My name is Clockwork. For fifty years I have been a professional clock-maker in Canterlot. I'm not one to brag but I'd say that my clocks could last far longer than its owners would. Probably more than half of Canterlot's residents have owned a clock made by me in the time I have lived in the grand mountain-side city. It had been a wonderful time there. I had made several friends and family over the years, ones I would cherish forever. But time doesn't always last forever, at least that's what I used to believe. Ironically, my story starts where it should be ending. At the last few hours of my life.
My children and grand-children surrounded my bed. Penny-pincher, the banker and my life-long friend, was also there by my side. We reminisced on our lives, recalling its best moments.
"Remember that time when we accidentally set fire to that Bakery?" He asked me. I responded with, "Of course. We had the Royal Guard watching our every move for a week while we helped repair it." We both had a laugh from the memory. But there was something about that memory that made me sad. My smile slowly dimmed and caught the attention on Penny-pincher.
"You still miss her, don't you?" he asked. I nodded. During the repair work on the bakery I met a beautiful young mare. Her name was Honeyglaze and she was the owner of the establishment. She caught my eye immediately, but I had made a very poor first impression towards her. Our relationship started off very rough with her cold stares and insults. But that of course was because of me and my friend burning down her shop. After we had finished our community service the tension between me and her slowly eased away.
We started seeing each-other more and more until I finally got the nerve to propose. She said yes. We held the ceremony in the Royal Gardens. It was arguably the happiest moment of both our lives. We spent the next twenty-four years together and had two beautiful children. We had our fair share of fights and arguments, but we always pulled through and grew closer together. Those were the best years of my life. But as much as I would want them to, those years could not last forever.
She was visiting her folks in Manehatten when it happened. The restaurant they had been in caught fire. While everypony else ran from the restaurant she stayed behind to make sure everyone got out. She saved the life of a small filly, but in turn gave her own. When I heard the news I collapsed. I fell into a state of depression and was bedridden for three full days. I didn't know how I was going to keep moving forward after that. Luckily I had my friends and family to help me through.
It had been twenty seven years after that day and I was finally ready to join her. My family surrounded me wiping tears from their eyes as I said my goodbyes. Penny-pincher leaned close to me and whispered with a saddened chuckle, "Say hi to Honeyglaze for me." I gently nodded and rested my head on my pillow. My eyes slowly closed for the last time as a smile crept on my face.
As I previously stated this is where my story should end. I should have died and joined my lovely Honeyglaze in the next world, but something else happened. Something I could not explain. I no longer felt tired. I opened my eyes to see the face of my mother, far younger than I can remember seeing her. She looked down at me happily. I looked down as well. I was no longer the frail old colt that was passing away at the end of his life. My body was that of a small child. Panicked, I tried to talk to my mother but my mouth could not form the words I was trying to say. She laughed gently as she pick me up in her forelegs and rocked me back and forth.
My life was flashing before my eyes in bleary confusion. The life that I realized I would now have to relive.