Author's Note

I wrote the first four chapters over the course of four days. I should do this more often: Write up a story over a short period of time. That'd be interesting.

When They Finally Met Clanks

"Twilight?" I hollered as I opened the giant crystal doors of the princess' castle home. "We're here!"

There was no immediate reply from the alicorn, but I assumed that she was in the throne room with, presumably, Clanks. If that was the case, why didn't she bring him to the hospital? I wasn't upset with her, but I was more so concerned. Did something happen? Was he not here after all?

As we approached the throne room, that was when I started to hear sounds, specifically the brief crash of something metal on the floor, and Twilight seemingly talking to herself.

"No, that's not the right spot," I heard her say. "Maybe...here? No, not there either. Ugh, how did he even manage to build you?"

He was here.

"Well, for starters, it started with him digging outside of the Building with an old wooden-" he began, but never got to continue after I opened the door to see him sitting at the table with Twilight.

"Clanks!" I exclaimed. "You're alive! And...oh."

Clanks was alive, but one of his forelegs was in pieces all over the table. Nails, nuts, and screws that held his appendage together was now splayed out in front of them.

"What's going on here?" I asked Twilight, who looked up the moment she heard my voice.

"I didn't do this to him," she insisted, "he came in like this. I mean, I took his arm apart to see the damage, but when I first found him, his arm was already off."

I was still relatively confused, but I asked Clanks to know what exactly happened beforehoof.

He explained, "I was searching for the Castle of Friendship as you detailed it to me. I was walking across several pits and fields to find the destination. I then fell down a large hill and my arm had come loose, but I simply retrieved it and soon found the Castle of Friendship. Twilight Sparkle has been helping me place it all back together."

"But I'm having a bit of trouble," Twilight added slowly, as if embarrassed to mention it. "I don't know where they all go. I wanted to bring him to the hospital sooner, but this just couldn't wait. I thought it would've taken a couple minutes, not over half an hour."

"Not like you were counting or anything," Rainbow said.

"Um..."

"...Seriously?"

"Don't worry, Twilight," I comforted her, letting out a lighthearted chuckle. "I'll take it from here."

Using my magic, I gently grabbed the screwdriver Twilight carried in her own aura and sat down right beside her. I started to levitate individual pieces in front of me and began to put each little screw, bolt, and lug nut back into their respective spots, carefully showing Twilight where each piece went. But it wasn't until I was nearly done that she wasn't entirely focusing on me, but my magic, and with a completely baffled look on her face.

"Right," I stated, "you left before I could explain. It's a bit of a long story, but to put it shortly...I kind of have magic."

"But you're not a-"

"Unicorn? I know. Pegasus," I informed her, unfurling my wings for the first time what felt like an eternity. "Like I said - long story. I'll tell you one day."

She didn't question it, and continue to watch me finish my work. After another minute of simple explanation and careful stitching, I then lifted the finished arm and started to insert it back into the empty hole in Clanks' side, until it finally clicked and locked itself in. In an instant, Clanks started to move it and was able to regain mobility in it.

"Thank you," he said to me.

"No problem," I replied back to him. "Oh, by the way..."

He barely had enough time to register that robotic look of curiosity on his face before I gave him a hug, no matter how cold and metallic he was.

"I missed you, pal."

Clanks smiled and said the same thing back to me, hugging me back with both hooves. The funny thing about Clanks smiling is that he only smiled once. He had the emotions and the ability to do so, but he never did it, and didn't really explain why. All it did while we were in the dome was leave me curious, but ultimately, I knew he would smile again one day.

I pulled away and turned the chair he sat in around to be in view of the others, who all grew intrigued at the first sight of him.

"Everypony, this is Clanks," I introduced him, "my robot and my friend when I was in the dome. Clanks, this is Spike, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and Starlight Glimmer."

"Wow," Rainbow silently exclaimed, "he literally looks just like you. You weren't kidding when you said that."

"Nope, I wasn't," I remarked. "I'm pretty sure I have some narcissistic genes in my DNA somewhere."

The group laughed at my witty remark and started to introduce themselves to Clanks in terms of who they were, more than just by name. It didn't take long for them all to get acquainted with the machine, who was - despite his robotic personality - more than happy to get to know them.

"Ooh!" Pinkie shouted. "We should totally have a party tonight to celebrate you guys coming home! What should it be called? How about 'Welcome-Back-To-The-Universe?' ... Actually, that sounds pretty silly. What about just 'Welcome-Home?'"

"Actually, Pinkie," I spoke up, "as much as I like to party, I think I'm gonna need at least a couple days to lay back a bit. Besides, I...kinda have something else I'd like to do tonight."

"Like what?" Starlight asked, her tone raised with curiosity.

"For starters, taking you up on that dinner date you suggested a few days ago," I answered, giving her a little smile and remembering how much I missed her stutters and nervous attempts to calm herself.

"Oh...right! That. I-I wasn't asking you out on a date or anything like that, I was just...you know, 'cause you were nervous and all that, I figured a little bit of food afterwards would, you know...clear your mind? Heehee...?"

My grin only grew as it was obvious that she was embarrassed. Of course, it was all in good fun, and even she knew that. But it didn't stop her from blushing madly, and Rainbow Dash from snickering.

"Right now," I stated, "I think a bit of dinner would work more in your favor."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, right?"

"But I would. After everything you've gone through, all that guilt being weighed down on your shoulders? I think you're the one who deserves a dinner at this point."

The blush faded a little as she took my words into account, realizing that I had at least some truth to my words. Using a spell on somepony and them going missing from literally the universe for three days straight, and it feeling like six months instead, that would be enough to make anyone feel awful. And that was the last thing I wanted Starlight to feel.

Of course, that wasn't to say the blush went away entirely, as Starlight's face stayed at least some bit of red while she thought about my request.

"Well," she said a slight bit hesitant, "okay. If you say so."

"I do say so. You deserve it, trust me."

Starlight gave me a little smile, and for a moment, stood in thought. She then asked, "Would tonight work?"

"Only if it works for you." The mare then gave a look over to Twilight, who - like the rest - had been listening in on the conversation, as if asking if anything else was planned later tonight. Twilight instead giggled and nodded.

"I think we all need a break ourselves," she answered. "You go have fun. I mean, tonight. Have fun tonight."

"Thanks, Twilight," Starlight giggled, though giving off a gentle look of appreciation. "After all, it's just some dinner and talk, right?"

Rainbow leaned down over Starlight and I. "That's just dinner. Personally, dinners are boring and a waste of time. Now, after dinner-"

The mare didn't get to finish her conversation before being pulled away at the tail by Applejack, elbowed again in her side.

"Ow!" she exclaimed. "You know, one of these days, you're gonna break one of my ribs."

"Maybe get yer mind out of the gutter and ya won't have to worry 'bout that," Applejack retorted, but Rainbow simply rolled her eyes.

Meanwhile, Starlight was blushing heavily at the pegasus' words, her ears feeling warm, but overall feeling slightly irritated by her quips. After all, like she just said, it was only dinner and some talk. Though, that being said, I wouldn't mind if anything happened beyond that.

Wherever the night would take us.