Chapter 8: On a Cliff by the Sea She Watches

Morning in Ponyville Shimmers

“This sucks!” Double Bubble said pacing around the library. “We have things we need to do if we don’t finish our mission in time there’s no telling what will happen, we need to leave can’t Luna finish her investigating faster.”

“That is Princess Luna to you!” came a voice booming from the loft in the upper floor. Sunset Shimmer, the pony behind that voice, descended the stairs with an angry expression. “I don’t want to watch you two more than you don’t want to be here, believe me I have more important things to do, but seeing as how you led a dragon to attack Canterlot I can see why princess Luna sees you as a threat to Equestrian security.”

“Just what are we supposed to do then?” Clockwerk yelled at the golden unicorn.

“You will wait here until the princess has made a decision!” Sunset Shimmer answered with equal anger.

“And just how long is that going to take?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care you are both waiting in tis library for as long as it takes.”

“We can’t stay here forever,” Double Bubble argued, “We have a lot to lose if we don’t get back to the griffon kingdom.”

“The griffon kingdom,” Sunset Shimmer said with condescending sarcasm. “Oh I didn’t realize you were visiting dignitaries I’m sorry. Well maybe you can write to your home kingdom and tell them to send about 20,000 pounds of gold to pay for the damages you caused to Canterlot.” She huffed and turned to face the door as if on cue the door opened revealing a blue unicorn. “Good element of humility you’re here.”

“Trixie wishes you would stop calling here that.” The blue unicorn said with a defeated expression.

“Well the element of power wishes the element of humility to stop talking in the third person,” Sunset Shimmer again donning her condescending manner. “You watch them I’m going to the castle of the two sisters to do something actually important.” With that she walked out slamming the door behind her causing Trixie to flinch a little. Clockwerk and Double Bubble eyes the blue unicorn a little quizzically and she returned their look with a somewhat saddened look of her own.

“Make yourself at home,” She said slowly walking up toward the loft. “There are some snacks in the fridge if you get hungry. Trixie will be in her room.”

“Wait this is your house?” Clockwerk asked confused.

“Yes this is the abode of the once great and powerful Trixie,” she said kicking at the ground with her hoof. “Given to her by Sunset Shimmer to keep Trixie close in case the elements of harmony are needed. People say Trixie should be grateful. Trixie finds that she is often not grateful at all.”

Clockwerk and Double Bubble shared a confused look and they both walked off into the kitchen. Double Bubble stopped his friend once they entered the kitchen.

“Clockwerk something is really wrong here.”

“Yeah I know,” he answered. “Sunset shimmer really has her beaten down I mean she lives in a tree.”

“No it’s not that. She shouldn’t be here at her and Sunset Shimmer both don’t belong here at least not like they are.”

“I don’t understand,” Clockwerk said confused. “What do you mean they don’t belong?”

“Just that it’s like somebody tampered with something and put them here. I wish the princesses hadn’t taken that staff could’ve used it to search for magic sources that might be causing some kind of problem.”

“Yeah, well we’re going to have to wait for the time being. I feel like Sunset Shimmer could probably stop us if we tried to leave.”

“I get that feeling too.” The two heard some noises coming from the main room a sound of the front door opening.

“Flash Sentry!” came Trixie’s happy voice. “It has been a while how have you been?”

“Oh I’ve been fine,” the Pegasus answered with suave. “A little birdy told me you are watching some friends of mine from the griffon kingdom.”

“Oh yes Sunset thought it would be a good idea to keep the prisoners in Trixie’s house. They are in the kitchen.”

“Thank you dear,” Flash said kissing her on the hoof. “You are looking gorgeous today.” There was a sound of swooning as Flash entered the kitchen where Clockwerk and Double Bubble were waiting. “Hey guys,” Flash said non-chilantly. “Wow that was crazy back in Canterlot wasn’t it.”

“What are you doing here?” Clockwerk asked. “What about Babs is she ok?”

“Oh she’s fine we’re both fine. She’s staying over at sweet apple acres right now with her cousin. I thought you guys might need my help.”

“Why do you want to help us?” Double Bubble asked. “I mean we got a dragon to attack you.”

“No worries, you guys didn’t know about it and you’ve been pretty cool other than that.”

“Alright well how do you intend on helping us?”

“Well I can’t let you leave town, but I figured I could convince Sunset Shimmer to let you guys hang out around town instead of sitting in this old library.”

“That would be great,” Double Bubble said optimistically. “I could get those zap apples and get started on the potions we need, and C.W. could get the stuff he needs to make the harnesses.”

“You’re welcome,” Flash said. “Hey Trixie!” he yelled as the three of them walked into the living room.

“Yes Flash dear?” came Trixie’s voice from the loft.

“You don’t really want to look after these wto do you?”

“No Trixie would rather spend some time with you, but Sunset Shimmer would get mad at Trixie again.”

“I tell you what Trixie I’ll talk to Sunset Shimmer don’t you worry about it.”

“Ok Flash,” Trixie said eyes fluttering. “I’ll leave it to you.”

“Thanks gorgeous,” Flash said giving Trixie a wink while he Clockwerk and Double Bubble left the library.

“Wow Flash that was amazing,” Clockwerk exclaimed. “I mean she was butter in your hooves.”

“I know right. Apparently women find me super attractive.”

*****

Darkheart sat in a dark cave in a mountain very near the damaged Canterlot waiting for his wounds to heal. He was close enough to see the outline of the city which was missing a few of its building tops, but not close enough to be in range of the identification spell, which was just as well one of the two princess most likely cast a blocking spell to prevent him from finding his prey. He was frustrated, had he known that one of them had an elven magical generator he would’ve come wearing the appropriate armor. He looked at his heavily damaged hide. There was a large hole just under his wing that showed his pink skin his scales having been burned off by the powerful laser. A quick glance at his wing revealed that he must’ve accidentally turned into the beam during his escapes as the leathery membrane was missing toward the tip and torn further down. He’d be better dead he though. At least then his kin would have reason to come and avenge him and might still have the element of surprise. For now though the best he could do is wait, either for the hiding spell to wear off or his wing to heal. The scales he knew would never heal and he would have to patch it up with a piece of iron. “Next time,” the dragon said to himself. “Next time I’ll be ready for you.”

*****

Clockwerk said he was going to find supplies to make the flight harness and to give Double Bubble his wings back, but that was a lie. Really there was only one place he wanted to go, more needed to go since he had gotten in to ponyville since he had planned the trip even. He wandered through the town proper the locals seemed curious about his presence but not enough to ask who he was which was how he preferred it. After a brief walk he came to the edge of the town and found what he was looking for, carousel boutique. It still looked like it could be open and the boutiques owner still showed through in all of the decoration that adorned the outside. He walked quietly over to the nearby tree and stuck his hoof inside and fumbled around until he found the spare key hidden inside.

The inside of the boutique did not fare the years as well as the outside did. The walls had more cobwebs than they did decoration and several boxes lay piled up with various labels denoting season and year, some of Rarity’s fashion lines no doubt. In fact one of them was still unpacked hanging on a rack nest to an otherwise barren wall. Clockwerk ignored the ground floor and slowly ascended the stairs at the back of the shop until he finally arrived at the top and peered into Rarity’s design room. He gave a long exasperated sigh, everything was put up neatly stored away in drawers or set on top of the desk in a neatly. Clockwerk took a brief look around the room and peeked downstairs. Since he saw no signs of life he quietly went into the designing room and unpacked everything. He threw fabric to the floor strung random bits of thread seemingly at random across the room, and draped several pieces of fabric over various pony shaped mannequins, once he was finished he took in his work. It was chaos, but organized chaos just the way she liked it.

“Did you know her?” a small squeaky voice spoke out from the stairs. Clockwerk turned around the small voice startling him. A small whit filly with a pink and purple mane stood on the top step. Clockwerk squinted the filly seemed familiar, but it had been a long time since he had been in Ponyville.

“Sweetie Belle?” he asked trying to put the face to name he recognized. Her response was to walk into the now chaotic mess of a room.

“This is how I remember her room. She never cleaned it, but it wasn’t exactly dirty. I never could get it quite the same so I just packed it up. I think I like it better this way. It’s almost like she never left.”

“Listen Sweetie I …”

“What was she like?” Sweetie Belle interrupted him. “You left it just like she did you knew her, probably better than anyone did.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because as hard as I try I can’t remember her. All I have is pictures of her and her dresses, but I still don’t know what she was like. I don’t know if we would get along, what we would do together, or just anything about her. Why can’t I remember anything about her?” She said with tears coming to her eyes. Clockwerk picked her up and placed her on his back as he walked up the stairs to the top floor where rarity’s bedroom was still mostly unpacked.

“You were young when she had her accident, you probably blocked it out. It’s not something you should have to go through that young.” Sweetie Belle lay limp on Clockwerk’s back as he opened the trunk at the foot of her bed and pulled out a photo album hidden between two jewelry boxes and opened a page toward the back of the book where several pictures of him and Rarity were. Most of them were on various beaches at sunset but some were taken at random streets and in front of some buildings. “Rarity was very much a diamond in the rough," Clockwerk said reminiscing. "She was a special kind of pony, one that loved life and loved giving to everypony she could. We were very much in love, and every day I spent with her I felt bad for keeping such a bright shining star all to myself. I felt like I was taking away one of the greatest gifts to this world, but I could never get enough of her. Every day I spent with her was a day I’ll never forget she was just that kind of person.” Clockwerk’s tears fell onto the book and he quickly closed it to keep from ruining the pictures.

“She sounds nice,” Sweetie Belle said cheerfully. “It sounds like she really loved you.” Clockwerk didn’t respond. Sweetie belle climbed onto his back and kicked him in the side. When he didn’t respond she kept kicking him until he noticed. “I want to get some ice cream,” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. “Will you take me to get ice cream?” there was a small silence before Clockwerk dried up his tears.

“Sure Sweetie Belle let’s get ice cream.”

*****

Double Bubble continued sneaking through the rear fields of Sweet Apple Acres leisurely picking several choice zap apples as he moved along. His path brought close to the main part of the farm and in his confidence he continued to strut through the middle of the Apple Family’s orchard. Due to his proximity to the Apple house he managed to see a glimpse of the family themselves. Applejack, Big Mac, Granny Smith, Applebloom, and Babs Seed were all standing in front of the barn all seemingly huddled around Babs.

“Where have you been Babs, don’t you know we’ve been worried sick about you?” Applejack spoke through tears. “Why we didn’t know what happened to you we thought maybe …”

“Stop worrying about me Applejack,” Babs snapped. “I am fine I don’t need you guys’ help I only visited for your feelings not mine.”

“But Babs you’re all alone you must be scared,” Applebloom said with concern.

“Listen to the little one,” Granny smith echoed. “If there’s a problem you know you can talk to us about anything.”

“Well there isn’t a problem,” Babs said pushing Applebloom away. “I don’t need your help and I don’t need your sympathy ok just leave me alone.”

“But Babs where are you going to stay?” Applejack said stopping the small filly. “You can stay with us for now until you get on your feet again we’re here to help.”

“For the last time I don’t need you help!” Babs said screaming. “I can take care of myself.” With that she stormed off into the orchard, Applejack started to go after her, but Big Mac stopped her and shook his head and the family watched as Babs ran away from them. Double Bubble stood behind a tree as the family returned to their house. He was confused not sure of what to do. He need at least a dozen more apples to get started, but he felt like he needed to help Babs. After a few seconds of tense decision making he finally gave up.

“Come on Bubbles,” he yelled at himself in frustration. “Your livelihood is at stake just take the apples and …” He stopped as he could see Babs moving away slowly toward the edge of the field tripping over a root of one of the trees. This sight finally moved Double Bubble as he dropped the apples in his bag to move to Babs as quickly as possible. She was just recovering from her fall as he arrived. “Babs are you ok?”

“Not you too,” she said anger coming back. “I am not a victim I don’t want your pity. I don’t want anypony’s pity I will be fine on my own.”

“Are you sure?”

“No I’m not but I’m better off than you, I don’t have dragons trying to kill me. I will be fine alone like I was meant to be.”

“I don’ believe you.”

“Well then don’t, but don’t try and stop me neither.”

“I’m doing you a disservice if I don’t try and stop you Babs.”

“No you’re not I’m fine being alone I want to be alone.”

“Well then why did you come here?” There was a small silence as Babs stared at Double Bubble. Double Bubble broke the silence. “I mean you came all this way just to see your cousin. Why did you do that if you want to be alone?”

“Coming here was clearly a mistake,” Babs said as she continued to walk away. “I don’t need their fake sympathy.”

“Listen Babs. Whatever happened to you I assure you they do feel bad for you, they do love you they are your family. You should be thankful for having family that loves you as much as they do.” Babs sat on the ground with a huff and gave Double Bubble a look that said she didn’t believe what he said. Double Bubble sighed. “Babs I’m going to tell you something and if you ever tell anyone else I’ll deny it. I don’t have any family.” Babs looked at him shocked. “I know I look fine, I might even look successful, but the truth is I’d give it all up in an instant just to have a family to have somepony who would always be there for me when things were bad.” Babs looked at the ground ashamed of herself. “And I understand how you feel. You don’t want people’s fake tears and sympathies if they’re just going to leave you as soon as they can. I was that way myself I wanted to be my own person and I didn’t need anypony’s help, but I didn’t have anyone to go to. Nopony would’ve given me help if I asked for it.”

“What about Clockwerk?” Babs asked. “He seems like he would help you if you asked.”

“Yeah he might,” Double Bubble reasoned. “We aren’t as close as you think though, the only reason we’re friends is that we both gain profit from it. I’m not sure what’ll happen to me if he ever makes machines that don’t need my potions or runes. Maybe we are actual friends and he’ll help me and maybe we aren’t and he’ll leave me to my own devices, but Babs those guys over there are going to love you no matter what you do that’s the kind of bond I wish I had growing up I don’t want you to waste it ok. Your family, real family, are the ponies you can count on no matter what.” Babs abruptly embraced him.

“Thanks Bubbles. What happened to your family, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is they’re gone. Maybe it’s for the best I don’t know. Now run along back to them they are probably worried about you.” At Double Bubble’s request Babs returned to the house where Applejack emerged giving her a hug and Double Bubble walked back toward town alone.

*****

Flash cautiously flew around the abandoned castle jolting random directions at the slightest sound. Finally he found the orange unicorn in the library and flew in through a hole in the roof. A rather stealthy landing was made ultimately useless as Flash jumped and fell into a bookshelf at the sight of a star spider.

“Hello Flash,” Sunset shimmer said not looking up from the book she was reading.

“Hi babe,” Flash said brushing off some of the books and ruble.

“I’m not your babe anymore Flash.”

“Right sorry Sunset I just came to talk to you about …”

“I know they left did you think I wouldn’t see that coming. I knew the element of humility would let the go. She’s failed me like she usually does.”

“Oh so you’re ok with it then.”

“No Flash I am in fact not ok with you charming the element of humility into letting prisoners roam about ponyville unwatched. You’re lucky I told the element of courage and hope to follow them around and watch them.”

“They do have names you know.”

“Yes well their names didn’t help me kill lord Tirek their elements their elements did.”

“Wow you really are heartless aren’t you?”

“No I’m not,” Sunset shimmer said angrily closing the book she was reading and stomping to the point she was in Flash’s face. “You are just weak. Only the strong survive, only the strong prosper. I will be strong. You and everyone else is just holding me back. The last time I checked Equestria wasn’t saved by friendship it was saved by me being as powerful as I can be. All friends will ever do for you is hold you back and betray you.”

“Ok,” Flash said through his terrified expression. “I’m just going to leave now.” Sunset Shimmer stopped him in a red magic bubble and brought him close to her.

“Yes Flash leave, and don’t ever some back.” With a stamp of her hooves and a flash from her horn the magic bubble containing Flash flew off into the sky opening about a mile from the ground with Flash regaining control of his flight just before he came smashing into the ground.

Author's Note

I heard someone talk about ho good stories hav ebb and flow. I was trying to do that here. Also I kind needed some time to explain some of these characters backstories and really flush out the notion that everything isn't as it should be in equestria. and for those wondering here's the revised list of the elements of harmony:
power: Sunset Shimmer
wisdom: Applejack
courage: Rainbow Dash
humility: Trixie
hope: Fluttershy
love: Pinkie Pie