//------------------------------// // It's easy to misjudge. // Story: What Are Little Ponies Made Of? // by Phoenix Quill //------------------------------// "A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal." — Oscar Wilde Once somepony said, “Time waits for nopony. It’s constantly on the move, so fast that in a blink it’s gone.” As time went by, Emerald fell into a noticeable schedule, wake up at sunrise, grab a quick breakfast, fly off to work, repair whatever they needed to, fly home, sleep. Wash, rinse and repeat. This continued on for three months, until one day something unexpected happened. It was one of the few slow days that mid summer tends to bring about. The vast space that made up the machine shop that was usually buzzing with ponies working on machines was nearly empty. Steam Shine was keeping busy by continuing work on one of his inventions, Silver Streak was tidying up the workspace, and Emerald was attempting to design a more comfortable cloud chair when the sound of hooves clacking on the solid floor that made up the room drew their attention. “Well well well," Silver Streak said with a wide smile. "Look who decided to come to our humble little corner of Division Zero boys.” It was Frostbite and Pilot Light, the unicorn and earth ponies that made up team cooler, “Hello Silver, how’s things?” Silver gave a shrug as he put the dustpan and broom back in the closet, “Things are fine, how’s that cloud walking spell holding up Frostbite? Don’t need you to get a migraine and send the both of you plunging to the earth again.” “ONE time,” Frostbite yelled as she pointed an accusing hoof at Silver Streak, “That only happened ONCE!” “And who saved your sorry flanks?” Steam shouted to the group before striking a pose with Silver, “Team Awesome, that's who!” Emerald rolled his eyes at the pair as he continued to mold his patch of cloud. The icy blue unicorn waved a hoof before continuing, “I didn’t come here to discuss the past. I was wondering if you three had any plans for lunch today.” Steam gave off a grin, “Hey I’m all for a date, but we got my kid brother with me. I don’t want him to be exposed to my dangerously high class of cheesiness” “I already am,” Emerald called out, causing the rest of the group to laugh. “Alright boys laugh it up. Pilot and I are just thinking of taking an early lunch today since its going so slow and thought maybe you would like to join us.” Emerald, Steam, and Silver all looked at each other before shrugging, “Sure,” Silver said with a smile, “You pick the location. Our treat.” The two mares grinned before trotting back to the five small offices used for the different mechanic teams, no doubt to make a nefarious scheme to go out to the most expensive restaurant in all of Cloudsdale. Emerald always felt stiff whenever he was wearing a collar and tie. Despite how uncomfortable he was about it, he still felt under dressed compared to his brother and Silver Streak. He couldn't help but admire how well Silver and Steam could handle wearing a full suit in the middle of a summer day. Emerald looked around the restaurant with some trepidation as he took in the pure white atmosphere around him. The dining room of Bon Foin was packed wall to wall with ponies from the kind of high society that he would speak against for a laugh at any other time. Seeing that half of these aristocrats were also his employers, he felt this was not the time to speak his mind on political views and instead nervously looked at the twelve pieces of silverware before him. Steam Shine on the other hoof was all confident smiles as he chatted away with the rest of the group about everything and nothing. It was not long at all before they were interrupted by a waiter, “Welcome to Bon Foin, my name is Garçon De Vivres, have you made your selection?” “Hmm,” Silver Streak started as he looked down the menu. As he did he noticed that every single dish was no less than fifteen bits, and all started or ended with the word foin, “What is this foin you serve with everything.?” The waiter looked down his looked down his muzzle at Silver Streak like he was a roach in the salad, “It is what you would call hay.” At this revelation Silver looked up and down the menu a few more times. Finally giving in he swallowed his saliva and felt a hole grow in his wallet as he uttered two words, “Ladies choice?” Pilot Light looked down at the list with a smile before suddenly looking up at Garçon De Vivres, “I believe that five orders of Foin avec un côté des carottes will be enough for everyone. And I do think that a bottle of Boisson de fruit mélangée fine 2010 would be a suitable drink to compliment the meal.” The waiter wrote everything down on the pad before tucking it under one of his alabaster wings, “A fine choice madame, I will be back with your drinks and entre.” The other four ponies stared at Pilot Light with confused looks on their faces. She looked back confused at their confusion, and uttered back only one word, “What?” The meal turned out to be a rather bland experience with very little to offer in taste or conversation. Once the meal was finished with the ladies excused themselves to the mares room, leaving Steam, Silver, and Emerald at the table to split the bill. “I don’t see why we can’t just split it three ways, I mean we all ate.” “Steam, look I don’t know about you but I didn't want to impress my coworkers to try to land a date later on, so why don’t you and Silver pay for yourselves and your dates and I’ll just pay for myself.” Silver Streak looked at the two bickering brothers, “Look, why don’t I just pay for the mares, I said it would be our treat.” Steam Shine waved a hoof, “No none of that. You gotta... gotta, oh buck me!” Emerald and Silver looked at him with a raised eyebrow, “What? What is it?” Silver ducked down low in the seat suddenly as he kept his eyes to his left, “Its Thunderkeg Blastbomb.” Silver looked in the same direction as Steam and then ducked down as well, “Crap, what’s he doing here?!” Emerald stopped picking at his remaining carrots to look in the same direction and saw a pegasus of simple brown colors laughing it up with a group of ponies in suits. Scrutinizing the stallion as if he was going to make a portrait of him, he noticed even at a distance that the smile did not quite reach his eyes as he talked things over with the business ponies. Suddenly, Thunderkeg looked in their direction and started to walk to the seated trio. “Uh hey you two, don’t look now but I think he’s coming this way.” “Oh Celestia I don’t need this today, he knows that I’m not busy at work today. I just know he knew I was here,” Steam Shine said as he grew nervous trying to think of an excuse, “Maybe I’ll tell him I am sick, or... no, then why am I here.” “You can just pony up and say no.” Silver offered as he sat up a little straighter, “It’s not like you haven’t before.” The trio watched as Thunderkeg calmly trotted past them and headed to the restrooms in the back of the dining hall. Finally Steam Shine released a breath he was holding and sat upright once again, “I don’t get you two, why are you avoiding him?” Steam Shine looked at his empty plate and gave off a sigh as he picked up his glass of juice and sipped deeply, “Thunderkeg works for Division Seven, he’s been trying to get me to transfer for years but...” “Division Seven is weird, I don’t trust it.” Silver finished as he slammed a hoof down on the table, “Especially not that guy. He gives me the willies.” “You two are paranoid, you know that?” Emerald exclaimed as he ate the last of the carrots on his plate, “I’m sure its fine. You said it yourself Silver, rainbows aren't that complex to make. He probably just is trying too hard to be friendly is all.” The three ponies looked at each other in silence as the waiter came back to clear the dishes, once he left the bill, the conversation shifted back to who’s paying how much. The conversation was halted by the sound of a pony clearing her throat, when Steam Shine, Silver and Emerald looked up they found Pilot Light and Frostbite “I do hope we aren't interrupting, but it’s time we head back. See you at the shop?” “Oh, of course. Silver, would you escort the ladies to the door, I’ll meet you there.” Silver Streak opened his mouth to protest but silently nodded and stood, “Ladies,” he said casually as he draped a wing over the back of both ponies in a polite manner as the three walked for the door. Steam Shine and Emerald looked at each other for a few moments in silence before the younger brother finally opened up, “What is on your mind Steam?” “I know what you are thinking,” Emerald opened his mouth to protest but Steam raised a hoof to stop him before continuing, “Don’t think for a moment that I don’t. Stay away from Thunderkeg. There is something wrong with Division Seven and I want you to promise me you won’t set hoof in there.” Emerald looked at his older brother with narrowed eyes, “Well, I don’t think that...” “OH so that’s where you have been hiding Steam Shine!” The two brothers looked up and saw Thunderkeg Blastbomb quickly making his way to them. Steam Shine and Emerald both immediately stood up, “Hello Thunderkeg, how are you today?” “Fine, just fine,” he smiled as he said it, but it was harder to tell if it was genuine or not as his aviator sunglasses covered his eyes giving off a cold calculated look. Emerald could not help but shiver as the two exchanged hoof shakes with him. “Hey listen, Steam Shine, I was wondering if we could talk. We lost another mechanic over in Division Seven the other day. Terrible that we had to let him go, but old Greasy Hooves hasn't been what he used to be,” He paused as he looked the two over top to bottom, “I’m telling you Steam, come on over. We can use a good pony like you. Got a frozen set of gears that need some working loose, and if you do good there then maybe we can get you in.” “Not interested, you know I love where I’m at. Come on Emerald.” The two ponies started for the door, and Thunderkeg followed, “Steam, they will pay for your troubles for the day. A nice fat bonus just for working over some frozen cogs.” The two brothers kept walking away from the pony and were nearly at the doors. Silver Streak waved at the duo from the cash register before he noticed Thunderkeg was behind them, “Think about the opportunity, your pay would be doubled if you came into Division Seven.” Steam Shine and Emerald Shadows both froze. Steam turned about to finally tell Thunderkeg to leave him alone when Emerald spoke, “I’ll do it.” Thunderkeg raised an eyebrow and lowered his aviators to look the younger brother over, “And who are you?” Emerald started to introduce himself, but Steam Shine stepped in to quickly intervene, “Ah, that is my younger brother Emerald. Come along it’s time we got going.” “Now hold on here,” Thunderkeg raised hoof to stop the pair, “I like you kid, you've got drive. I can see it in your eyes. So vivid and, green.” Emerald felt leery, but smiled at this remark just the same and nodded his head a bit, “Thank you sir. I feel that if you see an opportunity you should take it before it slips away.” Thunderkeg snorted a little bit before he reached in his vest and pulled out a small piece of paper, “Once you clock back in, come to Division Seven and show the security guard at the front desk this pass. I will come down to see you in.” Emerald took the paper and tucked it away beneath his wing, “Thank you. I’ll see you soon.” Thunderkeg smiled as he trotted past the pair and exited the building. Soon after he took to the air and was out of sight, Emerald felt the slap of a hoof on the back of his head, “Idiot! I told you to stay away from him, you promised you wouldn't talk to him!” Emerald rubbed the sore spot on the back of his head, “I don’t remember promising anything.” “You were going to,” Steam Shine said as the two met up with Silver Streak. They quickly paid for the meal before leaving together, “You know I sometimes wonder if you were dropped as a foal, because you seem to do the dumbest of things without thinking.” “No, clearly you aren't thinking,” Emerald said as he stopped, making the rest of the group stop with him, “More money? I can pay back mom, move out from your apartment. I can have a life.” “And then what?” Silver jumped into the conversation, “Look it’s not my business how you work as a family unit, but there's rumors about the rainbow factory. High injury rates... missing ponies... the high security. I don’t think you should risk it.” Emerald looked at the two concerned stallions and laughed, “You’re both just paranoid.” Thirty minutes later and Emerald was suited up and standing outside of Division Seven, his tool kit strapped over his back and the pass given to him tacked to his identification card. Emerald looked up at the rainbow factory of the Cloudsdale Weather Corporation and noted how big it was. Easily the cloud structure was minimum eight stories tall, and the size of an entire city block square. He looked up at the building as he flew up over the stairs to the only entrance of the building. Emerald paused for a moment before finally stepping in. Unlike the open and airy lobby for the main weather factory, the lobby for division seven was, to put it simply, cramped. Rather than giving a sense of awe and fancy, it gave a very low profile feeling. Almost as if it was never meant to be seen by anypony outside of working there. Emerald walked across the simple white tile to a half circle desk. Two guards eyeballed him before one finally asked, “Can I help you?” He smiled at the two guards as he pulled the pass off his I.D. and gave it to one of the guards. After taking the paper, the guard raised an eyebrow before pushing down a device in his ear, “Thunderkeg? Yeah its Taserline. I’ve got an Emerald Shadows here to do some work. Yeah? Okay,” The guard let go of the device and pointed to a simple folding chair, “Sit there, you will wait for your escort through the factory. Afterwards you will do as he says and only what he says. Understood?” Emerald gave a nod as he quickly sat down in the lone folding chair along one of the walls. The wait turned out to be short, for soon enough Thunderkeg walked out of the doors that led further into the factory, “Emerald, welcome glad you could make it. Follow me, don’t wander away, I’ll tell you more about this division on the way to the job.” Emerald stood and walked closer to Thunderkeg, “Alright. Your time, your dime.” “So direct and efficient...I like that.” The two walked into the hallway and the steel doors slammed shut behind them. Thunderkeg set a rather brisk pace as the two pegasi made their way through the hallways of Division Seven, walking past several doors without windows. All the while Thunderkeg talked, “As you can see, here at Division Seven we have a solid steel construction building so we can house heavier equipment without having to cast special spells. Instead, we just have unicorn staff enchant the building once a decade to keep it on its cloud base. However due to Cloudsdale zoning laws, we had to make a cloud façade to make it visually appealing.” Emerald Shadows nodded along with Thunderkeg as if he was actually interested. “As a result of our unique construction, we have the highest hiring rate of non pegasus ponies in all of Cloudsdale,” the duo turned a corner and were met up with a simple metal staircase and took it up, “This first floor has only housing units for our employees, we offer mandatory free apartments for our employees until we can trust them with the secret recipe.” “And what is the secret recipe?” Emerald asked without thinking. Thunderkeg just chuckled at this as they passed the second floor marking, “I could tell you, but I would have to kill you.” Emerald froze quickly before he started to laugh and caught back up with Thunderkeg, “I get it. It’s a secret.” “Exactly, and don’t forget it. Now top floor is where we make our powdered and wet ingredients, fourth floor is where we actually mix the rainbows. That's where we are headed, where the frozen gears can be found.” Before he knew it, Emerald was on the fourth floor and running down the long hallway after Thunderkeg to the lone door at the end, “We gott'a hurry, summer and winter are our busy seasons to make and store as much as we can for the spring and fall seasons,” Emerald caught up with Thunderkeg and panted for a few moments. Concern crossed Thunderkeg's features as he looked Emerald over, “You okay kid?” “Fine,” Emerald gasped a few times before continuing, “Just... these tools are heavy.” “Well its almost done,” Thunderkeg smiled as he opened the door and let Emerald in ahead of him. He was then treated to the glorious sight of a cramped square room with nothing in it. “Hey where is the equipment?” he quipped while looking around the tiny room for some sort of hint. Thunderkeg laughed a little bit before answering, “On the other side of the security door. Give the security team a few moments and the wall to the right will open,” the two ponies stood in the small room and began to wait. After a few minutes, the tool bag on Emeralds back was really starting to hurt him as he stood waiting. Suddenly the wall in front of him swung outward and Thunderkeg stepped forward briskly, “Here we go.” As soon as the door opened the rest of the way, Emerald gasped at the sight that greeted him. The room where the rainbows were mixed was at least three stories in height, with pipes leading in from the floor above draining powdered and wet ingredients of different colors into several great glass vats. Emerald could not help but be awestruck by the grand size of everything as he walked behind Thunderkeg to a machine near the center of the room, “This here is what’s giving us problems, the mixing device for the red vat. Think you can fix it?” Emerald looked over the great glass container and noted that the giant mixer within it was not moving. “It looks like a really big blender, like my mom's.” “It’s not too different from any moms, just bigger. The motor is up there near the top.” Thunderkeg pointed up near the ceiling at a metal box attached to the vat’s mixing paddle. Emerald quickly flew up to the device, found an access panel and opened it. The door unleashed a plume of red smoke causing Emerald to go into a small coughing fit. After the smoke cleared, he looked the gears over for a few moments and noted that they were covered in a red liquid before nodding, “You've got a frozen gear alright, fused together from overworking the motor without proper coolant.” Thunderkeg hovered beside him with a hoof to his chin, “Well, can you fix it?” “Yeah, I just need to hook up a harness seat for myself, and secure my tools and parts,” Emerald quickly unstrapped his tool bag and searched inside for a few moments before grabbing a set of strong magnets attached to a sling. Emerald set up the sling below the access panel, and sat down in it. He then stuck the tool bag to the side of the motor unit with another strong magnet. After that, things moved fairly quickly. Emerald removed the two fused gears and pulled a new matching set out of his tool kit and replaced them in moments. He then cleaned and checked over everything to see why it over heated, “Here’s your real problem, someone hooked up your water intake to the vat below. It needs fresh water if its going to cool the motor, not partially made rainbows.” Thunderkeg looked at the cleaned up motor and frowned slightly, “Must have been one of the old mechanics we let go, thought they could do a cheap fix instead of filling the water supply.” Emerald nodded a bit as he moved the hose to where it was supposed to be, “You know, if you are using pure water for the wet part of the mix, then you can share the water supply with that to keep the engine cool.” Thunderkeg shook his head, “No, the liquid we use for mixing with powders is not water, but I’ll go get you a gallon to add to the reservoir for this engine.” Emerald nodded without thinking as he closed up the access panel and took to wing once again to put away his equipment. By the time he was finished, Thunderkeg returned with not a bucket, but the end of a hose, “Here, I think you can find the intake for coolant on your own, fill ‘er up.” Emerald nodded and looked up to see the small hole for the hose to go into. He gained some altitude and gave the lever a squeeze to fill the reserve up. A few minutes later, Emerald and Thunderkeg walked out of the rainbow room, Emerald looking at Thunderkeg for his approval. “You did great up there colt. Listen, I’m going to talk things over about getting you a transfer in here full time if you want.” “Oh well, I don’t know. I’ll have to talk it over with my family.” “That’s fine, sleep on it. Its the weekend. Come in Monday and you can tell me then, okay?” As the two left the hallway on the first floor, Emerald was stopped by security, “Hold it right there, we need to scan you for traces of rainbow.” Emerald complied and let the two search him over, one using his horn to magically scan for anything suspicious. It wasn't too long when they found the fused gears smeared with the red liquid, “Sorry but this will have to be confiscated.” Emerald shrugged, “No skin off my muzzle, but really if I wanted to steal your recipe, wouldn't I just get a sample from the finished product you let flow out the bottom of the building to the court yard?” The two guards laughed for a few moments, “It would take a pony a century of undisturbed work to unravel all the ingredients in the final product. Standard procedure dictates you can’t walk out with any raw ingredients.” Emerald shrugged with his wings as he headed out, “Hey! Wait right there,” He stopped and turned back to see Thunderkeg galloping over to him with a slip of paper, “The check for your troubles.” Emerald took the check in his right wing feathers and looked at it for a few moments before speaking, “Is this a mistake? This is more than I make a week.” “No mistake, it’s to compensate for your time taken away from your regular division, plus payment for the actual work done here.” Emerald glanced at the two guards and Thunderkeg for a few moments before placing the check in his uniform’s pocket and galloping out the door to get back to his own division. As soon as he was out of earshot, Thunderkeg muttered to himself. “That little colt might be just what we need. But his brother is going to be the barrier I have to break down.” Thunderkeg smiled deviously as he turned and headed back towards his office. “It’s not like I've never had to do that before though...just wish I could get both of them on board.”