Automaton Soul

*Click-clack*

Diane's wooden sandals make a lively sound against the pavement as she skips off to school. The alleyways of the residential area come to an end. Of course, she knows the "proper" way to get there, but shortcuts meant more time with friends. So she turns, into the single path that led through a patch of trees. This path leads straight to the back of the school, children are advised to stray from it, but nobody is ever there to remind her of that.

Most children are walked or driven to school by their parents. Diane's father, the only parent she has, works all week very early in the morning. He's always there after school though, and has just enough energy to watch her favorite show with her, a show that, unbeknownst to her, would be a large part of her future.

*Click-clack*

The road through the trees had never felt unsafe, but Diane now felt an unease every time her sandals met one of the many rocks used to make the path. Like someone or something else was hearing it too.

*Clack*

She stops to the sound of a low growl, a shiver runs down her body as her eyes dart left and right. She can't see it, but the growls continue, and they grow louder, closer.

*Click-clack-click-clack-click-clack*

She runs, the growl erupts into a violent snarl, her adrenaline kicks in, her mind goes blank, she reaches a new speed. A pain shoots into her leg, at first believing she'd gone too fast as she falls forward, she's proven wrong as she attempts to get back up, only to feel a pair of jaws keep her head down, and take her life.

~

Or so she had thought.

*Click-clack*

She tries to move her eyes, only to hear the somewhat familiar sound maybe now a bit more metallic.

"Alright now open your eyes." A female voice spoke.

She slowly slides her eyelids open, which, strangely, the sound like that of a knife being slid into its rack follows them.

*Click-clack*

Her eyes dart left and right.

"How wonderful, now let's see..." The voice again, Diane now focused on its owner. Her violet eyes stuck in a book, the purple horned and winged equine paid Diane no attention for a time. "Ah, I need to see if you can act on your own, try doing... something, anything really." The mare looked back to Diane, waiting in anticipation.

Diane, stunned in the presence of Twilight Sparkle did nothing but gawk in awe. Maybe a bit different from what she'd known, Twilight has a definable coat and hooves although they matched in color, her presence is real, rather than cartoonish. Her cutie mark is simply different colored hair growing on her flank.

The room, a hollowed out tree made into a library, has its colorful books lined amongst the walls. At the center was Twilight with her study table, a mess of open books, scattered notes, and piles of papers upon it. Looking out one of the round windows Diane could see the rest of Ponyville.

"Hmm, you can hear me right?" Twilight asks with a quizzical expression.

Diane nods in a slight panic, now realizing her staring. She stands, she hadn't thought she was sitting, and to her surprise she's just as tall as Twilight.

Again she is surprised to notice that she is in no pain, in fact she can't feel a thing... at all. She knows where her limbs are, but can't feel any clothes, a breeze, the ground beneath her feet, nothing. In fright she looks down to see two metal pillars, made of dark bronze and mystical patterns carved into them, there's a bright blue orb separating the the pillars in their middle. She concludes that these are legs by the sight of what seems to be a round kneecap in front of the blue orbs.

She takes a step, but something behind her drags along. Her back legs, another shock, she looks back to see them, she knew they were there but couldn't fully register it. Her head and body twist about as she tries to get a full view of herself. Until she hears a small chuckle.

"Want a mirror?" Twilight asks, amused.

A mirror, coated in a lavender light, floats its way to Diane. The light disperses as it lands, Diane gazes into it, overwhelmed by the sight. Much like her legs, her entire body is made of the same metal with the same patterns, a visible orb at every joint. Her eyes are made of many rings that spin and tighten or loosen as she changes focus, the center having the same blue light as her joints. Her mane and tail, whilst completely still, seemed messy, likely to make the metal they're made of emulate hair. Where her mouth should be, while still the normal shape, is without one, leaving her mute. The metal equine that stared back at her is an earth pony, and her new body.

"Twilight!" An excited voice from outside calls, "I'm throwing a party for a new pony in town!"

"Well, let's make more progress tomorrow."

Twilight's horn glows.

Diane's vision goes dark.

~

"...I'll show you how she works." Twilight says after what seemed like only a moment.

"You've been spending so much time on this thing, I hope it's as-"

Diane opens her eyes quickly to the new voice, the small dragon, who had been examining her face, gasps and lurches back in surprise. Diane snaps her head back.

"Woah, that was creepy." Spike says.

"Wow, she can be startled." Twilight writes on some paper with a quill. "Alright, stand." She orders Diane. Diane complies, which spurs more note taking. "Now, let's see if you can walk, try coming to me."

*Clank-clonk-clank... clonk*

Diane, after only taking one step with each hoof, stops. The sound of her new hooves nails it home, that she is no longer home. She knows where she is, a place that couldn't truly exist. Had she really died? Is this some strange dream? The afterlife perhaps?

No answers came.

"C'mon, you can do it." Twilight urges.

*Clank-clonk-clank-clonk*

"That's it, good job!" Twilight congratulates Diane who had moved within an inch of her.

She continues her note taking and Diane focuses on the paper. It's an illegible mess, complete with drawings and equations scattered about. Twilight takes notice of this and holds the paper towards her.

"Interested? This is all about what I'm learning from you, and I'm even calculating proper session times so I can fit you into my schedule."

"So what's its name?" Spike asks.

Diane turns to Spike to give her answer, but is reminded she hasn't a mouth.

"Her name is, uh... hmm..." Twilight browses her notes, "A7V!"

Diane is taken aback by the strange name and shakes her head, she knows her actual name wouldn't come up, but who could stand a name consisting of letters and numbers?

"Oh? I didn't think you'd be capable of opinion." Twilight writes some more notes.

"Or maybe she just wants an actual name," Spike retorts, "How about... Sprocket!"

A cute name, and to avoid any deliberation from Twilight, Diane nods her head vigorously.

"Wow, Spike, she really seems to like that, good job!"

"Just came to me." Spike scratches the back of his head with a small blush.

"Alright Sprocket, let's introduce you to my friends." Twilight stows her notes and heads for the door. "Follow me."

Diane... or, rather, Sprocket, follows behind.