“I think you’ll live, just try not to get too carried away while you heal.” the medic said as he finished patching me up.
After my adrenalin had worn off, I realized how badly I had been messed up from that little scuffle on the track. I was lucky to have not broken anything when I was tossed to the ground, or slammed agaist the wall of the track. My side looked as if somepony had taken a few dozen razor blades to it at once. A few patches of hair were missing, but they would grow back.
“Have you met him?” Twilight asked, giggling as the unicorn left.
“So, did they find whoever made that monstrosity?” I asked, sliding off the medical bench.
“They did, he’s with Celestia and Luna right now” Twilight replied, her lighthearted demeanor disappearing completely as she followed me out of the medical room. “It’s a unicorn by the name of Impulse Spark.”
I froze, instantly remembering the name from my conversation with Thunderlane. The clever little bastard had been turned down, so since he couldn’t have a racer he built one, somehow. With this thought, my state of shock ended, and I proceeded to the throne room.
“Hey, where are you going?” Twilight called, trotting after me.
“He’s with the princesses, right?” I asked rhetorically. “Then I’m going to see him.”
“You can’t just barge in like that!” Twilight exclaimed, teleporting in front of me.
“Twilight, that thing went berserk. Something like that doesn’t belong here, not in this world.” I snorted, flying over her, wincing in pain upon landing.
“See? You’re in no shape to do anything anyways.” Twilight said.
“Please, let me talk to them,” I pleaded. “I’ll crawl there if I have to.”
Twilight apparently took me seriously and walked around to my side. She sighed, knowing I would probably make good on my threat. Without her opposition, it would make things easier on my already tired body.
“If I let you in, you have to behave yourself, am I clear?” Twilight raised an eyebrow at me.
“Transparent.” I replied.
---
“So this…Zero, it was meant to be a racer?” Celestia asked, looking down with disdain at the artificial pony which had taken a beating before being brought to her.
“Yes, after I had exhausted all other options, I decided to build a racer instead of hire one.” Impulse replied.
“Such a creation is borderline madness,” Luna commented. “How could you believe this was a good idea?”
“If you’re talking about the little accident, he was never built for combat. The controller shorted out, I lost the ability to direct his actions, and since he is not sentient he couldn’t process the information around him.” Impulse explained.
“I hardly find assaulting two of our soldiers a ‘little accident’” Celestia narrowed her eyes at the stallion.
“Fair point, but that doesn’t change the fact that he lacks sentience. He couldn’t dictate his own actions, that’s the only explanation I can give you. I don’t know why he went after the others.” Impulse’s voice raised slightly, growing shaky with a mix of fear and frustration.
“The reports of his actions would suggest otherwise,” Luna said. “Your words hold little merit against what was seen.”
Impulse thought for a moment, looking away from the accusing gazes of the princesses and her entourage of soldiers. Nothing was going like he planned, everything was falling apart. It seemed he would have to appeal to the softer side of the two sister’s hearts.
“I had hoped today to bring you something worthwhile,” Impulse started. “Yes, Zero is strong, mostly durable, and fast, but this was meant to be a display of what he was capable of giving others. I never meant for him to destroy or hurt anypony.”
Luna and Celestia remained silent, their expressions emotionless as Impulse spoke. It was a trained skill, keeping one in the dark on their thoughts with absolutely no subtle body language, save for the occasional blink from either alicorn.
“Zero as a whole is a bit terrifying, I suppose. Think of the separate pieces though, how many ponies have been crippled for life because prosthetics could only take them so far?” Impulse asked, finally getting a reaction out of them. “What if there were better options?”
“I suppose you have an explanation for these better options?” Celestia asked, her voice as neutral as before.
“I do,” Impulse replied, levitating Zero’s severed leg to his side. “Suppose one of your guards, or any pony in the kingdom for that matter, suffered some ill fate, and the loss of a limb. And earth pony would find work hard, a unicorn’s magic would decline, and a pegasus wouldn’t be the same in the air.”
“You think gluing parts to ponies in the answer?” Luna rolled her eyes.
“I never suggested glue.” Impulse corrected. “I just feel that this should just be considered a faulty accident that if given the chance-“
“Would happen again!” shouted the last pony Impulse wanted to hear.
---
“I’m sorry Celestia, Luna, he insisted.” Twilight said as she nudged me in my good side to try and get me under control. “You promised you’d behave.”
“I haven’t killed him yet, right?” I asked sarcastically.
“I recall this being a private hearing,” Impulse said. “Unless we now allow commoners to enter throne rooms whenever they see fit.”
“He has a title, he can stay,” Celestia replied, a small smirk spreading across her muzzle when she realized my presence made him uncomfortable. “In fact, why don’t you tell him what your racer was meant to do?”
Impulse fumbled for words, caught between an obvious disgust for me, and nervousness before the royal sisters. As much as I wanted to march up to him and clobber him, I knew I wouldn’t fare so well once the six guards had separated us.
“This thing doesn’t belong here. It can be weaponized at the drop of a hat.” I growled.
“Oh hi there kettle, name’s pot, have we met?” Impulse asked. “Really, I’d expect a better reason from the likes of you, given your history here.”
“Mind your words.” Luna warned the unicorn.
“I’m simply pointing out that Daniel here doesn’t belong in Equestria either, nor does his sibling,” Impulse shrugged. “By definition, they’re both invasive species.”
“I believe the term introduced is more fitting.” Celestia corrected him.
“Why would you build this thing to begin with?” I asked, trying to keep my cool.
“Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. I believe I’ve shown that a mind can be just as strong as the body when given the change, and creative flexibility,” Impulse replied. “It seems as though somepony is more afraid of change than he is a mere soulless automaton. Think of it, no more sending live soldiers to wars, no more ponies without jobs because accidents they may suffer. This was out of the best of intentions.”
“Best intention huh?” I laughed darkly as I approached the unicorn. “Some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best of intentions. A lot of the worst people in my world came into power, all because they promised change.”
“This isn’t your world though, is it?” Impulse asked. “Besides, after you were accepted into our little kingdom, you became a racer, why should Zero not be given the same opportunity?”
“He’s not a pony.” I replied.
“Neither are you,” Impulse smiled. “So by your logic, you shouldn’t be a racer, you shouldn’t have a crown, and you shouldn’t be holding a title or record. Unless I misunderstood you somewhere?”
“I believe we’ve heard enough to make a decision on Zero’s fate.” Celestia interrupted us, which I was thankful for.
“Daniel, he raises a point,” Luna started. “While you do have our form as of now, you were never born one of us.”
I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Luna, the princess who I thought I was the closest to next to Twilight, was siding with Impulse Spark? The reality of it was hard to swallow, and even harder to endure as I noticed the smug smirk on the unicorn’s muzzle.
“Daniel also raises a point about your…creation, Impulse,” Celestia spoke up. “Change is good sometimes, but without the ability to determine right and wrong Zero is too dangerous.”
I silently cheered within the privacy of my own mind. I knew they would never let this stand, Impulse had to be up to more than wanting change. Zero hit too hard and his wing was like a row of razor blades, how could he not be a weapon?
“What if I could find a way to make him sentient?” Impulse asked.
Oh you’ve got to be kidding me! I glared at the unicorn.
“You have mastery of such things?” Luna barely managed to stifle a laugh.
“I did craft a body, how hard could a mind be?” Impulse shrugged as if it weren’t a challenge for him.
“I suppose we’ll see. If you want him to race, you have until the first race of the season to bring him before us for approval,” Celestia replied. “He must walk and talk of his own accord, as well as pose minimal threat to those around him.”
“You can’t seriously be consi-“ Twilight elbowed me, shaking her head no.
“Something to add?” Celestia asked.
“No, princess.” I replied.
“Then I believe this matter is settled.” Celestia concluded.
“Don’t feel too bad, we all get told no every now and then,” Impulse boasted once Celestia and Luna had left the room. “It’s not like you could remain their favorite forever.”
“You’re making a huge mistake.” I snorted.
“No, I’m making progress.” Impulse said leaving the room with the cart Zero was resting on in tow.
---
Impulse looked back at the castle from the streets of Canterlot, a triumphant smile plastered on his muzzle. His assumption that Celestia had held that simpleton above her own subjects had proven to be misplaced. Thanks to his small outburst, he had been given the freedom he needed to complete his work.
Perhaps Zero wasn't enough, perhaps he could do more than just help soldiers. Since Zero was clearly stronger than the average earth pony, it would stand to reason that he would make a better substitute. That was for another day though, right now, he had to figure out how to develop a consciousness.
"Something of that magnitude will take a great deal of magic." Impulse murmured to himself as he walked.
Zero was still in the cart he had been brought in on. He was in dire need of repairs after what that brute did to him. Clearly it was in self-defense, but Impulse would be lying if he said he wasn't cheering for Zero to win.
"Somepony seems to be in a good mood this evening." an unfamiliar voice said.
Impulse looked around until he found a pegasus grinning at him. He assumed the stallion wanted trouble and pressed on, doing his best to ignore him.
"I never knew Skymark's son was so interested in playing with such dangerous toys," the stallion added. "All those fancy, charged crystals you had to purchase."
"What do you want?" Impulse asked, stopping at the mention of his father.
"I'm simply trying to congratulate you on doing what I've wanted to do for a while. Even if it didn't go in your favor," The pegasus explained. "The ape needed a good thrashing."
"I wasn't trying to deliberately hurt him...just harm his legacy, spring board off it even." Impulse huffed.
"Oh you did more than that my horned friend," the pegasus chuckled. "Ah, where are my manners? My name is Flicker, and I happen to be in the same business as our dear human."
"Is that how you know my father?" Impulse asked.
"More or less," Flicker motioned for Impulse to follow him. "We were at odds on most things though, the inner workings of racing being what it is."
"I saw it as a solution to my problems at first, a possible one anyways. The more I started to build Zero, the more possibilities I saw. He can be so much more than a normal pony.” Impulse reluctantly followed the racer, unsure what his end goal was with him, but his curiosity was out weighing his concern.
"So, do you plan to rebuild him, it?" Flicker asked.
"Yes, I have to find a way to make him stronger, and as impossible as it sounds, tell right from wrong." Impulse sighed.
"You unicorns have been doing crazy things for centuries, I'm certain you can find a way." Flicker said.
"In theory, it would take a crystal of immense power. The only problem is Zero burns through them within a few hours." Impulse lamented.
"And what would such a crystal look like?" Flicker asked nonchalantly.
"That depends, it could be the size of a ring stone, or a large bolder. It's dependent on the charge, and it would need to hold the charge within the body." Impulse rambled.
"Is your friend packing any copper?" Flicker asked.
"Quite a bit, why?" the unicorn asked puzzled.
"Copper is built to hold that charge, a lot longer than you think it does. Even after those crystals are drained, there’s still energy dancing across the fibers." Flicker chuckled.
"How do you know that?" Impulse was stunned a pegasus knew anything about the inner workings of magic.
"I come from a family of unicorns, the bastard colt I'm afraid." Flicker shrugged.
"I'm...sorry, I know the feeling." Impulse said.
"Pfft, don't be. I inherited their title and wealth. I was always looked down on, despite soaring so high above their limited perspective on life," Flicker laughed. "That's why I like you,"
The two stopped at a large two story house. It wasn't a mansion per say, but it was close. So close that Impulse had jumped to conclusions about its status until he looked at it closer. Surely such a pegasus would live in a finer dwelling than this.
"I see that look," Flicker chuckled. "I left my parent's mansion behind, in case you were wondering. I didn't want to be reminded of my family that tried to forget me."
"I meant no disrespect." Impulse blurted out quickly.
"None was taken, now come." Flicker motioned once more for Impulse to follow him into his house.
Impulse left Zero beside the door, throwing a sheet over his cooled, fake body. He had been warm from the energy that had been discharging from the large breach in his armored form, but that had since faded; leaving behind a dead automaton, if one could consider such a being alive. To Impulse he was, or had been.
"Pardon me for asking Flicker, but why did you bring me to your house?" Impulse asked.
"Well it was your, or Zero's first race rather. Such events are times for celebration, not depressing occasions where one is taken away by the guard," Flicker explained. "Besides, I drink alone most nights, I wanted a friend."
"Friend..." Impulse repeated cautiously.
"Of course, how could we not be? With so much in common, I dare say it'd be difficult to call us enemies." Flicker grinned.
The pegasus disappeared down a corridor, triggering Impulse to move from his stationary spot. Thankfully, the noble wasn't moving too fast for him to lose as if from some cheesy horror story he had read once.
As he caught up to Flicker, Impulse couldn't help but look at the pictures on the walls. While he had claimed to despise his family, he still kept portraits, or what he assumed were portraits of his family. The colt in the picture had his mane and coat colors.
"I thought you said you had differences with your family?" Impulse worked up the courage to ask.
"Ah, the pictures," Flicker mumbled. "Yes, I do occasionally have family friends over, guest who were close to them. I have to at least keep some part of them alive when they are present."
"I see...did you have a brother?" Impulse asked, noticing the colt beside him.
"Yes, a twin. Obviously not identical, but a twin none the less," Flicker replied. "I was the first born, I can only imagine their surprise and disappointment when they saw me."
"I know the feeling." Impulse said as the two stallions entered what appeared to be a study room.
Flicker wasted little time in pouring two drinks. Passing one off to the unicorn who took it using his magic. He sipped on his own, not quite in the mood to kiss the conscious world goodbye for the night. There was still a guest to entertain, one that he was more tolerable of than the others who had graced his halls.
“To the bastards,” Flicker held up his glass. “May they forever stand against the status quo.”
Impulse wasn’t quite sure what to make of the strange toast, but took part none the less. After the initial sip, the unicorn took a moment to look around the room. He noticed another picture of a stallion and mare that had a crack down the middle of the glass covering. Why he kept such a thing was beyond him, but there was something else that held his interest in the photo.
The mare in the picture looked very familiar, almost as if he had seen her before. The purple mane, tangerine coat and horn, both raised red flags but to what end he found himself unable to deduce.
“My brother was the only one I really tolerated, he was the family member that didn’t completely exclude me,” Flicker said. “When he died it left a gaping hole in my life.”
“I was an only foal. I can’t imagine what losing a sibling is like.” Impulse said as he continued to look around the room.
The unciron’s eyes fell on a small object that seemed to glow with an impressive aura about it. Impulse dismissed it as a trophy at first, but as he studied it he realized it was a gem or crystal of some sort. Inspecting it closer, he could feel the seething energy from within, causing the glow.
“Where did you get this?” Impulse asked.
“I found it recently,” Flicker said after a few seconds of hesitation. “Quite the find I must say. Though I must admit I don’t understand why it continually glows.”
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t take me for a fool,” Impulse sighed. “How did you really find it?”
“Very well, I found it today,” Flicker’s tone suddenly shifted from its previous lighthearted demeanor. “I’m quite certain it belongs to the ape.”
“You stole it?” Impulse spun around to face the pegasus.
“Hardly, he threw it away,” Flicker snorted. “In case you were too busy to notice, it’s what allows him to obtain that horrendous two legged form.”
“It’s…that powerful?” Impulse stared at the necklace.
Flicker grinned once the unicorn had turned his back to him. “Yes, anything that can sustain something like that for an untold amount of time would have to be…wouldn’t it?”
“I can’t even begin to fathom the numbers involved in something like that…” Impulse trailed off.
“Didn’t you say you were looking for a stronger crystal? Something that would be able to give your project a life of its own?” Flicker asked, setting his drink down. “Perhaps something that would make your racer the pinnacle of Equestrian technology?”
“I know what you’re implying,” Impulse replied. “As much as I dislike him, I can’t do that…he’d come looking for what belongs to him.”
“He’s friends with a princess, what is one necklace missing from his neck?” Flicker asked.
“If others found out about this it would cause a lot of trouble.” Impulse argued.
“This isn’t my first rodeo,” Flicker confessed, smiling as Impulse turned to face him with a concerned look. “You didn’t think Canterlot was all sunshine and rainbows, did you? That’s something the pamphlets and newspapers want outsiders to buy into. This city is so full of back biting that the smiling stallion you see walking across from you has already thought of a few dozen ways to plant a knife in your back.”
Impulse remained silent through Flicker’s explanation. Surely the very city the sister’s looked out over every morning and night couldn’t be as bad as he was making it out to be, could it?
“Sometimes bad things happen,” Flicker continued his dark explanation of the inner workings of the city. “An accident here, a fateful encounter there, perhaps a pony forgot to turn off the over before they went to sleep. Whatever the case is, things get swept under the rug to make the city look as spotless as possible.”
Impulse felt a small tinge of fear for his safety now. He didn’t care for the human, and he had wanted to bring his legacy down, but was this going too far? This was theft, and it would open the door to who knows what else. Still, it was a possible answer to his problems...and if it didn’t work, they could always give it back, right?”
Reluctantly, Impulse focused on the necklace, encasing it in his mental aura to remove it from the small stand it had been placed on. Flicker made no move to stop him, only smiling as he pocketed the accessory.
“You really doubt they’d look for it?” Impulse asked.
“They might, but it won’t be a pony hunt like you’re probably picturing in your mind,” Flicker chuckled. “Fancy Pants lost a jewel a few years ago, never turned up.”
“Why are you so willing to help me?” Impulse asked.
“I have a great dislike for Daniel, and I’m growing tired of the races. He is still young and fresh, his success and prosperity as a result is fairly obvious,” Flicker replied. “I want to see him torn down a few notches.”
“How do I know this isn’t some ruse to trip me up and make yourself look good?” Impulse deadpanned.
“Aren’t we the suspicious one?” Flicker laughed. “If I had wanted to villainize you, I could have made up some story about how I took it from you. Besides, I’m certain you’ve done enough to villainize yourself already. I wouldn’t need to do much to cast an even darker shadow over your progress.”
“I was just under the impression there was some sort of inner bond between your racers.” Impulse replied.
“Hardly,” Flicker scoffed. “We-most of us are pegasi, that’s where our similarities lay. Everything else is nothing more than show for the spirit of the sport. Anypony that believes differently is too naïve to see the politics behind it.”
“You’ve certainly been forthcoming with the darker side of Canterlot life.” Impulse mused.
“As I said before, this isn’t my first rodeo.” Flicker grinned.