Getting the Grant

As I looked at the blueprint that I had created with Rarity's help, I quickly realized that this would cost a lot of metal, meaning A ton of bits will be used to gather the materials. I thought my metal stores would be enough before realizing I do not need to make it a one-time process. I remember an anime that had something like this. I quickly attempt to place the anime that had something similar before it clicked automail from a full metal alchemist. I burst into laughter because I remember it. I know how I can do this, I need to turn this into a two-part process, I quickly redrew the plans to account for a removable limb.

As I sat there looking at the plans I had made, I nodded my head before rolling them into a tube. I quickly grabbed my clothes and looked at them for the first time since I had completed my Volume 1 book of runes and word that I would be sending to the capital when I was successful before throwing my coat on. "I am ready to change the world and help usher in a new age for runemasters."

I start walking toward the hospital before remembering that I would need Silver there to get his permission to do this because I cannot make an appointment in his name. Without him there, they would not accept. I turn sharply to where I know he will be the marketplace. I see him sitting there I slowly start waving at Silver "hey, Silver, I need you to come with me."

"Sure, Onyx, where are we going," he asks as he is following me.

"We need to set an appointment with the doctors so we can do this," I shake the tubes at him in excitement. "I have the final plans, but I need the doctors to be ok with it, and you need to set the appointment up. Remember that doctors are doctors for a reason, and I am a forge master. I could build you a great limb, but I can't put it on you."

He nods at this "so how is this going to work?"

"it's a two-part process the connecter and the limb itself will be removable. I mean, I could make it a one-part process, but that raises the cost and risk factor by thirty-nine percent. Anything I can do to make this safer and cheaper, the better." I told Silver about his limb and why we were heading to the hospital to make this appointment. "Also, I calculate you are going to need roughly about a year's worth of physical therapy to get used to walking again."

I could see Silver slowly take that in, "how long until the cap part is ready."

"I have the metal and the bits to first build the cap and then pay for the surgery. What I do not have is enough metal for the limb itself. Still, when I send in my rune work ill most likely get a reward and be able to get the metal to pay for the limb itself." I admitted with a sigh "so I want to get this set up ahead of time, so I can plan out the construction and the gathering of the metal for the limb itself."

"I have some bits of my own Onyx…" he spoke before I interrupted him.

"No, I shall pay for this myself because if I can't even do this right, how will I be able to do better in the future." I said as we arrived at the front of the hospital, "If we have it, I would like to schedule for at least two weeks so I can send in my rune language and get it appraised so I could get a grant that would allow me to complete my work at my own pace. In six volumes normally, but I want to complete this for you before I start on my rune language project."

I could feel his eyes on my back for some strange reason. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow, confused. "Onyx, did anyone ever tell you your back is quite wide?"

Now I was even more confused because this makes no sense to my memories "no, I don't think anyone has?"

---time skip a few hours---

I was not surprised when I got yelled at by the doctor we hired to do this. First, he called me a mad Pony and many other things, but once he saw we were serious, he looked at me again. I told him I could do everything on that blueprint and that all I needed for him to do was install it. He called me a madman for another reason, his specific words were, and I quote, 'only a pony truly mad would be able to do this but are you sure you can follow through?' I could not help but laugh and look him in the eyes because I realized something that I would not have discovered had I not reincarnated. I was genuinely cracked in the head, or at least Onyx was.

After all, I am looking at harmony magic and saying to its face that it will move this specific way. I am taking something ethereal and making it physical. What I am doing is considered to be the biggest sin a unicorn can be doing; I am disrespecting magic itself when it is telling me no, and damn it somehow, it looks like I won this round with magic here is hoping I can keep winning.

I looked at the book and quickly realized I needed to send this to Princess Celestia. I know she reads all her fan mail that she gets. I move to grab a box and tape because damn it, if I am going to be considered mad, then damn it, I might as well be paid for being a mad pony. As I moved to the mail office, I slowly opened the door. I smiled and looked at the young Unicorn at the counter "hello there, I have a package, and I need heirloom priority mail shipment."

I was not surprised to see that he stiffened because, as far as normal ponies knew, the highest-level shipping that could be reached. Still, there are mail carriers that learn special teleportation magic takes little energy. The royal mail carriers spike would end up with this in cannon "2-200 bits?"

"Indeed, young pony, 200 bits, and I need this package delivered to Princess Celestia's fan mail," I smiled before moving away. I hope this works. I can not even think of going through the usual channels because if anyone but a woman who told the sun to move as she wanted it to, we are both quite mad, and from one mad pony to another, she might understand better than anyone else.

---two days later POV Celestia---

As I was going through the fan mail, I noticed a box amongst my usual letters. I could not help but look at it in curiosity because most ponies only sent me packages on my birthday, which I am thankful for; it makes this process much faster than expected. I asked my maid, "Rose petal, what is with the box?"

"I have no idea, my lady. I dare not open this one because of the magic on it and heirloom shipping," Rose answered me quickly.

"I see hmm," I quickly opened it and pulled out a book that was touched with God's magic, the same magic that allowed me and Luna to move the sun and moon; my voice quickly took a tense edge. "I would like some private time, dear Rose."

"At once, my lady," she bowed before quickly leaving the room.

I slowly unwrapped the book because it could be nothing else and was surprised when a picture of a young pony fell out. I set the book and picked up the photo and letter.

'Dear Princess Celestia

My name is Onyx Cobalt, and I have created something extraordinary, but at the same time, if I went to anyone else, I would most likely be called mad of course, it's not complete yet, but I would like to give you the first volume. This is my book of runic language; it is the first of six. I am currently using this sloppy first book to get more money so I can finish my first invention. I call it automail; it is a full limb prosthetic inside the book, a copy of the blueprint, and a picture of who it is for. I will make the limb anyway just to prove it because I promised, gave him my word, and my word is my bond, but I understand if this is something that does not interest you.

From Onyx Cobalt.'

As I looked at the young inventor pony in the picture, I was surprised by how well-built the Unicorn is. I nodded before setting the two items to the side and picking up a bell and ringing it slowly, knowing Rose did not go far and that there are most likely 4 guards outside. Rose quickly entered and spoke up, "yes, my lady."

"I am going to need a couple of blank books and plenty of writing utensils. I have a curious new project," I gave Rose her orders. I slowly uncovered the book, and then I felt a nascent god looking at me, not yet awake and not yet sparked. 'It looks like I found the potential alicorn that I was looking for, and he is male as well, now that is a surprise, but what surprises me, even more, is that he is most likely going to spark with runes themselves, I mean he is not the first runemaster.'

I pulled out a picture of a soldier pony missing a leg. I remember him because I gave him the orders where he had lost his leg. I always forget that weighted words are a terrible and remarkable thing. I set it next to the picture of dear Onyx and slowly pull out the beautiful blueprint and was surprised at how detailed it was. The primary reason was that it was a two-part process as I slowly built the machine in my mind. None of the current rune languages will ever be able to power the limb. I sighed and looked at the book. "my lady, I have the things you requested."

"set them down and inform Twilight that I will most likely be missing our afternoon lesson," I crack my back and sweep the letters to the side in a neat pile and begin the process of setting up a mini-laboratory.

---time skip 4 hours still Celestia's POV---

I leaned my back against the table with the book in my hands before looking at a work that was indeed made by a mad pony just as crazy as my sister and me and now dear Candance as well. I am now as close to a hundred percent certain that I can be that he will become an alicorn. I was not surprised that the door open, and I heard Twilight start talking in a panicked tone of voice. "I am so sorry if I did something wrong, Princess Celestia!"

"You did nothing wrong Twilight, the reason I canceled our lessons is that this is something I could not put off," I looked at the alphabet that he had created from the ground up in something approaching awe. "I have not had to do this job once since I took you on as a student Twilight."

"What job is that, Princess?" Twilight asked in curiosity. While peeking over my shoulder, I quickly snapped my head towards her.

"Twilight, I normally love your curiosity but not this time," I said in the best mother voice I had, which is usually a lot better than but right now, it is a really bad time. "Now… out."

She looked at me in surprise before rushing out of the room without peeking backward, which was good. Otherwise, I would have to punish young Twilight for something that was not really her fault but needs must, especially when I am doing what I consider my most dangerous job, Rune language testing. Rune languages have the worst chance of exploding at the most inopportune time.

The one that dear Onyx created, though, is simply exceptional 3 runes make an infinite possible selection, and this is only the first volume no wonder he considered it to be sloppy. I cannot help but agree with him. It truly is quite messy. Almost mad in itself, he is forcing the magic of harmony to move a certain way. Still, he had no choice if he genuinely needs bits to build this limb for dear Sliver. It will be amazing when it is done. I smoothly pick up my bell and ring it, calling for Rose. I watch as she slowly enters, "Rose, I have in my hands a grant for a young man, and I would like it if you could watch out for Twilight. She caught sight of something she really should not have seen, at least not yet."

I rubbed my finger up and down the first book of six. If Onyx is to be believed, I could not help but smirk at the book. I could not help but be amazed every time I looked at it, "Was it truly that impressive, my lady?"

"Very much so," I said lightly before using magic to clean up and carrying the book to my chambers. It is currently too dangerous to allow out of my sight, so I will keep it near me until its five brothers arrive, so the completed version can be released, "Rose, call for Solar Dusk as well, would you, my dear."

---POV Twilight---

"Spike, I have never heard her take that tone with me before, and I do not know what I did wrong. What if I made her mad?" I babbled to the little guy in worry.

"Twilight, it sounds like this was really important and that you should let it go," Spike spoke slowly at me. I slowly nodded my head.

"Yeah, your right, Spike," I nodded my head before letting my worry falls away, 'I wonder what she was working on though it looked almost like runes. I have not seen any runes like them before. She will probably tell me if I ask.'

---time skip 4 days POV Onyx---

I looked at the package in surprise, wondering what it could be. The letter granting me a grant for my research is excellent and all, but I wonder what else it could be. I slowly opened it and saw a box and a letter with a picture of the princess smiling.

'Dear Onyx

I am gifting you this messenger box; it is one of seven pairs in existence. It connects directly to me. This is only for emergencies and for delivering your rune language volume book, so please keep it a secret from other people.

Princess Celestia'

I was surprised at the box before moving it to an area where it would be safe. I slowly looked at the finished cap and the money to make the new leg for Sliver.

I slowly moved to the backyard shedding my most outer layers except my pants. I was surprised when Pinkie was at my backdoor "H-hey Pinkie, what's up."

"Hi Onyx, how are you?" Pinkie gave me this beautiful smile. Pinkie slowly moved her eyes up and down my body. "So what are you doing heading outside looking like that?"

"I am going to make history, Pinkie." the smile I give her is slightly unhinged, and slowly spoke without any idea what I was honestly saying. "I am going to change the world, sorry I can't talk right now; I need to do this right now that I am focused."

As I walked past her, I could smell her shampoo. I just knew I was going to regret ignoring her right now, but I am in a mood to craft, and for some reason, I just know I am going to make an heirloom.

---POV Pinkie pie---

Onyx is looking incredibly hunky in just his shorts, but I wonder what he is working on. He is acting kind of manic; well, someone he hangs with might tell me if Onyx is ok and what he was working on. I just do not know if she will tell me anything. I moved quickly and purposely to Carousel Boutique. As much as we sometimes argue, we are still good friends like jack and shy, and rainbow, but for some reason, I can not explain that something is missing from our friendship. None of us can quite explain it. Still, I have been talking to them about Onyx. As I pull up in front of her boutique, I enter quickly and see she is not busy.

"Rarity, do you know what is going on with Onyx? He straight up ignored my flirting attempts when I tried to get him to come to do something," I asked nervously, "and if you do, can you tell me because I am worried, he never ignores me no matter how much I bug him."

She looked up from her book and sighed, "hello Pinkie, how is your day so far?… good, my day is fine,"

"Sorry Rarity, I am just a little distraught," I spoke at her nervously "he is the first guy who does not mind all of me, and I do not know what I would do if he stopped."

"Onyx is fine, dear, and from what it sounds like, he got the money for the grant so he can finish his limb that he is putting on Sliver dear." Rarity answered slowly, "This is probably the most important time for a researcher the end of the thing he is building. There are only two ways it can go from here success or failure; this is the most important time for him, Dear."

I looked at Rarity and was surprised that such a thing was going on. I wonder if there is anything I can do to make this easier for Onyx. "Can I do anything to make this easier for him, Rarity?"

"There is nothing you can do right now, dear this is crunch time for him. He has to be able to focus. You will see everything will go back to normal right after he is done," Rarity comforted me, and I saw she was telling me the truth. I might not be the best at spotting lies, but I know my friends.