Cover art for my new story Open Skies featuring the plony on display, Sky Skimmer as a further introduction to a setting I am working on. Sky Skimmer is one of a good deal of synths who have already come into being and their process of gaining self awareness is different than ponies. In that initially they are put to work operating machines for industrial use while having free access to an extensive database of knowledge and recorded experiences. After a while, for one reason or another, the synthetic mind will fixate on something within that database of knowledge and experiences, the spark as to why is always different.
 
Once at this point it is a matter of time until they are fully self aware and wish to experience the world on their own terms and as such get a body of their own design. These synths do not owe anyone or anything their life as their time building things generally covers any materials required for making their crystalline mind and body. The mind itself is infused with various species magics and each Synth resonates with those various magics differently, but most resonate heavily with the changeling magic that is part of their core. Due to this some look like machines, some look like heavily augmented organics, and others look no different from a stranger you’d pass on the street.
 
Story Link