"You know," Robert stated, wiping his forehead as he lifted his goggles "for an entire planet filled with Homi Sapentia Equus, one would expect at least a few to be roaming around a small village."
Rosalind, also stopping her work, lowered the bandana covering her muzzle, and glanced around at the town. Lifting her protective mask, she then looked to her brother.
"When one is as skittish as they are, they tend to hide indoors." Rosalind replied.
"I suppose so." Robert replied, lowering his goggles with his magic. Placing them over his eyes, he then activated the blowtorch he was holding, continuing his task of welding the bolts on his side of the device.
"Is it quite wise to set up in this particular spot?" Robert asked, after a moment "When one thinks of solitude, I doubt that the square of a moderately-sized village would fit the bill."
"'Make use of what you have', and all that." Rosalind replied, picking up a sledge hammer with her magic and driving into the side of the chrome mechanism. The result of the noise was an offensive ringing that spread throughout the entirety of Ponyville and beyond.
"Must you do that?" Robert asked, just as offended by the noise as the rest of Ponyville.
"Only once it was needed," Rosalind replied, setting the sledgehammer down "thought it was a bit of fun, if I must admit."
"You are despicable sometimes, I hope you realize."
"I do." she nodded.
"Well, just the same- as long as we keep the ponies away, we should be fine." Robert sighed.
"Doesn't seem too difficult a task."
"I believe the heat has finally gotten to your head, sister."
"Only the fresh air, brother."
She walked along the edge of the road, near the grass. Sweetie Belle was tucked firmly in her arms, with the other two sitting inside the carrier situated on her back.
"Needles, what's the matter?" Sweetie asked.
'What?' the Big Sister wondered. How did the little one know how she was feeling?
"You just...feel...kinda sad..."
"How in the world can y'all tell what she's thinkin' with her helmet on?" Applebloom asked, just as curious as She was.
"I can...like...feel her tense up and everything..." Sweetie admitted "being carried like this, I feel the muscles in her arms move."
'How is that possible, then, if I've got the padding on my arms?'
She decided to pursue it further, once they reached the library. She certainly didn't need a headache right this minute.
The four of them continued their journey, Needles attempting to find her way to the library. She soon spied the Carousel Boutique, and decided to stop there, instead of possibly getting lost in the maze of houses that was Ponyville.
Needles reached the door of the shop, and pushed it open, entering the main show-floor of the shop. Sweetie leapt from her arms, her four hooves clunking against the floorboards as she landed. The two others soon requested to be put down, and Needles complied, allowing the three fillies to wander around the store.
"Rarity? Sis?" Sweetie called, wandering into the back of the seemingly-deserted boutique "Rarity? Where are you?"
'This is off...' Needles thought, glancing at the mannequins stationed throughout the boutique.
"SIS-ter?" Needles called, aiding Sweetie, whose voice had grown hoarse from calling her sister's name.
"Excuse me, but...what exactly are you two doing out here?" Twilight asked, peeking curiously at the circular mechanism the two unicorns were so focused on.
The two turned, one donning goggles, the other a welding mask. They shared a look, then stared back at her.
"Um...I couldn't help but notice that you seem to be working with some advanced machinery- and I was just wondering if I could take notes?"
"Of course," the mare replied "we're almost finished, at any rate."
"Oh, wonderful!" Twilight responded, beginning to write on the piece of parchment caught in her magic "What's the material you're building the structure out of?"
"Titanium." the stallion responded, lifting up his goggles to reveal his green eyes.
The response earned an ear flick from Twilight, now staring in befuddlement at the structure.
"I'm afraid...I've never heard of that particular metal..." the unicorn responded.
"I'd be more concerned if you had." the mare replied.
"Oh? Is it very dangerous?"
The two shared a look once more.
"Well..."
"...it shouldn't be..."
"...but if it is..."
"...we're all in a lot of trouble..."
"...but all in the name of science-"
"-yes, naturally."
"You- you two are insane!" Twilight shouted, pointing a hoof accusatorily.
"No, not at all." the mare stated.
"It's all in the name of science, we assure you."
"But- but- no! No! This is wrong! You're talking about the end of Equestria as we know it!"
"None of that, now," the mare stated, a thick length of cable and a small ring rising from the ground in her magic "we wouldn't do anything that would endanger anyone but ourselves."
"H-How can I be sure?" Twilight asked.
"Please believe me, when I say that this is for your own safety."
Twilight felt the ring slip over her horn as the cable wrapped itself around her hooves. Twilight tipped over, struggling to summon even a spark from her horn.
"This...this is that Titanium, isn't it?!" Twilight shrieked, panicking.
She thrashed about as she tried to stand herself up.
"Dear, don't struggle, you'll only make it harder on yourself."
"Why...are you doing this? Who are you?" Twilight whimpered.
"You could say...that we're an independent company...as for why- well, I believe you know."
"N-Needles? Why? What do you want with her?"
"There are things your planet doesn't understand, Miss Sparkle," she stated, trotting over to a console attached to the "things that you aren't ready for."
"But what does Needles have to do with any of this?"
"Everything, Miss Sparkle." the stallion responded
"Everything." the mare repeated.