And so we conclude
"We've collected all the pieces we could find," field supervisor Hazmat explained as he handed over the clipboard to Trixie. "They're ready to be transported and destroyed."
Trixie nodded as she read through the notes, yet again thankful for how quickly a hazardous materials disposal unit was able to get there. After she had recovered from her laughing fit, she had sent Princess Luna an all clear and got to work making sure the remains of Grindings Gears' invention were taken care of responsibly.
She then paused when she noticed something in the report. "You didn't find the head?"
Hazmat shook his head. "We scoured the area but couldn't find a trace of it. We're assuming it fell in the lake but it's too cold to send in divers to check." He explained. "Usual protocol is to bring in a unicorn team to dredge the lake but your report to my superior said to avoid using magic on the metal."
Trixie paused for a moment as she weighed her options. Finally, she signed the clipboard and handed it back. "We'll leave it for now. If there's any life in it, the ice water will keep it dormant. Get the rest destroyed and when spring comes, send a team of divers to check the lake."
"Will do." Hazmat replied as he took back the clipboard. "ALRIGHT TEAM! MOVE OUT!"
As the field supervisor left, Trixie was joined by Cheerilee.
"So that's everything?" The teacher asked.
"Almost everything." Trixie turned to look at Gears, who was watching his hard work being carried away. "I suppose you want me to go easy on him."
Cheerilee shook her head. "I still consider him a friend so I'm not out for his blood," She stated. "But he built something that hurt one of my other friends and almost hurt one of my students, so I'm not going to defend him."
Despite the situation Trixie gave Cheerilee a smirk. "And the fact he had forgotten to mention that he was married?"
"Irks me to no end," the teacher replied bluntly. "But that is for him and Mrs. Gears to sort out."
Trixie rolled her eyes but didn't press the matter. She approached the Detrot inventor. When he noticed her, he took in a deep breath.
"So there's no more putting this off is there?"
"No there isn't." The representative replied. "We don't need to go over how dangerous and downright stupid this was."
"You're absolutely right, but before you say anything more, please know that I am really sorry about all of this and that I take full responsibility for what happened." Gears interjected. "Lumos would not have done any of this if I hadn't told him to so the blame lies with me."
Trixie blinked a couple of times before speaking.
"That is very noble of you." Trixie remarked. "However, Princess Luna has given me the duty of discerning where the blame for today's events lies, not you."
"I understand." Gears said solemnly.
"And after reviewing all the facts of the matter, it becomes clear that blame lies with the Everfree forest."
For the first time, Gears look genuinely confused. "What?"
"The corrupting of influence of the Everfree forest is well documented." Trixie said matter of factly. "While most accounts focus on the effect it has on weather patterns as well as the local flora and fauna, there have been incidents of it corrupting other forms of magic. While in hindsight there are more precautions you could have taken to prevent this, there is nothing to indicate that your intentions were malicious and we have no way of knowing how the Automaton would have acted had it not been corrupted."
The inventor stared while the representative continued.
"Now there will be a hundred-bit fine for not seeking permission from the local authorities before commencing your little 'test run'. It could have been worse considering how dangerous your project turned out to be but the state has decided to be lenient." Trixie handed over a form outlining the fine and how to pay it. "I have also taken the liberty of speaking to both Raindrops and Big Macintosh. Both have agreed not to press charges, provided you are on the next train back to Detrot."
Gears stood, looking quite dumbfounded.
"So...I'm...not...in trouble?"
"You're being let off with a warning." Trixie stated. "The Automaton is now on record as a potential threat to public safety. You try to build another one and you will deemed an enemy of the state and punished accordingly."
Gears nodded. "I...understand."
"Do you?" Trixie asked. "You know, if you ignore everything wrong with building a golem, I can sum up why this little project of yours failed so spectacularly with one mistake."
Despite himself, Gears felt the need to ask. "And what mistake is that?"
"You were so focused on the potential benefits of using magic that you didn't stop to think of the risks."
"I researched magic extensively before even beginning construction." Gears argued.
"Don't kid yourself." Trixie chastised. "You researched enough to get what you thought was the desired result and ignored basic fundamentals. Your focus was entirely on the end goal, not the path you were taking to get there. I know cause I've been there." The representative stated. "I plunged head long into Zebra magic, focusing on the benefits of understanding the art and as a result turned my friend into a hominan."
"A homi-what?"
"It's this hairless, monkey looking thing." Trixie explained. "Mostly harmless but still kinda freaky looking. Sure part of the cause was the fact I'd been given a shoddy translation, but I had still been the one who put my friend in that situation."
"Why are you telling me this?" Gears asked.
"You're not the first pony to set their sights high and have it blow up in their face." Trixie explained. "And you won't be the last. The only difference between you and most two-bit hacks out of their depths is that you some skill to back it up."
"Um...thanks?"
"It wasn't a compliment, it was a warning." The representative clarified. "When a smart pony does something stupid, they tend to do a lot more damage than a dumb one. And you seem to be a really smart pony that's really good at doing really stupid things."
"So you're saying I should give up experimenting with magic?"
Trixie ran a hoof through her mane as she made sure to phrase the next part carefully.
"I'm saying that when entering new territory it's better to plan twice, build once and have somepony making sure you're not missing something." Trixie took out a piece of paper, "Here's the name and address of a Canterlot professor that's been exploring new ways of using magic to improve machinery. Hasn't got the experience in building things that you do but he knows more about magical empowerment than anypony else in the field. Put your heads together and you might just create something that will change the world."
The representative then handed over a sealed envelope as well as a list. "Here's a letter of introduction, can't say that it will get you a definite yes from him but at the very least he'll hear you out. The list is the names of some nobles I know who might consider investing in this kind of thing if you manage to come up with something useful."
The inventor looked the pieces of paper and then up at the representative. He opened his mouth to speak but Trixie raised her hoof to silence him.
"I haven't completely thrown out the Tarturus idea so how about you avoid saying something that will ruin the moment and go catch your train."
Gears nodded dumbly and, after saying a brief farewell to Cheerilee, scampered off with Lumos.
The teacher turned to her friend. "Not that I'm complaining but you let him off easier than I thought you would."
"Well prosecuting him would probably result in him getting community service and the thought of him staying in town to repay his debt scares me more than the Automaton did."
"Good point." Cheerilee admitted. "Though that was still a nice thing you did for him."
Trixie gave a half shrug. "Well, it's not like I could have talked him out of using magic. This way at least means that we might not have another disaster. I mean I still think he's a few party hats short of a cute-ceañera," she remarked. "But he did build an impressive machine. If he focuses that talent on something a little less golem-ey, who knows."
Cheerilee seemed to be genuinely impressed. "Trixie, you have been amazingly mature about all this."
"Well not entirely." Trixie admitted. "The mature thing probably would have been not telling Applejack who had built the thing that beat up Big Macintosh."
"'Scuse me. Yer Grinding Gears, aintcha?"
Grinding Gears turned to see an orange mare wearing a Stetson hat.
"Why yes I am." The inventor replied. "Sorry I can't chat for long. I've got to be on a train in fifteen minutes."
"Dat's fine." Applejack replied as she cracked her neck. "Ah'll be done in ten."
Satisfied that they were alone, Cheerilee turned back to the Representative. "Okay let's hear it."
Trixie tilted her head slightly. "Hear what."
"You warned me that if this thing with Grinding Gears turned out badly you'd find the most obnoxious way to say 'I told you so'. So let's hear it."
Trixie gave a thoughtful pause. "You know what, I'm not going to say it."
Cheerilee raised an eyebrow. "Really."
"You didn't know Gears had already built the Automaton, and rubbing your nose in the fact that I had known this was a bad idea right from the start would be childish. Besides, I've lead you and the others into enough crazy stuff that I can't really act too high and mighty." Trixie placed a foreleg over her friend in companionship. "The day is saved, the crisis is averted and no more bourbon was lost so let's just savour the moment."
The ram quartet suddenly appeared around the two mares.
There was a mare who told you so
And Trixie was her name-o
Yes she told you so!
Yes she told you so!
Yes she told you so!
Yes Trixie told you so!
As the rams started their second verse, Trixie let out a content sigh.
"Just savour the moment."
With the disposal unit finally gone, a hooded figure quietly stepped out of hiding. Confident she was alone, she took a moment to admire the spoils of what had turned out to be a surprisingly successful reconnaissance mission.
"What a remarkable combination of machine and magic." The hooded figure commented as she ran an appraising hoof over the slightly battered head of the Automaton. "To let such a tool go to waste would certainly be tragic."
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Little known fact. The full "Trixie told you so" song is actually 17 verses long and is comprised of eight different languages and one verse of triumphant laughing.
Good job! I feel so sorry for Grinding Gears...
And now I have some horrible loathing feeling comming up for Applejack. 
AAAAAAARGHHGH....
Sneaky end plot... Interesting.
3421714
Sheep. Is there nothing they can't do?
I can see what you did there.
Trixie was much nicer about the whole thing than I thought she would be.
Oh, shit. You just had to end with an example of "really smart equine doing something REALLY dumb."
Eh... he got off way too easily. I am going to assume he suffered various broken bones and internal injuries? Please?
Interesting stinger, there. It was... nice to see Trixie actually get what amounts to a fully happy ending, here.
I don't know , It was fun . But it makes boast busted look very vindicative in comparison . It also makes twiligth whole arc about responsability become meaningless , she feels the need to suffer years of house arrest when someone which made the exact same crimes is left with an slap on the wrist.
3421769
Play the Oboe. Woolliam tried to learn it once but he kept eating the reed.
3421909
I wouldn't say it was exactly the same crime. If the golem had made it into town maybe, but the overall destruction was much lower and he had rather better intentions (Make something to help Ponies rather than prove your better than somepony). I also think at least part of Twilights crime is that she ran and continued to avoid capture.
I do see your point though.
3421909
I get what you're saying, however there are two big differences here.
1. The Ursa minor had been unleash upon the actual town. The Automaton had been stopped before actually making it into Ponyville. Despite how dangerous it was, the grand total of damage it had done was cost Trixie a bottle of Bourbon and injure Big Mac (who chose not to press charges).
2. Despite all that happened, Grinding Gears stayed and took responsibility for his actions. Twilight's whole arc wasn't about the damage she had caused (which has been stated as fairly tame by ponyville standards) is was that instead of being staying being held accountable she chose to run. If she had stayed, she probably would have just been required to fix the damage she had done and then be sent on her merry way.
i'm starting to really hate that zebra.
3421950
3421969
but more ponies were injured from the golem than the ursa , that is worse than more propierty damage . twilight was afraid of being lynched , she also didint know anybody on the town and how would they react.
she was made to figth and abomination of magic that almost kills her then spends two months in prision unable to even use levitation and finally has five years of house arrest. She also wont be able to hold public possitions and has criminal record possibily banning her of researching certain kinds of magic .
So the punishment is incredible disproportionate compared to Grinding gears , trixie even gave him a recomendation letter despite of all the lack of care he displayed. .
If you read this before boast busted , it makes it look like a twiligth bahing fic .
Grinding gears should have a much less happy ending
Well, I really enjoyed this! It had a greet blend of humor while dealing with a bad situation. I enjoy both seeing how Trixie is more mature here yet still very much Trixie. As for the end...what a twist! I have no idea who that was a look forward to finding out later in season 2
3422037
We'll have to leave this as a agree to disagree thing. The whole Ursa minor thing could have been handled a lot better from both sides and Trixie knows it.
I would like to think that Trixie learned from that event and that is why she is trying to be more lenient this time. Also, Trixie herself has a history of not thinking spells and experiments through and having to deal with the consequences so I felt her utterly crucify Gears would be a touch hypocritical.
The recommendation letter was for somepony that would keep Gears more mad cap schemes in check and stop dangerous inventions before they made it to the construction stage. Also, even though he was was let off with a warning, this incident has been documented and if he does something like this again, he will be deemed an enemy of the state, so I wouldn't call it getting off scott free.
But like I said, agree to disagree.
...What did she do? Promise me it isn't anything too ridiculous. Please.
Good fic! It felt a tad sudden near the end, but overall was a very enjoyable ride. I really like the foreshadowing with Hostile 2.0 and Zecora, kind of reminds me of something from an Avengers episode I watched, and the rams made for a great recurring theme.
It's complete! Another great story for the Lunaverse and now I have helped contribute to this site
. Thanks Zap for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it.
3422037
Which was entirely irrational on her part, much as how it'd be considered irrational today. She was never in any personal danger from the Ponyvillians. Trixie pointing out all the ponies outside of Twilight's wagon was supposed to make sure that Twilight knew she couldn't just make a run for it. She'd forgotten that Twilight could teleport away. The point was that Trixie wanted to speak to Twilight.
Twilight absolutely would have just gotten basically what Gears did above if she'd stayed and taken responsibility.
To be fair, that was basically unrelated to the Ursa Minor thing, and she did basically if accidentally kill the Moon Spirit a la Avatar: the Last Airbender.
Locking down Twilight's horn just makes sense. She's mastered teleportation magic; any police officer would be nervous locking Nightcrawler, for example, in a cell, without taking some kind of precaution against him teleporting out. Besides, it's not like she's crippled. Earth ponies and pegasi don't have horns but do just fine.
The two months of being held in prison were just as her trial was set up. Trials take time to arrange, after all. For example, OJ Simpson was arrested on June 20th, but his trial didn't begin until November 2nd: five months later. Obviously Twilight didn't commit a murder, but this isn't 2000 AD, she can't be instantly judged and sentenced with a stomp of somepony's hoof
Again, different circumstances. She resisted arrest, fled the scene of a crime, etc.
3423390: Not to mention spent years intermittently stealing the various illegal magics in the first place.
3423416
Well, yes, that too. That can't be forgotten.
Wonder what illegal spells she knows...probably not anything that can directly kill somepony. She should also have something that's not harmful at all but still something that needs to be illegal, like something that can turn paper into silver.
3423433: Ah, yes. Forbidden alchemy. Maybe some kind of replication spell too. ("Pravda purse? I'll just cast Duplicate on it, then sell the second one at a tenth of the price!") Dangerous body-modification. ("Cast this and you'll be able to photosynthesize -- no more wasted time eating! But if you keep it 'on' for too long you take root and turn into a flower.") Stuff like that, I suppose.
3423416 I just said that this makes the moral boast busted about responsability and consequences seems stupid . twilight feels so guilty about that she dumps five years of her life declaring herself guilty yet the crime itself wansnt important . in the end it cheapens twiligth``s whole arc , it also gives lots of ammo when to those who said the lunaverse bash the m6
3423390 cheerlie broke and entered illegaly in lots of places so , what it is so evil about that?
3423586: Twilight could have gotten ponies badly hurt, maybe even killed if the Ursa stepped on them. I think what she got was fair.
3423684 and big mcintosh was hurt , it almost killed snails. so why ins't grinding gears punished as well? he made a golem despite knowing how dangerous they are , he even made it more dificult to stop than usual by using metal runes . if twiligtht deserves to be punished so does he.
3423229
My pleasure, thank you for your help. You really helped me up my game.
3423820 And what oyou think AJ is doing to him right now?
3421714 Please post full song.
Well I for one greatly enjoyed this.
Good show Zap!
I have a bad feeling about that head in the lake.
3421883>>3422799
With there being no way of giving answer that will satisfy everyone, I will leave it to the readers imagination how Applejack dealt with Grinding Gears.
Yeah, as much as I do enjoying tormenting her, I do still like giving her a break from time to time
3422801
Thanks I'm glad you liked it.
3422076
Thanks, it was fun have Trixie walk the fine line between acting more mature and still have her being Trixie.
3424777
Would love to but it's so hard to find a translator that has East Griffon in it, its nearly all just West Griffon.
3428062
Thank you
3455047
I'm going to assume a stern talking to than, because the alternative..Well, it breaks AJ's character in a way that's a lot harder to deal with than CTS.
3421714 Zap Apple Smash
Oo! Oooo! I know the the last verse!!!
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha,
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha HAAAA Ha!
Haaa Haaa HA HA HA!
Haaa haaa HA HA HA!
Haaa haaa Ha Ha Ha!
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha HAAAAAA!
Okay, that was a pretty good approach to dealing with Gears. Tossing him in jail would just be a waste of his talents, and a little oversight would be good for him.
Not to mention this excellent use of L!AJ.
you have some
__________________________
This was an amusing fic.
And Zecora is back. Crap. On the other hand this chapter was pretty good.
This was Awesome! Leaving out the use of hard liquor i could so see this as being part of the real show!
I demand MOAR!!!!!
Well, that was fun. Good thing this particular iron golem didn't have a poisonous breath weapon. I suppose Gears decided to leave that for the production model rather than the prototype.
Also, Raindrops may not be best pony (that's Ditzy,) but apparently, she's Good Horse.
Great!!
5123052 i hope so. it may become cannon due to the fact it was mentioned in up and automaton (which is cannon)but it'd still be f-ing hilarious now i have to stop before AIYAYAYAYAYAYALEIALALALALALAL.....i just got hassan'd DAMMIT
3423820 twilight also knowingly looked into illegal magic spells and learned them and uses them, knowing that theya re illegal. She also served unwittingly served as an accomplice to a discordian (though again she dodn't now that, still it counts to ehr rapsheet) AND she publicly heckled a performer in the middle of her magic show due to SEMANTICS. The big problem about the ursa thing wasn't show much the ursa itself but the fact she used an ILLEGAL spell to insitgate the whole situation and repeatedly resisted arrest, adding to her crimes and thus her sentence.
I agree grinding gears should've at least gotten a bit mroe of a punishment, but he was more an irresponsible idiot than a criminal. Plus, this was trixie trying to stop another twilight incident. besides, his punsihment will be FAR more severe if he ever does this again.
Besides, I've lead you and the others
1. Led.
7923487
It is from Dr Horrible's Singalong Blog. In it there is a villian called Bad Horse. Look up Bad Horse's letter on youtube and you should find it.
Otherwise go watch the whole film because it is awesome.
It was fun re-reading this ^_^.
Everfree forest >> Everfree Forest
_____________
This was even more fun re-reading a second time.
That was, more or less, what I predicted how it'd end.