My Little Clockwork: An Ancient Secret

Sprocket's horn illuminates with a soft cyan glow as the broken watch rises into the air and is carefully placed on the workbench in front of her. Sprocket is an orange mare with a blue mane and tail. She sports a cutie mark of a gear with partial teeth and with clock hands over it. She is wearing a brown cowboy hat.

Sprocket focuses on the watch and it is pulled open by Sprocket's unicorn magic. The two halves are carefully placed on the workbench in front of her and as it touches the table several gears fall out with broken teeth.

There's your problem Sprocket thinks to herself as her calipers raise into the air. It floats over and measures the gears.

Standard size, no problem Sprocket thinks as the drawers on the small cabinet sitting on the workbench open and three matching gears fly out. She squints as she carefully places them on their respective shafts clicking softly into place. Then from the other side of the workbench a bottle of oil lifts into the air and drips a drop of oil on each gear.

That should do it Sprocket thinks and then sniffs the air.

I'll never tire from that smell she thinks to herself and once again the watch lifts into the air with her magic and the two halves join back together with a soft metallic click.

And that takes care of that Sprocket thinks to herself with satisfaction and smiles.

Sprocket carries the watch over to the front counter with her magic and lays it down. The purple mare sitting in the waiting area rises.

"Finally! That took foooorever!" the purple mare says.

"Just bring careful to make sure I do it right. That will be fifty bits please." Sprocket replies.

"FIFTY BITS ARE YOU KIDDING‽" the purple mare shrieks.

"Yes, that's the standard price for this kind of job," Sprocket replies cheerfully.

"Ugh what a ripoff" the purple mare retorts.

Sprocket clinches her jaw with frustration.

The purple mare plops fifty gold coins on the counter and snorts "There you go. Bye."

The purple mare then grabs the watch in her mouth and stomps out of the store slamming the door on the way out.

"Well that was rude," Sprocket says under her breath as she places the coins into the register. "Oh well, job done and price paid," she adds with a sigh.

Sprocket goes over to the water cooler and pours herself a drink. She sighs and proceeds to drink the entire cup in one go. Once finished, she lets out another exasperated sigh and looks at the clock.

Closing time thank goodness she thinks to herself.

She locks up the cash register with the keys on the lanyard around her neck and trots towards the door. She gently pushes the door open with her hoof and leaves. The little bell above the door rings as she closes the door. She proceeds to lock the door and smiles. Overall it's been a good day despite the rudeness of the last customer.

Sprocket trots home and goes inside. Her roommate, Lenon Hearts is seated on the couch reading a book.

"Oh hey you're home. How was your day," Lemon Hearts asks.

"Overall good but the last mare was pretty rude. I don't get why people act like that. It gets on my nerves. It's not that hard to be courteous.

"I don't think they care. They're probably just caught up in their own little world not paying a bit of attention to anyone outside it. Don't take it personally," Lemon replies soothingly. "Come here and enjoy some mint tea with me."

"That's my favorite kind" Sprocket replies with a hint of excitement in her voice.

She walks over and sits down on the couch next to Lemon Hearts. She lifts up the tea kettle from the tea tray sitting in front of the couch. She pours herself a cup and adds five sugar cubes into it.

"Like a little tea with your sugar?" Lemon teases.

"You know it," Sprocket replies with a giggle.

She then lifts up the cup and drinks a sip.

"Mmmmm my favorite. Thanks for making it," she says.

"No prob friend," Lemon replies with a smile them drinks some more of her own tea cup.

Sprocket finishes her cup and stands up.

"I think I'm gonna head to bed early tonight, I'm exhausted."

"Ok, I'll be heading to bed soon myself. It's been a sleepy day," Lemon says in reply.

Sprocket walks down the hallway to her bedroom and flops on the bed. She rolls over and covers herself with her blanket.

Nothing like the comfort of my own bed she thinks as she falls asleep.