The Prototype

Year 5, month 3, day 26 since Luna's reform

"Okay, entry one, Not sure how these things are supposed to go, I've never done a journal before, so, I'll just do it. My name is Proto Byte, and this is my record of exciting adventures. Nope, couldn't keep a straight face. Anyway, i'll be recording all my work here. I should really have hired an assistant, especially with my, condition. The project is… coming along, my first prototype is magic based, it has to be, I just can't make one that works with the nervous system yet, and I don't know any pony with extensive knowledge on pony biology. Even Celestia won't help me with my progress, she had declined me multiple times to access data in the Canterlot archives, I don't know why, my intentions are for the best. Hhhh, well, only time will tell, and trial and error will lead me to my final product. May Celestia aid me in my research, ugh yeah, we know how that played out. I should start worshiping Twilight."

Proto places down the pen and parchment onto her desk with her magic. She has a milky yellow coat with a white and lime green main / tail. Although she is a full grown mare, her condition has prevented her from successfully finding her cutie mark. Her condition if you are wondering is that she is a quadriplegic from birth. As you can imagine, an entire life with no legs would pose quite a wall to progress. Her parents were electricity analysts from the university of Phillydelphia. Despite her disability, She herself went to and successfully earned a masters degree in electrical engineering from the same college, but with no prevail to aid her in finding her cutie mark. She currently resides in Canterlot near the library in an old studio apartment that she renovated into her lab.

Proto tries to walk over to her working table where she was working on a motherboard for a synthesizer. Using her magic, she moved 4 artificial limbs to walk herself over to the table. On the table lay her soldering iron and a motherboard she was working on. On attempting to pick up the iron, she lost focus on her hind leg and it slumped causing her to fall onto the floor. The soldering iron fell from her magic grip and landed onto her artificial limb. The heat caused the wood in it to catch fire. In her panic she grabbed a cloth from the work table and smothered the fire. once it was out she used her magic to stand back up, but the fire burnt a good chunk out of her limb and once she put her weight on it, it snapped in half, causing her to once again fall onto the floor. In pain and pretty ticked off, she looked over to her desk and took a piece of paper and a pen with her magic and wrote an advertisement for an assistant position. Once finished, she got her spare artificial limb from a chest in the corner of the room, replaced her broken one then walked out of her apartment to the library to post her advertisement.

Year 5 Month 3 Day 27

"Well it was much faster than I anticipated. Quite literally the next day some pony answered my add, This extra set of claws will really be a help around here, no you did not hear me wrong, the pony who answered my ad isn't a pony at all, he's a dragon! I've never seen a dragon before, so this is especially awesome, He is a bit on the odd side, when I asked his name, he didn't give me one, he just told me to direct him to the places that needed work."

Proto puts down her parchment and pen and walked over to her work table. The dragon sees this and walked over to her. He has blue scales and red-orange spikes going down his back and bright yellow eyes, He is a smaller dragon, about the height of princess luna.

The Dragon, "Need anything?"

Proto, "I need you to hold me up while I work on this"

Proto points her hoof at the motherboard on the work table

The Dragon, "hold you up?"

Proto, "You can do it right? I mean, you are a dragon"

The dragon "Yeah, I can do it, its just…:

Proto, "What?"

The Dragon "what if I, accidentally, violate your… personal space."

Proto, "can you do it or not?"

The Dragon, "y- yeah"

The dragon reaches over and holds up Proto from the belly. Proto then uses her magic to work on the motherboard. As she picks up the soldering iron, her artificial limbs go limp and the dragon slightly looses his balance due to the shift in weight.

The Dragon "Sooooo, what you working on?"

Proto, "Its a motherboard for a synthesizer, some pony in ponyville burnt out the bass fuse, So I'm repairing it for them."

The dragon, "Oh, okay….. so you're an engineer?"

Proto, "Yep, an electrical engineer."

The dragon looks around the room and sees her diploma on the wall.

The Dragon, "Wow, from UOP, you must know your stuff."

Proto, "Well, I try."

The Dragon, "How come you haven't made better artificial limbs?"

Proto sets down her iron and lets out a sigh

Proto, "Hhhh, I would love to, but a degree in electrical engineering doesn't necessarily make me an expert in biochemistry" Proto uses her magic to look at her limbs. "I can't build limbs if I have no knowledge on the pony nervous system."

Proto then picked up her iron again and resumed working

The Dragon, "well their nervous system runs at 100 joules with a refresh rate of 120 hertz, is really that hard to build something?"

Proto freezes stunned, she puts down the iron and looks over to the Dragon. she then uses her magic to control her artificial limbs and backs up to look the dragon in the eyes.

Proto, "How do you know that?"

The Dragon, "Its a bit of a hobby of mine"

Proto, "A HOBBY?!"

The Dragon, "Well, yeah. You study electronics, I study ponies"

Proto, "Have you worked at all with the nervous system?" She claims excitedly.

The Dragon, "Depends, unicorn or pegasus?"

Proto, "UNICORN!" She blurts out in her excitement

The Dragon is a bit confused from Proto's excitement, "Uhh, yeah."

Proto, "What about the muscular synapse surrounding limbs?!"

The Dragon, "Yes I have"

Proto, "Ohmygosh, THIS IS PERFECT! we can finally build them then!"

The Dragon, "build what?"

Proto, "NEW LIMBS!"

The Dragon, "really? cool. when?"

Proto, "uhh, whenever you can give me your data"

The Dragon, "OH! okay, I have some diagrams back at my house. Here I'll get them."

Proto, "WAIT!, can I come?"

The Dragon, "uhhhhh, okay!"

Proto then jumps in excitement and they proceed out the door.

When they reach The Dragon's house, Proto notices how its bigger than her apartment. They go inside and the main room is filled with piles of scrolls and diagrams of pony anatomy. Near the back of the room are 3 large computers hooked up to a series of electrodes which hung from the ceiling.

Proto is in shock and awe at the Dragons library of information and technology.

Proto, "If you have all this stuff, why did you need a job as an assistant?"

The Dragon, "I was bored."

Proto, "BORED?!"

Proto looks at him in shock and thinks to her self, "So thats why he accepted it with so little pay." She then shook it off and noticed that he was better equipped to build a set of artificial limbs than she was.

Proto, "this inventory is incredible." Proto looks over to The dragon, "this may sound off and kind've ironic but, do you think we could build them here?"

The Dragon, "Sure, I don't see why not."

Proto, "YES! but one thing, If were going to be working together, I am not going to call you just 'dragon' you need a name."

The Dragon, "Oh, thats not necessa…"

Proto, "Got it, how about Genus"

Genus, "Uhh, maybe no…"

Proto, "Y'know cause genus is short for genome and also for genius, cause your a genius on the pony genome and…"

Genus, "If you have to call me something, just, call me Jim"

Proto, "…Jim."

Jim, "Yeah, just call me Jim"

Proto, "Jim… right, okay then, Professor Jim. WAIT, THATS IT! Dr. J"

Dr. J, "Ohohoh, uhhh. yeah, n…"

Proto, "Its settled, I'll see you tomorrow with the supplies, Dr. J"

Dr. J, "Wait, b-but"

Proto went out the door towards her apartment.

Jim, "Hhhh, this is why I don't have a name"

Year 5, month 3, day 28

"Well isn't this a turn of events, I ask for an assistant and end up becoming one, and with such a genius anatomist. This could very well be my turning point, Once I have working legs, I can finally focus on my life, become a normal pony of society, Live my life, maybe even find a special some pony if I'm lucky. I owe it all to Jim, still not sure on the name, or him for that matter."

Proto rides up to Jim's house with a cart behind her carrying supplies needed to craft a basic artificial limb, along are various electronic boards and wiring equipment. She goes to the front door of Jim's house and knocks with her artificial hoof. Jim opens the door and lets her in, she unstraps the cart and walks over to his table.

Proto, "Okay, show me what you got"

Jim takes out a large diagram showing the anatomy of a unicorn.

Proto, "I'm know I'm not the anatomist in this situation, quite literally, but this doesn't look like the nervous system of a unicorn."

The diagram was a base drawing of a unicorn, the head showed a large central sphere and thick veins moving down the spine towards the chest, none heading to the limbs or even all the way towards the back of the pony, they seemed to end around the abdomen.

Proto, "what is it?"

Jim, "This is the magic system of unicorns, this is how magic is transferred and used through the body. Unicorns are the only species that can control their magic, which uses it up, so they have an organ in the abdomen which can produce it, that is then transferred to the spine where it is stored, and then to the cranium and horn to be used."

Proto is stunned by his knowledge, "Wow, thats fantastic information but what does it have to do with us?"

Jim, "I may not be the electrical engineer, quite literally, but do you plan on charging your legs in order to use them? Because I wouldn't, what you need is a pair of limbs that is powered by you, I suggest magic"

Proto, "I thought you were a anatomist, now your a magic expert? you can't even use magic?"

Jim, "the two go hand in hand, I study magic, but in order to truly understand how it effects ponies, you have to understand how ponies work."

Proto, "I guess that makes sense."

Jim takes out another diagram

Jim, "Is this what you were looking for?"

The diagram showed an extensive look at the nervous system of unicorns, there was a large cluster of nerves grouping around the brain and a massive stream of them leading from the brain to the horn. Proto looks at the nerves surrounding the legs.

Proto, "Here, how many connections are in the limbs"

Jim, "Including all the micro strands? Hundreds, can you wire that many?"

Proto, "I can wire anything"

Jim, "okay then"

Proto, "how do we plan on powering this with magic?"

Jim, "Simple, magic produced in your magic gland is 100% pure, meaning it has no indefinite form until made so by your horn, Pure magic is an unstable collection of electrons, we can use those to focus a beam of electrons to each artificial limb allowing it to receive power, electricity is just a steam of electrons moving through metal, thats how we use your magic to power it."

Proto, "Then lets get to work."

Year 5, month 4, day 11

"Its been a solid 2 weeks, we've been through numerous tests and we finally have a set of 4 working prototype limbs to be powered my my magic. The only problem is that I need surgery in order for the limbs to be powered properly. we packed them up in my cart and are headed to Canterlot Hospital to get the surgery. I've gone my entire life having to be a legless freak, I'm not going to let a small little surgery get in my way."

Proto and Jim walk up to the front of the hospital with her cart in tow, she parks it and they walk inside. Jim carries a bag holding the limbs and the attachment parts that will be applied to Proto. Jim then goes up to the desk

Jim, "Were here to see Doctor Pulse on a special appointment."

The pony behind the desk uses her magic to look at a clipboard and sees the appointment.

Nurse Pony, "alright, if you could just wait, I'll go let him know your here"

They go over and sit down on the chairs in the waiting room. Jim looks up at Proto and sees her shaking.

Jim, "nervous?"

Proto, "a bit, but also really excited"

Jim, "thats the spirit."

The nurse pony comes back into the room.

Nurse Pony, "Ms. Byte, the doctor will see you now, if you could follow me"

The two get out of their chairs and follow the pony into the back. A pony in the waiting room looks over and sees Proto walking and notices that she was a quadriplegic. He then gets out of his seat and follows behind them.

Nurse Pony, "Right In here." The pony points to a office door with the words 'Dr. Sentry Pulse, Lead Surgeon'. They walk inside and see a white stallion with silver hair / tail wearing a white coat.

Dr. Pulse, "Welcome, please sit."

The nurse leaves the room and sees the pony that followed Jim and Proto.

Nurse Pony, "oh, I'm sorry sir, but you can't be back here."

The pony holds up a badge of some kind just long enough for the nurse to see it before putting it away again. The nurse pony gains a very frightened look on her face.

Mysterious Pony, "I suggest you head back to your station"

The Nurse Pony nods then runs past the stallion towards the waiting room, the stallion then walked up to the office door and puts his ear up to it.

Dr. Pulse, "So, what can I help you with today? need something for your artificial limbs?"

Proto, "Actually, we need you to help set up my new ones."

Dr. Pulse, "New ones?"

Jim takes the bag and displays 4 white and silver limbs on the patient bed along with 4 hubs for the each limb to be implanted into Proto. Dr. Pulse looks at each limb and is awed by their design and their sophistication. The mysterious pony hears about the 4 new limbs and looks into the window of the office door and sees the limbs. He then crouches down and uses his magic to pull out a pen and parchment.

Mysterious Pony, "Your Highness, Princess Celestia, I have horrible news…"

Jim, "We understand that this may not be your strong suit, but we've heard your the best surgeon in Canterlot."

Jim then takes out a diagram showing how the hubs would be sewn into Proto during the operation

Dr. Pulse, still awed by the limbs, "well, I can certainly see you've thought this out."

Proto, "So, will you do it?"

Dr. Pulse, "well this will certainly earn me a interesting reputation, I don't see why…"

At that moment a scroll materializes in front of the Doctor. It was tied in a black ribbon.

Proto, "whats that?"

Dr. Pulse, "Sorry, this is the messaging service for our hospital, And this black ribbon means that is extremely urgent, if you could just give me a moment."

Dr. Pulse unravels the scroll and begins reading, as he reads his face begins to flatten and his eyes shrink as if he had just read his own obituary.

Dr. Pulse, "Uh, I-I'm terribly sorry, but I don't think this is something I'm up for, I'm going to have to decline."

Proto, "What?!"

Jim, "But you were just about to approve it, then you read that scroll, wait, whats on that scroll?"

Dr. Pulse looks behind Jim and Proto and see the mysterious pony looking at him through the window.

Dr. Pulse, "Sorry thats classified, official, hospital business. Thank you and please leave."

Jim, "Well this is just plain rude, I demand an answer."

Dr. Pulse, "sorry thats not happening" Dr. Pulse then uses his magic to gather the artificial limbs and place them back in the bag. He then tosses the bag at Jim and uses his magic to push them out of his office, "good day."

Jim and Proto then leave the hospital and walk back to Jim's house.

Jim, "Well what are we supposed to do now?"

Proto, "Jim?"

Jim, "Yeah?"

Proto, "Your an anatomist, right?"

Jim, "I mean, pretty much, yes"

Proto, "Then could you do the surgery?"

Jim, "What? Me?! Uhhh"

Proto, "Jim, your the only other one, you yourself made a diagram to show the best Surgeon in Canerlot how to do an operation."

Jim, "Well, but…"

Proto, "Jim, you can do this, your the only one who can do this."

Proto using her artificial limbs reaches out to grab each side of Jim's face and looks into his eyes with a great sorrow and hunger for his help. Jim gives in.

Jim, "Hhhh, Very well."

Proto, "Thank you"

Proto lies down onto a large table and Jim sets up various tools and lays out the limbs and limb hubs. He then removes her 4 current limbs which were just strapped to her body. revealing 4 stubs from the unfinished development of her limbs.

Jim, "Im going to give you a pretty hard sedative, so just try to relax and fall asleep."

Proto, "Jim, you can do this, I trust you"

Jim, "I'll see you on the other side"

Jim takes a needle and injects it into the end of one of the stubs and Proto then begins to fall asleep.

Jim then takes out a scalpel and begins his incision into the stubs and into her main abdomen. He takes the hubs one by one and wires them into her shoulder sockets and takes the power leads and applies them to her magic organ, He then attaches each nerve ending to each point inside the hub. once finished he takes the limbs and locks them into each hub. Now all he has to do is wait for her to come to.

Year 5 month 4 Day 12

"…"

Jim fell asleep waiting for Proto to wake up again, Proto's new limbs begin to twitch and move everso slightly. Proto then opens her eyes and sits up and places her hoof against her head. she then looks at her new hoof then her other new hooves.

Proto, "It, it worked, Hhhhhehehehahahaha. IT WORKED!"

Jim is startled and is jolted awake, "HUH, what?"

Proto, "JIM, YOU DID IT, OH THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!"

Jim, "hehe, alright, now lets be careful, we need to do some tests to make sure everything working properly"

Jim helps Proto onto her hooves and stands her up. He lets go and she stands up by herself

Jim, "incredible"

Proto, "OHMYGOSH, IM GONNA GO RUNNING!"

Jim, "Wait hold on, we still need to make sure everything working"

Proto too caught up in her excitement runs towards the door and uses her magic to open the door. But instead ended just running into it.

Proto, "OW, what the?"

Proto then attempts to use her magic again, but her aura was extremely weak and could barely make the doorknob move, let alone open it.

Proto, "what, whats wrong with my magic?"

Jim, "the limbs are powered with your magic, naturally you will have weakened power, I thought you knew this."

Proto looks at her limbs again, her eyes grow and begin to water, her face gets extremely enraged and she slams her hoof onto Jim's floor causing it to break beneath her.

Proto, "You, you did this to me, you didn't help me, you just make me into a different freak"

Jim, "WHAT? No I never meant to harm you, I thought you knew this, I swear."

Proto runs back across the room incredibly fast and slams Jim onto the floor, pinning his neck down with her for-hoof"

Proto, "You made me like this, HOW DO YOU INTEND TO FIX IT?!"

Jim couldn't speak as he was being choked and couldn't breathe. Proto Simply stares back right into Jim's eyes, watching him pass out from lack of oxygen, Her eyes Red with rage. Then, Proto's flank begins to illuminate and shine a bright white. She lets Jim go and he takes in a deep breath. Proto looks back at her flank and watches as the glowing continued. Then a large flash of white light temporarily blinded them both, Proto Byte looks at her flank and see's her cutie mark. The head of a pony, with a computer motherboard as a brain.

END PART 1