Artificial Assistance

Artificial Assistance

Prologue: Mother of Invention

Deep orange and bright yellow freckles dotted the earth's face, remnants from the annual running of the leaves and a sign that autumn was here. Summer had passed and all the fillies and colts were back in school, having their young minds molded into shining symbols of individuality. The crisp cool air billowed through the town of Ponyville at slightly faster speeds than normal, indicating a storm was on the rise. The weather team must have been hard at work scheduling this downpour. Soon the rain would fall and wash away the earth's freckles, leaving it's face smooth and unobscured.

A large metal rod protruded from the top of a large tree located near the center of town, protecting it from all manner of storms. Every few seconds a pulse of lavender energy rushed from top to bottom, fading as it went. This tree, or rather, this library was closed for the day. The librarian and habitant of said library-tree, Twilight Sparkle, stood in her basement before four of her friends, who were all waiting patiently for the fifth to arrive. Well, almost all of them were anyways.

"Can you just tell us what's going on Twilight?" Rainbow Dash questioned, "I'm supposed to be helping with the storm, my team's gonna wonder where I am, and-"

"This will only take a moment Dash, we can start once Rarity arrives" Twilight responded with curt politeness. The hovering Pegasus gave a small "hmph" and crossed her forelegs impatiently, her eyes glazed over the damp basement of Books and Branches, Twilight's home and workplace. Around the room were various bewildering instruments of mathematical, scientific and magical importance, the far corner was occupied by a desk with a few blueprint drawings strewn across it's surface. Leaning precariously on the leg of the desk were several poster tubes, which most likely housed blueprints, incomplete or otherwise. As if on cue the door to Twilight's basement was thrust open by an elegant but hurried mare, one who stopped at nothing to be on time, unless the fashion gods striked against her, which happened often enough.

"Finally!" Dash exclaimed, uncrossing her forelegs and gesturing forcefully in Rarity's direction. "Hurry up Rarity! I don't have all day you know."

"Yes, yes, Rainbow Dash, you're a very busy pony. We're all so proud of how good you are at napping."

Dash grumbled a bit more at Rarity's remark as Rarity fell in line with the rest of the ponies, tending to her mane, the ever-present late-maker. Pinkie Pie bounced up and down excitedly beside her, almost unable to contain her excitement. Twilight was amazed she even had the resolve in her to do so. With a quick visual scan of her line of friends, Twilight determined everypony was present. At long last, Rainbow Dash would have her wish, Twilight would finally explain why they had all gathered in the damp, musty basement of Books and Branches.

"Now that you're all here, there's somepony I'd like you to meet."

In a split second all eyes in the room became intensely focused on Twilight. Everypony's minds wandered wondering who Twilight could possibly introduce them to. Ponyville was a small enough town that everypony knew most everypony. Even if you didn't know everypony, somepony you knew had to know about the ponies you didn't know about! Could she be introducing us to her new Coltfriend? Rarity wondered.

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie's excitement container reached full capacity and was forced to expunge all excitement.

"Oooh! Who could it be? Is it Doctor Hooves! No, I know! It's Colgate! It's Colgate isn't it?"

Twilight gave a slight chuckle at Pinkie's antics "No, Pinkie." Twilight said, crouching down, looking ready to pounce. "Everypony, I'd like you to meet Ezra." Twilight said, just before tightly closing her eyes and focusing all her energy on the tip of her horn. A bright flash of light emanated from a spot on the floor just between the group of confused ponies and the spell's brilliant caster. Pinkie stared at the bright light while Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow averted and shielded their gaze. After the light subsided a small, semi-transparent earth pony with a lavender coat and mane stood there on the ground, no more than six inches tall. Jagged vein-like lines criss crossed her entire body pulsing with magical energy every few seconds.

"Greetings, friends. Is there anything you require assistance with?" the small mare said with a gentle but intelligent voice.

"You don't have to be so formal right now, Ezra. We're more your friends than users." Twilight said, leaning down to Ezra's height. Ezra preformed a slight bow in Twilight's direction.

"My apologies Miss Sparkle. I will be less formal from now on."

"Just Twilight, is fine Ezra."

"As you wish." Ezra bowed once more as she said this.

All five of Twilight's guests craned their necks to look at Ezra from different angles. They had seen Twilight perform many spells, all of them grand and complicated. They had seen her conjure different things before too, but they never expected her to conjure a pony! The small mare baffled all five of them. After a minute of being awestruck and confounded, somepony finally spoke up.

"What in tarnation is it Twilight?"

"She," Twilight enunciated, "is an Artificial Intelligence spell I developed, or AI for short. Her name is Ezra."

"What does she do?" Rainbow asked, hovering around the space above all their heads, still trying to look at Ezra from all angles as if to confirm what she was seeing was indeed real, even if it stood before her and spoke, just like any other pony would.

"Basically she acts as the perfect assistant."

"What about Spike?" Rarity asked, the obvious question to Twilight's answer.

"Well, Spike is growing up and I want to take the workload off of him so he can actually have some fun every once in a while. That's why I developed Ezra!"

"What about Owlowiscious?" Rainbow asked, continuing the chain of obvious questions..

"Oh, he left for mating season. He probably has a family now." Fluttershy murmured, answering for Twilight.

"How does she work?" Pinkie asked, eager as always. Twilight cleared her throat and gestured at Ezra

"Basically she observes, analyzes and records actions preformed by ponies in order to learn about our behaviors and better assist us with everyday tasks."

"How? Rainbow Dash asked, inquisitively.

"Well, lot's of things. For instance, Ezra, what is 512 divided by 8 multiplied by 234 minus 39?" without a moment to spare Ezra offered her answer.

"Fourteen-thousand nine-hundred thirty-seven. "

"That's impressive." Rarity commented.

"I'd agree, but, there are different quirks and inconsistencies that need to be worked out, which is why I need a favor from all of you."

"What's that Twilight?" Pinkie asked. "Do you want us to throw her a welcome to Ponyville party? Oh! There could be cake, balloons-"

"No Pinkie, but that's very thoughtful of you." Twilight interrupted, causing Pinkie to slouch down a bit more once her enthusiastic sales pitch for a party was shot down. "Starting tomorrow, for the next week I'd like her to spend a day with each of you to learn different ponies mannerisms and to, most importantly, learn how to emulate the Elements of Harmony you all represent."

"I don't know Twilight, I mean what about when I'm working, she's an Earth Pony, she can't fly." Rainbow Dash added, worriedly.

"Ah, yes. What you're forgetting is she's also magic, which means she can levitate and teleport." To demonstrate, Ezra floated around the room, landing atop Twilight's head and sitting down on her hair.

"I don't see why not then, Twilight. It'd do wonders to have some help around the shop." Rarity agreed.

"Yeah! We'll help you with your crazy experiment Twilight!" Pinkie Pie appended.

"So then who gets her tomorrow?" Rainbow Dash questioned.

"I don't know, why don't we let Ezra decide. Ezra, if you could pick one of us at random please?"

Ezra raised a hoof and pointed at Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow Dash." she stated.

"Why me?"

"My randomization algorithms pointed to you."

"Huh?" Dash puzzled.

"I chose you at random." Ezra reiterated.

"Alright, well whatever, I'll see you tomorrow Twi, I've got a storm to help with."

With that Rainbow Dash, well, dashed out of the basement and through the library's front door, leaving the four other ponies behind with Twilight. The four of them looked back and forth between Twilight and Ezra, still trying to comprehend everything Twilight had said. Their minds producing every possible question and immediately providing an answer, just waiting on one of the questions they couldn't answer themselves.

"Any questions girls?" Twilight asked.

The four of them stood for a moment, looking thoughtful. They all wondered if they actually did have any more questions about this AI thing Twilight had presented them with.

"Nopey lopey!" Pinkie Pie affirmed excitedly.

"None here, dear." Rarity established.

"No." Fluttershy added.

"Ah'm fine."

"Alright then, you should all get home before the storm starts. I'll be sure to let you know if your turn comes up after Dash's."

"Alright then, bye dear!" Rarity exclaimed, waving a hoof along with Applejack as she left the basement.

"See ya later, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bouncing along behind Rarity, out of the door.

"Bye." Fluttershy added quietly as she closed the door behind her.