3 Months, after the creation of Equus' first light speed ship.
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 the strain, 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, nuzzling 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, running throughout my body?"
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."