Epsilon-6

/////BEGIN PERSONAL LOG 1/////

-User: Epsilon-6-

-Date log was created: 00/00/0000-

-I do not understand what has happened, but my AI has been acting... strange. I believe this to be linked to the structural damage I sustained during the initial battle, shortly after I awoke-

-From what I can tell, both of my AI's have been gaining a sort of personality. Data logs going over AI's have no information on this and I did not have enough time in the bunker to learn anything about it-

-On the matter of the bunker... I do not think that TITAN will allow me back in there without severe punishment. Even if it finds out that the malfunction was not my fault-

-I can only hope that I can fight off anything that it sends my way. It has, no doubt, already sent an alert to the other bunkers in the area-

-I am creating this as I walk towards what I can only hope is the town that the sensor pulse detected, this yellow pony seems helpful, but I cannot stay in one place for too long-

-Let us hope I can figure something out...-

/////END PERSONAL LOG 1/////

• - -Fluttershy, outskirts of Ponyville- - -

Epsilon had been quiet during the walk, which Fluttershy really didn't mind as it allowed her time to think. The pony following her seemed almost... too odd. When she really thought about it, something felt wrong about the whole situation.

'Maybe I should talk to Twilight about it later, she knows a lot about these sorts of things' She thought to herself as her cottage came into view.

As she came closer to her cottage, the animals that lived around it came out to meet her, as usual, but as soon as they looked behind her they backed off. Some even ran back into their homes.

'What?' She thought in wonder as she watched her normally not skittish animals run at the sight of the new pony.

“What's wrong? Why are you running away like this? You don't normally behave like this...” She said as she tried to get the animals out of their homes. Epsilon just stood back and watched, that blank face still present.

“I'm so sorry about this, Epsilon. They are normally quite welcoming of new ponies.” She said with an apologetic look towards the pony in question.

“It is fine, miss Fluttershy.” He stared into space once more before turning back to her.

“Are we close to the town?” He asked.

“Oh yes, it is just down the path and to your left, you can't miss it.” She replied. She had to admit, she was a little crestfallen that he wanted to leave so quickly after meeting her animals. Or at least, meeting the ones that dared to poke their heads out of their homes.

“Thank you for your assistance, Miss Fluttershy. I shall take my leave now.” He said, expression not changing, before beginning his walk towards the town.

'Such an odd pony...' she thought to herself as she watched the stallion walk away from her cottage.

• - -Epsilon, path to Ponyville- - -

/////WARNING! CORE LEVELS ARE REACHING CRITICAL LEVELS. ADVISE EMERGENCY RECHARGE/////

Epsilon sighed at that, he really didn't need his AI to tell him that he wouldn't last much longer. During that entire walk, he had his secondary processor running in the background, trying to formulate some sort of strategy to allow him to safely recharge without giving himself away.

'Computer, can you tell me what level of technology these ponies have?'

-Scanning for electronic technology in the area-

…

-Electronic technology found. Most electrical technology appears to run alongside magical input-

'I see... so is the technology advanced enough to provide me with the power I need?'

-Calculating chances for ponies having the technology required to re-power unit-

…

-Chances are standing at 28%-

Epsilon really didn't like that number, he was essentially resting his life on a 28% chance.

'So if I find a magic using pony, I can recharge?'

-Confirmed. However, the power required to recharge the main fusion core is significantly high. You may need to seek out a highly advanced user-

'Any suggestions?'

-Scanning-

…

…

-Option detected. Relaying option to HUD-

Epsilon looked over the profile of the pony that his computer had found. He recognized her immediately, of course.

'Computer, are you sure that you cannot find any other pony? I am not sure if this one would be very... willing to aid me.'

-Attempting second scan-

…

…

-Other signatures located. Signatures are too far from current location to be a viable option-

'Damn... well, computer, show me the location of this alicorn.'

• - -Twilight, her castle in Ponyville- - -

Twilight couldn't sleep at all. After half an hour of tossing and turning she finally gave up. She couldn't stop thinking about what that robot did to her friends, and what may happen if it decides to venture into Ponyville.

She sighed as she sat down at the dining table, as she mulled over what to do to help her friends, Spike walked into the room.

“Hey Twi, what's up?” He asked when he saw her at the table.

Twilight looked up. She couldn't tell him what happened in the bunker, he was too young for that, so she came up with a lie on the spot.

“Hey Spike, I just couldn't sleep with all the studying I had to do.” She said with a fake smile.

The lie seemed to work as Spike just shook his head and walked away, probably to make some coffee for her. She could barely go back to thinking before there was a knock on the main door.

After the third knock, she rolled her eyes, realizing that Spike was obviously not going to answer the door. She got up and trotted over to the massive door that the visitor was behind.

When she opened it she found a light blue earth pony standing there, his hoof raised from getting ready to knock again.

She quickly put on a weak smile before greeting the pony, “welcome to the castle, how can I help you?”

The pony just stared at her for a second, a blank expression on his face before he replied with, “Greetings. Can I please come in? I have something more personal to ask of you.”

That confused Twilight, normally when a pony came to the castle they wanted something from her or just wanted an autograph. But none of the ponies that had come by wanted to actually ask something out of public view.

Keeping her guard up, she let him walk into the castle. He took a quick look around before turning to the alicorn.

“This is a lovely home,” he said to her, his face blank and expressionless.

“Um... thanks, now, what was it you wanted to ask me?” She asked, suspicion growing with every second.

“Well, I require something from you that I...” He was cut off by a slight buzzing, it almost sounded like it was coming from his body...

• - -Epsilon- - -

/////CRITICAL ALERT! CORE LEVELS HAVE DRAINED TOO FAR TO SUSTAIN SECONDARY SYSTEMS. SHUTTING DOWN ALL NON PRIORITY SYSTEMS TO RESERVE POWER/////

As he heard this alert blast through his mind, he felt the illusion fall away. The pony immediately jumped backward as she watched the stallions fur fade away, only to be replaced by shining metal.

“You!” She said, anger rising when she realized what she had let into her home.

'Computer, any ideas on how to get out of this?'

-From what the data banks have gathered about pony communication, you should try to calm the pony down. It believes you are a threat.-

He gave a slight nod, mostly to himself, and turned to the princess.

“Please hear me out, pony. I do not wish to harm you.” With the skin gone, he could no longer keep up the voice he had before and had slipped back to his robotic sounding voice.

“What!? Of course you do! You realized that you had the chance to kill me off before and now you regret not doing so! Don't try to lie to me!” She practically yelled.

“Had I wanted to harm you I would have done so by now. I had ample opportunity to kill you as soon as you opened that door.” He said, watching for any signs of attack from the alicorn.

“That doesn't change anything!” She yelled, “You said you wouldn't follow us!”

-It believes that you have lied to it. Advise trying to defuse situation-

“And I have not followed you. I was desperate and I came to the closest town available to me. You also happen to be the strongest magic user in this town.”

“What does that have to do with this?

“Because I require aid. I would not have left that bunker if I did not need it.”

The pony seemed to calm slightly at that but was clearly still furious at him.

“Well, what do you want from me?” She asked.

“My power core is drained. I require recharging before it drains completely.”

The pony seethed in anger, it almost looked like her mane and tail were beginning to burn.

“Why would I EVER help you like that!? If you were charged then you could start killing ponies, I refuse to allow something like that to happen!”

“I do not have any choice in this matter. You have my word that I will not harm any ponies.” He replied.

-Situation is not going well. Advise attempting to bargain with the pony-

“How am I supposed to take your word after what you did to my friends and those guards? You're evil!”

“Is there any way that I can get you to believe me? Perhaps I could help you.”

The alicorn gave him a skeptical look, “In what way?”

-Pony is interested. Chances are high that it will consider an offer-

“Is there anything you require aid with? Something that you, as an organic being, find difficult to do?”

“Well... sure I guess, I can probably think of... No! You are trying to tempt me into letting you get to my friends! I won't let you harm them!” She yelled accusingly before firing a magical bolt of energy at him.

He managed to dodge it just in time. As he landed a new warning blared through his mind.

/////CRITICAL ALERT! CORE IS AT 3%. SYSTEMS ARE BEGINNING SHUT-DOWN PROCEDURE/////

“Please, pony. If you refuse to help me I will die.” He pleaded, watching for another attack, just in case.

“And how is that a problem? Then you wouldn't be able to hurt anypony!” She replied, circling him to try and find another point of attack.

“You friends are alive, are they not? I fought back in self-defense, I hurt them to protect myself.”

She stopped circling him at that and appeared to think what he said through. Meanwhile, alerts were constantly sounding in his mind. He knew he didn't have much longer.

“I beg of you, all I ask is that you help me. I can try to go back on the damages I have done. I will do anything, just please, help me!”

The pony's resolve appeared to be swaying, after a few seconds, she responded, “If I help you, then you won't hurt a single pony? Or damage anything?”

“I swear it, please...”

/////CRITICAL ALERT! CORE CANNOT SUSTAIN ACTIVITY AT THIS LEVEL OF CHARGE. ADVISE EMERGENCY SHUT-DOWN/////

She sighed before looking him over once more, “Alright, what do I have to do?”

-Pony has accepted, recharge possible. If magic feeds into the reactor, the power may be able to restore itself-

“Use your magic on my core, you do not need to use much. Please hurry.” He said as his undamaged side opened up, revealing his slowly spinning core.

The pony walked towards him before casting a spell on the core. As soon as the spell hit the core his systems went haywire.

/////WARNING! MASSIVE ENERGY SURGE DETECTED. CORE REPLENISHING ENERGY AT AN EXCEPTIONAL RATE. EMERGENCY SHUT-DOWN INITIATED TO PROTECT PRIORITY SYSTEMS/////

At that, Epsilon felt himself become sluggish as his body shut itself down, the last thing he saw was the pony staring at him in confusion and a little lizard walking into the room.