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   The Wacky Adventures of Clockwerck and Double Bubble    
                      -by bigred0603-                      
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                         Chapter 1                         
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Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Politics in the griffon kingdom  
Ho! There be dragons.
The general paced inside of the machine shop waiting for Clockwerk to reveal his designs. The general as a stately griffon standing a head taller than most griffons and with an impressive wingspan to boot, the shop he was pacing in rather small at least given its growing importance in the ever expanding frontier town of Edinburgh. As with most buildings in the cloud town the shop itself was molded out of clouds super compressed to hold enough weight to allow clockwork to place his smaller machines in there, several tools lined the walls the walls as well as several prototypes that clockwork was particularly proud of including a self-sufficient oven that ran off of rainbow juice. Finally the general’s wait was over as Clockwerk emerged from downstairs his new device mounted on his back. Clockwork was an average pegasus colt if not a bit on the small side with a dark red coat and scruffy blond mane both of which were constantly grease stained often hiding his cutie mark two grinding gears representing his talent with machines.  
“Well?” asked the general impatiently. “How did it turn out?” Clockwerk moved closer to the general keeping the device covered waiting for his big reveal.
“I think you’re going to like, this new design takes care of almost all of the problems of the original.” He removed the cloak dramatically revealing the device what can only be described as mounted cannons complete with complex wiring and tubes running across the whole thing with two large tanks attached near the rear of the device with several tubes running from that to the hidden parts of the machine. “I present to you the flight cannon mark two as you can see we switched to a six-cylinder cannon design with free rotation after each shot allowing the user to fire twelve times six out of each barrel before coming in for a reload. We are also now using rear mounted instead of top mounted tanks for better weight distribution and we’ve moved the trigger to the front hoof or claw instead of the mouth.”
“Clockwerk this is great we might finally stand a chance against these dragons now.”
“I still wouldn’t recommend direct combat with them. The fact is our flyers cannot fly fast enough to out maneuver the dragons with the added weight of the harness.”
“Well how much does it weigh?”
“This model only weighs twenty pound a full 5 pound lighter than the mark ones, but still it’ too much weight your flyers will be too slow they’ll get roasted alive. They are more suited for defense, attacking from cloud cover would allow the user to keep speed.”
“The griffon military will take your advice into consideration. Now on to expenses. How much are we talking?”
“Well the units will cost five hundred individually as for the power supply it’ll use potions like the mark one's and those will be 50 per refill.”
“That’s doable. Good job clockwork you've done the griffon kingdom proud. How soon can we expect the first five hundred units?”
“I can get you two-fifty in two months, but I’ll need to wait for more materials if you want more.”
“Listen son I need five hundred in two months, the griffon king is coming to tour our town and I want to give him dinner on top of the dragon’s mountain.”
“Sir I’ll question the validity of you plan later but it will be simply impossible for me to give you five hundred units in two months’ time I would have to get the supplies I need from equestria and that in itself is almost a two week journey on foot, not to mention the fact that I don’t agree with sending griffons out to die in a foolish attempt to take dragon mountain.” The general’s face turned from contentment to his usual mood of rage.
“Listen, I’m not asking your opinion nor am I asking for a time table. I want five hundred units in two months, either you deliver or you can just stay in equestria where you belong. The griffon kingdom has no place for you peace loving song singing pony types. You will either help us cast out the dragon menace, or be cast out with them am I understood?”
“Yes sir.” Clockwerk grudgingly said with a sigh  
.  
“Good,” said the general regaining his positive demeanor again. “I will see you in two months good day to you.” He slammed the door on his way out. Clocwerk waited for a minute to make sure he was out of earshot and the he screamed in anger.
“Argh the fool will get us all killed hopefully he’ll do himself in in the process!” a voice emanated from downstairs in response to his outburst.
“Are we threatened with deportation again?”
“Yes we are bubbles we need five hundred of the new units in two months.”
“I guess we’re going to equestria then?”
“Unfortunately.” Double bubble emerged from the lower floor carrying some of his potions in his saddlebags. Double Bubble was a small earth pony with a white coat and black mane. His coat was filled with black spots results of misfired potions none of which covered his cutie mark an ancient runic symbol for magic representing his talent for potion brewing and enchanting. Being an earth pony he was also outfitted with two devices to help him exist among the clouds. The first of these were a pair of mechanical wings designed by Clockwerk directly controlled through bubble’s mind with the use of magical crystals embedded in the wings themselves. The other were two pairs of bracelets enchanted by him personally on his legs that allowed him to stand on clouds without falling. His normally flat mane was frizzy due to magical lightning emanating from one of the many potions he used to power Clockwerk’s machines. “Oh come on cwerck equestria isn't that bad they have like five or six matriarchs at this point so you know it’s a stable government.”
“Hardly, a whole society based off of unstable unicorn magic, I hate to see the day when their magic runs out.”
“What makes you say that it will?”
“It might its unpredictable anything can happen especially when they don’t understand the control mechanism.”
“Oh how ironic the colt whose machines are powered by magic is cared of its instability.”
“Your magic is more stable it comes from known elements and it’s consistent. It's direct, predictable, and safe just the way magic should be.  
”  
“I would beg to differ.” Double Bubble commented putting out an ember in his mane.
“Look can we debate this later, you need to pack up your things I’m going to need you to make the power potion while we’re moving if we want to get it done in time.”
“Right what is it for again?”
“The mark two harnessed guns.”
“Oh right the zap apple fruit bat mixture I know just the place we can steal them from.”
“Borrow them Bubbles borrow. Remember we’re only guilty if we admit it.” Double Bubble came hovering up from the basement supplies in tow with his suitcase on his back.
“Are you going to pack anything?”
“Why would I we don’t normally wear clothes Bubbles. What would I bring?”
“That’s a good point I didn't think about that.”
“Yeah you didn't bubbles that’s because unlike me you aren't a genius.” As Clockwerk stepped outside his shop he was immediately doused in rain and subsequently struck with lightning as a weather griffon came flying by in a hurry.  
“Sorry sir that cloud got away from me for a bit you aren't hurt are you?” Clockwerk simply stood there shocked as Double Bubble emerged from the shop carrying two suitcases and an umbrella which he stuck between his soaked friends wing.  
“He’s fine you just hit his pride.”
Author's Note
Like I said in the description the characters you know and love will make appearances later as the two actually cross into equestria, for example I'll give you two guesses who they plan on borrowing those zap apples from. Also that's not a typo that's how Clockwerk's name is spelled. Any grammar mistakes you find please make a note in the comments and I'll be happy to change it. One last note you may notice this story lacks a cover. That's mostly because I can't draw so if any of you artists out there have any free time feel free to draw one and send it to me. I specifically left the characters description a little vague so people could envision them however they wanted so really you can knock yourselves out.

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                         chapter 2                         
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chapter 2
Chapter 2 Come Sail Away
Yonder there be ponies  
“Gilda come on it’s just a small trip to equestria you make it all the time we just need a ride.” Clockwerk pleaded with the stubborn griffon.
“For the last time Clock-lame, I’m not letting you borrow my boat it’s for official griffon postal business only.” Double Bubble was laughing to the side.
“Oh sweet Celestia did you just say Clock-lame.” Gilda marched toward Double Bubble angry.
“Do you have a problem with my sense of humor candy wings?”
“Only that it’s bad,” he said still laughing. “I mean how old is the candy wings joke Gilda. Hey the dark ages called they want their joke back.”
“Hey Bubbles maybe we shouldn’t be making fun of our only transport.” Clockwerk added coming in between the two. Gilda completely ignored him and pushed him out of the way.
“Maybe my jokes are just so smart that you dumb brain can’t comprehend them.”
“Oh, is that the problem?” Double bubble said getting in Gilda’s face. “I’m just too dumb. Well you see here, and this is funny you’ll like this, this,” he said pulling out a bottle of tap water “This is a potion of intelligence,” He drank the water and smacked his lips a little. “No no that joke was still stupid.”
“That’s not even a real potion it’s tap water.”
“Of course its tap water I wouldn’t waste a potion of intelligence to prove your comedy sucks.” Gilda gave the two ponies a stern angry look.
“That’s it you two are never getting a ride on my boat ever if it’s the last thing I do I’ll make sure two never see the equestrian shores again!” She shoved Double bubble to the ground and roared in Clockwerk’s face as she stormed off to her small boat and slammed the door shut.
“Well good job Bubbles,” Clockwerk said in anger. “She had the only boat left in port now we’ll have to wait another week if want to get a ride.”
“Not necessarily. I think I've got a plan”
After the ponies labored into the night they were finally finished with their plan and had drug all of the equipment to the beach near Gilda's boat and hid it in some nearby tress. Clockwerk was making the final adjustments to his friends new enhancements
“Okay last check do we have stilts?”
“Check”
“Wings?” Double Bubble gave his robotic wings a quick flap.
“Check.”
“Horn?” The other pony gave the metal rod attached to his head a thump.
“Check.”
“Voice modifier?” Double Bubble answered with a deepened scarier voice.
“Check.”
“Okay you've got the lines just say them and look scary. I've got everything else ready to go. Execute plan 'scare the feathers off of Gilda' in ten, nine, eight.” Clockwerk ran up to Gilda’s door finishing the countdown in his head. He knocked on the door and immediately hid in the nearest bush as Gilda emerged from her boat tired and irritable.
“Hey what’s the big idea waking me up do you know what time it is?” Double Bubble responded using the voice modifier to make his voice deeper and more threatening.
“ARE YOU GILDA THE GRIFFON?” The sudden scary voice concerned Gilda, but she stood her ground not yet frightened.
“Whose there what do you want?”
“FOOL YOU DO NOT KNOW ME BUT I KnOW YOU. YOU HAVE COMMITTED HIGH CRIMES AGAINST THE COUNTRY OF EQUESTRIA.”
“And just who are you to say that? What crimes did i commit?”
“ME I AM THE MIGHTY THE POWERFUL …" Double Bubble moved away from the voice modifier to talk to Clockwerk, "C.W. are you ready yet.” Clockwerk answered while he was rummaging around his makeshift control panel.
“Just a minute stall for a while.”
“YES IT IS I THE GREAT, MAGNIFICENT, ALL KNOWING, FASHIONABLE…”
“Quit stalling!” Gilda said seeing momentarily seeing through the pony’s ruse. As she said this though Clockwerk finally gained control and dropped a sheet in front of Double Bubble with a light shining behind him which cause the image of a dark and terrifying alicorn to appear on the sheet.
“I AM LIFTOFF THE ALICORN PRINCESS OF SPACE. AN YOU HAVE COMMITTED TREASON AGAINST EQUESTRIA BY NOT ALLOWING MY ROYAL MESSENGERS PASSAGE TO OUR BORDERS ”
“Oh no an alicorn princess!” Gilda said finally succumbing to fright. “Oh great princess what would you have me do?”
“THE TWO PONIES CLOCKWERK AND DOUBLE BUBBLE MUST REACH EQUESTRIA, YOU MUST PROVIDE THEM SAFE PASSAGE DO THIS OR FEEL MY WRATH.” There was an awkward pause as if something that was supposed to happen didn't. “I SAID FEEL MY WRATH.” The pause repeated itself. “Clockwerk I said feel my wrath feel my wrath that's your cure.”
“Oh right sorry.” Clockwerck whispered as he crossed two wires.
“FEEL MY WRATH!!!” This time the shout was accompanied by a massive fireworks display that left Gilda cowering on the ground.
“Ok ok I’ll take them to euestria just don’t hurt me.”
“GOOD AND ALSO AS A SIDE NOTE YOUR JOKES AREN'T FUNNY.”
“Ok.”
“I WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY IT!!!!!”
"Say what say what?"
"MY JOKES AREN'T FUNNY SAY THE WORDS!!!!!"
“My jokes aren't funny.” Gilda said through tears
“SAY IT AGAIN!!!”
“My jokes aren't funny.” At this point she was crying
“Now maker her dance.” Clockwerk whispered egging his friend on.
“Right good idea, NOW DANCE, DANCE FOR YOUR PRINCESS.” Through terrified tears Gilda performed a quadrupedal version of the chicken dance which caused Clockwerk and Double Bubble to burst out into laughter which translated into evil cackling through the voice modifier.
“Please princess let me go.” Gilda begged. Double Bubble struggled to reply through the laughter.
“YES YOU MAY GO, BUT REMEMBER FEAR MY WRATH AND STUFF. AIGHT PEACE.” The two ponies gave each other a quick hoof bump as they prepared to approach Gilda for the second time.
“Oh hey Gilda,” Clockwerk struggled to say through laughter. “We just thought we’d ask again about that ride again.”
“Why of course you can ride to equestria why wouldn't I help out my dear pony friends.” Gilda cried more toward the sky than to any pony standing before her, which was beneficial as neither Clockwerk nor Double Bubble could keep a straight face.
“Alright great let’s get going then.” Double Bubble said already loading his luggage on to Gilda’s boat. “Next stop Manehattan.” Gilda hurriedly started the boat and made way toward the port city of Manehattan giving the two pony friends time to relax. “Hey clockwork what’s going to happen to all of that equipment we used to trick Gilda?”
“Oh don’t worry about that I've rigged it all to explode you should hear it any time now.”
“Wait you set everything to explode?”
“Yeah why?”
“I’m still wearing the wings you moron.”
“Oh, oh, OH NO!” Clockwerk said panic slowly rising.
“Get it off man get it off.”
“I’m trying you need to hold still.”
“How am I supposed to hold still you strapped a bomb to my back.”
“Ok I've got it.”
“Throw it overboard quick.” With a heave Clockwerk threw the metal wings as far into the sea as he could where they could be heard giving a small boom.
“At least it didn't blow up the boat.” Clockwerk said looking on the optimistic side. As he said this though a large purple dragon rose out of the sea in a fit of rage.
“What is the meaning of this, you blew up my priceless vase?”
“Oh hey a river dragon what’s he doing out in the middle of the ocean?” Clockwerk had no time to answer because the angry dragon’s fist slammed down into the boat and destroyed it.
Author's Note
First off don't expect updates in the future to come this quickly, I just got a snow day off of school and had a lot of free time on my hands. Secondly, all credit for the character liftoff goes to the user runujhkj

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                         Chapter 3                         
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Chapter 3
Chapter 3 To Live and Die in Manehatten
Ponies that talk funny
The ponies arrived at the shores of manehatten the next die on the back of the purple dragon.
“Thanks for the ride Stephen.” Clockwerk said hopping off of the purple dragons back.
“Thank you for the mustache trimmer, sorry about your boat.”
“Hey man it was a priceless vase.” Double Bubble said reassuring the dragon. “We’re the one that should be sorry it was a horrible decision on our part. The trimmer is the least I could do.”
“Well I’m just glad we could all get past it.” Stephen said happily. The three shared a hug as Stephen swam back into the ocean
“Well that ended a lot better than I expected,” Remarked Clockwerk.
“Yeah talk about a swell guy. We’ll never forget you Stephen Magnet.” Before he was quite out of earshot the purple dragon let out a massive cough that sent a projectile hurdling toward the two ponies. It smashed ino the ground in front of them with a thud and the two were happy to see their old friend.
“Gilda!!!” they both exclaimed somewhat sarcastically.
“Wow what a relief that you aren’t dead.” Double Bubble remarked
“Yeah we thought you were toast after Stephen Magnet ate you.” Gilda’s body twitched and croaked in reply. “Hey you alright Gilda?” Foam frothed from the injured Griffon’s mouth. “Yeah your fine what a trooper.”
“I don’t know C.W. don’t you think we should take her to a hospital or something?”
“What are you talking about she’s fine.” The mangled griffon body twitched a little. “See she’s already moving again.” Double Bubble gave his friend a stern look. “Oh fine we’ll take her to a hospital sheesh when did you become such a nice person.”
“She did give us her boat,” Double Bubble said picking up Gilda’s beaten body.
“Yeah after we threatened her with evisceration.”
“It’s also called being nice.”
“Oh don’t make me gag Bubbles.”
After a short and rather conspicuous walk down the road the two finally deposited Gilda in the hospital. And after some brief questioning they were on their way into the bustling streets of equestria’s major port city, and after a quick viewing of hinny of the hills the two continued on their journey.
“Okay what’s the fastest way to get to this orchard with the zap apples?” Clockwerk asked looking at a map of equestria.
“Well the fastest way would be to catch the san benganza jet stream but some pony rigged my wings to explode,” an embarrassed look from Clockwerk, “So it looks like we’re walking.”
"How long will that take?"
"It's a two day walk."
"That puts us really behind schedule."
A small filly just happened to overhear the conversation.
“Excuse me did you two say you were looking for zap apples?” Clockwerk and Double Bubble looked at the small filly who addressed them in her thick accent.
“What do you know about zap apples?” Double Bubble asked inquisitively.
“Believe it or not I have a cousin that has an apple orchard that makes zap apples once a year. And it’s only a train ride away.
“Really!” Double Bubble said excitedly, “Where?”
“Not so fast,” the small brown pony held her front hoof up. “If you want me to spill the beans I need your help with something.”
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************
The dragons convened around the traditional circle of fire atop the mountain not far from edinborough. The chieftain dragon bloodscales had convened a meeting to decide what action should be taken about the encroaching griffons and their inevitable attack on their mountain home. The large red dragon stood at least three stories tall, massive even for a dragon, he spoke with authority over the small group of dragons that had assembled before him.
“May wealth and rest find you fellow dragonborn.” The rest of the dragons returned this traditional greeting. “We are convened here for a purpose, we all know it. Our ongoing conflict with the foolish griffons is reaching a head and we will see a battle of great fire not seen since we attempted to take canterlot mountain.” The dragons roared in anger at remembering their loss. “Easy brothers, though those fortunes were lost to us and we are forbidden to attack for another 300 years by the bounds of the contract of the third son, if these griffons seek war with the great and mighty dragon tribes then we have the right to attack them by the self-defense clause, and we will claim the vast treasure trove kept by the griffons.” This comment led to several proud roars by the other dragons. “Now we have all seen the weapons the griffons currently use, not effective but troubling. As those who have seen conflict with the olden elves and studied their scrolls know the griffons should not have this kind o technology for another 100 years at the least, which means they are either being aided by magic or a great scientist of unprecedented potential. I will now call to the fire Samantha of the griffon kingdom, one who has forgone loyalty for wealth and power. She will deliver unto us the details of teh griffon kingdom's new technology.” Bloodscales lifted his wing and a dark Griffon stepped forward.
“Thank you your greatness,” The griffon spoke quickly and with purpose. “The source of the griffon army’s newest weapon, one which many of you have seen in battle know to us as the combat harness, is a pegasus by the name of Clockwerk, we believe he has also acquired the services of a unicorn to power the devices though none have seen the unicorn in person to confirm this, we do know that Clockwerk has no magical potential on his own yet he uses magic to power a majority of his devices including the combat harness which is currently in mark 1.7. We believe he is working on a mark 2 design one that will be significantly more powerful than the current version making sustained conflict between griffons and dragons bloody for both sides.”
“Yes glorious combat to be remembered by our children’s children.” A dragon roared proudly several others joining him.
“Quiet!!” Bloodscales yelled shooting a hot stream of fire from his mouth. “Do you fools wish to reenact the battle of canterlot, we no longer have the numbers to sustain serious combat, believe me my brothers our day will come we will see combat, glorious combat against our ancient enemy, but this is not that fight. If we can defeat the griffons we will have untold treasures in our grasp, we shall destroy half of equestria without a single battle and then we will see our revenge against the princess of darkness, but first who among will take on the honorable task of destroying this Clockwerk, stop him from making his creation so we may destroy the griffons with ease.”
“I will.” A voice rose from the back of the convention, the large black dragon behind it coming forward.
“Darkheart,” Bloodscales responded with authority, “Do you take on this responsibility for the honor and glory of every dragon everywhere?”
“I do death to the dark princess and death to all who oppose us.”
“Good. Samantha continue you report.”
“Yes sir,” the griffon continued in a monotone voice. “Clockwerck was last seen leaving the griffon kingdom on a boat owned by one Gilda, he was seen with an earth pony we believe to be a servant of some kind possibly carrying his machines for him, we believe they are headed to equestrai to gather supplies to help build their newest flight harness.” Bloodscales stepped in front of Samantha.
“Your mission honorable Darkheart, is to find this pony, and kill him, but be wary, the third son contract prevents us from damaging any equestrian building, but it does not prevent us from entering their borders. Be discreet and be fast and above all do not break the contract, dragon honor is a sacred thing you will be exiled from our ranks if you break it.”
“I understand the pony will die I shall feast upon his bones.”
“Good now remind us what happens to traitors.” The dragons all flew in a circle around Samantha who was now panicking. Only Darkheart remained on the ground and he slowly approached the terrified griffon who stood too scared to fly away. He reared his head into the air sucking in a faint glow coming from his throat getting brighter the farther up he got. Finally with a roar he released a stream of fire over the griffon and then moved on to scorch a mark into the ground the ancient rune for dragon. Once he was finished he flew out of the mountain the other dragons came out to circle the mountain and light the sky ablaze with fire as Darkheart flew off into the ocean.
Author's Note
Just in case there's an confusion about it the dragons think that double bubble is a unicorn because he's performing magic and as fa as they know earth ponies can't do magic that's why they say clockwerk has a servant with him, they don't know it's double bubble or that he's the one performing the magic that makes the machines run. And yes I am implying that at some point the dragons had a lengthy war with elves in the same universe as mlp and there are still living dragon survivors of that war and if you're lucky enough to dig around the treasure hoard of one of those dragons you might find one of those scrolls they mentioned. I'll go into more detail about elves later. As always let me know if there are any grammar mistakes and I'll try to correct them.

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                         Chapter 4                         
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Chapter 4
Chapter 4 The journey Continues
Floataphobia
“So you just want us to drive your parade float?” Double Bubble asked confused. “Why can’t you do that?”
“Well you see a certain incident in ponyville as left me uhh …” Babs paused embarrassed.
“You’re scared of parade floats?”
“Hey! You don’t know how fast these things can go, you can be seriously injured driving one.”
“Yes it’s so scary speed as fast as five miles per hour oooooo.” Babs huffed in anger seeing she wasn’t getting anywhere and stormed off. Double Bubble immediately went after her apologizing for making fun of the small filly. He eventually gave up on looking for her and returned to his friend who was making adjustments to the float of Kerry the Cucumber a popular comic strip character. The float was moved behind the apartment complex where Babs lived in a small grass lot. He peaked into the engine compartment to see sparks flying out and a silhouette of Clockwerk making adjustments to the machinery.
“What are you doing in there CW, you know she only wants you to drive it right?”
“I know, it’s just, I don’t get to work on things like this often ok. Just let me enjoy working on something besides a weapon.”
“Ok. Do you need me to make a potion for it, I’m sure I could whip something up with the local fungi.”
“No I’ll make it run on the battery.”
“Oh, I guess you don’t need me then huh?” Double Bubble sat down on the float and looked out over the sunset of manehatten. “Say CW.”
“Yeah?” he answered from inside the float.
“Why did you ever leave?”
“What?” he said emerging form the bowels of the machine.
“Why did you leave equestria. It seems so calm and peaceful you know.”
"I told you why."
"You mean the crap about the fragility of the government."
"That's a valid argument."
"But it's not why you left is it?"
“Listen Bubbles, there’s some things you just can’t help you know. There’s some things you just have to leave behind and try to forget about.”
“There’s more to this I think.”
“Look man I just don’t want to talk about it ok.”
“Alright I understand.” Clockwerck slammed his hoof against a loose gear and and shut the access hatch his job finished.
“Someday I’ll tell you, but not today.” Babs had emerged from the apartment a tray of lemonade on her back.
“Hey you guys, I made you some supper for all your help.” The two looked at her shocked.
“You can cook?” Double Bubble asked not taking Babs as the type to cook.
“Why did you say it like that? You think just because I’m from Manehattan means I can’t cook?”
“I didn't say that, exactly.”
“Maybe I’ll just throw it out then.”Clockwerk interjected.
“I am kin of hungry, and besides how bad can it be.”
“It’s not going to be bad,” Babs said leading the two up to the apartment. “I’ll have you know I’m a fantastic cook.” The two sat down at the one table in the kitchen that served as the dining room.
“Say Babs where are your parents at?” Babs froze in place and answered harshly.
“They’re on vacation.” Clockwerk didn’t seem to notice the filly’s pause or harsh response and proceeded to eat the food she had prepared. Double Bubble however did notice and immediately became troubled by it. He whispered to his friend.
“Clocwerk can I talk to you in the hall?” Clockwerk yelled acroos the room to Babs completly ignoring his friend.
“Babs this food is delicious.” The filly was beaming with pride. “Bubbles you’ve got to try this food.”
“I think there are more pressing matters at hand CW something isn’t …” Clockwerk shoved a bite of food into his mouth while he was talking. Double Bubble tried to remember what it was he was saying but completely forgot thanks to the amazing food.
“Wow sweet Celestia that’s good. What did you put in here?”
“It’s a secret,” Babs said proudly.
“Whatever it is it’s great.”
“Oh go on.”
“So Babs,” Clockwerk asked mouth full of food. “You said your cousin has an apple farm in …”
“Ponyville,” Babs answered. Clockwerk grew silent.
“Oh that’s great much more convenient than the location I had found. It’s just a train ride away.” Double Bubble remarked cheerfully.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that?”
“About what?”
“Do you guys mind if I tag along. I’ve been meaning to visit Applejack again.”
“Sure, but you should probably ask your parents first.”
“I’ll mail them.” Babs responded gruffly.
“There it is again,” Double Bubble said under his breathe.
“There’s what again?” Clockwerk asked breaking his silence.
“I don’t know, it’s like this weird feeling like something isn’t exactly right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know it’s hard to put into words, but whenever Babs talks about her parents. I just get this feeling in my gut, like something isn’t right.”
“You mean with her with the apartment what?”
“I’m not sure, it’s probably nothing.” Babs interrupted the twos conversation by coming between them and taking their empty plates.
“If you guys want we can go ahead and leave in the morning.”
“What about the parade? We worked so hard on that float.” Double Bubble asked disappointed.
“What’s this about we?” Clockwerk interjected.
“Don’t worry about it.” Babs said brushing it off. “It wasn’t that important anyway.”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so,” she said as she walked toward her bedroom. “I’ll see you guys in the morning, you’re welcome to use the couch if you want.”
“Are you aure your parents are ok with this?” Clockerk asked.
“Yes! Stop asking,” Babs said slamming the door.
Author's Note
Nothing much happens in this one and I'm sorry for that, but it sets up a plot point that'll be fulfilled later. If you are immediately put off by the mere mention that Babs' parents might be dead let me just say it's not going to turn out the way you think. Let's just say Babs' parents aren't alive and then leave it at that.

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                         Chapter 6                         
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Chapter 6
Chapter 6: A good night’s sleep  
Waking up in a place you don’t recognize
Double Bubble’s vision slowly came back to him blinking his eyes trying to wake up, vague images of the party last night in his head. He stood up finally awake giving his whole body a stretch. He fumbled around eyes barely open looking for a coffee maker of some kind. His hoof felt somepony’s head and let it be thinking it was just somepony who was asleep until the head fell off shocking him wide awake to stare in the face of a pony skeleton. Immediately he freaked out and ran around the room knocking more skeletons on top of him until the shock finally wore off and he shook the skeletons with a shiver going down his spine. A quick look at his surroundings revealed a long square room the extended off in both directions the walls covered in some form of hieroglyphics and some runes that he recognized but couldn't make sense of out of context. He walked down the room a little farther until he started to hear some voices, he followed them until he found Babs apathetically watching Flash Sentry run around the room screaming.
“Oh thank Celestia you’re here too!” Babs said upon seeing Double Bubble. “I think this Flash guy is kind of a whimp.”
“Go easy on him Babs this place is kind of scary didn't you freak out with all of the skeletons.”
“Well yeah, but he’s been at this for two and a half hours.”
“Oh wow what a whimp.”
“Yeah we aren't getting any help from him, but you can read these symbols no?”
“Well some of them, the ones that are magically charged anyway. The other symbols seem to be some kind of language so I don’t think they’re important.”
“Ok then what can you read, how do we get out of here before turning into skeletons.” Double Bubble scanned the room looking for runes that had significance.
“Ah!” he said finally figuring something out. “See those circles on the wall? Those translate roughly to ‘those who are hurt come here’ and there’s several others that makes me think the range is about 1 kilometer so we’re still in Las Pegasus so there's one bit of good news.”
“That doesn't make sense though none of us were hurt.”
“Yeah we weren't unless you count hopelessly drunk as hurt.” As he said this Clockwerk teleported into the room in a flash of light, stumbled around a bit, fell, and then threw up.
“That theory is becoming increasingly valid.” Babs said looking at the twitching body of Clockwerk.
“Well how did you get here then?”
“Take a guess.” she said gesturing toward Flash who was still running around the room screaming.
"Somepony hold me."
After a few minutes Clockwerk was finally awake enough to help and he and Double Bubble started thinking of a plan to escape from the mysterious room.
“Alright, the good news,” Double Bubble said positively. “Most of these runes are mechanical pieces. This means there’s probably a simple switch somewhere that’ll open a door out of here.”
“Right,” Clockwerk said realizing his particular expertise was needed. “I can trace the mechanics back from the power source.”
“Well that’s just it," Double Bubble said bewildered, "I can’t find the power source, which is weird because it would take something massive to run a room this big for this long.”
“Wait,” Babs said confused, “what’s going on?”
“Alright,” Double bubble said with authority. ”Let me give you a simple lesson on how runes work. Runes are magical symbols that when carved correctly manipulate the properties of an object, the manipulation also depends on what the rune is carved on for example my old wings needed to move fast and have lift so I carved the rune for fast on a ruby because it’s the best gem for manipulating an objects speed and carved wind onto a sapphire because it’s best at expelling forces like wind or fire, but nothing will work on its own without a magical source of power usually supplied by a potion or unicorn magic which again is different depending on the runes you’re using.”
“The problem here,” Clockwerk interjected, “Is that for a room of this size to be running something as demanding as life searching rune and a teleportation rune would take a lot of power to run even for a day. It’s almost impossible in fact, unless you were a really talented unicorn that is. and even then it would be a day at most.”
“And this place looks a thousand years old.” Babs said amazed  
.
After some effort the three finally calmed Flash down enough to where he could help them find the switch they were looking for and after a tedious search they found it. As they pressed it the room lit up brightly and the runes activated removing a section of the wall in a blinding flash of light revealing a long hallway.
“What do you think is down there?” Flash asked scared.
“Sweet Celestia you are the worst Flash,” Clockwerk said getting annoyed at the petrified Pegasus. “It doesn’t matter what’s down there it’s the only way we have to go.”
“Yeah and they hid it behind a wall,” Babs added. “Must be something cool back there.”
“Maybe it’s another alicorn.” Clockwerk said sarcastically.
“That would be a treat,” Double bubble said ". The group entered a circular room at the end of the hallway with a pedestal in the center that housed a staff with a glowing green crystal at its tip.
“What is that?” Clockwerk asked as he approached it. He was stopped by an anxious Double Bubble.
“I've got a bad feeling about that, like it isn't supposed to be here.”
“You said the same thing at Babs' and nothing happened; besides we don’t have much of a choice.” Clockwerk grabbed the staff by the handle and attempted to pull it out failing miserably until Double Bubble went to help him.
“Look you have to push it in and turn like this.” As the staff was removed a spectral form flew out of the pedestal knocking the Clockwerk and Double Bubble and back the glowing cloud hovered in front of the cowering group and began to speak.
“’Ello whose this then,” The ghost said in a surprisingly calm voice.
“Uhhh,” Clockwerk said as the calm voice relieved some of the initial fear. He looked toward Double Bubble to see if he had any ideas and he simply shrugged no idea how they should proceed. “Well I’m Clockwerk.”
“Clockwerk, that’s a weird name,” the voice said
“Must be one of them pony folk George,” said another voice emanating from the ghostly cloud
“That’s true Paul must be a pony.”
“Oh great there’s more than one,” Flash said in terror
“There’s four of us actually.”
“So just clarifying,” Babs spoke up, “You aren’t the vengeful haunting kind of spirits.”
“Only if you’re a dragon.”
“I don’t think a dragon could fit in this room Ringo.”
“That’s a good point Jhon they must not be dragons.”
"Ringo we already agreed they were ponies."
"Not really you just sort of declared it on your own."
Double Bubble interjected between the conversing spirits. “Ok well if you aren’t going to kill us or possess us or whatever, we would like to leave so could you just point us to the exit.”
“Of course we can you just have to...”
“Ringo the prophecy we have to tell them the prophecy.” said one of the voices cutting off the other.
“It’s not much of a prophecy really more of a set of instructions.”
“Whatever look,” The one of the voices began to speak more formally “He who pulls the staff is the chosen one.”
“Not really chosen because anyone can do it. He just happens to be the one that grabbed it.”
“Shush Ringo George is reading the prophecy.”
“The chosen one who will avenge all elves and slay the dragons who killed us.”
“Whats an elf?” Flash asked.
“Shut up Flash!” Double Bubble yelled, “I don’t care what an elf is I just want to leave and not die in a room with four ghosts who sound remarkably similar.”
“We do sound alike don’t we?”
“Yes”
“Yeah”
“I think I sound like a rock star.”
“Thank you for clarifying that,” Double Bubble said starting to get annoyed at the easily distracted spirits.
“So here’s the deal,” one of the ghost voices said, “we cannot be released from our ghost like form unto the glorious elven afterlife until we get a promise that you will kill the dragons with the stick there.”
“How’s he supposed to kill a dragon with that?” Clockwerk asked feeling Double Bubble's annoyance.
“It is a glowing stick,” Flash added.
“Yeah everyone knows dragons are weak against faint green glowing.” Babs said sarcastically.
“Calling it stick is really undermining it.” The ghost answered.
“It is, in all likelihood, the last magical generator.”
“Wait what?” Double Bubble said amazed.
“A magical generator it’s able to power runes without the need of potions or unicorns.” Double Bubble looked at the staff closely. The shaft was covered with runes of many types and the large green crystal at the top was surrounded by four forks each of was composed of different types of gems like ruby, sapphire, and quartz. Double Bubble found that by twisting part of the shaft he could re position the forks. After moving it a certain way the staff started levitating around Double Bubble surrounded in a green aura.
“And I can just take this?” Double bubble asked still in disbelief.
“As long as you promise to kill dragons with it,” the ghost answered.
“To be honest you don’t even have to kill them you just have to say you will.”
“Well don’t tell him that Paul.”
“I’m tired of waiting on someone Ringo I’m ready to move on.”
“If I promise we can go?’ Double Bubble asked.
“Sure why not.”
“Fine then I promise.” said Double Bubble halfheartedly
“Cool, well I guess we are free to go to the afterlife.” the ghostly cloud started to grow fainter and fainter.
“Bye ponies it’s been real.”
“Wait!” Clockwerk yelled. “How do we get out of here!”
“Don’t worry that problem is going to take care of itself.” The ghost said as it finally disappeared.
“Well what’s that supposed to mean?” Babs asked. After a few more seconds a large laser shot through the roof of the room and it was filled with a blinding light as Celestia descended into the room clad in shining armor. She hovered over the floor of the room and pointed her hoof at Clockwerk who was still stunned that equestrian royalt just burst in shooting lasers. She slowly approached Clockwerk as the rest of the group backed away. She spoke in the booming royal voice.
“Clockwerk of the griffon kingdom you will come with us.” She pointed her horn at Clockwerk’s head and it started to faintly glow with a rainbow color.
“Ok.” The Pegasus said meekly. Celestia the raised her head and the group was covered by a magical bubble her eyes began to glow white and she stamped her front hooves on the ground and the group was teleported away.
Author's Note
yup another chapter where nothing much happens, but fret not in the next chapter dragons happen.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Chapter 7                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 Broken Continuum
Dragons Attacking Castles
The group was teleported straight into the throne room at Canterlot castle and stood before a rather angry looking Luna and as they tried to back up they were stopped by a similarly angry Celestia. Luna stared straight into Clockwerk’s eyes as she asked her sister.
“Are these the ones?”
“I believe so.” She answered matter of factly. “The identification spell the dragon gave us led me to them.”
“You are not what we expected.” Luna said gesturing toward the group. “And while this is true a dragon seeks your heads for involvement in the griffon war and I want to know what you are doing bringing a foreign war into my kingdom?” Babs and Flash shuffled nervously away from Clockwerk and Double Bubble who were both shrinking considerably into the floor as the blue alicron stood over them glaring menacingly.
“Well you see we uhh we’re um, that is to say,” Double Bubble tried to answer but failed out of nervousness.
“And what’s this?”, she asked gesturing to the faintly glowing staff on Double Bubble’s back.
“I uhh I um guh.”
“They were in the underground ruins at Las Pegasus they probably stole it from there.” Celestia added eyeing the staff with anger.
“Elven magic.” Luna said with disgust. “Do you know how much damage these things can do? I’ve been spending the last hundred years fixing the mistakes those horrible creatures made and to think you would come here from the griffon kingdom and that you would ...” She was interrupted by a loud thud on the roof of the castle. A silence filled the room the two alicorns shifted their weight to their hind legs while the others glanced around nervously as they followed the sound of scraping and growling on the roof above them. Flash sentry broke the nervous silence.
“What was that?” He was immediately sushed by everyone in the room but it was too late the sounds on the roof moved over flash who was shaking in fear. “Guys?” he said as he backed his way toward one of the stained glass windows. “What’s going on guys?” Luna and Celestia were staring with angry determination behind Flash.
“Flaaaash,” Clockwerk said nervously. “You should run.” Flash turned around and was horrified to see the face of the black dragon Darkheart smiling menacingly. “RUN NOW!!” Flash rolled out of the way barley avoiding the large dragon claw that came smashing through the window as soon as Flash was clear of the window Clelestia and Luna launched themselves toward the dragon smashing through what was left of the stain glass window. Luna circled back and head to face the dragon head on while her sister flanked him from behind.
“Ahhh the infamous blood moon princess.” Drakheart said teasing. “I was hoping to get the chance to face you in combat this will be glorious.” Celestia had moved into postion and was approaching Darkheart from behind when he spun around knocking Luna away with his tail and smashing Celestia through the roof with his front claw. The princesses mangled body landed in front of the goup causing Babs and Flash to scream.
“Come on time to make ourselves scarce!” Clockwerk said picking Babs up and putting her on his back as the group ran speeding down the hall. “Bubbles hole!”
“Got it!” Double Bubble said retrieving a potion from his bag and throwing it at the wall leaving a gaping hole. Clockwerk made sure babs was hanging on and Flash picked up Double Bubble and the group floated down to the ground as Luna and Darkheart fought in the distance.
“You two get out of here it’s us he’s after!” Flash took Babs and sped away, “What do we got Bubbles?”
“Well that’s a class 3 dragon, possibly a bounty hunter that has bent sent to kill us, probably to prevent us from making the new combat flight harnesses.”
“Yup.”
“And we have no weapons or other means to keep him from eating us or otherwise causing us to die horribly."
“Correct.”
“It’s my professional opinion that we let the princess of nightmares fight the dragon.”
Luna had fired another magical laser at the dragon who shrugged it off and swiped again with his claws. Luna seeing the attack coming rolled underneath the attack, but was forced to waste energy teleporting thorough the dragons mouth as it closed down on where she once was.
“I want to thank you for bringing my prey to me. Saves me a lot of effort.” The dragon said continuing to tease Luna.
“Why are you doing this? You know the treaty prevents you from killing any citizen of Equestria.”
“But those two aren't citizens of Equestria are they?” Another swipe with his claw missed. “And that same treaty prevents you from killing me so it seems your laws have put me at an advantage.” A moment of realization hit Luna causing her to momentarily lower her guard. Darkheart seeing the momentary opening swiped her away with a claw and she went flying into one of the castles turrets. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have ponies to eat.” The dragon launched off of the palace roof and glided toward the city below that was filled with ponies running around in a panic. Darkheart flew over the crowd mumbling the identification spell revealing Clockwerk and Double Bubble who were running toward the edge of town. He landed in front of them with a thud causing the two of them to reel back in fear. “There you are, I will enjoy feasting on your bones.” Darkheart reared his head back and let out a stream of fire. When he finished he was astounded to find that the two ponies were still alive hiding under a green shield and surrounded by ash.
“We’re alive!” Double Bubble said amazed. “Hey Clockwerk we’re alive!”
“Not for long,” Clockwerk said as Darkheart’s fist slammed down on the shield but to everyone’s surprise the shield did not break.
“What manner of magic is this,” Darkheart yelled in anger. “I will not be defeated.” He continued to slam against the shield to no avail.
“Wow!” Double Bubble said as the dragon continued pounding away. “This must be the generator, I didn't know it could produce effects this strong.”
“That’s great and all,” Clockwerk said reeling after every hit from the dragon. “But it seems to have put us in a rather tight situation.”
“Don’t worry I think I’m getting the hang of it,” Double Bubble moved some of the rings of the staff around. “If I’m right this should teleport us.” The shield at this point was starting to crack from the dragons repeated attacks.
“Good let’s do it,” Clockwerk said realizing the shield was failing.
“It might molecularly disassemble us though,” Double Bubble added causing Clockwerk to look at him concerned. “I’m sure we’ll be fine.” He slammed the staff down and the two teleported into a nearby empty house. “See we’re fine no harm dooooo ahhhhhh!” Double Bubble stopped as he noticed his friends wings were missing from his body. Clockwerk echoed his feelings.
“Ahhhh my wings, what did you do to my wings oh Celestia why?” His wings teleported on his body with a flash. Clcokwerk was still in shock, “Ok alright I’m not questioning it.”
Still in town Darkheart was slamming the ground in anger. “Curse them and their magic where did they go?” before he could say the words to the identification spell again a powerful laser hit him in the head as Celestia freshly recovered from her injuries moved in to attack. “Why do fight me?" Darkheart said getting annoyed by the princesses constant attacks. "I am simply claiming my bounty they are not your citizens.”
“Everypony is our citizen!” Celestia said with purpose. “It is our sworn duty to shelter and protect everypony who is in equestrian we cannot let you take them.”
“Your desire to help the weak is foolish and misplaced they are war criminals aiding the griffon army.”
“That may be but as long as they are under our domain they will have due process, and you will leave.”
“Such authority, you speak as though you are your sister. Maybe you should ask her before you go off demanding things on your own.” Celestia fired another laser in response. The dragon casually blocked it with his palm. “It seems as though I've pinched a nerve.”
Clockwerk and Double bubble continued to run toward the edge of town. Double Bubble spoke between breathes. “I've got that weird feeling again, like something isn't right.”
“Really Bubbles now, it’s not the best time. We still need to find a way out of here.”
“I don’t know if you've noticed or not Clockwerk but this city is on a mountain, there is no easy way down.”
“Ugh this is some of the worst city planning I've ever seen, I mean who builds a city on a mountain what if there’s a rock slide or something.”
“Yeah it’s almost is dumb as building a city out of clouds.”
“Hey!” sounds from the nearby battle filed the two pony's ears.
“I don’t think we’re going to be leaving the city any time soon.” Double Bubble said watching the battle play out. “We need to get the dragon to leave.”
“Good plan, but how do we scare a dragon off they’re like the embodiment of scary.”
“Well I’m not the combat expert that’s you.”
“I’m not a combat exert I make machines and unless you see a workbench nearby I’m pretty useless.”
“Well what are we supposed to do.”
“What about the generator it’s been useful so far what else can it do.”
“I could probably get it to shoot lasers, do lasers hurt dragons?”
“What kind of question is that lasers are lasers Bubbles they hurt everything.”
“Well I didn't know I thought dragons might be resistant or something.”
“Ok ok just hurry up and figure out how I don’t think our lovely princesses are doing well against that dragon.”
Celestia smashed against the side of a house and fell to the ground in a heap. A group of pegasi flew over in formation and landed beside her. The leader spoke up.
“Princess as per protocol we've evacuated the civilians to the shelters the first second and third battalion are yours we are ready to engage.”
“Wait!” said Celestia taking charge of the situation. “Hold off until the last minute the treaty prevents us from taking military action unless he sheds blood first no military personnel is to attack him unless I give the signal. Send the first and third battalion to the turrets man the cannons second battalion be ready to scramble, all other units hold position.” The group of military ponies gave a salute and ran off to man their assigned stations as Celestia flew back into action. Her magic pool was running dangerously low she couldn't hold him off for much longer.
Double Bubble was messing with the staff when Darkheart found them. Clockwerk jumped into action.
“Keep working on it I’ll distract him.” Clockwerk flew toward Darkheart skirting around his field of vision.”
“So you finally fight with honor,” The dragon said with eager anticipation. “A foolish endeavor but I respect your bravery.” Darkheart swiped with his claws barely missing Clockwerk who was struggling to regain control the wind of the last swipe knocking him off course. Darkheart moved in to eat Clockwerk in one bite but was stopped halfway by a laser blast from Celestia. He roared in anger. “Are you not done yet?” “Surely your magic must be almost out by now.” Celestia paid the dragon no mind and continued to circle with Clockwerk circling in the opposite direction. It took only a second for Darkheart to identify Clockwerk and he placed his claw in front of his flight path and grabbed him. “Look at this despite all of your hard work I’m still going to win, let this be an omen for the future the dragon wins and the pony gets eaten.”
“DO IT NOW!” Celestia yelled using the last of her magic to create a bright explosion. The newly revived Luna waited with the troop and upon seeing the flare sent out by her sister readied an attack.
“ALL TROOPS MOVE IN! KILL THE DRAGON”
“So this is it?” Darkheart said triumphantly. “I will be a martyr for dragon kind. Is the coming war worth the lives of these two ponies?” Luna said nothing as she and the soldiers moved in to engage. “Fine then I will die with Bahhh …” Darkheart was hit from behind by a huge green laser at least five times the size of those fired from the alicorns that was emanating from the staff that was barely being controlled by Double Bubble.
“PULL BACK,” Luna yelled seeing a chance to prevent conflict. “I REPEAT DO NOT ENGAGE BREAK OFF.” The attacking Pegasi turned away in unison as the laser continued to strike Darkheart, the searing pain causing him to lose his grip on Clockwerk who flew toward Double Bubble once he was free.
“Keep at it,” he said cheering Double Bubble on. “I think it’s working.” Darkheart reared in pain as double Bubble continued to fire the laser. The pain of the incredibly powerful laser finally grew too much and Darkheart flew off. Double Bubble however continued to fire the laser. “You got him Bubbles you can stop.”
“I can’t stop it it’s to powerful.” Double Bubble lost control and the laser cut through several buildings until the combined efforts of Clockwerk and Double Bubble managed to get it to stop.
“I think that went well,” Clockwerk said happily. as several buildings fell in the distance.
“I don’t know,” Double Bubble replied overlooking the damage caused by the out of control laser alone. “Maybe we could’ve used more finesse.”
“Don’t beat yourself up man you defeated a dragon that’s a victory in my book. Now let’s get out of here. Uff.” Cockwerk ran into the chest of a rather unamused Luna.
“You two are coming with me now!”
Author's Note
probably one of the more fun chapters to write.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Chapter 9                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Shot out of a cannon
It'll probably happen again
“What do you mean chosen one?” Princess Luna yelled at the white cloud.
“The one who was chosen, you know great destiny and all that,” the cloud replied sarcastically.
“So you won’t tell me anything about this staff.”
“The fact that you have that staff means I can’t tell you anything about it.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“No but it sounds cool doesn’t it.”
“Argh,” Princess Luna stamped the ground and yelled with a flurry of magic. “I will banish you with the rest of your kind to the realm of tartarus.”
“Yes because that place worked so well with lord Tirek didn’t it. Speaking of why don’t you get your young student to come threaten me at least she can get things done.”
“Insolent spectre I am the great princess Luna nightmare incarnate and you will grow to…”
“Fear me yeah yeah that’s real scary moon butt go harness your teen anxt in a ship fic why don’t you.”
“Quit speaking in riddles!”
“But you’re so cute when you’re angry.” Luna left the room in a huff and the vault doors slowly closed behind her as the laughter of the ghost followed her out.
“Come back soon sweetie,” the ghost continued to laugh. “Bring some wine we’ll make a date out of it.” the door shut with a loud clang and princess Luna ascended the stairs to the main floor of the castle the secret door closing behind her. Princess Celestia stood waiting.
“Well?” she asked curiously, “how did it go?”
“Elves are jerks!” luna huffed angrily.
“I mean what did he say?”
“He said he wanted to talk to the chose one.”
“The chosen one?” she said dumbfounded, “What does that mean?”
“Probably another one of his attempts at humor.”
“He could be talking about …”
“I know what you’re thinking,” Princess Luna cut her off. “And I refuse to think that those two would be chosen for anything other most incapable ponies in the universe.”
“They did save the town.”
“Yes they saved the bits of the town that weren’t destroyed when that building collapsed, and that was my favorite bowling alley too.”
“Well think about it sister, they did show up with an intact elven magical generator.”
“Yes and they will not have it again.”
“Well it’s not going to hurt if we get them to talk to it.” Princess Luna stood angrily and huffed.
“Fine I’ll tell Sunset Shimmer to bring them here.”
*****
Clockwerk sat with Double Bubble on a bench in ponyville square kicking a clump of dirt around.
“So did you get any apples?” Clockwerk asked trying to break the silence.
“No,” Double Bubble answered with a sigh. “I got into a deep emotional encounter with Babs and her family and I felt too melancholy to pick the apples.”
“Huh I had something similar happen to me.”
“Really that’s strange. I wonder how Flash is doing with Sunset Shimmer.”
“I’m sure he’s doing fine.” The two could hear faint screams of Flash trying to regain his flight overhead, but didn’t think much of it.
“Did you ever get anything to make me more wings?” Double Bubble asked after hearing the sounds of an overhead pegasus.
“Nope those parts are kind of hard to come by.” The two ponies melancholy was interrupted by a bouncing pink pony.
“What’s with the frown Buster Brown,” she said happily.
“My name isn’t Buster and I’m not brown,” Clockwerk said a little annoyed.
“I know silly I know everypony’s name here in ponyville.”
“Really then what’s mine?”
“Clockwerk, Sunset Shimmer told me she’s all like,” she started doing a bad imitation of Sunset Shimmer “You need to watch those guys because the princess told us to and I’m mean bla bla bla.”
“That’s a pretty spot on impression,” Double Bubble said laughing.
“You think so?” she said expectedly.
“yeah you've got her vocal inflections down pat.”
“Yay!” she yelled embracing the two in a tight hug. “See we’re already best friends Sunset Shimmer was all wrong about you guys you’re fun.”
“How can we be friends,” Clockwerk asked struggling to escape her iron grip, “We don’t even know your name.”
“My name’s Pinkie Pie.”
“Well if ever a name fit.”
“What do you guys want to do?” She asked squeezing tighter
“Breathing would be nice,” Double Bubble said struggling to escape her hug.
“Silly you breathe all of the time I want us to do something fun.” There were a few strugged gasps of air as she continued. “O I know let’s go skydiving.”
“But I can fly.” Clockwerk said before he was rushed away by Pinkie Pie.
Within a few moments clockwerk and Double Bubble were loaded into a party cannon aimed for the clouds nervously fidgeting inside.
“Pinkie are you sure this is safe?” asked a currently flightless double Bubble.
“Sure it is just pull the chord on your parachute.”
“You didn’t give us a parachute.” The group could hear the voice of Sunset Shimmer in the distance as she ran toward them.
“Element of love!” she yelled as she quickly approached Pinkie Pie.
“Oops look at the time,” Pinkie said nervously. “You guys need to go ahead and take off now.”
“But what about the parachute?” Double Bubble asked terrified now.
“Don’t worry she’ll grab you have fun.”
“Who?” he didn’t have time to get an answer as the cannon fired sending Clockwerk and Double Bubble flying high into the air. Clockwerk was quick to regain control of his flight but he was moving to fast to grab his friend, fortunately he didn’t have to as his friend was grabbed by a blur of rainbow. Clockwerk instinctively followed the rainbow to the best of his abilities but it was moving much faster than he was. He heard faint yells from Sunset Shimmer as he sped off following the blur and his friend into a house next to the nearby forest. He landed slowly in the yard as the pegasus behind the rainbow blur was dusting off a rather shaken Double Bubble.
“I’m never doing that again,” Double Bubble said shaking.
“You were really aerodynamic I though,” the rainbow pony said laughing. “Rainbow Dash by the way assistant to your escape.”
“Did the escape need to involve a cannon?”
“The other plan used a catapult, come on inside before she finds you guys, Fluttershy made tea and I’m sure Pinkie Pie will be joining us as soon as she loses our fearless leader.”
“Why do you guys want to help us escape anyway?”
“This is the only way we can get her to tell us what’s going on. Besides she needs to learn to lighten up anyway.”
“Oh you brought guests,” cmae Fluttershy’s small voice from the kitchen. “I hope you’ll stay I made tea.”
“I think we’re going to have to,” Clockwerk said observing Double Bubble. “I think my friend hear may have been scared to death.”
“Goodness me don’t you worry,” Fluttershy said leading Double Bubble in the next room “I’ll have you fixed up in no time.”
Author's Note
All right this one's is a it of a filler chapter the next plot point would've taken too long for one chapter so I had to set it up a bit. The next chapter will have some more action.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                        Chapter 10                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Obligatory plans of rebellion
Because nobody likes Sunset Shimmer.
“Does it seem cliché to you that we’re having tea?” Clockwerk asked sipping away at the tea provided by Fluttershy.
“I don’t think so tea is a very good snack especially for in between meals.” The yellow pegasus replied sweetly while Rainbow dash flew around the cottage shutting windows and locking doors.
“It’s good tea Fluttershy,” Double Bubble added amidst the chaos caused by Rainbow Dash.
“Ok,” Rainbow Dash said out of breathe and mildly panicking. “I’ve got everything locked down so Sunset Shimmer or anypony else for that matter should have a hard time getting in.”
“Yeah! It’s locked up tighter than my birthday presents,” came the high pitched voice of Pinkie Pie. Rainow Dash jumped as Pinkie Pie surprised her.
“Pinkie Pie how did you get in here I locked everything!”
“Through the door silly.” A quick glance at the door showed that it was not only locked but covered in chains.
“But how, I don’t” came the confused voice of Rainbow Dash while Pinkie Pie simply smiled in response. “Ugh never mind aside from Pinkie Pie Nopony can get in here.”
“Can’t Sunset Shimmer teleport though?” Came the reasoned response of Clockwerk.
“What?”
“Yeah unicorns can teleport, all she would have to do is teleport to the other side of the door past all of the locks.”
“She could also use an unlocking spell,” Added Double Bubble.
“Or she could cut through the window,” Said Fluttershy attempting to be helpful.
“Oh oh oh or she could bust through the wall like bwoosh!” Pinkie screamed thinking she had discovered a new game.
“Fine!” Rainbow Dash said aggravated at the numerous flaws in her plan. “I guess we’ll have to just hope she doesn’t do any of those things you just said. Geez I try and help people and this is the thanks I get.”
“What’s all of this for anyway?” Double Bubble asked.
“Oh Princess Celestia was going to come by for a visit and she said she wanted to talk to you,” Flutterhy said feeding a cookie to a bird that had flown to her.
“Princess Celestia, what does she want?”
“I don’t know,” Pinkie Pie added, “but it must be important whatever it is.”
“Yes it is Pinkie Pie,” the booming voice of Princess Celestia came out of the kitchen as she gracefully walked into the room.
“Princess it’s so good to see you again,” Fluttershy said with a bow.
“It’s good to see you too Fluttershy and you as well Pinkie Pie, but I fear we will have to catch up later I must speak with these two alone.” Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie politely left the room shutting the door behind them.
“So?” Double Bubble asked amid the awkward silence.
“I’m sorry you have to be dragged into this but by either chance or fate you are our only hope.”
“Only hop for what? What are you talking about?” Clockwerk asked confused.
“Please we don’t have time My sister’s pupil is already on her way here so I have to be brief. I need you to go to my student she can tell you what to do.”
“Lady we don’t want to go anywhere but back home as soon as we get the stuff we need to finish our job this whole detour has already taken up too much time as it is.”
“You don’t understand the fate of this world and all others is at stake.”
“I think the dragon army at your border should be a more immediate threat than whatever you’re talking about.”
“The dragons are not the cause only the effect of a war waged eons ago by a people not fit to weild the powers they were given.”
“What do we have to do with that?” Double Bubble asked intrigued.
“Because once again the powers that be have given immense power to those that don’t deserve it.”
“I resent that.”
“She’s kind of right,” Clockwerk admitted.
“You’re both wasting time I need you to see my student and help her fix all of this.”
“Fix what you never said what needed fixing?” Double Bubble asked.
“Everything the universe and all of its connected universes were destroyed by the elves. We exist only in a shadow of what should be.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“No wait Clockwerk I think she’s right.”
“What are you saying this is nonsense I can’t even believe I’m …” Clockwerk was stopped by a massive explosion that blew a hole in the side of the house as the rubble settled Sunset Shimmer stood waiting on the other side of the whole stood Sunset Shimmer bits of magic spark shooting off of her horn. Using telekinesis she moved a magic bubble containing a thoroughly beaten Applejack and threw it into the room angrily.
“Princess I’m sorry,” Applejack moaned before being thrown aside by Sunset Shimmer whose element of power started to glow.
“Traitor I knew it!” she yelled summoning the power of her element. Streaks of lighting from the other ponies elements surrounded her each one of them yelling out in pain as it did. Finally Sunset Shimmer was engulfed in flames and grew flaming wings. Her whole body stood engulfed in fire as she stood poised to attack.
“GO NOW!” Princess celestia yelled. “get the elements as far away from her as possible she can only use them if they are close.”
“Right!” Rainbow dash said recovering from the drain Sunset Shimmer’s transformation had on her. “Pinkie get them into the cannon quick.” Sunset Shimmer shot a stream of fire toward Celestia who blocked it with a magical shield and shot her own ball of light toward Sunset Shimmer which exploded when it hit trapping Sunset Shimmer in a bright sphere as Rainbow Dash helped pinkie get Clockwerk and Double Bubble into the cannon. In the distance Sunset Shimmer and Celestia continued fighting but Sunset shimmer was gaining the upper hand as Celestia failed to stand up to the might of the elements.
“Quickly now you have to go,” Fluttershy said still barely above a whisper as a stream of fire burned across the ground a few feet from where the group stood followed by a yell from Sunset Shimmer.
“Ok We’re ready!” Double Bubble said still weary of being fired out of a cannon. “Let’s go.”
“Just remember what I told you Fluttershy,” Pinkie Pie said aiming the cannon. “Breathe then squeeze the trigger don’t pull.”
“Pinkie it’s a cannon it doesn’t have a trigger!” Rainbow Dash yelled from inside the cannon.
“Oh yeah silly me I guess I got caught up in the moment.” Another explosion from Sunset Shimmer shook the ground.
“Pinkie let’s go now,” Rainbow dash yelled.
“Ok fire in the hole.”
“Fire in the hole.” Fluttershy quietly echoed as she lit the fuse to the cannon and in a loud boom all four of them were fired off into the sky.
“NOOO!” Sunset Shimmer yelled as the element of courage and love flew off into the sky and with it them power behind the elements. Sunset Shimmer fell crashing into the ground as her wings disappeared. Celestia flew off after them and Sunset Shimmer stamped on the ground unable to catch her. She looked around at the remaining ponies. “All of you are coming with me to the old castle you’ll be lucky if you ever see the light of day again.”
“WE aren’t going anywhere,” Said the barely breathing Applejack.
“Really and whose going to stop me?” Sunset Shimmer rebutted.
“Trixe the great and powerful.”
“Hah don’t make me laugh she’s nothing but a servant a worm to be bossed around will be isn’t that right element of humility.” Trixie curled into herself in sadness and nodded yes.
“No she’s wrong!” Applejack said defiantly. “Trixie you know deep down what you are that you’re better than her.”
“No I’m not,” Trixie said crying. “I am nothing, worthless.”
“That’s right.” Sunset Shimmer said with authority. “She’s knows her place like you should.”
“No Trixie you listen to me,” said Applejack with determination. “You are the element of magic the one and only you have the power to lead us to victory with this.” Applejack threw a black necklace with silver decoration at Trixie’s feet.
“The alicorn amulet,” Trixie said shocked. “How did you?”
“I took it from her like she took it from you.”
“Trixie don’t you dare!” yelled Sunset Shimmer. “Even with the alicorn amulet you know I’m better than you. Obey me or be punished with the rest of them.”
“Do it!” applejack encouraged. “We believe in you.” Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “With this you can defeat her and set things right.” Trixie looked at the amulet and then at Applejack who smiled through the pain after a brief moment of thought she pushed the element away.
“I don’t need it,” she said with new found confidence. “I am Trixie the great and powerful. I do not need trinkets to defeat uselss fools like Sunset Shimmer.”
“You best watch your mouth before you get hurt,” came Sunset Shimmers angry reply.
“Sunset Shimmer!” yelled Trixie with gusto. “I Trixie the great and powerful wizard challenge you to a magic duel for the element of power.” Sunset Shimmer spat on the ground and tapped it with her hoof.
“I accept.”
Author's Note
Next chapter is when the actual plot starts happening so stay tuned.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Chapter 5                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 5
Chapter 5 To Live and Die in Las Pegasus
the hangover part 4
The morning came and the three ponies had arrived at the train station awaiting the arrival of the next train to ponyville. Babs had fallen asleep on Double Bubble’s back and the two older ponies were starting to nod off as well as the only train they could catch was the early train.
“What was the ticket Babs said to get?” Double Bubble asked with a yawn.
“I think it was the happiness express.”
“Are you sure? I could swear it was the friendship express.”
“Heck for all I know it could be the sunshine express, why don’t we wake her up and ask?”
“No it says right there on the sign friendship express to ponyville.” Double Bubble said gesturing to small map on the wall.
“Oh well lets go get the tickets the shall we.”
“You go ahead I’m going to go to the bathroom real quick.” Double Bubble wiggled Babs off of his back and on to Clockwerk’s as then sleepily walked toward the bathrooms. Clockwerk walked toward the ticket counter and was greeted by the happy ticket booth pony who was clearly more prepared for the early morning than Clockwerk was.
“Good morning sir what can I do for you?”
“Ahh yeah I need umm two tickets on the, oh what did he say it was?”
“Did you forget the name of train line sir?” The pony bhind the counter said cheerfully.
“No I know what it is just give me a minute.” Clockwerk replied grumpily from lack of sleep.
“Why don’t you just tell me where you’re going and I can get you the right ticket.” Clockwerk continued to be grumpy.
“Don’t patronize me smarty pants.”
“No smarty pants is my sister, I’m final sale.”
“Well that’s a stupid name.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“Just give me three tickets on the sunshine express.”
“The train to Las Pegasus sir?”
“Don’t question me.” Clockwerk grunted as he snatched the tickets away from the booth pony angrily leaving the money for it behind as he stormed off to meet Double Bubble at the platform.
“Did you get the tickets?” Double Bubble asked sleepily.
“Yeah, Why? Stop asking questions!”
“Man you get grumpy when you’re tired.”
“I AM NOT GRUMPY!!!!!” The trio boarded the train and immediately fell asleep s the train sped off in the opposite direction from where they wanted to go.
***********
Princess Luna sat in her throne room atop canterlot studying an old spell book when her silence was suddenly interrupted by a guard charging in.
“Princess Luna!” The Pegasus guard yelled  
.
“Why have you disturbed my peace?” The princess asked calmly as she stood up keeping her head high and pose straight giving of a constant air of authority as she walked toward the guard. “Pray Tell what is so important that you must interrupt my studies.”
“It’s a dragon princess.”
“What!” she yelled stamping her front hooves on the ground. “Are they attacking again? How far inland have they gotten? How many are dead?”
“It’s only one dragon princess.” This news greatly calmed Luna and he slumped back into her throne with relief.
“Only one what a relief, do go on sir I need details.”
“Yes you highness. Our scouts have made contact and we have found out that the dragon seeks to pass through our country in order to collect a bounty set by the dragon high council on someone named Clockwerk a citizen of the griffon kingdom who is making a trip through Equestria for supplies to help fund the griffon's war.”
“Clockwerk huh?” The princess paused and opened a nearby spell book and turned through the pages until she found the spell she was looking for. “You can tell our dragon visitor that I will not allow him to kill within my borders. I will however quickly remove this Clockwerk from our borders, and make it clear to the griffon kingdom that we do not want any part of their foolhardy endeavor.”
“What if he refuses this offer?”
“Then he will have to deal with the princess of darkness. Go deliver my message and send word to my sister to meet with me.”
“Right away princess.” The guard flew out through the open window as Luna turned around and quickly started writing on some paper.
****************
The sunshine expressed slowly pulled into the station at Las Pegasus and a newly rested trio of ponies emerged from the back car.
“Wow,” Double Bubble exclaimed. “For a small town ponyville is really big. I thought you said this was a quiet town Babs."
“It is.” Babs said angrily, “This isn’t ponyville.”
“What do you mean this isn’t ponyville?” Double Bubble asked with growing concern.
“One of you two idiots bought the wrong ticket.” Upon hearing this Clockwerk tried to sneak back into the train car, but couldn’t get far as Babs upon seeing the guilty pony begin to withdraw jumped on his face and started hitting him. “I told you before we left friendship express. How hard is it to buy a train ticket.” Clockwerk answered through the punches.
“I’m sorry I was so tired.” With one final conk on the head Babs climbed up on Clockwerk’s back to get a better view of the surroundings. As she noticed several distinct landmarks that helped her identify the town they were in.
“We’re in Las Pegasus you dope, do you know how far we are from ponyville?”
“Wow Las Pegasus,” Double Bubble said enamored. “I’ve always wanted to come here it looks like so much fun.”
“Well we’re here now,” Clockwerk said happily. “You thinking what I’m thinking?” The two gave each other a look reminiscent of college bromances before jumping up and doing a triumphant chest bump.
“Las Pegasus the things we can get into.”
“Yeah this is going to be fun.”
“Aren’t you two on a deadline," Babs said interupting the twos visions of galmor. "Don’t you need those zap apples?”
“Relax,” Clockwerk said patting Babs on the head. “The zap apples are still seven days away from blooming we can afford to party some.”
“Yeah don’t ruin this Babs,” Double Bubble said. “Clockwerk and I have earned a vacation.”
“Fine,” Babs said realizing the determination the two had to party their brains out. “But what am I supposed to do while you two are out, Las Pegasus isn't the best place in the world for a young filly to be.”
“We’ll get you a hotel room,” Double Bubble said reassuringly. “You can order some movies if you want to knock yourself out.”
“Yeah sound like a blast.” Babs said sarcastically.
“Good I’m glad you’re starting to have some fun.” Double Bubble didn't pick up on the sarcasm.
The three ponies entered one of the many casinos on the strip and Clockwerk and Double Bubble left Babs at the front desk with a large griffon ruby as the two of them strutted into the casino area to have some fun. As the night approached and the drinks kept coming the two found themselves at the bar sitting next to a particularly depressed looking gold Pegasus. The two continued to laugh and joke making the gold pegasus fell uncomfortable, but as he began to leave he was stopped by Clockwerk.
“Hey man where you going?” Clockwerk said with some difficulty.
“Oh I’m going to drink over there I don’t want to bum you guys out.”
“Bum us out! You look like a party pony if ever there was one I’m going to drink you a buy.”
“You mean buy me a drink.”
“Whatever. Barkeep get my friend here a drink.”
“Thanks man," He said beginning to come around to the two happier ponies. "I've had a really bad day.”
“What’s wrong buddy?” Double Bubble said joining in on the conversation having finished his latest drink.
“My girlfriend left me said she was getting too big for me that I was holding her back. I guess I’m not that special.”
“Hey man,” Double Bubble said putting his arm around the sad Pegasus. “Everyone’s special and if that woman wants to leave a strapping young man such as yourself behind, well who needs her anyway.”
“I appreciate it guys.” The new round of drinks came in from the bar.
“Hey man.” Clcockwerk said grabbing his drink. “What’s your name anyway.”
“Me oh my names Flash.”
“Ah ha.” Clockwerk sang raising his drink up with Double Bubble following shortly afterward. “A toast to Flash surely one of the greatest pegasi that ever lived.” After a brief hesitation Flash raised his drink with the other two.
“Thank guys,” he said slightly more inebriated than before. “Hey I know about this party going on in of the hotel rooms here. I wasn't planning on going, but I feel a lot better now you two want to come?"
“A chance to party with Flash Sentry, how can we say no?” Double Bubble hiccuped.
After a brief evelvator ride the three followed the sound of music down the hall until they arrived at the door they determined the music was coming from and knocked loudly. After few seconds Babs answered the door sporting a pair of sunglasses and a blue suit.
“Hey you guys made it.”
“Babs what are you doing here?” Clockwerk asked surprised noticing the large party going on in the room behind her.
“Oh you know I made some purchases with that ruby you gave me, one thing led to another, and I started a crazy wild party. Whose this guy?” She asked gesturing toward Flash.
“Oh I’m Flash, Flash Sentry I serve on the royal guard.” As he said this the music came to a halt and everyone in the party looked at flash nervously. “Well actually I quit today so I guess I'm an ex royal guard.” after saying this the crowd cheered and the music started back up and Babs let flash in but blocked Clockwerk and Double Bubble as they tried to enter.
“Just what do you two think you’re doing?”
“Come on Babs,” Clockwerk said anxiously. “Let us in we pretty much funded this party.”
“I don’t know, you two don’t look cool enough to be at this party.”
“What do you want?” Clockwerk answered with a sigh.
“We leave for ponyville tomorrow.”
“Aww,” Double Bubble whined. “But we’re having so much fun can’t we stay longer.” Babs raised her hoof in defiantly and answered in a firm voice.
“Tomorrow!” Clockwerk and double Bubble looked at each other and then nodded.
“Fine tomorrow,” Double Bubble sighed.
“Good, now let’s party!” Babs said into the crowd which responded with a long cheer.
Author's Note
Oh hey look it's Flash Sentry, and Luna seems to have a lot more power than she normally does. The plot thickens.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Chapter 8                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter 8
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