Something new

You felt the gentle breeze blow against yourself, enjoying it's mild current as it tussles your mane around before dissipating the next second. While trotting over the grass field, you also take-in the softness of the blades as they brush past your hooves when walking over them. You looked over to your left to see a patch of golden flowers cluttered together and swaying alongside the gentle wind too. But as soon as the sun's rays glisten through the crowding clouds surrounding it, the flowers began to open up one by one. A lone bumblebee passes by above your head, making you flinch momentarily when the sound of buzzing catches your ear. The insect makes-way to one of the blooming flowers, landing inside it's center and beginning to extract the pollen within it's tiny arms, cluttering it all into a massive ball.

Then another sound invades your ears again, which, again, made them flick. You craned your neck over to see tiny wings flapping at a swift rate, a thin, long beak adorning the creature's face you could hardly see it whatsoever. But you catch it once it flies over to the flower patch too. You didn't realize the 'fish out of water' within that patch: A bright red blossom. The hummingbird, like the bee, flew over to it's target, hovering around the closed petals. It then nestles it's beak inside the flower, letting it stay there for a second or two before removing it shortly and flying off elsewhere.

Watching it go you let out a sigh, "Never usually see those little guys around that often. Mostly cause those inhabiting ol' Everfree tries to catch them for.." you felt a goosebumps crawl up your spine when reminiscing, "dinner"

But nevertheless, you treasure the beautiful scenery around you, it's a shame you couldn't bask in it from YOUR "neck of the woods". Unfortunately, it's what you have to do if you wanted to continue your 'hobby' but keep other ponies from getting harmed by the hands of your mechanical "deathtraps". It was imminent from the beginning, you were just ignorant to find that outcome to be your current present now than you anticipated. And yet, you brushed it aside to focus on your main admiration and it only.

You gave a small shake of your head, thinking that, despite it being 100% true, it's nothing more then a giant loop; no matter how far you reach to the top, you always fall back down to square one, hard. Replaying the same reiterated cycle until, at a point, it stops. Abruptly changing things "for the better", you hoped.

I mean, sure machines were what granted you your cutie mark when you were a colt, and a discovery behind that wasn't something for you to simply ignore, yes. But at some points, you questioned if these contraptions were the REAL cause. You too wondered why your mark is just red '0' instead of something that'll make sense, like-let's say-a bionic limb? A mechanical eye? Or a gear?

Just like Gearlock's own mark, except it's just one instead of two. And maybe it could be red too, adding some "pizzazz" than just another drop-in-the-bucket.

Unfortunately, despite those suggestions sounding logical, legit by all means, you're stuck with this plain old number on your behind, making it a "clear" connection to your interest in bio-mechanics. But, overall, it did give you the inspiration into naming your creations what they are today, and give you this nickname that masquerades your real one; your not to fawned of it anyways. Really didn't suit you the slightest.

But, of course, you had to accept reality as it stands: You wanted to peruse your desires through any means "necessary", to which you did, surprisingly, it resulted in you becoming a psychotic maniac, and now you're isolated away from everypony, accompanied by your "failures". It's what life offered you and this is how you treated it, best not to argue with it and accept it, nevertheless.

Such as this squirrel fighting against this wooden figurine, with multiple gears sticking out from every corner, moving it's wooden limbs from their every turn. That's..life...

'Wait a second..?'

You gave the two a quizzical look, using your bionic eye to close-in on them to get a better look. It looks as if the figurine is trying to snatch an acorn from the squirrel's grasp through a form of 'tug of war', where the creature it itself was mustering all it's strength to prevent it's meal from being taken away by an unknown stranger. They give each other a tug back and forth, keeping up the pace until one of them looses their grip on the prized walnut, letting them walk away victorious. With a final tug, the stranger finally acquired the nut in it's grasp, quickly turning on it's wooden feet and marching away from the creature, who, fell on his bottom after being deprived of his "lunch". It raises a tiny fist and shakes it at the retreating creation, shouting a variety of scratchy phrases at it before letting out a defeated huff shortly and turning-tail, retreating back to it's home, empty handed.

You raised a brow at that little scene, keeping your gaze still on the figurine, watching as it heads into a crowd of large trees leading into another woodland you didn't realize existed right beside Everfree this entire time, until now. Your curiosity peeked at where it may be going? What's it going to do with that acorn? And why?  Your hooves then mindlessly move onward behind the contraption, wondering where it's destination might be and what's waiting for it there.

And yourself

You two make it around the giant teaks, going through what seems like a maze, finding every corner to be the same and nothing different then your average, towering tree. Yet, it feels as though you two are moving in a specific pattern, possibly leading to the thing's stop you wondered what it may be. You've never seen this timberland as far as you can recall. It's atmosphere was calm, the woodland creatures seem to be peaceful, gentle, and harmless then the inhabitants of Everfree. You wondered why you didn't come by here to unwind instead of inside your shack for countless days, making you feel like more of a "trapped animal" then those abominations. But, on another hand, Gear offer you to relax at her abode, letting it be your "return into society" from the wilderness for too long. But her parents, unfortunately knowing the 'real you', decided otherwise. It wasn't a surprise anyways.

It felt as if the two of you have been going on for hours, not stopping whatsoever as the figurine just keeps on marching on with it's thin, twig-like legs. While following it, surprised that it hasn't noticed your presence behind it already, you gave it a closer observation while trotting: It's gears, as you saw earlier, were still continuously grinding together, keeping that motion still. It's front chest appears to be open, revealing it's insides which they consist of more rotating gears and pegs. The glisten of the nails that keep the it's limbs together brighten itself out once it steps within a ray of sunshine through the gaps of the trees. It's face bore a blank look, no carved facial features whatsoever but two vertical lines on both sides of it's face; seemingly it's eyes. Within them also revealed two small dots, which illuminated in a light-blue light while staring at the ground, unaware of it's color until catching a glimpse of sapphire shining on the forest ground.

This was pretty "sudden" for you to stumble upon after-what-15 minutes away from home? This was such a random occurrence that not even Equestria's daily dose of magical maleficence's could but in to intervene. But I guess this is what it's trying to hand-out for you to find and "make-do", you suppose? But what can you actually do then follow it's wooden..gear..crafted...behind...?

'THAT'S why it looked familiar..'

Realization hits you like a brick to the face when understanding the answer, especially when you two finally reach your destination shortly. There, sitting atop a lone stump, surrounded by mountains of acorns, was Gearlock. She held a screwdriver in one hoof while in the other held another figurine similar by comparison to the "acorn thief" in front of you. She gave it's backside a could of twists from every angle until confirming it's completion with an approving nod. She places it on the ground, letting it stand still for a second before it's mechanics begin to come to life, having it twitch for a moment or two before walking off in the opposite direction of the unicorn, possibly, like the one you're following, trying to go retrieve another nut for the piles lying beside Gear. And speaking of the silver-maned mare, she gave a glance to the other trinket who's returned, alongside it's "friend". The unicorn was surprised shortly before a friendly smile replaced it afterwards.

"Z. What a surprise to find you here"

"I can say the same for you" you replied, trotting over to the mare after she got up from the stump. "What're you doing out here all by yourself collecting...acorns?"

Gear looked over at her 'collection' and gave a light shrug, "Eh, wanted to test something out with these little guys here. New models I've created this week. They're actually quite successful in retrieving what they're functioned to do."

"And how does that work? You place an acorn inside each one of them, or you gave one to the original prototype so the others may follow it's lead?"

"Sort-of like that" Gear moved over to another figurine walking nonchalantly past the two. This one, unlike the others, adorns a large antenna atop the center of it's head, wobbling from side to side as it marches onward. Gear picks it up in her hoof, which, at the touch, causes the trinket to cease movement immediately, looking up at it's creator with it's sapphire orbs. "After I designed the outline for these guys, and created ol' junior here as the 'original', I gave him a little "command signal". So that after it's activated first, it'll send waves to the others to follow alongside it's order."

"Really? You implanted chips in all of them so they'd receive these waves?"

"Kinda. I actually salvaged some pieces from the local scrapyard right off the edge of Ponyville. The pony there was generous enough to let me trot off with a box full of scrap metal and what-not."

"But how were you able to function these guys with these pieces? I thought your main work was just wood and gears?"

Gear let out a light chuckle at that, "Oh, Z, don't you think from the time we've spent I wouldn't try to get a peep of your own work and copy it into mine? It was easy as pie."

"W-wait, you did?!" you asked, feeling the dread grow in your chest like Gear when witnessing another B0T's birth. "Y-you didn't go through the EXACT methods I do with my B0T's. Did you?"

"Don't worry about that. I made sure to actually see-through the prototype's blueprints and designs before final activation. It wasn't hard. Nothing much was found, anyways."

You let out a pent-up sigh when hearing the reassurance, "Thank goodness...But, hey, wait a second. What do you mean 'actually seeing-through them'?"

"Well, and I don't wanna rain on your parade, Z. But.." the unicorn reached a hoof behind her head and gave it a little scratch, looking downwards instead of at you to find the words she would like to "break down" to you. "Every time you've created a B0T, there's always seemed to be that one flaw that causes them to fall-in on themselves shortly. You say you're going to look into it every time afterwards, but there's no change whatsoever. That's when I made a closer inspection to identify what it may actually be. Which, surprisingly, it was the core-generators."

"What's wrong with them? I've tried to reconfigure them to power the machines up. How can they be the source?"

"Z, do you know what's inside them?"

You pondered at that question for a second or two, actually coming up with nothing then a mild concentrated-glare to the ground, both brows scrunched to try and reminiscence the ingredients to what gives your B0T's life. But, unfortunately, nothing came to mind at the moment.

"Uhh...Uh..Electricity?"

Gear released a sigh at that response, "No, Z, what's inside is actually a form of liquid silicon, which, despite it being powerful enough to power Ponyville on its own, there was one little blemish I've seen it CONSTANTLY reoccur inside your machines."

"And what would that be?"

"The silicon is actually EXTREMELY flammable"

"...Say what..?"

"Yeah. Apparently whenever you insert your energy cores inside every one of the engines, the exothermic heat causes the liquid to overheat once in contact with it, which, in a set of chain reactions inside, causes it to combust in a giant explosion."

"So, and let me make it clear, the energy from the silicon was too good to be true? It was but like a wolf in sheep's clothing?"

"When you put it that way-Yeah. Mostly."

"Well...that explains QUITE alot " You let a hoof fall on your face, scrunching it around your muzzle.

"Who knew THAT was the only reason why your things have been blowing up like fireworks. Where did you even find that stuff anyways? I've never seen powerful PCB like that around Equestria in my life. I was surprised to even find it existing whatsoever"

"Hm..Let's see.." You took a few steps away from the unicorn, but not too far from the mare. You trotted back and forth trying to, at least, jog that specific memory again. Then it all came flooding back shortly, "Oh, now I remember! I got it from the remains of this abandoned factory not to far from Ponyville."

"Where was it?"

"Apparently hidden inside the caverns of a cave within Ghastly gorge. I was surprised to see it still standing at all, even through it looks as if it was going to collapse at any moment."

"Was there anything odd about the stuff when you found it? Or the factory?"

"Not from the usual clique of 'abandoned chemical laboratory' shtick that could be used as someone's location for a cheep horror mov-"

"Wait." the unicorn halted you with a raised hoof when hearing an uncertain set of phrasings, "Did you say, 'chemical laboratory'?"

"Well, yeah. I thought it was pretty strange to find..it..in the middle of..the gorge..and...Oh.." another wave of realization knocks you upside the head, you feel as though it was a boulder instead of something smaller. You returned the same hoof atop your face, sliding it downwards as you let out a conscious groan. "I...I didn't..I.."

"You didn't realize that it was being tested for chemical research." Gear finished your sentence, already seeing the 'obvious' to which you cannot finish after having your mind scold you on your poor choice.

"That's why everything I make blows up..Why didn't I realize...Why...Geez, I really am an idiot."

Seeing this, the unicorn placed a gentle hoof on your shoulder, "But you're not, Z. Apart from any other pony I've come to know other than you, you've proven to show more with your machines than somepony else who'd-I don't know-build a plastic model rocket and make a hobby out of that. Which, to this point in time, has already been butchered constantly enough that everyone is getting tired of it already."

"Gear, I've done nothing more than make walking time bombs without my consent. It was MY responsibility for their actions and I was to dense to know that. If I did, I could've prevented anypony from nearly getting chard, electrocuted, or-goodness Celestia-chopped to mince-meat. But I didn't."

"Hey, don't think like, Z. I mean, sure you've just found out the cause of their "breakdowns", at the wrong time, but this can be a good opportunity for you to revamp them and finally prove to everypony that they're not dangerous as they believed to be."

"Yeah, but after a 3-year streak I'm pretty sure they've given up on the thought ultimately." you dropped your hoof as you looked up at the unicorn, your eye lingering with shame and defeat, again. "Just forget it, Gear. Even if I now know the problem, there's no way I can try to change it without anypony listening to me. It's all pointless."

"It's not going to be pointless unless you do something to turn it around. Come on, Z, this isn't the 'you' I'd befriended moons ago to later become a lump-on-a-log. I want the energy-filled colt back: Excited, adventitious, determined. My friend."

"But it's all true, Gear!" You shouted, your voice tinting in a bit of anger when trying to get the idea through the "ignorant" unicorn. "Don't you get it? There's no reason to keep this up without falling on my face again. It's all just a bit waste of my time!"

Seeing as she wasn't getting anywhere with you, Gear had to try whatever it takes. She placed another jasmine hoof on your other shoulder, pulling you to face her again, giving them a little shake to get your attention to be re-averted back to her golden eyes, now filled with seriousness.

"Z3R0. Listen to me and listen good, alright?"

Seeing the unicorn's look change to that of a stern glare, you decided to keep both ears open to hear what she's got to say. Why not, huh? This should prove noting effective anyways, just like your B0T's. You gave her a small nod to que her to continue.

"The first moment I've met you when I was a filly, I'd always think 'This guy does what I do! He can build things just like how I would do! And, they all seem pretty awesome!', all that boring clique nonsense. I was ecstatic to finally meet another pony that had an interest into mechanics just like me besides any other pony. They all found it to be nothing more than just gluing cheep junk together to see if they'll actually 'create something that could change the face of Equestria forever!'. Unfortunately, that didn't work out very well, and all their work now lies in the dumpster to rot. But not you, Z. No, you've proven that completely wrong when we started hanging out. You've shown me the depths of machinery I have NEVER even came across until I'm like-what-a mare. And I worked in a clock tower for Celestia's-sake. Finding out more about this has opened my mind to a broader-scale, yearning to understand more about bio-mechanics then I already do now with these guys here" Gear gestured toward her mini trinkets, who're still going through with their main objective. "Plus, we even decided to 'mix things up' at one point and we almost birthed a creation that could've gotten us big into stardom!"

"Yeah, before it blew up in flames.." you replied with a deadpan tone

"Besides that, the possibility was still big enough for us to actually take the shot then leave it alone. And that's another reason why I find you more intrepid. You are willing to take the risk then wait forever, actually making your dreams come true at an early age then an adult stallion, such as now. Er-well, sort-of.."

You rolled your eyes at that last remark, but still kept focus on the unicorn.

"It amazed me to see you pursue your 'pipe dream' and come out a success"

You let out a dry chuckle when hearing "success", "Yeah, sure. Like that did me any good"

"You're not getting it, Z. The determination you've committed was powerful enough to make me follow behind you with ease, willing to strive more on my work then the what I do now. I want to make one of these into something Equestria would reminiscence in it's history forever. It's a dream-differed, yes, but the idea just fuels me to do it nonetheless. And I have you to thank for giving me the confidence to try at all. So don't go blaming yourself for your mistakes when you know that it doesn't make you a 'failure', but an inspiration. And I'm sure of that completely, 100%. You can trust me after all. We're closer together like siblings, like two peas in a pod. Or something else relating to those similes. Whatever."

Seeing the appreciative praise for your work, despite their outcomes, made you feel a bit prideful about them, but also a bit warm when hearing it from a close friend such as Gearlock. You always appreciated your bond with the unicorn, wondering where'd you be in life without her beside you to help pick you back up when you cannot, at times. Besides, what she said was right after-all.

You moved the iris of your robotic eye to look at one of the returning figurines. Looking closely at it's metal implant you could've sworn you caught a glisten of light-blue catch your eye. You'd recognize that familiar material piece from anywhere. You're just surprised that the scrap yard was able to 'junk-away' the other remains of your 1C3-B0T, after Rainbow Dash destroyed it, while you kept the rest. I guess there was a tinge of positivity in your "loophole" then you intended.

What you've had "destroyed" was reused again, but in another body; still, your work was still up and running then lying in the trash bin forever. You let another 'sigh' escape your lips, looking back at the unicorn with softened eyes: One filled with relaxed comfort while the other one, of course, is filled with nuts, bolts, and wires; nothing out-of-the-ordinary. Matter of fact it just stays as it is, nothing more.

"I...I..guess you're right, Gear. I'm..sorry if I've been acting like a stick-in-the-mud"

The jasmine-colored mare shrugged at your response, "What're friends for?"

You grew a warm smile when hearing that, Gear replied with one of her own before standing back up on all four hooves, shortly helping you afterwards. The air felt gentle and calm again before something broke the silence. Another trinket returns with another acorn, walking over to one of the "mountains" to add it to it's massive size.

"So, how long you going to keep them up with this" You gestured to the giant horde of chestnuts, "I'm pretty sure some of the squirrels around here are starting to get pretty steamed when seeing that you've taken most of their 'meals'"

"Yeah, you're right. I'm just seeing how long they can do this before-"

The sound of small grunting catches you two off guard, silence replaces the calm atmosphere by this stranger, the two of you keeping quiet so you may listen. Giving each other a questioning look, you decided to follow the faint sound that seems to be right beside you. Circling around a tree you found another figurine "playing" tug-of-war with another woodland creature again, possibly another squirrel. But you were proven wrong when seeing the white fur, large ears and feet, and the little pink nose.

A rabbit was attempting to take back his carrot from the grasp of Gear's trinket, trying to rip it from it's grasp but it rebuttals quiet nicely with a strong yank.

"Oh dear.." came a hushed, quiet voice, coming from behind the rabbit but out of view from the two ponies. "Angel's carrot is being robed from him by...whatever this may be"

"I got it, Flutters" came another voice, oddly familiar, alongside the sound of wind-flapping. Just then, a sky-colored hoof came and knocked the trinket's head, causing it to fall on it's back with ease, having it detach from his body. "There"

"What in tarnation are these critters doing around here?" asked another voice, who's accent seem to be residing in an old-western fashion. "Looks as if they're trying ta steal whatever they can find, even from these here little one's too. It's odd"

"Odd, yes, strange, not so much. I mean, we expect something like this to happen every so often, Applejack. We DO live in Equestria, after all"

The mention of that name rings a bell inside both of your's heads, making it abruptly end when hearing the sounds of hoofs walking by grow louder next. You and Gear quickly look around before finding a nearby bush, free of any harmful spikes or dangerous creatures inhabiting it that wouldn't be a bother to you two. Quickly jumping inside, you both peeked your eyes out from a small opening, coming in view to see, as you'd expected, three ponies trotting down a dirt path right next to you and Gearlock.

Well, not ALL of them were walking, considering a certain rainbow maned one was using her wings to lift herself beside the other two. You, of course, recognize that to be Rainbow Dash. Alongside her was a tangerine-colored mare with emerald green eyes glistening from her sockets, and blonde hair flowing down her mane until being tied in a red knot at the end. Atop her head adorned a stetson hat, which, considering her accent, does suit her quite well. You'd believe that to be Applejack. Trotting next to her was another mare, with banana-colored skin, mane shaded in a light pink that waterfalls down her backside. One of her light blue eyes is shielded by the mass of hair, making the other one only visible at times, if she didn't try to hide it alongside her face though. Considering her timid behavior, and tone, whenever the pegasus replies her responses in a boastful-like fashion, this appeared to be Fluttershy.

I mean, her name comes hand-in-hand with her personality, after all.

"Eh, you're right there, Rainbow" Applejack replies, "But nothing like these little thieves just shows up, out-of-the-blue, when we trot through this here forest millions of times" she lightly shoves back another one trying to reach for her hair tie.

Rainbow shrugged her shoulders, "You get something new everyday, AJ. Just like how Twilight did when she decided to revisit that 'other world' again"

The phrase 'other world' caught you and Gear's interest shortly, keeping focus on the cyan pegasus as she continues.

"A-ah..She decided to return so soon...?" Fluttershy asks, her voice still quiet as ever, but still audible for the two ponies to hear.

"I guess so. She said that the other 'us' messaged her about something important about the 'magic running loose' over there while during some-sort of 'games'"

"Was Sunset able to help them before she showed up?"

"Apparently so. She was able to contain things before they've gone wild. And, check this, the cause of the whole thing was the Twilight from that world. Can you believe it? And Sunset was able to defeat her just like how our Twilight did with her when she first arrived there; the irony stings."

"Well you did say that you get something new everyday, and there is something Ah'd watch with some popcorn" Applejack responded, adding a light chuckle afterwards.

"Was..was Twilight able to lend a hand, nevertheless?"

"Unfortunately, no, Sunset did all the work in the end. Twilight said she had some trouble with some 'time-jumps', or something , making her show up WAY late before things could get any more awesome."

"Well that can be a blessing in disguise if ya look at it differently. After what everything Sunset has done, especially NEARLY ruling over Equestria with a zombified army, that opportunity was best left for her deal with, alone, and finally be able to redeem herself ta everyone that she isn't just a monster anymore. She's somepon-Er..someone different now"

"I-I agree.." spoke up the timid-pony, looking at her foalhood friend with a single eye, "Sunset wasn't ALL that evil in the beginning, she just had to endure with her jealously and envy before thinking that, to put that all behind, she has to overrule Celestia to prove her wrong.."

"Yeah, and look where that ended her up" Rainbow replied with a cross of her hooves over her chest.

"But ya can't blame her if it's something she couldn't control alone, Rainbow" Applejack added,

"Still, she shouldn't have let it get to her to let Twilight struggle in a different world and leave us behind. That's just wrong!"

You and Gear continued to watch as the trio continued their conversation, but the mention about this other world derailed your concentration to focus on it; and it only.

The idea of another world, which ACTUALLY EXISTS, stirs a new feeling in your chest you couldn't describe. A new world would mean a new start you could redo then what you've already made here in Equestria. You could re-create a new slate for yourself, start anew, try to reform your reputation then it is already.

Actually find "adventure" after all.

"Nevertheless, we should be appreciated that Sunset was able to stop things before it eventually involved us. Which they always do."

Rainbow let out a sigh at that realization, "Yeah, I guess you're right, AJ..But anyways, let's just head over to Rarity's to help out on the Boutique before she busts a nerve about our timing"

"Good point. Let's go, y'all"

With that the three mares continued their trotting down the pathway, Angel following behind his care-giver with a couple of high jumps, happy to have his carrot back from that thieving trinket.

"Well, that was weird" commented Gear, getting up from the shrub and making way over to one of her dismantled creations. "And now about most of these are destroyed thanks to them. Sheesh, I can't try to go ONE test-run before somepony eventually comes in and ruins them, making the entire thing go down the toilet. Which, of course, I know they sometimes tend to get in their way, matter of fact bother them out-of-the-blue, yet the least anypony could do is simply leave them be instead of breaking them afterwards. Man, it feels as though I'm walking in your shoes after all, Z. Except for the fact nothing is blowing up constantly every second. Right?"

The unicorn looked back to you, wondering what your response may be, but you just simply kept still like a statue, staring off across the distance with an assessing look. Almost as if you're expecting something to "appear" shortly; which is Gear's assumption.

"Z? Z?" Gear trotted back over to you, giving you a couple of pokes on the shoulder to get your attention. "Hey, Earth to dork, pick up"

"Another world..." you mumbled underneath your breath, repeating them again and again that Gear catches it momentarily. "Another world, Gear"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"The idea of a whole new dimension, a fresh aspect to endure and explore. Somewhere which science has deemed 'imaginary'. And it's actually real."

"Okay, but what does that have to do with fixing the prototypes?"

"Everything, Gear! Everything!" You turned to her, placing both hooves on her shoulders as you stare at her with a look of excitement, "Don't you see? This can be something we can actually look-into instead Equestria's same old, same old. It's an opportunity we cannot miss for the world!"

"'We?' I'm sorry, Z, but the thought about traveling to a new world is out of my charts to consider. Besides, how do you know that those three aren't just lying? Telling an old filly-tale for ponies, such as us, to get hooked into and later play victim to a cruel prank they've got set up to humiliate us with. And knowing Rainbow Dash, she loves pranking ponies, and we could be next if we don't avoid this pitfall carefully. It's nothing more than fiction, man, don't get yourself sucked into it."

"But you don't know them as I do, Gear! They're Equestria's saviors, the heroines that protected us from being imprisoned by the dark forces that terrorizes us each and every day. But thanks to them, we're not, we're free. And, if you weren't paying attention well-enough, they mentioned Twilight Sparkle; PRINCESS Twilight Sparkle. I'm sure they're not lying if SHE's brought up in the equation. Plus, they know her PERSONALLY, Gear! PERSONALLY!"

"It just sounds like manure to me, Z. Look, just forget about this and let's get back to working on repairing these little guys. I don't want their pieces being scattered around here, I need them for spare parts, ya know."

"I'm sorry, Gear. But I can't" you declined, facing away from the unicorn, who bore a look of surprise before it turned into a mild glare

"Come on, Z, don't make a fool of yourself and go through with this charade. It's nothing but talk, fake, nothing, zip, zero!"

"You don't know that" you rebutted, pointing a hoof in her direction, "This could change things more than what we're already used to everyday, and I'm getting sick of it!"

"You can't be serious?"

"Gearlock," you trotted over until coming closer to the mare, laying a hoof atop her shoulder again. "My time here in Equestria was enthralling enough already. I thought to expect the "action" to come by, out of nowhere, as always, and be presented for me to witness with my own eye, so I may take in the awe of every detail. Just as how the stories were told to me when I was but a foal. The lingering thoughts were intoxicating for me, and I've been holding that anticipation in until I became the perfect age to experience it all by myself. No more holding back, no more waiting, I was ready for the world. And what do I do? I've actually became the outcast of Equestria, having all the 'wonders' I've craved be yanked away from me without giving me a chance whatsoever. But then the realization came knocking on my door. It's all nothing but flukes. The magic..was just how it normally was, just "magic". No jaw-dropping tricks, dueling, spell-casting, nothing. Just nothing. And my "routines" are starting to become murder on my psyche, even my "failures" makes it worse when I wanted to simply give it all up then and there-but, of course, that was when you came in and turned things around-Yet this could actually make a difference to change everything for the better! I need to see through this to feel the endurance, the adrenaline, experience the excitement I've been craving for moons ago. And the discovery of this new world could cure that ailment! Come on, Gear, it could be better for the both of us"

"Why suck me into this?!"

"I know you already feel content here enough, I get that, but I just can't go through this without the help of my best friend. And I know you've already saved my hive more times then I can count, but this time I'm asking a favor from you just this once. Help me make it there. Come with me. Let's take a dive into the depths of the unknown and explore what we've wasted here. Please?"

The unicorn looked away from your stare, contemplating on wither to accept or decline, but when she gave a quick glance back at your pleading 'eye', glistening with a "pleading puppy look" she detested. Unfortunately, it bested her yet again. She let out a defeated sigh afterwards.

"I know I'm going to regret this...Alright, Z, I'll..come with you..."

"YES!" you gave the mare a quick, though tight, embrace. She responds with a puffed-up expression, prodding your shoulder with her hoof repeatedly as her face starts turning to different shades of color. Seeing this, and her color-changing face, you quickly release her from your hold, letting her drop on her hind-legs, trying to catch her breath with every inhale she intakes. "Heh, oops..My bad."