The Mechanist

Chapters

The Contract...
The bigger they are...
The further I fall (morbid injury warning)
To be Like a Phoenix
The Binding of Flesh and Steel
The Morning After

The Contract...

The sun brightly glared through the window slowly waking me from my slumber. Birds can be heard chirping and the smell of freshly made bread drafts up the stairwell. I groggily get up and stretch before going to the mirror to make sure I look presentable. My soft yellow fur and light orange mane look better than I expected for a morning but, I touch it up and make my look perfect anyway. I am meeting with my contractor today after all! After adjusting myself and feeling satisfied with my casually professional look I make my way down the stairs to the lobby.

I briefly consider wearing clothes because of the high reward offered by this contract. The pay is extraordinary and the bonus, should we get attacked, is eye-watering. I quickly abandon the idea because the Royal Guard hardly cares and, I hate clothing anyway.

I did not see the lobby too well last night when I came in. Honestly, I just rushed straight to bed once I paid for my stay. The light of day revealed a finely crafted interior that was neither square nor round. Every time I expected a sharp angle the wood seems to ease into a smooth shiny curve only a true master could create. The support beams were carved into long snaking dragon necks with the edges of the walls being lined with vines and flowers all delicately carved into the wood. Even the dining table was exceptional with various colored gems inlaid onto the top surface making it glisten in the light.

Not everything was extravagant though. The front desk was made of plain oak with little treatment and the floors were plain. The walls had subtle spiraling designs but nothing eye-catching. Just above the front desk is a sign naming my resting place "The Comfortable Clouds Inn". Just below the sign sits a delicate cream-colored pegasus mare. She smiles as soon as she realizes I enter the lobby.

"Good morning Comet, did you sleep well?" She smiles softly while she speaks. It was just business but, I can tell she cares about providing great service. She continues "I made sure to get fresh pillows made from the clouds for you. I also made breakfast. Feel free to help yourself." It dawns on me that the Inn gets its name from its signature cloud pillows and beds. Obviously that explains why she is a pegasus since she can easily gather clouds at a moment's notice.

I return the greeting in kind "Good morning ma'am." nodding my head in greeting as I speak "I slept just fine. Breakfast sounds great!" I take a seat at the table while observing its fine craftsmanship and, more importantly, the meal that lay upon it. The meal was of good quality. Blueberry bread, a bowl of oat cereal, and a pancake were all set down neatly. I eat as much as I can and, notice the particularly amazing texture and flavor of the bread.

Once I finish I leave waving to the kind mare who runs the Inn. She waves back with a glowing smile. I quickly made my way to the agreed-upon meeting place for me and my next contractor. As I walked through town, noting many stalls and shops were not even open yet, I search each building for the name I seek.

I am fairly skilled at locating places because I have done it for a few years now. My business has always traveled with me. Each time I take a contract I use the opportunity to network and arrange the next before the first is even complete. This allows me to run my modest business without employees, a home, or a building for my business. I just collect the bits and stay at a local Inn before moving on to the next big thing. It really is a liberating job and offers me the freedom to go where I please as long as I am clever enough to keep my contracts in line with my desires.

The building itself was a stark contrast to the Inn. For starters, this one was much larger and had a deeply aged appearance. The wood almost seemed to have lost its color to a lightish gray. Each plank had splinters sticking from it. The old sign over the doorway read "The Rusty Nail" and hung at a slight angle. I would not say it was an unsavory place but, it was not really someplace I would hang out in normally. My new employer had a rather rough taste too say the least.

I enter and the first thing I notice is how dark it is compared to the morning daylight outside. There are no windows and only a few glowing crystals to light the large room softly. The back held a bar with stools and the wall is lined with kegs and various fine liqueurs. The pony behind the bar seems fairly skilled as he mixes drinks for some of the more inebriated patrons.

A stallion donning guard armor calls out to me "Are you just going to stand there and gawk all day? Celestia has a schedule to keep you know." He motioned for me to come. Honestly, I was surprised he knew what I looked like but, I was perhaps the only patron not drunk or in the process of getting there which perhaps gave me away. I took a seat at his table and he slid me a cider before addressing me further. "Look, I know you have worked with us before but, I want to warn you that this job could be dangerous."

I looked at him with my usual businesslike manner "I am certain whatever hazards may come a Royal Guard should be able to handle. Besides the contract says you have a whole patrol." I made sure to emphasize my respect and expectation of the guard.

He gave me a deadpan look "As I am sure you already noticed I have no shortage of guards here. However, I need every pony I can get due to the sensitivity of the shipment. Firstly, this shipment is hazardous. The pony who made it said it can release a lot of energy with very little reason to. Secondly, it is new and valuable and, we must ship it through known bandit territory. An attack is very likely and, I hired you because I believe I need that extra guard. I have a gut feeling something is off about this mission." He took a long swig from his glass as he finished.

I try to gauge why he was testing me. I have worked contracts with the guard before. Every time bandits show up the guards make quick work out of them and only rarely cause permanent harm. They are good at what they do and perhaps I believe in them too a fault. I chose my response with uncanny confidence that only being guarded by a small army can give you. "So essentially you are telling me I might witness you fight a few bandits on the way. I hardly see an issue in that. You will smite them. We complete the job. I get my bits and, we all go home."

He glares at me for a long time. I can only assume he is gauging my resolve to see if I get cold hooves. I don't and he finishes his drink before addressing me in a friendlier manner for the first time. "I am Lieutenant Halberd. If you have any concerns on the job address it to me. Now before we leave I will make the final preparations for the cart and my troops. Feel free to finish your drink while you wait." He gestures toward the drink he purchased me.

I was never really a drinker but, it would be rude to refuse. I carefully sipped and the heady yet fruity flavor bombarded my senses. Lt. Halberd seemed satisfied and left. Shortly after, once I am sure he is gone I leave without finishing the drink.

Author's Note

Hey, guys this another one of my first attempts at writing. If I ever get around to publishing this please remember to be a little nice. Keep the criticism constructive and just sit back, relax, and enjoy the story. :twilightsheepish:

P.S. The bar "The Rusty Nail" is a reference that will occur in most or all of my stories. Rusty Nail's blog was one of the first things to get me into pony on a more serious level making him special to me and my stories.

Also, the first wave of self-edits. Corrected the tense issue previously noted. Changed some sentences to have better overall flow and wording. Added in an entire paragraph I felt I missed on the first run. Anyway, hope it reads better than before and know that the next chapter is in the works. 2/21/2020

The bigger they are...

I rush through town quickly enough. The area around the town is mostly lush forest. All except a single brick home sectioned off from the rest of town. It sits in the middle of a small artificial plain. I have no idea why they deforested the immediate area but the various scorched and ripped up areas hints that something dangerous happens here regularly. Some of the marks in the earth have thin layers of grass growing while others are fresh and have shards of a glassy substance laying in them.

At least a dozen guards roam about. All fully donned in golden armor. They seem particularly vigilant today and, several watch my approach suspiciously. Their intense gaze makes me nervous as they study my every movement. Once I get close enough for them to see me better they abruptly stop glaring at me. Perhaps they already know me even though this is the first time I have worked with any of them.

The home itself is simple enough in design. I almost ignore it but, as I approach I spot runes carved into the walls. The subtly pulsate in a harsh light blue glow that was hidden by the bright of day. I recognize it as some sort of ward magic though I am far from an expert. I assume that these spells protect the home from whatever caused the scars in the earth near this home.

There is a large cart placed in a workshop projecting off the side of the home. The workshop has various tools, books, and magic objects placed within. The sidewall is lined with various glass bottles of assorted odd shapes. There are odd fluids within them. Some containers are boiling fluids while others appear to be condensing the vapor and running the result through filters. There is an odd smell in the air that I am unable to identify.

The cart seems to be already packed and ready to go for me. I notice immediately that there is an extra panel of wood on the sides of the cart. I scoff at this terrible idea. I hate when carts have crappy repairs. Why not just replace the planks rather than stacking new one over the first. Closer observation reveals the original planks seem to be in decent shape anyway. It makes no sense really.

"Hope you like it!" Halberd speaks a bit too loudly and startles me out of my thoughts. "We had the extra planks nailed to this cart yesterday. It should help keep the product safe from arrows. Sadly though our mage, as powerful as he claims he is, cannot place protective spells on the cart with such short notice. We will just have to improvise if anything goes south."
At this point, he seems a bit unsure. I can tell he does not like improvising a mission. He continues "I even have an extra set plate armor for you too if you wish. Is the weight going to be too much?" He suddenly looks at me expecting an immediate answer.

"Well..." I contemplate the weight of everything. "The cart is going to be very heavy with the extra wood. I don't want the armor. It will just slow us down. I should be able to pull the cart though." I beam confidently at the last bit. A life of cart pulling has honed my leg muscles to be impressive even for a royal guard.

He begins walking away while finishing the conversation. "Well good. We leave in five minutes. Get yourself ready while I gather the troops."

How rude...He could at least finish before leaving like that. I immediately get myself to the harness of the cart and begin working with the straps. Strapping myself in has always been a challenge but, I have done it for years. It is still certainly faster to have someone else do it so I take advantage whenever I can. This, however, was not one of those times. I would be handling the setup all on my own. The sole advantage is that all I can make all the straps just tight enough. Not so loose that they rub and cause blisters and not so tight as to cut off circulation and be generally painful.

Once I finish I pull on the cart. The straps are pulled taut immediately and, for a few moments, the cart does not budge. I plant my hooves and put more force behind it on a second attempt and it begins to roll forward. Whatever this material was it had a weight of its own. The extra wood just exacerbated the issue and made this cart insanely hard to get started. Once it was moving it was much easier to keep moving or change the speed albeit, slowly.

As I exited the workshop, the cart in tow, I see Halberd with about 20 or so guards formed up. He dismisses them and they each rush to take positions around me. One unicorn takes a position directly in front of me and begins offering me directions. Two pegasi fly off in the direction we are going presumably to scout the area ahead. They all move very quickly and efficiently. Their skill still astounds me to this day.

We head onto the trail to begin the long part of our trek. As the trip begins I zone out and let my body guide itself as we go.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Light begins to fade as the evening sun finally retreats below the treelines. The lighting is getting a bit dark. We have traveled a significant distance. At this point, I have chatted up one of the nearby guards trying to see if his family owns a business in Canterlot that might need my service. The guard just unshakable however and ignored my every attempt to converse. If the whole trip goes this way it will be awfully dull.

Canterlot is a huge city so finding business should not be too hard even with no connections walking into it. I wonder what it might be like to take a small vacation in the city. Canterlot remains one of the last places I have yet to travel to surprisingly. My business usually has me running around between towns in the wilds. The sweet air of nature is nice but, it does get old after a while and a change of pace is my key desire now.

At this point, the terrain has become increasingly difficult. The path is made up of tiny stones that hurt my hooves and cause the cart to get a questionable grip. It tugs on my sides as the wheels collide with rocks forcing me to pull against them and correct the course continuously. Some of the guards begin to mumble about stopping for the day. I certainly would not mind a stop. Especially considering this is one of the heaviest carts I have had the misfortune to pull. I am so tired I swear I saw a subtle glow from behind. It distracts me only for a moment.

Suddenly one of the wheels catches something and jars me to an abrupt and painful stop. The guards all pause when they notice the cart stop. I pull at it with all my might but, the cart refuses to budge. I look back and see one of the wheels is wedged in a deep hole in the ground. Odd I usually spot holes of that size. I wonder how I missed that. I am having an off day.

Halberd shouts out orders and two guards come to help push the cart. CLANG thuuunk

I hear the sudden shouting from one of the guards. I do not really catch what he has to say other than "AMBUSH!" That word sat with me for a moment before I realized I needed to get loose and to safety. The guards are good but, that does not make me any less of a target. Thun chingk

I felt that the last one hit somewhere on the harness. A quick inspection reveals an arrow hit a metal piece of the strap mechanism. It pinned the metal fastener and straps down. The easy solution would be to cut myself loose but I did not think to carry a blade with me. It seems I will be stuck until I pull this arrow out of the old fashioned way. I stretch uncomfortably to reach the arrow meanwhile, the sounds of battle pick up.

Multiple guards form a protective wall pointed toward the source of the arrows. They cast a bright blue ward just in time as a volley of arrows rains upon us. A unicorn steps out of the thick foliage and begins to cast a spell. Pure magical energy surges up to the tip of his horn and begins forming an orange ball. As it grows it takes on a much deeper red color and seems to almost pulse periodically.

A group of four Royal Guards attempt to advance and preemptively stop the spell but are thwarted as numerous more shadowy figures surge forth to protect their magical ally. The clash is brief but the guards quickly retreat behind the ward as another volley of arrows fills the air.

At this point, I am tugging fiercely at the arrow holding me captive to the cart. I pull with everything I have but, I just cannot seem to dislodge it from the wood. I opt to simply watch the battle unfold before me as it should surely end quickly in my favor. One of the guards should free me after the battle.

The unicorn with the angry hellish orb finally finishes whatever his spell was. He tilts his head and flings the orb violently at the guards. As it collides with the ward the magical energy pulses red then flashes white suddenly before dissipating. The poor stallion casting the ward howls in pain as the spell apparently forced his ward to generate a huge magical surge back into him. His horn appears to glow red from several cracks and is steaming. I can hear it fizzle faintly before he collapses to the ground.

The guards charge as their defense falls hoping to rush their foes before they can attack once more. This tactic seems to work well as this time the whole group advances. With numbers now in their favor, they begin easily decimating their untrained opponents in close-ranged combat. I can hear the clatter of blades and various screams of pain as the battle unfolds.

The mage who cast the ward breaker joins the battle with his allies. He is much deadlier than any bandit as his orange magic lashes too and fro like a dancing firefly. Royal Guards surround him but, he simply jumps back before sending a wave of energy taking out several guards. Less than half of the original defensive formation protecting me stands.

I notice a commotion higher up in the foliage. The movement reveals more golden armor. No more arrows attack my remaining defenders and, the unicorn looks at the offending disturbance in frustration realizing his plan is failing. He creates some kind of high pitched whistle with his magic that echoes deep into the forest. Suddenly one last group of raiders floods toward the rear of the cart beyond my vision.

My defenders rush to fend them off as Lt. Halberd bursts through the foliage from the earlier disturbance. His face twisted with a fury that seemed unnatural on a pony. His magic violently assaulted the unicorn before he could take advantage of the opening created by his allies.

The battle seems as if it is won. For a moment I was very anxious but, I always knew it would end in my favor. I look over the wounded saddened that so many good ponies could get hurt. At least... I hope they are just hurt. The injuries look severe.

In my brief distraction, I miss a bit of the battle. Turning my attention to what I hope to be the conclusion of the battle I note that the flankers had been crushed. Now the lone unicorn was in a fierce standoff against 8 guards including the captain. He charges a spell. All of the guards prepare wards in preparation for this dangerous unicorn's next attack.

He releases a charged bolt of energy that reminds me of lightning but, only if it was red. It was very hot and I feel a wave of heat wash over me from the erratic movements of the energy bolt. It jumps around searching for a break in the defense but, all of the guards seem to form an impossible barrier over each other. Their overlapping fields allowing them to be far better protected by magical attacks than earlier.

His eye flashes my direction and my heart skips a beat. I know the guards will win but, the way he looked at me flooded me with fear. It was the look of a mad man who focused on something he wanted to destroy. Perhaps he thought I was important somehow or that the guards would make a mistake if they worried about saving me. The energy bolt zipped viciously toward the guards before suddenly zipping over their heads. They all brace before realizing what is happening.

The bolt flies forward and it is all I can focus on. I cannot move and have no hope of surviving such a strike. I kneel and cover my head to try and duck the bolt. I close my eyes in terror hoping for enough luck to make it through this. A soft blue glow of a magical ward slowly envelops me. It washes over me like water with a soothing cool feel.

I open my eyes to see the bolt fly right over my head. My thoughts are flying so fast that the world seems to move in slow motion. At first, the bolt missing me was a relief. The realization hit me like a wall. I do not even have time to think about the contents of my cart. My eyes go wide as a deafening roar drowns out everything. A bright flash floods the entire forest. The wave of heat from behind me scorches my body even through the ward. The pain of the heat begins to be unbearable. Suddenly massive force blows me clean away and darkness consumes my vision.....

Author's Note

And so it begins. An unknown antagonist (maybe) with incompetent allies. The overall event that sets the story into motion.

This chapter was really fun for me to write because I had to write about several smaller fights in a bigger battle. All in the order as it is perceived by our old buddy Comet.

There will be some skipping of the latter parts of this battle. It is actually far from over but, Comet is out cold and so is our perception of the battle. Question is should there be a dream sequence or should I go straight to the aftermath. Only time will tell.

Also, I am sure you are wondering what the title means by this point. You will find out soon enough. Just give it time and all shall be revealed.

The further I fall (morbid injury warning)

The first thing my mind notices as it slowly wakes is agony. I can not even figure out where it hurts. Just that I am in so much pain that I cannot think straight. I howl in pain instinctively. My eyes shoot open as I raise my head. I feel a wave of nausea as my disorientation makes itself very well known. I pause briefly so my nausea can pass so I can get my bearings.

I try to stand and immediately stumble as something just is not right. By this point, the searing pain has isolated itself in my rear legs. I look back to see what I can do and... Ohhh my... Panic surges through me as I realize that both of my rear legs are gone. My breathing is heavy and ragged and, my heart feels like it is resting in my throat. There is no bleeding however as whatever energy blast hit me burned the remaining nubs severely. I could swear I can still feel my legs.

I try to force my mind through the fog of pain. I cannot move well now that I have been crippled. I need help soon or I could die. I inspect my body further and note that my fur is burned but, not too badly. I wrack my brain for answers to why only my rear legs would have suffered so much in the blast. At a loss, I chalk it up as lucky that I was not totally turned to dust.

I scan the area for anything or anypony that could help me. All I see are the bodies of the fallen from the previous battle. Most of them were far enough away to escape the blast but, one unfortunate guard was impaled by a large chunk of wood. I try to call out to him but, in my haze, it just comes out as an unintelligible yell. I toss a charred rock at him and nail him right in the head. He doesn't move... Besides him, everypony else in sight seems clearly dead.

The trees in the local area had been blown down. Bits and chunks of wood are everywhere and lodged in every place. There is a fire burning somewhere nearby putting off a sickly smell I cannot identify. Nightfall is approaching fast now and, it should have been dark by now but, the fire puts off enough light to keep the area well lit. I spot the path and see a massive blacked crater where, presumably, the cart used to be. Now all that remained was smoldering wreckage.

There is no goal except survival. I cannot die... I don't want to die yet. There is still so much left for me to see and do. Defeated and with no other choice, I begin trying to drag myself along. It is torturous work as each and every bit of debris scrapes brutally against my already painful injuries. This goes on for a fair bit before a branch catches one of my stumps and jabs sharply in. The spike of pain caused my vision to flash red as I held my breath bracing myself until the suffering can subside.

I reach back uncomfortably and remove the branch from my tender wound. This only achieves yet more pain though, not as severe as before. Everything that has happened today has left me utterly exhausted. Even moving feels as if invisible weights have been placed over every part of me. I conclude that I should take a brief rest and get what little respite that might offer. I lay my head down for what feels like hours.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I stir as I hear the snap of a nearby twig. I search around wildly looking for the source should it be a threat. It crosses my mind that even if I do spot a threat what could I do to defend myself in this state. I cannot flee or fight. I am doomed. Part of me just wants the suffering to end even if that meant death.

I spot the source fairly quickly all things considered. A light blue unicorn dressed in a dark cloak seems to be searching the battlefield but, he does not seem interested in items of value. He does not look like the bandits and, there is a trained caution in his step. He searches various remains but, never takes anything.

Nervous about the new potential threat in the area I lay my head down, perhaps too fast, and pretend to duck. Twigs crunch under my chin. I hear steps as he comes closer and before I could really prepare myself he was upon me. He circled around me gauging my appearance. He clears his throat as I prepare myself for whatever his demands may be.

"I know you are alive." He says as he stands over me looking at me. I figure playing dead is pointless now. I raise my head to face him. I must look like a complete mess in this shape. He acknowledges me with a nod before speaking "There we go. That is better. I want you to know I am here to help." After finishing he fumbles around in his cloak. His magic levitates a single vial to me. It is filled with a yellow-greenish fluid that is semi-viscous.

I try to read him as I respond. "What is the catch. Are you with the bandits who attacked us? Why should I trust you?" The last question cut his calm demeanor just a bit. He glared a bit before responding.

"There is nothing I hope to gain out of this. No, I am not with those bumbling fools who dabble in the dark arts. As far as trusting I have nothing to prove I am worthy. To that end though, I am your only hope. I can dull your senses and patch you up. That or, I can leave you here to rot. Your choice." He seemed very serious about the last part. He was right. There were likely more bandits out there and there is no sign of a living guard. He may be my only option left at surviving. I choose to trust him. Not like it can get much worse than it already is.

My poker face has long since failed me as the pain has overpowered me long ago. I wearily respond. "Fine, I see your point. Can we skip to the numbing? This really hurts." He passes me the bottle and motions for me to drink it. I pop open the vial and sniff the contents. It smells awful. Like someone took compost and mixed it with sweaty fur. I drink it anyway hoping for any respite from my agony.

It tastes even worse than it smelled. The texture was thick and the flavor invaded my mouth and nostrils. The flavor was intense. I swallowed it while fighting the urge to gag. Almost as soon as it started it began receding. I lost all feeling to my face first. The feeling began washing over my whole body soothing all of the irritating wounds. Everything felt tingly as if tiny pricks of pressure covered my whole body.

I went to say my thanks but, once again speaking seemed beyond me. I just could not form words with a mouth I could no longer feel. The world began to show a mix of spinning colors as gravity began increasing. Darkness began creeping into my vision as I fought to stay awake. Unconsciousness overtakes me once more.

Author's Note

Bet I threw you with the expected saying huh. The twin chapter titles are supposed to imply that the bigger the explosive cart is, the further Comet falls when blasted forcefully away from it as was the case here.

A cookie for whoever can guess who this mystery character is and what he does.

Do not worry, the next chapter in works at least sometime this week.

To be Like a Phoenix

I awake slowly with a dull throbbing in my rear legs... Ohhh right... In my grogginess, I nearly forgot everything that has happened. My eyes open slowly to reveal a pony made cave of sorts. I am still numb which I can only assume are the effects of whatever I consumed before. My memory of the battle and the following events seem a bit foggy still.

The cave was not very big. Just a circular room with a small opening. A chilling wind was kept at bay by the narrow opening revealing the snow outside. I lay against the wall near a makeshift table hewn from the very stone that makes up the walls.

There are various pieces of machinery strewn around the makeshift room. I lay on a pile of hay with one pile of hay on the opposite side of the room. The hay scratched lightly against my coat making me shudder from the itchiness of it all. Various books in multiple languages lay stacked, spines facing the center of the room, on the other side of the makeshift table. The entire room seems like it was a hideout of sorts. It is too surreal and I almost think this must be some sort of bad dream. biting my lip just proves that it is all too real.

The overall temperature was very cold compared to before. I thought it was fairly bizarre to have such a wild swing in temperatures. I shook lightly trying to stay warm. The room was surprisingly bare. No decorations and nothing that was not absolutely necessary for whatever function this room served. I was utterly confused as to how I got here. I begin hearing hoofsteps on the harsh stone outside slowly getting louder. Whoever it was they obviously knew I was alive otherwise, they never would have brought me here. I was calm and excepting of my fate at this point. Life seemed a bit unfair to me now.

A weary light blue unicorn in a dark Cloak enters the room. His cloak was covered in frost from the chilling winds outside and, seemed as if he has been in the elements for a long time. He gently empties the contents of his saddlebag, hidden cleverly under his cloak, onto the table before lowing the hood. As soon as he drops the hood he realizes I am awake and speaks. "Glad to see you are awake. I was not sure that I could save you. Even my magic has limits."

He gestures toward my various injuries for me to inspect. He was not wrong. I was covered in various cuts and bruises. My fur was burned off entirely in some spots while other spots only singed somewhat. I was, of course, still missing my rear legs, unfortunately. I had hoped that the last part was just a dream or my imagination. I was still very weak overall but certainly, much better off than dead. Even so, I could not help but envy him. My business is done. I cannot travel with only 2 front legs. Sure I could hire employees but, I made my business so I could travel. Not let other ponies do the hoof work for me.

I contemplated what to say but, could not come up with anything as my mind processed what had happened. It was all so sudden. I never really had a moment to accept anything or even work through it. I was simply in survival mode after I was hurt. Now waves upon waves of emotion flooded me. Tears wetting my eyes as my dreams of seeing the world seemed infinitely beyond my reach. I could not afford to hire other ponies to transport me around the world and honestly, it means less that way anyway. I wanted to March to every sight of wonder with my own four hooves. Those dreams have been brutally dashed now and I have no idea what to do now with my life plans shattered.

"You should not worry so much. It is bad for your health you know." The strange unicorn looked at me as he spoke. He continued as he started working on something. I could not see it though since his work was on the table. "Just because you lose something... does not mean it is not replaceable."

I give him the most sarcastic look I could possibly hope to give him. "What could replace my legs!? I am going to be a cripple for the rest of my life and you expect me to be ok with that!" I nearly shout though I did not mean to. Negative emotions just pour from every fibre of my being. I can feel everything but happiness.

He does not even look at me. He almost ignores my outburst but, he at least addresses my statement. "Well, not exactly, but I can give you something to replace what was lost. You do not know who I am, obviously, or you would probably have crawled out the hole by now. I am the Mechanist. Former arch mage of the Celestial Court, outcast, and cruel corrupt wielder of dark magic... or so say." He finishes with a sarcastic tone at that last bit. Maybe a bit of malice mixed it. His face twisted with mixed emotions as if he remembered better days of his past before remembering the worse ones.

I contemplate what exactly he meant by revealing his 'identity' of sorts. His name felt more like a title though, admittedly I had never heard of him. What I do know is that an Arch Mage is a high honor. They are the most powerful and knowledgeable of all Celestia's magi. Star Swirl the bearded was the first Arch Mage and created the magi order. Every Arch Mage since has either been worshiped or, on the rare instance their studies corrupted their minds to insanity, were hated and hunted like animals. They are very powerful beings. I do not fully believe that he is one if I am truly honest to myself. He looks young and does not seem too terribly powerful.

I stare at him questionably "Really? What kind of name is the Mechanist anyway? You do not look like a powerful mage at all. Definitely not an Arch Mage." I almost sound confident before changing my tone to be friendlier. I would not want to offend my host who literally saved my life... some amount of time ago... I realize I have lost track of time during my unconsciousness.

He does not seem offended thankfully. He takes a while before he responds. It is almost as if he is calculating a move in some sort of game except the game is our conversation. "Well, If I was an exiled Arch Mage would I want you to know that so easily? Perhaps my looks do not betray my age. Perhaps an Arch Mage is just a unicorn like any other, except with much more magic and knowledge at his or her disposal. We do not look any different from the average unicorn except fancy clothing while working for the Celestial Court. That time for me has long since past. Now, I, do not wear flashy clothing for I have no need for it. I simply continue my research until the end of my days." He seems solemn at the last part. His whole speech is well-spoken and hints at a much greater age than his looks imply though, now, I have no way of discerning the truth. I am troubled by my inability to read him effectively.

"What about your name..." I continue cautiously now. I at least want his name. Who wants a total stranger who is shrouded in deception to be their caretaker. I really did not want a caretaker at all but, I should at least know their name if I am forced to have one. "You never told me your name. The Mechanist is not a name. It sounds like a title if I had to guess. What is the story?" I hope that, with a genuine demeanor, he will give me at least part of the truth. I still brace myself for disappointment regardless of my hopes.

My expectation was only partly fulfilled. He looks at me before explaining vaguely what sounds like the truth though I have no way to prove it right now. "Well, the Mechanist is a title. I was the Arch Mage a while ago during a war against the changelings. I got my name from my work. I used various magics to create fake limbs that worked like, or better than, the old ones that were lost for my soldiers. I saved lives." He seemed upset, maybe even angry, while talking about a small portion of his past. Him revealing his skills was good though as it was exactly the kind of help I needed. He continues "Not everyone understands these kinds of things. Magic is a strange beast. There is no good or bad. There are only tools for us magi to use. I used many tools for my art. Some..." He seems especially frustrated at this part. "Some... that are even forbidden... Nobody understands that magics can be mixed and used for good in the right hooves."

I wonder what he meant by mixing forbidden magics. I was only an earth pony after all. I never studied magic because I could never hope to use it. The magic I supposedly owned, in the form of strength and skill with plants, had come to me naturally without study. Even pegasi learned to fly and shape weather eventually even without a teacher. Only unicorns had to study their art to unlock their greatest potential. He was right. I could never understand him.

We sat in silence after the tense moment. He seemed to calm very quickly. The pain started to get worse but he noticed and gave me another vial. After drinking it I felt woozy but, the pain was more a dull ache again. I was grateful to have someone taking care of my grievous injuries like this. I would not mind paying him a small fortune for his service.

Hours seem to pass. He focuses and uses his magic twice. It was so powerful that pressure seemed to fill the room. I was concerned at first but over time it slowly receded. Strangely enough, even with such a powerful spell, nothing noticeable happened. He used his magic many more times but none compared to the pressurized spells he previously used.

Suddenly he interrupts the monotony "Well I am done! Do you want to see them?" He removes two strange objects. I had noticed many metal parts around the room disappear over time but, I never realized this was where he was putting the. I inspect closer to see some kind of makeshift legs. It was honestly little more than eight rods connected to some kind of joint. The lower legs were thicker than usual and both limbs had some strange crystal fixed in them. They were large and slowly faded in and out with a bright purple glow.

I honestly feel very unsure about this whole thing. I had hoped he would carry back to town. Now make some kind of improvised solution for a cripple in the wilderness. This seemed like insanity... Then I remembered his earlier statement about being an exiled Arch Mage. Was he serious about exile? Could he really not travel Equestria freely? What did he do that was so horrible. Banishment is only reserved for the vilest of murderers and horrible dictators. Nopony has been publicly banished in decades.

I curiously ask him about the 'legs' he is offering me. "These are legs right? How do they work? Do you expect me to wear these. I am not so certain this will work."

He seemed offended at my last statement but carried on. "Well, they are your legs so I would refrain from insulting them. It is the best I can do in this wilderness. They work through a mixture of magics. The main three are a modified form of manadite, life-force magic, and a form of transmutational melding magic. You won't 'wear' these as the last bit is the magic I use to permanently fix them to you as if they were your own."

I am confused as I have heard of none of these magic types. Admittedly I am no mage of course and have never studied the art but there are a hand full of magics that are universally known. None of these magics fit into that category. I ask curiously "so what exactly are these magics? What do they do? Pardon my ignorance but, I am no mage."

He seems to sway his head to and fro as he motions with one hoof. I would imagine him pointing to a board of some kind if he had one but, all I have to look at is air. "For starters, manadite is the easiest. The original manadite spell was made by Star Swirl and commissioned by Celestia herself. It is essentially condensing pure magic into a solid persistent substance that can store, and conduct, magic. There are various forms of it that vary greatly in storage efficiency and volatility but, mine is a custom spell that focuses on stability. This crystal will not release magic no matter what. It also stores an insane amount meaning the endurance for the legs may be very good."

He seems to pause as he finishes the first subject. He continues onto the next seamlessly enough though "Life-force magic... I will admit that you know of it as death magic. That derogatory term comes from vile amateurs like that bandit who attacked your cart. They absorb life-force from themselves or others and condense it into pure destructive magical energy. How I use it is projecting my own life-force unto others to provide a healing effect. It is not malicious in the slightest. Dark magi just warped the art into something dark."

Once again that pause. It is almost as if he were simulating flipping a page. It is rather astonishing how much of an encyclopedia he can be. I start to believe in his 'Arch Mage' story. "Lastly, transmutation and melding magic. they are two separate arts I combined into one. Essentially I can meld any material into any other material and introduce a gradual change. In this case your body and these replacement legs."

"fake legs you mean" I jar into his explanation.

He gives me a frustrated look before continuing "Ok, fake legs, if you will. I can literally combine them with your body seamlessly. You will even have feeling so long as the crystals can power the enchantments. They will work just like your old legs. I promise." He looks at me genuinely. I question this whole situation but, it is not like I have much choice. I need legs. I will take what I can get so long as it is not missing my two rear legs for the rest of my life.

"Fine" I say with a defeated look. "I will take the legs. Will they work?"

"certainly but..." I am not so sure I like the pause and his strategically placed 'but'. I listen carefully now. "There is one last thing. Applying the legs is going to hurt... a lot. Using melding magic on living things is considered a crime because of it. This is, of course, to give you the ability to walk again. I just need your permission to continue. I would sedate you but, the cocktail I gave you when I brought you here would not work. You need to be awake so I know that the legs are functioning properly." He looks as if he doubts me somehow. He seems unsure but, at the same time still determined to do his part.

I am not afraid of pain but, I have not quickly forgotten the agony that was the hell of losing my legs. It was awful. I contemplated the implications of what he had to say. I likely sat here for an hour before I spoke. "Are you SURE this can work? If I am going to suffer I must know it will work."

He responds quickly and confidently. "Certainly, and if it does not you will be there to let me know. Once they are fully fused to you I should be able to make minor corrections within seconds. This means the worst is actually attaching them. The corrections will be brief and much less severe."

This sounds... ok... I really want to walk again but, I really do not want to be in more pain. I am still numb from earlier so I factor this into my decision. Perhaps it will not hurt as bad as he claims.

I look at him with eyes full of wary trust. "I'll do it. Just get it over with." Hopefully, I do not end up regretting this.

Author's Note

Yes, I know the plural of mage is mages but I think Magi sounds better. Do you not? Anyway back to the story.

Now we know who the mechanist is sort of. Hope this answers the many questions my readers have had so far. He will also be a huge source of world building so pay attention to whatever he has to say about his role under Celestia. Anything he does or did will be important!!!

Also, there are probably more typos here than usual. Forgive that as I have not really had much time to be writing so I just rushed the writing part. Do not worry though. The full effort was put into the story part.

The Binding of Flesh and Steel

The Mechanist was hard at work preparing to attach my new legs. He set a couple of more vials and numerous tools nearby. I had no idea where he got the first tool but, my question was quickly answered when I realized he released some sort of cloaking spell on a shelf that had been carved into the cave wall. I did not see him reveal the first two shelves but, now I saw rows upon rows of assorted tools I had never seen before. There were also various books that seemed particularly old or perhaps just very worn. The writing on them was alien to me. I had never seen anything like it. The shelves had markings carved into them that looked reminiscent of the writing on the books. He grabs one last book from a spot hidden behind everything else. It was a dark brown leather notebook. It was very thick and was held closed by numerous perfect cubes of stone that all held similar circular markings. The cubes sat between the front and rear cover pouring some magic over the book to hold it closed. He brought the book near me and cast a spell on it.

The cubic stones glowed with a soft blue and flew freely from the book and formed a circle around us. The pages within the book began flying out rapidly until none remained floating all around us. The mechanist hums softly as he thinks. Pages fly to him almost as if they knew what he was thinking... come to think of it they just might. It is his magic after all. Pages he rejects return neatly into the notebook where they came from while the few he accepted settled neatly by me. I tried to read anything but all I saw were various magical scribbles again in some unknown language. Were all texts written by magi like this? That would be terribly dumb I think.

"So..." He talks while still focusing on searching the last few dozen pages. "What do you think? I see you are at least mildly intrigued with my personal notes." He smiles pridefully. It is definitely a lot. The letters on the pages appear to be shifting wildly. Finally, he finds the last of the pages he needs and puts the notebook back together without the stones. It rests just behind him.

He gestures toward the book and stones. "That is probably at least a dozen schools of magic in one. It would take to long to explain in detail but, I can sum it up for you if you want." He waits for me to agree. After I do he continues. "Essentially I wrote in this notebook since I was a foal. It is my life's work. When I invented a spell I invented more to protect the first. When I ran out of pages I made spells that allowed me to magically store many pages into one. I can cycle freely through it with my magic now." A page flows in front of me and seems to flip through a small book's worth of text in about a minute. However, I still cannot read anything. "Over time I wrote to much to be sorting through it manually so I invented a complex enchantment that sorts through and organizes it. It is directly connected to my mind so finding what I need takes minutes and not days."

I cut him off still curious about the strange symbols. "What about the language it is written in? What is this? I have never seen it before even in magic books unicorns I knew studied." He looks confused at first before comprehension hit him rather suddenly.

"Ohhh yes... That... It is a language that is long dead. I learned it to discover the secrets of a unicorn cult that was wiped out centuries ago. They studied darker magics and their knowledge gave me the insight I needed for my art. To me, it is second nature to read this long lost language. To a would-be thief, they would simply give up. I cou..." I note he left out key details. Namely, who killed the unicorns, who they were, and the specifics of their "dark" magic. He had still been speaking but, I zoned out a bit and only caught the last part. "...nyway let us continue. I am ready. drink the vial. It will help with the pain." He gestures at one of the vials he brought earlier.

This one was not nearly as bad as the first. It had an earthy floral smell to it. It was also much more fluid. I drank it and felt warm and tingly inside within seconds. The warm feeling slowly faded into a sensation like a bunch of pins were poking into me. It did not hurt. It was just very strange. I still felt fully aware and although moving was difficult I could still do so. "watsss innnn hisss..." I drawl as my mouth did not seem to escape the numbing effects altering my speech a bit.

He seems humored by my sudden loss of speech as he chuckles a bit before telling me. He starts counting off the major things. "Well, you know... lunaflower petals, joylock roots, water hemlock..."

"waaaat!?" I cut him off in a slur. Water hemlock is known to be very poisonous. If that was true this stuff would kill me.

He seems to understand my worry and counters. "Don't worry. Magic remember. I only pull the positive effects out of plants for my cocktails. Besides, that is hardly the most poisonous thing in that mix. You should be thankful the taste is good and my magic protects you."

I noticeably calm and he seems to accept that as a success. He had a point. Magic. Things do not work the same with magic and I hardly understand it. He already saved my life once. Why would he poison me now? He picks up a leg and positions it near my stump with his magic.

"Are you ready?" he asks while making sure he was set up correctly using the morning light to help him aim. I nod. His magic flares brightly now. The colors flash vividly. At first, the metal of the legs glows a deep blue. His magic sprouts a second stream but, this one was far more unsettling. It was a tentacle of sorts that shown brightly with a deep crimson. It seemed to have a... reverse glowing aura of blackness as if it sucked the light from the area around it. It somewhat reminded me of the bandit who attacked me before.

As soon as the red magic touched me I felt a horrible excruciating burning sensation. I howl in response. I could feel every of myself getting pulled and warped by the magic. No matter how bad it hurts I still remain conscious somehow. I could no longer think anymore. All I can do is sit there, barely able to resist, and register wave after wave of agony.

A wave of stabbing cold crossed the brutal burning sensation to make a contrast that I could only really compare to dumping an ocean of lava over an iceberg. My mind is utterly overwhelmed by the sensation of having my body bent and warped to the will of magic. Time has lost all meaning to me now. There is only feeling.

It stops and all the sensations vanish all at once. My head collapses onto the floor from utter exhaustion. It takes me several moments to even register it was over. I groggily bring my head to face the mechanist. He has bags under his eyes now. He seemes weak too. Why? He goes for the other leg..... ohhhh no... I try to move but, the drug is still in effect. I only manage to drag my hooves through the dirt a bit and move my only rear leg... wait... that's go...

The wave of fire overtakes my senses again. All my thoughts were shattered into a million pieces like a piece of glass being struck by a rock. I gritted my teeth so hard that I am sure I will crack a tooth. I only feel faint pressure on my teeth though as the pain overpowers all other sensations. I try to focus on something in the background to get a grip and almost succeed.

The icy feeling slips back into my mind causing any control I had to crumble. I try again to focus on the room but now my vision seems to be flashing colors unnaturally. I am unable to sit still or even stare at a single spot. I am sure I am not breathing but, no matter how hard I try my body refuses to do anything other than an attempt to exhale a breath that does not exist. small spots start popping into my vision as if it were a piece of paper held just above a flame and burning holes in it. Things start to spin a little.

The sensation stops suddenly. Cool air floods my lungs and I pant desperately trying to make up for the lost time breathing. My head is on the ground again but, I did not even notice hitting the ground. I have no recollection of collapsing the second time. Nothing but pain dominates my memory. Now, at last, I got the respite I so desperately need.

"Well, I am done now. You can move if you like." The mechanist spoke softly. Something is missing in his voice. He seems as if he had just run a marathon. I slowly bring myself to face him again. He looks worse now than ever before. His mane and tail were disheveled. His fur seemed messy. He looks paler now and his eyes looked as if death himself had stricken the life from them. He slowly looks in my direction. "Well... What are you waiting for? Stand! Get up! You are whole again."

I had not fully recovered from the procedure but, what he said struck a chord with me. Excitement floods my veins as I can not wait to do something I never thought I would do again. I begin to lift myself with all four legs. I make great progress before my rear legs outpace my front and I fall face-first into the stone floor. Perhaps the medicine does not affect them like it does the rest of me. My snout feels wet from the blood that slowly drains from busting my nose.

The Mechanist laughs at the spectacle. I am slightly offended but, it could be worse all things considered. He did just put me back together so I overlook it. He spoke after finishing his tired laugh. "At least we know it all works now. Too bad your maiden voyage came to such an abrupt stop, my friend."

When he put it that way the comedy was no longer entirely lost to me. Perhaps, it could have even been hilarious had I not just busted my nose after suffering the worst agony I could possibly conceive. I chuckle lightly at the idea in the end. I decide to just lay down. I look out the door and notice morning had turned into night. Had it really been that long?

The mechanist wobbles a bit and collapses kicking up some dust in the air. I go to get up again but he just mouths for me to stop so I stay. He just lay in the middle of the floor for a bit before finally, I hear him snoring. I am not even sure what to think at this point. He did not even make it to his own bed he was so exhausted.

Exhaustion has a very strong grip on me, and the effects of the drug were still going strong, surprisingly resulting in me being unable to effectively coordinate myself. I just lay down with nothing else to do. I wait a bit while the soft stinging of my legs disappears, and once the worst of the pain is gone I fall asleep normally for the first time since the attack.

Author's Note

Ohhh man I had to redo that chapter since I accidentally messed up my tenses again. Bad writing habit I am struggling to kick I suppose. That and Windows 10 upgrade cut into my time today. Besides that, the day went fine.

This chapter brings us more world-building and a bit of an idea of who the mechanist truly is. The only thing we know for certain is he is not evil (anymore at least) and that he has no fears learning any type of magic.

I hope you enjoy the latest installment guys and gals. :pinkiehappy:

Also, wifey if you are reading this I love you! :heart:

credits:
JadeSpeirs- advice, and editing help

The Morning After

The next morning I awake to warmth, the crackle of a fire, and the soft welcoming smell of cooking vegetables. I am not fully awake but, I still had not eaten anything except those cocktails since the attack. My eyes cream open to reveal the Mechanist in the center of his little cave. He had collected supplies while I was out and began readying a meal. Smoke was not an issue for him in this cave as he had created some kind of spell that corrected the air though how it functioned was lost to me.

He notices my stirring and looks to me, still looking pretty sickly. "Morning for the second time. Now that your life is no longer in danger I figure we could get a proper introduction with breakfast." He had some primitive plates that had been carved from stone very similar to the walls of our shelter. He could definitely do better but, perhaps he is a pony of simple tastes.

I stand, a bit shakily, on my brand new legs. They are different. It is hard to really figure out what exactly felt off but, right at this moment, I am too hungry to really focus on that right now. I rush over to sit near the fire with him awaiting my first meal in a good while.

He glares at me. At first, I am not sure why but, I notice he is primarily focused on my new legs. Perhaps, he is not fully convinced they are working up to his standard yet. He interrupts my thoughts with a barrage of questions. "Does it hurt? What can you feel? How easily can you move your new limbs? Is there anything else you have noticed that you would like to tell me?"

He sounds like my doctor. I conclude that for now at least, he sort of is. I brush it off because there is no alarming issue that would cause me to worry besides needing new legs in the first place. I will need more experience before I can truly say I know something is wrong for sure. "No, it doesn't hurt and it moves easily enough. When can I eat?" I try to snag a plate but, he pulls it back with his magic with a look of disdain.

His look improves but, he asks one of the previous questions a second time. "What can you feel? Your new legs should have a sense of touch. Is that working correctly or not?" He motions at my metal 'hooves' sitting on the stone. I ponder the idea for a moment before I focus on it.

The stone beneath my rear metallic hooves is smooth and cold. It is very hard and there is a distinct slickness to it. My front hooves seem to stay planted just fine but, the metal hooves tend to slide slightly on the stone. I find it alarming that I can feel and wonder just what insane magic must be at work here. It is almost as if I never lost my legs at all. I touch the top of one of my new hooves and sure enough, I can feel the pressure. It is fairly precise, if, a bit different now especially considering there are now large sections of empty space in my 'legs'.

"Well?" The Mechanist injects my thoughts once more. I just realized he had been waiting on me this whole time. I nod with a mixture of confirmation and amazement. That seems to work for him as he loosens up. Shortly after he slides my plate to me he continues. "That's good... I am glad that everything seems functional. I would hate to have to repeat that." He seems lost in thought now.

I shudder at the thought. It no longer hurt because the magic had healed me so quickly. It did not need to, however, as the memories of yesterday's agony were still fresh in my mind. It was as if I had my own piece of Tartarus in this realm. I put it behind me because this was all in the past. No need to dwell on such things now.

I cannot tell what the food is. It seems to be various scavenged plants from the forest. If his skill with medicine is any indication he likely is also good at finding food in the wilderness. I am too starved to be picky anyway. I devour the entire meal unceremoniously as he begins to speak. He is obviously dumbing the magic talk down to my level which could at best be described as that of a unicorn foal. I am, after all, an earth pony. Magic was never something I bothered to understand as I never had use of it. Now it was suddenly an invading and integral part of my life.

The Mechanist takes an almost educational tone before droning on. "There are a few things you need to know about the magic. Basic rules if you will. Avoid any powerful magical fields as they will react unpredictably with the manadite crystals. Never damage any of the runes. Avoid water because these legs are iron and unfortunately, applying an anti-rust enchantment would damage the compatibility of the other spells. Either that or take very good care after exposure to water because rust will ruin the spells. Your legs should prove fairly durable to physical abuse but, do not test that intentionally. Lastly, your legs have a finite magical source. The manadite can absorb ambient magic from the world slowly but, without a unicorn fueling them it could take days to fuel both empty crystals fully."

I looked over my legs. They were very... makeshift... even after all we had been through all I have are eight rods combined with some odd gear mechanism that serves as the joint and a flat vaguely hoof-shaped metal plate. The "manadite", as he called it, glowed and floated by itself in the center of the rods in the lower leg with runes lining each rod and glowing faintly as well. Each time I did something with my leg different runes flared furiously displaying the impressively complex system of spells in operation now. There were several anchor points on the rods that hinted that something may still be missing. I shook most of this from my mind noting I should be grateful to have been healed by such a powerful mage.

Acknowledging that he is done I return us to 'proper introductions' instead of all this focusing on my injury. I feel acutely aware of the absence of my old legs even with the presence of the new ones. A change of conversation helps ease my mind off of it. "Perhaps, it is time for introductions now. I am Blaze Comet though you can just call me Comet. How about you? Do you have a real name?"

He looked displeased with my last question. He still responds though. "I do have a real name. You will have to earn the right to know it or, perhaps meet one of the few living ponies who knew me before my exile. You might not have realized it yet but, Equestria thinks I am a powerful dark magic-user. To some extent that is correct. My uses just differ greatly from the occasional raving mad-pony. For example, I used death magic to channel my own life-force into you. Your legs can be considered a form of conjuration but, they do not directly stem from that school of magic. Either way, nobody would accept my work. To the world what I have done here would be considered an abomination." There is a pain in his voice and I get the feeling he is speaking from experience. "After I invented my craft I was prosecuted for the lives I saved. I knew nobody would see the truth so I fled. I have been in exile ever since studying all forms of magic no matter how dark it may be." He finishes watching me. His stare seems calculated as if he is gauging my response.

I am not sure what to think but, I am not upset with him for using forbidden magic. He saved my life after all and, deserves at least a second chance. I try to be as sincere as I can. "That sounds horrible. I am sorry that you were falsely accused and, it may not mean much but I believe you. Though, why do you use evil magic?"

"Magic is not inherently good or evil, Comet. It is simply a tool to manipulate the forces all around us. It is a science to be understood and is the flow of energy within all things. Ponies and other creatures, however, can use magic for foul purposes if they choose. That does not taint the magic because magic cannot do anything without a wielder. It is that same wielder who should saddle the blame for the crime of misusing magic for evil. My use of a magic school normally associated with darkness does not mean I cannot wield it with light. Equestria never really understood this after so many chose to taint the magical arts with their destruction." By the time he finishes he looks crestfallen by the gloomy subject.

Things felt dark and sorrowful so I decide to once again change the subject. "How about your cutie mark? What is it and what exactly is your talent. From where I sit it feels like it is all magic right?"

He chuckles at this perhaps because of the absurdity of your talent covering all magic. Surely such a thing is impossible. "You won't ever see it. I lost it to a backfired spell years ago. My talent is not even magic but, Is actually the ability to easily comprehend magical languages. I gained great knowledge by raiding libraries of past eons and learning from the books of masters who pre-date Star Swirl himself. How about your cutie mark? I am afraid I will never see it so at least you could tell me about it."

I glance look back at my flank to double-check what was stated. I had not really had time to take inventory of what I had lost of my body but, sure enough I no longer had a cutie mark. Unaffected, I respond. "It does not matter. My talent never interested me and, it was bland and boring anyway. Part of why I started my business was to go out into the world and find myself out there in the wonders of our world. Besides, being a walking magic experiment adds to my character. I'm sure a gruff stallion with two metal legs would get all the attention at parties." I finish with perhaps too big a smile on my face. I really could not help myself with the insinuation I had just made.

"Assuming you are allowed into parties." he interjects and pauses briefly for me to absorb this before continuing. "Keep in mind you are just as much an exile as me now. Until you can at least clear your name anyone who sees those legs are going to assume you are an undead thrall within my magical grasp. I can't really say for sure how ponies will react when they see it but, I can promise it won't be good if they recognize the magic."

His statement has me feeling a bit down. This would definitely mean the end of my business and, perhaps even any hopes of traveling. He must have seen how I feel because he lifts my muzzle to look at him once more.

"Don't worry. I still have an extra cloak lying around. As long as you are careful nobody should see. Besides, I have an errand for you to run. I would do it myself but, I have found myself far too weak to cast a powerful illusion spell today. Do this for me and we can call it even." As he finishes he shoots me a knowing glance because we both know why his magic is drained today.

I ponder the idea but, I conclude I should help. It is the least I can do after everything he has done. "What is it you need?"

He looks rather pleased and pulls out various scrolls. He unrolls them revealing the schematics for various things that appear to be made of metal. "These. Take these to the local blacksmith if they have one. Tell him to follow the instructions carefully."

Noting that blacksmiths can be expensive I ask "What about bits? I don't have any of mine and, I cannot just walk up to the banker and withdraw bits if I am a dead pony. Everypony would freak out."

"A valid observation." he pauses in thought. "I do at least have two solutions." He passes me an amulet and, then casts a spell making bits appear from thin air. He gathers them into a pouch and passes me those as well before continuing. "The amulet absorbs magical frequencies that are nearby. After your done with the blacksmith try withdrawing bits from the banker. The amulet will pick up the spell frequency and, I should be able to copy it to access your wealth of bits anywhere. The bits I gave you are fake. I give it about a day before they disintegrate. It should be enough to fool a blacksmith though."

I stare at him in agitation. "So you want me to cheat a blacksmith and break the pocket dimension spell that the banks use for security? Are you insane! We are trying to clear our name but, this will only get us into more trouble!" I'm not ready to do such things yet even if I am already an exile.

understanding my intentions he tries to work with me a bit. "You don't have to cheat the blacksmith but, you must go to him first. When you go to the banker you are inevitably going to be discovered by somepony. Once you get the spell we can always mail bits anonymously to the blacksmith to make up for today. Remember, we are only doing what we must to get by."

When he puts it that way it doesn't seem as bad. I still do not like it but, I will do what I must. As long as we eventually repay the blacksmith I decide I can go through with this no matter how deceptive it is.

I hold out my hoof before speaking. "It is settled then. I will do this for you and we are even."

He shakes my hoof and nods.

My day is going to get really interesting now.

Author's Note

Well, I enjoyed a good read and a nice break. Reading, seeing, or talking about other people's ideas helps me imagine new things. It really gets the creative juices flowing and puts fuel back into the tank so to speak. Anyway, back to spilling my ideas on pages too right?

Thanks to JadeSpeirs for lots of help concerning the latest chapter and dealing with writer's block.