Automaton Soul

Being strapped to a table, Sprocket could only see passing ponies, all with goggles strapped to their face, once in a while they'd stop to examine something on her head. She could hear muttering and requests for different tools, the clashing of metal, squeaking, saws, drills. It had at some point become a chilling experience, as if being awake during surgery. At times she'd have the need to struggle, but she was immobilized.

Brash, the only small filly among many stallions and mares, headed the project. She drew blueprints, barked orders, and was sure to insult her workers lack of intelligence at every opportunity. It had come up that she is a prodigy, having invented many odd things that could see little practical use, yet were still somewhat amazing, such as an over-sized drying machine, a mobile juicer, a cannon that fires decorations.

The workers dealt with her attitude to be a part of what she could do, but now, though still working hard, they developed doubt. Now they were making a weapon, and something beyond the simple sword or spear at that. To that end some seemed to take their leave.

"What'd I tell you about not coming in here?" Brash suddenly shouts.

"Sorry to be a bother, I simply must borrow this." Discord's voice speaks.

*Click*

Sprocket's vision goes out.

"Yeah, go ahead, take the piece that makes the whole dang thing work!" Brash's voice, now distant.

"Now I must be off, quite the fuss Twilight can make when I borrow her things."

*Pop*

Sprocket feels the ground beneath her hooves, she opens her eyes with no mechanical sound, she whips an ear to attack an itch. A confused Twilight stands before her.

"Who's this?" Twilight turns to Discord her expression switching to frustration, "I said I want my automaton RIGHT NOW!" Smoke leaves her nostrils as she looks just about ready to blast Discord with a spell.

Discord responds with a fit of laughter, "That is her."

Twilight deadpans, "I spent a long time carving her frame out of a densely magical metal, I know what she looks like."

Sprocket is then overcome with desperation and dizziness, she suddenly gasps for air. "What...?" Clamping her mouth shut just as fast as the word came out, she gets a feel for her new muzzle, reaching to it with her hooves. To feel it, made the change far too real, her mind sends commands to non-existent fingers and toes. She had still held on, that this may be a dream, a long dream, maybe as a result of being comatose from that wild animal attack. Although, she had already resolved to accept her reality, something about having all her senses back was just jarring.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asks, putting a hoof to the shaking Sprocket's shoulder. "Where do you live? Sorry about Discord, his sense of humor isn't the best. I'll get you back home."

Reality sank its fangs, and no matter how much she had steeled herself, its poison paralyzed her.

"Discor... he's gone." Twilight sighs.

"T-Twilight, I, uh..." Sprocket's mouth shivered, "I-I am her... I mean, me, uh, Sp-Sprocket." The resolve to even speak was hard to muster and the resulting voice was similar to her own, but wasn't.

"You couldn't know her name if..." Twilight's eyes lost focus, rifling through her mind. "So, where's your body? Is operating that one difficult?"

"Operating? No, Twilight, y-you told me not to think it, but now I'm going to say it anyway, I'm alive, I was killed and the next thing I know I'm in that, uh, automaton, doing what you say because I was confused, I thought it was a dream. I was scared, alone, I know you didn't do it on purpose, and..." The words that came to mind were unbelievable, and she even had the time to consider them as Twilight gazed at her, mouth agape, shocked. "I know you need me, I'll-"

"No!" Twilight flares her wings, "You can't! I would never risk a pony's life like that!" Tears welled in her eyes, "I trapped you in that tin can, you couldn't even talk, I was gonna make you..."

Now Sprocket began to cry, it hadn't exactly been the moment that caused it, more the reminder that she could now do so. Yet, unlike Twilight, Sprocket lost her composure and began to bawl. All the things she needed to cry about could now be released. Twilight embraced Sprocket, waiting for the right time to talk.

~

In Twilight's Canterlot room they now stand, out of the streets, where a scene had begun to form. Sprocket now calm, Twilight still a bit worried of what she had done. "How can I make this up to you?"

"Is there any other way? I mean, to defend Equestria from that darkness?"

"Yes, reviving the elements. While they can be used directly as a weapon, their main function is to emit a sort of light, that keeps The Dark away. Even in a state of petrification whilst they have no bearer they can still do that much. Now though, they've darkened, lost their light completely. Celestia and Luna discovered the elements and used them against creatures that could pass into The Light and cause chaos which would ultimately weaken it. However, this leaves their true origin, their creation, unknown. Me and my friends haven't lost the virtues that make them work, but they faded out regardless, and when it comes to powering them that's all we have to go on."

"So, you do need me?"

"No, we'd need a lot of what I made you into... I can't do that, I'm glad Discord showed me what I nearly did."

"Oh, you're very welcome Twilight Sparkle, but I'm afraid you can't have everything your way." Discord had suddenly appeared laying across Twilight's bed. "You see, I do agree against making more, but this one will serve her intended purpose."

"No, Discord, I won't allow it."

"Then you've a plan if the elements cannot be lit? If the darkness makes its way here to spread fear and discontent? For when the poison of its air reaches your lungs? This mare was given a gift, her soul now applicable to any manner of machine that needs not breath, she can, and must, defend the realm against the bearer of The Dark."

"The bearer of The Dark?"

"Indeed, long ago, when I was just a small draconicus, The Dark had no way to spread, it hadn't needed it before The Light showed up. The Light, creating the Elements of Harmony, and letting creatures wield them to rid the world of darkness, wasn't aware that it was being watched. The Dark, copied this and made the Dark Bearers, insidious little monsters focused on driving The Light away and killing any who'd get in their way. One such a monster has undoubtedly   returned, it targeted the elements in their weakened form and took away their light."

"Weakened form?"

"I don't have all day to explain every little detail, look, all that needs to be done, is finding the Dark Bearer and crushing him, and no amount of foolishness such as your elements, friendship, or love and whatnot can touch the thing, so we send your precious Sprocket in."

"Why can't you do it? You were born from The Dark, right?"

"That's correct, I'm afraid however, that I've come to like the way I am now, and even a whiff of that foul air would return me to my old ways. Quite a bother really."

"Wait... if it got to the elements, then..."

"Well it, oh..."

Sprocket felt left out, not having come to any realization, "What?"

"It's in Ponyville!"