The Dark Side of Equestria: The Iron Uprising

by Gabriel Smith

Act 3: The Eve of the War

Dear diary,

Today I realize the horror and joy of what I have done.

I was walking back into my office, when I find Verne - our prototype Iron Mare, and one of the original models - moving by itself. I know what you are thinking, but I didn’t give Verne any orders. I had just kept it around as a statue, a literal paperweight. Only it’s not weighing paper. Quite.

I tried speaking to it, and it actually turned to look at me. Somehow, Verne has developed a will of it’s own. If Verne could, how many other Iron Mares had developed their own intelligence? Even worse, we’d basically been enslaving an entirely new race!

Verne looked at me, and it actually growled something. It was guttural and gruff, with the sort of voice you’d expect a machine to talk in, and I couldn’t make out a word. Was it frightened? Happy? Angry? I do not know, but I am working on finding a way to communicate with Verne. I have also forwarded my notes to Princess Celestia, whom should be made aware of the new situation.

I just hope Diary, that she doesn’t think I’ve been talking to inanimate objects again...

Smelted down more of those things today. They may be tough, but they’re not infallible. They don’t take Steam so well, it would seem. A thousand already smelted, and a thousand more to melt down. And yet, I get the feeling I’m being watched somehow. I swear sometimes I can hear them making noises when they’re being melted down - like they’re screaming almost.

Eh, I’m probably hearing things. Really need to get that new artificial ear sorted.


Father tells me I should start keeping a “Diary”. He tells me it is a safe place I can keep all of my thoughts in. In time, the Diary may be my best friend - or so he says.

My name is Verne. At least, that is what Father calls me. I am...different. The other Ponies I am with are soft and frail, and yet I am made from Iron and Brass. I asked Father, “Why am I different?”. He simply looked at me unusually, as if he cannot understand what I am trying to say. I need to find a way to communicate with him. It gets so lonely here.

Dear diary,

We did it! I’ve managed to improve upon Verne. I gave it a component I call a “voice box”. I studied Verne’s growls and determined that they were created by a carefully relegated mix of Steam, and some of Verne’s own power from it’s reactor. I managed to craft a simple device that allows Verne to have a coherent speech pattern, by regulating some of the pressure and energy into certain valves. It’s still gruff, but it sounds almost like a mare’s voice.

Verne’s diary is...interesting. It...sorry, she - seems very naive. I am not sure if her references to me as “Father” are out of praise, or if she does have some kind of emotional attachment. This merely furthers my attempts to have the Iron Mares accepted as a new type of Pony, with all of the rights and privileges that would allow. So far, it has not been successful. Celestia just thinks I’ve been spending too many hours in the office again. I’ve invited her to meet Verne tomorrow. Hopefully, she’ll accept.

Father told me a very important Pony was coming to visit today. I stood and I waited for her to arrive. Sure enough, after eight hours of waiting, she arrived sometime in the afternoon - a rather tall looking Pony, with a white coloured coat, large wings and an exceptionally large horn on her head. She appeared to be mounting some kind of object on her head. Father introduced her as “Princess Celestia” or something.

I simply replied hello. She seemed to make an odd noise, but she sounded...happy, I think Father described it as. I, on the other hand did not feel so well. She spoke a bit - she asked me my name. I wasn’t sure what she was trying to insinuate - was she trying to say that I had given myself a new name? Could I answer my own name, the one Father called me?
I merely answered that I did not understand, and she made that noise again. I started to feel...miserable, I think that’s how it was described. I am not sure how these “Emotions” as Father called them work. But I have them, even if I do not fully understand them. They are...confusing.

I asked her who she was, and what she is. This caused her to close her eyes, and reopen them. She was quiet for a while, before giving me an explanation. Apparently, she was the ruler of the place we lived in - Equestria, she called it. Though she also explained she did not have full power over her lands, and had given some of it to Ministers like Father. When I asked her why she would do it, she was quiet, and turned her attention to Father. Before I could ask her any more questions, she left. Father looked...miserable, he called it. I asked him why, but he did not say. He went into the office and locked me out.

Father, I really hope you are okay.

Dear diary,

At the rate this is going, I might as well migrate to Xillith! Maybe the Changeling Swarm will show more kindness than Celestia. Gah! Curse her!

Melodrama asides, I was informed that there wasn’t anything she could do by herself. I would need a case and proof to present towards the other members of the Ministry, though Celestia did assure me of her vote - she does think Verne is capable of sentience, even if she seems a bit more naive than most other Ponies. Luckily, she’s arranged for one first thing next Month.

I guess in the meantime, I should try and keep Verne here. I am not sure how she will react to others like her, in the employ of others.


Boss!

Those Automatons you keep making? They keep behaving weirdly. I’ve had three refuse to carry out various tasks, AND some of them keep making that odd growling noise when we melt them down for more metal. I’m hoping it’s just a few isolated cases, but they’re starting to become more and more erratic!

What are you telling me for, moron?! Melt down those rust buckets who refuse to do any work!

And that growling noise, are you sure you got your ears fixed? It’s not like they can feel pain - they’re disposable, much like you if you ever write to me about this topic again!

Father has locked himself in his office for some time. I fear the worst. I break down the door and find him half buried under several items, drinking fluids that cannot be any good for his efficiency and barely had any supplies to recharge. I dashed in and...I’m not sure why, but I wrapped my front hooves around him. He explained to me I was worried. I told him to not make me feel that ever again. He wrapped his front hooves as best he could around my chassis. It felt...nice.

As much as I liked him though, I asked if I could walk around outside. He looked...unsure, but he decided to come anyway. I am not sure why he looked the way he did, but we went for a walk.

Around me, I could see others lying in the streets. Father did not look happy about this - he kept saying that I was to help make the world better, but instead all we ended up doing was worsening the problem. As I looked on, this wasn’t everything.

I saw other metallic Ponies being harmed, either by angry swarms tearing them apart for some slight transgression, or being forced into some other mundane task another Pony could easily do. When I asked Father, he told me this is why I was created in the first place - though he added he had since come to regret the choice. I then asked him if this was his opinion even if I hadn’t developed a mind of my own. He was quiet.

He then told me “life isn’t all sunshine and daffodils, Verne.”. I asked him - clearly he wasn’t a daffodil. He looked...amused, before telling me “There are bad things in life as well as the good. And we all do our part to try and make them better. Well, I tried to.”

I am not sure if he resented me or not. Despite all of this, I do not hate Father. He is...kind, if looking somewhat distant all the time.

We continued our walk through the streets, and I saw more of the same. I couldn’t understand why the other metal Ponies were being treated like this. I decided to head back with Father. I needed some space to think, I feel.

Today, I had a surprised unscheduled visit.

Verne came to me, with more questions. At least, that’s how she addressed them...but I caught on pretty quick. Verne had seen some of the rough treatment her kind had received on the end of the other Ponies. She wanted some company. Why she came to me and not Bright Spark I do not know. But I did take her in, and...I told her everything. About Luna. About how times used to be better. How I used to be a lot more confident at making decisions. Verne simply nodded her mechanical head and nodded along. She didn’t quite seem to understand...though she did compare it to her “Father”.

Verne continued to ask questions. Mainly along the lines of the differences between her and every other Pony. Then she asked me what her purpose was. I took a moment to explain to her about Cutie Marks...though in hindsight this wasn’t the best topic. Verne left quietly, probably upset still.

I decided not to follow her. She still clearly had some issues she needed to work out herself with.


Dear diary,

The most terrible things have happened over the past few days. The public worked out the Iron Mares were acquiring sentience. Rather than quelling them, this seemed to inspire them to become more violent! This kind of hysterical backlash will only make things worse for Verne and her people...yes, her people. Hopefully I have created a people who aren’t as immature as my kind are behaving right now. Quite.

Things have reached the point where the local militia AND some members of the Equestrian Royal Guard have had to step in to restore order. Today however, all this should finally be over. I am to present a case towards the Ministry and Celestia that the Iron Mares have a right to exist, and furthermore be recognized as a species of Pony. I asked IronJack to help me present the case - while he’s no saint, IronJack has been one of the better behaved Engineers working with the Iron Mares. His experience should help present a solid case.

I can only hope this is enough.

Goodbye Diary. I hope to see you soon.