2482 = LOVE

Twilight sat being consoled by Spike as the minutes ticked away. She could not let go of the costume and kept squeezing it, like it was still filled with her newly found friend.

“Maybe Clunky just had to do something… and it will be back later.” Spike said with a somber tone, caressing Twilight.

“No Spike… I don’t think so…” Twilight said trying to fight back her tears.

All of a sudden, there was a knock at the door. Twilight quickly turned, wishing for a glimmer of hope. She quickly reverted back to her state of sorrow, as there was another knock upon the door. This time it was a crazy Pinkie-knock.

“Go let her in, Spike… she deserves to know the truth.” Twilight said with a great sigh.

Spike slowly walked to the door.

“Who is it?” Spike said downtrodden.

“Hey… Is Clunky around?” Pinkie said trying to whisper.

“No.” Spike said with his head hung low.

“Then let us in…” Pinkie said.

Spike unbolted the door and went back to sit with Twilight. When he did, the doors shot forth with surprise. Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Big Mac, Rarity, and even Fluttershy bounded through the door. They were holding presents and balloons, Cakes and pies, streamers and noise-makers stacked upon their hooves.

“Good! It ain’t around! We all got together and thought it was best if we gave Clunky a might neighborly welcomin’ surprise party, without any other ponies around… except for Fluttershy of course. It was Pinkie’s idea.” Applejack said with a smile.

Twilight and Spike kept their back turned and did not move at all.

“Yeah! I thought that if we wanted to show Clunky we cared we should show it in the best way possible… but on Clunky’s terms, not ours. Besides… what else am I gonna use all these cakes and pies for?” Pinkie Pie said with enthusiasm.

Still, Twilight and Spike did not move.

“Are you two OK? We didn’t give you a shock from surprise, did we!?” Rainbow Dash said with a hint of nervousness.

Every pony sat all of the party stuff down on a table, and returned with an air of discontent.

“Are you girls ready to party? Yay.” Fluttershy said with her usual meekness.

“That’s just it! There’s not going to be any party!” Twilight said as she finally turned around. Everyone could tell from Twilight’s red eyes that she had been crying for a long time.

“Oh Dear! What happened darling?!” Rarity said in a panic.

“Clunky left us…” Spike said trying to be tough for her best friend.

“The anomaly returned above your farm, Applejack… and it just… left.” Twilight said as her tears began to break forth once again.

“So… That’s why we seen it in the orchard before we left! It was getting’ its fire makin’ thingy’s to fly away! I figured it was just getting’ something it needed, and was coming back to the castle…” Applejack said removing her hat.

“Well… you were wrong. And I don’t want to talk right now…” Twilight said as she started crying again. She clung to the costume even tighter, as now she knew for sure that Clunky wasn’t coming back.

“Commander! We regained contact with probe 2482!” the chief scientist said with excitement.

“Excellent…” The leader said as he stood to his feet.

“Here is its latest transmission…” The scientist said as he handed over a folder of pictures

What is this junk?! Sparkle Ponies!? Did our probe become a Princess also!? The commander yelled sarcastically, as he threw the photographs on his desk.

The scientist swallowed hard with nervousness.

“Um… Our scientists believe that the high voltage anomaly made the probe pick up a television satellite for a brief moment… and this was the result.” The scientist stated with a tremble.

“Hmm… Makes sense… Give me a status report.” The commander said thinking about the situation.

“I can report that the probe’s photo transmit and sample collection abilities are at 100% As well as its land/launch capabilities…” The scientist said with a pause.

“Go on…” The commander said as his eyes widened in anticipation.

“I however must regrettably inform you that its logic, reason, scanners, and voice controls are non-functional. They were obviously destroyed by the sudden high electricity spike. We are completely on manual operation only.” The Chief scientist said in fear.

As the commander paused to think, the scientist looked like they were about to pass out.

“Well… at least the thing finally SHUT UP! HA!” The commander said with a bellowing laugh, slapping him on the back.

“Yes sir.” The scientist said trying to regain his composure and blood flow.

Meanwhile in Equestria, there was no laughter to be found in Twilight’s castle.

“We were all so bad Twilight… and I never got a chance to tell Clunky how sorry I was.” Rainbow Dash said with tears falling from her eyes.

“When Clunky hugged me, I felt such love that… I don’t… I don’t know how I’m going to live with myself for what I did!” Pinkie said bawling.

“Clunky was so sweet and caring… and fashionable! I have never seen anyone in my life that cared so much… even though we acted so terrible!” Rarity said wiping her tears.

“I feel so heartbroken about everything. I thought of only using the little feller for what I wanted. Clunky only thought of doin’ good things. I wish I could be just like him… or her… or it.” Applejack said swiping every tear with a hankie.

Twilight had to fight her emotions hard to even get a word out. She felt as if some pony had kicked her hard in the chest and she couldn’t breathe.

“Clunky was my friend that I loved! I feel… I feel like as if it would feel… if one of you had DIED!” Twilight said crying profusely, and collapsing into Spike’s arms.

This horrible thought made everyone else cry even harder than before.

“I just wish… I wish… I wish that somehow Clunky could understand how much I loved it.” Twilight said still in Spike’s arms.

“I love you too Twilight Sparkle.”

“I know you love me Spike…” Twilight said not wanting to be consoled.

“I didn’t say that, Twilight.” Spike said with a confused look.

“What?” Twilight questioned.

“I love you too Twilight Sparkle.”

All of a sudden, the group turned towards the kitchen.

Twilight stood to her feet and walked slowly towards the kitchen. Suddenly, she could smell something that she liked.

“Hello Twilight Sparkle! Would you like Coquilles St-Jacques for your evening consumption or perhaps something lighter like a ‘hay burger?’” Clunky said holding a spatula.

“CLUNKY!!!” Twilight screamed! She ran as fast as she could and grabbed Clunky away from the stove.

“I THOUGHT I LOST YOU FOREVER! I THOUGHT YOU LEFT US!” Twilight said squeezing it as hard as she could. After a few moments, she resumed crying profusely.

“Please don’t cry Twilight Sparkle…” Clunky said wiping away her tears.

Clunky quickly turned off the stove and set the spatula down.

“Come Twilight… I have much to tell you and our friends.” Clunky said with a glowing green smile as he led Twilight back into the entrance hall.

Immediately as they turned the corner, it was followed by screams and everyone rushing forward.

“Please… Please resume your seating. I have a lot to tell you.” Clunky said motioning for everyone to sit back down.

Everyone could only stare at Clunky incessantly, with tears still falling from their eyes.

“How?! I saw you get your rocket thingys!” Applejack said with an outburst.

Clunky smiled and stood motionless.

Suddenly… it began speaking in its former robot voice.

“Explorer module reattached. Thrusters firing at 100 percent. Target lock Anomaly 12485.667 kilowatts.   Anomaly in vicinity, altitude at 45716.122 feet … Logic Dilemma… waiting… waiting… Dilemma solved.” Clunky said, and then paused.

Every pony was suddenly on the edge of their seat.

“So… so… what did you do?” Twilight said trying to calm her emotions.

“Detach.” Clunky said with an even brighter neon green smile.

“Fly explorer module on course through anomaly. Explorer module gone… completed. Make Control Chief Commander happy… over.”

“Detach from Explorer module before impact and fall to ground.  Leave Clunky hug/love module in Equestria. Love/hug module stationary… completed. Make equine ponies happy… over.”

Suddenly, Clunky’s electronic face changed from a bright green to an even brighter pink.

“Emotional paradigm upgrade completed… 3.0 to 6.5” Clunky said in a pre-recorded voice.

Suddenly… everyone surrounded Clunky and began hugging, apologizing, and crying.

After a few moments of time, Clunky spoke again.

“Emotional paradigm upgrade completed… 6.5 to 9.9. Final upgrade completed.” The voice said.

“I guess we won, Rainbow Dash.” Applejack said.

“No Clunky won… our hearts…” Rainbow said trying not to cry.

Suddenly, she broke free with a radical thought.

“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Wait a minute! With your high altitude, weight, and your lack of aerodynamics. How did you not crash land without your boosters in roughly 52 seconds, and smash into a million pieces, making a crater at least 22 feet deep?” Rainbow Dash questioned with authority.

Every pony could only stare at Rainbow Dash puzzled.

“What?! I know all about velocity and thrust. Wonderbolts academy… DUH!” She said sarcastically.

“Twilight’s teleportation spell. It slowed my descent by 486.24 percent making me travel a paltry .0264 miles per hour, or to you… only 2 percent of 1 wing power.” Clunky answered with a scholarly tone.

“Awesome and cool? Copy?” Clunky said with an outstretched hand.

“Awesome and Cool!” Rainbow Dash said smiling with a hoof bump.

“But wait… how did you get in the kitchen without us knowing?” Rarity asked.

“Ponjitsu… Duh!” Clunky said with sarcasm.

The entire group laughed in emotional release. Their friend, that had crash landed into their hearts had returned. Everyone realized that Clunky was much more than any machine or oddity to look at. Clunky had a heart. And with such an enormous heart it had more than enough love to give to every pony. And, every pony in the room realized that Clunky deserved their hearts as well.

“Wait a minute… you said you LOVED me?” Twilight said looking at Clunky.

“You were right Twilight.” Clunky said.

“Right about what?” Twilight questioned.

“I found my missing part. It was when I was flying towards the anomaly.” Clunky said in a caring tone.

“It was?!” Twilight said choking back her tears.

“Yes. I suddenly realized that I could never leave you.” Clunky said as it grabbed Twilight Sparkle and hugged her tightly.

If it were possible for a robot to shed tears, this would be the moment in time for miracles.

“Or… any of you. I love you all.” Clunky said as a clear fluid dripped from its electronic eyes.

“Clunky, you’re crying!” Twilight said as she wiped its eyes.

Everyone felt overwhelmed with passion towards their new friend, and huddled around it.

“This is love.” Clunky said looking at everyone.

“Noted!” Everyone said together with a smile, through their tears of joy.

The End.

“Hey! This can’t end yet! We haven’t PARTIED yet!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

“Ok Pinkie… we can party now.” Twilight said with a smile.