The Pony Without a Heart - Part I
The morning sun cast it's new light over the lake beneath Canterlot, dancing from it's surface calmly. It was a serene morning... but perhaps not so for one pony who was very late for class.
Amidst the emerging buzz of pony endeavour the morning normally coaxed, the setting up of stalls and the opening of shops, a young colt of no more than ten winters old weaved between hoof and cart like a salmon swimming upstream. His name was Cogsworth Junior, a pale coated pony with a long dark mane, a frantic worry in his green eyes. His study bag bounced up and down like the wings of a Pegasus at his flank as he bolted through the streets, near breathless from his exertions. Eventually he approached a large building with an open wooden door, beneath the arch of which stood a senior looking orange coated mare who regarded Cogsworth with narrow eyes as he skittered across the cobbled street towards her.
"Late again Mr Rathbone? That's the third time this week, come in!"
wordlessly Cogs trotted past her, too breathless to construct a plausible reason for his lateness this time. He knew he would likely have to later though...
~~~
"Ok class, settle down! Miss Rose, please refrain from clipping the class plant... it is in fact plastic!"
Cogsworth monastically walked amidst the grid patterned desks, all but one of which contained restless fellow students awaiting the days lessons. With Grim resignation he sat at the one empty desk and pulled out a few of his note books, preferring not to acknowledge the chaos around him.
"Ok class, you should all know the drill by now. I read out your name, and you say 'present' in response, that is if you're here of course."
One pupil's hoof shot into the air like a firework. "I have to go to the bathroom!"
The teacher shook her head and let out a small sigh. "Ok, just please be quick."
The excited ruckus simmered down to a low level thrum as the teacher began to read out names one by one. "Cranberry?"
"Here Miss Staples."
"Petulia?"
"Ohh, that's me, yes Miss!"
Cogsworth was sketching out a picture, concentrating hard on the design of something seemingly quite complex. Another pony at his flank was trying to take a look at what he was doing, but his view was obscured as Cogsworth was hunched over his work.
"Miss? Cogsworth is drawing again!" shouted a voice from across the room.
Cogsworth looked up at the mention of his name, a little bewildered. Miss Staples put down her checklist of pupil names and trotted over to his desk.
"Cogsworth, how many times have I told you not to do anything during..."
She hesitated a moment, noticing what he had been sketching out on the page. It was a blueprint diagram for a pair of mechanical wings, a series of complicated calculations for wind resistance and weight ratio scribbled messily at it's side.
Miss staples looked down at the young colt, his eyes staring back up at her, a tousled mane and unkempt appearance betraying what she thought to be a very high level of intelligence.
"...Just put it away for now Cogs please." she asked quietly, then returned to her desk and continued to read out the names of her pupils.
"Did you hear about Cogsworth?" whispered a pale blue colt to a red coated mare that sat in front of him. She wore her mane short and spiked and had a reddened flame cutie mark upon her flank.
"Hmm? No, what?" she whispered hoarsely in response.
"Apparently... he's got a robot heart!"
She stared at him incredulously. "Don't talk silly!"
The colt shook his head, his tone bolstered with a serious insistence despite his hushed tone. "No really! His dad owns that Clock shop, the big one down Mane Street. My dad used to go there often to have his tools fixed. He said that the owners son had heart problems when he was very young and his dad built him a heart from clock parts!"
She screwed up her features and faced Miss Staples at her front once again. "I find that very hard to believe!"
The colt leaned in towards her a little. "I'm telling you it's true, that's why he invents things, he's a robot!"
She burst into a fit of hysterics which unfortunately was quickly met with a glare from Miss Staples.
"Would you care to share the joke Miss Ember?" asked Miss Staples politely.
Ember looked around behind her at the blue colt who was now pretending to have had nothing to do with her, chewing his pencil innocently.
"No.. no it's ok Miss Staples, I'm sorry." she said as she turned to face the front again.
Miss Staples continued on, whilst Ember watched Cogs with great interest from across the room..
"A Robot heart!? ...hmm."
~~~
"That will be all class, homework is to read chapter four and five of your library book with some pony to witness. Don't forget they need to sign your progress book when you have finished!"
Ponies scrambled for the door as though a fire had broken out in the room, a mad dash for freedom ensuing like a many hooved worm fleeing a birds predations.
"Cogsworth... I'd like a word if I may." asked Miss Staples as he slipped down from his desk, last amidst the tide of other students to do so. She trotted over to her door as the last few ponies filtered through, closing it behind them. Cogsworth stood in front of her desk looking sullen, head bowed and expression resigned.
"I... I'm sorry I was late again, I overslept."
Miss Staples sat at her desk and shook her head in response. "Young Cogsworth, your father owns one of the most prolific Clock shops in Equestria. Do you honestly expect me to believe his son is the subject of poor time keeping?"
Cogsworth shifted on his hooves, looking at the floor. He didn't respond in word, but his expression told her all she needed to know. He was hiding something, which seemed to be a trait of intelligent pupils, something she was very familiar with and adept at spotting.
"Please listen Cogs. I have never seen a talent as innate as your own in one so young before. It is very impressive from what I have seen of your sketches and notes, but you must realise that does not grant you exemption from normal class learning."
Cogsworth nodded, still not meeting her gaze. "I know, I just... I get lost in projects. It becomes difficult to concentrate on anything else..."
Miss Staples smiled. "I understand that situation well Cogs, I honestly do. Much like a good book you can't leave alone. But the fact remains you do need to broaden your horizons beyond that of invention and mechanics. Knowledge and lore encompass all things Cogs, not just a single aspect. Being good, exceptional even at only one thing will ultimately limit you in later life. Whatever it is you are working on, it's not important enough to ruin your education. So please Cogs, NO more lateness, do you understand?"
Cogsworth nodded and smiled. "I understand Miss Staples."
Miss Staples smiled again. "Off you go then, enjoy your weekend. Please try not to get into too much trouble."
Cogsworth padded out of the class room and motioned to turn left, unfortunately not quick enough to spot the red mare standing immediately outside of the door. She let out a surprised yelp as they both collided, landing in a heap of hooves and wide eyed confusion. Cogsworth craned his neck to see with whom he was now entangled, only to be greeted by a red mare smiling back at him awkwardly.
"Oh... h-hello. My names Ember...Um, pleased to meet you... Cogs is it?"
