A.N. - In this opening chapter I mention that Steammechs, but don’t really go into much detail on their appearances. If you want to visualize them, imagine the Big Daddy from Bioshock if he was a steam powered robotic earth pony larger then a regular pony
The engine let out a burst of steam as it sped down the track towards the large gates that sealed the entrance to the Clockwork Dominion. The gears of the door turned and clanked as the opened to allow the engine into the sprawling city. The first thing that is noticed in the city as you enter the largely mechanical city is the large clock tower in the center. The royal blue unicorn poked his head out as the city came more and more into view. Gears turned everywhere and steam bellowed out of pipes left and right. His eyes gazed on the ponies he saw out the windows, all Earth Ponies dressed in dominion outfits. All were variations of the default of golden shoulder plates with a strap across their chests that attaches to them, a variation of either a black fedora, top hat, or wide brimmed hat, several of which having cogs and pipes attached to them. Each of them had their own personalization such as golden face mask, goggles, and steam power equipment. The unicorns own attire, a brown trench coat ,his goggles, and his steam powered noise mufflers around his neck stuck out a lot. Under his coat you could see his cutie mark, a group of cogs surrounded by a magical aura.
As the engine came to a stop, the unicorn picked up his satchel and got up to leave.
“Gadget, we’re here.” The Unicorn said
With a puff of steam from the seat, a long mechanical snake came slivering out. It lashed out its tongue and slivered into the unicorn’s satchel, letting its head lay just outside the bag. The doors opened wide and the unicorn stepped out of the engine. The unicorn walked up to the customs office that stood between him and the town. He walked up to the full face visor wearing pony who was there. He looked up at the unicorn walking up to him.
“A unicorn? Not often we see one of you anymore” He said with a rather indignant tone “State you name and profession”
“My name is Syn Thysis and I am an Alchemist-in-Training” The Unicorn said to the earth pony
“It seems that with your magic, you took such a dead profession with you” The customs officer said pick up a form “For what purpose does a unicorn have in Clockwork”
“Personal interest, I want to see the biggest city in the earth pony faction” Syn said looking at the door out
“Alright, follow the Steammechs out” The earth pony said, pointing to the large steam powered robotic guards “ And a word of warning, with how rare it is to see unicorns, many ponies do not trust them”
Steam burst from the pony like Steammechs as the pushed the large door to Clockwork. As Syn stepped out he heard many voices as the ponies around him started to take notice that he was a unicorn. He pulled down his goggles and put his noise mufflers over his ears.
Syn glanced around at the large mechanical city. Despite what he told the customs worker, he was actually there for a reason. During his travels he had been stopped by a earth pony claiming that he was a Dominion council member. He stopped him to tell him that his leader had been looking for someone to help with a problem, specifically a unicorn. He wouldn’t give details as to what it was or why they wanted a unicorn specifically, he just said to come by if he wanted to know more.
Syn had decided to first decided to look around the town before he headed to the capital building, the center clock tower. He took of his noise mufflers so that he could hear what was going on around him. E noticed that down here on the lower part of the city was much grimmer then the upper areas. From a nearby alley he heard several gun shots and saw no one looking anyone in the eye. There seemed to be a lot of animosity towards him, as he had been warned. Everyone was keeping their distance and there were many whispers among the crowd.
“It seems like this part of town is in a state of distress” Syn said to Gadget, who hissed back
Thinking for his own good he should stay down here to long, Syn walked over to the elevator to the upper sections of the city. With a low hiss the pistons began to move and the elevator climbed upwards. Syn ducked as he heard a gunshot wiz by him like on of the ponies from down below had shot at him. As he reached the upper level, he saw that the city was much more hospitable then down below. The Steammechs guarding the elevator watched him as he passed. The ponies up here seemed to have more steam powered accessories then the ponies below. The ponies below clearly with the low class of the dominion and steam power objects aren’t just sold to anyone. They seemed to pay much less attention to him then the low class ponies, but the presence of a unicorn still turned a few heads.
Syn walked up to the foot of the clock tower and push the door open with his magic. The hall was lined with Steammechs that lead up to the inner door to the council room. Syn preceded forward with the Steammechs following his movements. When he reached the door, he gave a knock and with the sound of turning gears the door came open. Inside Syn saw a group of earth ponies clad in similar attire to that of the ponies in the street. The only on that stood out was the one at the front of the group, and earth pony that looked like he was wearing a full suit of machinery over his normal body. Several steam exhaust pipes were sticking out of him to release the steam powering his suit. The only part of his actual body was his scarlet eyes that looked directly at the young unicorn.
“Ah, the Unicorn has arrived” The one in the mechanical suit said “ Please step forward”
The mechanical suited pony had his eyes on Syn as he approached the group.
“ So you accepted my associates proposal, I see.” He said, letting out a burst of steam from his suit
“Actually sir, I’m here to hear the proposal” Syn replied
The mechanical suited ponies head shoot around to glare at the pony who had told Syn to come here. The earth pony slinked back a little from the ponies glare.
“I thought I told you to explain this ahead of time.” The mechanical one said
“Well, I figured he would listen better if he was here already” The pony said with his head down
The mechanical pony let out a sigh and returned his attention to Syn.
“Because of my associates incompetence, it seems I have to explain this” The mechanical one said, shooting the pony another glare “Let’s start with introductions, I am Gearshift Clockwork IV, forth descendent of Gearshift Clockwork, original leader of the Clockwork Dominion”
“ I’m Syn Thysis, Alchemist-in-training “ Syn replied
“Luckily alchemy will not be required” Clockwork said “Now, are you familiar with the Skyway Airfleet.”
“The travelling sky city of the Pegasus? What about them?” Syn replied
“Last week we received a communication of General Stormwing about a week ago” Clockwork said “They requested an audience with a representative of the Clockwork Dominion to discuss a proposition”
Clockwork walked forward towards Syn with burst of steam with every step.
“I’m still not seeing what you need of me?” Syn questioned
“The Pegasus have already tried to get us to vacate this city so they could use it as a repair port for the Airfleet” Clockwork said with a glint in his eye “I’m sure this proposition is just their way of trying again”
Clockwork looked out the window, where he could see the Airfleet reflected on the horizon. He turned back to look at Syn
“Now the reason I called you here is that I want you to talk to the Pegasus” Clockwork said to Syn “ The Pegasus and Earth Ponies have had a rocky relationship since my great grandfathers days, but the leadership of both sides are generally accepting when a Unicorn shows up”
“So, you want me to speak to General Stormwing and see what the Pegasus want” Syn said, he eyebrow cocked
“Affirmative” Clockwork responded “I set up the meeting with Stormwing, so the Airfleet will be here shortly”
“Wait, what do I get out of this, why should I get involved” Syn replied
“Ah yes, of course we didn’t expect you to do this for nothing” Clockwork said “ Once you return, we’ll will provide you with anything you need for your alchemy, provided it is within our power to provide”
“Alright, I will see what I can do then.” Syn nodded
The was a banging sound outside a the Airfleet stopped over the city and a lift was extended to the ground.
“It seems the fleet has arrived” Clockwork said looking out the window at the looming flowing city above “Go on”
Syn nodded and walked out of the capital building. Waiting by the lift were a pair of Pegasus guards clad in light weight mechanical armor. Clockwork had apparently told them ahead of time a Unicorn would be representing them as the Pegasus merely motioned for him to step onto the lift. He stepped onto the lift and looked up as the at the looming city on top of a giant aircraft. Around the city, its protector, a giant steam powered dragon, flew circles around it. The Lift Climbed slowly to the top as Clockwork Dominion slowly grew smaller and smaller. His sight was shortly blocked by the interior of the airship. The lift kept raising through the dark interior before it came to an opening to the City of Skyway.
The city looked like a giant factory with nearby towers producing the clouds and various other buildings that looked dedicated to other means of weather. The main focal point was a largest building that resembled an army barracks. Syn didn’t have long to look before another pair of Pegasus guards approached and motioned for him to follow. The lead him inside the barracks where Syn could see the guards in the middle of training against a three headed mechanical hydra. Syn was lead into the main office overlooking everything else and was told to wait there.
Syn wasn’t waiting long before General Stormwing appeared. Clad in full armor similar to the guards, but with a helmet and cape, Stormwing looked very imposing. The general took the helmet to reveal that she was female around his age with a dark red mane and royal blue coat. She placed her helmet down and looked up at Syn.
“Alright lets get to this, I assume you know who I am” She said getting straight to it “Has Clockwork given and answer to my proposal”
“That’s what I’m here for, he told me to come here and listen to the proposal” Syn said with a confused look
“ I clearly stated it in the communication” Stormwing said with a puzzled look “I told he that we would allow him to use the sky for airway transport to and from Clockwork Dominion as long as they let us dock from time to time for repairs”
“Well from what he told me, the Pegasus were trying to force the earth ponies to leave Clockwork Dominion, I never heard anything about airway travel.” Syn replied still looking confused
Stormwing’s eye lit up when he mentioned what Clockwork had said like a spark of fury had been lit in her heart
“That lying snake!” she said in an irritated tone “So he is the same as his father was”
She stated pacing back and forth. Syn merely looked on, trying to asses what was going on
“Mother told me he father was a liar and it seems the apple does fall far from the tree.” She muttered to herself “The Clockwork family has always kept the relationship between the Earth Ponies and the Pegasus rocky ever since his great grandfather started the dominion.”
Stormwing turned her head towards Syn to see he was still looking confused
“Oh, Sorry I was going off on a bit of a tangent” She said with a sigh “But really, he lied out right and set you in his place so that he didn’t have to confront me”