While Granny Smith and Applejack wondered why blasts of lightning were bursting out of the barn roof, inside Goggles and Trixie were working on something big. While the Gizmonk may still be under probation for the whole kidnapping incident, doesn’t mean that he had to stop work all together, after all he was cut off from tea, not inventing, and he still needed to keep up with the orders if he still wanted to run his business. However today, he and Trixie were working on something personal, and it was beginning to make a mess of the whole laboratory.
“With all due respect Goggles,” Trixie huffed between heavy breaths. “Couldn’t we have just waited for a REAL storm?”
The reason that Trixie was running out of breath was the fact that she had been running inside a giant hamster-wheel for the past 20 minutes. Basically, the wheel she was turning is actually part of a generator that Goggles had built a few days ago, a generator that given the right amount of speed, would allow the user to create a cloudless, miniature lightning-storm inside the very building. Using a number of metal cables and magnets hoisted by a number of pulleys that he had set up across the barn, Goggles was carefully collecting the energy of the lighting and storing it into a metal container while Trixie continued to keep the machine going. However after about 10 minutes, Goggles was beginning to get extremely irritated with Trixie’s complaints.
“Save your breath Trixie!” he said as he checked the meter on the energy container. “And faster!”
“Yes, oh mighty Gizmonk!” Trixie groaned sarcastically before attempting to pick up the pace.
As soon as Trixie began making the wheel turn faster, the amount of energy the lightning was generating began to increase, so much so that it began filling up the container quicker than ever before. Finally the meter reached full capacity.
“Alright stop!” Goggle quickly instructed.
The second Goggles said those words, Trixie instantly began to slow down and eventually stop the wheel, thus turning of the generator and allowing the bolts of lightning to disappear. Upon seeing their endeavour as a success, a massive smile spread across Goggles’ face.
“Yes! Yes, that’s it!” he screamed as he jumped with joy. “Yeah baby! We did it!”
“Good,” Trixie huffed, before stepping out of the wheel with a confused look upon her face. “What exactly did we do?”
“We, my dear assistant, have created the ultimate power-source for my greatest invention yet,” Goggles explained as he began pushing the container across the lab.
At first Trixie was confused with that information, but once she saw that Goggles was pushing the container towards a giant structure covered in a large dustsheet, she knew what he meant.
“You’re STILL working on that thing?” she asked as Goggle proceeded to pull off a section of the sheet from his creation. “You’ve been building it since way before Nightmare Night.”
This was indeed true, this had been an invention that Goggles had been building for a couple of months now, despite the fact that he claimed that new machines would take longer to build than the one he already created, this particular one seemed to take the longest to make.
“Ah, but remember what I said before,” he said as he attached another cable to the container. “If I know I can do something then I’m a speedy as they come, but the true gift of creation lies in something that one has never done before, and in taking time to create it.”
On that note he attached the other end of the cable into the mysterious device, allowing the energy inside the container to flow directly into the machine itself.
“Oh and speaking of gifts…” Goggles added, his eyes widening with realisation.
At those words Goggles walked away from the container and towards his workbench, while the container emptied out into the machine, the Gizmonk searched through one of the draws, trying to find something amongst the amount of junk inside it. Finally he found what he was looking for and walked over to Trixie.
“Here,” he said, giving the item to her. “I made this for you,”
Trixie couldn’t believe her eyes as she gazed upon the item Goggles had placed in her hoof, it had to have been one of the most beautiful pendants she had ever seen, made of silver, encrusted with blue gems, and in the shape of a crescent moon, if she didn’t know any better she would say that this was something from the Royal Vaults in Canterlot.
“W…what is this?” she gasped, not really knowing what else to say.
Goggles rolled his eyes at that.
“It’s a banana split,” he said sarcastically. “What do you think it is? It’s a Birthday Present!”
Now Trixie couldn’t believe her ears.
“A present?” she stuttered unbelievingly. “For me?”
“Do you see any other ponies named Trixie around here?” Goggles asked with a chuckle.
“But… but why?” Trixie asked, still bewildered at what was going on.
“It’s your birthday isn’t it?” Goggles replied. “Isn’t that what friends are supposed to do for someone on their birthday?”
While may have been true that it was indeed her birthday, Trixie hadn’t really expected anyone to acknowledge it, she had been on the road for so long that didn’t really socialise with any pony, much less tell anyone when her birthday was, and she certainly didn’t expect anything even when she stayed in Ponyville to work for Goggles. And yet, now here she was, holding a piece of jewellery that he had made especially for her birthday, and with great care by the looks of it.
“No pony has given me a birthday present in years,” she finally said, her eyes filling up with a few small tears of joy. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, don’t say anything yet,” Goggles chuckled. “There’s also a little something extra.”
Trixie’s eyes widened at that.
“There’s more?” she gasped.
“Oh yes,” Goggles replied with a gentle smile. “It may have taken some convincing on a few ponies’ part, but I managed to get a few of my friends around town to chip in and managed to get you this.”
He then pulled something else out of his vest pocket and gave it to Trixie.
“A train ticket?” Trixie said with a raised eyebrow.
“One that will allow you to travel towards one week’s paid vacation and full treatment at the Spa,” Goggles explained, suddenly putting on a sly grin. “…in the Crystal Empire.”
Upon hearing that, Trixie was sure that she had just gone insane, her jaw dropped to the floor as she tried to absorb the information into her mind.
“The… the Crystal Empire!!!” she blurted out.
“Yeah,” Goggles sniggered. “I thought it would be a nice place for…”
But before Goggles could even finish his sentence, he suddenly found himself being squeezed like a lemon as Trixie pulled him into a tight hug.
“Thank you! THANK YOU!” she screamed as she continued squeezing and shaking Goggles about like he was a ragdoll. “You don’t know how much this means to me! I’ve always wanted to go to…”
But Trixie couldn’t find the right words to say, instead she put the dazed Gizmonk down and gave him a light kiss on the cheek, making him blush in an instant.
“I gotta go pack!” she squealed in delight, instantly bolting towards the door.
Just as soon as he had finished coughing up the cloud of dust Trixie left in her wake, Goggles couldn’t help but laugh out loud as he heard the excited Unicorn rummage through her caravan outside.
“Oh yeah,” he chuckled. “Knew that would get her going, score-one for Mr Cute and Fuzzy.”
At that point Goggle would have let Trixie do her thing and went back to work, however just as he turned his back to the door, he found himself joined by another voice.
“That was kind of ya Goggles,” it said.
Hearing this Goggles turned back to see Applejack standing beside the open doorway.
“Well I figured she needed it,” Goggles replied with a smile and a shrug. “Besides what kind of boss would I be if I didn’t allow a pony time on off on her birthday? You remember our deal right? Trixie’s punishment gets revoked and I pay for Granny’s next medical bill.”
Applejack chuckled at that.
“Yes ah remember,” she replied. “You have no worries about that. How did you know it was her birthday anyway?”
“I read her diary too,” Goggles answered, instantly receiving a shocked growl from Applejack in response. “Hey relax, I’m just kidding! I asked her about it a couple of weeks ago, I figured she wouldn’t go for one of Pinkie’s massive birthday bashes so I thought a relaxing week off from work would do her some good.”
At those Applejack shook her head with a smile on her face, she could never understand Goggles sense of humour.
“Well ah’ll say you did good Goggles,” she said. “No questions asked.”
“Thanks AJ,” Goggles replied, returning the smile. “I appreciate it.”
Suddenly the two were joined by yet another pony walking into the barn.
“Hey Applejack!” Granny Smith called out to her Granddaughter. “Did ya ask him what all the lightning was about yet?”
Goggles cringed at that, perhaps the lightning did get a little out of control while it was being generated, but in all honesty he didn’t think it was that bad, of course the holes in the roof proved him wrong.
“Oh don’t worry Granny,” he said. “That has all been taken care off, it was just a little something me and Trixie had to do before she left for her birthday trip.”
The explanation was brief but it was enough to keep the old earth Pony satisfied.
“Speaking of birthdays, maybe we should give Trixie a little send-off before she leaves,” Applejack suggested. “Ah’m sure she would appreciate it. Y’all like birthday parties, Goggles?”
Goggles was taken aback at that question, at first he simply remained silent, however after a few moments he finally spoke.
“I wouldn’t know,” he sighed. “I never had one.”
Needless to say both Applejack and Granny Smith were shocked to hear that.
“You never had a birthday party?” Applejack questioned.
“When you’re some pony’s pet in Kappan, they don’t really bother to try to figure out when your birthday is,” Goggles explained, his face suddenly gaining a sad look. “Especially when you don’t really remember yourself.”
Needless to say, just saying it himself hit Goggles hard, as he turned away from both of them, Both Granny Smith and Applejack were at a loss for words. Goggles didn’t know when his own birthday was? If Pinkie Pie were here to hear that then she would have given Goggles a hug and cried her eyes out, however since she wasn’t, it was Granny Smith who walked up to the Gizmonk and spoke.
“Oh you poor dear,” she said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. “Ah know when it is.”
Goggles looked confused at that.
“You do?” he asked. “When?”
At those words, Granny Smith gave him a loving smile.
“Today,” she said, much to the Gizmonk’s surprise. “Give me your paw, youngin.”
Not really understanding what was going on, Goggles obeyed Granny Smith’s request and placed his paw in her hoof. Suddenly before he knew it, Granny Smith was singing a gentle melody.
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Goggles,
Happy birthday to you.
Needless to say, hearing that song touched Goggles heart deeply, never in his life had he ever thought that anyone would ever sing it for him, after several of moments of trying to hold back the tears, Goggle finally broke down and collapsed into Granny Smith’s hooves in a loving hug.
“Happy Birthday Goggles,” Granny Smith whispered with a smile.
“Thank you Granny” Goggles replied, his eyes dripping with tears of joy.
As Applejack looked upon the sight before her eyes, she couldn’t help but feel a great deal of empathy for the Gizmonk, what kind of life did he have in Kappan? To live his whole life and not even remember when his own birthday was, granted he said that he was some pony’s pet but even the ponies here in Ponyville would always remember their own pets’ special day, Pinkie Pie always made sure of that. He may have taken some drastic measures to do so, but Goggles tried to do something nice for her and Spike, now it was time for Applejack to do the same. It was then that Applejack then went back out into the snow and walked up towards Trixie’s caravan, as she walked up the wooden steps and knocked on the door she could clearly hear the loud rustle of Trixie’s fast packing.
“Oh hey Applejack,” Trixie said as she finally answered her door. “What is it? Trixie is a little busy packing for her big birthday trip to the Crystal Empire.”
Applejack rolled her eyes at that, Trixie was never one to be subtle when it came to her personal enjoyment.
“Hey Trixie,” Applejack replied. “Can ah talk to ya for just a minute?”
#
Later that day, while Trixie and Goggles were making their way to the Train Station, Applejack had decided to make her way down towards the school house to pick up her little sister. By the time she had arrived, the school day had already ended and all the fillies and colts were walking out into the snow, all dressed up in woolly hats and scarves. After a few minutes of looking over the crowd, applejack spotted the four fillies in particular she was looking for.
“So how much longer are we banned from the clubhouse again?” Silver Spoon asked her friends, hoping that the answer was something even the slightest bit positive
“To be honest with y’all, ah kinda lost count of the days,” Apple Bloom admitted with a deep sigh.
“Me too,” Sweetie Belle added. “And what’s worse is that we’re STILL grounded from that whole fiasco, you wouldn’t believe the kind of stuff Rarity is making me do as added punishment.”
“I told you guys we should have denied our involvement,” Scootaloo stated, much to the shock of the other three fillies.
“And leave Goggles out to dry?” Apple Bloom questioned, fiercely staying loyal to her Gizmonk friend. “What kind of Crusaders would we be if we did that to our own mascot?”
“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon both stated in agreement.
At those words, Scootaloo sighed in defeat, feeling slightly ashamed of her last comment.
“Yeah I know,” she admitted. “You’re right, guess I’m still a little ticked with the whole thing.”
Suddenly the four fillies finally noticed the older mare waiting for them by the front gate of the schoolhouse.
“Hey girls,” Applejack greeted them with a smile.
“Hey Applejack,” all four fillies greeted back.
Now that the pleasantries were out of the way, it was time to get down to buisness.
“Tell me girls,” Applejack said. “How do y’all feel about having your punishments finished a little early?”
Needless to say, the very mention of the idea intrigued the girls in an instant, in fact upon hearing it Scootaloo seemed to be the most excited.
“That sounds great!” she said excitedly.
However Apple Bloom wasn’t filled with as much enthusiasm, she knew her sister all too well to know that she wouldn’t let a punishment slide early with a good reason, those reasons usually being that either Apple Bloom had just done something that would have made her too proud to stay angry, or that Applejack wanted something.
“What’s the catch?” Apple Bloom asked with a raised eyebrow.
Applejack chuckled at that.
“No catch,” she replied. “Ah just need y’all to do me a small favour.”
At those words the Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other with concern, what exactly was Applejack up to? However knowing that whatever it was would have allowed all four of them to get out of being grounded, they all nodded in agreement.
“So what exactly do we need to do?” Scootaloo asked.
With that, Applejack leaned in towards the girls and began whispering something amongst the five of them, so no pony else could hear.
#
Later on, Applejack made one more stop before heading back to Sweet Apple Acres, as she entered Sugarcube Corner, she noticed that Goggles had definitely put in a big effort to make sure everything had been fixed in time for the Cakes’ return, in fact everything looked almost new. As she walked up to the counter, she was greeted by Carrot Cake.
“Why hello there Applejack,” he said with a cheerful smile. “What can I get ya?”
“Ah’m calling in a special order Carrot Cake,” Applejack explained, instantly catching the yellow earth Pony’s interest. “But just to warn ya, it might be a challenge.”
“Oh that’s no problem at all,” Carrot Cake replied quickly taking out a pencil and notepad. “So what’s the order?”
“First off, is Pinkie Pie around?” Applejack asked in response. “Ah gotta talk to her about something.”
Suddenly, literally the second that Applejack said her name, the hyperactive pink Pony zoomed out of the kitchen and came to a sudden halt right next to her friend.
“Hi Applejack!” she said chirpily. “You called?”
“Hey Pinkie,” Applejack replied, her face changing from a smile to a worried frown. “Y’all might want to sit down for this…”
Applejack then proceeded to explain to Pinkie Pie what Goggles had told her and Granny Smith earlier that day, needless to say, her worries were justified since Pinkie Pie didn’t seem to take it well. About 10 minutes after Applejack told her the whole situation, Pinkie Pie was STILL hyperventilating into a paper bag,
“Pinkie?” Applejack said with concern in her voice. “Y’all okay?”
Suddenly Pinkie Pie managed to calm down long enough to get a readable sentence out.
“Never. Had. A PARTY!?!” she screamed. “This will NOT do! Goggles must have a party! And not just any party, but the biggest party Goggles will ever have! One that will make up for every single party that he had ever been denied! This I vow as a Super-Duper Party Pony! You hear me Goggles? YOU WILL HAVE YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!”
And with that sudden burst of Pinkie Pie’s excitement, Applejack smiled with a victoriously smug look on her face, that’s EXACTLY what they wanted to hear from her. Applejack then turned back towards the Earth Pony at the counter.
“So Carrot Cake,” she said. “How do you feel about Banoffee frosting?”