//------------------------------// // Cog's Predicament // Story: A Metal World // by ToneCraft //------------------------------// Two weeks had passed, and Trixie was clearly in much better health. She finally noticed Winding Cog's cutie mark; a thick gear with arcs of lightning coming off of it in a circular shape. "What is it you do around here, Cog?" She asked curiously. Cog chuckled, "I'm a mechanic. But that's just the way I make money. I'm actually a scientist. Haven't had a chance to get any influence in the scientific community yet." "How'd you get the mansion, then?" "I inherited it from my grandmother." "I see," Trixie said, looking over at the large home. It was painted a light grey, and had several windows. For the most part, though, it was a relatively bland rectangular shape. ------ "Dammit!" Cog shouted in his basement, kicking the wall in frustration, "I can't fit through to the other side!" Experiment log No. 417 In the strange portal in the wall I finally managed to get the energy going to keep this gate visible, so that I don't lose it when it moves again. However, it seems to be a few inches smaller than I can get through. I'm going to have to find a volunteer to check out the other side. What I know at the moment: 1. It seems to lead to someplace inhabited, evidenced by the voices I heard from the other side when I found it. 2. The air on the other side is definitely breathable. I've taken some samples, and it's even cleaner than the air here. 3. My wireless can communicate audio through it, but not video. Unfortunately, the microphone and camera were not retrieved. The volunteer will have to be an adult female so that they can fit through, and still have less risk of being hurt. Winding Cog ------ "So, yeah. That's what got me interested in science," Cog said as he sat across from Trixie. "Did you ever find out what was on the other side of that portal?" Trixie asked. "No. I finally managed to set it up so that I could actually see it, but I can't get through. It's too small for me," the stallion said, dropping his head a bit, "Seven years ago, maybe, but I'm not a colt any more. It's just a few inches smaller than myself." "Maybe Winding Cog needs to lose some weight," Trixie joked. "I don't know..." Cog countered, "You're starting to look like the Great and Ponderous Trixie to me. OW!" Trixie drew her hoof back, a red mark on the side of Cog's face, "Don't you know never to call a lady fat?" Cog rolled his eyes, "alright, I'm sorry." Trixie nodded, "Now. You said you needed to find somepony smaller than yourself to go through that portal you found. I need a job. If you pay me, oh, um... Twelve bits an hour, I'll go through that portal and explore whatever's on the other side. You'll find out everything you want to know, and I'll get some money, hopefully to repair my stage." "Are you sure about that?" Cog asked, "It could be risky." Trixie smirked, showing a bit of her old ego, "I'm sure I can handle whatever is on the other side." "But you--Alright.. Just don't get yourself hurt," Cog relented after some thought. ------ "Alright," Cog said, handing the magician an earpiece, pen, and notepad, "Now, tell me as much of what you see as you can. Should anything go wrong, the earpiece should have enough power to last for 28 days. I don't think you'll be there for more than a few hours at a time, though." Trixie nodded, "And the notepad?" "I want you to keep a journal of what you see in there. I'll write down what you tell me as well." Trixie nodded again, "Alright. I'll be back later." She put the earpiece in and started stepping through the portal. "Just remember your distractions in case of anything hostile," Cog said once more, as Trixie turned the earpiece on. The next thing the scientist heard through the speakers was a brief scream. He grabbed the microphone quickly, "What happened?! Trixie, are you alright?!" "Yes, I'm fine," her voice came back, "I just didn't expect the portal to be in the air on the other side. It seems to be about a five meter drop, I'll have to find something to climb when I return." "See if you can find something now so that we don't face this problem then. What's around you?" "Looking around myself now, I see... Metal," Trixie said. "Like a junkpile?" Cog asked her. "No. I'm standing on a flat sheet of metal. Actually, it looks like everything is metal," Trixie responded, "It's pretty polished, too." Cog sighed, "Alright. Start looking around, but don't get yourself hurt." "Me? Get hurt?" Trixie said smugly, "Don't you realize you're talking to the Great and Powerful Trixie?" "Yeah, yeah, just keep your Great and Powerful self safe." With that, Cog went to his own notepad.