>You clear another space on your workbench.
>You've spent the better part of today trying to build the jetpack Mk 3.
>It's not going so well.
>You need some very specific parts, and there's not a pony in Equestria that could machine them.
>You stare at the empty space on the bench, and try to think of a way to make those parts.
>You come up with a schematic for a sort of 3D printer type thing, and sketch it out on the table.
>Scootaloo gives it a look over, and the two of you start digging through the piles of scrap in your workshop for the necessary parts.
>Once you've found about half the parts you need, you start building the device.
>Scootaloo continues to find the necessary bits.
>Partway through building it, you a brief thought crosses your mind that gives you an idea.
>Rivets and Humphrey seemed to work well enough, and almost everything else you've made has been either a slapdash and jury-rigged tool, or has failed spectacularly.
>Perhaps a bit of intelligence is what your contraptions need?
>You put together a quick clockwork brain of sorts, and implement it in the 3D printer.
>Half an hour or so later, you've finished your machine.
>It looks like an industrial microwave, with mechanical arms and such inside.
>There's a section where things are printed behind a glass screen, a little keyboard input type thing, and a coin slot.
"Do you have a bit I can use?"
>"Sure do, Anonymous!"
>She tosses you a coin, and you put it in the coin slot.
>Then, you tap some of the keys on the input, and start it up.
>There's a bright white light as the coin is rendered down into it's component protons, electrons and neutrons.
>The subatomic particles are then re-assembled into iron atoms, which are used to print out a specialized piece of twisted metal.
>When the device dings to say it's done, you open it up and take the part out.
>Exactly to your specifications.
>You pat the machine.
"Good boy."
>You think you'll call it Jerry.
>You start working on the jetpack again.
>It's much easier now that you can just print whatever specialised parts you need out, but a problem quickly arises.
>Scootaloo doesn't have much money, and neither do you.
>Oh well.
>You keep working on the jetpack regardless.
>In spite of the fact that you don't have half the specialised parts you need, you manage to complete it.
>It looks a lot sleeker than your previous designs, and the wings aren't just an afterthought.
>It's also got another clockwork mind in it, which should help with stabilising and such.
"You know what this means, Scoots?"
>She looks up at you, eyes agleam.
>"Test run?"
"You bet!"
>You grab up the jetpack and run for the local park.
>Scootaloo gets strapped in, and you give the jetpack a firm kick.
>It hums to life, and Scootaloo prepares herself.
>Then, a dazzling white flame comes out of the jetpack's rear, and it takes off.
>It's... actually working.
>Whenever something slips Scootaloo's mind as she pilots the device, the on board clockwork brain picks up the slack.
>It's quite a sight to behold.
>Eventually, Scootaloo comes in for the landing, and pulls it off.
>She skids to a stop, only slightly gouging the ground.
>"That was so cool!"
"Damn straight!"
>You both celebrate for a bit, before you notice the sun going down.
"It's getting late. We should go home."
>Scootaloo looks disappointed, but leaves anyway.
>You make your way back to your workshop, and start preparing a proper place to sleep.
>This barn in particular has lasted an extraordinary amount of time without exploding.
>You should improve it.
>But that's a project for tomorrow. Tonight: sleep.
>You clear off a workbench, and lie down on it.
>You really need a mattress or something if you're going to live here.
>Anyway, you close your eyes, and go to sleep.
>You still have a feeling like someone can see inside your head.
>Having that feeling two nights in a row can't be good.
>Opening your eyes, you roll off the table, and thump into the floor.
>You get up and brush the jagged pieces of metal off your clothes.
>Today, you shall turn this building from a barn into a workshop!
>But first you need more scrap metal.
>You whistle sharply, and Rivets hops up on your workbench/bed.
>His left side has a relatively large dent in it.
>That won't do.
>You get a piece of scrap and use it to pop that piece of his brass shell off.
>Then you get a hammer and start to beat the plate back into shape.
>It's not quite so flawless as it once was, but it'll do.
>You click it back into place.
>"Rivet, rivet!"
"Fantastic! Now, could you get me some corrugated iron and stuff? Any sheet metal will do, but corrugated iron has the look I want. Oh, and a mattress, too, if you would."
>"Rivet!"
>Rivets salutes you and then hops off to get things.
>You grab a couple armfuls of scrap metal, and start nailing them to the walls.
>You get about half of the room covered, before Scootaloo enters.
"Hello! Don't mind me, just making the workshop sturdier."
>She answers with a vague noise in the affirmative, then tosses the jetpack on the bench.
>Worrying.
>You hop down from the wall, and look over her shoulder at what she's doing.
"What's wrong with it now?"
>"Nothing, I just thought of some ways I could improve it!"
>Ahh. One after your own heart, this one.
"Well, what's mine is yours!"
>You pick up another armful of scrap and continue plastering the walls in junk.
>A minute or so later, and Rivets returns, towing some sheets of corrugated iron, a few squares of sheet metal, and a mattress.
"Thanks, Rivets!"
>And he hops away. What a swell guy!
>You drag the mattress into the corner, and toss the scrap you were holding onto it.
>Then you go outside and start attaching corrugated iron to the outside of the barn.
>Applejack sees what you're doing, and decides to come over for a friendly chat.
>"What the hay are you doin' that for?!"
>You nail another sheet on.
"You complained that I kept blowing up your barns."
>Another sheet on.
"So I'm making this barn harder to blow up."
>"Oh."
>She thinks for a bit.
>"Well where did you get that metal from?"
>Another bit of corrugated iron. 'Tis exhausting work, this.
"Not a clue. Rivets brought it to me."
>"Rivets?"
>You whistle sharply, while nailing another particularly large sheet of corrugated iron on.
>Rivets appears from over a hill and bounds towards you.
>Once he's close enough, he hops up Applejack's tail, across her back, and onto her head.
>Applejack stumbles backwards and swipes at the frog. Then she falls over, and Rivets hops off to prevent being crushed.
>Once Applejack get back up, you put Rivets on your hand and show him to her.
"This, is Rivets. Named so on account of the noise that a clockwork frog makes."
>"Rivet, rivet!"
>Applejack looks at Rivets strangely.
>"Now that just ain't natural."
"'Course it ain't. Technology in action, right here! Hey, Rivets, go fetch her hat for me, will you?"
>"Rivet!"
>And so Rivets leaps for Applejack's head. In response, Applejack stumbles around, trying to keep the contraption away from her like it's a spider or something.
>It's quite amusing to watch while it lasts, but eventually Rivets snatches the hat up and brings it back to you.
"Good boy!"
>You pick up the hat, and throw it back to Applejack.
>She grumbles at you, and tries to give you an evil look before she flees.
>Silly pony. Ponies can't give evil looks, they're too adorable.
>At any rate, you continue to nail the panels onto the barn.
>You're done by midday, and re-enter the barn.
>What to build next?