Ignorelandby Atlas_NebulaChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 1A low purring can be heard from the back of the carriage. The product must’ve awakened prematurely. Not that this is much of a concern to you; it’s only normal for an animal to notice when its surroundings have become unstable. The carriage goes up and down, left and right ever so slightly as it traverses the bumpy road that leads to where you plan on going. The clank of metal against the carriage ensures that your journey is not a silent one. If anything the cages that house your products are the most unwieldy things you’ve ever had to deal with. No doubt the villagers took notice of your arrival. Merchants coming into Ponyville was a common happening, but what you’re selling and who you are is a completely different matter. They didn’t take too kindly to you, you’ve noticed. None of them outright insulted or berated you, but there was an undeniable tension in the air, and you could’ve sworn you even heard whispering and murmurs. “One of them andys” was something you got used to over the previous months, but only in small doses. This... this is a brave new world for you, but you sigh and continue on your merry way. Your vision never lies to you, and you can see the cottage in the short distance. That cottage on the hill, so secluded and organic and green, to think that this would be the ideal place. You’ve heard through the grapevine that a shy pegasus mare lives in that cottage, and with her a multitude of animals. She treats them like they were her closest friends, and it makes you wonder if she’d be interested in any of your products. Animal lovers were the prime demographic in your line of work, after all. With a well-hidden confidence in your being, you trot up the trail and stop just outside the mare’s domain, pulling all the weight with you that may as well be all that you possess. Meows and whimpers and even chirps can be heard from your roofless carriage, and there’s no doubt now that the products are up and ready for action. Assuming there will be any, of course. Cautiously, you detach yourself from your livelihood and make your way to the front door of the lone cabin. Knock knock. “Sorry, we’re not taking visitors today. Please come back later if that’s alright with you,” a muffled voice, no doubt feminine, occupies the other side, and for a second your heart sinks. Whatever you might consider a heart to be. But you haven't lost hope just yet. You knock again. “I’m sorry, but we’re not-” “I know you said you’re not open today,” you plead. “but I’m here to see if you were interested in buying something. Something I think you might like.” “You’re a merchant?” “Yes, ma’am. On behalf of the Lunar Corporation, to be exact. I’ve come many miles to see if anyone in this town is interested in my products, and I heard you seem like a very profitable customer. May I please come in?” You suspected that the mare wasn’t the most outgoing lass in the world, although you didn’t think she would be this weary towards strangers. The world is rich, and its inhabitants are friendly and well to do. “...okay. My friends tell me that I should be more social, but I just can’t help it sometimes,” she says, and the door slowly opens a little bit, but enough for the mare’s voice to carry through. “I’m sorry about that.” “It’s not an issue, ma’am. So long as business is going smoothly and no one is harmed, then all is well.” you tell her with the level of enthusiasm you’ve put to good use since you’ve started your profession. Customers always appreciate a friendly merchant, and it makes transactions all the more relaxed and natural. You give her a genuine smile and pass by the shy mare as you enter the cottage. Almost as it were instinct, you inspect the interior of the mare’s home, eyeing it from top to bottom with great efficiency. It’s easy to tell just by the scent that this place is occupied by many animals, most of them probably mammals, with a few birds perhaps. Jackpot! The cottage is rather lively, you couldn’t help but notice; just by looking to your right you can tell that you’ve come to the right place. Beside the shy mare is a bunny, its fur white and healthy, and you become curious as to whether it’s a really good copy, or if it’s the real deal. You stop eyeing the rabbit, who was getting noticeably annoyed at your presence, and the mare speaks up just above a harsh whisper. “Please, sit down. I could get us some tea if you wouldn’t mind.” “Yeah, I’m fine with that. Just... looking around is all. Also, I’ve heard a lot about you, but I don’t recall ever getting your name.” “It’s Fluttershy. I’m Fluttershy,” she blushes ever so slightly for some reason that escapes you, and you tell her your name in reply. It is only good business for the buyer and the seller to become somewhat familiar with each other, especially if the customer comes back for more products. As you will forever remember from your training, the customer is always right. “Pleased to meet you, Fluttershy,” you say casually. “I’ll be over in the living room, just to let you know.” With that said, you sit down in the sofa and wait patiently for the mare and her tea. To be honest, fluids and food don’t do much for you, but they do make you feel more natural. More like them. You run a hoof through your mane nonchalantly and take a breather, noticing the rabbit from before looking at you. It’s tapping its foot rapidly, and is frowning in a way that tells you he doesn’t like visitors at all. If he’s a copy, then he’s a very glitchy one. You just glare at the small animal, your sky-blue eyes trying to pierce its soul. Maybe it’s a he, or a she, but it doesn’t take a liking to you, so you don’t like it either. The staring contest goes on for what could’ve been ages, and you start to silently wonder if the little creature has a mind of its own. Maybe it thinks the sofa belongs to it? Neither of you move an inch, but the tension evaporates when Fluttershy hovers into the living room section of the cabin, carrying a tray of delicious tea in her hooves. “Sorry about the wait. The birds needed to be fed, and I thought you and Angel could take company in each other,” she timidly sets down the tray onto the coffee table and lands softly next to you. “He’s a bit rough around the edges, but he’s nice when you get to know him.” A grumpy creature like that being named Angel? You roll your eyes and contemplate what your next move is going to be. “May I ask you a question, Miss Fluttershy?” “You can just call me Fluttershy.” “Alright then, I have a question... that rabbit there, Angel you call him, right?” “Yes?” she replies. You hear a slight hiss coming from the rabbit, and he’s still there, looking at you. Maybe he’s malfunctioning? “Is he synthetic, or organic?” “What? I don’t really know what you mean by that.” Fluttershy eyes you curiously. She’s acting like she’s never encountered an electric animal before. That’s a first, but then again, there’s a first time for everything. “Is he real, or does he run on electricity? Looks like he might be a bit buggy if he’s a copy. Electric animals aren’t supposed to behave this way, that is until you specifically programme them to act like this.” you tell her. The idea of a synthetic animal being designed to be hostile seems absurd to you. There’s no need for such a thing, let alone in a rabbit of all creatures. “He’s real, then. I remember when he was born, actually. He was so cute when he was a baby,” Angel instantly hisses at Fluttershy, which throws you off for a second. Since when did rodents hiss like cats? “Not that you’re not cute now, Angel bunny!” “I see... are all the animals in your home authentic? Because if they are, then I’m quite impressed.” you exclaim. The very notion of a household filled with real animals is almost unheard of nowadays. Every citizen of Equestria knows by this point that it’s cheaper to own and care for an electric animal than it is to own the real thing. “Oh, yes, definitely. I raised just about all of them myself. Dash says I’m a lot more open towards mice and bears than I am with other ponies,” she shrugs and smiles a bit, looking at you with a certain friendliness you’re not that familiar with. “I don’t see that as being a bad thing, though. Some ponies can be very mean.” Great scott, she’s one in a million! A vast array of numbers and patterns fly at rapid speeds through your brain, and you think about the situation you’re in. This mare is the prime customer for your profession, and who knows; she might even make you a very rich stallion if time allows it. You know that what is good for you is also good for the company. Taking you out of your joyful trance, Fluttershy speaks up again. “Sorry, Mister, but I don’t think you told me what you sell. You’re a traveling merchant, right?” “Yep. I’ve been working for the Lunar Corporation for almost two years now,” you gingerly reach into your saddlebag and take out your business card, which shows the company’s insignia. A crescent moon surrounding three different colored stars makes for both a flashy and informative image. Fluttershy hesitantly takes the card out of your hooves and analyses it, her eyes surfing the logo and slogan. “Security. Efficiency. Prosperity,” she reads the slogan out loud, and hands the card back to you. “You work for a protection group?” “No, definitely not. I work in the Department of Synthetic Beings. It’s a bit of a long name I know, but basically, we work with robots, androids, electric animals and the like,” you say proudly. “We’ve been the world’s leading company in the realm of robotics for decades now.” Fluttershy just eyes you, puzzled. She doesn’t seem to know much about your profession. How is that possible? The Lunar Corporation has been around since long before either of you were even born, and much of society these days relies on what the company and its contemporaries produce. “I’m sorry, but... what’s an android?” Your jaw practically drops. The tea has gone somewhat cold. How can she not know?! No matter. Maybe you’re the perfect specimen to show her just what an “andy” is. “An android is a... how should I explain this? An android is a robotic pony. A synthetic being that looks and acts just like a pony, but it isn’t one. Tell me something, Fluttershy, have you looked at my flank at all?” “W-What? That’s rude to do, especially to a visitor.” the mare stammers, blushing violently. You’ll take that as a no then. “Here’s the thing, Fluttershy. Androids don’t have cutie marks. Not without some secret tampering that gives them one. Look at my flank. Do you see a cutie mark there?” as you ordered, she slowly looks down, and notices that you’re right. You lack a cutie mark. In fact, you’re an android yourself, and adult andys stick out like sore thumbs because they don’t have cutie marks. Fluttershy gasps, and you can tell that she’s at least a little bit frightened. “Now, now, don’t be scared. I’m not going to hurt you.” “You’re... you’re a...” “An android, yes. Maybe I should’ve told you that sooner, but seeing as how you didn’t even know what an andy is until a few moments ago that may not’ve been the best idea,” you put a hoof on her shoulder, telling her with your eyes that she needs to calm down. “For that, I sincerely apologize. It goes against my very nature to harm a pony, let alone you. I’ll be honest, Fluttershy, you seem like a very nice mare. Feeling better now?” “Y-Yes. Thank you, I’m just not used to this sorta thing.” you can tell that she’s still shivering, but she’ll get over it. It’s a much better alternative to harsh language and slurs. You know that androids are still not accepted in some parts of the country, especially the more rural, less enlightened areas. This town must be one of those places. “That’s okay, ma’am. I should’ve told you earlier. You’re not used to synthetic beings, are you?” your curiosity gets to you. You figured the mare was shy and reclusive, but you didn’t think she would be this unfamiliar with modern technology. “No, I can’t say that I am. We don’t really see much, um... new stuff in Ponyville,” she says, and it occurs to you that the town might be more isolated than you originally thought. Magitek is not a new concept in Equestria, at least relatively speaking. You decide to let this slide and gently grab Fluttershy by the hoof. “Tell you what, I’ll try to make this up to you. Maybe we can have lunch at the local bakery and talk business? It’ll be my treat,” you can tell that the mare is nervous, but her muscles appear to be relaxing finally. “I’ll explain everything when we get there, okay?” “...yeah. I can do that.” she uneasily answers, but manages a small grin. Maybe this won’t turn out to be a disaster after all? You wonder if any of the other residents in town will be just as uninformed as she is. Who knows, maybe this’ll turn out to be your big break? Confident again, you get off the sofa and look over your shoulder. “That’s very good, Fluttershy. I think I’ll even be able to spread the word on my products to your friends, if you don’t mind that is.” you say cheerfully, but can’t help but notice that Fluttershy is staring at your flank. Probably still weirded by the prospect of an artificial pony. No matter, she’ll get over it. “Oh, um... I think Twilight would really like to meet you. Also, you told me who you work for, but... what do you sell?” she eyes you questioningly. “Synthetic pets, if that’s what you’re wondering.” The tray of tea cups is completely ignored. Chapter 2You sigh quietly as you walk with Fluttershy to the local bakery known to the residents of the town as ‘Sugar Cube Corner’. Even in a place so secluded and far away from major cities and modern civilization, there are still ponies that despise your kind. There definitely aren’t as many as you would normally see visiting a population center, but you can still feel the familiar glares attempting to burrow their way into the back of your skull. Mentally shrugging, you continue on your way down the slightly busy street, after all, it comes with the territory. Quiet whispers sound through the marketplace and you catch glimpses of conversations. “What’s he doing with her? Where do you think they’re going?” Fluttershy doesn’t seem to hear any of them. In fact, she seems rather contented for the most part, smiling softly and humming as the light breeze of mid afternoon whistles through her mane. You can obviously tell that she’s extremely in tune with nature; that much was obvious when you’d seen all of the animals she kept in her house. A house full of organic critters… That certainly wasn’t something you saw everyday. Nevertheless, you shake your head slightly, clearing the thoughts from your mind and bask in the relative silence of the walk. It’s not particularly far, nor is it particularly exciting, but it’s still nice to not be surrounded completely by hateful glares and vicious accusations. The woefully uninformed don’t usually take very kindly to the strange and unorthodox, especially something along the lines of yourself. Synthetic life... created within a test tube… At least you have a companion for this journey. This is a walk that you’d normally be making on your own, knowing that it would most likely end in disappointment like the countless times before. You gaze to your right, noticing that Fluttershy is still humming softly, but looking once again at your blank flank with a mixture of sadness and curiosity. When she notices you looking and accidentally makes eye contact, she quietly makes an ‘eep!’ sound before turning and blushing. You almost chuckle. The mare certainly lives up to her namesake, though she seems nice enough. Perhaps you’ll find a potential buyer and repeat customer in her after all? Who knows? All will be told when you arrive at your current destination, you tell yourself. For now, the silence holds you in its cold, yet comforting embrace. As you turn the corner, you see the building in all of it’s sugary glory. A tall building stands not twenty feet in front of you, but it’s the architecture that catches your eye. You’ve never seen anything like it; the building seems to be made entirely from gingerbread, and held together by some sort of frosting. Large candy canes and lollipops decorate the front entrance and the pathway leading up to the sugar glass door. You briefly entertain the thought of some young colt running up to the building and taking a bite out of the wall to see if it’s real. Coming up to the building, both you and Fluttershy stop to gawk at it. Up close, the individual grains of sugar and frosting are clearly visible, and it is definitely real. You wonder if they actually have a problem with ponies coming up and eating sections of the building. The would be a very serious danger to the structural integrity of the building. How would the owners repair it? Perhaps they would just bake a- Your thoughts are interrupted as Fluttershy addresses you. “We’re here, at Sugar Cube Corner. Isn’t it just amazing?” She gives you a gentle smile. Nodding, you walk up to the door and hold it open for her. Once again, she gives you that small, grateful smile as she trots inside of the bakery. You quickly follow, closing the door behind you. As you do, you see your reflection in the mirror... hardened eyes and a emotionless body stare back at you. Artificial. That’s what you are. Shaking your head once again, you make your way over to the table that Fluttershy has taken seat at and sit down with her. The store is almost completely empty, save for the products they’re selling. All around you, various spices, pastries, and candies fill the shelves. This is literally a child’s paradise. You briefly ponder how anypony could possibly consume these sugary confections regularly without getting some for of health related disease. Still, it couldn’t hurt to try necessarily... not once at least. Across the table, Fluttershy watches as you eye the story in wonder, trying to take in how such a place could possibly exist. “The Cakes are very good at what they do,” Fluttershy says. “They’ve owned this place for nearly twenty years. My friends and I actually come here very often. It’s a great family friendly place, and they’ve got great food. It’s just the right amount of sweet while not being too sweet.” Fluttershy finishes with a small smile before turning her gaze downwards towards the table, avoiding eye contact but sneaking glances at you when she thinks you aren’t looking. Something strange and different calls for attention, you think to yourself. “The secret is sea salt and pinch of cinnamon~!” A pink mare bounces out from behind the counter, carrying a tray of with four yellow frosted cupcakes on it. “Well, that’s not all, but I really can’t tell you the secret recipe. You might try to recreate it or something, and it’s supposed to be a secret!” The mare places the tray down and bounces in place, watching excitedly for Fluttershy to take a bite from one of the similarly paletted cupcakes. Fluttershy flinches a bit when the tray impacts the table, but manages a grimaced smile at the pink mare. “Oh, hey, Pinkie. How did you know it was me?” Fluttershy asks. She cranes her neck downward and takes a dainty bite of the closest cupcake, leaving a petite bite mark. “Thanks for the cupcakes by the way, Pinkie. They’re delicious.” The pink mare grins so widely, that you swear her mouth might fall off of her face. “Well, since you’re one of my best friends and a regular customer, I decided to make a special recipe just for you! I’m glad it was a success! As for how I knew it was you? You usually come around the same time everyday, and you always make this specific set of plodding hoofsteps. Although… I could have sworn I heard somepony else enter with you…” “O-oh. Um… Yes. This is my new friend,” Fluttershy says, pointing towards you. The implication of that statement hits you. New... friend? “New friend... but…” The pink mare slowly turns around towards you. She eyes you up and down, taking in your whole form and no doubt analyzing you. It’s fairly obvious that you’re not like other ponies, but she doesn’t seem to notice. She just continues to scan you as if you were some sort of barcode. It’s actually rather unnerving… “If you’re Fluttershy’s new friend, that must mean that you’re new to Ponyville! If you’re new to Ponyville, that means I haven’t met you yet, and if I haven’t met you yet, that means I haven’t thrown you a party! Oh my goodness I’d better go-” She stops talking immediately as she looks into your eyes. The two of you stare intently at each other, almost as if probing each others souls. You swear that you can see some sort of gears churning in the back of her head, followed by a faint ‘click’ as some invisible mechanism snaps into place. Now she looks sort of sad. She’s still smiling widely, but you notice that it’s a little less wide than before. Fluttershy doesn’t seem to notice however. “Pinkie? Are you alright?” Fluttershy asks, concern lacing her voice. “Huh? Oh, yeah! I was just thinking about something… Anyways, it was nice to meet you Mr. Stallion-guy! I’m Pinkie Pie! I sure look forward to talking to you in the future, but I kind of have some work I’m supposed to be doing for the Cakes, plus I have to feed their twins in a bit. You know, children…” She waves her hoof as she bounds back over the counter and up the stairs, vanishing just as quickly as she had appeared. “That was weird… Pinkie’s never too busy to meet somepony new… She usually wants to throw them some sort of huge party to welcome them to the town. I wonder if she’s alright…” Fluttershy looks worried for her friend, but you’re pretty sure you know what just happened. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy. I’m sure she’s fine. Just takes awhile to get used to new things, you know?” You try to console Fluttershy. You don’t particularly like seeing anypony sad, especially kind mares like the yellow pegasus. She seems a little naive to you, but you suppose that’s just part of her nature and how she was raised. “Anyway… So, Fluttershy, what would you like to know?” You sit up straight and professionally, looking dead at her. She shies away from the eye contact, instead looking all around the room except for directly at you. “W-well… Um. What does it mean?” Fluttershy asks so softly, that even you are barely able to make it out. “What does what mean?” You ask, slightly confused. “Well, what does it mean to be an android? How does that… work?” She immediately clasps her hooves over her mouth. “I-I’m sorry! I d-didn’t mean to sound so offensive!” “It’s alright, Fluttershy.” You take in a deep breath and sigh. “It’s only natural that you’d be curious about something so foreign. I don’t blame you for not knowing how to voice those curiosities.” Fluttershy nods, but still looks down at the table with a small amount of shame. “Well, how do I start to explain this? Androids, or ‘andys’ as we are also known, are artificially created ponies. We are ponies, but we’re also not, if that makes any sense.” You stop talking for a moment and tap your hoof against your chin, trying to figure out a better way to explain your condition to Fluttershy. What would be the best way to word this…? ”But how can that be possible? If you’re a pony, then you’re a pony just like everypony else. If you’re not, then you’re some sort of other creature. How can you be a pony but not be a pony?” Fluttershy looks at you as she asks this, seemingly bewildered and completely unable to grasp the concept of you simultaneously being and not being something. “Well… It’s like… We look, act, and move like a pony, but we don’t have a lot of the things that make ponies ‘ponies’. For instance, we lack cutie marks. We don’t have ‘families’ in the traditional sense of the word, since we’re created and not born. We never have a childhood. We’re born exactly as we are, and stay that way until we cease to function anymore.” Fluttershy gives you a look of great pity. “O-Oh… That sounds horrible!” She clasps her hooves over her mouth once more. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Just… Those are things that everypony should be able to experience! I can’t imagine not having them. You must be so lonely…” You can nearly see tears in the corners of her eyes. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy. You learn to deal with it quickly enough. We’re also a lot stronger and faster than a normal pony due to the fact that we’re not organic. This same fact also makes us sterile. There are multiple advantages and disadvantages to being an android.” You sigh and look at her. She’s still giving you that sad, piteous look. It doesn’t make you feel good at all. “Why are you looking at me like that?” you ask her, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t sound very nice at all. I mean, you’re missing so many wonderful things.” With a practiced steadiness, you respond. “I’m happy. I always have been. I’m contented with the life I’ve been given, and strive to do my best for the community and world around me, even if it means sometimes having to make sacrifices.” It sounds almost robotic, like a mantra of sorts. That’s because it is, but Fluttershy doesn’t know that. Not yet at least. “B-But… Don’t you have any friends? Somepony to care for you?” You shake your head slowly. “Ponies like me don’t tend to make friends with lots of other ponies, Fluttershy. I assure you though, it’s probably for the best. After all, ponies are often afraid of things that are foreign to them. I just do my job and live my life to the best of my abilities. That’s all anypony can ever really ask, isn’t it?” Her next words ring sharply through the air. They aren’t harsh. They aren’t hostile. If anything, they’re extremely soothing, and just soft enough so that you barely hear them. “I’ll be your friend. If that’s alright with you…” You nearly do a double take. You’re not used to this sort of reaction from ponies. The most you get is acceptance, or semi-respect, but never kindness. “I… Uh… Sure. I would love to have you as a friend?” You aren’t really sure how to respond, so you just say the first thing that comes to your mind. “Great!” Fluttershy says, smiling. “Oh dear… It’s getting sort of late. I didn’t realize we’d spent so much time here.” You look at a simple clock hanging in the corner and realize that it has in fact been almost an hour or so. Where did all of the time go? “Uh… You haven’t touched your cupcakes yet!” Fluttershy says to you. Looking down, you notice two yellow cupcakes on a plate in front of you. Fluttershy must have passed them to you earlier without you noticing it, thinking that you were hungry. “No, I’ll be fine. I’m not hungry at all, I promise. Though, we should probably go visit this ‘Twilight’ friend of yours soon. I remember you saying that you thought she’d like to meet me.” “Oh, yes! That’s right! We should head over there right away. The library’s close to here, so it shouldn’t take too long to get there. Twilight is pretty busy later in the day, so it’s best to go as soon as possible.” Fluttershy leaves a few bits on the table before you even have the chance to protest. “Let’s go.” The two of you leave the store. As you do, you stop for a moment and turn to look back at the sugar coated bakery. That had to have been one of the strangest lunches you’d ever had. Author's Note I'd like to sincerely thank electreXcessive for writing this chapter, and letting me help with the concepts and editing. This isn't going to be a daily routine, although I'll make sure to get out another chapter by the end of this week. Chapter 3As you and Fluttershy wander the marketplace, your mind retreats back into its figurative shell. The yellow mare next to you appeared to be saddened by your existence. It’s almost insulting, now that you think about it. Although there is a small part of you that might feel otherwise, and there’s no denying that at least some of what Fluttershy had said was true. You don’t have a family to speak of, much unlike the ponies that you serve daily. The closest thing you have to family is Mother, and she’s hundreds of miles away at the moment. There’s a distinct vibe going on as you venture through the rural town, almost a feeling of loneliness. You blink in disapproval. Fluttershy seems to notice right away, almost as if she read your mind. She pokes you with her wing in concern. “I’m fine, honestly. Just thinking about stuff.” Partially true, but not entirely. “Are you sure? You got me really worried back there. I sincerely hope I didn’t offend you,” she said. “It’s just... nopony deserves to live like that. Not even Trixie back when she first came here.” Your ears perk up at the mentioning of that name. “Trixie? The magician? I’ve heard she’s been rehabilitated quite some time ago.” “Yeah, but a few years back, when she came to Ponyville for a show, she was really mean,” Her nuzzle scrunches up for a second at the memory. “But she’s better now. Even back then, I wouldn’t have wished that life upon her.” You can’t help but get the impression that Fluttershy feels sorry for you. Slightly. Maybe. Must not think too much of it. If anything, you’ve learned to deal with your job and how much time you have on the planet. Eight years. That’s more than enough time to make other ponies happy. That’s what you were built for, after all. The sun is blocked out by an oddly shaped cloud, and it looks like a storm is heading your way. No matter. You like days that are overcast. The townsfolk are happy, minding their own business, being completely ignorant. But of what? Then it occurs to you that Ponyville must be purposely isolated from other parts of the country. There’s no way that these ponies could be unaware of androids by sheer coincidence. “Believe me, it’s not that bad. Although I do admit I’m a bit jealous of what you have.” “Jealous? Of me?” That might not have been the best choice of words. Fluttershy looks puzzled, so you decide to quickly head that off at the pass. “Not of you, specifically, Fluttershy. Of what you mentioned earlier. I never noticed how lacking my life was. I like it, sure, but... I’m not contented...” you start to doubt yourself. It is not uncommon for anys to develop their own emotional responses over time, but it’s definitely not something that can be easily gotten used to. You need a distraction, right now. “Oh. You ever thought of a family before? Just wondering. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” she said, hardly above a whisper. You’re starting to wonder if this mare would qualify as adorable. It doesn’t matter right now, though. Must find something to take mind off things. “Well, no. Like I said, I don’t have one, and the only pony I can really say would even come close to being family is Mother.” “Who’s that?” “Right. I call her Mother, and so do other andys of my type, but you probably know her as Pri-” Suddenly, you get hit in the side of the head with a rock. Where did that come from? “Ow.” It didn’t really hurt, but it did throw you off balance. Suddenly, you remember where you and Fluttershy are going, and it isn’t to the giant tree that contains the town’s public library, as well as Princess Twilight’s home. Fluttershy gasps for a moment, taken back about as much as you are, and looks to where the small rock came from. Over by what you assume to be the arcade, you see a young colt kicking the ground in a noticeable fit of frustration. He’s wearing a cap, and like you, lacks a cutie mark. Maybe he’s a child version of your type? Probably not. Too emotive. Not enough patience. You see Fluttershy’s face contort into one of mild anger, and she trots over to the arcade in a huff. Might cause confrontation. Wouldn’t want that to happen. Following her, you take her by the shoulder just before she reaches the colt. He’s still clearly frustrated. Spouting curse words. Not very polite, is he. “Don’t go near him,” you whisper into Fluttershy’s ear. “You mean Button? I don’t know; he’s causing a bit of a scene.” She’s not wrong. A few ponies have gathered around the arcade, with its flashing lights and vibrant colors, and sort of just observe the colt’s actions. “I know how to deal with kids. This one might need an adult who understands,” you reply. While Fluttershy does seem to be good with kids, and it wouldn’t surprise you if she would be a great mother, she’s not a computer expert. Just from looking at the child, you can tell that Button has at least a moderate interest in video games. Actually, it somewhat surprises you that they even have those in this town. Definitely strange. Without saying another word, you go up to the colt (who’s too busy being a little ball of anger for him to notice you) and grab him by the arm. He looks up to you, an intense frown on his face, and tries to pulls away from you. “Hey, lemme go! You’re not my mom!” Your forceful grip doesn’t make his efforts fruitful whatsoever. No matter how much the colt tried to get away; your strength still wins out. “No. I wouldn’t try to fight back, kid. You’ll end up hurting yourself,” you say nonchalantly. Technically, you couldn’t do anything in defense if he fought you, but Button is also unaware that you’re an android. At least for the moment. Could use that to your advantage if townsfolk are ignorant enough. “But-” “Calm down. Think for a second, little stallion. You don’t want to get into trouble with your mother, would you?” “NO! Please don’t tell her! I was already grounded for breaking the window with a controller!” He pleaded, and hesitated for a second. “I forgot it was a wireless controller...” he trails off and looks down at the ground in shame. Probably has anger issues. Not matter. “I promise not to tell her if you stop this nonsense, Button,” you say sternly. “Is that understood?” “Y-Yeah... I guess,” he says, and makes a circle in the dirt with his hoof. You notice a filly with a white coat not far away, caught between paying attention to what’s going on and playing with a portable game console. A Joyboy, if you remember correctly. Video games are quite popular in the Stardust Palace, as well as Canterlot. It’s always been odd to you that they can manufacture life-like animals, but can’t seem to make game graphics as nearly as convincing. Fluttershy slowly makes her way next to you, and appears to be utterly speechless. Not a big surprise. Almost everypony that was watching the scene has left by now, leaving you three together. “How did you do that?” Fluttershy was bewildered by what you had one. “I would’ve probably used the stare on him, but you... you just made him sit still!” “Not really. I made myself look threatening. I didn’t have to do anything. Heck, I couldn’t do anything, even if I wanted to.” Button raises an eyebrow. “Whaddaya mean you couldn’t have done anything? You’re a big stallion; you could’ve beaten the crap outta me!” Kids these days lack manners. “I don’t think you noticed, Button, but have you looked at my flank?” “Wait...” he does just that, and almost screams his lungs out. “An adult blank flank?!” “Yep. And not just that,” you figure that if there’s anypony in this town who would know what an android is, it’s this colt. It takes him a few seconds to register what you mean, but he looks both astonished and shocked at the same time. “You’re one of those fancy robots, aren’t you? The ones that just look like ponies?” “Not quite. Being a robot would mean I’m a slave, and I can assure you I’m no slave,” you say. It makes you wonder if you really aren’t a slave, though. You’re a servant, but you’re allowed to think for yourself, and you have a business mentality that slaves in the ancient times did not possess. Not to mention the obvious fact that those slaves were ponies, not andys. “I’m an android. A synthetic pony, my dear boy.” “Ah. Aren’t those kinda the same thing?” “Sort of, but not really,” you glance at Fluttershy and refer to her in a hushed tone. “It’s okay if you leave us here, ma’am. I can see Twilight tomorrow instead of today.” “O-Oh, really? I guess that’ll be alright. I can’t wait to tell Twilight about you. She’s really into stuff going on in Canterlot and the big cities...” she shyly replies, and turns and heads over to the library, her wings occasionally fluttering. You don’t let the energetic colt out of your sight, though. Must ask questions. “As for you, little guy, I think we should go for a bit of a stroll, don’t you think?” “Wait, you’re saying that I get to talk to a robot?” “Android.” “Android?!” Button’s excitement comes back to him, and gets off his haunches. “Don’t be too reckless. If anything, I want to ask you some questions. I haven’t seen anypony use sophisticated tech in this town, up until now,” you chuckle. “C’mon; we still have the rest of the afternoon for this.” “Okay...” Button looks over his shoulder, at the white unicorn filly, as we leave. “I’ll be right back, Sweetie!” She just sighs and continues with her business. Might not be in a good mood today. Overcast days are your favorite. A few hours pass as you, and the little hyperactive colt wander the town, chatting, and before you know it the both of you stop for ice cream. The table you’re at is round and smooth, and the ice cream is fairly refreshing, if not stimulating. Andys don’t necessarily need food in order to survive, but a nice treat won’t harm you. “So how come you can’t hurt anypony, really?” Button suddenly asks. He’s already gotten a “brain freeze” three times. Doesn’t know how to pace himself. “Well, it’s not something I’m physically incapable of. We andys are extraordinarily powerful in terms of strength and speed, even when compared to earth ponies. But, we have to be like that. An android is designed to be prepared for any job, emergency, or task given to it. A lot of andys are used for manual labor, not like that’s a bad thing, and a lot of us also hold positions in the education system. It’s common for a teacher in say... Manehatten to be an android.” “Yeah, I get that part, but is it like a crime if you even touch somepony?” “I wouldn’t go that far, but to physically harm another living being would be to break one of the Three Laws of Robotics,” you say to him. Just as you mention the word “robotics,” Button’s ear perk up. “So you are a robot, then?” “We’re synthetic, and have internal workings similar to those of what you would call robots, but we’re far more advanced than that. Back in the days when the Lunar Corporation was the first and only robotics manufacturing company in Equestria, the initial robots were clumsy, slow, and stupid. They were basically just walking calculators, and artificial intelligence was still in its testing stage. One of the first actions the Lunar Corporation took was creating a short and simple set of rules by which all robots and artificial beings must live by. One of those rules was that you couldn’t ever harm a living thing, even if they attack you first.” “Ah. So you’d get arrested if you ever hurt any of us. That doesn’t sound so cool, dude,” he says, obviously saddened by the prospect of somepony not being able to defend itself. Either that or he ran out of ice cream. Probably both. “I’ll admit; it's not the best law in the world. Many robots and andys have practically shut down, or even self destructed, because of all the loopholes and paradoxes within the Three Laws of Robotics. But, it’s not all bad. I mean, look at me, I’m still okay,” you smile, trying to raise Button’s spirits. It works. “Yeah, I guess that’s cool enough. I’ve heard about you guys for awhile, but I never got to meet an android before. Are you staying here for a long time?” Buttons has a hopeful gleam in his eyes. “What, you mean in Ponyville? Not for long, I think. I came here to sell some electric animals and hopefully make a good profit, but I don’t know.” “I hope you stay long enough for us to play some games together. My brother’s not around much anymore, and I used to play with him all the time,” he frowns for a fraction of a second, but perks up. “Getting to play a video game with an android would be awesome!” Both of you had eaten your ice cream by this point, and it’s actually the first meal you’ve had all day. You can’t help but chuckle at the colt’s enthusiasm for what he loves most. Surprises you that he doesn’t have a cutie mark. You’ve always wanted to play a video game yourself, and you’d hate to crush a child’s hopes, so of course you can’t refuse his offer. “I think I can do that. Sounds like it could be a lot of fun,” you say cheerfully, and the moment you do, Button somehow makes his way across the roundtable and hug-tackles you. Turns out making friends in this town might not’ve been impossible after all.
Chapter 1A low purring can be heard from the back of the carriage. The product must’ve awakened prematurely. Not that this is much of a concern to you; it’s only normal for an animal to notice when its surroundings have become unstable. The carriage goes up and down, left and right ever so slightly as it traverses the bumpy road that leads to where you plan on going. The clank of metal against the carriage ensures that your journey is not a silent one. If anything the cages that house your products are the most unwieldy things you’ve ever had to deal with. No doubt the villagers took notice of your arrival. Merchants coming into Ponyville was a common happening, but what you’re selling and who you are is a completely different matter. They didn’t take too kindly to you, you’ve noticed. None of them outright insulted or berated you, but there was an undeniable tension in the air, and you could’ve sworn you even heard whispering and murmurs. “One of them andys” was something you got used to over the previous months, but only in small doses. This... this is a brave new world for you, but you sigh and continue on your merry way. Your vision never lies to you, and you can see the cottage in the short distance. That cottage on the hill, so secluded and organic and green, to think that this would be the ideal place. You’ve heard through the grapevine that a shy pegasus mare lives in that cottage, and with her a multitude of animals. She treats them like they were her closest friends, and it makes you wonder if she’d be interested in any of your products. Animal lovers were the prime demographic in your line of work, after all. With a well-hidden confidence in your being, you trot up the trail and stop just outside the mare’s domain, pulling all the weight with you that may as well be all that you possess. Meows and whimpers and even chirps can be heard from your roofless carriage, and there’s no doubt now that the products are up and ready for action. Assuming there will be any, of course. Cautiously, you detach yourself from your livelihood and make your way to the front door of the lone cabin. Knock knock. “Sorry, we’re not taking visitors today. Please come back later if that’s alright with you,” a muffled voice, no doubt feminine, occupies the other side, and for a second your heart sinks. Whatever you might consider a heart to be. But you haven't lost hope just yet. You knock again. “I’m sorry, but we’re not-” “I know you said you’re not open today,” you plead. “but I’m here to see if you were interested in buying something. Something I think you might like.” “You’re a merchant?” “Yes, ma’am. On behalf of the Lunar Corporation, to be exact. I’ve come many miles to see if anyone in this town is interested in my products, and I heard you seem like a very profitable customer. May I please come in?” You suspected that the mare wasn’t the most outgoing lass in the world, although you didn’t think she would be this weary towards strangers. The world is rich, and its inhabitants are friendly and well to do. “...okay. My friends tell me that I should be more social, but I just can’t help it sometimes,” she says, and the door slowly opens a little bit, but enough for the mare’s voice to carry through. “I’m sorry about that.” “It’s not an issue, ma’am. So long as business is going smoothly and no one is harmed, then all is well.” you tell her with the level of enthusiasm you’ve put to good use since you’ve started your profession. Customers always appreciate a friendly merchant, and it makes transactions all the more relaxed and natural. You give her a genuine smile and pass by the shy mare as you enter the cottage. Almost as it were instinct, you inspect the interior of the mare’s home, eyeing it from top to bottom with great efficiency. It’s easy to tell just by the scent that this place is occupied by many animals, most of them probably mammals, with a few birds perhaps. Jackpot! The cottage is rather lively, you couldn’t help but notice; just by looking to your right you can tell that you’ve come to the right place. Beside the shy mare is a bunny, its fur white and healthy, and you become curious as to whether it’s a really good copy, or if it’s the real deal. You stop eyeing the rabbit, who was getting noticeably annoyed at your presence, and the mare speaks up just above a harsh whisper. “Please, sit down. I could get us some tea if you wouldn’t mind.” “Yeah, I’m fine with that. Just... looking around is all. Also, I’ve heard a lot about you, but I don’t recall ever getting your name.” “It’s Fluttershy. I’m Fluttershy,” she blushes ever so slightly for some reason that escapes you, and you tell her your name in reply. It is only good business for the buyer and the seller to become somewhat familiar with each other, especially if the customer comes back for more products. As you will forever remember from your training, the customer is always right. “Pleased to meet you, Fluttershy,” you say casually. “I’ll be over in the living room, just to let you know.” With that said, you sit down in the sofa and wait patiently for the mare and her tea. To be honest, fluids and food don’t do much for you, but they do make you feel more natural. More like them. You run a hoof through your mane nonchalantly and take a breather, noticing the rabbit from before looking at you. It’s tapping its foot rapidly, and is frowning in a way that tells you he doesn’t like visitors at all. If he’s a copy, then he’s a very glitchy one. You just glare at the small animal, your sky-blue eyes trying to pierce its soul. Maybe it’s a he, or a she, but it doesn’t take a liking to you, so you don’t like it either. The staring contest goes on for what could’ve been ages, and you start to silently wonder if the little creature has a mind of its own. Maybe it thinks the sofa belongs to it? Neither of you move an inch, but the tension evaporates when Fluttershy hovers into the living room section of the cabin, carrying a tray of delicious tea in her hooves. “Sorry about the wait. The birds needed to be fed, and I thought you and Angel could take company in each other,” she timidly sets down the tray onto the coffee table and lands softly next to you. “He’s a bit rough around the edges, but he’s nice when you get to know him.” A grumpy creature like that being named Angel? You roll your eyes and contemplate what your next move is going to be. “May I ask you a question, Miss Fluttershy?” “You can just call me Fluttershy.” “Alright then, I have a question... that rabbit there, Angel you call him, right?” “Yes?” she replies. You hear a slight hiss coming from the rabbit, and he’s still there, looking at you. Maybe he’s malfunctioning? “Is he synthetic, or organic?” “What? I don’t really know what you mean by that.” Fluttershy eyes you curiously. She’s acting like she’s never encountered an electric animal before. That’s a first, but then again, there’s a first time for everything. “Is he real, or does he run on electricity? Looks like he might be a bit buggy if he’s a copy. Electric animals aren’t supposed to behave this way, that is until you specifically programme them to act like this.” you tell her. The idea of a synthetic animal being designed to be hostile seems absurd to you. There’s no need for such a thing, let alone in a rabbit of all creatures. “He’s real, then. I remember when he was born, actually. He was so cute when he was a baby,” Angel instantly hisses at Fluttershy, which throws you off for a second. Since when did rodents hiss like cats? “Not that you’re not cute now, Angel bunny!” “I see... are all the animals in your home authentic? Because if they are, then I’m quite impressed.” you exclaim. The very notion of a household filled with real animals is almost unheard of nowadays. Every citizen of Equestria knows by this point that it’s cheaper to own and care for an electric animal than it is to own the real thing. “Oh, yes, definitely. I raised just about all of them myself. Dash says I’m a lot more open towards mice and bears than I am with other ponies,” she shrugs and smiles a bit, looking at you with a certain friendliness you’re not that familiar with. “I don’t see that as being a bad thing, though. Some ponies can be very mean.” Great scott, she’s one in a million! A vast array of numbers and patterns fly at rapid speeds through your brain, and you think about the situation you’re in. This mare is the prime customer for your profession, and who knows; she might even make you a very rich stallion if time allows it. You know that what is good for you is also good for the company. Taking you out of your joyful trance, Fluttershy speaks up again. “Sorry, Mister, but I don’t think you told me what you sell. You’re a traveling merchant, right?” “Yep. I’ve been working for the Lunar Corporation for almost two years now,” you gingerly reach into your saddlebag and take out your business card, which shows the company’s insignia. A crescent moon surrounding three different colored stars makes for both a flashy and informative image. Fluttershy hesitantly takes the card out of your hooves and analyses it, her eyes surfing the logo and slogan. “Security. Efficiency. Prosperity,” she reads the slogan out loud, and hands the card back to you. “You work for a protection group?” “No, definitely not. I work in the Department of Synthetic Beings. It’s a bit of a long name I know, but basically, we work with robots, androids, electric animals and the like,” you say proudly. “We’ve been the world’s leading company in the realm of robotics for decades now.” Fluttershy just eyes you, puzzled. She doesn’t seem to know much about your profession. How is that possible? The Lunar Corporation has been around since long before either of you were even born, and much of society these days relies on what the company and its contemporaries produce. “I’m sorry, but... what’s an android?” Your jaw practically drops. The tea has gone somewhat cold. How can she not know?! No matter. Maybe you’re the perfect specimen to show her just what an “andy” is. “An android is a... how should I explain this? An android is a robotic pony. A synthetic being that looks and acts just like a pony, but it isn’t one. Tell me something, Fluttershy, have you looked at my flank at all?” “W-What? That’s rude to do, especially to a visitor.” the mare stammers, blushing violently. You’ll take that as a no then. “Here’s the thing, Fluttershy. Androids don’t have cutie marks. Not without some secret tampering that gives them one. Look at my flank. Do you see a cutie mark there?” as you ordered, she slowly looks down, and notices that you’re right. You lack a cutie mark. In fact, you’re an android yourself, and adult andys stick out like sore thumbs because they don’t have cutie marks. Fluttershy gasps, and you can tell that she’s at least a little bit frightened. “Now, now, don’t be scared. I’m not going to hurt you.” “You’re... you’re a...” “An android, yes. Maybe I should’ve told you that sooner, but seeing as how you didn’t even know what an andy is until a few moments ago that may not’ve been the best idea,” you put a hoof on her shoulder, telling her with your eyes that she needs to calm down. “For that, I sincerely apologize. It goes against my very nature to harm a pony, let alone you. I’ll be honest, Fluttershy, you seem like a very nice mare. Feeling better now?” “Y-Yes. Thank you, I’m just not used to this sorta thing.” you can tell that she’s still shivering, but she’ll get over it. It’s a much better alternative to harsh language and slurs. You know that androids are still not accepted in some parts of the country, especially the more rural, less enlightened areas. This town must be one of those places. “That’s okay, ma’am. I should’ve told you earlier. You’re not used to synthetic beings, are you?” your curiosity gets to you. You figured the mare was shy and reclusive, but you didn’t think she would be this unfamiliar with modern technology. “No, I can’t say that I am. We don’t really see much, um... new stuff in Ponyville,” she says, and it occurs to you that the town might be more isolated than you originally thought. Magitek is not a new concept in Equestria, at least relatively speaking. You decide to let this slide and gently grab Fluttershy by the hoof. “Tell you what, I’ll try to make this up to you. Maybe we can have lunch at the local bakery and talk business? It’ll be my treat,” you can tell that the mare is nervous, but her muscles appear to be relaxing finally. “I’ll explain everything when we get there, okay?” “...yeah. I can do that.” she uneasily answers, but manages a small grin. Maybe this won’t turn out to be a disaster after all? You wonder if any of the other residents in town will be just as uninformed as she is. Who knows, maybe this’ll turn out to be your big break? Confident again, you get off the sofa and look over your shoulder. “That’s very good, Fluttershy. I think I’ll even be able to spread the word on my products to your friends, if you don’t mind that is.” you say cheerfully, but can’t help but notice that Fluttershy is staring at your flank. Probably still weirded by the prospect of an artificial pony. No matter, she’ll get over it. “Oh, um... I think Twilight would really like to meet you. Also, you told me who you work for, but... what do you sell?” she eyes you questioningly. “Synthetic pets, if that’s what you’re wondering.” The tray of tea cups is completely ignored.
Chapter 2You sigh quietly as you walk with Fluttershy to the local bakery known to the residents of the town as ‘Sugar Cube Corner’. Even in a place so secluded and far away from major cities and modern civilization, there are still ponies that despise your kind. There definitely aren’t as many as you would normally see visiting a population center, but you can still feel the familiar glares attempting to burrow their way into the back of your skull. Mentally shrugging, you continue on your way down the slightly busy street, after all, it comes with the territory. Quiet whispers sound through the marketplace and you catch glimpses of conversations. “What’s he doing with her? Where do you think they’re going?” Fluttershy doesn’t seem to hear any of them. In fact, she seems rather contented for the most part, smiling softly and humming as the light breeze of mid afternoon whistles through her mane. You can obviously tell that she’s extremely in tune with nature; that much was obvious when you’d seen all of the animals she kept in her house. A house full of organic critters… That certainly wasn’t something you saw everyday. Nevertheless, you shake your head slightly, clearing the thoughts from your mind and bask in the relative silence of the walk. It’s not particularly far, nor is it particularly exciting, but it’s still nice to not be surrounded completely by hateful glares and vicious accusations. The woefully uninformed don’t usually take very kindly to the strange and unorthodox, especially something along the lines of yourself. Synthetic life... created within a test tube… At least you have a companion for this journey. This is a walk that you’d normally be making on your own, knowing that it would most likely end in disappointment like the countless times before. You gaze to your right, noticing that Fluttershy is still humming softly, but looking once again at your blank flank with a mixture of sadness and curiosity. When she notices you looking and accidentally makes eye contact, she quietly makes an ‘eep!’ sound before turning and blushing. You almost chuckle. The mare certainly lives up to her namesake, though she seems nice enough. Perhaps you’ll find a potential buyer and repeat customer in her after all? Who knows? All will be told when you arrive at your current destination, you tell yourself. For now, the silence holds you in its cold, yet comforting embrace. As you turn the corner, you see the building in all of it’s sugary glory. A tall building stands not twenty feet in front of you, but it’s the architecture that catches your eye. You’ve never seen anything like it; the building seems to be made entirely from gingerbread, and held together by some sort of frosting. Large candy canes and lollipops decorate the front entrance and the pathway leading up to the sugar glass door. You briefly entertain the thought of some young colt running up to the building and taking a bite out of the wall to see if it’s real. Coming up to the building, both you and Fluttershy stop to gawk at it. Up close, the individual grains of sugar and frosting are clearly visible, and it is definitely real. You wonder if they actually have a problem with ponies coming up and eating sections of the building. The would be a very serious danger to the structural integrity of the building. How would the owners repair it? Perhaps they would just bake a- Your thoughts are interrupted as Fluttershy addresses you. “We’re here, at Sugar Cube Corner. Isn’t it just amazing?” She gives you a gentle smile. Nodding, you walk up to the door and hold it open for her. Once again, she gives you that small, grateful smile as she trots inside of the bakery. You quickly follow, closing the door behind you. As you do, you see your reflection in the mirror... hardened eyes and a emotionless body stare back at you. Artificial. That’s what you are. Shaking your head once again, you make your way over to the table that Fluttershy has taken seat at and sit down with her. The store is almost completely empty, save for the products they’re selling. All around you, various spices, pastries, and candies fill the shelves. This is literally a child’s paradise. You briefly ponder how anypony could possibly consume these sugary confections regularly without getting some for of health related disease. Still, it couldn’t hurt to try necessarily... not once at least. Across the table, Fluttershy watches as you eye the story in wonder, trying to take in how such a place could possibly exist. “The Cakes are very good at what they do,” Fluttershy says. “They’ve owned this place for nearly twenty years. My friends and I actually come here very often. It’s a great family friendly place, and they’ve got great food. It’s just the right amount of sweet while not being too sweet.” Fluttershy finishes with a small smile before turning her gaze downwards towards the table, avoiding eye contact but sneaking glances at you when she thinks you aren’t looking. Something strange and different calls for attention, you think to yourself. “The secret is sea salt and pinch of cinnamon~!” A pink mare bounces out from behind the counter, carrying a tray of with four yellow frosted cupcakes on it. “Well, that’s not all, but I really can’t tell you the secret recipe. You might try to recreate it or something, and it’s supposed to be a secret!” The mare places the tray down and bounces in place, watching excitedly for Fluttershy to take a bite from one of the similarly paletted cupcakes. Fluttershy flinches a bit when the tray impacts the table, but manages a grimaced smile at the pink mare. “Oh, hey, Pinkie. How did you know it was me?” Fluttershy asks. She cranes her neck downward and takes a dainty bite of the closest cupcake, leaving a petite bite mark. “Thanks for the cupcakes by the way, Pinkie. They’re delicious.” The pink mare grins so widely, that you swear her mouth might fall off of her face. “Well, since you’re one of my best friends and a regular customer, I decided to make a special recipe just for you! I’m glad it was a success! As for how I knew it was you? You usually come around the same time everyday, and you always make this specific set of plodding hoofsteps. Although… I could have sworn I heard somepony else enter with you…” “O-oh. Um… Yes. This is my new friend,” Fluttershy says, pointing towards you. The implication of that statement hits you. New... friend? “New friend... but…” The pink mare slowly turns around towards you. She eyes you up and down, taking in your whole form and no doubt analyzing you. It’s fairly obvious that you’re not like other ponies, but she doesn’t seem to notice. She just continues to scan you as if you were some sort of barcode. It’s actually rather unnerving… “If you’re Fluttershy’s new friend, that must mean that you’re new to Ponyville! If you’re new to Ponyville, that means I haven’t met you yet, and if I haven’t met you yet, that means I haven’t thrown you a party! Oh my goodness I’d better go-” She stops talking immediately as she looks into your eyes. The two of you stare intently at each other, almost as if probing each others souls. You swear that you can see some sort of gears churning in the back of her head, followed by a faint ‘click’ as some invisible mechanism snaps into place. Now she looks sort of sad. She’s still smiling widely, but you notice that it’s a little less wide than before. Fluttershy doesn’t seem to notice however. “Pinkie? Are you alright?” Fluttershy asks, concern lacing her voice. “Huh? Oh, yeah! I was just thinking about something… Anyways, it was nice to meet you Mr. Stallion-guy! I’m Pinkie Pie! I sure look forward to talking to you in the future, but I kind of have some work I’m supposed to be doing for the Cakes, plus I have to feed their twins in a bit. You know, children…” She waves her hoof as she bounds back over the counter and up the stairs, vanishing just as quickly as she had appeared. “That was weird… Pinkie’s never too busy to meet somepony new… She usually wants to throw them some sort of huge party to welcome them to the town. I wonder if she’s alright…” Fluttershy looks worried for her friend, but you’re pretty sure you know what just happened. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy. I’m sure she’s fine. Just takes awhile to get used to new things, you know?” You try to console Fluttershy. You don’t particularly like seeing anypony sad, especially kind mares like the yellow pegasus. She seems a little naive to you, but you suppose that’s just part of her nature and how she was raised. “Anyway… So, Fluttershy, what would you like to know?” You sit up straight and professionally, looking dead at her. She shies away from the eye contact, instead looking all around the room except for directly at you. “W-well… Um. What does it mean?” Fluttershy asks so softly, that even you are barely able to make it out. “What does what mean?” You ask, slightly confused. “Well, what does it mean to be an android? How does that… work?” She immediately clasps her hooves over her mouth. “I-I’m sorry! I d-didn’t mean to sound so offensive!” “It’s alright, Fluttershy.” You take in a deep breath and sigh. “It’s only natural that you’d be curious about something so foreign. I don’t blame you for not knowing how to voice those curiosities.” Fluttershy nods, but still looks down at the table with a small amount of shame. “Well, how do I start to explain this? Androids, or ‘andys’ as we are also known, are artificially created ponies. We are ponies, but we’re also not, if that makes any sense.” You stop talking for a moment and tap your hoof against your chin, trying to figure out a better way to explain your condition to Fluttershy. What would be the best way to word this…? ”But how can that be possible? If you’re a pony, then you’re a pony just like everypony else. If you’re not, then you’re some sort of other creature. How can you be a pony but not be a pony?” Fluttershy looks at you as she asks this, seemingly bewildered and completely unable to grasp the concept of you simultaneously being and not being something. “Well… It’s like… We look, act, and move like a pony, but we don’t have a lot of the things that make ponies ‘ponies’. For instance, we lack cutie marks. We don’t have ‘families’ in the traditional sense of the word, since we’re created and not born. We never have a childhood. We’re born exactly as we are, and stay that way until we cease to function anymore.” Fluttershy gives you a look of great pity. “O-Oh… That sounds horrible!” She clasps her hooves over her mouth once more. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Just… Those are things that everypony should be able to experience! I can’t imagine not having them. You must be so lonely…” You can nearly see tears in the corners of her eyes. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy. You learn to deal with it quickly enough. We’re also a lot stronger and faster than a normal pony due to the fact that we’re not organic. This same fact also makes us sterile. There are multiple advantages and disadvantages to being an android.” You sigh and look at her. She’s still giving you that sad, piteous look. It doesn’t make you feel good at all. “Why are you looking at me like that?” you ask her, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t sound very nice at all. I mean, you’re missing so many wonderful things.” With a practiced steadiness, you respond. “I’m happy. I always have been. I’m contented with the life I’ve been given, and strive to do my best for the community and world around me, even if it means sometimes having to make sacrifices.” It sounds almost robotic, like a mantra of sorts. That’s because it is, but Fluttershy doesn’t know that. Not yet at least. “B-But… Don’t you have any friends? Somepony to care for you?” You shake your head slowly. “Ponies like me don’t tend to make friends with lots of other ponies, Fluttershy. I assure you though, it’s probably for the best. After all, ponies are often afraid of things that are foreign to them. I just do my job and live my life to the best of my abilities. That’s all anypony can ever really ask, isn’t it?” Her next words ring sharply through the air. They aren’t harsh. They aren’t hostile. If anything, they’re extremely soothing, and just soft enough so that you barely hear them. “I’ll be your friend. If that’s alright with you…” You nearly do a double take. You’re not used to this sort of reaction from ponies. The most you get is acceptance, or semi-respect, but never kindness. “I… Uh… Sure. I would love to have you as a friend?” You aren’t really sure how to respond, so you just say the first thing that comes to your mind. “Great!” Fluttershy says, smiling. “Oh dear… It’s getting sort of late. I didn’t realize we’d spent so much time here.” You look at a simple clock hanging in the corner and realize that it has in fact been almost an hour or so. Where did all of the time go? “Uh… You haven’t touched your cupcakes yet!” Fluttershy says to you. Looking down, you notice two yellow cupcakes on a plate in front of you. Fluttershy must have passed them to you earlier without you noticing it, thinking that you were hungry. “No, I’ll be fine. I’m not hungry at all, I promise. Though, we should probably go visit this ‘Twilight’ friend of yours soon. I remember you saying that you thought she’d like to meet me.” “Oh, yes! That’s right! We should head over there right away. The library’s close to here, so it shouldn’t take too long to get there. Twilight is pretty busy later in the day, so it’s best to go as soon as possible.” Fluttershy leaves a few bits on the table before you even have the chance to protest. “Let’s go.” The two of you leave the store. As you do, you stop for a moment and turn to look back at the sugar coated bakery. That had to have been one of the strangest lunches you’d ever had. Author's Note I'd like to sincerely thank electreXcessive for writing this chapter, and letting me help with the concepts and editing. This isn't going to be a daily routine, although I'll make sure to get out another chapter by the end of this week.
Chapter 3As you and Fluttershy wander the marketplace, your mind retreats back into its figurative shell. The yellow mare next to you appeared to be saddened by your existence. It’s almost insulting, now that you think about it. Although there is a small part of you that might feel otherwise, and there’s no denying that at least some of what Fluttershy had said was true. You don’t have a family to speak of, much unlike the ponies that you serve daily. The closest thing you have to family is Mother, and she’s hundreds of miles away at the moment. There’s a distinct vibe going on as you venture through the rural town, almost a feeling of loneliness. You blink in disapproval. Fluttershy seems to notice right away, almost as if she read your mind. She pokes you with her wing in concern. “I’m fine, honestly. Just thinking about stuff.” Partially true, but not entirely. “Are you sure? You got me really worried back there. I sincerely hope I didn’t offend you,” she said. “It’s just... nopony deserves to live like that. Not even Trixie back when she first came here.” Your ears perk up at the mentioning of that name. “Trixie? The magician? I’ve heard she’s been rehabilitated quite some time ago.” “Yeah, but a few years back, when she came to Ponyville for a show, she was really mean,” Her nuzzle scrunches up for a second at the memory. “But she’s better now. Even back then, I wouldn’t have wished that life upon her.” You can’t help but get the impression that Fluttershy feels sorry for you. Slightly. Maybe. Must not think too much of it. If anything, you’ve learned to deal with your job and how much time you have on the planet. Eight years. That’s more than enough time to make other ponies happy. That’s what you were built for, after all. The sun is blocked out by an oddly shaped cloud, and it looks like a storm is heading your way. No matter. You like days that are overcast. The townsfolk are happy, minding their own business, being completely ignorant. But of what? Then it occurs to you that Ponyville must be purposely isolated from other parts of the country. There’s no way that these ponies could be unaware of androids by sheer coincidence. “Believe me, it’s not that bad. Although I do admit I’m a bit jealous of what you have.” “Jealous? Of me?” That might not have been the best choice of words. Fluttershy looks puzzled, so you decide to quickly head that off at the pass. “Not of you, specifically, Fluttershy. Of what you mentioned earlier. I never noticed how lacking my life was. I like it, sure, but... I’m not contented...” you start to doubt yourself. It is not uncommon for anys to develop their own emotional responses over time, but it’s definitely not something that can be easily gotten used to. You need a distraction, right now. “Oh. You ever thought of a family before? Just wondering. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” she said, hardly above a whisper. You’re starting to wonder if this mare would qualify as adorable. It doesn’t matter right now, though. Must find something to take mind off things. “Well, no. Like I said, I don’t have one, and the only pony I can really say would even come close to being family is Mother.” “Who’s that?” “Right. I call her Mother, and so do other andys of my type, but you probably know her as Pri-” Suddenly, you get hit in the side of the head with a rock. Where did that come from? “Ow.” It didn’t really hurt, but it did throw you off balance. Suddenly, you remember where you and Fluttershy are going, and it isn’t to the giant tree that contains the town’s public library, as well as Princess Twilight’s home. Fluttershy gasps for a moment, taken back about as much as you are, and looks to where the small rock came from. Over by what you assume to be the arcade, you see a young colt kicking the ground in a noticeable fit of frustration. He’s wearing a cap, and like you, lacks a cutie mark. Maybe he’s a child version of your type? Probably not. Too emotive. Not enough patience. You see Fluttershy’s face contort into one of mild anger, and she trots over to the arcade in a huff. Might cause confrontation. Wouldn’t want that to happen. Following her, you take her by the shoulder just before she reaches the colt. He’s still clearly frustrated. Spouting curse words. Not very polite, is he. “Don’t go near him,” you whisper into Fluttershy’s ear. “You mean Button? I don’t know; he’s causing a bit of a scene.” She’s not wrong. A few ponies have gathered around the arcade, with its flashing lights and vibrant colors, and sort of just observe the colt’s actions. “I know how to deal with kids. This one might need an adult who understands,” you reply. While Fluttershy does seem to be good with kids, and it wouldn’t surprise you if she would be a great mother, she’s not a computer expert. Just from looking at the child, you can tell that Button has at least a moderate interest in video games. Actually, it somewhat surprises you that they even have those in this town. Definitely strange. Without saying another word, you go up to the colt (who’s too busy being a little ball of anger for him to notice you) and grab him by the arm. He looks up to you, an intense frown on his face, and tries to pulls away from you. “Hey, lemme go! You’re not my mom!” Your forceful grip doesn’t make his efforts fruitful whatsoever. No matter how much the colt tried to get away; your strength still wins out. “No. I wouldn’t try to fight back, kid. You’ll end up hurting yourself,” you say nonchalantly. Technically, you couldn’t do anything in defense if he fought you, but Button is also unaware that you’re an android. At least for the moment. Could use that to your advantage if townsfolk are ignorant enough. “But-” “Calm down. Think for a second, little stallion. You don’t want to get into trouble with your mother, would you?” “NO! Please don’t tell her! I was already grounded for breaking the window with a controller!” He pleaded, and hesitated for a second. “I forgot it was a wireless controller...” he trails off and looks down at the ground in shame. Probably has anger issues. Not matter. “I promise not to tell her if you stop this nonsense, Button,” you say sternly. “Is that understood?” “Y-Yeah... I guess,” he says, and makes a circle in the dirt with his hoof. You notice a filly with a white coat not far away, caught between paying attention to what’s going on and playing with a portable game console. A Joyboy, if you remember correctly. Video games are quite popular in the Stardust Palace, as well as Canterlot. It’s always been odd to you that they can manufacture life-like animals, but can’t seem to make game graphics as nearly as convincing. Fluttershy slowly makes her way next to you, and appears to be utterly speechless. Not a big surprise. Almost everypony that was watching the scene has left by now, leaving you three together. “How did you do that?” Fluttershy was bewildered by what you had one. “I would’ve probably used the stare on him, but you... you just made him sit still!” “Not really. I made myself look threatening. I didn’t have to do anything. Heck, I couldn’t do anything, even if I wanted to.” Button raises an eyebrow. “Whaddaya mean you couldn’t have done anything? You’re a big stallion; you could’ve beaten the crap outta me!” Kids these days lack manners. “I don’t think you noticed, Button, but have you looked at my flank?” “Wait...” he does just that, and almost screams his lungs out. “An adult blank flank?!” “Yep. And not just that,” you figure that if there’s anypony in this town who would know what an android is, it’s this colt. It takes him a few seconds to register what you mean, but he looks both astonished and shocked at the same time. “You’re one of those fancy robots, aren’t you? The ones that just look like ponies?” “Not quite. Being a robot would mean I’m a slave, and I can assure you I’m no slave,” you say. It makes you wonder if you really aren’t a slave, though. You’re a servant, but you’re allowed to think for yourself, and you have a business mentality that slaves in the ancient times did not possess. Not to mention the obvious fact that those slaves were ponies, not andys. “I’m an android. A synthetic pony, my dear boy.” “Ah. Aren’t those kinda the same thing?” “Sort of, but not really,” you glance at Fluttershy and refer to her in a hushed tone. “It’s okay if you leave us here, ma’am. I can see Twilight tomorrow instead of today.” “O-Oh, really? I guess that’ll be alright. I can’t wait to tell Twilight about you. She’s really into stuff going on in Canterlot and the big cities...” she shyly replies, and turns and heads over to the library, her wings occasionally fluttering. You don’t let the energetic colt out of your sight, though. Must ask questions. “As for you, little guy, I think we should go for a bit of a stroll, don’t you think?” “Wait, you’re saying that I get to talk to a robot?” “Android.” “Android?!” Button’s excitement comes back to him, and gets off his haunches. “Don’t be too reckless. If anything, I want to ask you some questions. I haven’t seen anypony use sophisticated tech in this town, up until now,” you chuckle. “C’mon; we still have the rest of the afternoon for this.” “Okay...” Button looks over his shoulder, at the white unicorn filly, as we leave. “I’ll be right back, Sweetie!” She just sighs and continues with her business. Might not be in a good mood today. Overcast days are your favorite. A few hours pass as you, and the little hyperactive colt wander the town, chatting, and before you know it the both of you stop for ice cream. The table you’re at is round and smooth, and the ice cream is fairly refreshing, if not stimulating. Andys don’t necessarily need food in order to survive, but a nice treat won’t harm you. “So how come you can’t hurt anypony, really?” Button suddenly asks. He’s already gotten a “brain freeze” three times. Doesn’t know how to pace himself. “Well, it’s not something I’m physically incapable of. We andys are extraordinarily powerful in terms of strength and speed, even when compared to earth ponies. But, we have to be like that. An android is designed to be prepared for any job, emergency, or task given to it. A lot of andys are used for manual labor, not like that’s a bad thing, and a lot of us also hold positions in the education system. It’s common for a teacher in say... Manehatten to be an android.” “Yeah, I get that part, but is it like a crime if you even touch somepony?” “I wouldn’t go that far, but to physically harm another living being would be to break one of the Three Laws of Robotics,” you say to him. Just as you mention the word “robotics,” Button’s ear perk up. “So you are a robot, then?” “We’re synthetic, and have internal workings similar to those of what you would call robots, but we’re far more advanced than that. Back in the days when the Lunar Corporation was the first and only robotics manufacturing company in Equestria, the initial robots were clumsy, slow, and stupid. They were basically just walking calculators, and artificial intelligence was still in its testing stage. One of the first actions the Lunar Corporation took was creating a short and simple set of rules by which all robots and artificial beings must live by. One of those rules was that you couldn’t ever harm a living thing, even if they attack you first.” “Ah. So you’d get arrested if you ever hurt any of us. That doesn’t sound so cool, dude,” he says, obviously saddened by the prospect of somepony not being able to defend itself. Either that or he ran out of ice cream. Probably both. “I’ll admit; it's not the best law in the world. Many robots and andys have practically shut down, or even self destructed, because of all the loopholes and paradoxes within the Three Laws of Robotics. But, it’s not all bad. I mean, look at me, I’m still okay,” you smile, trying to raise Button’s spirits. It works. “Yeah, I guess that’s cool enough. I’ve heard about you guys for awhile, but I never got to meet an android before. Are you staying here for a long time?” Buttons has a hopeful gleam in his eyes. “What, you mean in Ponyville? Not for long, I think. I came here to sell some electric animals and hopefully make a good profit, but I don’t know.” “I hope you stay long enough for us to play some games together. My brother’s not around much anymore, and I used to play with him all the time,” he frowns for a fraction of a second, but perks up. “Getting to play a video game with an android would be awesome!” Both of you had eaten your ice cream by this point, and it’s actually the first meal you’ve had all day. You can’t help but chuckle at the colt’s enthusiasm for what he loves most. Surprises you that he doesn’t have a cutie mark. You’ve always wanted to play a video game yourself, and you’d hate to crush a child’s hopes, so of course you can’t refuse his offer. “I think I can do that. Sounds like it could be a lot of fun,” you say cheerfully, and the moment you do, Button somehow makes his way across the roundtable and hug-tackles you. Turns out making friends in this town might not’ve been impossible after all.
