Chapter One

Rich’s New World

My alarm clock began ringing signaling me to get up out bed, I woke up from the insisting noise and my eyes were a little blurry but I was able to make it stop, I sat up in bed and noticed that my house a little less tidy. Work orders, bills, letters, party invitations, Blueprints and designs by me were scattered all over my table and floor. Dishes were pilled in my sink, clothes needing to be washed. This kind of untidiness would have had either Twilight or Rarity scream in horror.

“Well I better get ready then” I said grabbing my glasses

After I got out bed I headed for the dresser and picked out the last outfit I had

“My last set of work clothes, guess ill have to do my laundry today yay.” I said

I grabbed a towel and made my way to the bathroom. After a relaxing and refreshing shower I was ready to start my day. First order of business was to pick up and organized my paper clutter. I sifted and gather all of the miscellaneous paper and began to stack them into piles, some I wanted save and some would burn later but I did keep an opened mind when it came to my blueprints in case I needed to make any last minute changes. After all the papers were organized I went to the kitchen to get something to eat for breakfast. I looked in the fridge to see what was left

“Lets see, milk, pie, veggies, cake, soda, muffins.” I said grabbing a muffin and closed the fridge

Next I started scrubbing some dishes, wiping them dry and putting them in my cupboard. After that I started gathering up all my old clothes into a basket and headed outside. Once outside I saw the sunrays hit my eyes blinding me for a brief moment but my eyes started to adjust to the light.

“Thank you Celestia.” I said jokingly bringing my basket around my house.

Behind my house was a hose line and a wash bucket. I began adding water and soap into the bucket and threw in all the dirty clothes. I took out my washboard and began scrubbing the filth out of my work clothes some of the stains came out but sometimes they didn’t but I didn’t mind. After they were washed I hung them up on the line to dry. Afterward I went back around my house to the barn where I kept my motor wagon, I opened the barn door to see my beautiful machine sitting in the middle of the barn. My Tools were all hung up on my wall above my workbench and spare parts were all scattered around the ground. Truth be told it took me months and months of testing, building and some slight injures to get it to work and it finally paid off, I successfully made a wagon that runs off of steam. I built it originally to get around town, to carry heavy loads and to pull heavy cargo but mostly ponies see it as an advertisement for my repair jobs. I started a job helping the ponies of PonyVille whenever something breaks in their household whether it’s a faucet or a chair I would help fix it. I grabbed my clipboard to see what was on the agenda today

“Lets see, Cheerilee, Ms. Mash, and Aj got it.” I said as I scratched off their names.

I gathered up all my tools and put them in the wagon, I hoped into the seat and started to ignite the engine, as the fire started, the pistons started to move slowly pumping the steam bath and forth. I pulled the lever and the wagon began to slowly move forward out the doorway. I road down the hill and into PonyVille, as I drove by some ponies who were walking by saw my steam wagon roll by and knew immediately it was me. They just waved and I waved back as I headed for the schoolhouse. Cheerilee needed me to help fix up the inside of the schoolhouse as some things were beginning to fall apart. I pulled up in front of the school and put my wagon in park but still let the engine run. I looked over to see all the fillies playing recess had stopped to look at my wagon and came rushing over to look at it

“Hey Richard” Applebloom said

I looked down to see the cutie mark crusaders

“Hey girls” I said with a smile

They just continued to walk around the wagon and admire at all the hard work I had put into it

“Your steam wagon is so cool” Scootaloo said

“It is pretty neat” Sweetie Belle said

“This kind of thing would be super helpful back at sweet apple acres. I bet you could do all sorts of chores with” Applebloom said

I hoped out to grab my toolbox

“Well I do help Aj whenever she might need it” I said

“And that’s why you’re the best handycolt in Ponyville, Hey maybe we can get our cutie marks in handycol- I mean handymares.

“Well it’s a tough job and you gotta know what your doing” I said loading up on tools and supplies

“Ill see you girls later.” I said as I headed up toward the door. I opened the door to see Cheerilee at her desk grading papers. She seemed really focused in her work I almost didn’t want to disturb her but then again she did put in a work order.

“Ms. Cheerilee” I said

She then stopped for a moment and turned to see me standing in the room ready for work.

“OH sorry Richard I didn’t see you there” she said

“its cool so what do you need me to fix” I said

“Well the trim around the chalkboard is a little cracked and I was worried that it might fall off the wall”

“Well let me see what I can do” I walked over and the chalkboard and saw the wood was old and cracking around it. So first thing I did was to unscrew it from the wall and set it down gently on the floor, next I took measurements in order to make new ones. I then started to pry the dead wood off and it fell apart rather easily knowing its was old and worn out. After all the wood was off I went out to my wagon and began measuring a cutting new pieces for the chalkboard. I carved in a few slots in the wood so the frame would hold the old chalkboard up on the wall. I came back in and all the students were in there seats watching my work. It didn’t bother me at all it was nice to help children and teachers. I screwed all of the pieces together and placed it over the old chalkboard and sure enough it fitted perfectly. I put the new chalkboard up on the wall and began to screw it in place. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and looked at my finished work.

“Thank your very much Richard, it looks brand new.” Cheerilee said

“Any time Cheerilee” I said gathering up my tools and heading toward the door.

“Thanks Richard” all the fillies and colts said

“No problem” I said as I left the school and back into my wagon

I hopped back in headed toward town. My next stop was Ms. Mash’s house. From what I remember she is the mother of button mash but we never got to see her in the show. Bronies only made fan animations and artwork of her so I was hoping that she would look the same. As I passed through town everypony that I passed looked and waved. Even after all that I’ve been through you know saving dash, getting shot, almost dyeing and living in another dimension populated by pastel colored horses still amazes me still. It just felt different like im the one that’s out off place not the place I live. I just brushed it off as I made way too my next stop. I pashed sugar cube corner until the house I was looking for was right around the corner. I stopped and gathered my things and walked up to the door. I gave it a soft knock and waited for a few seconds until the door opened. There standing in the doorway was Buttons mom, with her light brown hair, teal eyes and her cooking apron I couldn’t help but blush a little.

“Hello” she said

“Uh hi im here to repair your faucet was it?” I said

“Oh that’s right you must be Richard the local repairman, come on sweetie” she said as she turned to welcome me into here home.

Her house was very nice as it had pictures of her family and of button of course. We both made our way to the kitchen where the problem occurred

“That faucet has been leaking for days and it’s driving my a little crazy” she said

“Whenever I cook its always leaking and it just wont stop”

“Let me see what I can do” I put my toolbox and the counter and took out my screwdriver.

I then looked at the leaky faucet and knew exactly what to do. I popped the cover off the faucet knob and twisted the screw tighter and the leaking ceased.

“Well there you go Ms. Mash all fix.” I said putting my tools away

“Well that was certainly quick” she went over to her table and picked up a brown bag.

“Here I baked these this morning I hope you like them” she said handing me the bag

I didn’t know what to say. She was definitely a nice lady so I took the bag of cookies

“Well thank you Ms. Mash if there’s any other problem in the future you know who to call” I said

“Oh ill be sure to call” as she winked at me with those bedroom eyes

I quickly went out the door and into my wagon, headed full speed toward Sweet Apple Acres and had a little nibble at some of her cookies, which were delicious. By the time arrived I could see Applejack bucking apples trees as usual. Big Mac was plowing the fields and granny smith was probably in the house. As I rolled up Applejack stopped for moment and headed on over towards me. I stopped right at the front gate and was greeted by my favorite pony.

“Howdy Rich” she said

“Hey Aj” I said getting my tools again

“Hey Big Mac, plowing the fields I see”

He just looked at me and said what he always say’s

“Eeyup” he said as he continued with his chores

“So Aj what can I help you with today”

“Well I could use your fancy wagon again to help wheel all the apples back in the barn”

I thought for sure she wanted me to fix something but then again I cant say no to my favorite pony.

“Alright then lets hook her up and get’er moving.” I said

“Well all righty then” she said

Aj and I spent the next couple of hours putting bushels of apples into her wagon that was attached to mine. I was getting a little sweaty and I looked over and saw that she was too. I felt a little lovey dovey for a moment but I shook my head and got back to work. After all the apples were collected I got on my wagon and started to move towards her barn. Aj stood by the barn door as I backed her wagon into the barn.

“I gotta say sugar cube without your fancy wagon, this job would have taken me all day to get done, and I appreciate the help” she said

“Always happy to help the Apple Family” I said

“Well now that that’s outta the way I better go see if Granny smith needs anything, take care ya’ll” she said heading inside

“Later” I said

I pulled the lever and started to head towards home.

“Maybe I should stop by Twilights and she what she’s up too” I said to myself

I drove back passing the town toward the outskirts, towards Twilight new Castle. Now I wasn’t really around when twilight fought Tirek. I mean I saw them fight and saw Golden Oak Library got blown to smithereens, and then she defeats him and the sprouts up crystal castle tree. To be honest it wasn’t nearly as good as the library but it’s her new home so I can’t really complain. I pulled up in front of her castle doors, got out and headed inside. Once inside it felt kinda like Princess Celestia hall but a little smaller. I made my way up towards the round table, as I like to call it and what do I find, Twilight reading and spike eating.

“Guess im not surprised” I said

Twilight stopped reading for a moment to notice me stand next to her pile of books.

“Oh Hello Richard, what brings you here” she asked

“Oh you know just running around town fixing things and I thought id stop by and see how the princess of friendship was doing”

“Im doing alright, still have tons of books to read”

I glanced over at the towers of books all spread around her

“I see” I said but then out of the corner of my eye one book bound in red leather with the title Equestria’s Long History on the cover got my attention. I picked it up and began skimming through the pages. Some of it was about King Sombra, Discord, Nightmare moon, how Ponyville was formed. I went back to the very beginning and found a section about somepony called General Fall. It peeked my interest as I begin reading about this pony.

It turns out long ago before King Sombra there’s was a student of Celestia who was really powerful and smart. It turns out she wanted to take over Celestia’s place and rule over Equestria but Celestia wasn’t having it so this General left Celestia’s teaching and made her own army out clockwork pieces. She then went to war with Celestia for a while and supposedly almost won. Celestia and Luna were able to trap her and her soldiers inside her journal; which she kept on her at all times. The journal then was lost and never found and Celestia and Luna went about their Business usual.

“Hm I’ve never heard of this General Fall.” I said placing the book back

“Yeah I read it not too long ago and Celestia never told me anything about it” Twilight said

“Im sure she must have a reason, I mean I wouldn’t want her running around again”

“I’ll bet, oh by the way did you get your ticket for the Gala” she asked

I remember while I was organizing all my papers I stumbled upon it and put it somewhere where I would remember.

“Oh yeah, yup I got it im a little nervous I mean this is the first time going to Gala”

“Don’t worry I help with all the preparations this year it should go by without a hitch.” she said

“Well I hope to see you there then” I said heading towards the door

“Bye Richard” she said waving

I headed back towards my wagon when I got a tingly sensation like something was watching me. I looked all around but no pony was there. I shrugged it off and drove back to my house. By the time I got home the sun was setting to make way for the moon. I remembered to grab my clothes that had dried already and brought them back into the house. I opened my front door, placed my dry clothes next to my bureau and immediately flopped onto my bed tired and exhausted. For some Reason that General Fall pony was still on my mind. Why didn’t Celestia ever talk about her and where her journal is now? I was too tired to care so I changed my clothes and got into bed. I set my alarm, for tomorrow was the Gala so I need to head to rarities in the morning and get my suit in order to go. I dozed off thinking about what’s gonna happened this year.

Author's Note

That General is very suspicious, hope the gala goes well