As they journeyed, Roll's injuries seemed to get better, much like a flesh pony might. The strangest part was when a collection of broken parts were outright ejected from her metal form when she was ready to replace the damaged parts. It was life, but made clear and visible. She was living, though it made her companions shiver in involuntary fear.
The female resided squarely in the Uncanny Valley of life.
Sunset faced the issue head-on, refusing to walk silently in awkwardness as the others did. "So, you're a living machine?"
"You are living meat?" replied Roll with the faint noise of a raised brow.
Sunset coughed into a hoof softly. "Fair enough... Please, I'm not trying to be rude. There aren't any, uh, living machines where I come from."
"Where do you come from?"
Sunset glanced around. "A different world... It had a lot of humans. I was at school--"
"How old are you?"
Sunset blinked. "Uh..." How did this turn back on her? "Old enough. I... guess I've gotten used to jumping worlds, seeing as this is my third one. The first one, I looked just like this." She gestured to her pony self, still garbed in her increasingly filthy shirt, skirt, and leather jacket. Its filth annoyed her.
For just a moment it filled her thoughts. She didn't want to be dirty anymore, or to stink, or to be around stinky people! With a loud growl, strange words she didn't recognize spilled from her lips and her horn glowed as she waved it through the air in motions she didn't know. She was casting a spell, but what?
Suddenly, she was clean. Her clothes were clean. She looked to Roll and she was clean. She looked at Twilight and, with a squeak, she became clean.
Giggling, Sunset turned her new magic onto their smallest member and cleaned him from head to hooves, the dirt seemingly vanished away. "I did it!"
Twilight shook herself violently. "What did you just do?" She looked down at herself, amazed at how she had suddenly ceased stinking and her clothes felt freshly laundered, right on top of her body. Her pores felt like they were crying out with joy for the abrupt cleanliness.
Roll turned to face Sunset. "Prestidigitation. I was not aware you knew that spell, but it is very useful."
"You're telling me?" Sunset was beaming, smiling from ear to ear with pride and joy at the trick she'd managed. "This world! I don't entirely under... Wow, that's an understatement, but yeah, I don't get it. I try to force my magic to work the way I want and it feels like I'm pushing against things I can't see. I either follow the invisible paths there and something happens, or I can stand there straining all day and nothing..."
Roll gave a silent nod, as if it were obvious. The short-leg advanced to Sunset's side and gently nuzzled into her fresh-smelling barrel in thanks.
"Aw, you're welcome." She gave him a brief hug before the group resumed its trek.
Ahead of them came a small town. The first sign of life for some time that hadn't been wildlife that kept a healthy distance from them.
The little pony bounced up and down with a nearly silent joy before he hopped forward towards the town, spun around and began pointed at it eagerly as he looked from party member to party member.
Twilight couldn't help but smile at his antics. "We can see it too. Are they friendly?"
Roll tilted her head. "Inconsequential. You are badly malnourished and dehydrated. Friendly or not, we will approach, or I will walk alone." It didn't sound like a threat, more like a sad truth. She did as she promised and approached the town directly with the short-leg bouncing around her.
Sunset moved beside Twilight as they came towards the town. "Shame I can't make water the same way I cleaned everything up..." They were both thirsty. The thirstiest they'd ever been. The short-leg had found them a small hoof full of nuts to chew on, but that was about it. "What do you think they use for money?"
Roll heard Sunset's question. "Coins are the standard. Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum in increasing magnitudes. I have some money in reserve."
Twilight let out a sigh of relief at hearing at least one of them had some money. "We'll pay you back, somehow... You've been nothing but a source of miracles, Roll. You could have left us back there and you probably would have escaped alone. Heck, maybe you would have been faster and not had to fight so many gnolls on the way."
"Affirmative."
Twilight colored darkly. She was admitting... she didn't expect Roll to just flat out say she was... "I'm useless."
Sunset nudged against Twilight. "Don't say that."
"But it's true!" Twilight bristled, but the effort of being angry was an energy she didn't have and she began to stagger. Maybe she was thirstier than she thought? She ended up flopped against Sunset, who collapsed under the pressure, and they both sprawled out, panting weakly.
It became quiet. Where was Roll? She said nothing, and neither really had the energy to look for her. They just laid there.
The sounds of hoof-steps became louder, approaching them. "There they are," called out a stallion. Other voices were with him, and soon they were hefted up in a shared glow of magic. They were carried into town by a small group of unicorns. They were saved...
While Twilight and Sunset slumbered, a pair of unicorns looked at Roll and the small pony beside her. "So..." began the stallion on the left as he looked to the mare on the right. "We don't get that many visitors here."
"Where is here?" queried Roll as she looked around the room. It was functionally designed, though a few keepsakes hung from the wall. It was a small village. No nobles had come to their aid, but that was hardly surprising.
The short-leg was busy looking at everything as if it were new. Despite drinking as little as the girls, he seemed to be full of energy. He had accepted the drink offered him and returned to the bowl where the fresh water rested between forays to look at everything in the house. Though forcibly muted, his energy seemed vibrant and his smile genuine. He seemed happy to exist.
The mare of the couple watched him as he wandered. "Such a small pony, and such a... metal pony. A curious group."
The stallion nudged the mare. "Let's be polite, hmm. You're in Sun's Tears. We're a small town, barely a town really... By the gods, we only formally founded a few years back." He nodded at Roll. "You seem to have weathered your journey well, as has the little one."
Roll nodded back. "I do not require much. The short-leg is as durable as his people tend to be. They are like children. They cry when hurt, speak frankly and honestly, and bounce back from injury well."
Perhaps hearing he was being spoken about, the short-leg approached and sat beside Roll, facing the two unicorns.
"Short-leg?" stated the mare curiously, testing the word across her tongue. "It fits their small statures nicely, but I'm certain your tribe has more to say than just being small. Don't be shy, you can talk to us."
His ears flipped back and he shrank a bit.
Roll put a hoof before him. "He cannot speak. He suffered damage to his voice box during our captivity. Without advanced clerical magic, his condition is permanent."
The stallion rose to his hooves and his magic plucked up the bowl of water. "Your friends need to be watered." He moved to carefully feed it to them, rousing them just enough to get them to swallow instead of choking or spitting it all up. They only spat some of it up. With some down in their bellies, he seemed satisfied.
The mare stood up as well, but she was moving for the door. "You're welcome to stay until your friends feel better, than you should probably go."
Roll tilted her head faintly. "Are we intruding?"
The unicorn looked like she didn't want to answer, which was answer enough. "I understand. We will vacate as soon as possible."
The short-leg didn't grasp it and pawed at Roll while looking at her for answers.
With the faint noise of moving gears, she gave the ghost of a smile. "Not all tribes welcome others, and not all are as unified as the Queen would have it. They only allow our stay because we have two unicorns with us."
"Please don't think ill of us," said the stallion as he set the bowl down with his magic. "The community would be quite... testy with us if we let you stay too long. Good news though, there's a train station not that far from here."
Roll perked up. "The Lightning Rail? Have they completed it?"
"Neigh, but they're far enough to get close to here." He pointed northwards. "You should be able to get a ride to a more... cosmopolitan place, like Viljatown." He directed a hoof at the bowl. "Be sure your friends keep hydrating. I must return to work."
Soon he was gone, and there was only the original party remaining, that being Roll, the unconscious forms of Twilight and Sunset, and the still curious form of the short-leg.
Twilight let out a small groan and rolled up to her haunches, looking around blearily as she felt about for her glasses.
The short-leg noticed almost instantly and grabbed the glasses in his mouth where they were laying across the table and brought it to Twilight. She accepted it and the world came into focus through them. "Oh, hello." She realized where her glasses had to be since the short-leg had no fingers and blushed and shuddered faintly. Were her glasses being held in a mouth that disgusting... yes, a little. "Thank you..."
Sunset softly grumbled but was starting to rouse as well. "Where are we?"
"Sun's Tears," reported Roll. "Are you feeling better? Water is available if you are ready to consume more."
Sunset sat up and shook herself out before she half-fell/half-dismounted the bed. "I think a good snack would be just the trick right about now. Are we in someone's house?" She looked around curiously.
"Affirmative. The owners of this house are attending to their daily functions. We are to leave when you are recovered. Are you recovered?"
Twilight blinked softly. "We barely survived. Give me a moment."
"I meant no offense. I... am a stranger to the feelings of hunger or thirst." Roll rose to her hooves. "Rest and recover. I will prepare something edible." She marched towards the kitchen without being asked, but was cut off by Sunset.
"Thank you, really, but let me." Sunset had a smile, a forced smile.
"Are you worried that I will not prepare it correctly because I do not eat?" Roll raised a brow. "I am aware of the basic steps required."
Sunset shook her head. "Not at all! It's just that you've done more than enough for us. Relax, let me handle this." She turned to the kitchen and departed quickly.
Twilight looked at the short-leg sharing the bed with her. She blinked at him as he sniffed and looked over her. "Hello?"
He perked up at her word and nodded at her in understanding.
She smiled a little. "We made it." He nodded harder. "Will you go home now?"
He blinked, then shrank a little.
Roll frowned at the exchange. "That was a cruel question. Our small friend has no home now."
Twilight blinked. "This isn't the only unicorn town, right?"
"Correct."
"So there's another town of little ponies, right?"
"Negative." Roll shook her head. "They liked all ponies, but lived with each other. Their town being put to the torch means there are zero short-legs remaining."
Twilight pointed at the small pony. "Clearly not zero."
"There is a small margin of error."
The idea of being a margin of error did not sit well with the short-legs and he shuddered violently at the idea.
Roll's pretty much a metal, Everglow version of Sugarcoat, ain't she?
And the instictive magic pretty much confirms Sunset for sorcerer. Though I wonder what her bloodline might be, considering the fire her attack spells seem to have added to them...
7309443 The fire in her spells make me think of the elemental (Fire) bloodline. With her previous escapades as a demon the infernal bloodline would have made sense as well, but that is not where the powers she has displayed so far are pointing.
7309443 Sugarcoat?
7309460
Sugarcoat, the brutally honest Shadowbolt from Friendship Games?
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Ah, least wish. Best cantrip.
Don't worry, Twilight. Genre savviness can be an indispensable tool when used correctly, to say nothing of that line to a goddess. Especially when you have what may be her only free worshiper by your side.
Still, given their patron goddess, I'd expect the short-leg population to have expanded beyond a single town a long time ago. Alas, it isn't so.
Oh well. Everyone's alive, and that's what matters. Where there's life, there's hope. And where there's the Lightning Rail, there will be nerdy humans-turned-unicorns contemplating the scientific and magical principles behind it.
7309460
Exceedingly blunt character in the third Equestria Girls movie.
7309486 She does tend to be forthright, but no, I was not thinking of that character and more focused on 'I am robot'. Mind you, there are clockwork that are less... that. This is not one of them.
7309508
And given the track record of Equestrian characters using it, there will also be a train heist, hijacking, or other transportation related disaster.
So Sunset is a sorcerer. I wonder what class Twilight will be now? Hopefully this little party will soon be on the road of leveling up. It does make me wonder what class Roll is, she has a lot of money for some reason.
7309539 At what point did Roll show any money, let alone lots?
7309579
Point. When she went into town I interpreted it that as she had more money then a typical commoner or level one character.
I know I've mentioned it before, but I really like the tidbits about the short-legs living just in that one settlement. The fact that a particular race is largely found in a particular region - and has their own regional/racial deity, no less - helps to create an environment that feels more holistic. This way, various parts of the world have a distinctive feel that's all of their own, rather than the generic mishmash of "everybody is found everywhere in roughly equal proportions."
7309870 The Clockwork have their own town where they meet too. Now Earth-bound ponies... Those you're likely to find all over the damn place.
Still curious about when in the timeline does this story happen. It could be aeons before Lashtada's disappearance, out could be some ten years after she came back. I honestly have no idea XD
Edit: oh yeah, I'm also curious about sci Twi's blessing. Will she become the mother of a new rebirth (yeah, again) of the little ones? Or will sunset's protectiveness spark feelings that the goddess of love's hooves will act upon? Many possibilities, none certain. I like it
Ive always had problems with Cantrips and Prestigitation, because theyre never mentioned what they actually do. Especially given Continual Light, or even Spark are Named Level spells of tiny power levels and yet harder to achieve than the extremely complex clean and freshen spell.
By the time one of them levels up to the point where they can learn Mend, how useful would they be to the Clockwork, given they should be able to repair at least the seperate items?
So far, one house that will at least refresh them in an indiferent town. Given how Fallout the Everglow can be, this has to be classed as a great success. I better make a note now.
What they didn't know was that the secret to Roll's fortune was like that of Richie Rich and other sapient robots determined to destroy the environment as the world burns. . . Namely that their excrement is pure gold by virtue of alchemy.
7309459 She used Enlarge Person -- Efreeti bloodline?
7310414 Possible, but that could also simply be a spell she knows, and I don't see where in her past she would have had interaction with efreeti, considering that they do not seem to exist in either Equestria or the human world. Unless one were to take the spin that her transformation in EQG1 was Ifrit in nature.
7310742 That's what I was thinking. She called it a 'she demon' but it was ifrit-looking enough, and they're the classic evil genies who twist your wishes.
7310780 You raise a fair point, she does look kind of like an ifrit. I guess we will simply have to wait for the character sheets and see.
This is when she is not a sorcerer at all and this discussion is made moot.
It might help the flow to make more references early in the chapter to Sunset and Twilight suffering from dehydration/exhaustion/etc. They seem to be perfectly happy, only worried about how they smell, then they suddenly tip over.
As they journeyed, Roll seemed to recover from her injuries, much like a flesh pony might.
-or-
As they journeyed, Roll's injuries seemed to get better, much like they would for a flesh pony.
them
Prestidigitation takes a little while, I think.
pointing
This seems to say that Shorty got a drink, then he went to the bowl where the water "rested between forays" so that he could see the whole house. Perhaps you meant that he returned the fresh water bowl to its resting place before he went exploring?
extra space
then
Was her glasses being held in a mouth that disgusting? Yes, a little.
7309508
That's just what I was wondering; how are there so few shortlegs? Their entertainment, culture and religion are all centered around...you know. They ought to be as numerous as rabbits. Perhaps they're inbred to the point of sterility?
7311208
I think this is more related to "what do they bring other than reproduction?"
Even if they have lots of children... if they both don't have the power to claim more resources, nor the guile or craftsmanship to offer their services to others... they might just not have the ability to spread widely. So even if there are a lot of them, they are limited by food and probably by being preyed upon.
Was her glasses - Were her glasses
****
Safety of a sort. I wonder what the odds are that the path between this town and the rail have been adequately pacified to allow for a safe journey. Probably not favorable. Here's hoping that they have the strength and skills to get there in one piece.
I wonder where the materials that Roll uses to repair herself come from since she does not eat. Probably magic. Roll is definitely shaping up to be my favorite character so far, the more we learn about her, the fascinating she is. In a way she's like a clockwork Samantha.
7312247 Fixed! Mildly amused no one commented on her cruel final statement.
Author, did you name the mechanical pony roll after MegaMan?
If you did, does she have an brother named Rock and a father figure named Light?
7339221 Unlikely.
It would be nice if we knew they come back and saved the short legs, but we all know that's not true...how sad the short legs story is.
Poor Twilight, still a zero level character.
.....
It's been a while since that was a thing.
7376495
I think you mean "NPC". Lol.