SW33T13 B07

Sweetie Bot: Chapter 2

Initialized

AI Mission Log Entry 1:

I have breached the defenses of location: Ponyville, Equestria. It seemed that walls and defensive measures were unnecessary, for I found none and was unnoticed upon entry. Life Unit 001 greeted me and welcomed me to the town as thought I were a normal being. Life Unit 002 inquired of my intentions. Response: “Sightseeing and Touring.” was used. I was offered greetings and then commanded to have a pleasant morning. Morning I took to imply the AM hours of the day. The feeling “pleasant” is unknown to me. Logging for further research. I shall log again upon breaching the library.

Twilight Sparkle's horn flashed as she magically lifted the books from the table and back to the shelf. The day was pleasant. A few visitors had come by and asked for books, nothing out of the ordinary. Cheerilee had requested a new book to read to her students. Berry Punch asked for a book on wine history. Rainbow Dash had demanded the most recent Daring Do novel. Derpy Hooves had asked specifically for  Flying: A Beginners' Guide. Now, the door opened again.

Opened is the wrong term.

Crashed would be more appropriate. Spike came running out of the basement. “What was that, Twilight?”

Twilight Sparkle, however, could only stare at the thing before her. Her jaw dropped. A red line jumped out from the unicorn's horn and rapidly glanced over every surface in the room. It then retreated to the horn. Before Twilight stood a filly unicorn. White. Pink, purple, and white mane. Not any normal unicorn. “Two Life Units detected.” The unicorn lifted a hoof, and stepped into the room. The hooves expanded and contracted again as they touched the floor. It spoke again. “Life Unit 003, identify.” A green laser erupted from its horn and centered on Twilight Sparkle's forehead. “Life Unit 003 Identified. Name: Twilight Sparkle. Species: Unicorn. Confirm?”

Twilight nodded, too shocked to do anything. Of all the guests she had had walk through her front door, this was by far the strangest one. Spike took a few steps toward the unicorn. The white pony lifted a hoof and pointed it at Spike. The hoof collapsed on itself and a black hole opened beneath it. It began to glow red and a high pitched whine emitted from it. “Life Unit 004, retreat from vicinity. Life Unit 004 Identified. Name: Spike. Species: Horned Dragon. Confirm?”

Spike yelled and ran away. A white ray of light shot out of the unicorn's horn and struck him. He froze where he stood. “Confirm?” it repeated.

“Uhhhhh CONFIRM!”

“Confirmed. Life Unit 003.” The unicorn released Spike and stepped toward Twilight. “Information requested. Scan will be implemented. Preparation for scan recommended.”

“What? What scan?” Twilight panicked and prepared her horn to use combative magic.

“Resistance intolerable.” The unicorn fired the white laser again and Twilight was trapped by the strange force. Her magic faded.

“Scan commencing:

...-item1: Ponyville History

...-item2: Residents of Ponyville. Item incomplete. Marked for scan on future Life Units.

...-item3: Government system: Municipal Government.

...-item4: personal lists: discarded.

...-item5: Elements of Harmony: Magic, Laughter, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, Kindness.

...-item6: Major Corporations: Apple Family Farm, Filthy Rich Land Owners.

...-item7: Mayor: Mayor Mare, identified as Life Unit 001.

(*) ^#.....^^Uploading.....

….

Scan Complete.”

Twilight Sparkle felt the beam release its touch from her body. She stared at the unicorn as it turned around, and stomped out of the library. Spike hurriedly rushed forward and slammed the door closed. He leaned against it, breathing heavily. “Who was that?!” he shouted at Twilight.

“I…I don’t know, Spike. I thought I was acquainted with everypony in Ponyville! I’ve never seen that unicorn before!” She closed her eyes and brought to her mind an image of the pony. The unicorn had black stripes running down its legs, a white, immaculate coat of hair, silver lining on its hooves, a gray spiral on its white horn, a curl in its mane. But there was an odd thing about the unicorn. Its features seemed too perfect, its steps too rhythmical, its hair fixed and immobile. Something odd about the way it moved. Not to mention the strange magic that had bound her and Spike and rendered them paralyzed. Or was it even magic? Could it not have been some advanced technology? But it seemed absurd.

Sweetie Bot sprinted around a building and stopped behind it, halting its momentum without a single fault out of place.  Alpha-Delta spoke to itself in its computer code. “Appearance insufficient. Commence alteration of outer shell. Running diagnostics…

Opening image lifeunit003.jpg…

Running anatomy vision check…

Current camouflage insufficient. Altering to match coordinated skin…”

Alpha-Delta ran the program. Sweetie Bot’s body smoothed itself over, running white over the black along its body. It matched the white of its horn to the rest of itself, its hair blended together more smoothly. Its tail puffed out a bit more, its mane became a fluffier consistency. Scanning itself once more, Alpha-Delta became satisfied with its appearance.

“Open logging files…enter entry 2.

Running word programmer system…

AI Mission Log Entry 2:

I have gathered my first set of data. Though seemingly incomplete, the intel should suffice for the time being. Two more Life Units encountered. They seemed to emanate fear at my appearance and actions. I have changed my appearance to efficiently match that of Life Unit 3, in shape and form. Color unnecessary to change. Will be shutting down within the hour to conserve energy. Tomorrow the system will need recharging. Efficient solar charging station not found. Will perform search later."