Lunch at Sugar Cube Corner had been nothing short of pleasant for Sprocket. While eating a few of the selections there he quickly agreed that this was indeed the best sweet shop in Equestria. During his lunch he was able to pick Pinkie’s brain to see how much she knew about mechanics and the like. It turned out that Pinkie knew a fair amount about the subject, and even showed him her trademark party cannons. He was impressed that she was able to launch all that confetti and plastic without a fire, but he chalked it all up to compressed air.

Shortly after he had left Sugar Cube Corner he headed to the castle aforementioned in the letter. It wasn’t a long walk to the base of the structure, but he took his time to admire what the little town had to offer. Soon he had reached the large double doors that lead into the tree. Castle. Thing. He grabbed one of the large handles in the middle of the door with his magic and knocked solidly a few times. At first he heard nothing and thought that maybe they were understaffed. It had only been a few weeks since the castle appeared, he guessed, so it was possible. After only a little bit of waiting he heard movement on the other side of the door and it finally opened.

“Good aftarnoon, my name is Sprocket…” he stopped his greeting when he saw no one at the door. He heard a small noise below him that sounded like a cough. He looked in the direction to see a small green and purple drake standing in the doorway. “Ah forgive me. Didn’t notice ya there litt’l lad,” he chuckled

“It’s alright,” the drake responded, “I assume you’re here to see Twilight?”

“Aye lad, I’m here ta see tha lass abou’t a job.” Sprocket said, “what’s your name litt’l one?”

“The name’s Spike,” he held out a claw and Sprocket took it, “you don’t sound like you’re from around here.”

“Very nice ta mee’t ya Spike, an no aye’m no’t. I’m from Trotland,” he replied. Before Spike could respond another voice came from behind him.

“Ah perfect! You’re just in time. I have a gap in my schedule right now. Please, come in.” The voice belonged to an elegant looking mare. She had a horn and a pair of regal looking wings which let Sprocket know that she was the mare he was looking for. He bowed and spoke.

“It’d be my honor, Princess.” Sprocket said. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a faint blush on the alicorn’s cheeks.

“Please, just Twilight is fine,” she said back to him, “I still haven’t gotten used to the title and I prefer when people talk to me as just Twilight.” She scuffed a hoof on the ground nervously. Sprocket smiled a little bit and replied in good nature,

“Aye understand lass. Aye’m no’t a fan of formalities myself.” Twilight smiled back.

“I couldn’t help but hear you’re from Trotland. We don’t get many ponies from there around here. Might I ask, how long have you know the Princesses?” she asked, “they seemed to know you quite well from the letter I received.”

“Ah, well aye’v known ‘em since aye was startin’ my career. Celly saw my talen’t an immediately wanted me ta be taugh’t properly. So she ‘ad me pu’t in one of ‘er schools. Aye’v only recently gotten ta know Luna, bu’t she’s quite tha trickster.” he said while laughing at the things he remembered. Twilight blanched when she heard her mentor being referred to as Celly.

“Uh.. by Celly you mean P-Princess Celestia right?” she asked quite confused.

“Ah righ’t. Just a nickname, lass. Aye’v know ‘er long enough tha’t she doesn’t mind,” Sprocket explained. Twilight couldn’t wrap her head around the concept and decided to write to the princess about it later. There was a small moment of silence before Twilight spoke up.

“Well we should get to business. If you’d just follow me.”

“Aye. We’ve a lo’t to discuss.” Sprocket followed her through the door before he asked a question, “So, Twiligh’t, do ya know much abou’t automatons?” Twilight looked back at the stallion quizzically.

“No not much I’m afraid. I know they are a type of machine and involve powerful magic, but not much more than that.” she answered. Sprocket put on his mental teaching cap and started his explanation.

“Righ’t. So you we’re correc’t on both accounts bu’t missin’ ah few things. Automatons are the closes’t thing ta wha’t can be called ‘sentien’t machines’ they require a solid an’ workin’ frame. They also need magic ta provide power an’ programmin’. This magical elemen’t requires both an outle’t an’ somthin’ ta hold it in. Tha outle’t could be anyhin’ from walkin’, ta shootin’ rainbow lasors. Tha place where tha magic is stored has ta be able ta supply tha’t outle’t or the automaton will burn ou’t an’ die. You followin’ so far?” he asked to make sure his temporary student wasn’t lost.

“I think I follow. So when you build the body and add magic, how do you direct the magic without constantly controlling it?” Twilight asked, “also you mentioned ‘programming’ what did you mean by that?” Sprocket smiled. He had hoped that she would ask questions like this. It made presenting the material a lot easier.

“Aye’m glad ya asked lass. So when you are preparin’ ta put your energy into tha body you etch runes an’ add conductive wirin’ to direc’t tha flow of magic to where ya want it ta be. Those runes ac’t as tha programmin’ an’ allow ya tell it wha’t ya want it ta do.” It all made perfect sense in Twilight’s head except for one thing.

“If the concept is that simple, how come we don’t have them all around Equestria yet?” she asked. Sprocket knew the answer to that question, but wasn’t sure Twilight would understand.

“Well ya see lass, Celestia wasn’t very fond of tha idea when aye had brough’t it up. She though’t tha’t tha idea migh’t be used wrong, an’ trus’t me Twiligh’t you do no’t wan’t these in tha wrong hands. As for how she managed ta keep i’t secre’t. She banned tha use of these kind of runes. An’ she se’t up a way ta le’t her know if they are bein’ used. No’t ta mention tha’t learnin’ an’ applyin’ them is bloody difficul’t.” He explained laughing slightly. Twilight thought about his answer as they continued to the room where they would talk about his housing and warehouse arrangements in Ponyville. She wasn't sure why Celestia had kept that information secret from her, and she would include this in her letter.

After two and a half hours had passed Twilight had shown Sprocket which houses he would be able to purchase, paid for by the princesses, and where he would be able to set up a workshop. Maps were scattered on the table and so were a few plates and two empty cups of coffee. Between the discussions of where Sprocket would stay Twilight had managed to get more information from the inventor about his job and what kinds of things he had accomplished.

“So you’re telling me you’ve built working horseless carriages?” she asked in surprise. Sprocket smiled proudly and answered the question,

“Aye lass. One for Luna, an’ from wha’t aye hear she has her own track!” he laughed imagining the princess of the night in full racing outfit. Twilight, on the other hoof, could only wonder what a horseless carriage would look like.

Soon stories had been exchanged and Celestia’s sun was setting. Sprocket mentioned something to Twilight about finding an inn, but she wouldn’t have it. Partly because there wasn’t one in Ponyville, and she also insisted that he was her guest and that he should use one of the many spare beds in the castle.

“This one here will be your room until we can get you a place. There are clean sheets on the bed, and the bathroom is just down the hall to the right,” Twilight stopped and hummed to herself, “Did I miss anything?” she asked.

“Aye don’t think so lass. Thank ya very much for this all.” Sprocket smiled. Twilight just smiled back and started to head back to her room.

“No problem! Goodnight Sprocket. See you in the morning.” Sprocket waved a hoof,

“Goodnigh’t Twilight. See ya in tha mornin’.” Sprocket closed the door and pulled a chair over to the desk that was by the head of the comfortable looking bed. He floated his saddle-bag onto the desk and pulled several scrolls and measuring tools. He grabbed two small weights, spreading one of the large scrolls onto the desk. Cautiously he took a glance around the room and out the window, then looked back to the scroll.

AUTHORIZED EYES ONLY - PROTOCOL 578/883 ECLIPSE
PROJECT DESIGNATION : N.I.G.H.T. FORCE

-NEAR-LIVING
-IMPLEMENTED
-GUARD &
-HELION
-TASK FORCE

Sprocket frowned. Aye’ll need ta make sure tha workshop is secure. Tartarus… Celly why do ya always ge’t me inta things like this… Sprocket spent the next few hours going over the documents and making lists for the materials he needed to get the project started. After he had gone over everything twice to make sure it all in order he grabbed his saddle-bag once more. He pulled a small bottle with burning green flame out and held the documents over it. He uncorked the bottle and the papers went up in a blaze. The smoke from the small fire traveled out the window and towards Canterlot where the Princesses were waiting. Sprocket took a moment to stare out over the small town that would soon be his home for a while. He just smiled and spoke softly to himself,

“Aye could ge’t used ta this.” He closed the window and laid on his bed. Sleep soon overtook him.

Author's Note

Again thank you for reading and I accept any constructive comments!