Automaton Soul

*Clank-clonk-clank-clonk-clank-clonk*

"Now you've got it!" Spike gives a small cheer. Sprocket increases her pace as she circles the main room of the library. "And with we that can check off galloping." Spike marks the last box on a long list. "That's it, you can perform any normal task without trouble. I'm sure Twilight will be glad to hear it."

*Clank-clonk-clank-clonk-clank-clonk*

"Uh, Sprocket? You can stop now."

Sprocket had however, found a feeling in galloping without fatigue. A feeling of freedom that released her mind from prior events. A feeling abruptly interrupted by her face meeting the floor with a loud crash.

"Woops, sorry about that." A familiar voice.

"Pinkie! Why... or how, did you come out of the bookcase?" Spike asks.

"Well Twilight's always telling me how she gets lost in good books, so I thought I'd look for her, but now I see she's right here." A pair of pink hooves peels Sprocket's face from the wood floor and brings it to meet Pinkie's. "That's some snazzy armor there Twilight, so is this that project you've been talking about? Oh! Does it have rocket hooves for flying? Wait, you can already fly."

"Pinkie." Twilight says, who has just now shown up behind Pinkie.

"No, no, I'll get it, you can shoot laser beams from the eyes! Actually, you've got a spell that does that from your horn."

"Pinkie!"

"I've got it, it makes you completely invulnerable!"

"Pinkie!"

"Yes, Twilight?"

"That isn't me." But Twilight's words only make Pinkie give Sprocket a quizzical look.

"But, that's your voice, this is your house, and your book that you tripped on." Pinkie produces said book to show to Sprocket. A book titled, "Making Metals Malleable with Magic".

"Look behind you." Twilight says flatly.

Upon doing so, Pinkie responds, "Oh, hey Twilight... wait, who's this then?" Pinkie presses her hoof on Sprocket's nose.

"I'll introduce you, but first," Twilight turns to Spike as a sack of books floats over to him. "Spike, could you organize these by their publish date?"

"You got it." The burlap sack drapes over Spike as he barely holds it up and hauls it to another room.

Twilight takes her place beside Sprocket, "Pinkie, I'd like you to meet my automaton, Sprocket."

"Well hi there Sprocket, I hope we can be the best of friends!" Pinkie smiles in excitement, but it fades as she searches Sprocket's face. Pinkie then grabs Sprocket's head and pulls, "Let's get that helmet off so I can see your smile!" Sprocket, of course, would be elated to show the pink pony a bright smile, if she could.

"Pinkie, that's not armor, that's just how she is, she's an automaton."

"So, like, a whole 'nother species of pony?" Pinkie grows quite the large smile, "This calls for the biggest party I can muster, I've got to get started!" Pinkie darts out the door, leaving a few pieces of confetti in her wake.

Twilight sighs, she walks over to the table and examines the checklist of tasks Spike had Sprocket perform, "Good, I'm going to have you start doing more complicated things from now on... but first I'm going to tell you why, hopefully with the personality I've mistakenly given you, it'll make you fight even harder."

The word "fight" had struck a chord of fear in Sprocket, whatever this automaton was designed for, she was sure she wasn't capable of it, and that being the case... would she be shut down? Killed?

A chest, one she recognized, the one that holds the elements, Twilight levitates it beside herself and faces Sprocket.

"This is going to be a bit of a story, so listen close." Twilight takes a short, solemn breath.

"In ages long past, ponykind, born from a brilliant light amongst the dark, was strong, wise, and resourceful. But they were born into an unforgiving world, the darkness, along with creatures of chaos, set their sights on ponykind and their peacefulness. They clashed, and the forces of chaos were intent on returning ponykind to the darkness. However, even the smallest spark of hope was enough to ignite change and in time ponykind's passion, resoucefulness, and ingenuity, led them to create the tools that would even the odds, and they were named, The Elements of Harmony. With this great power of light in hoof, ponykind lit its way through the darkness, and in its absence came peace, civilization, and most importantly, life..." The chest cracks open. "But even the most brilliant of lights eventually flicker," It opens the rest of the way to reveal the jewelry inside. "And die." The gemstones, all jet black, just looking at them, they felt lifeless. "And if nothing is done, the darkness will return." Twilight gives Sprocket a strong stare. "You will stand as a guardian between ponykind and the darkness until the power of the elements can be restored, I've made you powerful enough for the task, I just need you to learn how to use that power before it's too late."

Sprocket, upright and stiff with fully opened eyes, couldn't react. What could have happened to the elements? Did they die out like a used battery? Was their power sapped by some powerful villain? More importantly, Sprocket knew for sure now, that she was unfit to carry out what Twilight expected of her. Was she meant to face enemies that could match up to Sombra, Chrysalis, Discord?

"I know you're worried, I didn't even want to make you able to be... but if you succeed-"

"Twilight! You got a letter from Princess Celestia!" Spike runs into the room, sparking panic in both Twilight and Sprocket.

Twilight takes the letter in her magic, "Oh no, she's not ready yet, what'll I-" The letter unravels and seven golden tickets fall out. "Oh! Phew, I forgot the Grand Galloping Gala was coming up." Twilight gives the letter back to Spike, "You can read it."

Spike takes the letter in a claw and clears his throat with a sense of pride, "Dearest Twilight, I hope your project is going well, I've given word of our situation in regards to the elements to a select few of the most well-studied ponies. Rest assured that along with my sister and I, we can all work towards getting ponykind's most powerful weapon back in working order. However, this does not mean we should exclude ourselves from annual celebrations such as this. You and your friends have done well to stay calm in light of the distressing situation and deserve to enjoy the festivities, which I've taken measures to make a bit less disappointing than last you attended." Rather than pay much attention to the letter Twilight seemed to be cooking up an idea in her head.

"Spike, we're going to Canterlot!"

"Well, duh... wait, you mean today?"

"Those ponies up there are probably studying off old tomes and whatever Celestia can tell them. If we're going to make real progress, we need to bring the elements and the girls up there to help. It's also the perfect chance to introduce Sprocket, she's something I know will impress, with Automatons like her in mass production, the royal guard won't have to risk their lives anymore, and with power like hers we may not even need the elements."

"You've said that a few times now but, what kind of power is that?" Spike asks, a question Sprocket was yearning to be answered.

"Well I'm glad you asked." Sprocket nods along with Twilight. The room suddenly becomes a strange light shade of blue.

"Woah, what happened to the lights?" Spike fumbles around with wide eyes.

Sprocket had barely noticed it, but for him, and likely Twilight as well, there is no light. "Sprocket, go ahead and pick up Spike." A simple enough task, Sprocket places Spike on her back.

"Alright, so she can see in the dark."

"That's not all Spike, you've heard me talk about it before, when I was looking up the terrors of the past. The Darkness is only illustrated in the most ancient of tomes, and it's depicted as a malicious evil. Yet, studying further I found that this entity was the world itself before life began. The light that brought out creatures of peace cast away the dark so they could live," The center of the room lit up casting away the night-vision effect, "And in response the dark created creatures to fight back, ones such as Discord." A silhouette of discord surrounds the light and crushes it to half its size. "Now on our side, Discord is an important piece to understanding this enemy." The silhouette changes to light and holds the dark back. "But unlike enemies we've faced thus far, this is something without sentience, it's constantly fighting to take hold of the world once more, uncaring that when it does so, all life will cease to be." The darkness engulfs the light, then after a moment all returns to normal. "Sprocket can move freely in the darkness, where a normal, living pony would die. She's also strong enough to fight the creatures of the dark with her bare hooves."

"So wait, that darkness is coming back?"

"Yes Spike, the fading of the elements is a sure sign and if-"

It's likely Twilight had more to say, but Sprocket was too busy freaking out, causing a racket of clanking metal in her ears. In some tales the gods are cruel, twisted, immortals, content with causing suffering to even the most innocent of souls. One such a god was likely looking over Sprocket, laughing at her whilst she exist feebly in a body that cannot seek help, and is expected too much of.