While Petina spent the day as an art installation in my Equestria dreamscape, Carousel and I had other things to do. We spent a couple of hours with Marble Vein and Brilliant Flower but it became very apparent that Marble and her friend were focused on collecting as much data as possible, so they had little time for chit chat. Besides, Petina might’ve made herself unavailable for the day but Carousel had things to do with the dance troupe. So after while she excused herself and went about her business.
 
The day was a slow one for myself, and I wasn’t needed over at the rehearsal hall until 2 in the afternoon, but I decided to fly over to Steel Strut’s workshop to see if anything was going on. Fortunately our working relationship had started to improve after an initial rocky start. Besides the mare’s workshop was full of fascinating, ingenious devices and gadgets. I’d talk to several other ponies since I’d met her. Almost everypony had said the same thing. They believed Steel Strut was a pony who’s talents were going to change Equestria for the better.
 
As I approached the workshop I noticed that one of the larger sliding shop doors had been pushed open. These doors were used to allow the rolling of large objects in and out of shop, and to provide additional airflow/ventilation to the interior. The workshop was situated under the shade of several large willow trees, but in the afternoon it could still get stifling inside it.
 
However as I came in to land I observed Steel Strut and Scratch rolling something out of it. It was vehicle that must’ve been one of the various objects that were normally just lumpy shapes under drop clothes. Before me was a low slung trike that obviously had some type of built-in propulsive system to it. As I touched down I could hear the Steel Strut going through a checklist.
 
“Distilled water tanks full. Reaction crystals temperature are nominal. Control shutters responding correctly.” The earth pony laid down on the ground and rolled on to one side and peered under the trike. “No leaking from the water tank or lubricant reservoir.” Reaching out with a front hoof she thumped a heavy leather drive belt that obviously drove the rear wheel. Lightweight metal, spoked rims were sheathed in pneumatic tires of vulcanized rubber. Satisfied Steel Strut climbed to her hooves and looked at Scratch.
 
“Okay boss! She’s ready to roll. Remember keep an eye on the engine RPMs and the temperatures. Both in the water tank and in the reaction chamber. Beyond that, just watch your speed and don’t run any ponies over. You’ve got about 30 minutes of running time. Have fun!”
 
The white unicorn grinned and did the happy trot. “Sweet!” She then proceeded to gingerly climb into the steeply reclined wicker seat. The trike triangular frame had a light, leaf spring suspension that bobbed and swayed as the mare situated herself. Once settled in Scratch took a moment to check the gauges. She pointed at a large brass gauge. “Don’t let that one go into red? Right?”
 
Steel Strut nodded her head. “If you let the boiler temperature wander into the red for too long you’ll trigger the auto shutter shutdown, and trigger the emergency steam release. If that happen your fun is over until it cools down and you refill the water tank!”
 
“Right!” Scratch released a brake lever a depressed a clutch pedal with her left rear hoof. She then selected first gear with her left front hoof and slowly depressed the accelerator with her right lower hoof. The vehicle hissed then started rolling forward, slowly accelerating as it went. Using the steering yoke she turned onto the main Macadamed carriage path. Smiling Steel Strut watched her boss and her creation. Without looking away she addressed me.
 
“Morning Sky Brush. I noticed one of your mares is currently a lawn ornament. Figured you’d be over there.”
 
I watched Scratch as she continued to pick up speed. “Well at the moment Petina isn’t the greatest conversationalist, and Marble Vein is keeping her busy with tests. So I figured I’d come over and see what’s up.” I pointed at the vehicle. “Is that using that crystalline polarity resistance thing like you used on that steam generator in your shop?”
 
Steel Strut yelled instructions at her boss as the trike shuddered but continued accelerate faster. “Depress the clutch first! Then make the shift! Then release the clutch!” She let her glance drift over to me for second before it returned to the vehicle. “Yep! This where I want to go with it. I want to develop this as a propulsion system for a variety vehicles!”
 
By this time numerous ponies had started notice the trike and were starting to line the carriage path as the vehicle motored by. Scratch reached the roundabout in front of the main building; as she motored past she shifted again and I could see the vehicle accelerate even more. Steel Strut watched the vehicle with a critical eye as it motored by. As it passed us she spoke again.
 
“My family has been involved with the railroad industry since its earliest days. Either directly running them or designing them, and I think they’ve been one of the greatest things to ever happen to Equestria. Bbbuuutttt.”
 
The trike had now motored down to the traffic circle near the main gate of the Silver Mirror. Scratch circled the granite pedestal that sat at the center of it. Then the mare headed back our way. Steel Strut watched her do this for a moment before speaking again.
 
“But I will be the first to admit that currently locomotives are loud, messy, smoky things. They do the job, but I believe we as ponies can do better. Not only cleaner, but cheaper, safer and more efficiently. That’s why I built that steam generator . That’s why.”
 
She pointed at the trike as it motored past again. “I talked Scratch into letting me build this working prototype. I want the Equestria of the future to be able to harness this concept and put behind it all this smoke and soot. I want a future Equestria where ponies don’t have to risk lives to dig deep in the earth to pull out lumps of black rock that will just get consumed once in a fire.”
 
“Fortunately for me Scratch has a similar vision to mine. I wrote a paper that appeared in a prominent engineering journal a couple of years ago that outlined my ideas.” The mare grinned at me. “I submitted the paper after my patents had been approved, but I lacked the financial means to move forward with my concept. I couldn’t find investors willing to take the risks, and I was unsuccessfully in securing a grant from the Crown. Then a year ago Scratch approached me with the job I have today. In return she’s agreed to finance my future research and development work. Of course she’s going to profit richly and so will I if this succeeds, but if I do I’ll be doing my part to make sure that this kingdom’s skies remain clear!” She glanced over at me. “You’re a pegasus and a weather pony Sky Brush. Does that seem like a noble cause?”
 
I nodded my head. “Yeah. That’s something to work for.”
 
Scratch brought the trike back to the workshop. The vehicle hadn’t even come to a complete stop when the unicorn jumped out of the vehicle and rushed over to give Steel Strut a big hug. “Steel! You’re amazing! This is so cool! When can I take it into town!”
 
The earth pony rolled her eyes and patted Scratch on top of her head. “Soon boss. Soon.”
 
To be continued.