The Warm Beat of a Cold Clockwork Heart
Fluttershy trotted as fast as her hooves could carry her. The trees of the Everfree flew by her leaving cuts and small bruises across her body. The sweat flowed from her mane soaking her face. Just behind her she could her the repetitive beating sound of another animal giving chase. Additional crashes could be heard to her right, sounding like she a demonic hybrid between a howl and nails on a chalkboard. They were Timber Wolves, angry Timber Wolves at that. She tried hopelessly to pry her wings from her body, but it was in vane. Her fear kept them stuck to her sides. She was utterly alone, her wings were useless, her legs tiring and yet the beating continued to grow louder.
She turned around for a split second, but that was all it took. With her attention broken she failed to see the quickly approaching obstacle. Crashing against it she fell unconscious for but a moment, yet it felt like an eternity. There was nothing but blackness; a cold lonely blackness that ripped at every cell in her body. But this blackness couldn't keep the pain away forever. It started at the tips of her hooves and worked its way up to the tip of her head. Luckily it was just a tingling pain, much like when your leg falls asleep only ten times more potent. Fluttering her eyes open, she finally escaped the crushing darkness and gazed upon what she had crashed into. An old scrap pile left to rust in the Everfree was all she saw. She looked at it in wonder realizing she recognized it, she had passed by it before. She immediately knew where she was; she was near a clear patch not far from her home. It leaned against a tree, much like it was sitting up. She had picnicked there before; sometimes catching herself talking to it like it could hear her. Many ponies in town were quite nervous of it, the Scrap Pile as they called it, yet it had always amazed her.
The main body reminded her of Ironwill, except it had no horn nor snout and its knees went the wrong way. Its feet were strange ovules and time had taken one of its arms now laying at its side. Yet the strangest thing were some of the brakes of its "skin", she could see gears, much like the inside of Flim and Flam's cider squeezer only much more complex. There all the pieces of metal, copper, iron, and tin, had sat silently and unmoving for centuries. In the middle of these thoughts a sound broke the daydreaming Pegasus' train of thought, a Timber Wolfs' howl.
Her head turned to face the sound. The Timber Wolf stood at the other side of the clearing staring at her. Fluttershy quickly tried to get up, but as soon as she place weight on her left foreleg she collapsed in pain. She had failed to see that it was broken; she wasn't going anywhere. She looked up to see the Timber Wolf slowly approaching, a big smile on its face. Its food wasn't going anywhere and it had all the time in the world, and it planned to use it. Shaking on the ground only one word escaped her lips.
"Help."
As the timber wolf approached Fluttershy's eyes shut mind slowed she could hear everything a bird flying away. water dripping some were and... ticking. like a clock. it was faint but...it was getting louder, faster. she opened her eyes to find the timber wolf had stopped dead in its tracks, and it was staring behind her a dumbfound look on its face. as she tern her head she found the source of the ticking. now Fluttershy has stared into this things eyes many times. they were always the same cold and unalive. but what she saw staring back was not the same eyes. these were alive with a dark blue emitting from them looking around stiffly shifting jerking one way then another with a small whirling sound. until its eyes landed on her. Then they locked on to her. There was something beyond the blue light just a...twinkle she couldn't explain. this was the last thing she saw before she passed out.
Hours later in a small home near the Everfree a small yellow and pink pegisis named Fluttershy was waking up, and she was happy. She was happy to be out of the nightmare of timber wolfs and metal. when she first tried to move it felt like a fire burned in her veins making her to let out a small yelp. Getting over the soreness she eventually was able to wiggle on her bed. she checked her wounds to find they had been tended to her hoof had a perfect splint her head bandage was a little on the loose side but Farly dune her right wing however... it had the same bandaging style but it looked like it was dune by someone who had never seen a pegisis wing before. her ear perked up she could hear a quite voice from downstairs was her rescuer still her it was very late at night she limped down the stares with a soft hello came no response her mind was racing trying to think of who it could be when in the middle of the room when she herd a female voice from behind her.
This unit "42" has suffered 82.99% of complete memory loss. this unit is in need of repair pleas press the reset button located on the chest. This unit will go offline in 30 seconds.
Fluttershy was hiding behind a couch in fear
This unit will go offline in 25 seconds
what does offline mean? she tried to remember what twilight told her about computers.
This unit will go offline in 15 seconds.
She made a comment on it "off line sounds more like death to me". was this thing dieing
This unit will go offline in 8 seconds.
Fluttershy pooled all her courage and leaped towards the scrap pile. her eyes met its its eyes were sad pleading to hold onto life
This unit will go offline in 5 seconds
her hoof hit the button that looked like it had been pulled from a type writer and what happened next was the most amazing thing she had ever seen.
The Warm Beat of a Cold Clockwork Heart
Fluttershy sat in amazement as the automatons chest broke in half and began to slide apart reviling its insides. Cogs and gears ranging from one the size of fer hoof to some as small as the tip of a quill, a web of clockwork to thick to see past the first layer. But they looked wrong some spun wildly others didn't move at all some even fell out as soon as its chest opened.it moved its only hand to its chest and set off to work cleaning and fixing its guts. after watching in amazement for a while. Fluttershy began to find it hard to stay awake. When she found herself drifting for the third time the mass in front of her took notice. The pink maned mare to tired to be scared watched as the machine closed its chest, stud up and began walking towards her. It picked her up in its one arm like she would expect it to do a baby. She expected the metal to be cold but unexpectedly it was very warm. she rubbed her head agenced its chest as it carried her back to bed and tucked her in. Thank you were the last word before sleep over took her, silence being her only reply.
A few days later Fluttershy's leg and wing were much better as she put on her saddle bag and began heading for the door. In the time she was healing she come to find out many things about the steampunk automaton manly that his name was 42. At first she found it odd that his name was a number, but then again it could open up its chest and remove its limbs at will so its name wasn't the biggest of all shocks. it was still unable to speak, whenever it tried its neck would spark. It was able to wright so they could communicate, that's how she found out that the voice she herd before was a recording. It also "told" her he needed parts. The only pony Fluttershy could think of was Time Turner the clock fixing pony. but his shop was in town next to Shugercube Corner and she couldn't just walk in the middle of town with 42 behind her. She needed a plan so her first stop would be Twilight's house. She could approach it from behind have 42 wait behind the house and Fluttershy could get Twilight to come around back. A perfect plan. She just wonder witch part would go wrong.
Flutters and 42 walked towards Ponyville in silence as they started up a small but steep hill 42 retched his had to Fluttershy offering a lift. no thank you i can walk fi... WATCH OUT. screamed a small orange filly Interupting Fluttershy. as she and her passengers hit 42 in the center of his chest, making the automaton tilt slightly backwards and other than a new dent to add to his collection. The same could not be said for the cmc. They all lay scattered on the ground save for Scootalloo who was holding on to 42 chest for dear life. Scootaloo spoke first. sorry Fluttershy didn't see you good thing this thing was... when the filly looked up to see what she hit, and it looked back she fell to the ground. Fluttershy jumped in front of 42 and the cmc. i can explain! its Sweetiebell started. Don't panic Flutters said. Its Applebloom stutterer. He wont harm yo. HE IS AWESOME!!! Scootaloo cut off Fluttershy. its cool Sweetiebell squeaked. its... what is it? Applebloom asked. I don't know what he is. Where are you going? asked Sweetiebell. were headed to Twilight's to find a way to sneak him to turners. Can we help sure you can keep 42 company while i get Twilight then we don't have to worry about getting him close to town yet. his name is a 42? they said in unison that's what he told me. he can talk?Scootaloo asked. No but he can wright, Fluttershy got out her quill and a scroll from her pack and handed it to 42. i have to go stay hear ok? the cmc saluted in response.ok good. and with that Flutters took off down the road to Ponyville. so what are we going to do with him? Applebloom asked.
lets see if he can draw. suggested Sweetiebell. that's silly lets see if he can dance countered Scootaloo. Drawing! Squeaked Sweetie Bell. No dancing! yelled Scootaloo. After a few moments of verbal "debating" the two fillys broke out in a hoof fight. Applebloom facehoofed im sorry about thi...she started until she looked around. 42 was nowhere to be seen. But his trail was sticking out like a sore hoof. he was heading for Ponyville.
As 42 sprinted for Ponyville as programs ran thru his clockwork brain his main objectives
-Repair speech/arm,2kill them all
-Search for overlord Fluttershydestroy all life forms
-error 310 files missing repair memory.
The Warm Beat of a Cold Clockwork Heart
YOU LEFT WHO WITH A WHAT! screamed Twilight at Fluttershy. The two mares were in Twi`s home "disusing" the 42 situation.
Now now Twilight you promised to hear me out. Fluttershy said in a tone still soft but more assertive than her usual timid self. She could be quite strong when one of her friends needed help and 42 needed her.
Ok ok i get wanting to help somepony out but why would you leave it with three fillys?
Im not irresponsible Twilight iv known him a few days he helped me with my animals, he saved my life. as far as i know he doesnt know what killing is.
im not saying hes bad its just...Twilight ran over Fluttershy story in her head again. Wait Twilight said in a panic. You were being attacked by a timberwolf right.
Yes and?
You said it was slow. It couldn't have ran away from the timberwolf it would have had to fight it.
So we have all fought temberwolfs even me. countered Fluttershy.
It doesn't mean hes bad but it means he can fight and you said he was broken when he woke up meaning he can overpower a timberwolf when weak. And you left him with three fil... Twilight was interrupted by her by a grey mare breaking her door down.
A metal monster is attacking Vinal! shrieked Derpy.
He wouldn't. thought Fluttershy out loud.
The three mares raced into vinals house only to find something nopony was expecting, Vinal and 42 siting at a table Vinal siping tea and listening as 42 produced wubs from his body.
Greetings Fluttershy. said 42 in a strange robotic voice. i have acquired an appropriate vocal device.
Hey the offer is still up for that subwoofer get you some real sound other than that speaker you ate. Offer Vinal.
Negative.
ok... why are you all staring at us like that? Asked Vinal
because a minuet ago you were screaming that a monster was trying to eat you. deadpanned Derpy.
Ya but its cool now. Said Vinal putting her back hooves on the table and leaning back in her chair.
By now a crowd had formed around Vinals door, including the rest of the elements.
Everypony stay calm. Twilight said addressing the crowd. as far as we can tell its harmless, Now were is Time Turner?
H-here princes Twilight. a brown earthpony with a chestnut mane stepped foreword and bowed.
Your assistance is required to help mend this..Twilight looked at 42 not really knowing what to call him. Thing Twilight finally said. Fluttershys eyes cut daggers into her friend.
Go to your shop and gather as many loose parts as you can spare. Spike send a letter to princes Celestia the last thing we need is the princes bringing an army and starting a war.
Yes mam said the small dragon. as the crowd dispersed they all began to relax in Vinals house...Except Twilight who of coarse was asking 42 every question she could think of all of which went like this.
where are you from?
classified.
how did you get here?
classified.
how old are you?
classified.
WHATS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?!
classified.
Twilight face hoofed. why is that classified? she asked almost crying.
You are not master. 42 stated.
Where is your master?
Master is in this room.
Where!? everypony in the room screamed and huddled in one big safety hug.
Twilight's mind began to race, what monster could command this...thing. Images of 100 foot tall metal giants flew through her head.
42 simply walked over to the pile and picked up one pony. The smallest, weakest, most scared pony. He lifted up Fluttershy in his one good hand and brought her up just an inch from is face.
Greetings master.
The room fell quite.
After several long minuets Twilight's voice broke the silence Fluttershy is your master?
Affirmative.
How?
classified.
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Twilight's face fit the floor stopping the rest of the fowl word from escaping. From her new position Twilight began speaking.
Fluttershy.
Yes Twilight.
Could you pleas ask him to answer me?
O-ok, 42.
Yes?
Pleas answer anything twilight asks you, ok 42?
Affirmative. 42 said as he set the yellow pegasus down genteelly.
Good Twilight lifted fer head wiping tears of frustration from her eyes. Then the questions began again.
where are you from?
memory faulty.
how did you get here?
memory faulty.
how old are you?
memory faulty.
WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU REMEMBER?!
Playing last memory.
Out of 42`s left shoulder came a small projector head. 42 ternd to a blank wall and started the recording.
Ooooohhhh a movie pinkie exclaimed the room suddenly went dark and pinkie puled a bag of popcorn out of thin air.