Title:

My Little Galaxy: First Steps

Summary:

The Ponies take their first steps into the Space age. As the Mane 6 grow close to their lovers start families of their own. The next Generation of ponies is here, all are excited to see what they will become.

• Castle of Friendship

3 months after the Changeling Civil War

Equestria was a mixture of a matriarchy and a democracy. A mostly female dominant society, however Stallions had completely equal rights and were even allowed to serve in government or even the military, now anyway... although they had to go through specialized training to be allowed in combat.

With Princess Celestia and Luna ruling at the top, a council of Senators kept them in check. If the Senate votes with a 70% majority they can place a law in effect or prevent a law from passing but beyond that the two sisters make the decisions. The Senate needs that majority vote in order to contradict her judgments as without it what the two sisters say goes.

All the major cities are, for the most part, left to their own Devices. They each have an elected mayor who doubles as the Senator of that city. They spend most of their time ruling their city and only meet for the Senate once a moon, or rather 'week' as they say in other cultures.

Then there is a board of Governesses who keep the Mayor in check. Now the Governesses are nobles born into their position, most having an ancestry leading back to an Alicorn. There used to be a lot of Alicorns during the Alicorn Dynasty but all of their foals were born as regular ponies.

Some cities have an Alicorn ruling over the military and passing laws well their mayor handles the day to day dealings of the city. In those cities the mayor acts as the advisor and voice of the ponies.

In the coming years, after Princess Twilight Sparkle ascended into Alicorn-hood, all kingdoms joined hands in a new age of peace. A Council of United Species was built and universal laws were agreed upon.

Spike knew all of this from Celestia's frequent lectures. She was like a second mother to him, though Twilight Sparkle's own mother (Twilight Velvet) had legally adopted him and raised him. Celestia had been his tutor since he hatched, along side her official apprentice, Twilight Sparkle, Spike's Adoptive sister.

Spike and Twilight had gotten in and out of all sorts of trouble as kids. Unfortunately Twilight's idea of fun was to study so Spike actually did know a lot about the world despite only being a baby dragon with no formal schooling. As said, he had a private tutor instead of school.

"A city state," Spike awed as he sat at his throne with the Element bearers around the Cutie Map. Mayor Mare was standing in front of the table with carts and diagrams and various scrolls she was passing out to them.

Twilight smiled eagerly, "Celestia has decided Ponyville is ready to stand on it's own, without the support of Canterlot. Because of all of our accomplishments with uniting the species she thinks we've more then proven ourselves. She's leaving the details up to us as a sort of test."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, "Not everything is a test Twilight."

"Regardless," glared Twilight, "It's important we get this right. Ponyville's very future will be decided by what we do today. First we need to discuss who will become our cities Governesses."

Mayor Mare smiled, "Obviously you girls would be the primary choices."

Applejack scrunched up her nose, "You want us to become fancy-fied nobles. Sorry but I don't think I'm really cut out for that."

Rarity scoffed, "Oh Applejack don't let yourself miss out on the opportunity. If nothing else think of what being a Governess will do for your family business. You'll be selling apple confectionaries all across Equestria."

"I already sell all across Equestria," AJ informed, "I got an agreement with Filthy Rich."

Rarity shook her head, "I promise you dear it will be great for business. You went to sell apples at the Grand Galloping Gala in order to increase your client base."

Applejack scoffed, "And look how that turned out."

Rarity ignored that, "My point is as a governess you will have all those doors opened to you automatically. You're sales will easily increase three fold by the end of the year."

AJ blinked, "You think so."

"I know so darling. You might not even be nearly as dependent on Filthy Rich, as you could start selling to other large companies as well."

"I don't know about that. The Riches and Apples have been doing business since Grannie was a filly,"

"You would still be doing business with him, of course, but you'd also be selling to a lot of other ponies as well."

Applejack sighed, "I suppose it couldn't hurt. I just ain't like the idea of havin' to rub elbows with all those snobs. Havin' to go to the Gala is bad enough."

Rarity dismissed, "Trust me darling it will be magnificent,"

Twilight reminded, "Being a governess is more then just fancy parties and business ventures. It means you would be responsible for keeping me in check. You'd be my official advisors and could even contradict my orders if enough of you vote against me. Who'd be better to do that then my friends. I know I can count on you girls to keep me grounded,"

Applejack looked determined, "You CAN count on me Twilight."

The Princess of friendship smiled, "I know I can, and don't worry. You'll all be compensated as well."

Rainbow Dash blinked, "Compensated? for getting to be kick ass royalty?"

Twilight sighed, "Being a Governess comes with a lot of responsibility, not just from you but from your family and future generations. It's customary to give the families enough money to support themselves. Governesses have an average salary of twenty thousand bits a month"

The entire room grew quiet before Rainbow Dash screamed, "I'M RICH!"

Twilight rolled her eyes, "Normally that money is gotten from collected Taxes but if we do this, the private vault in the Castle will become the town treasury. Money from taxes will go in there and everything else in Ponyville will be paid for, through it. I'll have to set up a smaller vault and just pay myself a monthly check out of the castle's vault instead of just buying everything I please like I have been doing... Mayor Mare suggested keeping taxes as a matter of 'Sales Tax' and 'Business Tax' exclusively so we aren't charging ponies more money then they can afford to spend."

AJ shrugged, "I don't know Twilight, those business taxes are a mite high. Half of what I make goes into taxes."

"Same here," Rarity nodded.

Pinkie shrugged "Come on they have to get their money from somewhere. And if you didn't give so many bits how could I afford to pay for all those parties?"

Rainbow Dash gaped, "You mean our TAXES pay for your parties,"

Pinkie shrugged, "Well I am the town's party pony. I try to keep things fun, but simple, so not to take too much money out of the treasury."

Twilight shrugged and reminded Rainbow Dash, "With how a pony's mood can affect the environment around her it's important to keep them happy. Why wouldn't taxes be used for morale maintenance?"

Dash groaned, "So that meant my birthiversary must have taken a lot out of the Treasury," she moped.

Pinkie shrugged, "Well no, Cheese Sandwich is a certified party pony. He gets funding from Celestia herself to be used at his discretion as he throws parties all around the country. Best. Job. EVER!" she cheered. before continuing, "I get a small salary from the city as a government employee but I also have to help my cousins at Sugarcube Corner."

Mayor Mare blinked, "I didn't know you were related to the Cakes?"

Pinkie shrugged as if it was obvious, "Pie, cake, it's not like it's that big a leap. They gave me a place to live when I first moved to Ponyville and even gave me a job. I kept at it even after I became the official party planner of Ponyville, since they needed my help. All the party stuff comes out of the treasury, so I don't actually have to pay for any of that myself."

"I'm aware of that Miss Pie," the Mayor smiled but Pinkie continued as if she hadn't been interrupted.

"There are over ten thousand ponies living in Ponyville and I have to plan parties for each one of their birthdays, big ones for when the foals earn their Cutie Marks, not to mention the holidays and festivals. I could never afford all that on my own, but like I said. I try to keep everything on a strict budget so I don't impact the treasury too much. Parties are great and all but the Treasury also pays for the hospital's upkeep, the city wide health insurance policy, the school house, other government employees and offices, and stuff like that. I don't want to be taking their money."

Dash was staring at Pinkie. With how much of an airhead the pink Earth Pony could be it was easy to forget, sometimes, that she was not only considerate but pretty bucking smart.

"Wait a minute!" Pinkie suddenly gaped, "If we do this whole Governess thing won't that mean I'll be working THREE jobs!?" it's not like she could just quit any of them. One was helping family, while the other was her passion, but helping Twilight was just as important.

Twilight calmed, "Honestly all a governess really does is advise their Princess or Mayor, which you gals already do. It just be giving you an official title... and a nice salary," she assured.

"Oh, Okay I'm in," Pinkie bounced.

"Still," Rarity commented, "It's a good thing We're only guest Speakers at The School of Friendship. I don't think any of us could handle the work load,"

After the changeling civil war, which led to a world war, Twilight opened up a school to teach the future leaders and ambassadors of each nation about how to love and tolerate. She was molding the planet's future at her school. She got respected educators from each nation to help teach all the races about the various cultures. Occasionally one or two of the Elements of Harmony would come and give a lecture or act as chaperones on a field trip. They all had dedicated lives of their own and molding the future leaders was more Twilight's thing. Her friends just helped when they could.

Twilight looked around at the others.

AJ sighed, "I already said I'm in."

Rarity smiled, "This will be fabulous darlings, just wait and see."

Rainbow Dash grinned, "You bet I'm in."

Twilight looked over at the last member of their group, "Fluttershy, you've been pretty quiet."

"It's just..." the yellow Pegasus tried to explain them choked back her nerves, "I suppose I could give it a try if everyone else is," this sounded like a lot of responsibility and she didn't know if she was really cut out for it. She had made great strides these past few years but to become a legitimate pony in authority? It was a lot to take in but if she had her friends with her she could manage.

"What about you Spike?" Twilight smiled,

The little dragon blinked, "Eh?"

"Do you want to be Governor of Ponyville?"

"S-seriously!?" Spike gaped.

"Of course, you contribute just as much as everypony here."

Mayor Mare added, "It would also help relations with the Dragons to have their ambassador hold an official title in Ponyville."

Spike exclaimed, "You bet I'm in! Does the Mayor get to be a Governess to?"

Mayor Mare's eyes buggered out of her head, well Twilight rolled her own.

"No Spike," Twilight said. "Somepony has to be the voice of our city on the Senate and manage the day to day workings of the city. It's illegal for a Princess or Governess to do that for their city. Even Canterlot has a mayor."

"Oh," Spike blushed.

"It's fine Spike," Smiled the Mayor, "I quite enjoy my roll as elected official and this will allow me to serve on the Senate."

Applejack spoke up, "I think we should also extend the offer to Filthy Rich."

Everypony stared at her for that.

Applejack rolled her eyes, "The Riches are just as responsible for the founding of Ponyville as the Apples. This city is both of our legacies. If I'm here it's only right so are the Riches,."

Mayor Mare thought on it, "They would be pretty insulted if we didn't include them. Not to mention as a powerful merchant family they have connections which would benefit the city,"

Twilight eyed, "Shouldn't we invite Impossibly Rich over as Governess then. She is the head of their family."

The Mayor shook her head, "She moved out of Ponyville centuries ago. Besides she may rule the family but Stinking Rich left the business side of things to Filthy. He'd be of great assistance in managing the city's treasury. Not to mention having him onboard would make the Stallions feel as if they have a voice in politics."

AJ gaped, "You wanna use Filthy as a Token Stallion!"

"Of course not," The Mayor back tracked. "I never meant to imply that. I just meant our city would look more progressive with a Stallion serving in government. He, himself, would be of great assistance."

AJ just glared but Twilight said, "I think it is a great idea to have Filthy serve as governor, for ALL reasons given. I'll extend the offer to him immediately "

5 years passed and ingenuity flourished in Ponyville. Under Twilight's rule it became the capital of magical and scientific invention.

Twilight used the land to set up more districts for the various races. Dragon District, Little Hive, and many others allowing creatures of all races to live in Ponyville, in large areas, to preserve their cultures, while still being part of Ponyville's own. Naturally creatures weren't forced to live in these areas if they moved to Ponyville but most chose to, as it was easier to express their culture.

A trolly system, for public transportation, was built all throughout the now much larger city.

With the Rock Farm in their borderes Ponyville began to thrive in the sale of Crystals and erosion. Those Crystals never really had a large use of ponies. There were just so many of them. So although they were necessary for power, they were just so common place, and lasted so long as batteries, that ponies... had no real use for buying the Crystal more then once a year, to power their house.

There was even a boom in technology, where Twilight helped the Smart Family make computers more cost effective to have in everyone's house. This was a result of bettering machines that could make smaller computers, even quicker through factories. Ponies actually skipped a few steps of traditional advancement, thanks to this. They went from computers the size of a house, to smart phones, in just a few short years.

This turned Ponyville into the center of trade on the planet. Most races even set up their Embassy, not in the capital of Canterlot, but Ponyville.

So it was only natural, that when Celestia retired and named Twilight Sparkle her successor as the matriarch of Equestria, that Ponyville became the new capital.

Still Ponyville's greatest achievement, came 10 years into Twilight's role as Queen. When an invention marked an end to the Industrial Age and the beginning of the Space Age.

It was an amazing magical enchantment to make any wooden vessel capable of traveling the void of space, moving at light speed by sailing on solar winds. Gravity, warmth, and air were provided by a powerful environmental bubble. To protect against asteroids to supernovas even greater deflector shields where projected from the front, middle, and rear of the ship, each powered by a "Grand" grade crystal.

The various species of Equestria began colonizing the worlds of their system, Terraforming each world with their pony magics to give them to the other races of Equus. Most species finding it an easier task then living on their home planet. It was so tainted by chaos magic after Discord's original attack, to the point ponies had to manually control every aspect of it. From the moon and the dwarf star that orbited their world to the very weather and even the dirt, which required help to create erosion.

Earth Ponies, in particular, found that without the chaos magic to fight against, their connection to nature came much easier outside Equestria. They could control plants and grow them in less then a second, in addition to their natural physical feats. As a result many Earth Ponies left Equestria to start off world farms.

It now took Earth ponies seconds to Have all the fruit in a single tree, become fully ripe. This meant even tiny farms could sell dozens of orchard sized harvest, in a single day. Which was enough to feed every creature.

Within the Equus System there were dozens of planets and hundreds of moons, each Terraformed by the ponies thanks to a combination of the natural talents of all three pony tribes, making them habitable for all lifeforms of the system.

The ponies even discovered an impressive secret only a few weeks after they entered the Space Age. Races such as Minotaurs, Kobolds, Centaurs, and much more came from a planet near the center of their system called "Pathfinder". They had just been visiting Equestria for thousands of years, some even choosing to settle on the planet.

In fact, even though the races of Pathfinder had space travel long before ponies, they were often impressed by pony discoveries. Such as ponies knowledge of magic and the Luna Astronomical Calendar.

A thousand years ago Luna had discovered there was a massive ring at the center of every Star Cluster in space. With these rings in a unified orbit around an even larger structure at the center of the Galaxy. Even other Galaxies operated like this, with all the structures orbiting a humongous space station at the center of the known universe.

Pathfinder satellites could only see the ring at the center of their Star Cluster, but Luna's telescope was powerful enough to see the far reaches of space. Even see what races in other galaxies looked like.

She recorded the patterns of the stars orbiting the rings and the rings orbiting the center of the Galaxy. She measured how long the days and nights lasted on the rings, among other things. All with her own invention, the first Galactic telescope of the Equus System. She found that a day on the rings lasted 30 hours, with 20 hours of daylight and 10 hours of night.

The various Structures (which she realized where Galaxy sized space stations) were orbiting the station at the heart of the universe. That it took 1090 days for the ring, and all other rings, to orbit the center of the Galaxy. Everything in the universe is synchronized to that timetable. It's how long it took everything and everyone, with magic, to age a single year. And how she started measuring years.

There are 12 months in a year, but each month lasted 80 to 90 days. Each month measured an entire season on the Rings, with 3 sets of seasons in a year.

Example: October was the last Summer of the year, November was the last Fall, and December was the final Winter.

A lunar cycle on the rings lasted 10 days, and their were 8 to 9 cycles. So she recorded that as a week, or "Moon". With 100 moons in a year.

Further research revealed this also matched the magical frequency of the universe, which is why Sapient lifeforms age at this rate. Sapience was defined by awareness of mind and magic, so creatures intune with magic would naturally age to match it's frequency. They wouldn't necessarily live for the same length of time but they did mature at that rate.

Ponies remarkable discoveries, luxurious cheap housing, and compassionate legal system resulted in the races of Pathfinder having a lot of respect for them long before Equestria discovered space travel.

Official relations were opened up between the planets and they helped each other settle the other worlds of the system. Pathfinder offered their knowledge of technology, and exchange Equestria taught them a deeper understanding of magic. Together they began working on ways to travel to other star systems, which were still in development at this time.

Still the various races of Pathfinder weren't the only ones ponies discovered. Months later Inter dimensional beings called "Yokai" were found at an artificial dimensional port in their system. Linked to a large pocket dimension known as "Demon World".

Yokai come in a variety of races, each representing a different aspect of the animal kingdom, both mundane and mystical animals. They were shape shifters but were only able to transform into 4 different forms depending on the animal they represented. They can turn into a regular sized creature of their breed, an anthropomorphic version (animals that walked upright with hands and 2 legs), or humanoids with animal features of their breed (such as a human with cat ears and tail for example), or even a giant version of their animal form. Yokai were extremely magical creatures to the point they could learn how to create themselves a new body if they die, however this skill is something that requires years of study and training which many do not learn.

Ponies discovered the Yokai living in an artificial air pocket in space known as, The Rift. Dozens of small islands floated in the void, just large enough to have buildings built on them. Each with their own center of gravity. The environmental bubble stretched for miles, giving air and warmth.

The buildings used dimensional engineering to house billions of Yokai in the small areas. Apartments held millions of doors, each leading to a different pocket dimension, most only as big as a few acres. Other buildings had doors leading to each major city of all the planets in the system, including one right to Ponyville. Many pony families took a pocket dimension as their home and began living at the Rift with the Yokai. Shortly after it's discovery it became the center of all trade in the system.

The generation born into this age of peace and space exploration were called, Bronies.

• 37 moons Later

A spark, followed by another, a series of ones and zeros translating themselves into words. He groaned as he opened his eyes, and looked at the purple mare standing before him, "Mom?" he asked as his brain supplied the term to his understanding.

The mare blushed before smiling, "I suppose that is one way too look at it. Mom... has a nice ring to it," She admitted. Then she affectionately took hold of his hoof as she said, "Welcome to the world, my little Short Circuit,"

"Short Circuit?" he asked. He was functioning properly as far as he could tell.

"That's your name," The mare explained, "Mine is Twilight Sparkle, but you can keep calling me mom if you like."

"... Okay..." Circuit looked down at his hoof. It looked different then Mom's... his was made of metal, "What... what am I?"

Mom looked completely ecstatic that he asked that. As if that one little question brought her an overwhelming sense of joy. As if that little question was the most important in the whole universe, "You are the first of your kind, the first full fledge artificial lifeform ever created. A fully functioning android. The ideal combination of magic and technology," She looked so proud, but that pride wasn't directed at her own achievement however. She was proud of him just for existing... as a mother should be. "You're a Clockwork, the first of a new species of pony, named after one Doctor Clockwork Whooves,"

"Father of the industrial age," Circuit stated. He just seemed to know things, everything she taught his base program before he became self aware. He had knowledge but no real memories of that time, just... a feeling, "So... I'm not real?" he asked.

Mom frowned at that, "Of course your real. Just because your synthetic doesn't mean you aren't just as important as anypony else. I made sure you would be given the same rights as any other Sapient being long before I started building you,"

"Why?" Circuit asked but mom didn't seem to understand that question. How was it different then his first? "Why did you make me?"

"Equestria needs your help," Mom explained. "Terraforming barren worlds, at least in its early stages, is a hard and dangerous job. Organic lifeforms can't handle it but your metal body will keep you safe from harm. Walking on the surface of such a world is no more dangerous for you then walking around this one. This will allow you to operate the Terraforming Machine I constructed,"

"Do... do I have to?" Circuit didn't know what he was feeling. His program explained that he was scared but he never felt such an emotion before.

"Of course not," Mom assured as she nuzzled him to calm him down. "You can do anything you want with your life. I plan to make you a few million brothers and sisters. I'm sure some of them would be willing to help so don't feel obligated."

"Why would any of us go for such a dangerous job?" Circuit asked.

"First, because it's not dangerous to your species. Your designed to function in space. And Second, because it will pay really REALLY well. I'm going to commission each Clockwork a million bits for every planet they make habitable. Then a team of organic ponies will go in and make the landscape more desirable for life.

"However, before I can activate your siblings I need to make sure you are functioning correctly. You're the prototype so we may need to tweek the occasional glitch. We need to make sure your robot parts work right, with your alchemical brain,"

"My what?" Circuit blinked.

Mom frowned, "Search your database, it should tell you,"

Circuit thought for a moment, "My brain is made of synthetic flesh through alchemy with an artificial magical circulatory system?"

Mom smiled and nodded, "That's right,"

"Sounds gross," Circuit observed.

Mom just laughed, "Yeah but it was the only way I could give your species magic of your own,"

"Sentience is defined by Awareness of mind and magic," Circuit found in his data banks.

"That's right," Mom nodded again, more proudly, "There are intelligent creatures, like the animals of Equestria, but they are still not truly Sapient as they can't access their magic. Most can only express that through runes, wands, or making potions or even enchantments but you? Where a Unicorn has versatile spell casting, a pegasus flight and weather control, and an Earth pony enhanced physical power and ability to control nature, you have power over technology. You're a natural born Technomancer, and don't get me started how hard that was to duplicate in a synthetic brain. Still it is a handy skill in this day and age,"

"That isn't very helpful for terraforming," Circuit observed.

"But it will be very helpful in getting a job outside of that once all the worlds are finished," Twilight reminded. "Besides, your also programmed with how to use every known rune, potion, and even enchantment. That will guarantee you a good job doing anything you want." She stroked his head, a tank made out of clear metal with a brain floating inside a blue liquid. Wires and computer chips were attached to the brain. There was a screen on his chest which used emojis to express his emotions. She thought that cute little feature might make organic life more comfortable around him.

"Whatever you decide to do," Twilight encouraged her creation, "You're going to bring so much good into the world."