Chapter 5: Close to the Sun

Kan! The impact between hammer and heated metal called out clearly. The hammer’s wielder pulled back and immediately reset. He quickly inspected the result of the hit he had just made, simultaneous to lining up his next swing. Kan! Again and again he swung and checked, swung and checked. It was tiring work, but to do it right it had to be done this way, folding and re-folding the metal until both its density and its flexibility had been realized. Then it could be shaped and sanded and the multiple polishes applied. There were yet more steps after that. It was possible to spend days on the same blade, which was why more blacksmiths were using moulds to create their weapons – and why those weapons would always be inferior although they were made more quickly. Kan!

Of course, Gearhead could shape his weapons in under a minute using his geomancy. The speed forging involved was reliable, however just like a moulded weapon, the result would be weaker than if it was made by more traditional methods. The dagger Gearhead was making now was taking him many hundreds of times longer than the one he had made during his battle against the Timberwolves, and even though this one was patterned after that one, this one would also be many times stronger.

Gearhead inspected the blade. Satisfied, he put down his hammer and moved the clamps holding the heated steel to the basin of water to be quenched. While his blacksmith’s hammer was store-purchased, and then enhanced through geomancy, his clamp system was another of his custom-built gadgets. The system allowed Gearhead to use the full range of his blacksmithing skills despite his smaller frame and build.

After Gearhead had started learning how to control his ‘knack,’ he found references to instances where a pony’s power fluctuated, or failed altogether. On principle, he decided that relying on his ‘knack’ alone would be a massive mistake, and began to teach himself how to be a blacksmith. For a short time he apprenticed to Hoofington’s most skilled blacksmith to learn more. While doing so, he built up his neck and upper body strength, so that although his frame remained the same, he was much stronger than he looked.

Once Gearhead attained a sufficiently high level of skill, he started to try to combine blacksmithing with his ‘knack.’ It took a long time to get it right. The lessons behind three broken hammers and seven shattered anvils had become etched into the young stallion’s memory. Now he could forge ahead with full certainty, only occasionally consulting his old master blacksmith by mail. And indeed, Gearhead’s forge burned in order for him to work materials like metals.

The whole purpose of his current exercise was to forge a replica to the metal dagger Gearhead had created in the Everfree Forest, only using the best materials available together with the best techniques he had learned over the years. The original blade was made with carbon, iron, and the various other metals commonly found hidden in the earth. The replica was made with a carbon-steel alloy that made it both stronger and lighter, while the re-folding process involved in the forging called for more metal. In the end there was no question which version of the dagger Gearhead would choose if he had to: the forged weapon was always stronger than the one he called to hoof with magic, although it usually handled roughly the same. Of course, that would only be true if Gearhead was able to finish this dagger without making a mistake large enough to produce a fault within it.

This could not be said for the gemstone daggers. It was possible that the only fires hot enough to melt gemstones so they could be shaped were those kept hidden by the earth itself, and dragonfire. Gearhead already knew that Shadow Wright would be insulted by even the implication of acting as a forge for anypony, or even at all. The stallion would not live through the encounter, and Spike’s fire was far from hot enough to match that of the far older dragon. If he wanted to risk an unpredictable result, Gearhead could try the Fireheart Gemstone, but he felt that Shadow Wright had meant him to use it for greater things than creating daggers – even ones made from gemstones, which dragons ate. Since Gearhead could not forge a gemstone dagger, his sole remaining choice was to produce them through geomancy. They may not be as strong as they would be through forging, but they were already far sharper, and more durable, than any steel sword, and so that matter was closed.

Later, once the blade was finished, Gearhead tested it against a block of iron. The dagger was slightly heavier than the original, but not by much. Its cut was cleaner and deeper, and the blade was more flexible. Gearhead nodded, satisfied, and started to clean up, because that day would be quite busy.

Sugar Cube Corner was hosting a special luncheon party. The guest of honour was no less than Princess Celestia, who wanted to become more familiar with many of the residents of Ponyville, including Twilight’s five close friends. Gearhead arrived to find that Applejack was minus her usual Stetson hat and Rarity had dressed formally with a very fancy dress and tiara. The others looked more or less their usual selves, although Twilight was extra nervous, and Fluttershy had not shown up yet. Pinkie Pie was bouncing off the walls, as per usual.

Gearhead had done well for himself cleaning up, since he wanted to make himself presentable: this would be his first time meeting one of the two Princesses of Equestria. Other than washing off the soot and grime from his forging, he had combed his mane neatly and taken the opportunity to dress up moderately. Nopony could out-dress Rarity, of course. Gearhead wore a plain black vest which, for once, did not have any pockets – on the outside. He had also traded his usual pair of shoes for a black pair made of the same insulating material. The zippers on these ones were hidden, but no less accessible. He also wore a belt, from which hung his geomantic-made metal dagger and his geargem dagger, both on his left side, and a black pouch on his right. The pouch was made with the same insulating material as his shoes, and Zecora had helped Gearhead put some anti-detection and containment wards on it, so it could contain powerful magical items without sticking out. Today it housed the Fireheart Gemstone.

Gearhead thought it was amazing how sometimes ponies threw off an aura of sensation. Different auras could be sensed differently, or at least they did to him. Just in his own family, one pony was rough and hard-edged, while another was warm and soothing. In Ponyville, Twilight gave off a slight feeling of warm wind. As for Princess Celestia, Gearhead felt as though he had walked through a curtain of power the instant he had entered Sugar Cube Corner. It decreased in waves as he become more acclimated to it, but when he approached the table where the Princess was seated in order to get some food to eat, he felt it roll over him more intensely. The slight heat rolled off of her in waves the way the tide rolled in or out.

“You are Gearhead, right?” Princess Celestia asked, turning her attention away from her teacup for a moment.

“Y-yes, Your Highness,” he said quietly, bowing.

“I understand from Twilight’s letters that you’re quite gifted,” Princess Celestia looked meaningfully at the daggers clearly visible in their scabbards. Gearhead nodded and drew the metal and jewel daggers in turn, laying them carefully on the table in front of the princess for inspection. First she selected the metal dagger, levitating it with her magic while Gearhead watched it glow golden. “A single piece, but otherwise unremarkable,” the princess said. The comment brought the stallion back to focus on the moment.

“Made in the heat of battle, without choice of material. Previous to that I had a staff, but I lost it. I needed something shorter.”

“Then the circumstances are remarkable,” Princess Celestia put the metal dagger down, and levitated the gemstone dagger. “Ah, now this is a work of art. Again a single piece, but this time forged from multiple and varying gemstones. Despite the differences, it is a flawlessly singular piece. Remarkable.”

“It responds to the user’s thoughts at need, Princess.”

“Perhaps just your own, then.”

“Or perhaps you need only direct some of your magic into it. Or through it. Not being a Unicorn I do not know how it works.”

“That is because few Unicorns like to write about ‘feeling the magic,’” Princess Celestia smiled, then focused. The golden aura around her horn intensified, and the aura around the geargem dagger responded in kind. Suddenly it was a sword instead of a dagger, its inner facets reflecting golden light onto the shop’s walls, ceiling, and floor. The other guests ‘ooh’ed and ‘ah’ed, perhaps thinking the display was part of a show. “I would love to have you as a guest in Canterlot later on, if it suits you,” Princess Celestia said, guiding the blade over to Gearhead.

“I would be honoured,” the stallion said, and deftly caught the sword when the princess released it. It still had the golden cast to it, but that began to fade almost immediately. Gearhead willed the blade to revert to its dagger form so he could sheath it in time to receive the metal dagger as well.”

“Very skilled indeed,” Princess Celestia said.

“There is one more thing, while you are here, and I would like to request the utmost discretion,” Gearhead said, moving closer.

“Of course,”

When Gearhead nodded down to his belt pouch, Celestia looked down and used her magic to open up the flap. She just barely held her gasp at the sight of the item. “May I borrow this for awhile? I promise to return it well before I leave Ponyville.”

“Of course, Your Highness.” Gearhead discreetly passed the pouch to the Princess, who immediately tucked it away. Gearhead took a respectful step back, and that was when Twilight ushered Fluttershy inside.

While Twilight was leading Fluttershy over to the table, two interesting things happened. One was that while Princess Celestia was lifting a cupcake to her lips to eat it, Pinkie Pie zipped right up. She asked if the princess was going to eat the confectionary, but gobbled it up without waiting for an answer – and the princess tolerated it. The other thing was that when Mister and Missus Cake kept refilling the princess’s tea, the princess pretended to sip from her cup so they would overfill it. It seemed Princess Celestia was a bit of a prankster.

Just as she had with Gearhead, Princess Celestia started a conversation with Fluttershy, this one about her love of woodland creatures. The princess knew about this from Twilight’s letters – again, the student seemed to keep very little from her mentor. Some coughing drew the ponies’ attention to a gilded birdcage standing on the princess’s other side. Some tan and pink feathers floated out, and then a large bird became visible. From Fluttershy’s reaction, she could not either place the bird’s type or quite cope with its apparent bad health. Gearhead stared at it too. “I know I have seen that before somewhere,” he muttered, trying to figure it out. “It is a shame I did not think to bring a bestiary.” It did not exactly help that the princess seemed to be ignoring the bird,  Philomena’s, bad health, and that she had to leave to attend an audience with Mayor Mare.

Gearhead was still puzzling over the problem when he noticed that Philomena was gone from the cage. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy were among the ponies who had left after the princess did. Shrugging, Gearhead made for his shop. He thought he could consult one of the bestiaries he owned for reference purposes. If not, maybe there was something at the Golden Oak Library.

Gearhead kept a significant library of reference materials upstairs on a pair of full-length bookshelves opposite his bed. As might be expected of one of his chosen profession, most of them concerned the manipulation of materials – wood, metal, textiles, and ceramics. A smaller portion pertained to the different animals one might find in Equestria. Gearhead tried to categorize them: beasts of the land, birds of the air, denizens of the sea (deep and not-so-deep), and legendary creatures. As soon as he got upstairs, Gearhead started flipping through his books on birds. At no time, however, did any of the avians of which he knew resemble the state Philomena was in at that moment. Frustrated with his lack of progress, Gearhead grabbed a book on birds he had not gotten to yet, plus his most comprehensive book on legendary beasts, and hit the road again.

Given Philomena’s state, Gearhead lay odds (if he was a betting horse) that Fluttershy was trying to nurse the bird back to health. He peered as carefully as possible through one of the windows, and was able to confirm that that was the case. He then took out the lighter book on birds, and tapped it against the window before moving to the door.

“This had better be quick,” Twilight said, opening the door. “I’m on a roll.”

“In regards to that..?” Gearhead flipped through the book as he stepped inside so Twilight could close the door behind him. He looked up – and saw an aura of unstable heat rolling off of Philomena. It crashed into and almost overwhelmed Fluttershy’s soothing aura, but Twilight’s aura of power seemed to be boosted by it. Of course I would miss such a thing in Princess Celestia’s presence, but now Philomena is the most powerful being in the room! Without another word, Gearhead dropped the bird book and started to flip through the one on legendary creatures. Bird. Heat. Fire. Firebird. Of course! Philomena is—

The thought got cut off as a business-like knocking came to the door. Twilight opened it to find two of the Princess’s Royal Guards standing there.

“What can I do for you gentle-stallions?”

“Twilight Sparkle, we were informed we could find you here. It seems the royal pet has gone missing. Would you know where it is?”

“No, sirs, I’m afraid not.” Behind Twilight, covered by a sheet, Philomena coughed. Gearhead watched with rapt attention as Twilight nudged Fluttershy, standing beside the covered pet bird, to cough in order to cover the sound. Then Twilight coughed too.  “It’s that dry night air?”

“But it’s the middle of the day,”

“Anyway, thank you for coming to check. We’ll let you know if we hear anything about – Philomena, was it? Bye!” And Twilight closed the door, then waited for the guards to walk away before showing any relief.

“Why did you just lie to them?” Fluttershy asked.

“Do you know what the Princess will do if she finds out we took her pet without permission?”

“No. Do you?”

Gearhead did not listen to the rest of the conversation. He turned his attention back to his book:

Encyclopaedia of Equestrian Legendary Beasts – Phoenix

The Phoenix is a Bird of Fire that exists in many cultures’ mythologies, due to its extremely close elemental affinity for Fire, and also because of the myths attached to it. The Phoenix is long-lived, and prefers the company of other long-lived beings because it is known to become extremely attached emotionally, and is highly loyal.

The Phoenix symbolizes destruction and rebirth by Fire.

The Phoenix hatches from an egg. Until it first matures it is like any other flying avian. Its only markings as a member of the Phoenix family are its orange and gold feathers.

Once matured, the Phoenix begins its primary life cycle. As such, it must periodically replenish its energy and rejuvenate, in a state that resembles common illnesses in birds.

Once this stage is interrupted, or completed, the Phoenix bursts into flames and rises from its own ashes completely refreshed and renewed.

Due to the Phoenix’s ability of rebirth, a myth circulates that the consumption of Phoenix flesh will result in immortality. This myth is patently false, as attempting to consume the fiery flesh of this legendary Bird of Flame will result in the eater being burned.

There were pictures of a Phoenix in the various stages of its life cycle, and given the now unsurprising fact that Princess Celestia had contributed the bulk of the entry (and others), Gearhead would not be surprised if those pictures were of Philomena. All of this information meant that Philomena was having some fun with Fluttershy, and the fact that the Princess had brought her along during her Stage of Decline probably meant she was in on it, at least a little. This bore out with what Gearhead remembered about the Princess pulling a minor prank on the Cakes.

“You both can stop panicking now: Philomena is…” Gearhead looked up to find all three gone. When had that happened? He quickly grabbed his books and galloped out the door, making sure to close it properly before heading for Ponyville proper.

Gearhead caught up with Twilight and the others in the Town Square, just in time for the guards to notice that Philomena was perched on top of the statue there. The bird lurched crazily here and there, coughing dramatically after her last feather fell out. A single second pause gave the game away. “Hey, we already have one Drama Queen in this group,” Gearhead said, exasperated. “I am tired of chasing you ponies around and trying to tell you—“

That was when Philomena fell from the statue, and Fluttershy dove to catch her – only to see the bird burst into flames so the ashes would all pile up on her hooves. Fluttershy began to cry, while the others looked on, stunned. “Yes, fine,” Gearhead said, taking out the book so he could use one hoof to turn the pages. “As I was trying to tell you –“

“What is all this commotion?”

“Princess Celestia, we’re so sorry! We were just trying to take care of Philomena for you. We were really going to return her to you afterwards—“

“Will you listen to me for just one single second? Philomena is a Phoenix!” Gearhead blurted.

“Whoa, what an outburst!” Rainbow Dash said.

“I live over a forge; get over it.”

“What’s a Phoenix?” Fluttershy asked.

“Here! Look here,” Gearhead stabbed at the entry with his hoof. “Or we can ask the entry contributor to explain it.”

“I think it is better to just show you, my little ponies. Philomena? You’re scaring everypony.” And in a swirl, Philomena revived, looking far more majestic in her refreshed gold and light-crimson form. While she flew around, the Princess explained to the others, using almost the exact same words that were in the encyclopaedia entry. “I’m afraid little mischievous Philomena was just having some fun at your expense,” Princess Celestia said.

Yes, and you were in on it, Gearhead thought. Mares and gentlecolts, I give you the Crowned Ruler of all Equestria, he thought wryly. Then again, she has lived and ruled for well over 1,000 years and probably needs some fun to spice things up. Nevermind: my fury’s all spent.

“I would like to extend an invitation to you, Gearhead, to the Grand Galloping Gala,” Princess Celestia floated a golden ticket over to the Earth Pony. “I believe by then we will have much about which to speak.”

“Oh,” Rarity said. “Should I design some formalwear for you as well? I would enjoy some practice with stallion’s wear as well in this case.”

“With my apologies, Miss Rarity, I already have something that I am to wear to all formal occasions.”

“Surely I can spruce it up for you then, dear.”

“Actually, it was recently tailored to my size. It is a special make from home, so please do not worry about the design.”

“Oh, very well. It had better be as good as you say, because otherwise I can’t be held responsible for how ponies will receive you in Canterlot.”

“I assure you, Lady Rarity, it is under control.”

“There’s just one other thing,” Princess Celestia said, and Gearhead noticed that Fluttershy was wearing a single large phoenix feather behind one ear – another gift from a legendary creature. Gearhead turned back to the Princess to see her levitating his pouch out toward him. “A fascinating item with which you are most fortunate to be entrusted, young Gearhead. I caution you that you are not to reveal the giver’s name to anypony unless she or he gives you permission first, for a name is a powerful thing indeed.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Gearhead said, accepting the pouch back and reattaching it to his belt. The weight and feel of the gemstone within was comforting. “You have my thanks.”

The Alicorn who ruled Equestria smiled cryptically, making Gearhead wonder if there was more.

It was more of a challenge than Gearhead would have ever thought possible to dissuade Rarity from trailing him back to the shop to take a look at his formalwear, despite his earlier protests and reassurances. He really was perfectly fine with what he had, since Mother and Big Sister Ivy had insisted that he receive it before he passed through Ghastly Gorge. They really wanted to make sure his formalwear fit correctly. It seemed that the closer Gearhead got to Canterlot the more concerned those two became with his ability to be prepared for formal social occasions. Gearhead guessed that was what came from the lifestyle shift that he had already undergone.

And it seemed more likely to undergo even further changes, now that he had caught Princess Celestia’s attention, essentially through his association to her protégée, Twilight Sparkle. Gearhead did not know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing yet. He did know that there was a type of pony who became jealous when they saw those they felt were undeserving getting attention from the more influential ponies. You did not get any more influential in Equestria than Princess Celestia.

Having put his gear from the luncheon away, Gearhead opened the black pouch and let the Fireheart Gemstone roll into his hooves. He gasped, for the fire that lit the ball-like item had changed since before he had handed it over to the princess for inspection: In addition to a molten red, orange, and yellow the light had distinct patterns of blue and green, gold and pink. The red had lightened to more of a crimson tint, and the orange looked exactly like the orange of Philomena’s feathers. Somehow, during the time the gemstone had been in Princess Celestia’s possession, she had changed, or perhaps added to, the inner fire of this precious artefact.

As Gearhead studied the Fireheart Gemstone, blue-green light seeped gently from his hooves, and he came to a partial understanding, at least. The Fireheart Gemstone was alive with Fire Magic at a very deep level. It originally came from the magma in the cave system, which Shadow Wright had processed, evoking the living flame. Princess Celestia had then added her own magic and flame, making it an even more powerful artefact than it had been before.

It made perfect sense, since Princess Celestia had the power to raise and lower both the Sun and the Moon – but most specifically, in this case, the Sun, which held its own incredibly intense fires. Even the princess’s golden magic was special, Gearhead understood. Its quality was different on a fundamental level from those of Unicorns like Twilight Sparkle. Princess Celestia was incredibly long-lived, and her magic radiated from her not just in her aura, which Gearhead could see, but also as a physical manifestation in her flowing, nimbus-like mane and tail, which everypony could see. Most ponies would not question how that could be because they had grown up used to such a phenomenon, so they no longer saw it as unusual.

Princess Celestia had granted Gearhead a glimpse behind the curtain, perhaps in the belief that he could decode the mystery behind it. In the hope that he could replicate it? What an odd hope to place in a pony like him! Or perhaps it was not so odd, because he knew what it was like to be powerless, and how it felt not to be in control of one’s own power.

Gearhead had long since transcended both the states of powerlessness and of not being in control. Now he was on his way to mastering his power so he could be useful to the ponies around him, and those waiting for him at home. Perhaps, in that case, Princess Celestia was inviting Gearhead to Canterlot to guide him toward the next stage in his journey.

In all that, an idea began to percolate in Gearhead’s mind. Still carrying the Fireheart Gemstone in his mouth, he went in search of pen and notepad. This could take some time, but then the greatest ideas always did.

Gearhead turned completely around to look at his handiwork in its complete form: hanging from a web of thread and yarn were papers of various sizes, some set forward and others set back. They formed a series of loose rings around the Earth Pony, and when he looked at them in a slightly defocused manner, the separate sheets created a complete picture. The calculations and technical drawings came together perfectly.

It was a multi-layer, furnace-like turbine that, if Gearhead was correct (and so far he did not have any evidence to the contrary) could both power and propel whatever he chose to attach it to. It could bridge the gap between the different pony tribes. It could grant power on the level of the Sun itself. It could change everything! The realization made Gearhead giddy.

Unfortunately there were also greedy and jealous ponies who, if they learned of this, would seek it out and try to build one of their own. While it could provide light and warmth, it could also be weaponized, and the thought of something he was going to make being made to destroy on such a grand scale sobered Gearhead immediately. He realized then that secrecy, safety, and security would be paramount in this project. He could not allow any other pony to have even a poor imitation of a copy of something so powerful. He would have to use every possible safeguard and security measure he could think of, and then surpass that mark by an order of two: ponydom was not ready to harness the power of the sun, and failure to harness it properly would result in a massive explosion. It might even ignite the very air, and who knew how far that devastation might reach!

Gearhead proceeded to enact the first layer of security measures immediately. First he committed everything to memory, creating a deluge of data that would hopefully stump any psionicist looking to differentiate between vital and unimportant information. Next, he took the papers that contained data and diagrams on vital safeguards and other systems and chewed them to pulp before spitting them into his forge to burn and mix with the other ashes. Finally, he took down the remaining blueprints and, shuffling them so that even if they were found they would be out of order, hid them all about the workshop and top levels of the shop.

Gearhead returned to the workshop and stared for awhile at his still-burning forge. It would not burn hot enough, he knew. It was not strong enough to contain the full force of what he was about to unleash in order to contain an even more powerful force of nature. He needed a new forge, or even more likely, a new workshop. Something that was as secure as possible. It would take some time to build, but he knew he could do it, even though he would have to manage it around his normal duties. Yes, it was possible.

Gearhead would also need the best materials for when he went into fabrication: the purest and greatest gemstones, and the strongest metals. Adamantine! He did not have nearly enough of the dragonfired adamantine that Shadow Wright had left for him, even if he augmented it with the box containing the ironwood. He would have to make more, and that meant intense study of the material he did have. Well, there was no time like the present in which to get started.

Just as soon as he got some rest, because he had no idea how long it had been since he had even started sketching. He just knew he had not stopped until he had the complete blueprint, which now only existed in his head. Well, that was the first layer of safeguards.

Ten days later the second layer of safeguards was complete. Naturally, fulfilling his normal duties had slowed him down, but the main factor was that all the digging, rigging, and assembling he had done fatigued Gearhead far more quickly than any of his normal builds, which he also had to continue making. He also had to venture into the environs around Ponyville to gather materials for both his normal builds and this extraordinary project. All of it took time, but Gearhead was noticing that his capacity was gradually increasing, as was his control.

And as more ponies heard about Princess Celestia’s interest in the Earth Pony gadgeteer, more customers came to Gearhead’s Gadgets than ever before. The shop’s sales were up, and his coffers had never been fuller. Gearhead could only imagine how pleased his parents would be to receive that month’s share back home!

His duties completed for the moment, Gearhead headed down to the workshop. He stood between the forge and the bins full of materials, and gently placed his bare hooves on the floor near the wall. Blue-green energy gently crackled, moving stone to reveal a short stone stairway that ended flush with the wall. Gearhead had had to back up so he did not fall in. A hoof against the ‘wall’ opened the hidden door. Gearhead stepped into a small cubic room that was undecorated and empty except for the steel cable running vertically through the middle, and closed the door behind him. The room was barely large enough for him to stand inside of it. Gearhead nudged a clamp that held the cable near the floor with an exposed hoof, and when it released he caught hold of the cable in his mouth. He began to count as he descended, knowing that the stairs were, once again, hidden.

At the correct count, Gearhead stopped his descent and replaced the clamp. He opened the door ahead of him and stepped into a second car, this one with its cable running horizontally. Gearhead closed the first elevator’s door with a flick of his tail, released the second car’s clamp, and again counted as he moved.

Gearhead repeated the process with a second vertical elevator and a second horizontal car, always counting off to ensure he stopped at the right place, and always closing doors behind himself. He opened the fourth car’s door to reveal a blank metal wall. At his touch, the wall opened up, and Gearhead was able to enter his ultimate workshop and playground.

The workshop was a single long room done in the second-strongest metal alloy Gearhead knew of, and the strongest one he could manufacture in bulk. It was lit by a set of thirty Unicorn-powered lightbulbs which he had purchased in various towns, so as to avoid buying from just one shop. Apart from the usual bins for materials, the room was empty. The skeleton of an extra-large, spherical forge stood nearby, connected to a long, flexible rod that travelled up a series of shafts back to the shop’s waterwheel. The rod had to be flexible, because the whole room was suspended on massive air-cushioned springs in all directions to insulate it from tremors, and also to isolate the ground from any explosions from inside the workshop.

The tunnels, too, were integral to the security of the operation. The ones along which Gearhead had traveled continued for quite a distance past the correct marks, and he had even gone to the trouble of digging false passages, complete with cars and cables in case somepony penetrated his first security layer somehow. The tunnels were lined in metal alloy sheets to prevent detection, or even a solid read on the contents through magic. All of this had taken almost as long as building the workshop so that it resembled an isolated, sterile laboratory where anything could be constructed.

And if everything worked out, it would all be worth it.

Gearhead took out the last of the blueprint papers he had been carrying and carefully filed them away, still keeping them random. There was no longer any dangerous information hidden in his living quarters, and very little hidden in his primary workshop. Gearhead had also brought down most of the adamantine and ironwood for safekeeping, although he kept a bar of each with him at all times in case he had time in which to examine them.

Gearhead had realized that in order to be able to create more adamantine or ironwood he would have to completely understand their components. To do that, he would have to understand how Shadow Wright’s fire had changed them. While Gearhead did not possess any of the original metal or wood, he did have the Fireheart Gemstone. The precious gem contained a living flame that existed because of Shadow Wright’s dragonfire, and which had grown more potent from Princess Celestia and Philomena. Gearhead remembered what Princess Celestia’s and Philomena’s auras felt and looked like, so he could mentally remove those factors, leaving Shadow Wright’s signature. When examining the adamantine and ironwood, Gearhead could likewise mentally remove Shadow Wright’s signature flame from the equation, leaving normal adamantine and ironwood. Once he understood them, he could make more. Being able to make more would allow him to go fully into the manufacture of his prototype sun turbine (although he wanted a better name for it that was not so on-the-nose).

All this from the Princess’s visit. I really will have to visit her in Canterlot as thanks, Gearhead thought. He sat in the middle of the room with his bar of adamantine in front of him. He lay his hooves just in front of the bar, closed his eyes, and opened his mind to the flow of his knack. Today, too, he would be trying to unlock the secret.

A couple days later, Gearhead had his first opportunity to fulfill his promise to Princess Celestia. He was surprised, at first, that the invitation was for him alone. He was also more than a little nervous, since this would be his first time visiting the Equestrian capital and the current seat of power.

At Princess Celestia’s request, Gearhead took his cyclic wagon, full of wares, instead of the train, which stopped directly inside Canterlot. The journey would have taken longer if Gearhead took the typical route, however the wagon’s suspension was good enough for him to run on the train tracks the entire way. Fortunately he was able to time his run so he could pull off of the tracks and avoid a collision with the train, which continued to run at the same time.

When Gearhead arrived in Canterlot, the Princess’s Royal Guard directed him to park inside the palace’s main courtyard. Gearhead did so, securing his vehicle’s brakes before climbing down out of the wagon. A Unicorn stallion in Royal Guard finery was waiting for him.

“Gearhead of Gearhead’s Gadgets, I presume?”

“That is correct, Sir..?”

“Pleased to meet you, Gearhead. I’m Shining Armour, Captain of the Royal Guard,” Shining Armour leaned in and whispered. “I’m also Twilight Sparkle’s big brother,” he said, before resuming a more relaxed stance.

Understood, Gearhead did not have to say. He knew all about a big brother’s protective tendencies, which were especially strong toward little sisters. “It is a pleasure, Sir Armour,” Gearhead said.

“This way please,” Shining Armour gestured for the other guards to resume their posts, with two remaining to guard Gearhead’s wagon. “This being your first time here, I’ll give you the three-bit tour, at least until the Princess is ready to see you.”

“That would be fantastic,” Gearhead said. “I have heard that Canterlot has one of the best libraries in Equestria.”

“The library? Yes, I do think it is fairly good, although Twilight’s the one who knows all the ins and outs on that front. I have to caution you, though, to try to avoid spending all of your time with your nose in the books while you’re here.” Despite the warning, there was an unmistakable twinkle in Captain Armour’s eyes that spoke of a love for books. He must have his own reasons for not wanting to admit to it, Gearhead thought.

“Not to worry: I know at least that much about courtly manners – although I admit to not making any promises if either of the Princesses shows me the library themselves. When I am in Research Mode, I know very little restraint.”

“I know that mode fairly well,”

“Do you know how to disrupt it as well?”

“Usually by moving a book or inkwell a bit.”

“Just a little?” Gearhead raised an eyebrow.

“About a fillymeter,” Shining Armour winked.

“I find that incredible,”

“It is,”

“No, I mean that I do not believe it,”

“Then try it for yourself sometime,” Shining Armour said, and he started the tour.

Without explanation, Shining Armour motioned for Gearhead to enter the room. Fortunately the Throne Room did not need an explanation. At that moment, the conversation that had been taking place at the other end of the room quickly became wrapped up, and the Princess’s visitors bowed and took their leave. Shining Armour nodded to Gearhead, and the latter approached the throne, while the former also left.

“Welcome to Canterlot, Gearhead.”

“My thanks for the invitation, Your Highness,” Gearhead said, bowing.

“Come, let us go someplace less drafty and more conducive to your studies.” Princess Celestia left her throne and indicated a hidden passage behind it. Once Gearhead was following her, the princess spoke in a quieter voice, although in the more confined space high volume was not necessary. “I have to say that I like informality much better than formality, even when tradition must be observed.”

“Our traditions set the standards for what is expected of us, Your Highness, and so there are many uses for them,” Gearhead said, when it was clear she was waiting for a response.

“And yet some of those same traditions might not be relevant anymore. They might become obstacles to better living. They might even stifle independent and new thought.”

“Selective traditionalism, then?”

Princess Celestia chuckled. She opened the far end of the passage, and they came out to a circular room that held a bank of books. “I built this room for meditation and practice. It’s perfect because the stones used suppress magic to some extent, which means that when you practice you have to make much more of an effort than you would normally. And this makes your magic that much more powerful when you leave. Those same materials in the walls and floor remove distractions such as sound, while maintaining a fully-comfortable environment. I come here for at least three hours in a day.”

“That is because you have no patience for your normal duties around the middle of the day, Sister,” Princess Luna said, coming over from the opposite side of the room. “This is the stallion you wish to train?”

“He has so much potential, Little Sister.”

“We shall see,” Princess Luna said. “Our turn first?”

“If you want,” Princess Celestia said, and the midnight-blue Alicorn nodded.

“Come and be seated,” Princess Luna said, sitting on the outer edge of the central circle. She nodded directly opposite her, where Gearhead soon joined her. “Now, excluding all else, open yourself to the flow of magical energy around you. Let it flow through you, and then focus it on a single point.” As the Princess of the Night demonstrated, her horn glowed a deep blue. “Naturally, you will require a different focus point. What are you doing?” The princess saw Gearhead zipping his shoes up.

“My ability works through my hooves,” he explained.

“It does not matter what you have used to manifest your powers before. This is about flow and focus to a single point. Fix your shoes back up, and we will proceed.”

Gearhead did as he was bid, and on a hunch he drew his geargem dagger and placed it in the middle of the central circle before closing his eyes. He imagined the stuff of magic flowing around the room like the wind, even though there was not any natural wind blowing. The magic would be blowing about through the entire space, as wind itself knew little about limits or boundaries. He imagined calling the wind over to him, letting it flow through his whole body, and then pointing it into his dagger through the spot on his forehead where, if he had been born a Unicorn, his horn would have been. And why not be at least that imaginative, if magic energy was going to be wind?

Gearhead felt a stirring. He sensed that the air around him was pure, but it was also abnormally thick with magic energies, which swirled around as coloured mist. He realized that this made sense, if the Princesses made this their primary place of practice. That would mean the magic energies he was sensing was residual magic from spells the two Alicorns were practicing over the years.

Gearhead sensed far more golden energy than blue energy, and the latter was newer, as if it had only started up in recent years. The gold energy was thick and heavy, weighed down with regret that only increased until around the same time the blue energy started up. Gearhead felt around. “I do not detect any residual energies from Nightmare Moon,” he said.

“There would be none,” Princess Luna said, “as the seat of our power was still at the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest. During our time as Nightmare Moon we did not use any such practice room. We were only able to start using this room after Twilight Sparkle and her friends used the Elements of Harmony to free us from the darkness that had transformed us.”

“Those six?” Gearhead opened his eyes in surprise, but then realized that there were little else who it could have been, knowing in the first place that the Elemental Six resided in Ponyville.

“Indeed, each represents a different Element integral to friendships. Without their help, we sisters would still be at war with one another.” Listening, Gearhead knew instantly that the regret he felt in Princess Celestia’s magic was from banishing her own sister to the moon for a thousand years. That heavy act had weighed heavily on her indeed, however Luna was herself once more, and free. “Now, see if you can levitate your dagger as we instructed earlier.”

Gearhead refocused on the flow of energy around and through him, visualizing a spiralling path through his body until the energies focused on his forehead, where he projected it into his dagger. When he opened his eyes he saw that the dagger was glowing gold and shuddering slightly. He tried harder, but it never moved more than that.

“At least we now know you can use magical energies,” Princess Luna said.

Gearhead was not finished yet, though. He grasped the floating gold and blue mists and pulled them toward where he sat. He formed both fogs into separate orbs, and then took a thin stand of each and pulled them down toward his hooves. He braided the strands together, so their colours blended into a bright green. Imagining his hooves as the roots of a tree, he split the green thread into four parts so he could lead them through each leg separately. Again, he made the spiral path through his whole body, but this time he was unable to send the energies out to his dagger. Puzzled, he sat back and contemplated the problem, while still holding onto the separate balls of energy on either side of him.

“I have an idea, if I may?” Princess Celestia said.

“Indeed, your turn,” Princess Luna said.

“Gearhead, I want you to try sending the energies you’re focusing directly into your dagger instead of routeing it through your body. Follow what your instincts tell you to do without worrying about the consequences: if this room cannot handle it, Luna and I will.”

Gearhead nodded and reset himself, separating the threads from his hooves. They unwound and returned to their respective colours and orbs. Gearhead focused again, and the orbs began to move toward each other, centering themselves directly over the dagger. Where the energies met, they began to blend, and then they shot a solid beam of energy down toward the dagger.

The geargem dagger responded by shooting into the air, halfway to the merging orbs, and elongating to sword size. The half-gear guard on the sword rotated around so the open flat end faced the blade, and then that half split apart, to form a more traditional crosspiece, with both ends of the quartered gear reaching around part of the way. The merged, slightly larger orb of magic energy flew down into the gemstone sword, energizing it and transforming it into a very impressive looking greatsword, which floated right in front of Gearhead.

Gearhead grasped the sword by the pommel and pointed it at the wall opposite. The blade split apart at the center, showing a gap that led directly to the captured energy orb. Tendrils of energy flowed out, forming a pair of energy wings as the charge built, and then Gearhead shot a lance of lightning from the sword into the wall, leaving a scorch mark there. The sword charged again, this time with a plasma ball, which Gearhead shot into the same spot. He might have charged the weapon again, but the magic energy began to spark alarmingly.

Gearhead angled the blade down and to the left, resting the long hilt across his shoulder. He placed his right hoof over the orb, ejecting it into the floor just behind him, where it broke apart and transformed swiftly back to its inert fog state. Only now, Gearhead could no longer see it. The sword reverted to its dagger state.

Gearhead felt a slight burning sensation throughout his body. Princess Celestia started to move toward him when he glowed golden, automatically using the energy still trapped inside him to heal the minor wounds caused by the overwhelming energy from both princesses. “Well, now we know you can use a limited amount of external energy, and that you can use internalized energy to heal or enhance yourself,” Princess Celestia said. “Now that you’re at your limit, though, I think we should end the lesson.”

“We will show you to your quarters,” Princess Luna said. While it was not dark yet, Gearhead did feel some fatigue, probably from using magic energy in a way to which he was not accustomed as of yet. He followed the younger princess, who led him to a part of the residential area that was close to the practice room. As if reading his mind, she told him where the library was. “Your access will be slightly restricted, so ask before entering any of the special wings,” she said. “These will be your quarters any time you stay in Canterlot.”

“My thanks again, Princess Luna.”

“To be honest, satisfying our curiosity in regards to your odd gifts is reward enough. We shall see you later. For now, I must guard the Equestrian night.” The princess excused herself, leaving Gearhead to explore his rooms.

The first room was a very lavish bedroom within which any noble would be proud to stay. There was a private lavatory with all the amenities toward the back, a hooflocker at the end of the bed, and a set of combined dresser-shelves lined one wall. The Royal Guards had already taken the liberty of dropping off Gearhead’s luggage, which consisted of one bag for clothes and another bag for tools and materials. The rest of the items he had brought were in his locked wagon in the courtyard, or in the vest he was wearing.

Gearhead doffed his clothes, washed, and quickly went to sleep. He woke in complete darkness, and elected to study his adamantine bar for awhile. An hour later he returned to sleep for a few minutes before deciding to investigate the library, which he accessed by asking a patrolling guard to unlock the gate.

Looking at the scale of the place, and the sheer amount of shelves, all lined with books, Gearhead had to conclude that this would be one of his favourite places in which to conduct research. He immediately went to work chasing answers about magic and unusual ponies, deciding that researching adamantine and ironwood could wait. Next Chapter: 6. A Few Good Ponies Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 31 Minutes