Tracy didn't have much time alone in Equestria anymore, not now that Rose was away from work and they were usually together. But just because they were trying to capitalize on every moment they could didn't mean there weren't times he was alone.
One of those was early in the morning, when he'd finished every project Apex had left with him and didn't have anything new. Janet's "reputation reconstruction" left him with almost exclusively grunt-work, nothing that occupied his attention as soon as he came home. That was probably for the best—his work-life balance was already broken enough as it was.
Still, it was a shame that Everwake came with an ever-mounting threat when he stopped using it. Having the entire day was great for his productivity.
But with nothing to do at work, his Earth friends not really talking to him anymore, and Rose busy serving breakfast at the flower stand, Tracy had a little time to himself. Time to bundle up as tightly as he could, covering his wings with enough layers that it didn't feel like he would bleed all his heat and freeze to death.
He didn't have anywhere specific to go, but he never had. The winter was a great time to leave his phone in the house and just go walking, letting the snow carpeting everything muffle the sound and leave the whole city in silence, except for the crunching of his own hooves on the ground.
That was what he expected, anyway. Usually that was what he found in Ponyville, a relaxing environment with the occasional little group of ponies out on their business. The smell of woodsmoke was a constant companion, and most homes had a little line of pale white. Simple, maybe. He didn't want to call it primitive.
Maybe Discord was hearing his thoughts today, because the noise coming from down the lane completely shattered his conception of what Equestria should've had. A low mechanical drone, getting louder and quieter at regular rhythm. Like a poorly-designed diesel generator.
Tracy didn't even think about it, just trotted off. He wasn't the only pony to be investigating, though most glanced only once towards the sound, then hurried the other way.
Tracy continued all the way through Ponyville, so far that he had to cross the bridge over a frozen river. By the time he saw the building, the noise had risen from a gentle hum to a roar, the kind that made him wish for ear protection. His bat ears pressed down involuntarily, but he didn't walk away. Instead he stared, taking in the strange sight.
The building called itself a "relay station", though the two times he'd passed, it was just an empty wooden shell with two pony faces on a sign beside it. It wasn't just an empty building anymore. The hardware had finally arrived.
Several flatbed trailers packed with wooden crates were parked as close to the side of the building as possible, where a set of wide doors was now propped open. Pulling the ensemble was a vehicle he could only describe as "vintage steampunk", with wooden spokes but a massive brass boiler on the back. Sparks of magic rose steadily between large electrodes, and so many gears and belts were in motion that he imagined they had to be for show.
But the mechanical side wasn't really what interested him, or even the thick cable running off the back of the vehicle and through the open doors. It was, rather, what was inside.
Ignoring his better judgement, Tracy ducked through the open loading doors, looking around at the building's contents. The smell of smoke was thick here, and not the faint wood smell that he was used to from Ponyville. This was rubbery, oily. Something had burned that wasn't supposed to.
The room was filled with electrical hardware, every machine trimmed with brass and stamped by hand. On one side of the room, a bank of Van-de-Graaff generators were connected with sparking electrodes to a set of objects he could only take to be capacitors. Like everything else, they were electronics he'd never seen outside of a museum.
The room connected with a single set of doors to a room labeled "studio", complete with a light-up "on air" sign. Why the owners had taken the time to decorate the space before finishing assembling the backbone, he couldn't guess.
"Hello?" Tracy called. The generator outside was so loud that he didn't expect his voice to carry far. Indeed, there was no response.
But someone brought all this in. They couldn't be far, could they?
He should probably go back the way he'd come. Equestria might have different social rules, but that didn't mean he could just go breaking in.
But then he saw what had happened in the back room, beside the closed door to the studio. The ground was stained with ash, breaching out from the door and scarring the cement where it touched.
Inside was the wreckage of several more machines, even more intricate than the ones outside. Everything on the left wall was destroyed, though it didn't actually look like the building had burned. Several were covered with a powdery pink residue—Equestrian fire extinguisher?
Yet the generator outside hadn't actually been turned off.
Tracy stepped over several open toolboxes towards the centerpiece of the room, and likely also the center of the accident. He stared down at the various dials and switches, running from the front of a pony-sized machine to a raised set of brass rods ending in spheres at head level. He'd seen the like of this machine before—there was a smaller version plastered onto his butt.
He leaned forward, nudging the charred front panel of the machine. It popped out, so warped with heat that it was eager to move.
What he saw inside was a spidery mess of wires, connected to components he'd never seen before—at least not the version that ponies used in Equestria.
It's a spark-gap transmitter, he thought. The sign meant a radio relay station. It was the first step into wireless technology, a natural extension of the telegraph and railroad that were already ubiquitous. Why'd they bring it to Ponyville?
But he found that question didn't interest him much. There was a toolkit here, and boxes filled with spare parts.
Like many old electronics he'd seen, this machine was trivial to read. At least so far as he knew, the fundamental laws behind electrical engineering hadn't changed in Equestria.
Before he knew what he was doing, Tracy had removed a spool of wire and a set of pliers, and he went about replacing the burned electronics. As he worked, he replaced wires in regular straight runs, rather than letting a twisted bundle block other parts and restrict airflow to temperature-sensitive components.
He worked without really thinking. His hooves moved, his wings moved, and he hummed quietly to himself, losing himself in the labor. This was the way it felt when Apex gave him something interesting to do—a difficult problem was its own satisfaction to solve. But far from a sterile computer screen and an endlessly flexible CAD file, now he had actual wires in front of him, arranged in ways he could understand.
Time became a blur. Tracy worked, and the sun moved across the single window, caked with smoke. It didn't matter when it was too far to illuminate the room very well—his night vision made it easy to stick his head into the machine and see what he was doing without a flashlight.
He was so engrossed in the work that he hardly noticed when he stuck back a hoof for a replacement vacuum tube, and it settled obediently into place. He clicked it into the transmitter, grinning at a job finally done. He looked back, and realized he wasn't alone anymore.
A pair of unicorns had entered while he was working. With the door only a few feet away, he must've been in a near-trance to fail to notice them. But fail he had, long enough that one had brought a chair, and was drinking steaming cider from a mug. The other was more focused on what Tracy was doing, a pair of faintly glowing goggles settled onto his eyes and a toolbelt around his waist.
"Oh." Tracy flushed, wings flattening. "Guess it was the generator... didn't hear you come in."
Had he just committed a crime in another universe? But they'd left the door open and everything!
"Don't stop on my account, hardworking little bat," said the unicorn closest to him. The pony had a clipboard levitating behind him, along with a paper-wrapped drafting pencil. Tracy glanced at the board, and realized what was depicted on it. It was the transmitter, or at least what Tracy's hard work was turning the transmitter into.
"This is your stuff," he said awkwardly, settling the spool of wire into the box. "Sorry about, uh... I don't know what came over me."
"We have some idea," said the other, sipping on his glass. "At least about the 'what'. The 'how' is a bit more interesting."
They sounded almost identical. Brothers then, maybe even twins? Even their marks looked similar, one a slice of apple and another the fruit with only one section missing. The first continued from where his companion left off, without missing a beat. "If you were a tad shorter, I'd guess you discovered your special talent while working with our little machine here."
He looked away. "I haven't had the chance to do anything interesting in a few weeks. Work is... getting better. I saw your broken transmitter here, and couldn't help myself. I'm sorry."
"No apology is necessary, new friend," said the nearest of the unicorns. "My name's Flim, my fine brother there is Flam. We're the owners of the patent for this device, soon-to-be wireless pioneers across Equestria!"
"I wasn't aware there were any ponies outside of Canterlot University who had studied the potential applications of thaumic-wireless transmission, least of all a practical technician who happened to live in the town of our first station. Who taught you?"
"You would not believe the answer to that question," he said, gesturing into the machine. "There were two problems in here, but I think your rectifier was the cause of your grief. That was what melted. For as much voltage as you were running through your transmitter, you need active cooling. Drill a few holes, keep a fan on this thing. There were a few other issues with the capacitors that would've kept you from full transmission power, but it's all sorted now."
He sat back, glancing out the open door behind them. Roseluck would probably be looking for him by now. He hadn't taken the phone, so she couldn't just send him a message. "Ponyville has electricity. What are you doing with a generator?"
"Ponyville declines to issue a permit," Flam said. Or maybe it was Flim? How could he keep them straight when their names were so close? "We're in negotiations with the hydroelectric provider. But they're unconvinced of the sustainability of our venture. Nearsighted fools, every one of them."
Flim emerged from the inside of the machine, grinning. "That's a remarkable talent you have, pony. Don't think we caught your name."
"I'm Tr—" He hesitated. "Spark Gap."
The unicorns shared a look. "Well if you aren't the strangest stroke of luck we've had this winter," Flam said. "But can you talk as well as fly?"
His brother seemed to interpret that as a signal, because he pressed the transmission key. The lights overhead dimmed faintly, and a flash of energy passed between the balls of the transmitter. Blanketing the radio spectrum, maybe for hundreds of miles around.
The unicorn held it for a few seconds, then pressed a few times more. Nothing in the box smoked, or caught fire. Flam grinned at him. "Well that result sure does speak for itself. How about a job?"
Tracy trudged back home through the snow about an hour later. The shadows stretched long, a winter afternoon already fading towards night.
Rose looked up from the couch as he entered. She was watching Frozen again, and this time hadn't needed his help working the remote. "Where were you?"
"Having one of the strangest experiences of my life," he said. Then he told her. He didn't need much detail about the location or the building, Rose already knew all that.
As soon as he began to explain what he'd done, she stopped him with a hoof over his mouth. "I was waiting for something like that to happen. Congratulations Spark Gap! You have a special talent. Other than crashing."
interesting
Well how about that. Perhaps Tracy will make honest businessponies out of them. Always thought they had some real potential if they could just settle down and get to it.
No no. The crash when he comes off everwake will truly be spectacular, worth a whole new cutiemark.
10699046
I agree! Film and Flam need focus. Spark Gap could be the anchor to keep them from being scatterbrained. They’re idea ponies and promotion ponies, sure they have mechanical aptitude, but that’s really not where their strength lies. At least that’s how I always saw them. Sure they’re conponies, but I think it’s more because they can’t get their inventions perfected enough to work like they should. They’re like two Steve Jobs in need of a Steve Wozniak.
10699067
He's kept this going for months now, he's gonna have a spot in a medical journal.
I think this pic is one of Viwrapstur's best yet for this story, love Tracy...er "Spark Gap" happily working away with the transmitters
10699046
Also hmm.. to be honest, with the FlimFlam brothers I don't think anything could make them honest. If anything I'd wager they probably are sweet talking Tracy in order to take advantage of him, and probably con him out of his expertise. After all, they were sketching the new design that "Spark Gap" made before they even let him know they were in the room. That job offer I wouldn't be surprised would be an attempted con to steal even more of Tracy's ideas, buuuuut I'm probably being suspicious and cynical
Mixed feelings are being felt with Flim and Flam offering
TracySpark Gap a job.But congratulations and well done !
Just what he needs to stay in Ponyville, eh?
Well... almost.
10694628
I’m with you. I have a very devout Christian friend, who, shocker, is fine with me being trans and doesn’t tell everyone around me how bad of a person I am for being trans. So the entire idea that all devout Christians hate the LGBT+ community is pretty unfair. I know it’s not exactly the LGBT+ community in this story, but it’s the crux of her argument.
If it was anypony besides Flim and Flam... I would be happy for Tracy. But those two can't be trusted.
10699085 or the morgue.
10699122 Oh, they can be trusted. To do the wrong thing. Particularly if money is involved. (They're a blast to write, by the way)
This may well be what will tip the scales toward emigration. Tracy will wire Equestria into the future. That's if Everwake doesn't strand him back on Earth.
I don't know how long Janet plans on "punishing" Tracy, though with how suspicious Tracy's coworkers are towards him, being forced to do this long term may kill some of his enthusiasm towards Apex even if the point was to protect him.
If I remember, Everwake is a threat even while using it. It will not stop the crash.
I'm not sure whether he had that skill set before he emigrated or it's just a consequence of transformation. Either way, I can start seeing him working with as much enthusiasm as he was in his time with Apex.
Ok Rose, I'm guessing you're happy that your boyfriend found something he could actually do in Equestria. But I'm also guessing you're happy that the probability of little foals running around both of you went up.
10699122
We can't all have associates who keep their every promise, Mister Morden.
Well now. This is a timely opportunity. The question is whether it's enough for Tracy to abandon Earth. Though as I've said in the past, there's very little tying him to his homeworld. Gainful, enjoyable employment may prove to be the last bit of temptation he needs.
10699046
They definitely had a good thing going with the
casinoresort in Las Pegasus... but they just can't resist the next big score. This may be less a matter of Tracy making honest stallion of those two and more him salvaging what they leave behind when they get run out of town on a rail. Again.Seriously, at this point, Ponyville must be putting up with those two just for the entertainment value.
Oy. I don't know how and don't remember when (since I'm sure it looked like Discord's 'work' at first), but I figured out it was the Double-F's before they were revealed. I'm... not sure about this.
10699203
I'm with ya on both of these. This sounds like the last check box ticked to keep
TracySpark Gap in Equestria, but I dunno if Twilight and co would even let him start a job with the Double-F's due to their history and his naïveté. But if those two manage to sweet-talk their way into getting themselves situated again, they'll likely end up run out of town after someone discovers they were conning as usual, but the actual wireless was legit. And of course they'll need someone working on the upkeep, so they'll be pleading with Sparky to stay.I'm just happy to see Flim and Flam. Love those two adorable trickster ponies.
This is a very interesting development and now Tracy knows what his special talent is and has found something in Ponyville where he can use it. Now he can seriously consider staying in Equestria when the lease ends because there's more than just Rose. Tracy did think that Rose was the only reason he had for staying in Equestria whether he was right in that is debatable.
spark gap transmission? eugh, someone needs to teach them how to build a basic AM transmitter... or even FM
Good. Primitive is a demeaning word.
By hoof*
I may have issues with this use of "thaumic" but then I generally do when magic is reduced to electricity and other easily understood forces.
I'm kind of sad that apparently Spark Gap still hasn't learned to fly over the last several months.
Well this has good and bad implications. Good: He found a potential job he enjoys. Bad: It's working for flim and flam. Nice chapter anyways and glad we finally got to learn his special talent.
10699295
The fantasy equivalent of "Sufficiently advanced technology": "Sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from technology".
Before he starts working on it there really needs to be a mention that he shuts off the incoming power.
Job problem is solved I guess. A little anticlimactic considering it was an important point of drama.
Love this!
10699384
Honestly, I hate that line. See my previous comments on magic. I know that it's a matter of taste - some people like their magic to be basically just another branch of science, but personally I want my magic to feel magical.
Flim and Flam are probably the worst ponies Tracy could team up with. While yes they have the show how for his know how, he would want to build a good name for himself and that isn't it. It will however show Tracy that ponies are not all naive benevolent souls.
10699295
You've made me think now... Ponies do know the different between electricity and magic... They have hydroelectrics, not hydrothaumics, for instance...
The Flim-Flam issue might be that this isn't actually radio, but thaumic waves or something, which does bad things to magic in the area after its been active for long enough...
10699453
Unless they don't have a complete grasp of the relationship between light and electromagnetism, of course, but then we figured that shit out a long time before we had radio.
Who knows, maybe it's a magic field generator thing.
10699462
Given that rainbows are literally magic, I am now wondering about how colors / light works in Equestria...
----
And in other news, I forgot to say that I'm surprised that Rose isn't warning Tracy about the Flimflam Brothers...
10699469
That's true! Rainbows in their world are a kind of magical liquid after all.
Well, this is both promising and concerning. On the one hand, Tracy has discovered his Talent and embraced his alternate name. Not only that, but as FOME noted, this may end up removing the last obstacle to a happily ever after.
On the OTHER hand, it's Flim and Flam.
Discord is going to need more popcorn.
10699384
Indistinguishable from science! <insert evil Spark cackling>
10699480
Two people who should have been tarred, feathered, and run out on a rail. I am a little surprised Rose hasn't mentioned that yet.
10699491
Perhaps she hasent realized who Tracy is talking about yet. Although when Roseluck dose connect the dots, she may be looking at Tracy like...
images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/c2e8ef05-0857-40cb-8d4b-9852e8db09ce/d56ky3z-ff32e154-0b75-4723-936a-11199b9516c1.png/v1/fill/w_900,h_941,q_80,strp/surprise_roseluck_by_zantyarz_d56ky3z-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOiIsImlzcyI6InVybjphcHA6Iiwib2JqIjpbW3siaGVpZ2h0IjoiPD05NDEiLCJwYXRoIjoiXC9mXC9jMmU4ZWYwNS0wODU3LTQwY2ItOGQ0Yi05ODUyZThkYjA5Y2VcL2Q1Nmt5M3otZmYzMmUxNTQtMGI3NS00NzIzLTkzNmEtMTExOTliOTUxNmMxLnBuZyIsIndpZHRoIjoiPD05MDAifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.iB2XlM2rj4I9f6KDMEsJDJDq877LC1B9Eb8jg1pwP-I
10699511
That's a cute Rose!
10699402
The problem with that, is that magic is a field of study there. Thaums and all that.
10699095
I put it down to this. I gave religious reasons to oppose your lifestyle but we are fellow Americans and you have the right. When you try to force me (not that YOU are but many zealots) to accept and promote your view I have a problem.
Uh oh. Not Flim and Flam!
10699257
I don't think they can straight up disallow him from working with them, at least legally. They can advise him based on their history with the duo, however. It should still be his choice whether he works with them or not.
Tracy has just been given a massive opportunity!
But in fairness, if the FF Bros can gracefully pass this venture to Tracy it will be the best thing they can do.
10699591
Well, if she really wanted to I bet Twilight could issue some kind of formal decree... but I doubt she would. Otherwise, you're right— it's Tracy's call based on what kind of input the townsfolk may give him. Ultimately—depending on the consequences—it'll probably be Rose's sway, no matter what anybody else says.
You would think Rose would remember what back-stabbing scumbags the FF bros were.
10699671
Really hoping that somewhere in Rose's talk with Trace, was a very throughout and repeated warning about those two 'buisness venturing' ponies
If I've pinned the Flim-Flam down right, they're a mix of opportunistic buisness-ventures and inventive conartists - they're the kind of people that could genuinely suceed as entrepreneurs, if they weren't so gung ho on coning ponies for easy money in the short run.
They're like the kind of people who cheat the system, not because they couldn’t do at least as well if they applied themselves just as much to an honest living, but because it's become a game / lifestyle for them to find and exploit all the loop holes.
10699731
They’re not even really malicious about it. They just... have a few screws that got left loose when their moral compass was assembled, so it wiggles and wavers a bit.
wow a amazing chapter.
the art is awesome.
10699731
The thing is, in the series we don't even know if they were the inventors. The Cider machine could've been stolen from a con as well. They haven't really portrayed any engineering prowess on their own besides powering the device.
10699787
They were also seemingly unaware of the limitations of the cider machine, so that could be further evidence that they merely conned/stole the machine(or its plans) from someone who actually knew what they were doing.
10699794
10699787
Never claimed that they invented the lot of it themselves
But they sure knew how to make a (con)buisness opportunity out of it
10699567
Are you the very devout Christian friend in question...?
10699282
Maybe Spark Gap/Tracy should grab some old manuals and other resources from Earth before he decides to stay there or not. After all, it is old technology to Earth; the books on how to assemble and repair old radio transmitters ae probably readily available...
10699918
That would involve jumping entire era, from quicksilver rectifier to a running wave tube and detector crystals (for receivers)