Rare Metals

Occurs during Season 1 Episode 6: Boast Busters

Upon returning to the library I headed straight for the lab, I thought that maybe I could start some tinkering on the old damaged machinery in there, maybe get my mind off of the recent events. However as soon as I approached the work bench a flash of light appeared in front of me, when my optics recovered from the sudden light shift I found a scroll sitting on the work bench.

I literally went cross-eyed trying to open the scroll, I didn't have any coding on how to do things with my hooves or mouth so I had to teach myself. It took some struggling and I lost the scroll a few times, going to need to repair a few this too. But they were old anyway.

I finally got the scroll open, and is looked around at the mess I had made. Though if anything it was an improvement, this lab had never been cleaned since...

I dismissed the thought and turned back to the scroll in front of me.

To FalAIr

Sister hath explained to Us what thou art and has told Us what thou need. I request that thou make haste to Canterlot so that We can discuss with thou what thou need.

I doth think that thou will appreciate our contribution to thy repairs.

P.S. Sister hath told the Guards to not let anypony disturb Us, even with Our royal seal. The guards do however, have instructions to let an unusual pony in. We apologise but you shall have to show them thy true form.

Princess Luna

I read it again, just to make sure what I'd read was true. It was true, Princess Luna wanted to meet me in Canterlot. I took the scroll in my mouth and turned around with one thought on my mind, I need to show this to Twilight. But I stopped, After what just happened? I don't think I can go out there again. I didn't get to think about it too much though.

"FalAIr, are you okay?" Asked a concerned-looking Twilight from the hole in the wall that was the entrance to the lab, "I didn't know you felt this way about this all,"

I turned towards her, but kept my gaze lowered, "You couldn't have known Twilight. I done blame you or your friends, not even the Princess for this," I sighed and slowly raised my gaze to look her in the face, "I was just afraid, and I still am. But, I think, if at least you seven accept me..."

My eyes widened as Twilight approached and wrapped her fore-hooves around me, "FalAIr we'll always accept you, as I said before. No matter what happens, you're still our friend," if i had any tear ducts I would have been crying, as it is I did what I could, leaning into the hug, my AI experiencing the feelings it was programmed to feel.

I don't know how long we stayed like that, but it had to end eventually. I was the one to end the hug, immediately bending down to pick up the scroll I had dropped, only for it to be encased in a lavender glow and floated up to me. I looked up to find a smiling Twilight, her horn aglow, "Thank you Twilight. But, I think you should read it. It's from Princess Luna," Twilight's smile turned into a frown

"Princess Luna? Why would she send a letter?" She opened the letter and began to read. Having nothing else to do, I simply waited for her to finish, which didn't take long, "Princess Luna wants to help? So soon after the Nightmare Moon incident?"

I nodded, "I agree that Princess Luna has shown an extraordinary recovery rate, this letter being proof, but I see no reason why that should stop me from accepting her help,"

"That's not the only problem I have with this. It's just that I can't go with you if you decide to go today," Twilight said, rolling the scroll back up, "I promised I'd go and see a new magic show that's come to Ponyville with the girls,"

"I understand Twilight, you have to avid breaking promises to your friends," I said, smiling, "I'll be fine," the only problem with that statement was, I couldn't figure out if I was lying.

The girls and spike all made sure they said goodbye before I went to the train station. I was baffled at how they found out so fast though. I noticed that some of the Ponyvillians still greeted me, but the majority didn't and some even went out of their way to ignore me. It was disconcerting, till I saw a filly glare at her mother for trying to get away. I activated my synthetics, snickering a bit at the filly and her mother.

Other than that, not much happened until I got to the train station. There wasn't much activity, which was normal, but it was still odd seeing only a few ponies entering and exiting trains. I had memorised the train schedule word for word, I knew when my train was going to arrive as well as where it was coming from and other things. But, you can never be certain.

I sat down next to a
to wait for the train to Canterlot,
so I didn't bother trying to start up a conversation.

Soon enough the train to Canterlot arrived and I got up to enter, not noticing
had disappeared.

I sat close to the windows on the train so I could watch the land roll by, it was interesting, seeing all the various types of plants and animals. I had data on some things and were able to recognise them as the train rolled past, but most things I couldn't identify. Maybe I should do some travelling I thought as the train pulled into Canterlot Train Station. I got up and walked out the train doors as they opened, I headed straight towards Canterlot Castle, taking in the sights as I went. Most of the aristocrats ignored me, which didn't bother me as they're aristocrats. I have data on them, uptight, snooty, tend to ignore or abuse lower class ponies. It honestly disgusts me to say the least.

I arrived at the castle soon enough and was stopped by guards at the front gate, "Halt. State your business citizen,"

"I am here by request, I received a summons from Princess Luna," the guards looked at each other, smirking

"We have instructions from Princess Celestia not to let anypony disturb Princess Luna, so, sorry bud," I sighed, expecting as much from Luna's letter, but a small part of me had hoped they'd let me through.

I made sure nopony else was around before I disabled my synthetics, I wasn't ready for a re-run of Ponyville quite yet. The guards gasped as I shed the illusion, my metal chassis bare to them. They gazed on in silence for a few moments before returning to their senses and looking at each other, "You think this is the 'unusual pony' the princess was talking about?" The one on the left asked.

"Whether he's the right pony or not doesn't matter right now. He's an unusual pony and I'd hate to know what happens if we don't let him in," replied the other before turning to me, "You may see Princess Luna," he stepped aside, and the other followed, albeit hesitantly.

I nodded to them before walking past them and into the castle.

I instantly had to ask for directions when I entered the castle, I couldn't even begin to guess where Princess Luna could be found. The helpful guard sent me in the right direction, making sure I understood that I had to knock on Luna's bedroom door to ask for permission before entering.

It seemed a bit silly now that I thought back to it, despite the castle's size, it's not hard to get from the entrance to Luna's bed chamber. I supposed that was more for the guards benefit.

I stopped when I reached Luna's door and knocked as instructed, there was a moment before there was a response, "Thou may enter," I opened the door and entered, making sure to close it behind me as I did so. When I turned around I found Princess Luna lying on her bed, observing me, "Thou must be FalAIr?" She asked as I moved away from the door to sit down.

"Yes Princess, I am FalAIr," I replied, sitting down in front of the Princess. My gaze was drawn upwards immediately as I noticed there were cracks in the circling. The cracks originated around a chandelier which sat in the centre of the ceiling above where Luna was lying.

Luna noticed my gaze and cocked her head, trying to look at where my eyes were, "What art thou looking at?"

"Apologies, Princess but..." I did some quick calculations in my head based on what I could see, "The position of the ceiling that chandelier is connected to is unstable, I estimate that the chandelier will collapse along with part of the roof onto the bed, likely crushing you with it, in about a weeks' time, give or take a few days as I don't have much data to-"

Luna interrupted me, "Thou art saying this chandelier will fall and crush Us in one weeks' time?"

I nodded, "Roughly, yes, depending on the weather conditions, the material of the ceiling, natural disasters, unnatural disasters etc," Luma spread her wings and flew up to inspect the cracks, "Be careful, Princess. I am unsure how the air from your wings or even touching the chandelier will affect its condition!" Luna ignored my warning and flew close to the cracks in the circling, she gently rubbed her hoof along one of the cracks to verify what it was.

As soon as Luna touched the ceiling the cracks began to spread, Luna panicked and flew back down towards me, I ducked as Luna landed and the centre of the circling collapsed with the chandelier, debris falling and crushing the bed where Luna had been. Guards immediately rushed into the room, "Princess!" They looked at Luna, coughing beside me as I cowered on the ground, then at the bed, covered in debris and pieces of the chandelier, "Princess are you okay? What happened?"

I slowly got up and turned towards the princess, as soon as she stopped coughing she turned to me, her eyes wide, "FalAIr. Thou just saved Our life,"

I shook my head, "I made an error Princess, the circling was less sturdy than I estimated, my incorrect estimate could have killed you,"

"Nonsense, if thou had not drawn Our attention to it, We surely would have perished," she turned to the nearest Guard, "Inform Our sister of what hath happened," she turned back to me, "We believe we had something to discuss?"

Author's Note

Why did I think Early Modern English was easy?