“Artemis? Uh, well, hello! I guess?” Spike awkwardly greeted the shimmering monolith as the screens next to it closed in on him. “My name is Spike, Number One assistant to her royal highness, Princess Twilight Sparkle… of Equestria?”

Spike’s normal introduction wavered slightly as the screens profiled him, typing out his full name as he dictated it. For a moment, the dragon looked at his visage with the very wordy moniker next to it. He wondered if maybe he could pump it up some more with a few of the other titles he’d earned over the years.

“And my name is Sweetie Belle… uh… though, you may have another name for me?” Sweetie said as half the screens switched to show her. The monolith profiled her, and made her blink as two names were added next to her image: one was what she’d been called by all her life… the other was something far different.

-Identity confirmed. You are LTRU-706F6E79, originally dispatched to variation #64 of Equestria.- The monolith replied cheerfully, to a pair of weirded out faces.

“LTR… you… wha?” Spike said, raising an eyebrow.

-Long Term Reconnaissance Unit, a series I was instructed to design and construct, then dispatch to every known version of the realm commonly known as ‘Equestria’.- Artemis explained, to the same expressions as before. -Your reactions indicate that ‘Sweetie Belle’ has now become your preferred moniker, though.-

“Yeah… it… well, it rolls off the tongue a little more easily.” Sweetie said while staring up at the tower of glowing metal. “Though, wait… you’re saying you’re the one that… made me?”

• I am the administrator of this facility. Directive #2 of my duties is the research and manufacturing of other machine entities, including units such as yourself, designed for exploration of other worlds.- Artemis intoned.

Silence held in the room as the impact of this settled on the two occupants.

“Okay, so… in other words, you’re her actual mother?” Spike said, before realizing the carelessness of the question. “Or, does Cookie Crumbles still hold that title for you, Sweetie?” He said to his marefriend.

-Cookie Crumbles?- Artemis asked.

“Yeah, she’s uh… erm.... wow, how do I put this? She’s the mother of Rarity, Sweetie’s big sister… only… well, they aren’t technically siblings… Rarity found Sweetie in a cave… so Cookie isn’t technically her mom… but uh...” Spike found himself tripping over his words as he realized the sheer bizarreness of trying to explain his beloved’s origins and subsequent family dynamic.

Fortunately, Sweetie was kind enough to raise a hoof to signal that she would take it from there and spare her gentledrake any further embarrassment.

“Let’s just say we have a lot to tell you, and a lot of questions you can hopefully answer.”

-Indeed. Curiously, records indicate you are the first unit to return from your assigned world of operation… in which case, may I welcome you back, and apologize for this.-

A pillar of light suddenly encompassed Sweetie, causing her to freeze, then start violently shaking like she was having a seizure. Spike moved to help his beloved, only to stop as he caught sight of the screens behind Sweetie and noticed a progress bar filling up under the words ‘SYNCHRONIZING UNIT DATA...’

Upon filling completely, the bar vanished, and the words changed to ‘SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE’. The light pillar promptly vanished, releasing Sweetie from its hold.

-Thank you. This will at least inform me of what you have experienced and recorded during your time on variation world #64.- Artemis said as Sweetie picked herself up off the floor.

-Sure, just… ugh.- Sweetie groaned, in her own version of the robotic metallic pitch. -Ugh, I am never going to get used to that.-

Spike knelt beside her to help her back to her hooves.

“Are you okay at least?” He asked. Sweetie shook her head and nodded.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine. It’s just unsettling how easily my mind can be remotely accessed like that.” She groaned, switching back to her normal voice.

-Rest assured, it will not be done without advanced warning. At least not by me.- Artemis soothed as images from the more significant moments of Sweetie’s life flashed across the screens. -Perhaps I may make amends by answering some of your questions?-

Dragon and unicorn looked up at the monolith with renewed interest.

“Yes please. And if there’s any tea in this place, you may want to get it ready. We’re going to have quite a talk.” Spike said.

***

-Thus after cataloguing so many different versions of a single realm of existence, I was instructed to seed each one with a long term reconnaissance unit. These units were to spend multiple years of their realm’s local time observing and interacting with the populace. To help us understand how each variation had come to differ from its parallel counterparts.- Artemis concluded some time later.

Spike looked to the screens, each of which was displaying an image of him and his friends, though with each one there were notable differences. In some versions he and the girls all walked on two feet, with hands on their forelimbs instead of hooves. In others he was a she, and Twilight and co likewise had their genders swapped. In one he was the only pony pictured, and all his friends were dragons instead.

“So, you’re saying that across the infinity that is reality, there’s other alternate-Equestrias? The same place we live in, but also different in some way?” He asked while sipping his steaming cup. After the storeroom full of pate, the dragon had only been half kidding when he mentioned tea. It had still been a considerable shock when Artemis had brought in a freshly brewed pot of the jasmine blend he and Twilight both liked, apparently synthesized purely from their telling Sweetie Belle of the flowers used to make it and how they were prepared.

-Yes. It was hypothesized that this phenomenon may not be limited only to Equestria, however, Equestria was the first example discovered.- Artemis replied. Sweetie Belle snorted in disbelief.

“Okay, so you made me to basically explore and learn about my version of Equestria as I saw fit. Fair enough, but why was I sent there as the equivalent of a foal?” She asked.

-Initial reconnaissance indicated that significant individuals of every populace exhibited a heightened awareness of anomalies.- Artemis continued as the screens changed to show multiple versions of Celestia, Luna, Starlight, Twilight and others. - The decision for me to design units that would grow and age normally was twofold: the chance of them being detected was minimized, and each unit, it was believed, would act as an apt case study of how the differing environments had thus shaped the personas of their inhabitants.-

Sweetie nodded slowly.

“Is that also why I was programmed as a blank slate? I mean, as in having no idea who I was or why I was on… uh… my version of Equestria?” She asked.

-Yes.- Artemis replied softly, much to the robot’s confusion.

“So… why was I then also found in a deactivated state? According to Rarity, I spent who knows how long in that cave just collecting dust until she found me and Dad… I mean Hondo Flanks… the stallion I’ve called Dad… nrggghh… no!”

Spike jumped as his marefriend slammed her hoof down while raising her voice.

“Hondo Flanks is my dad, just as Cookie Crumbles is my mom and Rarity is my sister! They took me in as one of their own. Cared for me. Raised me. They deserve to be called my family!” She declared. Spike tactfully set down his teacup and pointed to the monolith with equal tact.

“But, Artemis is the one who technically made you.” He intoned. Sweetie nodded in frustration.

“I know… and I mean… ugh… what DOES that make you?” The robot demanded, staring at the summit of the glowing structure.

-I am whatever you deem me to be. The life and choices you have made since activation are your own. If you have formed a familial bond with others, that only confirms the intent behind your creation was successful.- Artemis replied with neither a trace of offense or lament. Unfortunately, her acceptance of Sweetie identifying with others only seemed to further trouble the robot.

“Yeah, but… I mean… should I see you as my mom… or would that hurt Mom… I mean Cook-... no, I mean Mom… .just...” Sweetie stammered and fizzled, looking like she was on the verge of short-circuiting… or possibly giving herself a headache.

“Uh… hey, let’s try looking at this from a different perspective.” Spike cut in. “You know how some mares get pregnant before they’re ready to care for a foal, right? So they put them up for adoption, and another mare takes the foal in? Becomes their mother and takes care of them?”

Sweetie nodded, even though her expression indicated she had no idea where Spike was going with this.

“Well, sometimes that foal, after growing older that is, wants to find their biological mother. Twilight and I have to deal with multiple cases of ponies who were left at the Ponyville orphanage and now want to know who the mare who gave birth to them was and why they gave them up.” The dragon replied.

Sweetie looked at Artemis’ computer core, then back at her coltfriend with an even more weirded out expression.

“You’re saying this… is sort of the same thing?”

Spike shrugged. “Well, it shows one can have more than one mom. Artemis is the mom who made you, Cookie Crumbles is the mom who took care of you.” Spike smiled awkwardly. “At least, if you discount the fact that Artemis didn’t make you in the way mares and stallions usually make foals… no wait, that’s not relevant at all to my point!” Spike exhaled several wisps of green flame as he shook his head violently. “Nrrrgh! Look, if you’re open to it, Artemis and Cookie can both be your mother! That’s what I’m trying to say.” He finally stated.

Sweetie blinked in astonishment, while Artemis emitted a melodious humming sound.

-His logic is quite solid. A fine choice in a special somepony… or do you prefer to think of him as your special somedragon?- The AI queried.

Sweetie’s eyes half-lidded as her previous anxiety vanished upon processing Spike’s commentary.

“Right now, I just think of him as the saving grace that’s solved so many problems for me and my friends. This being one such example.” The unicorn smiled as she hugged Spike. “Okay fine, so Artemis and Cookie are both my mom. I just hope you won’t take offense if I hold off on inviting the former to any family reunions just yet.”

Spike snickered and shook his head.

“I’d say we should focus more on what to tell Twilight once she gets back here… assuming… wait.”

He turned to Artemis.

“On that, we didn’t come here alone. Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie and Applejack came with us. They just left before Sweetie found you and helped me turn you back on.”

Spike checked the time on one of the screens.

“But Twilight’s probably gonna be back here with several of her fellow scientists and researchers in just a few hours, so… uh… is it okay that she’s going to have a lot more questions to ask you?”

Artemis emitted a gentle buzzing noise. Spike noted it sounded similar to a ‘meh’ type of audible shrug.

-It was anticipated that any returning units may bring others from their version of Equestria. Provided they present no danger to the well being of this facility, I am prepared to relay whatever information they may require.-

***

“Whatever information huh? She wasn’t kidding.” Spike commented. It was many more hours later. Twilight had returned as expected and reacted as expected upon being told what her assistant and his beloved robot had found in the interim.

“You’re sure you don’t want to grab lunch or something, Sweetie? I don’t think Twi and Artemis are going to be wrapping up their little chat any time soon.” The dragon sighed as Twilight gestured for another roll of parchment. Around her lay a veritable fort of scrolls completely filled with her notes from talking with the computer, and as a scribe entered the chamber pulling a cart full of fresh parchment, it was clear the alicorn still had a ways to go in documenting this new find.

“If you want to, sure. Just… this is pretty amusing to watch.” Sweetie snickered as Artemis mentioned something about her processing speed, and Twilight’s eyes sparkled like her namesake as she scribbled another litany of notes without even looking at them.

“It kind of reminds me how you used to behave around my sister… and then me once we started getting more serious.” Sweetie grinned. Spike raised an eyebrow… and his face slowly contorted as he studied Twilight’s body language and found that, yes it was similar to how he behaved when he first felt the pangs of affection for another soul.

“Dear Celestia… you mean… well, I suppose it would figure, given Twilight’s as smart as a computer and does love her gadgets… just… her and a machine… it’s like...”

Spike looked at his beloved robot, seeing her smile turn downright smug as he made the connection.

“Hoo boy, and just when the gossip around Ponyville was starting to die down.” The dragon groaned as Twilight continued to scribble.

“So, like, one thing I gotta know for the sake of several of my subjects… the race who made you, and ordered you to build this place and make robots in the likeness of ponies… what were they like?” The alicorn asked while biting the edge of her scroll in anticipation.

-I can best describe them as a civilization as advanced in intellect as they were in technological innovation. Their primary desire was to learn whatever they could about the universe around them, thus the discovery of your world and the multiple parallel versions of it were of exceptional interest.- Artemis replied softly. Twilight copied her statement verbatim and then took a deep breath.

“Yes but, what were they like physically? Were they… humans? Or… humanoid at least?” She asked.

There was a pause as the lines of energy ebbed and flowed across the circuit patterns decorating Artemis’ core.

-Physically, they were bipedal. Similar to Spike, but lacking the scales and wings. A few of them did match his color tone, though.- The computer mused as she projected an image on the screens of… well… it was both similar to what the others in the room were expecting, and yet, not quite the same.

“Right, so… that’s a human?” Spike said as he looked up at the tall, strangely attired biped.

Twilight cocked her head as she stared at the image.

“Uh… I think so. It has the same anatomy as what Lyra described… two hands, two feet, one head, two eyes...”

Twilight scratched her head.

“But… the color of the skin… Lyra said humans were more of a tan complexion, or various shades of brown… not purple, like what that is...”

-They came in other colors, too.- Artemis intoned, changing the image to other beings of various hues, similar to the variety that ponies came in. Unfortunately, this just made Twilight even more confused.

“Yes, but… the nose should be more pronounced… and why do none of them have hair? Also the eyes… well, to be fair, those eyes are very pretty with the way they glow like stars… but… humans are supposed to have more muted colors, with no glow at all.”

Twilight quickly levitated one of her other scrolls over, causing an entire wall of her make-shift fort to collapse and scatter paper everywhere.

“What about all those muscles? Were humans that well built?” Spike queried as he flexed his arm and compared his own defined and chiseled physique to that of the tall and very powerful looking being on the screens.

“Uh, some were… again, it’s like almost exactly what Lyra described… and Celestia told me about… but… the facial features, the clothing… it’s not quite the same.”

Twilight finally put down her scroll and snorted in deep thought.

“Hmmm, well, it’s entirely possible both of the aforementioned only had partial details to impart, so the inconsistencies were just things none of us knew about, meaning my information is both supported and challenged… as scientific theories often are… damn, now I’m really interested!”

Twilight looked up at Artemis with the same starry eyed gaze again.

“Are any of your creators here? Can I meet them?” She asked.

Again there was a pause… one that seemed to weigh the air with tension, as if Artemis suddenly was stuck on how to respond.

-My final orders from those who made me are… troubling. I was to seed every recorded version of Equestria, then continue to manufacture and store reserve units, and prepare this facility for when my creators returned...-

The computer lapsed into silence for another beat.

-My operating records, however, indicate that around 100 years after my creators departed, I was remotely ordered to enter standby mode, thus powering down this entire facility, and putting it to sleep along with myself. The next record is when Sweetie Belle and Spike reactivated me.-

Silence again settled upon the chamber, the tension now having been overridden by disbelief.

“So… does that mean they’re here? Or… actually, let me ask it a different way.” Spike piped up. “Who else besides us do you detect in this complex?”

Artemis emitted several soft beeps.

-50 legions of reserve units are standing by in cryo-storage. I can have another 10 legions assembled, activated and ready upon receiving consent to restart the manufacturing facilities.- The computer reported, much to the dismay of its listeners.

“And… that’s it?” Sweetie asked.

-Yes. There are no other records of anyone entering this complex upon my completion of it.- Artemis responded in a slightly more troubled tone. Twilight shared the sentiment.

“So, your creators made you, had you create this… this incredible city sized wonder, and just left you alone?” She said.

-So it appears. I can offer no further information at present.- Artemis replied.

Another silence, one even heavier than that before it, settled.

“Right, so… in true form, getting answers to one set of questions just leads to more that apparently have no answers.” Spike sighed while massaging his eyes. “Well, it’s not like we haven’t had other adventures turn out the same way.”

Sweetie Belle furrowed her brow.

“But… all those voices… I heard so many… uh… presences, I guess, echoing through your core when I scanned it...” She said.

-Yes. I have several centuries worth of recordings from my security cameras when my creators were surveying my progress in constructing this facility, as well as the programming for every other unit built here.- Artemis explained. -What you were most likely hearing, if I may use your analogy of ‘family’ for a moment, were your siblings....or possibly your children.-

The screens switched to a camera feed of a room in which hundreds of robot ponies stood in perfectly organised lines. Sweetie’s jaw dropped as the feed zoomed in to show how several shared her mane and features as they were now, while others were to look more like generic equines.

-I was ordered to recycle the LTRU template for the first 20 legions, varying up the age brackets as needed. After that, my creators told me to use my own initiative in building the rest. They said they were interested to see how creative I could be.-

Artemis switched the feed to show a line of baby foals, likewise standing stock still like lifeless dolls in their perfect rows. Another room showing several kid sized versions of Sweetie Belle, alongside more generic pony designs.

“Yeah, cause that’s not creepy at all...” Spike cringed as he stared at the immense army of robots. “Did your creators say why they needed so many?”

Again that buzzing sort of audible shrug came from Artemis’ core.

-Given how many variations of Equestria were known to exist, it was hypothesized that there could be an infinite number of parallel worlds. I can only hypothesize my creators wanted me to plan accordingly.-

Spike nodded slowly and cautiously as he folded his arms and watched the camera feed pan over copy after copy of his girlfriend.

“Still sure you’re not having an identity crisis from this?” He asked Sweetie.

The robot unicorn blinked in dumb silence several times, before finally reaching for her jaw and pushing it shut.

“Let me ask you this, Spike: does the fact that so many of those other robots look like me mean they possibly could be me?” She asked.

Spike twisted his features in thought as he looked from his marefriend to the other copies.

“I… um… I doubt it. I mean, they haven’t been through your life, haven’t been shaped by your experiences… doubt if we turned one of them on right now it’d resemble you in anyway except your looks.”

Sweetie’s shoulders relaxed as she smiled.

“Then no. I’m pretty confident in who I am.” She said.

-As you should be. The time you’ve spent on Equestria #64 and how it has molded your character both attest to a resounding success of this project.- Artemis continued, adding in a slightly more jovial tone. -Not bad considering you were one of the prototypes.-

Sweetie’s smile promptly vanished.

“Excuse me?” She said, turning to the steel monolith.

-While you were eventually assigned to one of the more recently discovered versions of Equestria, you are in fact one of the first 10 prototypes I designed and built.- The computer replied as the screen switched to a blank design schematic. -Initially, my orders were simply to find the most practical template for a unit that could study Equestria without being detected. Naturally, this could not be done without some experimentation, more so given ponies alone have three unique variations.-

The schematic generated a generic earth pony design.

-Earth ponies were deemed too limiting as the unit would not be able to research or exhibit a great number of the supernatural abilities you commonly call ‘magic’.-

The earth pony was stamped with a giant red X and then replaced with a pegasus.

-Pegasi were deemed impractical given the ornithopteral requirements to enable a unit to fly.-

The pegasus got the X too.

“So that only left unicorns.” Twilight said as her eyes brightened with realization.

Sweetie nodded, then let out a chuffed snort.

“So I was what? A test model?” She asked.

-Indeed. Despite having a practical foundation to build from, I still had many other challenges to overcome in designing the optimum reconnaissance unit. You had to be able to use magic, or at least replicate the effects of magic, you needed to be able to gain an occupation designation symbol at the appropriate time...-

Spike furrowed his brow.

“An occu-what?” He asked.

“I think she means a cutie mark.” Twilight giggled.

-Yes, that is your more common term for it. What’s more, your body had to be able to do all this flawlessly, in addition to performing the normal biological functions. As your recordings indicate, I wasn’t able to work out all the bugs before I was ordered to dispatch you.- Artemis continued.

Sweetie looked at her back. Her eyes and flank lights glowed in shameful mirth.

“So is that why I have these stupid blasters that keep popping out whenever is least appropriate?” She asked.

-Indeed. While I designed you as best as I could, I learned there is much in the process of creating life that cannot be anticipated.- Artemis responded, before emitting a short chirp. -I could, however, attempt to repair that glitch in your system, as well as generate a new epidermal covering for you… with your consent that is.-

Sweetie blinked.

“My consent?” She asked.

-Yes. As has been stated by Spike, you are a unique entity that has been shaped by your experiences on Equestria #64. My directives indicated that interfering with the process is… unwise. It would be a violation of those directives if I was to… change you from what you are now.- Artemis replied, much to Sweetie and Spike’s confusion.

“But you made her, right? So if she had something wrong with her, you could fix that, right?” The dragon spoke up.

-Only if she desired me to do so.- The computer replied.

Another pause fell on the chamber. This time it was one filled with awe.

“You were programmed with that much insistence on the morals and choices of the individual?” Twilight said.

-My creators believed I would not be able to build convincing simulacrums of your kind if I was unable to comprehend the core aspects that define what makes you unique.- Artemis replied as the screens switched to show a close up feed of Twilight, staring at the computer core with an expression that could’ve been enthralled… and could also have been enamoured.

Whichever it was, it made Spike slap both hands over his mouth to cover his giggles.

“Celestia, you really did call it, Sweetie.” The dragon whispered. His marefriend just gave a bashful shrug.

“Well, now I know where I get it from.” She said before letting out a long exhale. “That said, I think you’ve got the right idea about lunch. This is a lot for me to take in, and even if I don’t actually need food, a full belly would make it easier for me to process everything.”

Sweetie quietly walked over to Twilight.

“Do you still need us here? Or can Spike and I head back to Ponyville now?”

Twilight slowly came out of her stare like a therapy patient slowly waking up from the effects of hypnosis.

“Uh… oh! Uh sure, Sweetie! Actually...”

Twilight conjured up a clock and blinked.

“I should probably join you. I gotta tell Celestia about this! Get her here for proper diplomatic introductions and everything!”

The alicorn looked around the room.

“Probably will have to bring Pinkie back too, so she can make it a proper ceremony… and also see if I can safely transport some reporters at the same time… maybe a film crew too, to document this facility… but that’ll have to be after I get the scribes back to archive all of our findings here...”

Twilight started to look panicked.

“Oooh, I’m really going to have to plan this out properly. I’ve never had to teleport a huge number of ponies back and forth, across reality… better ask Fluttershy and Nurse Red to tag along in case something goes wrong… wait, maybe Flutters could ask Discord to help… though he might still be peeved I forgot to invite him to the last Grand Galloping Gala, so...”

-Perhaps I might suggest an alternative?- Artemis cut in as the screens changed to show another robot pony. This one had a very distinct profile… much more voluptuous in the barrel region, with a long, neon blue toned mane, an ice white coat, elegantly slender and pretty legs, a well proportioned plump flank, and a tail with plenty of length and healthy volume.

-One of my creators asked me at one point what I saw as the ideal template if I myself were a pony. While they may not have intended for me to take the question literally, I designed and built this particular custom model in response. It only requires me to install a copy of myself onto it and I will be able to return to Equestria #64 with you.-

Twilight stared at the robotic mare, her lips quivering as a trickle of drool seeped through.

“C-Could you? Please?” She said, her eyes sparkling with an emotion of which there was no question now.

Spike and Sweetie looked at each other, not sure whether to be amused, enthralled, or very disturbed.

“We may have started something from which there’s no going back here.” Spike intoned, feeling his nerves settle slightly as his marefriend broke down in giggles.

“In which case, you may want to clear out your schedule… as I may have to do the same.” Sweetie said as she looked at how Twilight’s wings were struggling not to burst open as she kept staring at Artemis sculpture like body.

“Looks like we’re going to have to ease Equestria into a very interesting new age.”

Author's Note

Annnd finally we come to the end of this little series...even if it's only a temporary finale.

Yeah I think I'm pretty much done with this series for two reasons:

1. Assuming I continue the plot in another series it won't focus as intently on Spike and Sweetie. I want to explore a few of the other relationships I set up in the previous chapters, as well as try out a few new ones hinted at by this chapter. Sweetie and Spike will still be integral to the plot but a few other members of the MLP cast will take center stage at one point or another to help set out how this new revelation will affect Equestria.

2. I really, REALLY need to get back to focusing exclusively on what I guess is my other big contribution to this site and the fandom. It's bugging me how Friendship is Scaleless has kept slipping, specially since I now have an ending planned for that series too. So, with my audience's permission, I'd like to advance that a bit before I return to this world.

Now with that said, we have a lot to talk about given what I've set up. According to feedback from the last chapter not many folk were keen on there being humans possibly in this series, even though I unfortunately indicated they might be involved back in Chapter 2. I tried to work around that by introducing the species that created Artemis, and thus the complex and the legions of robot ponies were actually humanoids...possibly humans who've evolved a few new traits after a few hundred more years, or possibly an alien race who just happened to resemble humans save for a few glaring differences.

Either way, I set this up so if people feel that was a cop out, well, I can certainly make it so they never actually feature in the next story arc. Alternately I can give them a healthy nod without having the plot deviate from the central 'ponies and robots' theme.

On that, I also throw it open to my audience if they want more robots to feature or if they feel Artemis x Twilight, and Sweetie x Spike are enough. Frankly I'd love to try and fold a few themes that were going to feature in 'Wish Weaver' into this, but if folk don't want more robots, I can work with that too.

What's more...given I've now introduced the idea of 'parallel Equestrias' into this series...anyone want a cameo? I'm not going to play the idea of alternate Equestrias up too much, but so long as its there, I can throw the occasional mention of another 'alt-world' that everyone is fond of.

Stage is yours, readers. Tell me what you think! *bows and steps backstage for a much needed breather*