> Shadow Of Dreams
>  by Keyframe
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Shadow of Dreams

By Keyframe (Ronvarone@gmail.com)


The night was rank with the smell of sweat and grease in the streets of Canterlot.

Sounds rang with constant clanks and buzzes of saws and other mechanical wonders grinding away on steel.  The flames licked the air as they hummed and cracked, while the smoke ascended to the starlit heavens above.  Everything that came from the shop would be considered noise to some ponies. To Summer Sparks, it was a glorious mechanical symphony.

Summer was a cream colored Earth pony.  She had a short strawberry mane with a matching tail-- the length was more of a safety precaution than fashion statement.  Her tool belt, tightly harnessed around her shorts, was ornamented with ratchets and wrenches; the shorts she wore had many pockets.

“Summer, are you almost done over dere?” called a deep voice from across the yard.  A solid black colt trotted across the open lot of the ‘shop’ looking at Summer.  His hair was messy, unkempt, and in clumps-- ‘dreadlocks’ he called them; and so everypony called him Natty Dread.  “You need to get some sleep.  You can finish your project tomorrow after your trip to Ponyville.”

“It’s not just a project!” protested Summer. She put down the boots used to hold up the welding torch. “He’s my new friend and assistant.  Once he’s up and running, we’ll make more parts than we’ll know what to do with! Some ‘project’...  pshh.”

“Summer, I don’t know whatchu’ see in dis’ robot.  It’s just going to be like all da rest-- dey take two steps den’ dey’ fall over and leak oil.” Natty kicked the nearly finished robot in the leg to make a point; he winced and immediately regretted his actions. The robot didn’t topple over but Summer knew what he meant to do.  

“That’s not going to happen.  Not this time,” Summer said pulling off her yellow laced goggles.

“Dey’ never do what you want dem’ to do.  They’re all useless.”

“Useless? Just because something doesn’t do what I planned it to do in the first place doesn’t make it useless.”

“Den’ what do you call dem?” Natty asked.

“Works-in-progress,” snapped Summer.  “Did you just come here to make fun of me?”

“Not at first,” Natty admitted, “Just promise me you’ll get some sleep.  You’ve made over a tousand’ robots and each time you failed.” Natty turned and left the shop, departing into the streets of Canterlot without a single glance back.

Summer was left to herself and the robot she had been working on.  The light from the furnace filled the spot where Natty was standing.  Summer scowled at the now vacant spot.  “I haven’t failed. I just found a thousand ways not to make a robot...” Her scowl disappeared as she surveyed the mechanical pony.  It was as large as Natty, but opposite color.  Inside, a mainframe of gears, chips, and circuit boards intertwined like nopony had ever seen.  It was going to work-- it had to.

Setting up the coding for the system to work was troubling. It was so new that anything could happen.  Nopony had ever done it before; at least not without magic.  Even then, an understanding of the mechanism was essential.  The robots that fell over were a result of bad coding, the ones that exploded were a result of an electrical issue.  Natty hated the ones that exploded, and for a good, logical reason.

She chuckled remembering the very first test run with Natty.

“Uh, you sure about dis?" asked Natty, adjusting his worn out goggles. They were both behind a large pile of sand bags. A prototype robot stood 40 feet away, cord laid out between them.

"Nope," grinned Summer. "Bonzai!" And she throwing the switch. Natty ducked under the bags, shaking like a leaf. Nothing happened.  Summer scowled at the failure. Natty perked his head up slowly and took a good look at the robot. He removed his goggles at the worst time; the robot exploded in a huge ball of fire. Both Natty and Summer barely escaped the burst of heat.  Summer was covered in black ash and Natty lost his eyebrows. She couldn't help but laugh every time she saw him like that.

That was the last time Natty participated in testing.  For her the only way to see if it worked was for an all or nothing test. Of course, Natty always made sure she was safe.  She could always count on Natty for that.

Summer stared long and hard at the robot. Checking and double checking to see for mistakes in her work.  Her eyes traveled down to its flank, the same solid white as the rest...

“Oh, I almost forgot!”

Summer snapped her goggles back over her eyes and inserted her hooves into her gloves.  The torch ignited and she began drawing on the flank of the robot.  Summer drew a check mark with two empty circles, one on either side of the longer stroke of the mark.  She smiled at her work, putting down the torch for good this time.  Her goggles fell around her neck but she didn’t care.  Her eyes swelled as she stared at the forged cutie mark.

“Well Gigatrot.  You're a true pony now.” Summer said, weakly, her eyes starting to swell.  “My father had that cutie mark."  She tried to hold back her tears, but she couldn’t help herself.  Small water droplets ran down her face and dripped onto the floor.  She sniffed regaining her composure and wiping her eyes and cheeks.

“Guess I better start you up.” With her nose she flipped a switch inside his left ear.  Its eyes spiraled, glowed yellow and flashed slowly.  It stood motionless.  “So far, so good. I’ll check up on you in the morning.” She closed up shop and headed home.

She must have been more tired than she realized.  The stepping stones beneath her hooves moved by themselves, and before she knew it, she bumped her head on the door to her  house.

“Ouch…” Summer whined as she rubbed her forehead.

Opening the door, she made no hesitation to go straight to bed. Summer tip toed around the gadgets and tools that littered the that made the place seem more like a junkyard than any living environment.  The would have to clean the place up one of these days.  The lights weren’t on but the glow of the moon reflected off of every metal piece on the ground.  Kicking the knickknacks off the bed, Summer let gravity pull her as she flopped onto the soft feathered mattress.

Summer closed her eyes for a moment, hugging the pillow she was resting on.  She opened her eyes.  Next to her bed was a night stand with an unlit candle and a picture frame.  When her eyes adjusted to the darkness again she saw a brown colt much, much older than she was.  Summer smiled at the picture, her eyes half open.

“Good night Dad…” She yawned and drifted off to sleep.


***


Summer dreamed she was in the clouds-- one of millions in a white stadium.  Every pony’s eyes all traced the circled smoke in the sky above.  Summer was just a little filly.  She sat next to her father, comparing height and trying to sit as tall as he did.  Both of them were in the nosebleed section of the stadium high above the other pegasi and ponies.  The other pegasi were faceless and blurry and the day was bright and sunny.  A lightning whip cracked across the stadium as The Wonderbolts zoomed overhead.  The faceless crowd cheered, her father smiling at the wonder in Summer’s eyes.  

“Dad! Dad! Did you see that?! They were all like whoosh and swish!” Summer exclaimed, acting out the performance.  The show may have been over but it was engraved in her brain.

“I did, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He said, nudging her along to keep moving.  

“I still can’t believe you took me to see The Wonderbolts!” she was bouncing now.  Her father laughed.

“I pulled some strings-- not every Earth pony can walk on clouds.” He said scooping her up onto his neck.

“So how can we walk on the clouds?”

“Magic, Summer” he said. “Remember Ivory? The white unicorn?”

“The one with the smiley cutie mark? Yeah! She was really nice!”

“She used a magic spell to let us walk on the clouds.”

“Does that mean I could fly too?” Her father stopped, and looked back at her. He was surprised Summer would ask that.  His face wasn’t angry. Instead, he smiled her.

“Yes, I suppose you could.” He turned his head forward.  They were crossing the archway now.  The white sun disappeared for a moment before returning again in a blinding haze.

“That’s what I want to do.  I want to fly.  Fly really, really high! Just like The Wonderbolts! I could get my cutie mark!”

“I would love to see that.  You could be the first Earth pony to fly with The Wonderbolts.”

“You really think so?” asked Summer, her eyes glowing.

“Anything is possible.  Just remember your old Dad when you’re big and famous.” He smiled, bucking her softly up and down.  They both entered the taxi basket to descend back down to Equestria.  Summer hugged her father about the neck tightly.

“I won’t forget you, I promise.”


***

Chapter 1



Summer awoke the next morning with the biggest smile on her face.  She opened her eyes and blinked quickly multiple times.  The picture frame of her father reflected the light from the sun just barely from behind the mountains.  It wasn’t white like her dream.

Only, it wasn’t a dream, it really happened.  Her father brought her to Cloudsdale for The Wonderbolts air show, it was her first time seeing pegasus ponies fly around, performing daring stunts and amazing feats.  Summer wanted to go to more shows, but money was tight and her father would always say “Some other time.”  

Mechanics and engineers didn’t make as much then.  Her father owned the store she worked at, and instead of buying new toys he would create fantastic ones for her there.  The best gift he gave her was a pair of goggles that looked just like the ones The Wonderbolts wore.  She wore them everywhere. She would run around in front of the shop lot pretending to fly; there were times she really thought she was a member of The Wonderbolts.  But over time, the toys would stop being made and that dream of becoming a Wonderbolt was met with reality.  She was an Earth pony, and Earth ponies can’t fly.  When she was old enough she worked in the shop with him and made her own gadgets and learned everything she could from her father.  Then he passed away a few years later, and left the workshop to her in his will.  The loss of her greatest role model nearly destroyed her.  It was Natty that helped Summer rebuild her life after her father’s death. She reopened the shop and took over the business.  Summer renamed the shop from The Big Nail to The Little Nail.  

Business didn’t catch on very quickly until Summer fixed a chariot for Lord Solaris during the last Summer Sun Celebration in the streets of Canterlot. Meeting with Lord Solaris was something Summer would never forget.

“Thank you, Summer.” Lord Solaris said. “Without your help these supplies would never have made it to Ponyville this year.” Summer blushed-- she didn’t know what to say.

“Y-you’re welcome, milord.  I did what anypony would do.” Summer looked at the ground, almost terrified to look up.

“Of course, but thanks to you we will be on time for the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration.  Will you be attending?”

“What? Um… no, I have a lot of work to do.” Summer worried she said that too quickly.  Lord Solaris didn’t respond for what seemed like an eternity.

“I understand.” He spoke finally, “Thank you again, Summer.”

Of course, that was the day Nocturnus Mane returned to bring night time eternal and was defeated by the Elements of Harmony soon after.  Not very many ponies, outside of Ponyville knew what had happened until it was all over.  A few days later, an article in the Equestria Daily newspaper mentioned her shop, along with a royal recommendation.  Business boomed and The Little Nail was known throughout Canterlot, not only as a machine shop, but as a repair shop for almost anything.  It would have made her father proud to know how well the shop was doing.

Summer got up from her bed and maneuvered through the debris field that was her home to the front door.

Natty was already at the shop when she arrived, but he was standing a good distance from the entrance.  

“What’s going on?” She asked as she approached the black colt, he didn’t say anything.  “Natty? Hello-o-o-o.” Natty motioned inside with his hoof.  Hesitantly she glanced over to the shop.  A white flash whizzed by one of the machines; Summer jumped prompting another flash.  A small squeal of fear escaped from her lips that made Natty jump.  “Sorry… What was that?”

“I was hoping you could tell me!” He said, looking very surprised. “Isn’t dat your robot?” Summer honestly didn’t know. The white flashes did look like a pony, but nopony could move that fast-- not even The Wonderbolts.  Summer was scared.  She wanted to run away but in that brief instant her legs had a mind of their own and were walking towards the shop.  

“Hello?” Summer said softly.  There was no response.  “Is… anyone there?” The white flash burst itself directly in front of her.  It was her robot.  The white metallic colt turned his head like some bird and inched towards her.  Summer’s eyes frantically looked around, unsure what would happen next.

“Voice recognition required.” It spoke to her, its mouth not moving but only flashing a light.

“Uh….” Summer said dumbfounded.

“Uh….” echoed the robot, replaying the audio.  It kicked his head back.  Summer could hear the data crunching in its head.  “Voice key recognized: Summer Sparks.  Greetings, creator.” It was then Natty appeared behind her.  Summer shot him a dirty look.  It was so nice of him to appear when everything was safe.  The robot’s mechanical eye never moved away from Summer.

“So it is your robot.  I’m eatin' my words Summer; it didn’t fall over.”

“Yea…” said Summer to Natty, lost for words.

“This One has no identity.”

“Your name is Gigatrot...” said Summer.  The robot’s eyes flashed at Summer’s words.

“Gigatrot.” The robot repeated.  

“Dat name fits,” agreed Natty. “You see da way he was runnin'?” Summer looked back to Natty.  He was more impressed than she was, it seemed.

“Gigatrot accepted.”

“So, what does it do?” asked Natty.

“I- I don’t know.”  admitted Summer, looking from Gigatrot to the black stallion.

“Didn’t you build it?”

“Of course I did! But you know what coding is like!”

“Not ta mention you had trouble readin' your father’s notes.” joked Natty.

“Right.”

“Hey, it’s not goin' to explode is it?”  Natty asked, ducking quickly behind Summer. She pushed him away.

“It shouldn’t,” said Summer.

“But can,” Natty added.  Summer gave Natty a very nasty glare. “But it probably won’t! My look at da time, you should be on the road to Ponyville.” said Natty pushing her away from the shop.

“What? I just got here.  And Gigatrot-“

“-will go witchu'.” interrupted Natty, “I’ll watch The Little Nail.  You go to Ponyville.  You’re going to Carousel Boutique-- can’t miss it.” Natty pushed Summer out to the street until she finally gave up struggling against the bigger colt.  Gigatrot didn’t do anything except follow and stare wordlessly.  Summer waited outside the store for Natty to bring the wagon out to the front. He also brought her toolbox and anything else she may have needed. When Natty came back with the wagon, Summer helped him load the tools.

“Who's the client?” asked Summer as she put the last of her things on the wagon.

"His name is Elusive."

"You don't think he's going to be a problem?" Summer asked, nodding at Gigatrot. Natty shook his head.  Gigatrot stood motionless, watching Summer and Natty's conversation from a distance.  “So, you going to help?” she asked Gigatrot uncomfortably.  She didn't know what Gigatrot could do, but something would be better than nothing.

“If it is required.  Is it required?” Gigatrot approached the wagon.  He looked at the harness and the contents of the wagon.  There was a sequence of pinging noises coming from his head.  “Will you be pulling the wagon?”

“If it is required...” mocked Summer.  She looked at Gigatrot, half-expecting a response but she received none.  Summer finished securing the last of her tools and trotted to the front of the wagon.  To her surprise Gigatrot, was already harnessed in and waiting for her to appear.  Summer didn't say anything; she just looked at him.  Gigatrot had just recently been activated.  She didn't know the limits he had, she trotted up beside him.

“This One will haul the wagon.” offered Gigatrot.  Summer looked at Natty; he turned away to avoid eye contact.  “You are welcome,” said Gigatrot, getting Summer's attention.  The kindness he offered oddly annoyed her.  If she wasn't doing something, she felt useless, almost like a broken tool.  Instead of sitting in the wagon, she grabbed the harness around Gigatrot and adjusted it for two ponies.  The wooden harness doubled over itself like a sandwich.  The top half of the sandwich had a groove for a pony’s shoulders facing the sky, and when folded over side by side, it created two harnesses.  It was a simple device Summer invented when Natty was having trouble switching from a single to a double harness.  She fastened herself in easily enough, Summer looked at Gigatrot who was standing as still as ever, watching her.  Summer caught a glimpse of Natty shaking his head; Summer ignored him and faced Southwest.

“Let's go.” Summer said, pushing against the wood on her chest.  It was a slow start, but she was a strong filly.  Once Gigatrot began pulling it was almost weightless; it didn't even look like he was trying.  The walk to Ponyville would be hours but at least the sun was shining.  The birds were already flying around the town in the shadow of Canterlot’s giant towers.  Canterlot was still busy even for an early morning, industry never sleeps.  The shop owners all came out, ringing their morning bells to start the day.  Summer would, on occasion, chat with the fruit stall owners when shopping.

The owner of one stall was a red mare with blonde hair and her cutie mark was a brown jug with three X’s. She would call Summer over once she had a new product to sell.  The last time Summer saw her she claimed she had the ‘best thing since sliced bread’.

“What’s this?” Asked Summer while pointing at a bottle with the same three X’s on it.

“Hard apple cider.”

Summer examined the contents of the bottle carefully.  “Is it safe? What’s so hard about it?”

“It’s just got a kick to it and if it ain’t safe than my name ain’t Apple Cider!” She gave Summer a toothy grin.

“Can I try it?”

“Of course!” Apple Cider turned around and went behind her cart.  She must have had a fountain back there.  The sounds of a frothy liquid filled a small mug, some splashed on the ground.  Soon after Apple Cider returned with a mug handle in her mouth and propped it on the table.  “Drink it slowly.” she advised.  Summer nodded and pinched the rim of the mug with teeth and slowly raised it up and took a sip.  The cider was ‘harder’ than she thought and immediately coughed on the drink, dropping the mug.  Apple Cider laughed “Yup, that’s usually the first response.” Summer blushed and later chuckled as well.

Eventually, Apple Cider’s ‘hard’ apple cider became very popular in Canterlot and she hadn’t seen her since.  Summer was happy that she was doing so well, although she didn’t see Apple Cider at the market when she and Gigatrot were leaving for Ponyville.

They continued hauling the wagon through the market and down to the lower city.  Children trotted past them to their morning classes, some groggy and stumbling over their hooves.  They didn’t pay Gigatrot any mind.  It was either too early or they didn’t see him.  Summer didn’t spend much time with children but would often sit and chat with the teachers.  They shared funny stories of the little ones.  The stories of the children were very heartwarming to her.  Some were about them getting their cutie marks or others eating the glitter and paint. One story was about a group of friends that made a ‘secret society’.

“They call themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders.” said an orange pony, adjusting her glasses.  “Three colts from Ponyville started the group when they realized how the other ponies had already gotten their cutie marks.”

“How adorable.” smiled a blue pony standing next to Summer.  “And these are Cherry Lee’s students?”

“Did they get their cutie marks yet?” asked Summer, interjecting before the orange pony could respond.

“Um, I don't think so.  Cherry Lee hasn't mentioned anything about it yet, but the idea is getting very popular amongst students in Canterlot.”

Summer smiled but didn't say anything else to the teachers.  They continued to talk about the Cutie Mark Crusader movement and the funny sayings that the children made.

The teachers would always mingle at The Tossed Salad restaurant for lunch.  Summer occasionally ate lunch there on her breaks.  Summer would be social and friendly, but she hadn't seen them anywhere else in Canterlot.  She really hoped that those boys got their cutie marks.

I think she said they were from Ponyville, Summer thought, maybe if I get the chance I'll ask somepony about them.

Almost tripping over a stone brought Summer back to the task at hoof.  She didn't realize it yet, but she wasn't keeping pace with Gigatrot.  Gigatrot hadn’t said anything or make any noise that would suggest thinking.  Summer looked at the sun; it had already been three hours since they left.  She looked around, trying to remember where she was.  The surrounding mountains loomed over the hills, rivers, and ,of course, the dirt road with a wooden fence.  The trees lined the road giving Summer the impression that they were close to Ponyville.  She didn't even remember leaving the gates of Canterlot.  She was so lost in her thoughts reminiscing about Canterlot’s market and the teachers at the preschool.  Summer finally noticed her hoof steps became irregular to the rhythmic *clop* *shht* *clop* *shht*, her breath became deeper and heavier with each hoofstep, and much slower than the hoofsteps of the mechanical horse next to her.  

“Are you well?” asked Gigatrot, almost with a tone of concern?

“Don't you worry about me.  I'm just fine.” groaned Summer.  She gave a heavy push, showing she was still fit to keep going.  

“Do you normally exert yourself like this?”

“I'm not exerting anything...  I'm fine.”

“I do not detect any difference from me when we started.” he persisted, “but your heart rate and breathing have increased significantly over time.”

“You're not like other ponies.  One: you're a machine; you don't have lungs.  Two: you're connected to a battery that's solar powered.  And thirdly: why are you so concerned about me?” Summer was having trouble talking to him while pulling the wagon, but talking almost kept her mind off of the weight.  Almost.  It was heavier than usual.  

Whoever was at Carousel Boutique clearly didn't know what was broken and what wasn't; Summer had to bring all the tools just to make sure they could adequately complete the job.  The letter they received was written so elegantly neither Natty nor Summer could read it. They did get the address figured out, but they still didn’t know what needed to be fixed, so they brought everything. The harness abruptly stopped.  Summer was walking in place, and the wagon wasn’t moving an inch.  Eyes closed and her hooves digging into the earth.  Gigatrot wasn't moving, his mechanical eyes stared at something that wasn't there.

“Concern.  Is that something one feels for another? Do I have these feelings?” Summer stopped pushing and opened her eyes to look at the broken ground.

“I...  don't know.  Maybe....  I mean...  uh..  can we talk about this later? We really should be going.” Gigatrot blinked, or at least his eyes shuttered like a camera.

“Yes, of course.” He pressed against the harness with ease catching Summer by surprise when she was pulled along. “Apologies.”

Neither of them said anything to each other for the awhile.  That awkward silence lingered longer than it should.  How could she say that he was just a thing? Summer had spent so much time talking to him in the shop, but that was when he couldn't talk back.  To her, Gigatrot was something that listened and didn't judge.  Now he was operating and anything could happen, he might even become someone that looked down upon her like most people for her crazy ideas.  

“Is that Ponyville?” asked Gigatrot, breaking the silence.  Summer looked up from her hooves.  

“That's it, all right.”

Off in the distance was the small town Ponyville.  The whole place was welcoming: birds flew over head, the noise of busy ponies coming from the center of town and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  She had never been to Ponyville, but she instantly realized she wouldn't mind living here.  The air was refreshing; it was as if it said, “Welcome to Ponyville!” to any passerby fortunate enough to inhale it.  But Summer lived in Canterlot, and she didn’t think about it moving to Ponyville.

It didn't take long for them to reach the town limits of Ponyville.  The dirt road became stone under their hooves.  Summer was hardly pulling the wagon anymore and by the time they came to a bridge to cross the river that flowed through town, she was out of breath.

And there it was, Carousel Boutique, located close to the center of town.  It was very well decorated with red ribbons and dazzling sparkles.  The building itself truly looked like a Carousel; the only thing missing was a clockwise rotation! The mannequins in the window were adorned with gorgeous outfits for colts, fillies, mares, and stallions.  The pair stopped in front of the stoop and Summer unfastened herself from the harness.  

“Gigatrot, I'll meet you around back.  I'll go have a talk with the owner.”

“Acknowledged.” Effortlessly he pulled the wagon around to the side of the building.  Summer didn't think too much about it and rang the doorbell.  Summer could hear erratic movement beyond the door.  A was cat hissing followed by a scream of fear.

“Opalite! No! It's just the doorbell! “ Summer listened, getting uncomfortable.  

“Is...  Everything OK in there?”

“Yes! Be right there! Ow! Opalite, Ow!” There was a large crash followed by the sound of a vase shattering on the floor, Summer cringed.  “Okay, everything is not alright but the door is open!” Summer immediately pulled down the door lever and swung the door open.  Summer followed the noise of chaos around the circular white building until she saw a white unicorn with short lavender curls.  His tail longer than his mane, but curled all the same.  Three diamonds adorned his flank.  

This was one groomed pony, Summer thought.

Everything was on the floor:  Fabrics, threads, ribbons, a broken vase, all scattered from the ruckus.  The unicorn stood very still.  On his back was a short haired white cat digging its claws into his withers.  

“Darling, so good of you to – drop by,” he cringed, forcing a smile.

“Are you alright?” Summer asked inching closer.

“Quite. Are you the mechanic?”

“That would be me, Summer Sparks,” smiled Summer reassuringly.  “I have a friend out back with my supplies.  Can you show me to the backdoor?” The unicorn cringed as the claws of his cat dug deeper into him.  

“Yes of course, but if you'd be so kind as to remove Opalite from my back?”

“Right, sorry.” Summer approached the unicorn cautiously.  The white cat was staring at her intently.  “Here kitty, kitty, kitty.” Opalite hissed.  Summer frowned at the sound.  “Now listen here!” she started, “You should treat this unicorn-”

“Elusive,” prompted the unicorn.

“Uh, right.  Elusive more kindly.  He's given you a home, food, and I'm pretty sure he treats you like family.  Why do you act like this?”

“Oh, h-he's just naturally vicious,” said Elusive, wincing.

“You're not helping.  Opalite, I think both of you can live here without bothering each other.  Is that too much to ask?” Summer and the cat stared at each other.  Elusive cringed again by reflex, expecting the claws to dig deeper, they did.

“Ah!” gasped Elusive. Summer leapt forward and swatted the air in front of Opalite. The cat hissed and swatted back with more ferocity, Summer retreated back into a shelf closing her eyes.  That cat really was viscous. The shelf she stumbled into slowly shook and spilled its contents, strings, plastic boxes of needles and a yellow ball of yarn, onto the floor. The yarn bounced along and caught Opalite’s attention. Leaping off of Elusive he chased the yellow ball out of the room. Summer opened her eyes after the last object fell to the ground.  Elusive was in the same spot, except this time without a white cat attached to his back.

“Oh, thank you so much for helping darling,” he said, smiling. “Usually I would have had Butterscotch come over and talk some sense into that cat.” Elusive glared at the doorway where Opalite left, he glanced back at Summer who was looking at the mess on the floor.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to,” apologized Summer, picking up a ribbon and placing it on the shelf.

“Don’t you worry dear; no harm done.” Elusive said, he closed his eyes and his horn started to glow. All the pieces on the floor shined in the same color as all the items lifted into the air and onto the shelf. “Thank you again for helping me with Opalite.”

“But I didn’t do anything.” said Summer, confused.

“Of course you did! You tried your best and it paid off.”

“How? I made a mess of your shop.”

“True, but the cats gone for now and the mess is cleaned.”

Elusive smiled at Summer.

“I guess you’re right.” Summer agreed, smiling back at Elusive.

“Of course darling. Now what did you need?”

“The backdoor, my friend is waiting outside.”

“Ah, of course. Right this way madam.” Bowing, Elusive pointed a hoof towards the back.


***


The sun had finally broken through near midday.  Although, most of that time was spent calming Elusive down about Gigatrot.

“So he’s a robot?” asked Elusive.

“Yes,” said Summer.

“And you built him...  without magic?”

“That’s right.  Gigatrot is going to help me today.” Summer smiled at Elusive, who could only return with a frail smile, “if that’s alright with you.” Elusive nodded at Gigatrot in contrast to the initial scream when Elusive first saw him, of which Summer had to promise never to speak again.  Mainly it was because of how he screamed: High pitched, and very humorous.

Elusive lead them both downstairs into his basement.  The windows let small rays of sunlight into the room.  The fabrics lay upright against walls and wooden racks organized by color and material.

“So what are we fixing?”

“This sewing machine right here,” Elusive said while pointing at a very large sewing machine with a wooden cover.  Summer looked at him quizzically.  

“You know I’m not a carpenter right?”

“Yes, but the problem is inside the framework.”

“Alright, let me see,” said Summer trotting close to the sewing machine, “Gigatrot can you hand me my toolbox?” Gigatrot gave a small nod, bringing forth the red metal toolbox, placing it on the table.  

“I don’t use it often, only for custom work.”

“It’s really old,” said Summer, while she carefully removed the framework of the machine with her hooves.

“My great grandfather gave it to me,” said Elusive, “so...  can you fix it?”

“Of course I can,” boasted Summer, “you hired the best there is.” Gigatrot released a sound that resembled a snort at Summer’s boast.  Summer glanced angrily at him but ignored the gesture.  “We’ll have it fixed, don’t you worry.”

“Fabulous darling, I’ll leave you two to your own devices...  and mine.” Elusive laughed at his comment until he was interrupted by a loud thud coming from upstairs.  “Sweeney, is that you?” Elusive quickly trotted up the stairs with a look of concern.

Of course, fixing an old sewing machine is easier said than done without magic.  You still had to know what was wrong.  Gigatrot mostly watched, which was probably for the best since he didn’t know anything about the inner mechanical works.  It was good that he asked a question every now and then; when Summer changed to a new tool he would ask what it was called and what it was used for.

“That’s a ratchet,” said Summer, “something for Earth ponies to easily place, loosen, and tighten bolts.”

“This is used by Earth ponies?”

“Yea, since Earth ponies can’t use magic to get a grip, they can swivel to adjust.”

The two would talk back and forth, he would ask, she would answer; he would watch, she would explain.  The old sewing machine wasn’t nearly as wrecked as Elusive had thought.  The timing belt was off and the gears were loose; it didn’t take much time to finish.  Summer replaced the frame, wiped her sweaty brow with a hoof, and smiled at Gigatrot.  Summer pressed down on the hoof pedal and the machine ran smoothly.

“All done,” she announced, “let’s go tell Elusive the good news.” Summer rushed up the stairs, a small spring in her step when she pushed the door open.  “Elusive?” No response, “Elusive? We’re finished-- it’s fixed.” She looked around the white boutique.  He was nowhere to be seen.  Opalite was sitting on a mannequin, sleeping.  Summer looked at Gigatrot; as usual, he was simply staring into space.  “C’mon, we’ll look outside.” She nibbled on Gigatrot’s ear pulling him towards the door.  

The sun was well past its peak and the citizens of Ponyville were more active than before.  Gigatrot was free from Summer’s bite and pulled away to look around Ponyville.  They searched around back where the wagon was and that’s where they found Elusive.

“Sweeney, Scooter Lou, Apple Buck! The contents of this wagon do not belong to me.”

“Elusive what’s going on?” asked Summer, looking into the wagon.  She saw three young colts in the wagon, each one with a hammer in their mouth.

“Summer, I thank goodness you’re here.  My brother and his friends are… how should I put it?”

“We’re trying to get our cutie marks!” shouted a young pegasus the color of a Tuscany sun with a purple crest slicked back like he was caught in a wind tunnel.  Another pony spat a hammer out of his mouth.  His coat was a buff color with a red wine mane and a lighter colored bandanna.  

“Anything yet?” he said with a thin country accent, trying to get a good look at his flank.

“Nothing yet,” said the pegasus, “how about me?”

“No.”

“Sweeney, these tools belong to Summer,” interjected Elusive. “Now I know you’re doing this for your cutie marks but couldn’t you find something safer?”

Sweeney, the white unicorn, looked Summer then to his friends.  “C’mon, Cutie Mark Crusaders,” he said, jumping off the wagon.  Summer snapped back to reality by the name he mentioned.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders?” asked Summer, almost forgetting where she heard the name from.

“We’re on a quest to get our cutie marks!”  the little colts yelled.  The sudden increase in volume made Summer and Elusive cringe.  Gigatrot lowered his head at the little ones, cocking his head at each one.

“Whoa.” They said in unison.

“What is it?” asked Scooter.

“I am an artificial equine,” answered Gigatrot, moving his head to look at Scooter.  

“And you built him?” asked Apple Buck, glancing back at Summer.

“Sure did.”

"Without magic?" asked Sweeney. Summer noticed a pattern when introducing Gigatrot to ponies.

"Sure did." She said.

“Wow! Your cutie mark must be amazing if you built this without magic!” jumped Sweeney.  Summer backed away slowly looking at her shorts.  “Can we see it?”

“No!” Snapped Summer.  Elusive and the little ponies jumped at the sudden outburst.  Even Gigatrot lifted his head quickly.  “I mean… we should go.  Right, Gigatrot?”

“We have no-“

“-time to stay!” said Summer quickly silencing the robot.  She pinched the metal ear and pulled him to the front of the wagon.  “We’re going back to Canterlot.”

“What of the restitution?”

“I’ll send them a bill in the mail,” replied Summer while lifting the harness to a single, “you pull.”

Gigatrot complied and began moving the wagon forward.  Summer cantered behind the wagon to the other ponies.  “I’m so sorry, Elusive, but we really have to go.  Crusaders, I’ll have to take a rain check on my cutie mark story.”

“Promise?” asked Sweeney Belle.

“Promise.”

“Bubble Berry promise?”

“What?”

“He’s a friend of ours.  He’s very colorful and spontaneous,” said Elusive. “It’s no trouble dear.  I’m sure you’re very busy.”

Summer smiled, kindly excusing herself and catching up with Gigatrot.  She walked beside him as they left for Canterlot.

“May I ask you something?” asked Gigatrot when they were out of ear shot from the other ponies.

“Does it involve my cutie mark?” asked Summer suspiciously. She already knew the answer.  The way she left in a hurry, lying about an appointment they were late for.

“Yes.”

“Then the answer is no,” said Summer quickly.  Gigatrot continued effortlessly pulling the cart.  

“Why did you give me a cutie mark?” asked Gigatrot, “Is it not something one finds on their own?”  

“How could you find it on your own?” asked Summer, “you’re a robot.”  

“But you gave me one.” Gigatrot looked at the welded metal circle with the check mark and two circles of a percentage on his flank.

“Do you not like it?” asked Summer, a sad tone in her voice.

“It is sufficient." Said Gigatrot. “How do you plan on getting your cutie mark?”  Summer stopped dead in her tracks.  Gigatrot pulled the cart to a halt as well.  

“Gigatrot, h-h-how did you…?” stuttered Summer, “I haven’t told anyone about…”

“I didn’t,” he said, “I calculated that you would confirm my suspicion.” Summer dropped her jaw.  She had just been played by her own robot.  Summer shook her head still not believing what just happened.

“You can’t tell anypony!” Summer said. “Not a soul!”

“Who can I tell?” shrugged Gigatrot.  Summer eyed him suspiciously.

“… Good.” she said slowly.  What is he planning? Summer thought.

“I request one thing,” said Gigatrot. “Stay in Ponyville.”

“What?” blurted Summer, “I can’t just-“

“You can, and you will.” Said Gigatrot, holding a hoof up to Summer.

“But-“

“I have calculated a desirable outcome for you.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Call it a feeling if you must.”

“You don’t have any feelings.” Said Summer coldly.

Gigatrot tilted his head at her.  She had the impression that he was smiling.  Even though he didn’t have any nodes to distort his mouth.  “Perhaps,” he said, “I wish to stay.”

“And you’re blackmailing me to do that?”

“Only you can maintain and repair me,” Gigatrot reminded her.  Summer stared at Gigatrot long and hard, being blackmailed by her own creation never crossed her mind.  “Also, I will help you with whatever you need to earn your cutie mark.”

“Now you’re being nice?”

“I am Gigatrot,” he said, “I am what you made me to be.”

Summer couldn’t think of anything to say to him, or anything to get her out of his grasp.  She would have to send a letter to Natty explaining her absence from Canterlot and what would that say?

Hey Natty,

I’m writing to tell you that my robot has taken me hostage and I won’t be coming back to Canterlot for awhile until I figure out how to permanently shut him off.

-Your friend,

Summer Sparks.

“Fine,” she said, “what do you want to do?”

“I saw a library when we arrived,” said Gigatrot, “I would like to go there.”

“There’s a library in Canterlot!”

“We are in Ponyville.  Canterlot’s library does little good right now.”

Summer grunted.  “Lead the way…” Gigatrot marched forward.  He veered off the path to Canterlot and took the road that lead further into Ponyville.
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 2




                    The last few weeks for Summer were nothing but stress. She had been blackmailed into staying at Ponyville by her own creation. Summer rarely got any sleep and finding the library was a worse matter. Her robot never seemed to leave her alone. He always kept a watchful eye on her and never let her out out of his sight. 

One night, she woke up to see Gigatrot directly over her head just to tell her what time it was. Her scream must have scared the neighbors because the next morning the police knocked on her front door and asked if they could look around. They didn’t find anything.
            
        There were other times that Gigatrot was trouble for her. The first thing he mentioned to her was that he wanted to go to the Ponyville library. Summer later found out that Gigatrot didn’t see a library, he saw somepony’s home. Gigatrot suggested knocking but Summer didn’t want to bother them. They would both walk around Ponyville for hours trying to find the library, until Summer suggested to Gigatrot they ask somepony where it was.
            
        “We don’t need directions.” He said.
            
        Summer couldn’t help but laugh, typical male response, robot or not. Instead,Summer got the attention of the first pony that came by. She was a light blue unicorn with a safety pin cutie mark and flowing white hair with a silver blue streak.
            
        “Excuse me, do you know where the library is?” asked Summer, being polite as she possibly could. The blue pony turned around slowly with her eyes closed and started giving directions, until she saw Gigatrot. The look on her face was a mixture of fear and confusion. The pony started to backtrack slowly then galloped off in the other direction. “Wait!” Summer shouted after her.
            
        “She was frightened.” Stated Gigatrot, tilting his head looking down the street after the pony.
            
        “Really? I didn’t notice.” Said Summer sarcastically. “C’mon let’s try again.” She trotted up to a minty green unicorn. “Excuse me, sir?”

        “Yes?” He responded kindly.

        “I’m looking for the library. Do you know where it is?”

        “I sure do it-” His eyes shifted to Gigatrot, who was twisting his head around following a bird. He gave a short scream, trotting in place and then dashing off. Summer turned around to see Gigatrot’s head spinning like a top.

        “Gigatrot!” Yelled Summer, Gigatrot’s head stopped spinning.

        “Yes?”

        “You’re the one scaring everypony!” Scorned Summer. “Try being...  less weird.”

        “How should I do that?” Asked Gigatrot, spinning his head in the opposite direction.

        “Never mind.”
    

Every time Summer and Gigatrot tried to talk to somepony they would instantly run away. It was odd: when they first arrived into town no pony gave them a second glance or at least that’s what she thought. Summer didn’t notice the ponies on her first walk through Ponyville. She was more concerned with her job, but now she couldn’t help but notice. 

They’ll come around eventually, Summer thought, besides I have other things to worry about. Namely Gigatrot.  He wanted to see the library, so he wouldn’t say anything about Summer’s non-existent cutie mark, not to mention he also said he would help her get her cutie mark.
            
        “Gigatrot, I think I should try this by myself.”
            
        Pings and grinding gears buzzed in his head; he was thinking again. His head twitched. “Agreed.  You will receive better results without me. I will meet you back at your house with your findings. I will try to not to create anymore problems.”The robot trotted off and disappeared behind an alleyway to avoid being seen. 

It didn’t take long for Summer to finally turn around and head back home. It was getting late and finding a pony outside was scarce. When she returned home the movers from Canterlot were still unloading boxes from the van. At least they would be if they weren’t hiding inside it. 

“Belle, Rims, Sander, Ace, this is Gigatrot. He’s with me.  He’s a robot I built him, he’s not here to hurt you.” Summer said, after she had been introduced to the movers.

“You built him?” Asked Belle.

“Yes, without magic.” 

“Why not use magic?” Questioned Ace.

“Because I can’t use magic. Look it’s been a long day how about me and Gigatrot help you guys move everything into the house?”

The ponies gave each other nervous looks but accepted the offer. With Gigatrot’s help they were finished in no time at all. They each thanked Gigatrot, apologized for the delay and headed back off to Canterlot. It was good that ponies were getting used to Gigatrot.

It just takes time is all. Thought Summer.

They were finally ready to unpack.

“Take a good look, Gigatrot.” Said Summer, staring at all the boxes neatly sorted around the living room. “This is probably as clean as it’s going to get when we’re here.”
         
        “Are you planning on making a mess?”
            
        “Well I gotta unpack, don’t I?” She smiled. “You’re going to help right? You’re the reason I’m still here.”
            
        “I anticipated that.” Gigatrot nodded in his slow birdlike manner, “I will assist you in unpacking.”
            
        “Good. That will give me more time to find that library.”
            
        They left most of the contents in the boxes but moved them to different rooms where the contents would be needed.  Kitchen utensils in the kitchen, Summer’s stuff in her room, etc… It didn’t take long to finish, Gigatrot moved and lifted the heavier boxes with ease and Summer tried to move the heavier packages but when one almost crushed her she decided to picked up what she could.  It was a quarter after six, there was just enough time to go out for another search, this time without Gigatrot.
 
The streets of Ponyville were mostly empty and the sun was beginning to set. Clouds began to form above the rooftops to keep the night warm. Summer had been walking for five minutes and realized she was taking a stroll and not really looking for anything; she couldn’t help but notice all the wonders Ponyville had to offer. The large fountain in the center of town, the clock tower, Town Hall, even Carousal Boutique was an impressive sight at this hour.
                    
“Maybe staying here won’t be so bad.” Summer said to herself, passing a flower bed. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply taking in that welcoming air into her lungs like she was breathing for the first time.
 
A loud crack screamed through the sky startling Summer, an instant later she would find herself on her back with the wind knocked out of her. Her vision was blurred, only seeing shapes and colors, she groaned.

“Oops.” Said a voice, chuckling, “are you alright?” Summer looked at the source of voice, a fuzzy blue circle, with a clash of every other color on top.

“I’m… fine,” she said. “W-what happened?”

“I kind of crashed into you.”

“Kind of crashed? What were you doing?” she was getting her vision back and was thinking clearer. She shook her head violently focusing to get a better look at this fuzzy ball. Only, it wasn’t a fuzzy ball. It was a Pegasus, as blue as the sky with short hair made of rainbows.

“New trick, I’m still working out the kinks.” Replied the pegasus.

“Like not crashing into anypony?” Summer asked sarcastically.

“Yea, that would be one of them.” The pegasus took a closer look at Summer, eyeing her suspiciously. “Hey, you’re new around here aren’t you? I’m Rainbow Blitz, nice ta’ meet’cha!” Rainbow Blitz extended a hoof to Summer, she hesitated at first but eventually met his with her own.

“Rainbow Blitz? As in, the Rainbow Blitz?” asked Summer. She had heard of a pegasus that could travel so fast he could break the sound and light barrier, performing the legendary Sonic Rainboom. The last time it was mentioned was after the Best Young Flyer Competition, the winner was Rainbow Blitz. He saved his friend and few members of The Wonderbolts.

“Yup that’s me! The one and only, Rainbow Blitz!”

Summer got up from the ground with the help of Rainbow Blitz, even though she wasn't completely comfortable with the gesture. 

“So, what’s your name?” 

“Summer.” She said, trying to hold back her enthusiasm, she was going to ask more questions about him but he spoke before her.

“Hey! Elusive told me about you!” Summer’s ears perked up, “You’re the one who made that robot everypony’s talking about.”  Not exactly the response she was looking for, but it was better than having Equestria’s Best Young Flier fly off in fear. 

“Yea, that would be me.” Smiled Summer. 

“Can I see it?” He said quickly, Summer staggered back.

“W-what?” 

“The robot, can I see it?”

"Uh... Sure."

“Great!” He latched onto Summer and led her the way she came. Rainbow Blitz didn’t know where she lived but continued on down the road all the same.

“Hey! Wait a minute!” Protested Summer. “Wait!”

Rainbow Blitz screeched to a halt, releasing Summer from his grasp. Inertia made Summer continue and almost fall over. Regaining her balance she turned to the pegasus, her face flushing.

“What’s up?” Asked Rainbow Blitz.

“What’s up?” Echoed Summer, “I don’t know if you noticed but I was a little busy looking before you decided to sweep me off my hooves just to go see my robot!”

“What were you doing?”

Summer lifted her head, trying to regain her composure. “I was trying to find the library.”

“What? Is that all?” he said, rolling his eyes.

“You know where it is?” Summer asked with a tone of excitement.

“Yea, a buddy of mine lives there.”

        “Oh?” Her tone of excitement dropping. Somepony did live there.

“Of course, we can visit after we see your robot.” Said Rainbow Blitz while trotting down the road. Summer followed, reluctantly.

It wasn’t far of a walk, Summer didn’t get very far before Rainbow Blitz crashed into her. Rainbow Blitz lead the way floating above the ground.

“I live just on the river bank. Next to the watermill.” Summer directed.

“Wow you weren’t that far from Dusk’s place.”

“You mean the library?”

“Yeah, that too.”

Summer trotted up ahead of Blitz to the doorstep. She stopped in front of him, putting up a hoof. 

“OK first things first. Yes, I did build him, and no I didn’t use magic.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, let’s just see it.” Said Blitz, bouncing weightlessly off the ground. The door swung open. Inside all the boxes that were recently full were now folded and neatly in the corner opposite them. All of Summer’s possessions on the desks and cabinets. It was much more organized than she was used to. However, Gigatrot was nowhere to be seen. Rainbow was the first to enter and look around, zipping and buzzing around looking for the robot. “So where is it?”

“I- don’t know.” Admitted Summer, while walking inside. “Gigatrot? Somepony’s here to meet you.”

“Yea, no reason to be afraid.”

I’m sure that’s not the reason. Thought Summer. They heard a shuffle in the next room that caught their attention. Summer and Rainbow Blitz briefly looked at each other and ventured into the room.  Sure enough Gigatrot was standing still in the corner. His yellow eyes flared as Rainbow Blitz quickly approached for a close inspection.

“Whoa...” He said astonished. “You built him?”

“Yes I did. We’ve been over this.” Summer said annoyed.

“I know but just... Whoa. This thing is awesome. How fast can it go?”

“Excuse me?”

“You know, how fast can it run?”

“I have no recorded running speed to date.” Gigatrot answered. In an instant Rainbow Blitz shot straight up.

“We should race! Pony vs. Machine!” 

“You don’t mean right now do you?” Asked Summer. Almost sure of what the answer was.  She looked outside the window, the sun had already set, the night looked darker than usual with the cloud cover...

“Yeah! This’ll be the race of a lifetime!” He was buzzing around the room. Summer and Gigatrot’s eyes trailed the pegasus as he came to a soft landing.

“It’s too late to race now.” Said Summer.

“Why? Fraid’ he’ll lose?”

“You’re not racing!” Protested Summer. “You won’t be able to see anything and I don’t want you to crash into another pony.”

Gritting her teeth, Summer glared at Rainbow Blitz who landed next to Gigatrot. Everything about him irked her. He was arrogant, obnoxious, impatient, and hot headed. Rainbow Blitz tried to play it cool and avoided her deadly glare.

“Well, we can race tomorrow... After I take you to the library.”

“W-what?” Stuttered Summer.

“Yeah that was the deal right? You show me the robot and I take you to see Dusk Shine and the library.”

“You mean you just doing what you wanted.”

        “Lighten up Summer.” Chuckled Rainbow Blitz. “You didn’t honestly think I’d leave you hanging.”

        “No, but-”

        “Summer.” Interrupted Gigatrot. He had been so quiet she forgot he was there. Paying attention to Rainbow was the only thing that concerned her.

        “What?” She asked trying to calm down.
        
“I see no reason not to have a race. He appears very eager.” He said looking at Rainbow Blitz.
        
        “Eager to win.”

        “Correction: He is very eager.” He turned back to Summer. “With your permission I would like to race.”

        “Why do you need my permission?” asked Summer. The pings and whizzes turned in Gigatrot’s head. He was thinking again, something Summer was beginning to recognize easily. Rainbow Blitz wasn’t quite so quick.

        “What’s he doing?”

        “Thinking” She said quickly. Looking at Rainbow Blitz she could see the confusion on his face. “I think.”

        “I don’t know.” Gigatrot said at last. The look of confusion returned to Rainbow Blitz’s face.
        
        “Hey, aren’t robots supposed to be smart?” Asked Rainbow Blitz, looking to Summer.

        “My knowledge is based on observation.” Said Gigatrot. “And my observations have been brief.”

        “So that’s why you want to go to the library? To learn?” Asked Summer.

        “Correct.”

        No one spoke for a moment. The only sounds that could be heard was the wind scraping against the windows and rattling the framework. Suddenly a loud crack of thunder shook the house. Summer let out a short scream as she ducked closed to the floor. Rainbow Blitz grounded himself with eyes as big as plates. Even Gigatrot flinched.

        “Oh that’s right,” said Rainbow Blitz, putting a hoof over his face. “There was supposed to be a rainstorm tonight.”

        “That sounded pretty nasty.” Said Summer.

        “Tell me about it. I wouldn’t want to be out there tonight.” Rainbow was looking outside the window. Large water droplets stopped short right in front of his face as they hit the window. From across the room Summer glanced at the same window.

        “You should go.” he offered. Immediately regretting the action.
        
        “Are you crazy? I’m not going out in this storm. Can I stay here?”

“No...” Said Summer to herself. The thought of Rainbow staying the night was out of the question.. “It’s no trouble at all. Plus, thunderstorms can be pretty dangerous. But you would know that, being a pegasus and all.”
        
        “Right.”

        Everything about this made Summer feel uneasy, and the polite conversation just made it worse. Gigatrot left, announcing that he was going to shut off for the night.  That was as good as time as any to leave as well.
        
        “I think I’ll turn in too. Big day tomorrow.” She said, forcing a yawn and stretching.

        “Good idea.” Agreed Rainbow Blitz.

        Summer trotted up the stairs. Halfway up she stopped and turned around. Rainbow Blitz was following her upstairs.
        
        “Um... What are you doing?”

        “Isn’t it obvious? Going to the guest room.” 

        “I don’t have one. It’s just my room up here.”

        “Then where am I supposed to sleep?”

        “The couch.” She said, pointing back downstairs. His rosy colored eyes followed where Summer was pointing.

        “Right... The couch. I knew that.”

        “Of course you did.”

        She turned her back on him and went to her room. She and Gigatrot spent that day unpacking but the boxes were still lying around. 
        
        The sound of thunder cracked through the walls again. Summer jumped onto her bed and held her pillow tight. There was nothing worse than a thunderstorm. She stared at the window being pelted by water clenching the pillow harder. Next to the window was the picture of her father, the older stallion with his kind eyes calmed her. She yawned and then smiled at the picture like she always did.

        “Good night Dad.” She said, closing her eyes softly and drifting to sleep.


***


        Sunlight shined brightly through the window the next morning. For the first time in a week Summer didn’t see Gigatrot when she opened her eyes. Instead, the smiling face of her father in the photograph. 
        
        “Yaaa!” Screamed a voice from downstairs. Summer jumped at the sound. 

        “Sounds like Rainbow’s awake.” Giggled Summer while heading downstairs for breakfast. As she expected Rainbow Blitz was wide awake and hovering in a corner starring at Gigatrot.
        
        “Summer...” He started.

        “That’s how he says ‘good morning’.”  Said Summer with a small laugh.

        “I Apologize, Rainbow Blitz,” said Gigatrot.

        “It’s fine. I wasn’t really scared.”

        “Of course. Breakfast?” Summer offered.

        “Sure! What did you have in mind?” asked Rainbow Blitz.

        “Toast and orange juice.” Said Summer coolly. “Is that alright?”

“Sounds good to me." 

        They both went into the kitchen. Rainbow Blitz sat down at the table while Summer prepared their meal. 

        “So, what brings you to Ponyville?” asked Rainbow once his patience left him.

        “Work at first. Your friend Elusive sent for me from Canterlot.” The toast sprang out of the toaster into the air. With two plates ready Summer caught each piece of toast and set them at the table.

        “And you decided to stay?” He asked reaching for his plate. Summer glanced down at the shorts she was wearing then to the living room where Gigatrot was. She didn’t want to tell him about her problems and she would have to lie to somepony about why she was here.

        “Yea, I needed a vacation.” she said quickly. She took a bit of her toast. Rainbow’s plate was already empty. 

        “Vacation huh? How long did you plan on staying?”

        “So your friend Dusk Sparkle?” She asked, trying to change the subject
        
        “Shine.” 

        “Right, Shine. He lives in the library?” 

        “Yeah, he’s a student of Lord Solaris.” Answered Rainbow, “He studies magic and sends a letter to him about what he learned about friendship.”

        “Friendship?” Asked Summer, completely puzzled.

        “Yeah, we send him letters too. Dusk tells me there’s some magic behind friendship.”

        “I’ll bet.” Summer said, taking a sip of orange juice. Studying friendship. That’s funny, thought Summer. Or there is a certain type of magic behind friendship... doubt it. At least he’s still learning real magic.

Summer finished her meal at last and put the dishes in the sink. “Ready to go?” She asked Rainbow Blitz.

        “You know it!” He cheered. Gigatrot was waiting for them in the living room. “I’m looking forward to our race, Gigatrot.”

        “Agreed, Rainbow Blitz.”

        Summer opened the front door. Rainbow swooped out the doorway and Gigatrot slowly followed behind then Summer. 

        “OK so it’s just down the road here.” he said circling overhead. 

        “It’s not far?” Asked Gigatrot.

        “Not at all.” Rainbow landed right in front of Summer and Gigatrot. “Hey, why don’t we race there?”
        
        “Because we don’t know the way.” Summer said quickly.

        “Let me finish. I could tell you where to go and whoever gets there first, wins.”

        “OK.” Said Summer. She looked to Gigatrot. “You’re racing not me.”

        “No objections.” Gigatrot said. His head twitched again. “Proceed.”

        “Right.” Smiled Rainbow. He began drawing in the dirt, an overhead view of Ponyville. “We’re right here.” He said pointing at a dot in the ground with his hoof. “And this,” he pointed a few inches away, “is where Dusk Shine lives.”

        “I didn’t expect it to be a couple of inches away.” Summer joked.

        “Summer, this is crude drawing of Ponyville. I doubt it is to scale.” Said Gigatrot, turning his head to Summer. Blitz smiled at Summer.

        “Yup, he’s a robot.” He said. “Ready?”

        “Yes.” Answered Gigatrot. Blitz took to Gigatrot’s side. “Will you be racing as well?” Gigatrot asked Summer.
        
        “I don’t think so.”

        “Think you’ll keep up then?” Asked Rainbow Blitz, egging her on. Summer narrowed her eyes.
        
        “What makes you think I won’t?” She asked suspiciously.

        “Because you’re not racing.” 

        “Fine! I’ll race.”
        
        “Great!”  Rainbow Blitz took a spot next to Gigatrot and drew a straight line in the dirt. “First one to Dusk’s place wins. Ready? One.... Two.... Three... Go!”

        And just like that Rainbow Blitz and Gigatrot bolted from the starting point catching Summer by surprise. She knew Gigatrot was fast but she didn’t know about Blitz.

        “Oh you’ve got to be kidding me!” She groaned, sprinting to catch up. Up ahead Gigatrot turned a corner just before Rainbow. Turning at the same corner, Summer looked ahead and couldn’t see them anymore. At least she still knew where she was going now. It was already apparent that she lost. “I can’t believe he talked me into this!” Said Summer, talking to herself. She slowed down some turning at another corner, the library was within her sights. Rainbow and Gigatrot waiting for her to arrive. 

        “Who won?” Asked Summer, trotting up to them and breathing irregularly.

        “Rainbow Blitz.” Said Gigatrot.

        “Really?” She asked Rainbow, shocked.

        “Was there really any doubt? Your robot’s pretty fast, Summer. If I didn’t fly on the last stretch I might have actually lost.” Boasted Blitz, circling above them.

        “You flew? How is that fair?”

        “I saw no problem.” Said Gigatrot, “it was a race to see who got here the quickest, and Rainbow got here the quickest.”

        “But you can’t fly!” Argued Summer. “And neither can I. It’s just an unfair advantage...”

        “He flies and I don’t tire easily. We both have advantages.” Stated Gigatrot, tilting his head to Blitz. The pegasus nodded in agreement. 
        
“Than what was I for? Clearly this was between you two.”

        “Fun.” Answered Rainbow Blitz before Gigatrot. Rolling her eyes Summer looked at the tree.
        
“This is the library?” Asked Summer, changing the subject.

        “Yup.” Said Rainbow Blitz, “Dusk Shine lives here too, with Barbara too.”

        “Summer, I also noticed something about this tree.” Said Gigatrot.

        “I know, Gigatrot.” Said Summer, holding up a hoof. Ignoring Gigatrot’s gaze Summer walked to the door and knocked.
        
“Just a minute!” shouted a small voice from inside. The pitter patter of small feet scrambled across the floor, getting louder and louder as they got closer. The door opened revealing a small purple and green scaled dragon. 

        “Dragon!” Gasped Summer, hiding behind Gigatrot.

        “Robot!” Screamed the dragon, hiding behind a pile of books. “I knew this day would come. It was only a matter of time before robots took over Equestria! Robotic overlord show mercy!”

        “Why don’t you call me Robot Overlord?” Asked Gigatrot, reaching his head over to look at Summer.

        “Because I know better.” Said Summer, poking her head from behind Gigatrot to look at him.

        “Barb, it’s OK.” Chuckled Rainbow Blitz looking through the door. “The robot isn’t our new overlord.”

        The dragon popped her head out from the behind the books. “You sure?”

        “Yes.” Said Blitz as he casually walked to Barbara’s side. “Barbara, this is Summer and her robot Gigatrot.”

        “Whoa. That’s so cool!” She said emerging from the pile of literature. She circled around the robot, examining it, then she saw Summer. “Hi! I’m Barbara.” She exclaimed, extending her claw.
        
        “Summer.” She replied slowly, examining the claw. “I’ve never seen a dragon before. Are you all this nice?”

        “Hmm. Not the ones I’ve met. I’m nice though,” said Barbara. “So does it talk? The robot I mean.”

        “Yes.” Answered Gigatrot, turning his head to Barbara.

        “Co-ol!” She said in amazement.

        “Hey Barb, is Dusk here?” Interrupted Rainbow Blitz.

        “Sure is. He’s talking to Applejack in the basement.”

        “Can we come in?” Asked Summer.

        “Oh right! Yes, yes of course!” She moved out of the way and gestured inside. Books upon books neatly stacked in rows and tightly organized on the shelves. As expected, everything was made from the tree. The shelves looked like it was carved into the wall and the tables, while not directly connected to the ground, were cut from the same tree. Barbara scuttled across the floor to a door in the back. Opening the door showed the stairs that lead to the basement. “Hey Dusk! Rainbow’s here with a friend! And a robot!”

        “What?” Yelled a voice from the basement. “A robot?”
        
        “Ain’t robots... Uh.. Science fictiony?” Said another voice. The accent was more Southern than the other. The voices became louder, accompanied by clops of hooves hitting the wooden stairs.
        
        “Of course they are. Even with magic, constructing a working robot is almost-” His train of thought stopped in his tracks when he saw Gigatrot. Jaw dropped, he stood motionless. His eyes fixed on Gigatrot. Dusk Shine, a lavender unicorn with a dark indigo mane with two streaks in his hair. One a hue of pink and the other purple. His train of thought stopped in his tracks when he saw Gigatrot. Jaw dropped, he stood motionless. His eyes fixed on Gigatrot.
        
        Another pony approached his side and smiled at Dusk Shine. He wore a brown cowboy hat under his blond mane. He was very... large. He almost towered over the lavender pony. 

“Heh, look at him.” He chuckled, nudging Dusk Shine. “The lights are on but nopony’s home. Well don’t just be a stick in the mud Dusk. I’m Applejack.” Stepping forward he extended a hoof to Summer.

“Summer.” She said, shaking his hoof. “This is Gigatrot.” She tilted her head to point at Gigatrot. He didn’t seem all to interested about what was going on and had already removed a book from the shelf and began reading. After Dusk Shine shook himself off he came up next to introduce himself. He didn’t seem to mind that Gigatrot was reading.

“That’s a really impressive piece of machinery.” Complimented Dusk Shine.

“Isn’t it awesome?” Agreed Rainbow Blitz.

“Yes it is. How did you build it?”

“With a lot of help. My friend Natty helped me in certain areas. It was my father’s design. I just wanted to see it complete.” She stared at the robot reading a book. Her eyes instinctively focused on the cutie mark she had welded onto Gigatrot’s flank.

“What’s he doin?” Asked Applejack, bringing Summer’s attention back to the other ponies.

“Huh? Oh, right. He’s reading. He wanted to come here to read the books. We didn’t know the way and that’s when I ran- Rainbow ran into me.” Said Summer, shooting Rainbow a disapproving look.

“You’re not going to let that go are you?” Complained Rainbow.

“I don’t think so.”

“It was an accident and not to mention it was-”

“OK that’s enough you two. Summer I don’t see any problems with him reading the books here.” Interrupted Dusk Shine. Gigatrot took another book off the shelf, he was already on his seventh book. “I don’t think it will take long anyway.”

“Can he stay here?” Asked Summer. “Until he finishes reading?”

        Dusk Shine contemplated for a moment. Barbara anxiously looked over to Gigatrot then back to Dusk Shine.

        “Sure, that’s fine with me. You OK with it, Barb?” 

        “Yeah, as long as he doesn’t take over the world or anything.” 

        Dusk shine started laughing, before everypony joined in.

        “Gigatrot you going to be able to find your way back once you’re done?” Asked Summer, looking over Gigatrot’s shoulder. With a quick glance she saw a picture of a pegasus flying.

        “Yes.” Answered Gigatrot, without turning to look at her. She stood there awkwardly as he was reading. Without anything else to say she turned back to Dusk Shine. 

        “Are you sure it isn’t a problem?”

        “It’s no trouble, Summer.” Assured Dusk Shine.

        “Are you stayin’ in Ponyville?” Asked Applejack. Summer thought for a moment. Gigatrot wanted her to stay in Ponyville to see the library and to help her get her cutie mark. No reason she could go back to Canterlot once he was done reading. 

        “For a little while. I don’t expect to stay long.”

        “Well that was a lot of stuff you had at your place for a short visit.”  Commented Rainbow.

        “It’s a girl thing.” She said quickly.

        “What’s that supposed to mean?” 

        “It means ‘it’s none of your business’!” 

        “Whoa! Am I gunna have to separate the two of you?” Joked Applejack, moving between Rainbow Blitz and Summer. 

        It took awhile for Summer’s eyes to trail away from Rainbow to Applejack. “No.” She said, “Dusk Shine thank you again for letting Gigatrot stay. I need to go and do some errands.” Crossing Applejack, and approaching Rainbow Blitz. He reared his head, anticipating another argument. “Thank you for taking us to the library.” She didn’t wait for a response from him, she continued walking by to the door. Opened it, and left the library without another word.

        “She seems nice.” Said Dusk Shine.

        “That’s one spicy redhead.” Applejack joked, nudging at Rainbow Blitz. The pegasus gave a stern look back at him, Dusk Shine could only laugh.

        Gigatrot picked up another book.


        ****

        She slammed the door behind her with a loud grunt.

        “I cannot believe him!” She roared to the empty house. “‘That’s an awful lotta stuff you have for a short visit.’!” She said in a low mimicking voice, crossing her eyes and put her forelegs up on her back to make chicken wings. Stomping to the couch she immediately flipped onto the cushion and stared at the ceiling. She forced herself to get comfortable on the couch by grabbing the pillow next to her and turning to her side to face the empty fireplace. She looked at all the row of flat, folded boxes in the corner. 

It was a lot of stuff. Rainbow was right, it was just how he said it. She turned on her back again, trying to ignore the boxes and Rainbow Blitz. “I have time for myself now... No blackmailing robots, no obnoxious, big headed, pegasi... Just me and my-” She took a whiff of the pillow she was holding. It smelled vaguely familiar, for some reason Summer held it closer and closed her eyes. The musk from the pillow was a smell she had almost forgotten. One that never really went away but still lingered from the past. Then she realized Rainbow Blitz slept here last night. She threw the pillow away as quickly as she could, and pretended she never had it.

        A bell started ringing from outsider Summer’s door.

        “Who is it?” Replied Summer out of instinct. She poked her head over the headrest of the couch.

        “Mail call!”

        Summer pulled herself from the couch and rushed to the door. A grey pegasus stood in the doorway. A large bag filled to the brim with letters. “I have mail?” Asked Summer, confused. 
        
“Sure do! Your mail’s been forwarded from Canterlot to here! And you’re new to the neighborhood, so I thought I’d deliver it personally and say hello!” He said with a genuine smile, as his eyes drifted apart. Summer stepped back in shock. The pegasus didn’t seem to mind. Reaching into his mailbag he grabbed a bundle of letters held together by rubber band.

        “Thank you.” She said after taking the letters.

        “You’re quite welcome.” He paused, “It’s the eyes isn’t it?” 

        Summer blushed. “No! Not at all!” She hadn’t realized it but she must have been staring. “I didn’t mean to-”
        
        “It’s alright. I’ve accepted who I am. Also it’s a great trick at parties.” He laughed and tilted his head back and forth. His eyes swirled about and he made a funny scrunched up face. Summer laughed until it quickly melted to a small smile. “Something wrong?”
        
        “No, I just have a lot on my mind.” She admitted while adjusting her shorts.

        “You sure? Maybe I could help.” He said. Summer looked at him with some skepticism. “Try me.”

        Summer took a deep breath. “I created a robot in Canterlot and he came with me on a job to Ponyville to fix a sewing machine now he wants me to stay here in Ponyville but I wanted to go back to Canterlot then he wanted to go to the library but we didn’t know the way so we got help from a local pony Rainbow Blitz and I can’t stand him so now Gigatrot is over at the library and now I’m here staring at the ceiling.” As soon as she finished she immediately recovered the air that she lost. The mailpony stared in wonder, his left eye trailing off again.
        
        “You built a robot?” He said finally. Summer rolled her eyes.

        “That’s not the point.”

        “Sounds to me like you’re bored.”
        
        “Bored? How can I be bored? I just explained what was going.”

        “And now nothing’s going on. Summer, you like being active and doing things right? Just because you’re not in Canterlot doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a good time while you’re here in Ponyville.”
        
Now it was Summer’s turn to stare in wonder at the pegasus. “Who are you...?”

        “Just your friendly neighborhood mailpony! But you can call me Dopey.” He said with a cross-eyed smile. “Have a good day ma’am!” And with that he vaulted into the sky and down the road.

        Summer watched the figure of Dopey fly off down the street. He dropped a parcel and when he went to pick it up another one fell out. Summer grabbed the mail she had set down beside her and walked inside, closing the door behind her, and took a seat on the couch and sorted through the mail. It was mostly just spam and bills for her house in Canterlot, she could look at those later. One piece of mail was a flier with big bold letters: “Apple Cider’s Harder Apple Cider!” with a picture of Apple Cider holding her own mug.

        The largest envelope was from Natty. Summer didn’t hear from Natty ever since she told him she was staying in Ponyville. 
        
        But why such a big envelope? Thought Summer, opening the yellow package. She poured it into her hoof. It was a big clump of papers, some looked older than others. Then one with Natty’s writing.

        Summer,

        I hope you’re enjoying yourself in Ponyville. You deserve a vacation. Take as long as you need. I’ll watch the store. I did some cleaning up and I found this design in your father’s office. Since you’re finished building that robot I thought you could use another hobby. I can’t understand a word it says but maybe you can figure it out. 
        Also, I think you’re over thinking this ‘no cutie mark thing.’ I know you. And no pony is going to look at you differently just because you don’t have your cutie mark. You’re successful, smart, and a little stubborn at times and not having a cutie mark doesn’t change that. 
        Keep me in the loop on what’s going on.

Natty


P.S. There’s a letter from your father in his plans. Be sure to read it.


        Summer took a look at the big pile of papers and grabbed the first one. Her father’s scribble was instantly recognizable. At first glance it looked like blueprints with his writing in random places. At the bottom one, one section of writing caught her eye. She tried to make out what those two words are. She tilted her head from side to side, rotated the paper, even squinting until it looked like normal writing. ‘For Summer’ it read. She dropped the paper and froze for a moment.
        
        “He didn’t have any other projects.” She said reassuringly to herself and picking up the small piece of paper. With all her heart she wanted to read what was on that note, but she was hesitant. She and Natty already looked through his office, even at home to find anything else that belonged to her father. She opened it slowly and began to read.

        The letters slowly formed words. He never was a good writer, but with each word she read she could hear him talking to her. It felt like he was there, in the living room with her.

     
   For Summer,

        I’ve watched you grow into a remarkable young lady. A lady with ambition, courage, and wisdom. You’ve helped me so much, with little time for yourself. I solely take the blame for that. In my old age you came to help me in the shop and as you got older it became your life. While you may have grown, I still see the little filly that dreamed of flying with The Wonderbolts. Just don’t forget me when you’re famous OK?


        Summer finished reading with tears dropping onto her father’s signature, the parchment shaking in her hoof. She held it close to her chest and cradled it like a child. It didn’t matter what was on those blueprints. Nothing else mattered. To her the note was the last thing her father had written and he felt remorse. Every time she pressed the note against her, she was saying ‘I’m sorry’ back to him. He had left so quickly, and she didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. 

        That evening was spent alone with the thoughts of her father. Summer had relocated herself to her own bedroom to look at the family portrait of her and her father. Normally, Summer seemed like a tough shell to crack. Not really, her shell was already cracked. She didn’t hide her feelings about her father. Nopony expected her to. He was the only family she had. Her grandparents and other relatives didn’t approve of him marrying a low town Canterlot pony. They weren’t much better off themselves, but he said ‘it was for love, not wealth’ and communications ceased. However, her mother left when Summer was very young. He never told her why. Instead he would pat her on the head and say:

“She still loves you.” And left it at that, but Summer never really believed that. How could you love somepony and then run away? She loved her father too, and she ran away.

Summer smiled back at the family portrait and clenching her father’s note. The thoughts of memories long passed warmed and saddened her heart. Tomorrow she would have to write back to Natty to thank him.


***


Birds chirped outside Summer’s window to signal the new day. Although, Summer refused to open her eyes. She squinted at the rays of sunlight and rolled away from the window. Now she couldn’t get comfortable. Twisting in the sheets she pushed the pillow aside and reluctantly opened her eyes to see Gigatrot staring at her.

“Ahh!” She screamed, flailing her legs about and falling off the bed. 

“Summer, it’s 10 A.M. You overslept.” Gigatrot said.

“Gigatrot! I thought you were at the library!” She yelled, trying to make herself look presentable for some reason.

“I was. Now I am here.”

“I can see that, but why?” Questioned Summer, “What about all those books?”

“I finished reading them. Dusk Shine was very hospitable. He even escorted me here. Along with Rainbow Blitz.”

If Summer wasn’t awake then she was now. “Rainbow Blitz is here?”

“No. He’s downstairs.” 

She shot Gigatrot a dirty look. Summer rose quickly, pressing against the wooden floor with her hooves . She checked to make sure she was still wearing her shorts. 

“Good.” She muttered to herself, walking past Gigatrot and opening her bedroom door. Gigatrot followed after her. 

The clops of her hooves hitting the stairs announced her presence to the ponies downstairs. Dusk Shine was standing in a corner surveying some papers. Rainbow Blitz was buzzing around the room, impatient as always and refusing to sit still.

“Summer!” Greeted Dusk Shine. “I hope you don’t mind. Gigatrot let us in.”

“No, of course I don’t mind. He wasn’t too much trouble was he?” Asked Summer.

“Not at all. He read all my books in a single night! That’s very remarkable.” Said Dusk Shine, smiling as Gigatrot appeared from behind Summer. 

“So what brings you here?”

“Well, you kind of stormed off yesterday.” Said Rainbow.

“Sorry about that...” Apologized Summer, scuffing at the ground with her hoof. “I was kind of out of line.”

“Kind of?” Pressed Rainbow.

“Rainbow!” Interrupted Dusk Shine. 

“What? She was.” He said, coming to a soft land next to Dusk Shine.

“That’s not the point.”

“He’s right though. I was a pain, especially to you Rainbow. So... I’m sorry.” Said Summer with enough courage to face Rainbow Blitz. He ruffled his wings in a smug manner. Dusk Shine and Summer exchanged looks but didn’t say anything.

“Summer, Dusk Shine was inquiring about some papers you left out on the table.” Said Gigatrot, interrupting the silence.

“Something Natty sent. I haven’t had a chance to look at them yet.”

“I took a glance at it Summer. If that’s alright.” Said Dusk Shine. “To me it looks like a plan for a flying device.”

“Flying?” Echoed Rainbow Blitz and Summer together.

“You can read my father’s writing?” Asked Summer.

“Well not at first, but if I squint really really hard.” Dusk Shine said while squinting at Summer. “Do you plan on building this?”

“I- I...” Stuttered Summer.

“Come on Summer! If you can build Gigatrot, a flying machine will be no trouble at all!” 

“Have you looked at the plans Gigatrot?” Asked Summer, turning her head to him.

“I have.”

"And can it work?" She asked.

“No.” Gigatrot said quickly.

Summer’s ears dropped for an instant. She thought about it for only a second. The answer came easily to her. “I’ll do it.”

“You will need a different source of power to maintain flight. His calculations are incorrect.”

“Then we’ll just have to correct them. I’m not about to pass up this.” Said Summer determined to prove herself to Gigatrot.  “As for power... We’ll think of something.” 

“Understood.” Nodded Gigatrot.

“How long will it take?” Asked Rainbow Blitz. Summer shrugged, Gigatrot took a long time to build. Something like this would take just as long, if not longer.

“One year.” Announced Gigatrot.

“One year?!” Gasped the ponies. Although the tones were different for each pony. Summer couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Rainbow Blitz sounded disgruntled, and Dusk Shine was fascinated.

“It- it can’t take a whole year... Can it?” Asked Summer, skeptical.

“With both of us working. Yes.”

“That sounds wonderful! If you need any help you can use some of the equipment in the basement at my place.” Offered Dusk Shine.

“Thank you.” Smiled Summer, trotting up to Dusk Shine. She stacked the designs on top of each other and scooped them up into a yellow folder. “Best get started right away.” She said as she reached for the folder with her teeth, trotting to the door.

“Where are you going?” Asked Rainbow Blitz.

“To make a list of supplies.” Answered Summer through her teeth. The folder glowed and sparkled in Summer’s mouth. Surprised, Summer released the folder. It didn’t fall to the floor, instead it floated in midair. Dusk Shine used his unicorn magic to grab hold of it. He danced to Summer’s side.

“I’m good at making lists! Lemme go get my pen and quill.” 

“I also need to send a letter to Natty. He’s in Canterlot.”

“Hey! Wait for me!” Yelled Rainbow Blitz, exiting the house to catch up.

> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



Chapter 3


         “Summer, I’ve been flapping my wings for months!” whined Rainbow Blitz, lifting  his wings and remaining grounded. Wires were attached to his wings and he wore a helmet that blinked with many different colored lights.  They were conducting experiments on wing pattern movements. Summer had asked Rainbow Blitz for help gathering data.  They were underground, the roots from a large tree protruding from the soil and looming overhead. Despite being in a hole, the basement to Dusk Shine’s library was well furbished, clean, and organized. At first it was anyway, since Summer began working in his basement, it became less and less organized over the months.

        “And you’ll keep doing it if you don’t sit still!” Summer persisted, removing her blue Wonderbolt goggles to get a better look at Rainbow Blitz. She was under a control panel fiddling with wires and sparks. “Now, just keep flapping your wings I almost got this working. What’s your hurry anyway?”

        “Applejack is going to be showing Elusive some rodeo tricks on the farm. I don’t want to miss it—Ow!” Rainbow yelped from another shocked.

   “Sorry,” apologized Summer, removing her hoof from a wire. That was a half lie. She smiled every time she pressed that fickle little wire against the metal box.  “Just hold still. Hey, isn’t Elusive all prim and proper? Why would he want to learn how to do rodeo tricks?”

        “AJ dared him to enter. At first it was just going to be Elusive, but Elusive wanted Applejack to perform in it as well.”

“When did they decide this?”

“During a thunderstorm, they hung out here at Dusk Shine’s for the night and they were playing Truth or Dare.”

        “I see. Still, that doesn’t sound like something he’d particularly be into,” thought Summer aloud as she put on her goggles to look back at the wires.

        “You know how he is. ‘The word of a gentlecolt is as good as his bond and sometimes better’.”

   Summer caught a glimpse of Rainbow with his chest buffed out and head held up high. He also wasn’t flapping his wings. With a sinister grin, she grounded the same wire she’d been pressing with her hoof and  gave Rainbow Blitz another shock.

        “Ow! I’m starting to think you’re doing that on purpose!” said Rainbow.

        “What? Me? No,” Summer said with big eyes and batting her eyes, looking as innocent as she possibly could. She pressed the wire to the metal box again sending a shock to Rainbow Blitz. He yelped and jumped from the tiny shock. Trying to keep a straight face, Summer tried to look innocent again, and batted her eyes making them look bigger. Rainbow Blitz narrowed his eyes at her. She grinned and chuckled softly knowing she was in trouble. “I have to go. I hear Elusive is going to be in the rodeo!”

“Oh no you don’t!” protested Rainbow Blitz, now smiling as well, removing the wires and helmet in a hurry.  Summer already began prancing up the stairs when she looked back to see him reaching the bottom of the steps..  She stuck her tongue out at him and dashed out of the basement. Rainbow Blitz followed close behind.

“C’mon Gigatrot, we’re taking a break!” shouted Summer through the house. She bolted across the floor and through the front door. “We’ll see you at Applejack’s!”
        
        Rainbow emerged from the basement. Gigatrot came to the entryway at the right moment.

        “You coming?” asked Rainbow, smiling as the Gigatrot approached him. 

        “Is it required? I understand there is still more work to be done.”

        “Oh take a break, Gigatrot. You’ve earned it. Come on! We’ve given Summer a pretty good head start. Let’s go.” 

        Rainbow Blitz took off flying through the front door, closing from the sudden breeze. The whirls and pings of Gigatrot’s head echoed in the vacant room. He opened the door and galloped to Sweet Apple Acres.


***


         Apple trees spread across the viridian fields. Hundreds could be seen for miles. It didn’t seem like it could end, and on the far side was Sweet Apple Acres. Summer had never been up close to Sweet Apple Acres, but she had seen it from a distance. The owner was a hard working stallion; he was a bit stubborn at times, but who wasn’t in this town?

        Summer ran along the dirt road, passing the brown wooden fences surrounding the building and into the driveway. The hoof steps on the gravel slowed as she approached the barn.
        
        “Applejack!” she called, looking around the building. There was no reply; maybe he was around the back.
        
        Rainbow flew over the trees, Gigatrot directly under him. It didn’t take them long to catch up. They drew nearer to the large red barn. In an explosion of dust, Rainbow Blitz landed next to Gigatrot. Once the dust had settled both of them looked around. Summer was nowere to be seen. 

        “Where’d she go?” asked Rainbow, trotting to one side of the barn.

        “Current location is unknown. If you would like I can recite where she is not,” said Gigatrot, coming up to Rainbow’s side. 

        “No thanks, Captain Obvious,”  he said, rolling his eyes.

        “I am no military officer.” Rainbow put a hoof to his face. Honks and screams came from the other side of the barn. “I hear something.”

        “Yea, I hear it too. It’s coming from over here.” He pointed as he floated to the backyard.

        Before Rainbow Blitz could get to the corner of the barn, Summer appeared and crashed into him.
        
        “Rainbow Blitz, I found Summer,” declared Gigatrot. Summer quickly got up and brushed her red hair out of her face, then hid behind Rainbow Blitz.

        “What’s wrong?”

        “There’s a mad goose on the other side of the fence,” shuddered Summer, crouching lower to the ground.

        “A goose?” chuckled Rainbow, “you ran from a goose?” Summer punched his back leg. “Hey!”
        
        “If you’re so brave then why don’t you go first?” pressured Summer, pushing Rainbow forward.

        “Alright, I will,” he said, bracing himself. He hesitated for a moment and glanced back at Summer and Gigatrot. 

Summer smiled at him, “Go on then.”

Rainbow turned back to the post, avoiding her gaze, he marched forward to the fence. In an instant, he returned with a goose at his heels. Both he and Summer were screaming. The goose followed Rainbow back to their hiding spot, honking and flapping it’s massive wings at the intruders. 

Summer galloped off and Rainbow flew up into the air. Gigatrot stood still watching the chaos in front of him, until the goose approached Gigatrot. Its chest was puffed out and wings extended to make it look bigger. Its head floated to its peak like a snake coming out of a basket, staring at the mechanical wonder.

“Honk! Honk!” it went, taking a quick jab at Gigatrot with its beak. Gigatrot lowered his head to be level with the goose. Pausing, his yellow eyes locking on to the goose.

“Honk!” mimicked Gigatrot. His yell was amplified and exactly like the goose’s. His yell also caused a few feathers to be blown away. Breathless, the goose raised his wing to his head, and saluted Gigatrot, then waddled away.

Rainbow, who had been hiding on the roof, floated down to Gigatrot. Summer emerged from the bushes with some difficulty. Her shorts were caught on some thorns. 

“That was awesome!” cheered Rainbow, patting Gigatrot on the back. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine," said Summer, brushing off some foliage. The thorn bushes were a hassle to get out of.. “Did that goose salute you?”

“Yes,” Gigatrot noted, “maybe I am a captain.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” laughed Summer. “We still have to find Applejack.”

“And if that goose comes along, Gigatrot can just honk at it,” Rainbow Blitz said. “You don’t think he’ll come back, do you?”

“I don’t think so,” said Summer, skipping along the gravel past the fence.

Around the next hill was a large corral. Elusive and Applejack were running around four barrels that made a diamond. Applebud was hanging from the top fence post, cheering the two colts on. 

“C’mon Elusive! The point is ta run around the barrels!” 

“Applebud, what’s going on?” asked Summer trotting up to the fence, Gigatrot and Rainbow at her heels.

“Hey, Summer. Applejack’s teachin’ Elusive some rodeo tricks.”

“How’s he doing?” questioned Rainbow Blitz.

“Ah’ve seen worse,” he confessed and turned back to the corral. “Elusive, pick up the rope! It ain’t gonna bite!”

“It’s covered in mud!” Elusive protested, inching away from the rope. It floated up with magic.

“No magic, Elusive. This is a contest of skill,” yelled Applejack, galloping up and stepping on the rope.

“Magic is a skill.”

“Ah mean physical skill. Go take another try at barrel racing.” Elusive trotted off with an exasperated grunt. Applebud started egging Elusive on while Summer and Rainbow cheered for him. “Well, I’ll be. Finally decided to come out of Dusk Shine’s basement?”

“I thought I’d join the living for a change,” joked Summer.

“You’ve been down there for weeks. Any progress?”

“Making strides. Would be bigger strides if Rainbow stayed focused.”

“Well if you didn’t shock me every three seconds!” argued Rainbow. Summer laughed the thought of Rainbow getting shocked. The look on his face was priceless.

“You shocked him?” asked Applejack.

“Just a little pinch,” smiled Summer. “Nothing too serious.”

“If you say so. What are you making down there anyway?” inquired Applejack. He turned his head slightly to catch a glimpse of Elusive tangling himself up in some rope then slowly falling into the dirt.

“A flying machine,” answered Gigatrot.

“Ah remember Berry had somethin’ like that.”

“Summer says this one is supposed to go really fast,” said Rainbow Blitz.

“If we can power it,” added Summer.

“Well that shouldn’t be a problem. We can just use magic to power it.”

“No!” snapped Summer, stomping her hoof on the ground. “No magic!” Everypony stepped back in shock. Applejack exchanged looks of concern with Rainbow Blitz. Summer didn't look up from the ground in the silence. Applebud jumped off the fence; Gigatrot didn’t move as usual. Even Elusive stopped what he was doing to pay attention. “I’m sorry, but… I just don’t want to use magic.” Summer said to the ground, embarrassed from her outburst.

“That’s fine, Red. No one is making you use magic on your flying contraption.”

“Well, how do you keep Gigatrot powered up?” asked Applebud.

“He runs on a battery, and that gets powered from sunlight.”

“So if it’s dark, he’ll shut off?”

“No. When he’s in the sunlight the battery stores the energy, but that’s not enough to keep a pony flying. We need something stronger.”
        
        “Do you have something in mind?” asked Elusive, setting the lasso down. He must have walked over when she hadn’t been looking. 

        “I’ve had some thoughts, but shouldn’t you be practicing for the rodeo?” asked Summer as she raised an eyebrow.

        “I think that’s quite enough for one day,” said Elusive, hanging the rope on the fence. “If you will excuse me, I need to go wash up. Summer, do let me know what your plan is for your machine.” 

“Sure,” said Summer as she nodded.

With his head held high, Elusive cantered off. Once he was out of earshot, Applebud turned to the rest of the ponies.

        “He’s doomed, ain’t he?”

        “I’ll say,” affirmed Rainbow Blitz. Applejack was about to say something in Elusive’s defense, but the goose Gigatrot stood up to honked again, this time at Elusive. 

        “I’m leaving! I’m leaving! Ah!” screamed Elusive off in the distance.

        “I don’t like that goose,” grumbled Summer, listening to the honks muffled by Elusive’s screams.

        “Ah, don’t pay Sgt. Gander any mind,” said Applejack. “He’s just protectin’ the apples.”

        Gigatrot instantly spun his head. “He’s a seargent?”

        “Ah don’t think so,” shrugged Applejack.

        “I like to think of him as our ‘Guardian Goose’!” shouted Applebud. “We always know if someone is comin’ up to the farm.”

“I can imagine that’d be pretty useful.”

“So what brings ya’ll down here anyway?” asked Applejack.

“We came to see Elusive practice for the rodeo,” answered Rainbow.

“But it looks like you guys finished early,” added Summer. “I should be getting back to work.”

        “Now hold on just a minute, Red,” said Applejack. “Ya’ll came all this way, how about some apple juice?” Applejack jumped over the wooden fence and paused before he gave Gigatrot a confused look. “And whatever you drink.”

        “This unit does not require anything,” said Gigatrot.

“And after that you can tell me how ya got your cutie mark!” blurted Applebud.

“My what?” breathed Summer. She didn’t think he’d remember that.

“Yer cutie mark. Remember?”

“Uh… Yeah,” said Summer dimly. 

“Maybe something to eat too. I’m starving,” spoke Rainbow Blitz, holding his stomach.

“Well, come on then. Let’s go eat some grub.”

Applejack lead the way to the house on their property. It almost looked the same as the barn they saw when they arrived, but it was browner. An old green pony sat on a rocking chair on the porch. He swayed back and forth in the chair with the soft breeze, he was asleep.

“Who’s that?” asked Summer in a hushed voice.

“That’s Grampy Smith,”Applebud said without hushing his voice. “Don’t worry. He never wakes up from his naps.” He ran up to the old pony in the rocking chair. “Hey, Grampa! We got guests!” he yelled at the top of his little lungs. Summer flinched, expecting some big uproar from the older pony, but he just sat there, yawning and snoring in his chair. “See?”

“C’mon, let him sleep, Applebud. Now, about that apple juice. Ya’ll can wait out here while I get it,” said Applejack.

“I’ll come with you,” offered Summer quickly. “You’ll need help carrying all those glasses.”

Applejack didn’t object. “Well thank you kindly, Summer.” 

“Me too! I can help!” added Applebud.

“Rainbow, Gigatrot, care to help out too?” asked Applejack.

“Nah, I’m good,” shrugged Rainbow Blitz. Gigatrot didn’t respond. The gears in his head were turning; he was thinking again. 

“Yes,” he said with a jerk of his head.

“Try not to get too bored out here by yourself,” joked Summer.

“We’ll get that apple juice lickity split,” assured Applejack.

The inside of the Apple family house was just as expected. It was old, and smelled like it too.  The old, country house itself must have been owned by Grampa Smith. It was cozy, and it reminded Summer a lot of her grandparent’s house.

Applejack and Applebud were already in the kitchen. Both of them were working as a team, arranging glasses and sliding small kegs across the floor.

“Wow,” gaped Summer.

“What? This?” asked Applebud, holding a glass as Applejack poured apple juice. “This is nothing. You should have seen us in the Brotherhooves Bash.”

“Do you normally do things together?” asked Gigatrot.

“Any chance we get,” grinned Applejack.

“You two accomplish a lot don't you?”

“There’s also Mac,” said Applebud.

“Mac?” Summer asked, tilting her head.

“Our sister.” 

“Named Mac," Summer noted, unconvinced. 

“That’s just a nickname, Red,” smiled Applejack, setting down the pitcher. “Her name’s Macareina. You’ll know her when you see her. She’s as tall as me.”

There was a pause. Summer couldn’t think of anything to say to that, or maybe she was just thinking about how tall Mac was. Applejack was already a tall pony; it was hard to imagine anyone else that tall.

“So, about yer cutie mark...” prompted Applebud. He slid a cup of apple juice to Summer. His eyes got big and his mouth started to gape in anticipation. Summer didn’t respond. The only noise came from Gigatrot and his turning gears.

“Well… You see I don’t--” started Summer, until a metal bolt whizzed past her head. She looked at Gigatrot, who was shaking violently. 

“What in tarnation?”

Clang! Chzzzzt-clank!

        “Get down!” yelled Summer, leaping at Applebud and Applejack, pushing them behind the table for cover. Gigatrot’s head started spinning, releasing a loud whistle like a boiling tea kettle. He started jumping up and down with the grace of a connonball, knocking over the mugs of apple juice and breaking the wooden floor. Summer shut her eyes and put her hooves over her ears.

        O Solaris! Please don’t explode! she pleaded to herself. A second later, Gigatrot stopped dead in his tracks. The whistle died off and he stood still just like he always did. 

“Ah think he stopped,” spoke Applejack, poking his head out from the table.

“What happened?” Applebud asked as he tapped . Summer's withers. She opened her eyes and put her hooves down to stand up, but her legs were jelly.

“I- don’t know," replied Summer. “Maybe he blew a fuse.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” Applejack said, taking a closer look at Gigatrot.

“It could have been much worse.”  Summer pushed herself up this time and joined Applejack to look at Gigatrot.

“How much worse?”

“Ever been in ten places at once?” asked Summer sarcastically.

“Mhmm,” thought Applejack. “Once, during Applebuck Season.”

“I mean exploding,” whispered Summer. She didn’t want Applebud to hear.

“Ah, in that case I reckon’ I haven’t.”

“I need to bring him back to my place,” she said quickly, changing the subject.

“Why not Dusk Shine’s?”

“My place first. The sooner the better.”

        “Gotcha.”

        “What’s going on?” yelled Rainbow Blitz, bursting through the door. Everypony jumped, thinking Gigatrot had finally exploded. “I heard a noise.”

        “It’s Gigatrot,” answered Summer. “Well he… broke. I have to get him home.” Summer braced herself against him and pushed as hard as she could, but to no avail; he didn’t budge. Summer tried another push.

        “Go help her,” Applejack whispered to Rainbow Blitz. 

        “Last time I helped, she swatted me with a wrench,” Rainbow whispered back. “You see the face she’s making? That’s her stubborn face.”

        “I’m right here, you know?” grunted Summer, pushing Gigatrot again and finally making progress.
        
        “Sorry, Red. Lemme help,” offered Applejack.

        “That’d be great," said Summer through clenched teeth. She caught a glimpse of Applejack giving a smug smile to Rainbow. He might have called him an ‘idjit’, but she wasn’t sure. 

        With two ponies pushing, Gigatrot was finally moving. Applebud rushed ahead to open the door, Rainbow floating above him.

        “You can borrow our cart to get him home,” huffed Applejack as they gave Gigatrot one final push outside.

        “Thanks. That should help out a lot," breathed Summer with an exhausted smile. She wiped the sweat off her brow and took a seat.

        “You won’t be needing anything else?” asked Applebud.

        “No. Pulling him in a cart won’t be that bad. Sorry about the scare.”

        “Jus’ glad everypony’s safe,” reassured Applejack. “Applebud, can you go get the cart?”

        “Sure can!” he said, happily trotting off.

        “When’s the rodeo?” asked Summer once Applebud was gone.

        “This weekend, right here on Sweet Apple Acres. Reckon you can make it?”

        “I’ll make it.”

        “How about you, Blitz?”

        “And miss Elusive muddying up his hooves? Doubt it!” snickered Rainbow. Applebud came around the corner with the cart going as fast as his little hooves could go.

        “Here ya go,” he said, smiling at his accomplishment. Summer and Applejack hoisted Gigatrot on to the cart. The sudden change in weight caused the cart to bounce and nearly roll away with Applebud still attached. Summer quickly switched places with him. 

        “I’ll see you all this weekend then,” she said. “Sorry, Applebud. I’ll have to tell you my cutie mark story some other time.”

        “B-but,” stuttered Applebud.

        “Don’t sweat it, Red," said Applejack, resting a hoof on his brother’s withers. “This crusader won’t give up so easily. He’ll just have to wait until this weekend.”

        “Uh… Yeah, of course,” agreed Summer. She hauled the cart off, slowly at first, and left Sweet Apple Acres.


***


        
        “I cannot believe you broke down!” shouted Summer, throwing a wrench across the room at Gigatrot. The wrench bounced off with a clang, not even making a dent on the metallic exterior.  “I’ve looked at every piece of you and nothing is wrong! Grr!” Summer threw her hooves up into the air and lied down on her back. “Finishing the flying machine is going to take longer because I have to fix you!”

 She scanned the room, possibly looking for something she missed. It was still a mess; in one corner was all the equipment for the flying machine, and in the other was her bed and random junk. “What am I going to do?” she asked the piles of scrap. She fiddled with her Wonderbolt goggles, rotating them in her hooves. Summer rolled over to look at Gigatrot. “I’ll deal with you later.” she sighed, standing up and walking to her bedroom window.

Working on Gigatrot was frustrating enough, and she didn’t want to start working on her flying machine until Gigatrot was fixed. She also told Applejack she would go to the rodeo today. Summer pressed against the glass and watched the pegasi flying towards Sweet Apple Acres. When she did pull herself from the window, she made her way to the door, but not without giving Gigatrot a swift kick in the leg. 




***










“Ladies and Gentlecolts! Welcome to the 74th Annual Equestrian Rodeo! Today is a great day for these ponies to show us what they got! Ain’t that right, Ticker?” said the announcer, his voice booming over the entire stadium.

“Sure is, Boomer. We got a lot of new contestants today along with returning champions like Applejack from Ponyville and High Tide from Phillydelphia,” agreed Ticker.

“What a treat, folks! I’m sure those ponies will not disappoint!” 

“I don’t think that’s even possible. Remember everypony, we couldn’t have this big event here without the help of Sweet Apple Acres. Growing the best apples in Equestria! Be sure to support them by buying some of their de-licious apples! Get them while they last! I know me and Boomer already have some. And let’s see... for our first event…”

The announcements fell short over the rustling crowd. Sweet Apple Acres didn’t look the same it did a couple of days ago. Millions of stalls selling food, toys, and even accessories like sunglasses and hats. There was a dragon ride in the back where a pony could get on the saddle and be bucked off onto a mat.

So many things were happening all at once. It reminded Summer of the ponies in Canterlot, hustling and bustling through the large city.

“Howdy, Summer!” shouted a pink stallion above the crowd. Summer recognized Bubble Berry immediately in the crowd, bouncing up and down with his cotton candy hair. When she reached him, she was greeted by the rest of her friends, all wearing appropriate attire for a rodeo. 

“Where’s Applejack and Elusive?” asked Summer.

“They’re in the stadium getting ready for their events,” answered Dusk Shine. 

“How many events are they in?” 

“Applejack is in most of them. Elusive is just doing barrel racing.”

“Hey! Where’s your robot?” asked Bubble Berry, interrupting Dusk Shine.

“Couldn’t make it. He’s still not fixed yet.”

“That’s a shame. Butterscotch was looking forward to meeting him!” smiled Bubble Berry. 

“Not really,” muttered a yellow pegasus, who hiding behind his light pink hair. “Barbara says he’s going to take over the world.”

“And I told you that wasn’t true," Rainbow Blitz said, rolling his eyes. 

“With animals I know what to expect, but with something… not alive? I just don’t know,” shrugged Butterscotch in his hushed tone.

“He’s not so bad," shrugged Summer reassuringly. “He’s really nice.” Summer believed half of what she was saying. Gigatrot was quiet nearly all the time, and when he did speak, it was blunt, inquisitive or blackmail.

“We should get to our seats," said Dusk Shine. “It’s almost about to start.”

Since they knew the owner of Sweet Apple Acres, they got front row seats, close enough to even hear what the rodeo coaches were saying to the broncos. The first event was barrel racing; Elusive’s event. Rodeo clowns rolled the barrels out onto the dirt stage one by one and set them up in a diamond pattern. 

Elusive wasn’t the first pony to run. It was an ocean blue pony with white hair. 

“Ladies and Gentlecolts, we’re ready to begin our first event! Barrel racing! First up, we have High Tide from Phillydelphia! Oh, Boomer, this is the one I’ve been telling you about! He’s not one to disappoint.”

“Oh, will you hush up and watch, Ticker?”

As the bell’s ringing shot through the stadium, High Tide broke out into a full gallop in a blaze of dust. The crowd roared in excitement; unlike anything Summer had ever heard before. Everypony around them stood up, waving their hooves in the air. The uproar surprised everypony.

“Look at him go! He’s already past the 3rd barrel- now the fourth! Holy guacamole, Boomer! Nineteen seconds! Not a world record, but still very impressive for the distance ran. That’ll be hard to beat. High Tide has set the bar and he’s set it high!”

“If this was a limbo competition, it would be easy,” Boomer blurted into the microphone.

“But thankfully it’s not. Our next competitor is Elusive from Ponyville!”

It was their turn to surprise everypony in the stadium. Everyone of them got up, stomped their hooves on the floor and screamed their heads off. 

“Go, Elusive! You got this in the bag! You’ll do great!” everypony in the crowd cheered.

Elusive approached the starting line as gracefully as always. The bell burst, and Elusive trotted off, slowly gaining speed until he approached the first barrel. Daintily, he circled it then making a run for the next one.

“Well, jeez wiz Ticker. Do you think this pony knows the rules?”

“At least he’s running… I think. He hasn’t knocked over a barrel just yet—Whoops spoke too soon. That tipped barrel will cost him some time.” 

"And he's done! Elusive finished in 23 seconds, but with a tipped barrel his total time is... 28 seconds!"

"Boomer, I'm told this is his first time competing in a rodeo."

"Fantastic! We hope you had fun, Elusive. I'm sure you'll do better next year!"

"He couldn't do much worse."

"Tinker!" shouted Boomer. Both microphones cut off, but not before the announcers managed to say some choice words to each other. Elusive, down below, left the stadium with his head held high, walking like he was trying to stay as far away from the ground as possible.

Clowns entered from the opposite tunnel, cartwheeling and jumping all over the place. One was even being rolled out in a barrel, all while funny organ music played. They entertained the crowd and set up the barrels again for the next contestant.

"Don't you just love clowns?" asked Bubble Berry, snorting in laughter as a clown shoved a pie into another's oversized pants. "It looks like a lot of fun."

"You won't catch me doing that," scoffed Rainbow Blitz.

"Sure you could, Rainbow. You just need silly pants. You already got the wig." teased Summer as she poofed up his mane. Bubble Berry and everypony else laughed along. Rainbow's face flustered as he quickly fixed his mane.

"I think Applejack is next," said Dusk Shine, pointing at the scoreboard. The clowns left the stadium single file, cartwheeling just as they’d entered.

“Um… Sorry, folks," said Ticker over the speakers. “Technical difficulties.”

“You cheat,” snorted Boomer, spitting something out of his mouth.

“I do not. Our next contestant is Applejack. Caretaker of Sweet Apple Acres, show him some love!”

Everypony within the stadium erupted in cheers, whistles, and hollars. It wasn’t long before the bell sounded off again, at which point Applejack shot off like a rocket. The cheers and hoofstomps never stopped, not even after Applejack had stopped running. For such a large pony, Applejack was an orange blur.

“13 seconds!” shouted both of the announcers; impossibly it was followed by an even louder hoopla. 

“That has to be some kind of record!” shouted Rainbow Blitz, trying to be heard under the roars of the pony’s around them.

“What?” everypony shouted back.

“I said I think that has to be a record!”

“Amazing! 13 seconds! That’s a new record!”

“Hey, Rainbow! He broke the last record!” shouted Summer with the biggest smile on her face.

Rainbow Blitz put his hoof to his face.

“Whoa, hang on a minute folks! One of the barrels got tipped!” 

Everypony started murmuring in disbelief. Summer could catch a few conversations from those around her but they all were close to the same thing. “What does he mean a barrel’s been tipped?” 

“It means he going to get 5 seconds added onto his time," murmered Butterscotch, “but I didn’t see him hit a barrel.”

“The ref’s are reviewing the run.”

The wait was unbearable. Everypony knew Applejack didn’t even touch a barrel. A pony in a black and white shirt strutted onto the field. 

“After close exaimination, we have determined that a barrel has been tapped," announced the pony into a microphone. He was drowned out by the sea of disapproving fans, Summer and her friends amongst them. “Five seconds  will be added to his time.”

Up above a yellow pegasus swapped the numbered sheets to Applejack’s time, making it 18 seconds. 

Berry started smiling, confusing the rest of them. He turned to Summer and Blitz “We should go congratulate Elusive and Applejack!” 

“What about the other ponies competing?” asked Summer, turning her head to the stadium to see the referee being hit by some red beverage.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine!” said Rainbow. 

“It does sound like a good idea!” admitted Dusk Shine. The cheers started to settle as Applejack took one last wave at the crazy fans. Summer and the other five ponies stood up from their seats and awkwardly stepped to the stairs dividing sections.


***




“You were robbed, Applejack!” shouted an angry rodeo pony.

“It’s not so bad. I still had a good run.”

There was one pony who was not feeling very sympathetic towards Applejack. High Tide stood in the corner glowering at the orange cowpony.

“Applejack!” shouted Berry. “That was an amazing run, I’ve never seen you run so fast!”

“You must have practiced really hard for it,” added Dusk Shine.

“Of course, but I had a great pardner,” admitted Applejack, putting a hoof on Elusive’s withers. He said it in the most modest tone he could. 

“That’s kind of you, Applejack, but you did a splendid job without me.”

“Sorry, about the tipped barrel," said Summer.

“T’ain’t yer fault. I’ll just have ta do better next year.”

“We know you will," smiled Dusk Shine. “Elusive, we’re going to go back to our seats. Care to join us?”

“Of course," said Elusive, trotting up to Dusk Shine and the rest as they left. Summer and Rainbow Blitz stayed behind. 

“For what it’s worth, we don’t think you tipped that barrel," said Summer, at a lost for words.

“But he did,” spoke up the blue cowpony in the corner. “And you still beat me.”

“Well shucks, High Tide,” shrugged Applejack. “We did our best; it’s not a matter of who did what better.”

“Says the pony that beats me in everything,” sneered High Tide. “Not only that, but you keep very pleasurable company.” He gave a look to Summer and winked.

Rainbow Blitz leaned over and whispered to Summer. “He’s talking about me,” he boasted, smiling with pride.

“Of course he did,” agreed Summer, sarcastically.


 “I guess you can add barrel racing to things you’re better at than me,” he paused, thinking. “But can you do this?” He jeered his head back and opened his eyes and mouth wide open. The noise that came from his mouth was best described as an inward wail, scratchy and forced. Summer and Rainbow stepped back in shock. 
        
“I don’t think so, pardner," said Applejack. 
        “
High Tide frowned. “Then you win again, because I have strained my throat.”

Rainbow Blitz and Summer both started laughing until they were shoved aside by a green unicorn. 

“High Tide, that’s enough," interrupted the unicorn, stepping to his side. “You have to get ready for the next event.” She pointed to one of the stalls down the hallway. “I assume you do too, Applejack.”

“I do… Miss?”

“Green Grass,” she said, sneering. “Good luck, Applejack. Don’t tap anymore barrels.” With that, she led High Tide away with a flick of her tail.

“What’s eating her?” asked Summer.

“Dunno, but High Tide has always been real competitive. Maybe she’s just an onry’ fan.”

They heard another ring from the bell signaling another pony running around barrels. 

“I should be goin’," said Applejack. 

        “We’ll get going too,” added Dusk Shine. “We saved you a seat, Elusive.”

        “Thank you very much, Dusk Shine.” 

        Everypony headed back to the stadium, but Summer bit Rainbow by the tail to make him stop.
     
 	  “Hey, what gives?” he asked, yanking his tail away.
        
“Stay here with me. I don’t trust that unicorn.”
    
 “Lighten up, Summer," said Rainbow Blitz. “You heard it yourself. She’s just a crazy fan.”
        
“I think there’s something else going on.”
        
“… Like?” asked Rainbow as he floated above the ground, folding his hooves.
        
“I don’t know! But something is and you’re going to help me find out what,” pressed Summer, grounding the blue pegasus.
        
"Are you like this when you meet most girls?"
        
Summer choked on the air she was breathing and stopped in her tracks. "What? No!" she paused for a second. "Only when they're prettier than me.”
        
“No contest there," said Rainbow. Summer punched him in the gut. “Ow!”
        
 “Don’t agree with me. She's up to something and you're helping, end of story." She opened a door that read ‘Backstage’. It lead to where the participants waited for their time to shine on stage. She held the door waiting for Rainbow. 
        
“Fine, what did you have in mind?” he agreed reluctantly flying through the doorway.
        
“Well, first we have to--”
        
“What are you two doing back here?” shouted a large pony wearing a black shirt with white lettering labeling ‘Security’.
        
“Run!” she yelled at Rainbow, galloping away. Rainbow was a little slow to the punch but it wasn’t long before he caught up with her. With some strange luck, the two outran the pony. Summer was a slow runner, but he was slower. They ended up taking shelter in one of the trailers for some of the performers. 
        
“That was close,” Summer said, wiping her brow.
        
“Unnecessarily close,” grumbled Blitz. “Now what’s your plan?”
        
“Well…” thought Summer aloud. She took a glance around the room. Hangers held up the most disturbing garbs, mannequin heads on shelves wearing multicolored wigs and a mirror in the back with makeup next to a pile of goofy looking props. She smiled wickedly, pointing behind Rainbow. He turned around, terrified to see what was behind him. When he saw the rodeo clown outfits, he turned pale and quickly turned around.
        
“No, no, no, no. No… NO!” he protested. 
        
In the end Rainbow Blitz agreed to put on the disguise. Honestly, Summer wondered how he agreed to look so… stupid.  He didn’t need a wig like she thought; just goofy pants and a red nose. She couldn’t hold back a laugh even if she tried. 
        
“Yeah, yeah. What are you going to wear?”
        
“Simple,” Summer replied. She dabbed white makeup over her face followed by red blush. She pulled the closest dress off the rack and put the dress over her head, leaving her shorts on underneath   Next, she twirled her short hair in braids. Summer looked like the dolls she wanted as a little filly. “C’mon, let’s go Fezzy Wig.”
        
Rainbow brushed his hair uncomfortably, but followed all the same. Summer took the front, opening the door to the dressing room. She looked both ways down the hallway.
        
“Coast’s clear,” she said, motioning him to follow, “no one should bother us now.”
        
“Right, because nothing is more suspicious than two clowns,” Rainbow said, rolling his eyes. 
        
“Look there she is!” Summer pointed. Green Grass was surveying ropes, most likely used for the wrangling events. Summer crouched low to the ground, hiding behind a corner and dragging Rainbow Blitz with her.
        
“What’s she doing?” asked Rainbow, squinting his eyes to get a better look.
        
Green Grass’s horn shined softly on the lassos and all the knots started to loosen.
        
“That no good--” cursed Summer, standing up abruptly.
        
Rainbow hushed her and pulled her back into hiding.
        
“She’s cheating!” growled Summer, trying to stand back up again. “She’s loosening the knots!”
        
“Now what?” Rainbow asked again. He looked between Summer and Green Grass. His rainbow fro wiggled when he stopped.
        
“Uh…” Summer thought with a blank stare. “I haven’t thought this far ahead. I honestly thought you wouldn’t even dress up like a clown.”
        
“What?”
        
“Yeah... didn’t think you’d go for that... just wanted to see if I could get you to do it.” Summer smiled weakly.
        
“What?!” repeated Rainbow Blitz with increased volume. “What about you? You’re dressed up too!” 
        
“Yeah, but I look cute,” she smiled victoriously. 
        
Rainbow put a hoof to his face, proceeded to flatten his mane. “What now?” he grumbled.
        
“I know! We’ll catch her in the act!” Without a moment to spare, she leapt out from her hiding spot, yelling and screaming, “gotcha!” 
        
Her moment of victory was short lived. By the time they had stopped talking, Green Grass had already left.
        
Rainbow Blitz calmly walked up next to her. “I was going to say something, but then I decided not to.”
        
“Thanks,” she said coldly.
        
“Welcome. What else did you have in mind?”
        
Summer scuffed the ground with her hooves, embarrassed. She blushed behind her makeup. “Tell Applejack?” she said finally, unsure of her answer.
        
“Lookin good there, RB,” spoke a familiar southern voice.
        
“Applejack?!” spouted Rainbow Blitz as he turned his head. “What are you doing here?”
        
“I’m competin’," reminded Applejack. “Remember? The rodeo?”
        
“Of course I remember,” lied Rainbow Blitz.
        
“Question is, what’er you two doin back here?”
        
There was a pause. Summer and Rainbow both looked at each other for answers.
        
“Spying,” admitted Summer.
        
“Spyin’?” mused Applejack. “I don’t understand.” 
        
“We found someone cheating.” 
        
“What? Who? Why?” 
        
“Just an onery fan," said Rainbow Blitz, mimicking Applejack. Applejack took a moment to let this all sink in.
        
“Yer sure?”
        
“Positive," replied Summer. “You can check the lassos over there. The knots have been loosened.” Applejack trotted over to the piles of rope and inspected each one carefully. “See?”
        
“I do, but what I don’t understand is why y’all would do this," said Applejack.
        
“What?!” blurted Rainbow Blitz and Summer at the same time.
        
“I know I didn’t get that record, but there's no reason to go and do this. I won’t say anything to the judges but I want you two to go back to yer seats and think about what y’all did.”
        
Summer’s jaw dropped.
        
“But we didn’t-” Rainbow Blitz said defensively, stopping when Applejack held up a hoof.
        
“To yer seats,” he demanded. Rainbow took a glance at Summer. She was defeated as him.
        
“Can I still keep the dress?”
        
“No.”
        
Rainbow Blitz and Summer didn’t say a word to each other as they made their way to the exit. Whether it was the fact that they found out somepony was cheating or that Applejack didn’t believe them it didn’t matter; the result still stung. Summer disrobed and tossed the dress aside and placed it on a random shelf next to Rainbow Blitz’s costume. It would get noticed eventually. She looked at it for a moment. 
        
“Why are we heading back?” she asked Rainbow Blitz.
        
“Because Applejack told us to?”
        
“I know that but… why?”
        
“I’m not following.” Rainbow raised his eyebrow as he approached her.
        
“We came back here to see what she was up to. She was cheating, and we’re just going to leave?”
        
“Well, what can we do?” shrugged Rainbow Blitz. “Applejack thinks we’re the ones that are cheating.”
        
“And I want to prove him wrong," Summer replied, determined again. She started walking back head first and quickening her step. 
        
“Hey! Whoa hang on a minute!” said Rainbow Blitz, taken aback. He hovered into the air and with a few easy strokes of his blue wings he was right beside her. “How are you going to do that?”
        
“By catching her in the act.”
        
“And then what?” asked Rainbow Blitz, swinging himself in front of her.
        
“And make sure Applejack is there,” she said, glowering at him and walking around. Rainbow soon followed. “What’s the next event?”
        
“Hay toss.” Rainbow answered quickly.
        
“Rainbow. You go find where they’re prepping all the hay and I’ll go get Applejack.”
        
“Got it.” Rainbow Saluted and soared off down the hallway, angering a couple of ponies with a gust of wind as he flew by.  
        
The quickest way to find Applejack was to go back to the lassos by the clown trailer. At first, Summer started to trot then into a full gallop when she heard that the lassoing event was done. She wouldn’t find Applejack by the ropes; he would have just left the stage.  Summer turned to the right towards the exit, she arrived just in time to see all the contestants leave the stage and enter the back hall. As they left, rodeo clowns entered giggling and honking their noses to bring smiles to all of the little ones in their seats.
        
“Applejack!” Summer shouted above the distant cheers. She waved her hoof high in the air back and forth. It caught his attention along with other ponies, checking to see where the extra noise was coming from.
        
“Summer? I thought I told you to go back to yer seat,” he frowned, slowly approaching her.
       
 	“Oh I know,” smiled Summer innocently, “I just don’t listen to authority very well.” Applejack looked at her confused, like he had never heard of anything like that before. “Anyway… Thought you ought to know... got a lot of mischief to do.” She turned slowly, taunting him and letting her gaze linger on him. 

When she saw that he was approaching her she cantered off around the corner. That was the worst performance I’ve ever done, thought Summer. When she was little she used to pull that stuff off, but it’d been years since she’d been that age; she was horribly out of practice. Now, it felt like Applejack was her father and she was a little filly again. Applejack came around the corner faster than she thought he would. Summer galloped off, avoiding Applejack’s eyes. She had to find Rainbow Blitz, but she looked around, and realized that he was nowhere to be seen. The ponies she ran by stopped what they were doing and stared.

“Summer, get back here!” shouted Applejack. He was catching up to her. She had forgotten how slow she was. 

“I don’t think I will!” giggled Summer, nearly out of breath. Up ahead, Rainbow Blitz appeared from around the corner, also looking for Summer. “Rainbow!” yelped Summer, getting his attention. He waved at her and vanished from sight. Summer turned at the corner with Applejack right at her heels. Rainbow was high above the crowd with Summer underneath. The hay stalks were just up ahead. Green Grass stood next to the hay carrying a large grey sack with magic. With her magic, she lifted up one of the hay cubes and inspected it.

“Applejack, what’s that?” Summer asked as she came to an abrupt stop. “Hey Green Grass! Whatcha doing?” she shouted to get her attention. Applejack ran past Summer, unaware that she had stopped. He stumbled to a stop right in front of Green Grass, who shrieked and dropped the lump of hay. It fell to the floor with a thud and crackle as stones rolled out from inside it. Green Grass’ jaw dropped in horror as the stones rolled in front of Applejack.

“What… What’s this?” mumbled Applejack. “Yer the one that’s been cheating?”

“What? Me? No!” snapped Green Grass defensively.

“Cat’s out of the bag now," said Rainbow Blitz. He took a bite out of the grey sack she had and lifted it into the air to reveal the contents inside. More rocks cascaded down onto the ground and spun in circles.

“Oooh. Too bad," said Summer. “The nerve of some ponies, right Applejack?”

He was speechless as he stared at the stones on the ground. The same security pony from before approached the scene.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“She’s been sabotaging the games,” accused Summer.

“Fine! Yes! I’ve been fixing the games,” admitted Green Grass. “There were a lot of bits running on these and… and…”

“I’ve heard enough," said the security pony, leading her away. Summer got a glance of Green Grass before she walked around the corner and stuck her tongue out at her. She turned to Applejack.

“Somepony owes two ponies an apology,” she said grinning. 

"I'm sorry," said Applejack slowly. After a second, he said it again, this time to Rainbow Blitz. "I really thought... But she... I should have believed you two."

"Uh duh.  I've always-" said Rainbow Blitz. He put a hoof up to his chest like he was posing for a statue.

"We," corrected Summer.

"Right, we always got your back,” assured Rainbow Blitz, giving the biggest grin he could possibly give. 

"Yer right. I'm sorry."

"We forgive you. The good news is you can make it up to us by bringing home a big ol' trophy!" she encouraged. It seemed to snap Applejack out of his trance and Rainbow Blitz started to encourage him as well..
Applejack rose with new confidence and trotted off with his two cheering fans.


	***

Applejack may not have brought home a shiny new trophy, but he did bring a lot of blue and red ribbons.  He told Dusk Shine and everypony and even wrote a letter to Lord Solaris to trust in friends as much as they trust in you. From what Summer was told, only Dusk Shine wrote letters about the friendship of magic. 

She and Rainbow got a lot complementary apple pies, though Rainbow Blitz ate most of Summer's pies.  

"Do these kind of things normally happen?" asked Summer as Rainbow Blitz took another pie.

"The pies?" he said with a full mouth.

"No not that. I mean is there something always happening?" she asked, finally taking a bite.

"Uh," he said, "sometimes, but you've been pretty busy too. What with the flying machine and  Gigatrot being broken-"

"Oh my gosh, Gigatrot!" She spat out the contents of her mouth all over Rainbow Blitz and stumbled to the door as fast as she could, leaving Rainbow covered in red apple pie.

"Hope you ponies are ready for another round!" chimed Applebuck and Applejack, carrying in another platter of pies. They froze when Rainbow Blitz turned around covered in pie. 

"That good?" asked Applejack, chuckling a little with Applebud.

	***


When Summer finally got home, she hesitated to open the door.  She heard clanks and hums of mechanical gears. Normally, that would have been the calming symphany she grew up with, but no pony was home. Finally, she opened the door and slowly entered her dark living space, taking in every nick knack and checking to see if anything was misplaced. Her first thought was a burgler. Her mind began to race as she imagined all the horrible things that it could be and what could happen to her. She grabbed the closest blunt object she found. In this case, it was a can opener. 

Holding the rubber tongs in her mouth made her a little braver. She inched acrossed the room, making her way to her small work station. The clangs got louder and louder when she reached the doorway. She pressed herself up against the wall and peered into the next room. 

The dark figure was hunched over the work bench. Summer felt the courage she got when she grabbed the can opener. She leaped at the figure, teeth gritted, and swung with all her weight behind to bring this burglar to his knees!

CLANK!

The figure didn't drop. The mechanical whirls and hums didn't stop. He was still hunched over and but he also reared his head to look at her. Summer's fear left her. She was staring straight into the eyes of her maker. 

"Summer, why did you strike me?" spoke the figure. Suddenly, and all at once, the figure came into focus.

"G-Gigatrot?" she stammered.

"Yes."

"B-but you were--"

"Broken? No."

"No?! What do you mean 'no'?! I carried you all the way from Sweet Apple Acres! I thought you were going to explode!"

"I didn't. It was what you call a ruse." Gigatrot waited for Summer to respond. When she didn't, he spoke again. "A trick."

"I know what it means!" she snapped.

"Very well," said Gigatrot. "I said I would keep your cutie mark a secret. I decided to take this opportunity to continue working on the flying machine. It's almost ready."

"What?" Summer was shocked. She took a step back. "You mean.. soon?"

"No."

Summer could have punched him right then and there, but that would have been pointless... and painful.

"You really need to work on your delivery."

"I don't understand," he cocked his head like a bird again.

"Of course you don't," muttered Summer. "What else do we need?"

"The power source. Once we have one, we'll be able to conduct proper experiments and simulated tests."

"You all this in one day?" Summer pointed to the work bench.

"And nights. You are a very heavy sleeper; you might want to see a neurologist."

Summer's jaw twitched. "I'm going to bed." 

"Very well. We will speak in the morning."

"I don't think so. I might sleep through it," sneered Summer. "Heavy sleeper."

	***


She said goodnight to her father and easily fell asleep. She dreamed of flying, much like she did when she was small. She would fly with the Wonderbolts, but flying along would be Rainbow Blitz right beside her. He winked at her.

That’s when Summer woke up, trembling in her sheets. “Just a dream,” she comforted herself.

“You have mail, Summer,” announced Gigatrot from behind the bed. Summer yelped and threw the closest thing at him.

“You need to stop doing that!”

“I took the liberty of opening the mail,” Gigatrot said, addressing the piles of open letters on the night stand. “You received ticket’s to Freelancer’s Tournament from Natty.”

“Freelancers?” asked Summer, rubbing her eyes. “What’s that?”

“You mean ‘who is that?’,” corrected Gigatrot. “A well renowned jousting champion. Natty thought you would be interested in going.”

“Well, apparently he forgot what I like,” grumbled Summer, rolling off the bed.

“Yes, that did occur to me, but he didn’t get you tickets for jousting. The Wonderbolts will be performing after the tournament, accompanied by a formal party.”

“What?” She raced to the night stand and browsed through the letters to find the tickets. When she picked up the letter three tickets fell out. “Why are there three?” she asked.

“You and I,” counted Gigatrot. “Natty also suggests taking that blue pegasus that drives you crazy. I think he believes you have a certain reverence for him.”

Summer blushed. “I do not!”

“Very well. I’ll leave you to get dressed. I’ll be at the library.”

“For what?” asked Summer.

“To see about an additional power source,” said Gigatrot. “You should continue working downstairs. I’ve left notes for you.”

“Fine.” Gigatrot departed, leaving Summer alone in her room. She lingered by the window, her back warmed by the morning sun. The sunlight filled the room, but Summer only saw it pointing at the three blue tickets. She heard the front door close, signaling Gigatrot’s departure. “Morning, Dad,” she said awkwardly to the photo. “Isn’t it nice that your daughter is now working for your robot?” she laughed, but it died quickly. It was apparent that it was true. “Naw, just kidding,” she told her father.  She paused, talking to a photo was just silly. Without looking at the photo she went downstairs and began reading Gigatrot’s notes. She could hardly read them. “At least I’m better at him than some things.”

She made out what she could out of Gigatrot’s scribbles, then took a hammer in her mouth and started working.