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Description
"Can you fly any slower?!" Golden Rays called out to his twin brother, NiteFall, who was a few meters behind him. NiteFall, could go faster, but the sun was setting, and he wanted to be out when it got dark. He liked the dark. But besides that, he was mad at his brother. Why? Well, when they were practicing with their spears, Golden Rays scratched his foreleg. It didn't need stitches, but it wouldn't stop bleeding until after the Guard Graduation. He wasn't mad at his brother because he was hurt and bleeding (for it happened many times in the past), he was mad because he was going to get babied by Mama Cherry if she found out.
"Come on! If we don't hurry, we'll miss the surprise at the Doctor's place!"
NiteFall did like the Doctor, even though he was a little weird. His home was very weird. It's a blue Telephone Booth he calls the TARDIS. And it many look small on the outside, but as soon as you walk inside, it's almost like a mansion or giant laboratory. Maybe both? His TARDIS rested a top of a lonely hill, beside a lonely tree. Must be lonely. Sometimes it's there, sometimes it isn't. It makes NiteFall wonder where in Equestria it could be.
At last, the sun has set, and NiteFall reached the TARDIS with his brother. The small blue box was sitting on top of the hill like always, and there was a yellow glow from under the door crack. Golden Rays raised his hoof and knocked three times.
In a matter of moments, the door slowly opened, and they were greeted by, yet, another Pegasus. A grey Pegasus.
"Why, hello there! Come to see the Doc's newest invention!? You're mother Snow Angel told me you'd be coming. Please, come inside. You're moms are worried sick about you."
"Thank you Miss Derpy!" Golden Rays chirped.
"Yes, thank you," NiteFall repeated, in a much lower tone.
Derpy smiled and let them inside. As expected, the TARDIS was way bigger than it was on the outside. Thankfully, Miss Ditzy was here to guide them to the Doctor and their moms. Cherry was a friend of Derpy's for a long time. They were pen pals, for Derpy lived in Cloudsdale and Cherry lived in Ponyville.
"Goldie! Nite!" And there she was, Derpy's pen pal. Mama Blossom, and beside her, Mommy Angel.
Golden Rays ran to hug their moms. NiteFall soon join in. He may not like being hugged, but he loves his mothers.
"I'll go get the Doctor and tell him we're ready!" Derpy said.
"Did you get here alright?" Mama Blossom asked.
"Yes," Golden Rays answered.
"You didn't get lost?" Cherry Blossom asked.
"No Mama Blossom, we didn't..." NiteFall said, trying to hide his wound.
"None of you tripped and got hurt? You both made sure to eat before you left? And you brought a scarf, I don't want you to get cold! And you-"
"Oh for Celestia's sake Cherry, NiteFall and Golden Rays are standing before you. They know the rules you gave them! You don't need to remind them and baby them every moment of everyday!" Snow Angel defended.
"If it wasn't for me and my rules, you would probably let them do what ever it is babies without supervision do!" Cherry argued.
"If it wasn't for me, they would be under your eye 24/7!" Angel counter-argued.
"Moms!" Golden Rays cried. Both of their heads turned to see Golden Rays with a worried expression and NiteFall with blank stare.
NiteFall knew that they loved each other very much (Too much for his understanding), but when it comes to him and his brother, they debate on what's best for them. NiteFall knew they loved each other, yes, but he wondered whether or not Golden Rays and he will break them apart.
Cherry Blossom and Snow Angel loved Goldie and him as if they were their biological sons.
"Oh sweetheart, we're not fighting, we're just-" Mama Blossom began.
"Do you always have to sugar coat it, they're old enough to know and understand that we do fight!" Mommy Angel replied. Cherry Blossom gave her a death glare.
"Come on Cherry. We agreed about this years ago. I'd be more careful with them as long as you give them a little more space and freedom," Snow Angel said, wrapping her hoof around her wife.
NiteFall turned to his other mother. Cherry looked into Angel's pink eyes and smiled. "I love your memory as much as I love you in general."
"And I love you just as much as I love your forgiving-nature," Angel said, lightly kissing her forehead. Cherry looked rather puzzled for a moment before shaking her head and laughing.
"I swear, sometimes I wonder why I'm wearing his ring," Cherry said, jokingly, pointing towards the golden ring on her horn.
"Because you love the mare you married. That's the reason why I have mine," Mommy Angel said, her hoof on Mama's Blossom's cheek.
NiteFall's expression didn't change (it hardly ever does), but his worry-meter did, and he could tell Golden Rays' did too.
Suddenly, thanks to his keen hearing, NiteFall was about to hear 4 sets of hooves walking down the TARDIS towards the room they were in. He also heard the squeaking of old wheels, dragging something here. When he turned his head, NiteFall saw a lavender unicorn filly, a purple unicorn mare in her teens, a grey Pegasus with the most amazing eyes in all of Equestria, and a light brown earth pony with an hourglass for a cutie-mark. Dinky, Amethyst, Derpy, and the Doctor. The Doctor had a rope in his mouth and he was dragging something in the room. "Do you need any help, Doctor?" Mama Blossom asked.
"No! No! Just about got it!" he cried despite the rope in his mouth.
"GOLDIE!" Dinky shrieked and ran to him. Golden Rays foal-sat Dinky sometimes while Derpy was on mail duty, the Doctor was busy, or when Amethyst was at her job.
"How are you Dinky!?" NiteFall's brother asked the little filly.
"Great! Mama and the Doctor are going to take me to town tomorrow to get flowers for my school project!" Dinky said with joy.
"That's amazing!" he replied.
NiteFall stopped listening to him at this point. There was no need too. No point too. It was their business to talk about. No need to snoop.
He was more interested in the what was hidden under the white cloth brought by the Doctor.
"Note to self, next time, have group gathering in the room where the invention was made... Instead of 20 rooms down. The stairs were a nightmare..."
"Good evening Doctor," NiteFall politely said. The stallion smiled at him. "Good evening my friend! Or rather good day if you live across the world! Are you excited to hear about my newest project!" the Doctor said with excitement.
NiteFall blinked. "Yes..." he said with an expressionless tone and face. He wasn't lying.
"Well take a seat next to Miss Amethyst and the show shall begin!"
And NiteFall did so, he sat beside the purple mare with gems for a cutie-mark. She had this, blank expression on her face. Not like his, more like, she was dead or something. Her face was paler than usual, and she hadn't been sleeping, he could tell. Dark rings were around her eyes. Also, whenever they met in the past, her mane was kept keen and pristine, with shiny conditioner and it looked alive. These days, it was a mess. You can tell it was barely brushed, it was unclean (maybe washed once every week or so), and it lost its glow.
He began to worry.
NiteFall didn't like to talk about his feelings, but he had to say something. "Amethyst, are you al-"
"Attention! Attention!" the Doctor had interrupted. Well, so much for talking. Everyone became quiet. Derpy sat beside Cherry Blossom and Snow Angel. Dinky sat beside Golden Rays, and of course, NiteFall sat beside the troubled Amethyst.
"Mares and gentlecolts! I have spent months working on a new project that I can safely say that no pony has been able to accomplish in this dimension for at least a thousand years!"
Okay, now NiteFall was interested. He doesn't know anything that was done 1000 years ago that ponies these days don't do.
"I must warn you all that this may either strike you with fear, or draw you closer! But once I reveal it to you, I will need you all to hear me and what I must say," the Doctor said, his hoof on the white sheet.
"I'm sure it's amazing!" Derpy said with a smile.
"Thank you Ms. Ditzy! Now prepare for my greatest and latest creation of all time!"
With one tug, it went down. It all went down...
Beside the Doctor was a pony made of metal. That's the best way NiteFall could describe it. It seemed to be some sort of earth pony, stallion, robot or something. It had a golden-copper coat of fur, a brown and shiny mane, and it was covered in scraps, nuts, and bolts. But the one thing NiteFall noticed right away was the giant heart on his chest. And his eyes were closed.
"Doctor! What is that thing?!" Mommy Angel asked, obviously afraid.
"Well, more like who it is!" he responded, trying to calm her down!
NiteFall was surrounded in a cyan-like magical aura before being dragged behind Mama Blossom. "Keep it away from my children please!" she cried.
"Oh no Miss Blossom! You misunderstand! It's not here to harm! It's here to-"
"Doctor! What did you do?"
NiteFall turned to the voice who said it. The grey Pegasus had one wing wrapped around each of her kids.
"Ms. Ditzy! Every pony! Please listen!" he shouted.
And NiteFall did so. His whole life was based on listening. The Doctor took a deep breath, closing his eyes to help him concentrate. Once everyone was quiet, the Doctor stood beside the robotic thing.
"Everyone, this is Grinding Gears, or Gears if you prefer. I spent exactly 7 month, 3 weeks, and 4 days working on him. From designing to building. He is not here to harm ANYONE! He is here to help me, and my studies, but not like my slave or a servant, but as a friend. Or so I hope."
"You hope?" Amethyst questioned.
"Well yes... You see, when I programed him, I didn't want to just give him the mind of a robot, I gave him the choice of his life. Which ultimately means his life is based on him, including his "past" which he doesn't really remember. That's where I helped out with his memory!"
"So basically, he has a normal-like brain?" Golden Rays asked.
"Exactly! But it's made of gears of course! Not an actual brain!"
"So, does he remember the past you progamy for him?" Dinky asked.
The Doctor kneeled beside the young unicorn. "His programmed memory, my dear. He remembers some events, for I can not program an entire life for this pony, but the rest is a blur. Almost like amnesia. His past will determine how he will act towards us."
"What kind of past did he receive?" Cherry asked.
"Well, mostly good things. Happy childhood, homeschooled, healthy family... and that's where the joy ends..." the Doctor was silent, which made NiteFall wonder. "That's when the amnesia kicks in," he added.
The Doctor looked that the "sleeping" robot and then back at them. "I will turn him on now, and it's up to him to decide how he's going to live his life. He could be a gentle, kind stallion that will treat us all kindly... or... he will create havoc and possibly..." His voiced trailed off.
Mama Blossom was now holding her sons, tightly, defending them like a mother would do.
"If it comes down to that, Ditzy, Cherry, Angel... take the kids and run! Leave the TARDIS, and don't come back for me."
"Doctor!" Ditzy squeaked.
It's all good readers, because I can always regenerate!
...
NiteFall managed to get out the grip of his mother to see the Doctor turn on this machine.
"Oh and one more thing... What ever you do, never, and I mean NEVER mention that he's a robot. Don't point out his metal coat, his robotic body, his golden heart, NOTHING! He will be treated as a normal pony. Please don't treat him as... a different pony," the Doctor said.
Derpy stood up and walked to the Doctor. "I won't," she smiled sweetly.
"If I must say Doc, you're treating this Robot as if he was your own son. I'm quite proud!" Mommy Angel said.
The Doctor blushed slightly. "W-well, I did build him..."
"We won't say anything Doctor," Amethyst said, in a dead-like tone.
"Thank you Amethyst," the Doctor said once more. "Now prepare, and remember, no words on robots!"
The Doctor took out his Sonic Screwdriver and placed it over the robot referred as Gears' heart. Sparks of electricity came out and traveled through the body of Gears. Suddenly, the whir and clicks of gears turning inside of him were obvious.
"It may take a while for him to start up..." The Doctor said. NiteFall walked closer to the robot. "Be careful sweetie!" Cherry Blossom said. "Leave him be honey, let him discover for himself," Snow Angel said.
Soon enough, NiteFall was standing right in front of the odd pony. Slowly, but surely, the robot's eyes opened. It was no eyes he have ever seen before. A bright blue but different shape. Beautiful indeed.
Gears looked in front of him and saw NiteFall's bright green eyes. A moment of silence came over them. Gears looked confused. Should he panic? Should he say something? Should he run? NiteFall stared a while longer before clearing his throat.
"Hello..." NiteFall said in a low tone.
Gears looked at NiteFall for another 10 seconds or so. NiteFall felt as if everyone else in the room was gone, that it was only them two.
NiteFall watched, as the impossible happened. Gears' mouth widened into a bright smile.
"Hello!" it responded.
Gears was alive. Gears was good. Gears...
Found a friend...

Description
"Can you fly any slower?!" Golden Rays called out to his twin brother, NiteFall, who was a few meters behind him. NiteFall, could go faster, but the sun was setting, and he wanted to be out when it got dark. He liked the dark. But besides that, he was mad at his brother. Why? Well, when they were practicing with their spears, Golden Rays scratched his foreleg. It didn't need stitches, but it wouldn't stop bleeding until after the Guard Graduation. He wasn't mad at his brother because he was hurt and bleeding (for it happened many times in the past), he was mad because he was going to get babied by Mama Cherry if she found out.
"Come on! If we don't hurry, we'll miss the surprise at the Doctor's place!"
NiteFall did like the Doctor, even though he was a little weird. His home was very weird. It's a blue Telephone Booth he calls the TARDIS. And it many look small on the outside, but as soon as you walk inside, it's almost like a mansion or giant laboratory. Maybe both? His TARDIS rested a top of a lonely hill, beside a lonely tree. Must be lonely. Sometimes it's there, sometimes it isn't. It makes NiteFall wonder where in Equestria it could be.
At last, the sun has set, and NiteFall reached the TARDIS with his brother. The small blue box was sitting on top of the hill like always, and there was a yellow glow from under the door crack. Golden Rays raised his hoof and knocked three times.
In a matter of moments, the door slowly opened, and they were greeted by, yet, another Pegasus. A grey Pegasus.
"Why, hello there! Come to see the Doc's newest invention!? You're mother Snow Angel told me you'd be coming. Please, come inside. You're moms are worried sick about you."
"Thank you Miss Derpy!" Golden Rays chirped.
"Yes, thank you," NiteFall repeated, in a much lower tone.
Derpy smiled and let them inside. As expected, the TARDIS was way bigger than it was on the outside. Thankfully, Miss Ditzy was here to guide them to the Doctor and their moms. Cherry was a friend of Derpy's for a long time. They were pen pals, for Derpy lived in Cloudsdale and Cherry lived in Ponyville.
"Goldie! Nite!" And there she was, Derpy's pen pal. Mama Blossom, and beside her, Mommy Angel.
Golden Rays ran to hug their moms. NiteFall soon join in. He may not like being hugged, but he loves his mothers.
"I'll go get the Doctor and tell him we're ready!" Derpy said.
"Did you get here alright?" Mama Blossom asked.
"Yes," Golden Rays answered.
"You didn't get lost?" Cherry Blossom asked.
"No Mama Blossom, we didn't..." NiteFall said, trying to hide his wound.
"None of you tripped and got hurt? You both made sure to eat before you left? And you brought a scarf, I don't want you to get cold! And you-"
"Oh for Celestia's sake Cherry, NiteFall and Golden Rays are standing before you. They know the rules you gave them! You don't need to remind them and baby them every moment of everyday!" Snow Angel defended.
"If it wasn't for me and my rules, you would probably let them do what ever it is babies without supervision do!" Cherry argued.
"If it wasn't for me, they would be under your eye 24/7!" Angel counter-argued.
"Moms!" Golden Rays cried. Both of their heads turned to see Golden Rays with a worried expression and NiteFall with blank stare.
NiteFall knew that they loved each other very much (Too much for his understanding), but when it comes to him and his brother, they debate on what's best for them. NiteFall knew they loved each other, yes, but he wondered whether or not Golden Rays and he will break them apart.
Cherry Blossom and Snow Angel loved Goldie and him as if they were their biological sons.
"Oh sweetheart, we're not fighting, we're just-" Mama Blossom began.
"Do you always have to sugar coat it, they're old enough to know and understand that we do fight!" Mommy Angel replied. Cherry Blossom gave her a death glare.
"Come on Cherry. We agreed about this years ago. I'd be more careful with them as long as you give them a little more space and freedom," Snow Angel said, wrapping her hoof around her wife.
NiteFall turned to his other mother. Cherry looked into Angel's pink eyes and smiled. "I love your memory as much as I love you in general."
"And I love you just as much as I love your forgiving-nature," Angel said, lightly kissing her forehead. Cherry looked rather puzzled for a moment before shaking her head and laughing.
"I swear, sometimes I wonder why I'm wearing his ring," Cherry said, jokingly, pointing towards the golden ring on her horn.
"Because you love the mare you married. That's the reason why I have mine," Mommy Angel said, her hoof on Mama's Blossom's cheek.
NiteFall's expression didn't change (it hardly ever does), but his worry-meter did, and he could tell Golden Rays' did too.
Suddenly, thanks to his keen hearing, NiteFall was about to hear 4 sets of hooves walking down the TARDIS towards the room they were in. He also heard the squeaking of old wheels, dragging something here. When he turned his head, NiteFall saw a lavender unicorn filly, a purple unicorn mare in her teens, a grey Pegasus with the most amazing eyes in all of Equestria, and a light brown earth pony with an hourglass for a cutie-mark. Dinky, Amethyst, Derpy, and the Doctor. The Doctor had a rope in his mouth and he was dragging something in the room. "Do you need any help, Doctor?" Mama Blossom asked.
"No! No! Just about got it!" he cried despite the rope in his mouth.
"GOLDIE!" Dinky shrieked and ran to him. Golden Rays foal-sat Dinky sometimes while Derpy was on mail duty, the Doctor was busy, or when Amethyst was at her job.
"How are you Dinky!?" NiteFall's brother asked the little filly.
"Great! Mama and the Doctor are going to take me to town tomorrow to get flowers for my school project!" Dinky said with joy.
"That's amazing!" he replied.
NiteFall stopped listening to him at this point. There was no need too. No point too. It was their business to talk about. No need to snoop.
He was more interested in the what was hidden under the white cloth brought by the Doctor.
"Note to self, next time, have group gathering in the room where the invention was made... Instead of 20 rooms down. The stairs were a nightmare..."
"Good evening Doctor," NiteFall politely said. The stallion smiled at him. "Good evening my friend! Or rather good day if you live across the world! Are you excited to hear about my newest project!" the Doctor said with excitement.
NiteFall blinked. "Yes..." he said with an expressionless tone and face. He wasn't lying.
"Well take a seat next to Miss Amethyst and the show shall begin!"
And NiteFall did so, he sat beside the purple mare with gems for a cutie-mark. She had this, blank expression on her face. Not like his, more like, she was dead or something. Her face was paler than usual, and she hadn't been sleeping, he could tell. Dark rings were around her eyes. Also, whenever they met in the past, her mane was kept keen and pristine, with shiny conditioner and it looked alive. These days, it was a mess. You can tell it was barely brushed, it was unclean (maybe washed once every week or so), and it lost its glow.
He began to worry.
NiteFall didn't like to talk about his feelings, but he had to say something. "Amethyst, are you al-"
"Attention! Attention!" the Doctor had interrupted. Well, so much for talking. Everyone became quiet. Derpy sat beside Cherry Blossom and Snow Angel. Dinky sat beside Golden Rays, and of course, NiteFall sat beside the troubled Amethyst.
"Mares and gentlecolts! I have spent months working on a new project that I can safely say that no pony has been able to accomplish in this dimension for at least a thousand years!"
Okay, now NiteFall was interested. He doesn't know anything that was done 1000 years ago that ponies these days don't do.
"I must warn you all that this may either strike you with fear, or draw you closer! But once I reveal it to you, I will need you all to hear me and what I must say," the Doctor said, his hoof on the white sheet.
"I'm sure it's amazing!" Derpy said with a smile.
"Thank you Ms. Ditzy! Now prepare for my greatest and latest creation of all time!"
With one tug, it went down. It all went down...
Beside the Doctor was a pony made of metal. That's the best way NiteFall could describe it. It seemed to be some sort of earth pony, stallion, robot or something. It had a golden-copper coat of fur, a brown and shiny mane, and it was covered in scraps, nuts, and bolts. But the one thing NiteFall noticed right away was the giant heart on his chest. And his eyes were closed.
"Doctor! What is that thing?!" Mommy Angel asked, obviously afraid.
"Well, more like who it is!" he responded, trying to calm her down!
NiteFall was surrounded in a cyan-like magical aura before being dragged behind Mama Blossom. "Keep it away from my children please!" she cried.
"Oh no Miss Blossom! You misunderstand! It's not here to harm! It's here to-"
"Doctor! What did you do?"
NiteFall turned to the voice who said it. The grey Pegasus had one wing wrapped around each of her kids.
"Ms. Ditzy! Every pony! Please listen!" he shouted.
And NiteFall did so. His whole life was based on listening. The Doctor took a deep breath, closing his eyes to help him concentrate. Once everyone was quiet, the Doctor stood beside the robotic thing.
"Everyone, this is Grinding Gears, or Gears if you prefer. I spent exactly 7 month, 3 weeks, and 4 days working on him. From designing to building. He is not here to harm ANYONE! He is here to help me, and my studies, but not like my slave or a servant, but as a friend. Or so I hope."
"You hope?" Amethyst questioned.
"Well yes... You see, when I programed him, I didn't want to just give him the mind of a robot, I gave him the choice of his life. Which ultimately means his life is based on him, including his "past" which he doesn't really remember. That's where I helped out with his memory!"
"So basically, he has a normal-like brain?" Golden Rays asked.
"Exactly! But it's made of gears of course! Not an actual brain!"
"So, does he remember the past you progamy for him?" Dinky asked.
The Doctor kneeled beside the young unicorn. "His programmed memory, my dear. He remembers some events, for I can not program an entire life for this pony, but the rest is a blur. Almost like amnesia. His past will determine how he will act towards us."
"What kind of past did he receive?" Cherry asked.
"Well, mostly good things. Happy childhood, homeschooled, healthy family... and that's where the joy ends..." the Doctor was silent, which made NiteFall wonder. "That's when the amnesia kicks in," he added.
The Doctor looked that the "sleeping" robot and then back at them. "I will turn him on now, and it's up to him to decide how he's going to live his life. He could be a gentle, kind stallion that will treat us all kindly... or... he will create havoc and possibly..." His voiced trailed off.
Mama Blossom was now holding her sons, tightly, defending them like a mother would do.
"If it comes down to that, Ditzy, Cherry, Angel... take the kids and run! Leave the TARDIS, and don't come back for me."
"Doctor!" Ditzy squeaked.
It's all good readers, because I can always regenerate!
...
NiteFall managed to get out the grip of his mother to see the Doctor turn on this machine.
"Oh and one more thing... What ever you do, never, and I mean NEVER mention that he's a robot. Don't point out his metal coat, his robotic body, his golden heart, NOTHING! He will be treated as a normal pony. Please don't treat him as... a different pony," the Doctor said.
Derpy stood up and walked to the Doctor. "I won't," she smiled sweetly.
"If I must say Doc, you're treating this Robot as if he was your own son. I'm quite proud!" Mommy Angel said.
The Doctor blushed slightly. "W-well, I did build him..."
"We won't say anything Doctor," Amethyst said, in a dead-like tone.
"Thank you Amethyst," the Doctor said once more. "Now prepare, and remember, no words on robots!"
The Doctor took out his Sonic Screwdriver and placed it over the robot referred as Gears' heart. Sparks of electricity came out and traveled through the body of Gears. Suddenly, the whir and clicks of gears turning inside of him were obvious.
"It may take a while for him to start up..." The Doctor said. NiteFall walked closer to the robot. "Be careful sweetie!" Cherry Blossom said. "Leave him be honey, let him discover for himself," Snow Angel said.
Soon enough, NiteFall was standing right in front of the odd pony. Slowly, but surely, the robot's eyes opened. It was no eyes he have ever seen before. A bright blue but different shape. Beautiful indeed.
Gears looked in front of him and saw NiteFall's bright green eyes. A moment of silence came over them. Gears looked confused. Should he panic? Should he say something? Should he run? NiteFall stared a while longer before clearing his throat.
"Hello..." NiteFall said in a low tone.
Gears looked at NiteFall for another 10 seconds or so. NiteFall felt as if everyone else in the room was gone, that it was only them two.
NiteFall watched, as the impossible happened. Gears' mouth widened into a bright smile.
"Hello!" it responded.
Gears was alive. Gears was good. Gears...
Found a friend...