//------------------------------// // Inspiration // Story: Madness by the Cup // by Mad Hatter //------------------------------// Standard notices and warnings - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasboro. All characters featured with the exception of Java Chip are the sole property of said company. This is my first fanfic, so please excuse the mess. Comments of almost all sorts are welcome, much like insane amounts of coffee are welcome to the writer. ------------------------------------ Another night in Ponyville. A gentle wisp of smoke rises from the Sugarcube bakery - or rather - from the edge of town. Another fire. The PFD (Ponyville Fire Department) sends a tired young Pegasus to the scene. She knows this is a waste of time, but duty is duty. Upon arrival, she finds a barn with a large hole in it's side, smoldering at the edges from some unknown cause. “Yeah, sorry about that. It's fine, you can go back to bed now.” says a pale gray stallion, clad in a work apron stuffed with various tools, a pair of soot-stained spectacles on his face. Java Chip gave a weak smile to the evidently annoyed pony. “Anything I can do while you're here?” “No, just be more careful. But, what the hay were you making that would do that anyway?” questioned the olive pegasus. “An assistant.” Java said, pointing a hoof to a jumble of parts leading to the top half of a roughly pony-shaped collection of metal. “Have a good night Sun Shower.” as she finished raising a brow at that and started to fly home. Java Chip needed an assistant to finish some of the larger projects, most of which involved delicate balances of chemicals, or occasionally just explosives. He couldn't afford to hire a helping hoof (Once you included hazard pay) and he wouldn't even consider letting some little filly or colt into his workshop as an intern. Not that it was an issue, as nopony would let their kids near the place, especially considering its proximity to the Everfree Forest. The location came in handy though. The noises and occasional fire almost never bothered ponies who were in town, so it was about the safest place to be. Also, it was cheap. “Still can't get there fast enough.” Java mused, looking at the shattered half. This automaton needed several connections to it's inner workings in a matter of seconds, or the first ones attached would overload, sending it running into a wall before something burst - again. “Ugh. Guess I'll have to wait.” He hated having to stop on an invention, as his notes would get scattered, lost, or simply outdated by the time he got back. Rubbing a hoof over his eyes and taking off the glasses, “Better get some sleep, she told me I shouldn't rely on that stuff too much.” Zecora had given him a powder that intensified his coffee to such a degree that it was capable of keeping him awake and sharp for days on end. He was probably getting addicted to it. Consigned to defeat, he blew out the candles on the workbench, and walked from the barn to his house proper, just far enough away to spare it from all but the worst of his mechanical mishaps. Beginning to sway as the last of the chemical mixture worked its way out of his system, he flopped onto the bed and bid the world goodnight. Brushing the sleep from his eyes, Java looked to the sky out the window. Mid-afternoon. This was hardly a surprise as he dragged himself up and made some more coffee. The regular stuff this time, he had errands to run in town, and the adulterated stuff left him with a wild-eyed look that would scare somepony in the wrong situation. After a cup of his namesake (And cutie mark - He crafted roasters and brewers for his trade, as well as knowing a significant amount about the beans themselves), a bath and some breakfast, he hitched a small wagon to himself loaded with the day's events and set off. Let's see here... Lumber and such for that blasted wall, dropping off another book at the Ponyville library, maintenance on the roaster at the Sugarcube Bakery - what did that insane pony manage to do to it this time anyway? Deliver some merchandise to Filthy Rich, that pompous, self-important..... He snapped back to reality just in time to stop as a small orange Pegasus jetted by on a scooter, no more than a foot in front of him. Kids. He smiled and continued on to Barnyard Bargains, intent on getting the worst of it out of the way. He backed the cart into an opening in the back of the shop and took off the harness to give a hand with the unloading. “Now you be careful with that merchandise, that's my livelihood, and yours too!”. Here we go... mentally grumbled Java as Filthy Rich started his condescending speech. Most of it was blocked out, but Java still felt sorry for everypony who worked under that jackass-in-a-pony-suit. When it was done he wordlessly walked up to the money-marked pony and waited for his pay. “Hm? Oh, yes.” as a small bag of bits was hoofed over. “Thank you, See you next time Filthy.” He quickly turned and walked towards the cart, mostly to hide the mildly venomous smirk as he went back to the cart. Filthy Rich hated being called Filthy, and that jab was a consistent joy to anypony who could get away with doing so. He re-parked the cart at the front and returned with the lumber for the job waiting at home. Now on to greener pastures. Or in this case, neon green pastures of grass that jumps... or something... Java had no idea what to think of Pinkie Pie, the hired help of the Sugarcube Bakery, who took exuberance to an extreme unknown to any other pony. He unhitched the cart again and walked up to the counter. Fortunately it was Mrs. Cake behind the counter this time. “Good afternoon dearie, what can I do for you?” inquired the kindly mare. “Just here for the weekly repairs Mrs. Cake, but thanks all the same.” He listened intently as she described the various knocks and shakes, but couldn't quite offer the difference in taste, as she - Much like a majority of Ponyville - was primarily a tea drinker. “Right. Be right back then.” Java smiled and returned not more than a minute later, the small toolbox in a pack slung over his back. “The standard stuff should suffice this time.” First thing was to get a sample. He pulled out a pouch from the other end with a common type of coffee and turned the machine on, listening as it finished. After sampling the results, he shut it off and began taking it apart from the back. After a degree of reassembly with a couple of replacement parts, it was sealed up again. “Should be fine for a while now Mrs. Cake, but you need to run some cleaner through it more often. It's a good old model, but can't say how much longer it can work as an industrial.” That one had been in the bakery almost as long as Java had been in town. A slight look of concern lengthened her face as she handed over the pay for the job. “It's a bit more up front, but you'll save in the long run with a newer one. Even cut you a deal seeing as you're a regular and all.” he smiled. It sounded like any sales pitch, but it was the truth. He started towards the door, thinking on how much of a deal he could give the place to keep them calling, wondering at his own finances. “Oh! I almost missed you! Heya Java!” Yep, there she is as a bright pink pony bounced down the stairs, with a nigh-rictus grin on her face. “Hello there Pinkie Pie, how're you today?” Java retorted, immediately realizing what he'd just done. The blur of words matched the physical bouncing of the hyperactive pony as he struggled to comprehend. Eventually, after every bit of good-natured gossip in the past week escaped her lips, he found an opening to politely excuse himself. Last stop of the day, not that there's much day left. He entered into the Ponyville library mere minutes before it closed. “Welcome, what can we get ya?” piped a small dragon as the proprietor's horn glowed, levitating a quill over a piece of parchment, virtually oblivious to anything else. “Just here to drop off some books, sorry for showing up last-minute. Real pony of Luna you know, late start on the day.” Java chimed as he pulled the last of the cart's contents that weren't for fixing that hole in the barn. He handed off the books one by one as Spike checked a list. Just as they finished it stuck him as he gave a quick glance at Twilight Sparkle. The horn! Of course, it's all so simple! “Excuse me!” he practically yelled, breaking Twilight's reverie of information. “Just came to mind and it's important! What do you have on magic?” The purple unicorn looked quizzically at him, before giving an ever-growing list of tomes on the ancient subject. “I didn't know you studied magic, being an earth pony and all.” she noted, a slight blush at realizing that was probably a bit insulting. The faux pas went completely unnoticed as the gray pony's eyes whirled around at the selection, overlong dark mane (He consistently forgot to ever get that thing cut) whipping a trail to match his head. “No - sort of - current new project. Natural magic that is, not unicorn - you know what I mean.” he rattled off at a frantic pace reminiscent of Pinkie's earlier display of verbosity. The random directions of sight produced a few titles that struck the concept: Super Naturals, Ley Lines of Equestria, and a couple pieces on gems, metals, and various products of the earth that, long ago, were once though to have magical properties. “You do know that these books are old pony tales, right? Well, except Super Naturals I guess.” Twilight noted as she revised her tremendous checklist. “Yes yes of course - about to find out!” Java ranted as he turned around and tossed the books into the cart, seemingly unable to hitch himself up to it fast enough as he bolted across Ponyville to his home, leaving a confused and mildly stunned Twilight and Spike. Upon arrival he took off the hitch with equal violence, going so far as to break a hinge this time. Fix it later, gotta work! he thought at the same speed as earlier words. Dumping all the books on the workbench and lighting the candles at the side. He ran over to his personal coffeemaker, a collection of brass and copper tubes fit together, a prototype of one of his first successful models, and lit the small fire underneath it. Grabbing the bag of powder off a shelf and the largest mug and placed them next to it just in time to grab the first cup. Gulping the impossibly hot substance burned his tongue, but he had too much to do to feel it. Grabbing Super Naturals, he slid it to the middle of the space and began to pour over the words. No, no, nope. So that's what Zecora used. Though that part of my mane would have never grown back after the fire last year. No, no, NO! He closed the book, tossing it to the floor next to the work bench, unsatisfied with it's collection of plant life and herbal uses. This required something else. Another swig of the enhanced brew and he pulled out Ley Lines. Hmmm, seems all the local ones converge on the ruins of that tower... Not a surprise. Only thing here though. A quick tear of a piece of parchment used for scribbling notes made a serviceable bookmark as he set it to the other corner of the table, grabbing another and finishing the cup. Refilling it and taking another, he began to get that wild look as the mind went into an overdrive rarely seen by other, relatively saner ponies. On to the materials. Resonant qualities of quartz, not for this... Ability of opal, emerald, ruby - I don't need some story about luck! The ability of blue diamonds to... conduct... lightning storm when it happened... YES! THIS IS IT!