She was lost forever, just like that mine cart. There really was no use in screaming anymore...

Another realization hit me like the crowd of falling ponies did. Those weren’t my screams. I was knocked from the air, and tumbled down with the rest of them, confused, scared, and screaming.

We were all swallowed by the darkness.

END OF PART 1