A Gizmonk in Rainbow Rocks

by Moheart7

Chapter 1 - The Pony-Droid

Red Tape always was a sceptical sort of stallion, after all as an inspector for the Ministry of Science he had to remain serious in every situation, and the fact that he was asked to come to one of the most rustic parts of Equestria to make his inspection didn’t help his opinion on the new inventor he was set to meet with that morning. He was a middle-aged, red Unicorn stallion with a grey mane and tail with a small goatee and wire glasses, he also wore a green tie and carried a personal clipboard to make notes for his inspection. As he walked up the dirt road up to Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville, he wore a stuck-up look upon his face as he observed his surroundings, after looking from the farm-house to the strange red barn, he then noticed a blue Unicorn mare stacking up crates with her magic just outside the barn. Confident that this was who he was looking for, Red Tape walked up to her.

“Excuse me?” he said, grabbing the Unicorn’s attention. “Professor Goggles, I assume?”

However the Unicorn only chuckled at that.

“I’m afraid you assume wrong,” she said with a smile. “I am actually the Great and Powerful Trixie, Professor Goggles’ humble assistant.”

At those words Red Tape raised an eyebrow, so far his opinion on this Professor Goggles was not very good, especially if he keeps this kind of pony as an assistant, obviously this mare had no sense of humility nor even the slightest bit of knowledge about science in any manner, he could tell just by looking at her.

“I see,” he said, taking a quill and writing something on his clipboard. “Well, may I ask where the Professor is? My name is Red Tape and I have an appointment.”

Trixie widened her eyes at that.

“Oh you must be the inspector from the Ministry of Science right?” she said, remembering reading about the upcoming inspection from Goggles’ itinerary. “Well I don’t know where Goggles is exactly, all I know is that he is… airborne at the moment.”

Once again Red Tape raised an eyebrow.

“Airborne?” he said questionably.

Suddenly as if on cue, the two unicorn’s suddenly heard a noise from above them, looking towards the sky, Red Tape was met with an astounding sight. Bursting out of the clouds with speed that matches even rainbow Dash, a large metallic vehicle soared through the sky above Sweet Apple Acres, a vehicle with a spinning propeller at its front, two long metal wings at its side, and a certain blue Gizmonk sitting in its driver’s seat. Red Tape may not have known what this strange device was, but Trixie certainly did, after all, the P.L.A.N.E. was one of Goggles’ greatest achievements, so much so that the Gizmonk felt the need to rebuild and upgrade it after the Cutie Mark Crusaders crashed the first one through the front wall of Baltimare Prison. After circling the area few a few minutes the P.L.A.N.E. finally swooped downward, skidded across the group and slowed down to a stop just outside the Laboratory, leaving Red Tape with a baffled look upon his face as he dropped his quill and clipboard. Soon Red Tape became even more surprised when he witnessed just who, or rather WHAT jumped out of the vehicle, raised his goggles onto his forehead and stretched himself out.

“Ah nothing like a great flight across the country to start off the work-day,” the Gizmonk sighed as he stretched out his tail, not taking notice of the new arrival yet.

“THAT’S Professor Goggles?” he gasped, looking at the 13-inch Gizmonk that had just stepped onto Sweet Apple Acres. “He looks…different from what I expected.”

Trixie rolled her eyes at that.

“The Ministry didn’t tell you much about him before they sent you, did they?” she asked with a small smirk, before walking away from the inspector and towards her employer.

“Only his name and Address.” Red Tape admitted, not really being listened to anymore.

Now that he was back on the ground of his home, Goggles couldn’t help but smile as his lovely assistant walked up to him with a smile on her face.

“Welcome back boss,” she said, crouching down to allow the Gizmonk to hop onto her back. “I hope you had a pleasant flight.”

“Thank you Trixie,” Goggles chuckled in response. “Anything happen while I was gone?”

“Not much,” Trixie answered, trying to recall the events that happened during the Gizmonk’s absence. “Two new orders came in from the Cakes to repair some of their kitchen gadgets, Fluttershy dropped by to see if we were still on for tea this afternoon. Oh, and you got a postcard from Jinx, she seems to be settling into her new home in Mexicolt quite well.”

Goggles couldn’t help but smile upon hearing that, after all Jinx was his friend long before he ever came to Ponyville, in fact it was thanks to her that he was able to come here in the first place. However after the whole fiasco at Baltimare Prison she didn’t stay long in Ponyville, granted she was offered a job and a place of residence by Princess Luna herself, but being a Sphinx she needed a more suitable environment to recuperate after spending 5 months in a prison cell. So a couple of weeks before, Jinx took the train the Mexicolt, a part of Equestria further west from where Goggles now lived with a much warmer climate that was suitable for Sphinxes. Goggles may have been saddened at first, but he was glad to know that he and Jinx would still be able to stay in touch.

“Smashing,” the Gizmonk sighed. “I’m glad to hear she’s doing okay… who’s this?”

It was then that Goggles had finally noticed the red Unicorn stallion, staring at him with a gaping jaw, still astounded at what he was seeing.

“A Mr Red Tape from the Ministry of Science,” Trixie announced, still wearing her smirk.

“Ah yes,” Goggles responded, scratching his head with thought. “You must be the inspector right?”

At those words, Red Tape shook his head and regained his composure, after all he had a job to do, even though it was a little odd for him today. Picking up his quill and clipboard, he then address the Gizmonk on Trixie’s back.

“Uh yes,” he replied, clearing his throat. “As your assistant has just declared, my name is Red Tape, and as you know, the Ministry has sent me to inspect your laboratory along with any of your newest creations. Now normally we wouldn’t go through such bureaucracies with fellow inventors but as of late you have been requesting some unusual materials to be brought to your place of residence.”

As he listened to every word, Goggles nodded his head with understanding and as Trixie had come to expect, he had an answer for Red Tape’s concerns.

“Well that can be easily explained,” he said, crossing his arms. “You see, I have always tried to experiment with new materials and methods, such as potion making, gem-powered gizmos, etc. And ever since I received my certification, it allowed me access to many of the ministry’s highly rare resources, as such I wished to see if I could use them into my own devices and hopefully create something spectacular.”

At those words, Red Tape once again began to write on his clipboard, making note of what the Gizmonk was saying to him.

“I see,” he said in response, scratching his chin with thought. “Would you be so kind as to show me some of these new creations? As I’m sure you can guess, the Ministry would like to know if their resources are being put to good use.”

Goggles smiled at that.

“Of course,” he said cheerfully. “I have nothing to hide, follow us.”

On that note, Trixie then carried Goggles towards the doors of the barn, pushed them open and led Red Tape inside, once within the place of work of the Gizmonk, Red Tape’s jaw once again dropped. What was once nothing more than a wooden structure filled with hay and other farm equipment, was now a metallic looking laboratory with every feature a Gizmonk could need. In place of an earthy floor was now a mass of metal-tiled flooring with panels in certain areas that allowed anyone to be lifted to the second level, along the walls were several machines connected to automated conveyer belts that were used to carry either metal parts for new gizmos or any other piece of material that Goggles would use, in the far corner was a large iron forge that Goggles used to melt down the metals he needed into the appropriate shapes as well as encrust them with gems if needed, and finally there was a massive worktable in the centre of the room for Goggles and Trixie to mix potions or assemble the newest Gizmo pieces together, upon this table were several pieces of metal and cables along with a few unfinished projects, all of which were covered in dust sheets. However while the ground level was the main workspace, the second level served more as a residential environment, the main reason being that Trixie’s caravan was completely wrecked when the front of the last barn was blown apart and Goggles felt it was wise to move out of the makeshift hammock he made in Apple Bloom’s room when he first arrived in Ponyville. So both of them, along with several of their friends, decided to make the second level of the lab a suitable home environment for the both of them whilst they were rebuilding, complete with a sitting area, two bedrooms, a working kitchen, bathroom, and internal heating for cold nights. However it wasn’t the residential area that Red Tape was interested in seeing.

“I’d offer you something to eat but unfortunately I can’t cook to safe my life,” Goggles chuckled as he jumped off Trixie’s back and onto the worktable. “Perhaps you would like a cup of tea? I make an excellent brew of Cammomile.”

“Uh… no thank you,” Red Tape answered, once again regaining his composure and readjusting his glasses. “Perhaps we can begin this inspection with a few small questions, please tell me about this laboratory.”

Both Trixie and Goggles nodded at that.

“Well, believe it or not, this place started out as a regular barn,” Goggles explained, earning a sceptical look from Red Tape in response as he continued to write upon his clipboard. “However after the proper modifications, me along with many of my friends have managed to turn this into a fully operational, partially automated laboratory.”

As Goggles spoke, Red Tape made sure to keep note of every detail as he looked over his surroundings, all things considered it did seem like a good place to set up shop, even if some parts of it were a little rustic.

“An interesting accomplishment I must say,” Red Tape admitted. “And what sort of devises do you create in such a location, I understand you are the mind behind the Laser-Cutter?”

Once again Goggles chuckled.

“Indeed I am,” he replied, remembering the time he first met the Diamond Dogs, an event that soon led him to create the said device. “Although I never really needed the ministry’s recourses for that.”

At those words Red Tape nodded with understanding.

“Then perhaps you would be so kind as to show me what you HAVE created with those resources,” he said. “After all that is exactly why I’m here.”

Trixie couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that, clearly this inspector knew how to make his point, but regardless he could be a little more patient about it.

“Oh I assure you, Goggles has been using those resources to the very best of his efforts,” she said.

“Indeed I have,” Goggles said in agreement, “In fact, why don’t I show you my very latest, and I dare say, greatest creation yet.”

With a simple exchange of nods, Goggles silently gave Trixie the okay to bring out his new gizmo, who effortlessly understood the request and walked over to one of the far corners of the lab, only to come back carrying another sheet-covered contraption with her magic. However this particular contraption was a lot bigger than the other ones on the worktable, in fact it was just about the same size as Trixie herself. After Trixie set down the device in front of Red Tape, Goggles then jumped off the worktable with another wide smile on his face and grabbed the edge of the sheet.

“Allow me to introduce, the world’s first… Pony-Droid!” Goggles announced, quickly yanking on the sheet, unveiling the creation beneath.

Upon seeing the miraculous invention, Red Tape once again dropped his jaw and his clipboard as his eyes widened with shock. What Goggles had dubbed the Pony-Droid was in fact a life-sized, metal pony with a silver body, rubber joints and bronze shoes and kneecaps, it also had a small chest piece embedded just below its neck, a black visor where the eyes would be, no mouth, and a green metallic mesh that served as the mane and tail. Needless to say Red Tape couldn’t help but stare in awe at the contraption.

“Pony… Droid?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Goggles chuckled at that, amused by red Tape’s bewilderment.

“Yes,” he answered. “The ultimate result of fusing Science and Magic, a body forged with Equestrian Steel, a metal stronger and lighter than most, and with many wonderful features to offer.”

“Such as?” Red Tape asked inquisitively.

“Such as a voice replication module in order to mimic other ponies,” Goggles explained, listing off everything he could remember about his newest creation. “The ability to learn new information by the basic senses and a built-in assimilation unit, a built-in Music player in the chest, and a camouflage unit created by studying Changeling Prisoners in Canterlot.”

Needless to say, Red Tape was intrigued by the Gizmonk’s description of the Droid, and he wasted no time in detailing every single bit of it on his clipboard.

“Impressive,” he said. “But how exactly is this thing supposed to function? Do you have some kind of fuel to energise it?”

Trixie couldn’t help but giggle at that, noticing this Red Tape looked at her with a confused stare, obviously missing the joke.

“Oh, he has something much better than that,” Trixie informed him.

In order to further prove the answer his assistant had given him, Goggles them pressed the chest piece of the Pony-Droid, instantly opening up the torso like a two-door cupboard, allowing everyone to look within. Inside the body of the Pony-Droid were five gems, one large sapphire in the middle, with four other smaller gems surrounding it, all of which seem to be emanating a faint glow, as if something were living inside them.

“Behold, the five internal gems that make the Pony-Droid what it is,” Goggles announced, gently stroking the gems with delight. “While the body itself is a scientific breakthrough, these gems are what give her the magical input she needs to function. I spent ages trying to find the right ones to use, but luckily for me I happen to have a few Gem Experts as friends, who were more than happy to help me pick.”

Red Tape raised an eyebrow at that.

“Gem Experts?” he asked.

“Diamond Dogs,” Trixie answered casually, much to Red Tape’s surprise.

“You can’t get better experts than that,” Goggles added. “After finding the right gems down in their mines I had them enchanted by my lovely assistant here.”

At those words, Trixie couldn’t help but blush.

“Oh stop it, you flirt,” she said playfully.

Rolling his eyes with a smile on his face, Goggles then proceeded to explain about the gems in further detail.

“Each gem will have its own function once operational,” he said. “In the centre we have the main Power Gem, the main source that powers the body, along with the other four gems. Next we have the ruby AKA the Memory Gem, which allows the Pony-Droid to hold a memory capacity of 5000 organic ponies. Then there’s the Amethyst, which acts as the Emotion Gem, name speaks for itself. The Emerald is the Personality Gem, and finally the Topaz here is the Sensory Gem, which allows the droid to have the same 5 basic senses of an organic pony.”

As the Gizmonk explained the purpose of the gems, Red Tape couldn’t help but wonder about the exact details of how they worked, the way the Gizmonk described them, it was as though he was trying to pinpoint the exact characteristics of a living mind.

“So you’re saying that you are trying to create… life?” he asked nervously.

Goggles smiled at that.

“Yep,” he answered casually

“Why?” Red Tape inquired, hoping that this explanation would be somewhat easier to take.

“Why not?” Goggles said in response. “After all that’s the whole purpose of science is it not? To see whether or not something can be done? Besides, if these gems work and the Pony-Droid becomes operational, then what’s to say we can’t use the same method on other things?”

While Red Tape may have been a sceptical sort of pony, he had to admit that Goggles did in fact have a point. With that in mind, he felt a bit more comfortable in asking his next question.

“So how are you planning on activating these gems?” he queried.

“Well, the gems are in a dormant magical state at the moment,” Goggles replied, closing up the Pony-Droid’s chest. “So I will need a large amount of electrical power to get them going.”

Red Tape raised an eyebrow at that.

“How large?” he asked.

“Oh about… 1.21 Jiggawatts,” Goggles answered.

At those words, Red Tape’s jaw dropped in terror.

“1.21 JIGGAWATTS!?!” he snapped, completely astounded by what he had just heard. “You can’t be serious!”

However both Trixie and Goggles merely chuckled at the Unicorn’s response.

“Trust me old-timer,” Trixie giggled. “He’s serious.”

Shaking his head, Red Tape once again tried to regain his composure and said his piece.

“But the only power-source capable of generating THAT amount of electricity is a huge bolt of lightning,” he said sceptically.

“Exactly,” Goggles said simply, a large grin.

Suddenly, as if reacting on cue to Goggles’ word, the sun suddenly became blocked by the biggest and blackest of storm clouds Ponyville had ever seen. However instead of surrounding all of Ponyville, the Pegasi controlling it seem to be pushing it directly over Goggles’ laboratory, as the thunder began to rumble and the wind began to blow hard against the wooden frames of the former barn, Goggles’ and Trixie’s face lit up with glee as red Tape only looked on with confusion and more than a little tension. With another exchange of nods, both Goggles and Trixie began to work, clearly whatever was happening, they already planned for it.

“You picked a good time to come to my lab, Mr Red Tape,” Goggles said as Trixie levitated the Pony-Droid onto a nearby lifting panel. “I had the Ponyville Weather Team create the biggest electrical storm clouds for this very event. Generally I would use Artificial Lightning but after using it on my first P.L.A.N.E. I found that particular power source to be too weak to last for long, so by combining the magical energy of the gems with the 1.21 jiggawatts of electrical power from the lightning, I should be able to create a power-source so mighty that it will power the Pony-Droid for at least 10,000 years.”

At those words, Goggles then began taking a few cables from the worktable and began attaching them to the Pony-Droid, while Trixie strapped it down to the panel it was placed on, so that is wouldn’t fall off. After attaching all of the cables to the Pony-Droid’s body, Goggles then grabbed a long metal pole from the worktable and stood it up on the panel, tying it down to the Pony-Droid with the cables.

“You sir, are about to bear witness to the birth of one of my greatest creations yet,” Goggles announced to Red Tape, who only stood and watched in awe as the Gizmonk and his assistant made the final preparations. “Ready Trixie?”

“As always boss!” Trixie replied confidently as she stood at the ready next to a nearby lever on the wall.

At those words, Goggles nodded with approval and pulled a key out of his vest pocket, after which he then walked under the worktable and pulled out a large, metallic chest, a chest which was heavily locked and wrapped in chains.

“Just need to add the body fluid,” Goggles mumbled to himself as he inserted the key into the lock.

Upon opening the chest, Goggles couldn’t help but sigh upon seeing what was inside. As he peeked over the Gizmonk’s shoulder, Red Tape saw that the object Goggles had just taken out of the chest was in fact a very large syringe that was at least as large as he was, filled with a strange luminous blue liquid.

“What is that stuff?” he asked curiously.

“Just little cocktail of my own design to help the magical energy conduct through the metal body a lot easier,” Goggles answered as he carried the syringe towards the Pony-Droid and injected its entire contents directly into the Droid’s rubber neck. “A fusion of Liquidated Sapphires, Lunos Noctane and a few drops of my own sweat and blood for that organic touch.”

Red Tape didn’t know whether or not Goggles was being literal of figurative with that last part, but either way everything that was happening, he knew for sure was going to make an interesting report.

“Okay, she’s good to go,” Goggles announced, removing the syringe and tossing it aside. “Raise her up!”

Instantly obeying the Gizmonk’s command, Trixie then pulled the lever and the panel, along with the Pony-Droid and metal pole upon it, began to rise up towards the ceiling, which in turn opened up a sliding door, allowing the Pony-Droid to raise up through the roof of the lab.

“Here, you might want to put these on,” Goggles instructed, tossing a pair of safety goggles towards Trixie and Red Tape, before pulling down his own over his eyes.

Following the Gizmonk’s example, both Trixie and Red Tape quickly put on their goggles and readied themselves for what was to happen. As the storm continued to rage outside, Goggles and Trixie knew that the time would soon be upon them, instantly reacting to the urgency, the two then proceeded to run towards another set of levers on the wall, all the while Red Tape could only sit on the side-lines and watch.

“Throw the switch!” Goggles screamed, pulling his lever.

“Yes Master! Trixie screamed in a raspy voice, as she pulled her own.

Needless to say Trixie received a pair of deadpanned looks after doing her Igor impression.

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “I couldn’t resist.”

Goggles couldn’t help but face-palm at that, however now wasn’t the time to dwell into Trixie’s dramatics right now, because now that he and his assistant had pulled their switches, the main event had now begun. As it turns out, the switches Goggles and Trixie had activated, were the controls to the electrical magnets that were set up underneath the panel that the Pony-Droid was on, and now that they magnets were switched on, it made attracting the lightning a whole lot easier. With one loud blast, a huge bolt of lightning burst out of the storm clouds and shot directly towards the metal pole, instantly sending the massive amounts of electricity through the cables, directly into the Pony-Droid’s metallic body.