In the dimly lit back room of the Nuts and Bolts workshop, in the town of Hoofington, the sound of clanking metal could be heard. Spread across the floor were gears, cogs, mechanical odds and ends, and a heap of tools. Sitting at the back wall was a mare hard at work, with some rectangular mechanism sitting on a workbench. Across the way a red and black tail was peeking put from under a tarp, this is where the sound originated.
The mare at the work bench had just finshed putting the final piece in to her rectangular mechanism. She wiped the sweat from here brow, her hoof passing under her messy mane. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she looked at her work in satisfaction,
"Phew, it's finally done." She said turning around in her stool. Suddenly a scowl appeared across her face as she noticed fidgeting under the tarp.
Hopping down from the stool, she casually walked to the other end of the room. Looking at the tail of the pony under the tarp, her face went from an angry expression to one that looked annoyed. She gently tapped the rear of the tails owner. A loud thud was heard as the stallion hit his head on whatever he was working on.
"What the hay?" He said coming from under the tarp, looking at the one who had surprised him. Right away he saw his sister Gizmo Tinker standing there face to face with him. He easily recognized her, for she was the only green unicorn with half a horn he knew. Also the only one with a messy, blue mane and gear cutie mark.
"Rusty, what's taking so long?" She inquired of him. She spoke of her brother who was standing in front of her. Rust Bucket was his name, but most ponies just called him Rusty. He, As his nickname would imply, is a rust colored unicorn with a Crimson and black striped spiky mane. He wore round wire frame glasses and a beige work vest, though some would say he doesn't need the glasses since they are so small and only rest on his nose. His cutie mark is a wrench and a screwdriver crossed.
"Some of them gears ain't fittin' right." He had a tired look in his eyes as he glared at his sister. "Ya need ta learn some durn patience."
"Well, sorry. I just want to get this project done." An apologetic look appeared across Gizmos face. She loved her brother very much and didn't wish to make him angry, but he was right, she could use a little patience. Gizmo was always impatient, ever since she was a little filly.
"Ah'll try ta find some smaller on the floor here." He smiled back at his sister. "Just you wait darlin', we're gonna get this done tonight." His horn glowed as he lifted a couple of gears off the floor.
"Theses oughta fit." He said disappearing under the tarp once again. Almost instantly the sound of clanking metal rang out from where he stood. Rusty poked his head out from under the tarp, smiling at Gizmo.
"They fit, Giz." He said as a huge grin ran across his sisters face.
At once she ran over to him and removed the tarp, and there it stood. Next to Rusty was a marvel of machinery, a mechanical pony that Gizmo had named Sprocket. At the moment it was just a shell of overlapping copper plates and gears on the inside. It also sported a suave black mane and tail.
"Now all that's left is the heart drive." She pointed at the rectangular mechanism. "Could you please go charge it with your magic Rusty?"
He smiled and walked over to the work bench. The "Heart Drive", as Gizmo called it, was designed to allow Sprocket to gain his own personality, special talent, and cutie mark. It was a wonderous device that came to her after a flower pot had hit her on the head, which happened, surprisingly, after a pink pony she had met on a trip to ponyville had a twitchy tail.
Rusty readied his horn and touched it against the Heart Drive. A crimson spark set off and the machine made a little whirring sound. He used his magic once again to lift the device and carry it over to his sister.
"Great," She said "Now we just need to install it."
Using her own magic, which is weaker then most unicorns because of her broken horn, she took the Heart Drive from her brother and placed it in her hooves. She gently reached inside the open copper shell and placed the Heart Drive in side. Upon shutting the copper plating she stepped back. From the copper body Grinding gears could be heard.
Sprocket opened his eyes and gizmo spoke. "Welcome, to Equestria."