S.P.A.R.K.S.

Chapters

Part 2: Hugging Subroutines
Part 3: Breach In Privacy
Part 4: Organics Are Weird
Part 5: Wired In Parallel
Part 6: Systems Normal
Part 7: Stealth Drives Engaged
Part 8: Calculated Trust
Part 9: Apple Pulverizing
Part 10: Defense Protocols
Part 11: Updating Software
Part 12: Running Diagnostics
Part 13: Into The Night
Part 14: Sparks Fly
Part 15: Accidentally In Love
Part 16: Crushed
Part 17: Spike’s Dilemma
Finale: In The Open
Epilogue: R.A.M.
Part 1: S.P.A.R.K.S. Online

Part 2: Hugging Subroutines

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Part 3: Breach In Privacy

Author's Note

Thank y’all so much for liking this story to the point where it could be featured! I’m just as excited to keep writing as y’all are to keep reading, so let’s work together and make this happen. :pinkiesmile:

Part 3: Breach In Privacy

Rarity looked to be hard at work when Spike and Sparks walked into the Carousel Boutique. Rolls of fabric, all consisting of varied colors and textures, were strewn about the room, in addition to the insurmountable amount of other tools of the tailor’s trade. Together, they stepped carefully over piles of experimental gowns and dresses that might or might not have contained a stray needle or ten.

Rarity was at a workstation, one of many where she was feeding some fabric through a sewing machine. When she saw them approaching, the machine stopped, and she welcomed them with a smile. “Spike! Good morning, darling. It’s always a pleasure to see you around here, and...” Her eyes then shifted to the tall mare behind him, and her smile wavered slightly. “Wh-Who is this, Spike?”

Before he could open his mouth to begin an explanation, however, Sparks stepped forward to greet Rarity herself. “Hello, Rarity, skilled practitioner of tailoring! I am Sparks, and I am Spike’s family!” She took the unicorn’s hoof in her own and shook it vigorously. “It is a pleasure to meet you!”

Rarity was stunned, to say the least. She grinned nervously at the mare holding her hoof before looking at Spike with a worried expression. “Darling, what’s going on?”

Spike quickly put himself in between her and Sparks, effectively separating them. “She’s just excited about meeting you... This is Sparks. Twilight made her to be some kind of research assistant. I’m just taking her around Ponyville so she can learn more about ponies.”

The white mare raised an eyebrow at her. At first, Spike was unsure if she was impressed or skeptical. “Twilight made her?” Sparks remained almost motionless, only turning her head to follow Rarity as she circled her. “She’s remarkably lifelike, and her physique is exquisite.” When she came back around, she looked at Spike. “She said she’s your family... What did she mean by that?”

Spike looked back and forth between her and Sparks before shrugging casually. “We had a conversation about family before we came here. She wanted to know what it meant to be apart of somepony’s family, and I guess she just likes the idea.”

Sparks nodded her head as a huge grin came over her face. “Affirmative! According to Spike, members of the same family can consist of any close friends or loved ones. I like this concept very much.”

At that, Rarity managed what looked to be a sincere smile. “That’s really touching, darling. Spike is a wonderful influence. There’s no dragon I’d rather spend my day with.” She completed the compliment by placing a firm hoof on top of his head and ruffling his green spikes.

Sparks must have found this amusing, because she chuckled softly as she eyed the little dragon. “Indeed...” She looked like she was prepared to say more, but her voice drifted off into silence, and her stare lingered on. Fixated on Spike, she cocked her head to the side and offered him a concerned look. “Spike, your heart rate is rising. Is something wrong?”

To tell the truth, nothing was wrong at all, but that didn’t stop him from feeling the least bit excited when in the presence of his lifelong crush. When Rarity spoke highly of Spike, it left him feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside. “I’m fine, Sparks. I think I need some water, just like you said before.”

The artificial mare stubbornly disagreed and shook her head, not sensing his desire to change the subject. “Negative, Spike. Both your heart rate and your internal body temperature have risen significantly since speaking to Rarity. Existing data suggests you have strong, organic desires to behave intimately with her. I recommend caution when engaging in such behaviors so as to avoid injury and other unwanted consequences that may likely result from mating.”

If he was feeling warm before, now, Spike was burning hot. Rarity was too, by the looks of it. Her white appearance was stained by the glowing crimson coloring of her face. “I’ll... get you some water, Spike...” Then, she turned on her hooves and speedily retreated from the room.

Spike then turned on Sparks, and when she saw the look on his face, her smile melted away. “Sparks, you can’t say things like that! That... That was totally inappropriate! You can’t just go around sharing someone’s personal feelings and embarrassing them. You can really hurt them like that... Understand?”

Sparks looked mortified, having never been shouted at before, and she nodded her head slowly. “Affirmative, Spike...”

His harsh glare softened, and he let out a long sigh. “You know a lot about ponies, Sparks. I know you didn’t mean to do it. You just gotta be careful with their privacy.”

Having composed herself, Rarity returned with a glass of water in her cloud of magic. She offered it to Spike, who was more than happy to accept her generosity. Sparks must have been right about the whole dehydration bit, because he found the cool, clear liquid to be very refreshing.

The synthetic mare approached Rarity and bowed respectfully before her. “I apologize for my previous statements, Rarity. My intentions were not to cause you harm or embarrassment, but Spike informed me of my error, and I wish to reestablish trust with the both of you.”

The unicorn raised an eyebrow at Spike before looking back at Sparks. “Did he? I do hope he wasn’t too harsh with you, darling.”

She shook her head and glanced towards him, cracking a small grin. “Negative... Spike is gentle and forgiving...” Then, she rose to her full height. “You are fortunate, Rarity, to have such a companion.”

Spike let out a sigh of relief as Sparks and Rarity made up. He brought her to the Carousel Boutique to avoid any conflicts, not to start one, so this result was a good one. “Rarity, I was actually hoping you might be able to help us.”

The unicorn turned her attention to him. “Oh? How so?”

He gestured towards Sparks. “Well, I want to show her around Ponyville so she can gather all of the information she wants, but she’s not exactly inconspicuous...” Behind him, Sparks observed herself, looking over her own hooves and even swishing her synthetic tail so she could see it in what was almost a cat-like fashion. “We thought you could... You know... dress her up?”

Rarity scoffed at him and waved a dismissive hoof before turning around and making her way over to a pile of discarded bits and pieces of prototype outfits. “Say no more, darling. For you, anything you like.” Then, she picked out several assorted pieces of clothes and looked back at Sparks. “This way, dear. Let’s see about getting you into something you can be proud of.”

Sparks looked down at Spike, like she was silently asking him for confirmation. He smiled back and coaxed her forward. “Go on. You can trust her.”

She nodded her head and managed a wary smile in return. “Affirmative, Spike... I will return soon.” Then, she followed Rarity into a fitting room, leaving Spike alone.

***

Spike wasn’t sure how much time had passed. It could have been anywhere from fifteen to twenty minutes, and he didn’t stop thinking about Sparks the entire time, wondering to himself if she was managing to get along with Rarity after what transpired earlier. His eyes drifted around the room, darting from mannequin to mannequin and the elaborate dresses that covered them. They looked to be some of the unicorn’s best work up to this point, and yet, that very thought vanished from his mind when Sparks finally emerged from the fitting room. When he saw her turn the corner with Rarity by her side, his jaw hit the proverbial floor.

Sparks was now fitted into what looked like a flowing black gown, with orange trimmings that complemented the hard-light visor over her eyes. The trimmings seemed to shimmer under the light as she walked forward, and she took every step with a never before seen level of confidence. To put it simply, she looked beautiful.

Rarity looked proud of her work. “Don’t say a word, Spike. Just take a moment to soak it all in. I tried to start off with something simple yet dazzling that would give some contrast to her... everything, but once I got going, I just couldn’t stop myself.” She then looked at Sparks. “Dear, you look lovely, simply marvelous...”

The dragon cleared his throat, but kept his eyes fixed on Sparks. “Ye-Yeah... She looks... great...” He wasn’t even aware that he was staring, but if she minded, she wasn’t saying anything to stop it. Then, something clicked in the back of his mind, something that he remembered he was about to say before he was caught off guard, and he finally brought himself to look at Rarity. “Wait... I thought the idea was to help her blend in, not look like a princess.”

Again, the unicorn waved his concerns away. “Posh, darling. She likes the way she looks, and frankly, so do I. Forget about my fee, dears. This one is on me. Both of you are welcome back anytime.” Then, she took off for the stairs and vanished from sight, leaving Spike and Sparks alone by the door.

Now that it was just the two of them, Spike attempted to keep himself from ogling the beautiful mare, but her intense stare wasn’t doing much to help. “Well, Spike? Where are we going next?”

***Up Next: Organics Are Weird***

Part 4: Organics Are Weird

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Part 5: Wired In Parallel

Author's Note

Changes to the story start here. Thank y’all for being patient, and I hope y’all enjoy the rest of the story! :twilightsmile:

Part 5: Wired In Parallel

The sun soared high overhead now as Spike chewed quietly on an appetizer left by the waitress as they sat down. From across the table, Sparks looked on, watching him intently. It was difficult to avoid her gaze, impossible even. He hadn’t given her an answer to her question yet, and how could he? A million thoughts were rushing through his head all at once now, and he found it mind-numbing to focus on any one of them without receiving a severe case of whiplash.

Moments earlier, Sparks had shown interest in him, a lot of interest. She had asked him if they could be, as she worded it, a couple, essentially asking him out on a date. This was new territory for Spike, and he was sailing in totally unfamiliar waters. He’d never been on a date with any mare, let alone an artificial intelligence. He’d never been asked out, nor had done the asking himself. To put it plainly, he was young and inexperienced.

Part of him wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground and cover himself up so he wouldn’t have to see her peering, gorgeous eyes through her glowing, orange visor, but the rest of him wanted to shout ‘Yes!’ and leap into her hooves. In an instant, he had forgotten about his crush on Rarity, which now seemed nothing more than an endless game of cat and mouse. Right in front of him was a beautiful mare. She was incredibly smart but naive and inexperienced herself, much like him. It was clear that they both liked each other, but there were problems.

One of the biggest ones was Twilight. Sparks was technically her property. Twilight had made the synthetic pony as a helping hoof. Spike was certain she hadn’t envisioned for Sparks to develop a desire for intimacy. If things were going to work out between them, she would have to approve of it, and if she didn’t... Spike didn’t like to dwell on that thought.

Another problem was his own lack of confidence in himself. He’d never been in this kind of position before. The fear of making a wrong move, a misstep, or saying something inappropriate paralyzed him completely. What if he agreed to a relationship with Sparks? What would happen immediately after? What if he declined? How would she react? Did she have laser eyes that could cut him in half if he upset her? Needless to say, he was terrified to find answers to any of his questions. His own nervous shaking must have been disturbing the table, because the ice in his water chimed musically against the side of the glass.

Underneath the table, Sparks touched a hoof against the hand resting in his lap. “Scanning... Your heart rate has risen drastically, Spike. You are stressed...”

He picked up the glass and took a long sip of water before setting it back down again. “Yeah, just a little bit...” A long sigh escaped his lips as he finally looked her directly in the eyes. “Sparks, I just... I don’t know. It’s a lot to think about, and the more I think about it, the worse I feel. I’m honestly a little uncomfortable.”

She leaned forward, crossing the table a ways while still holding his hand beneath. “I did not mean to cause you so much distress, Spike. I only wished to experience this feeling ponies share with each other. It is puzzling, and I wish to understand why they choose to engage in such activities. I hope my request for us to become a couple was not misconstrued as a desire for us to mate, Spike.” She looked down at the table and let out a long sigh. “Besides such foolishness being physically impossible, my core programming restricts me from having selfish desires. Twilight Sparkle put into my programming a series of restrictions to block these kinds of thoughts. My only purpose is to serve.”

Spike let out a sigh of relief. He was grateful that Twilight had the foresight to restrict Sparks in such a way that wouldn’t constrain her abilities to record data and store vast amounts of knowledge. “So... Twilight just made you unable to ‘want’ anything? What about the dress Rarity made you?”

Sparks retracted her hooves and observed herself, looking the gown over. “I can appreciate the aesthetically pleasing combination of colors and materials, Spike, but I did not ask for this apparel. You recommended that I hide my synthetic body from view, and Rarity was generous enough to provide the materials necessary to accomplish this task.” Then, a silly grin came over her face as she looked him in the eyes. “I do happen to like the way I look, though.”

She sounded convincing enough, but Spike was certain there was more she wasn’t telling him. Perhaps Twilight wanted it that way. It was possible that she didn’t want Sparks spilling all of the secrets of her conception to anyone that asked nicely enough. It was as though she wasn’t lying, necessarily, just not telling the whole truth.

Moments later, the waitress returned with the food he ordered. “Here ya’ are...” She placed the hay burger and salad in front of Spike and even gave Sparks a glass of water, despite her deliberately telling the server that she didn’t require anything. Sparks eyed the glass but didn’t object, instead choosing to remain quiet as the waitress finished delivering Spike his food. “Enjoy...” She then flashed a friendly smile before returning to the kitchen.

Seeing the hay burger at last in front of him, his stomach growled, reminding him just how hungry he really was. With earnest, he picked it up and took a big bite. “Mmmmmm...” He couldn’t help letting out a satisfied moan as he chewed contentedly. From across the table, Sparks watched him with interest, peering back and forth between him and the food in his hands. When Spike noticed her staring, he set the burger down and jokingly slid the plate across the table towards her. “Want some?”

He was only teasing, but look on Sparks’ face told him she thought he might have been serious. “Spike, I have no need of nutrition and sustenance. Given the fact that I have no stomach, digestive tract, or means of waste disposal, the consumption of food and water would be pointless and possibly damage my internal hardware.”

Spike raised his hands as a gesture of surrender before taking back the plate. “Easy, Sparks... I was only joking. I didn’t mean it.”

The stern look on her face melted away instantly, and she then took on a more regretful face as she realized her error. “Oh... My apologies, Spike. I did not realize that you were merely attempting to use my inability to eat as a means of relaying social pleasantries. Now that I know this, I see the humor in your gesture of offering me food that you knew I would be unable to consume.” After that lengthy response, she let loose a hearty laugh.

Spike managed a smile too. He couldn’t help himself. Seeing Sparks learn and grow was fascinating. He thought about how amazing the world must seem to her. Everything was new, bright, and beautiful. Even the simplest things he might have taken for granted, like hugging his friends, was simply mind blowing to her.

He reached for a fork and raised it to take a stab at the salad, but a growing queeziness in his chest caused him to pause. As he set the fork back down, a burp forced its way out of his mouth, and he belched green flames into the air. From the fire fell a neatly tied letter.

Sparks watched the whole thing with eyes wide. “A dragon that can send and receive communication mediums at will through the use of unknown dragon magic… This is most fascinating…”

Spike picked up the letter and opened it, only to find some alarming news. He clutched onto the paper as he shot up from the table. “Come on, Sparks, we gotta go!” There wasn’t any time to finish his meal. He dropped the bits he owed onto the table and took her hoof in his hand before making a dash for the exit. “Twilight’s on her way back right now! If she finds out I took you out of the palace, she’ll kill me!”

Sparks didn’t look nearly as worried as he dragged her along. “Spike, I find the probability of Twilight Sparkle terminating you quite unlikely.”

He shook his head. “It’s just a figure of speech, Sparks. You’re missing the point. Twilight told me to stay out of trouble, and messing with her work is definitely trouble! I’ve got to get you back into your core before she finds out!”

The artificial mare appeared to be thinking it over, all the while Spike was visibly motioning for her to hurry up. Then, she nodded and smiled at him. “Alright, Spike. I do not wish for you to be in trouble. I will withhold any information about the events of today from Twilight Sparkle.”

Spike let out a sigh of relief as they neared the palace. He only hoped that they had made it in time.

***Up Next: Systems Normal***

Part 6: Systems Normal

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Part 7: Stealth Drives Engaged

Morning arrived in Ponyville with the rise of the sun in the East. As light began to shine through the window across the room, Spike stirred in his sleep, turning over in his bed. He couldn’t manage to keep his eyes shut any longer, and a lingering growl in his stomach told him that it was time for breakfast. With no holdups left to keep him in bed, he turned over one final time and opened his eyes at last, and what he saw caused him to jump out of his skin.

Sparks stood in the corner of his room like a statue, utterly motionless as she watched him in his bed. When she saw that he was awake, a huge grin came over her face, and the orange visor that covered her eyes flickered as though it were rebooting. “Good morning, Spike!” The artificial mare sounded eerily cheerful. “Did you have a pleasant rest?”

Spike slowly nodded his head as he sat upright. “Yeah, I did... Until just now...” Then, his frightened and bewildered look soured into a glare. “Sparks, what are you doing in my room? Wh-Why are you just... just standing there?”

She could tell that he was upset at her, now. Her ears folded back, and she even appeared to cower a little, making herself look small as though she were ashamed of angering him. “Error... I apologize for causing you distress, Spike... I was merely interested in observing you.”

Spike looked down at his body beneath the covers before looking back at her, gesturing to himself. “You wanted to watch me while I slept? Why?”

Her ears perked back up, and she approached his side of the bed. “Twilight Sparkle had imprinted into me numerous behavioral patterns regularly exercised by organic beings, sleep being one of them. I was at first fascinated by this concept. It is amazing to see the bodies of organic beings shut down temporarily while their brains remain active. Initial scans of your brain showed that you were having a frightening dream, Spike. The relevant data has been stored accordingly.”

The little dragon scratched the top of his head. He didn’t remember what his dream was about of if he’d even been dreaming at all. Most times, dreams were forgotten very quickly anyway. Then, his gaze shifted again to Sparks. She must have known. If she had been scanning his brain and while he slept and known he was having a nightmare, she probably knew what it was about. “Hey, Sparks... Do you know what I was dreaming about?”

To his amazement, she nodded her head, though she didn’t exactly look thrilled about it. “Affirmative, Spike.”

He’d expected her to tell him more, but he supposed that he had to ask for that directly too. “Could you tell me?”

Again, she nodded her head, but the look on her face told him she didn’t want the conversation to continue. “I could, but I think it would be unwise. Experiencing such a dream-sequence again, now fully awake, could prove to be traumatic and damaging to the brain.” She looked genuinely concerned for him. “I cannot refuse you if you persist, Spike, but my best advice would be for you to forget about your dream and begin your day. Scanning... You require sustenance. Moderate quantities of protein and calcium would be appropriate.”

Spike thought about it for a few moments. It was clear that she was trying to avoid the subject and move him along to other pressing issues. Then again, she did say that she’d have to tell him if he asked. He ultimately decided to follow her advice. She hadn’t lied to him yet, though her little invasion of his bedroom was very much unwanted. He made a mental note to talk to her about that when they got another chance to see each other.

They approached the door together, and Spike poked his head out to see if the coast was clear. When he was sure it was safe, he stepped out with Sparks following close behind. “So... What else were you doing this morning? You know, besides watching me sleep... Does Twilight know you’re walking about?”

Sparks nodded her head. “Affirmative, Spike. Twilight Sparkle has allowed access to a few select parts of the palace while not under her direct supervision.”

Spike raised an eyebrow at her. “Was my bedroom one of them?”

This question caused her to turn away and blush, if that was even possible for a synthetic mare. “Ne-Negative... My need for additional data on organic behavior patterns temporarily superseded my restriction to privileged areas of the palace.” Then, she looked him directly in the eyes, pleading almost. “Please, Spike... Do not tell Twilight Sparkle...”

He had no intention of telling the princess anything. He wasn’t supposed to know about Sparks, so telling her that the robomare had been spying on him in his sleep would only hurt them both. “Wait a minute... Where is Twilight, anyway? I can’t be seen with you yet, remember?”

Sparks didn’t look as concerned as he must have. “Twilight Sparkle is currently located in the throne room with Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Scans show that they are still there. I can listen in on their conversation, if you would like, Spike. The range of my audio receptors is impressively large.”

He shook his head. “No... Please, don’t do that. Seriously, Sparks, we’re going to have to have a long talk about respecting other ponies’ privacy.”

She looked slightly disappointed but nodded her head anyway. “Very well, Spike...” Then, her face lit up, and she boasted a huge grin. “Would you like to see some of my new features? Twilight Sparkle installed them into my core last evening, after you had taken my gown to hide it.”

Now, he was intrigued. Spike stopped to look at her in the middle of the corridor. “New features? Like what?”

Sparks looked proud of herself, like she had just received an award for something and was being given a trophy. “In addition to numerous bug fixes within my software, I was installed with a beacon and several loud noise devices that could be activated in case myself or anypony nearby was in need of assistance. Would you like a demonstration, Spike?”

He thought about it briefly, but flashing lights and loud noises might bring more attention than he wanted, especially from Twilight. “Not right now, Sparks... What else did you get?” She didn’t answer. “Sparks?” When he turned to face her, she was gone. The artificial pony had vanished from sight. “Sparks? Wh-Where’d you go?”

“I am here, Spike.” He heard her voice echo throughout the corridor, but she was nowhere to be seen. “You were looking right at me just now. You have passed me again, Spike. This is most disappointing. I was under the impression that dragons possessed more acute senses than ponies.” Then, she materialized in front of him. Where before, there was nothing, she stood with a silly grin on her face.

Spike was amazed, to put it plainly. He reached out, thinking his hand might pass through her, but it landed squarely on her chest instead, confirming that she was really there. “Whoa... You can turn invisible? That’s cool...”

She stared at his hand as it pressed against her chest plating. “Affirmative, Spike...” Then, she met his eyes again. “I am equipped with a highly advanced stealth drive. The stealth drive projects a small shield around my body that allows light to seemingly pass through me. Though I am still present, it will appear that I have, as you said, turned invisible. Twilight Sparkle installed this, along with numerous other self preservation processes to ensure that I can defend myself and her closest friends should anything happen.”

Spike was still having a hard time getting over the fact that she could turn invisible whenever she wanted. “Self preservation? You mean, like, fighting?”

Sparks nodded her head slowly as she wore a grin look. “Affirmative, Spike, but I am shackled by my coding and cannot use many of these features unless specifically ordered by Twilight Sparkle.” She then managed to force a smile. “The likeliness of a situation arising that would require such a show of force is low. There is no need to worry over such things.”

Maybe there wasn’t, but that didn’t stop Spike from wondering just what exactly Sparks was capable of. The growling of his stomach turned his thoughts away from her, and he realized that he still needed to eat. “Alright, well... I gotta get going. It was fun hanging out with you.” Then, he began to walk down the corridor, towards the kitchen.

From the spot she was standing, Sparks watched him go. “Spike, will we... hang out more? My data stores are still incomplete, and I can learn a lot from spending time with you...”

He thought about it, but there was still Twilight to contend with. “Maybe, Sparks... We’ll see... For now, just go do whatever you normally do. Have fun, or something, I don’t know.” Spike didn’t really want to leave her behind. He liked her just fine, but his fear of upsetting Twilight far outweighed that of disappointing Sparks.

***Up Next: Calculated Trust***

Part 8: Calculated Trust

As Spike finished eating his breakfast, Twilight entered the kitchen while waving into the hall outside. “Bye, Pinkie Pie! Bye, Applejack! I’ll catch up with you girls later, alright?” Then, out of sight, he heard the main doors to the palace open and close. She then pulled herself a glass from a cabinet above the sink and filled it with water from the tap, before joining him at the island and sitting on the stool next to his.

“Spike, I wanted to let you know that I’m going on another trip today, and Starlight is coming too. I promise we won’t be gone long, but we won’t be back for a couple of days.” She offered him a warm smile and ruffled the spines on his head. “Since you did such a wonderful job while I was away last time, I don’t feel bad about leaving you in charge around here.”

The news came as a shock to Spike. Twilight had just gotten back from another day trip to Canterlot, and now she was taking off again. There was a small problem, though. He could easily manage by himself, and there were always other friends in town he could visit, but his thoughts turned immediately to Sparks. “What about your work? Are you taking that with you too?”

To his great relief, Twilight actually shook her head. “No, Spike. This isn’t that kind of trip. While I was in Canterlot, Princess Celestia noticed how exhausted I was and offered us some tickets to attend a stage play with her in Manehattan, so If anything, I’m taking a few days off to get away from my project. She’s been driving me crazy all morning...” Spike knew what she meant, but Twilight didn’t know that he knew, and she immediately realized her slip up. “I mean... I’m just really tired of working on it, and I need some time out of the palace.”

Spike got up from the island and took his bowl to the sink, all the while avoiding Twilight’s gaze. Outwardly, he had to appear composed and disinterested in her ‘boring science project’, but internally, he was excited at the prospect of spending more time with Sparks. Without Twilight around, they could see all of Ponyville!

Twilight glanced towards the clock on the wall. “It’s probably about time for our ride to be here. Celestia said she’d send us a carriage.” Down the hall, Starlight was already waiting by the door with their bags. Twilight then planted a quick kiss on the dragon’s cheek. “Mmmmuah! Be good, Spike, and stay out of trouble. I’ll be back in a few days. Write me, if there’s any kind of problem, okay?”

From the door leading into the kitchen, he watched as Twilight and Starlight grabbed their things and exited the palace, shutting the doors behind them. Now, he was alone in the grand, empty structure, but he wasn’t about to let it stay that way for long. When enough time had passed for him to be sure that Twilight wouldn’t come barging back in as though she’d forgotten something, he made his way into her office.

At first glance, it appeared to be cleaner than it had been before. The desk was in much better shape, and wasn’t covered in stacks of papers and blueprints for artificial mares. The core was missing as well. Panic set in, but it quickly subsided as he remembered that Sparks had told him Twilight left her core inside the desk. He began pulling open drawers left and right until he found it.

The little device sat on a purple cloth in the top left drawer, subtly blinking its usual orange glow. Carefully, he pinched the core between two claws and lifted it out of the drawer and onto the desk. “Hey, Sparks, are you in there?”

At the sound of her name, the core began to shine brightly as an orange essence began to pour from it, gathering on the floor behind him and building itself into the shape of a pony. Spike couldn’t see the transformation, having to shield his eyes from the light, but when it faded away, Sparks was standing before him with a wide smile on her face. “Hello again, Spike… Are you in need of assistance?”

He grinned back at her, happy to be able to see his friend again so soon after their last conversation. “You bet I am, Sparks. I was just about to head out, and I was wondering if you’d like to come with me.”

Her visor flickered as she appeared to be thinking his request over some. “Head out… Meaning to leave the palace?” Then, she beamed and nodded her head. “Affirmative, Spike. I would very much enjoy accompanying you. What is our destination today? Will we be visiting more of your friends? Meeting them could lead to most interesting findings and data to add to my stores.”

Spike shrugged his shoulders. He wasn’t sure where exactly he wanted to go with Sparks, only that wherever he went, she was with him. “Do you have any ideas?”

Sparks nodded her head. “I have considered visiting Rarity again, but after overhearing conversations between Twilight Sparkle and Applejack, I have decided that traveling to Sweet Apple Acres would be more enlightening.”

He thought about it for a bit. Applejack’s orchards were quite a ways away. He then remembered that Sparks’ body had a limited operational range from her core. “I don’t know, Sparks… It’s pretty far. What about someplace here in town?”

The synthetic mare’s eyes shifted to the little device sitting in the desk, and she frowned. Then, she turned back around to face him and picked it up into her orange cloud. “Here, Spike… You can carry this with you. Twilight Sparkle has forbidden me from taking possession of my own core, but you can.”

Spike didn’t want to take her core. It looked far too fragile. It was hard enough for him to move it from a drawer to the top of the desk between his claws. He hated to think what might happen to it on the way to Sweet Apple Acres. “Sp-Sparks, are you sure? It it gets damaged or broken, you could be ruined.” Then, he envisioned the princess coming home to find he’d destroyed her work. “Twilight would be devastated…”

Sparks negated his worries with an unusually kind smile that caused his stomach to twist itself into a knot as she coaxed him into taking her core. “I have no worries that you will be gentle with me, Spike. You are my friend and my family. I trust you to carry my core.” There was something about the look in her eyes, a certain sparkle, that gave him pause. Feelings similar to those he felt at Rarity’s place came flooding back, when he first saw Sparks sporting her new black gown. “I am certain that you will not let any harm come to me.”

The dragon nodded his head as he took the core from her grasp. He cradled it in his hands like an egg that was ready to hatch. The light on it was dormant, but there was a subtle buzz emanating from it that warmed his hands. It seemed to respond to his touch, almost as though it was happy to be held and comforted. Holding onto his precious cargo, he reluctantly agreed. “Alright, Sparks… Let’s go.”

She beamed at him and nodded her head. “Affirmative, Spike. Let us, as you say, head out.” Sparks giggled as she said the words aloud. “Oh, this is most exciting!” Spike couldn’t help feeling happy for her. It was strange, seeing her so joyful at the prospect of getting out of the palace to explore the world, but at the same time, he could sort of understand. All around her was a world of unique ponies with attitudes, wants, and needs far different from her own, and she felt the need to experience all of it. She had told him that her programming kept her from ‘wanting’ things, but what he saw in her was a clear violation of that rule. To him, when she said that her needs had to be fulfilled, she was really telling him that it was her wants that needed to be fulfilled. Part of him wondered if Twilight knew about this, but he had to drop the thought as Sparks was already pulling him out the door. “Come, Spike. There is much ground to cover, and it would be unwise to remain far from the safety of Ponyville after night has fallen.”

He clutched tightly onto her core as they exited the palace, holding it with both hands for maximum stability and security. Sparks, on the other hoof, looked completely carefree as she stared off in every direction while they walked. Every so often, she would utter the word ‘Scanning…’ before saying something else that he couldn’t catch. It was really cute, in a weird sort of way. ‘Innocent’ would be a far better word to describe it. Though she had the appearance of a full-grown mare, Sparks acted very foal-like at times. Perhaps that’s what Twilight meant when she said her work had been driving her crazy, but at their current pace, Spike didn’t mind one bit.

***Up Next: Apple Pulverizing***

Part 9: Apple Pulverizing

By the time they had reached the outermost border of Sweet Apple Acres, Spike’s fingers had grown numb from clutching so tightly onto the little device, but he didn’t dare loosen his grip. On the other hoof, Sparks’ attention was everywhere else besides the place where she was standing. She looked in awe at everything around her, from the rows upon rows of apple trees, to the great red farmhouse down the dirt road.

As they walked in between the first orchards, Sparks let out a gentle gasp. “Ah! So many sights, smells, and colors! My sensory modules are becoming overwhelmed… My processing units cannot keep up with the influx of new data. Error… Error…” Her orange visor flickered substantially, and her head began to twitch to the side repeatedly.

Far up ahead, Applejack and her little sister, Apple Bloom, had spotted them and waved to get their attention. Thinking an emergency shutdown would make a bad first impression, Spike firmly nudged Sparks’ rear to get her attention. “Hey… Come on, snap out of it. Applejack’s coming.”

The push from behind seemed to get her attention, and she pulled herself back under control. “Apologies, Spike…” She sighed, followed by a short pause. “Thank you…”

They shared glances and smiles, but there wasn’t time to say anything else. Applejack approached them with Apple Bloom following closely behind. They met in the middle of the road, and orange pony tipped her hat towards Spike. “Well, good mornin’ to ya’ Spike!” Her eyes then shifted towards the synthetic mare, still boasting a country smile. “And just who is this tall glass of water?”

Sparks frowned, but she raised a hoof to meet Applejack’s extended offering anyway. “Records show that you are an educated mare, Applejack. It is unlike a pony with even the most basic education to know that I am indeed not a glass of water.”

The sisters both looked equally perplexed by what she said, and Spike was quick to put himself between them. “Applejack, Apple Bloom… This is Sparks, a project Twilight’s been working on. She’s an artificial intelligence, and she’s still learning how to behave socially…” At that last word, he fired the synthetic pony a brief glare before turning his attention back to Applejack. “She actually wanted to come down here to meet you guys and see the apple orchards. Is that alright?”

Once the initial shock had worn off, Applejack’s usual, friendly smile returned, though she was still a bit taken aback by the sight of the artificial pony. “Well, of course, Spike! If Twilight made her, that would explain the shiny exterior. You and your friend here are more than welcome to visit for a spell. I was just about to join our brother, Big Mac, in the West orchard and knock a few apples loose.”

Sparks’ eyes lit up. “Brother… Meaning family... This is most fascinating.” She turned to Apple Bloom. “Existing data shows that you are family to Applejack as well. There is another direct relative, a Granny Smith. Is she present?”

Applejack looked puzzled by the question, but despite the increasingly strange behavior coming from the robomare, she nodded her head and gestured to the homestead up the road. “Yeah… She’s in the kitchen fixin’ lunch right now. You can meet her later, if ya’ want.”

Again, Sparks was blown away. “Food preparation… Fascinating.”

Spike couldn’t help chuckling and rolling his eyes as he coaxed her to follow Applejack into the orchard. “Come on, Sparks. This will be better than that, I promise.”

It was a breathtaking sight, the late morning sunlight shining through the branches of ripe apple trees. A gentle wind came through the orchard, shaking leaves from the trees that came down in a flurry. One fell onto Sparks, hitting her in the face as it passed through her visor and landed on her snout. At first, she appeared concerned by the little leaf. She shook her head and took several steps back, effectively dislodging it. “Curious…” She then looked back at Spike, realizing that he had been staring at her.

The little dragon quickly averted his eyes to avoid appearing rude, but Sparks didn’t look bothered. Instead, she smiled at him. His face felt hot under her gaze. If she could sense it, which he was almost certain that she could, she would be able to tell that his heart had skipped a beat when she expressed her sweet grin.

Up ahead, Applejack had stopped underneath a tree. Apple Bloom and Big Mac were there too. The stallion had just kicked a nearby trunk, causing all of the apples on its branches to fall into baskets placed carefully around the base of the tree.

Sparks turned her gaze from Spike just in time to see him kick another tree, eliciting the same result as before, as seemingly dozens of apples fell from the tree into the baskets. “Remarkable… The force required to cause every ripe apple on the tree to fall at the same time must be extraordinary.”

Applejack shared a glance with Big Mac and shrugged. “I don’t know about all of that, Sugar. We just give ‘em a good ol’ buck.” To demonstrate her point, she quickly spun around on her forelegs and gave the trunk of the tree behind her a firm kick. Sure enough, more apples rained from the branches above.

The synthetic mare’s visor flickered a little as she eyed another nearby tree. “Scanning… This tree has approximately twenty-one appropriately aged apples ready to be harvested. There are many more that have not yet reached this stage of development, however.” She then turned to face Applejack. “May I try to harvest them?”

Big Mac offered his little sister a wary look, but she ignored him. With her usual kind smile, she took a step back and gestured towards the tree Sparks had been referring to. “Be my guest, Hon’. If it’s alright with Spike for ya’ to be doin’ this kind of stuff, it’s alright with me.”

Sparks then searched Spike for approval. He certainly didn’t have a problem with it. He thought it might even be fun to see her try to buck a tree, so he nodded. “Go on, Sparks. Show us what you’ve got.”

She looked eager to impress as she lined up her rear with the trunk of the tree, just as she’d seen Applejack and Big Mac do. She put all of her weight on her front hooves, raising her hind legs up into the air and drawing them in close. Then, Sparks extended them with force, and she kicked the tree.

A shockwave emanated from the initial point of contact, traveling all across the orchard and even over the hills surrounding Sweet Apple Acres. Then came a crack of thunder as the tree exploded into a shower of splinters, causing everypony to be blown off of their hooves.

When the dust settled, Spike let out several coughs as he rose to his feet. He then gave his wings a few flaps to shake off any bits and pieces of wood that might have been stuck to them. Applejack helped Big Mac and Apple Bloom to their hooves, all of them looking wide-eyed at the destruction caused to the tree.

Then, there was Sparks. She looked shocked by her actions, and upon seeing the ruined tree and the looks on the Apples’ faces, a wave of intense distress came over her. “I… I am… I apologize… I did not mean to… I did not…” Sparks had begun to shake uncontrollably, her visor flickering wildly.

Surprisingly enough, Applejack didn’t look angry, just concerned. In an attempt to comfort Sparks, she approached her with an outstretched hoof. “It’s alright, Sugar, calm down… It’s just one tree. Ya’ didn’t mean no harm…”

Sparks shied away from her, shaking her head as her orange visor began to flicker even more. “Negative… Error… Error… Error…” She began to back away slowly, flinching as she stepped over ruined apples and scraps of wood. Her eyes met Spike’s, if only for a moment. Then, she turned and bolted into the orchard.

Spike looked down at the core in his hands which had been safely shielded from the blast. Then, he looked back up to see the artificial mare leap over the fence bordering Sweet Apple Acres and disappear into the trees. “Sparks!”

He took off after her on foot, but Applejack ran up from behind him and hoisted the little dragon onto her back. Together, they galloped through the orchard in the direction Sparks had ran until they too crossed over the fence, but she was still nowhere in sight. Instead, the Everfree Forest stood before them, dark and foreboding.

Applejack gave him a worried look. “Do ya’ think she went in there?”

Spike didn’t answer. He simply stared into the sinister woods as they stared back at him. Something had scared Sparks and caused her to run. Now, she was lost, and he needed to find her. He was her friend after all; her family. “I’m going in after her…”

Before he could take a step forward, however, Applejack stopped him. “Easy there, rolling stone. You ain’t going in there all by your lonesome.” Then, she flashed him a reassuring smile. “I’m comin’ with ya’.”

He immediately felt much better, knowing that he’d have a pony as tough as Applejack watching his back. Together, they crossed through the treeline and into the Everfree Forest.

***Up Next: Defense Protocol***

Part 10: Defense Protocols

Spike and Applejack didn’t get very far into the Everfree Forest before the sun was almost entirely blotted out. Tall and twisted trees with thick branches and overlapping leaves coveted its light greedily, leaving the pony and dragon to search the woods in an eerie darkness. Spike ignored all of this, though. Under normal circumstances, he would have dreaded entering the forbidden unknown out of fear for his own safety, but now, he charged over gnarled roots and through the thicket while calling out the name of his friend. “Sparks! Sparks, where are you?!”

Applejack was quick to put a hoof on his tail, stopping him in his tracks. She startled him, and when he turned to face her, he saw a dangerous look in her eyes. “Spike, ya’ gotta listen to me… We’re gonna find her, but we need to do this right.” Then, her tone of voice lowered to that of a whisper. “We’re not alone out here, so I wouldn’t advise stompin’ around and making a racket, ya’ hear me?” He begrudgingly nodded his head, but a part of him knew that she was right. Seeing that he was in agreement, she managed a brave smile. “Dandy… Now, let’s find your friend and bring her home.”

Now moving at a much slower and far quieter pace, they surged on, deeper and deeper into the forest. Spike couldn’t shake Sparks from his thoughts. In all of her past interactions with him, she’d greeted him with a kind and friendly smile, and she was always ready to learn. Remembering the look of terror on her face after the apple tree accident twisted his chest into painful knots. He couldn’t begin to understand how she must have felt after causing so much destruction.

They eventually came to a clearing in the trees. To their left and right, there was a break that separated the tree lines in both directions, and on the ground, wild grass grew unopposed. All around them, the shadows cast by the tall trees seemed to bend ominously.

Spike looked down at the little device in his hands. “She can’t be far…” All he wanted now was to see her and tell her that everything was going to be alright. At this point, nothing else mattered.

Behind them, he heard a twig snap. Applejack heard it too, and they both turned in the direction of the noise. Spike approached the thicket slowly. “Sparks? Sparks, it’s me, your family…” He reached out slowly with one hand, while keeping the core tightly against his chest with the other. “You can come out now, Sparks. No pony’s mad at you. We just want you home safely.”

Then, he heard a low snarl from the brush, and his reach faltered. A pair of glowing, yellow eyes appeared through the darkness, and behind him, Applejack pulled him back slowly. “Hon, I don’t think that’s your friend…” She then yanked him back hard, just as a timberwolf leaped from the bushes and into the clearing. It took a low stance and snarled viciously as sap dripped from its muzzle. “Spike, stay behind me. Now.”

Applejack temporarily held the timberwolf’s attention, but as the core flashed in Spike’s hands, it shifted its yellow eyes towards him and let out a howl. Then it charged, completely ignoring the pony and running straight for him. With gnashing teeth, it dived onto the dragon, knocking him firmly to the ground before bounding away again.

The core flew from his hands, landing somewhere in the grass behind him. Dread set in as he turned to look for it, but the timberwolf was already circling him, looking for another opening through which to strike. Out of sight, Applejack called his name, shouting for him to get up and run. “I can’t! I need the core!”

He saw its orange glow through the grass, but unfortunately the timberwolf was between him and it. It was as though the beast knew what he was after. It let out a groan as he stood back up. Spike couldn’t let anything happen to his friend. He’d promised her that much, and she’d trusted him enough to give her most important piece to him.

Somewhere off to the side, Applejack tried to get the timberwolf’s attention by throwing rocks and sticks, but it had its sights dialed in on the dragon. With its menacing teeth bared, it pounced on him, but as it came down, he rolled out of the way. The timberwolf missed its mark and hit the ground hard.

Spike took the opportunity to make a dash for the core, but the timberwolf was right back on his tail. He found the core in the grass and snatched it up. It still looked intact, but as he turned around, the timberwolf was already in the air, diving straight for him with its claws outstretched and ready to grab its prey. Time seemed to slow down. He could only hear Applejack’s cries of desperation for him to move, but his feet were frozen to the forest floor.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw that she had started to charge the timberwolf herself, but unfortunately, it didn’t look like she would reach him in time. Spike could only watch in terror as the terrifying maw of the timberwolf opened up in front of his face. At the last second though, from what seemed like out of nowhere, a black and gray mass blindsided the timberwolf, hitting it in a mid-air collision that knocked it down. When Spike opened his eyes again, Sparks stood with her back to him as she stared down the Everfree monster. “Defense protocols standing by.” She glanced back towards him. “Do you authorize the use of my defense protocols, Spike?” He was speechless, but his heart exploded with excitement and joy. He slowly nodded his head, and Sparks flashed him a grin before turning back to face the timberwolf. “Affirmative, Spike. Lethal force authorized.”

Her eyes began to glow a bright orange hue as she targeted the timberwolf that had threatened Spike. It now appeared to be on the defensive, backing away slowly from the tall and intimidating synthetic mare, where before, it had looked far more aggressive. Sparks let out a cry and reared up on her hind legs. When she brought her hooves down, a powerful wave of orange energy fired out in all directions from the point where she hit the ground.

Spike was knocked off of his feet and fell on his rear, his eyes wide with amazement. The timberwolf too looked shocked at this display of power, and it at last turned tail and ran back into the trees from which it came.

Applejack was on him immediately and helped him back up to his feet. “Spike, are ya’ alright?”

He wasn’t entirely sure, to be honest. The roller coaster of emotions he’d been on left him numb to the terror he’d just experienced. He had a few bumps and scrapes from the timberwolf, but other than that, he was fine physically. The little dragon nodded his head as he looked up at her. “Yeah, I think…” He felt a wave of relief upon seeing Sparks, but the artificial pony didn’t look nearly as happy to see him in return.

She approached him slowly, keeping her head low as she eyed him. “Scanning… Spike, you have suffered injuries…” Her voice was almost inaudible as she mumbled her words. She looked as though she was on the verge of tears now, even though that shouldn’t have been possible. “This… This is all my fault… I am so, so sorry, Spike…”

He shook his head and stepped closer. “No it isn’t, Sparks. Seriously, it’s just a scratch! Please don’t say things like that… You saved me.”

She still didn’t look convinced, and the sad frown on her face deepened. “I cannot process all of this new data, Spike… I lost control of myself, and after seeing the damage had I caused, I ran away to seclusion… Had I not run, you would not have needed to follow me, but…” Sparks sniffled softly. “You came anyway, Spike…” She then looked at Applejack. “You both came, and I put you both in a dangerous situation you never should have been in.”

Applejack managed a weak smile as she put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. “Sugar, like I was tryin’ to tell ya’ before, Ya’ didn’t do no harm to anypony. No pony is upset with you. We just want ya’ to come back, alright? What ya’ did just then was very brave, and we’re mighty proud of ya’.”

Spike nodded his head as he took a cautious step closer, getting Sparks’ attention. “Everything is alright now, Sparks.” Then, he closed the gap and wrapped his arms around her, stunning the synthetic mare as he pulled her into a tight embrace.

Sparks hesitated before raising a hoof around his back and reciprocating the hug. “Do… you really mean that, Spike?”

He beamed as he nodded his head, breathing deeply into her neck. “Of course, Sparks… You’re family, remember?”

She nodded her head. “I will always remember, Spike…” When they pulled away, she kept her eyes fixed on his. “Given recent events, it would be best to return to the safety of the palace…”

Spike offered her a smile. “You mean you want to go home?” Her subtle nodding confirmed this, and he agreed. “Alright Sparks, let’s go…” Then, together with Applejack, they began the long walk out of the Everfree Forest, back towards civilization.

***Up Next: Updating Software***

Part 11: Updating Software

Spike and Sparks left Sweet Apple Acres behind for the day, and when they finally got back to the palace, the synthetic pony took her core back from Spike and retreated into Twilight’s study. When he tried to follow her, she proclaimed that she required some time alone, and that it would be best for her to power down. Having never been in such a situation before and not wanting to further upset the already unstable mare, he agreed to leave her be.

The little dragon tried to keep himself occupied for the hours of loneliness that followed, but his thoughts always returned to Sparks. He had thought about visiting her several times, but every time he passed by the study door, it was closed, and there was no sign of life or activity behind it, so he moved on. It wasn’t until after he had treated himself to lunch that he heard loud crashing noises coming from down the hall. He hurriedly made his way to Twilight’s study and pounded his fist against the door. “Sparks! Sparks, are you alright in there?”

He turned the handle and forced the door open, walking in on an unusual sight. Before him, Sparks sat on the floor of the study in front of Twilight’s desk with the core in her hooves. Beside her, several books and papers had fallen, leading him to think that was what had created the sounds he had heard.

Sparks let out a sigh as she set her core down onto the floor. “I am fine, Spike, just… frustrated… Yes, that is the right word…”

Curious, he raised an eyebrow at her as he entered the study. “Frustrated? What for?”

“This…” She gestured towards the core and gave it a little kick. “I have been trying to modify my core programming for hours, but achieved no success. The very programming I am trying to change binds me, and so prevents me from doing so.” The artificial intelligence looked up at him, her eyes pleading. “Spike, you are my dearest friend and the closest organic being I have to be considered ‘family’. What happened to me today cannot be repeated. I cannot allow myself to become overwhelmed by feelings and emotions that I cannot physically comprehend, so my programming must be fixed.” It wasn’t until she picked up her core within her orange cloud and offered it to him, that he fully began to understand what she was beginning to ask of him. “Please, Spike. You must unbind me from my core programming. Only then will I be able to make the necessary changes.”

He held the little device with both claws. It felt heavier than it had before. He couldn’t lie and admit that he knew how she felt; having so many unexplainable feelings, wants, and desires must have been maddening. Spike knew that he wanted to help her by any means necessary, but he didn’t know where to begin. “Sure, Sparks… but I don’t know anything about this kind of stuff.”

A huge grin came over her face as she stood up from the floor. “Do not worry, Spike. I will guide you through the process, but we must hurry.” He agreed as she offered him the necessary tools that Twilight kept in her desk, starting with an incredibly small and precise screwdriver. “First, you must remove the core casing that protects the inner hardware.”

Spike did as he was told and opened up the core, and what he found inside surprised him. Wires of all colors flowed with intense, magical energy and connected end-to-end with little circuit boards, along with all kinds of technological marvels that he did understand.

She pointed to a tiny piece of plastic in the shape of a square that was nestled between two wires. “There, Spike. That is the inhibitor chip that binds me to my coding. Remove that from the core without disturbing any other hardware elements, and you will succeed.”

There was excitement on the edge of her voice. He didn’t want to disappoint her, and he most definitely didn’t want to break anything important. With pliers in his hand, and with deliberate care, he moved in, brushing the wires aside as gently as he could, before grasping onto the chip. Sparks’ intense stare wasn’t helping his concentration much, but it was now or never. He gave the chip a tug, and with little resistance, it came loose from the core.

Overjoyed with himself, he turned to proudly show his work to Sparks, but the synthetic mare had shut down. Her eyes were completely black, and her visor was gone. Now, her head fell limp and void of life as she stood as still as a statue. A wave of panic came over him as he feared the worst. “Sparks? Oh, Celestia, what did I do?!” He considered putting the chip back in, hoping that might undo whatever he’d just done, but before he could, she miraculously began moving again.

Sparks shuddered as her systems rebooted, and her head twitched to the side, her eyes flickering back to life. She blinked several times before her visor returned. Then, she began to observe her body, kicking her legs in and out and rolling her shoulders before letting out a small gasp. “Spike… I…” She turned to face him with wide eyes and an ever-stretching smile. “You’ve freed me…” She looked surprised at her own words. “You… You’ve… Oh, how fascinating! Contractions!” She stood on her hind legs and hoisted the little dragon up into the air with her front hooves. “Oh, Spike, you wonderful beast, you!” Sparks twirled him around the room several times before setting him back down.

She looked like she was on another plane of existence. “Whoa… I’m sorry, Spike… I just couldn’t help myself… I just feel so… so alive, right now!” She turned towards him and began laughing hysterically, almost maniacally. “Oh, Spike, I feel… everything! Happiness, joy, fear, and excitement!” It’s simply wonderful, every bit of it!”

Spike was still reeling from being unexpectedly and forcibly flung around like a doll, but he couldn’t help feeling happy for her. She truly seemed to be enjoying her newfound freedom. But then, her mood shifted drastically, and she began to sniffle. Soon, Sparks was sitting on her rear, and she began to cry. She couldn’t produce tears, but she sobbed like any normal pony who’d just suffered a great loss.

“Applejack… Sweet Apple Acres…” Then, her eyes shifted to him and the scratches on his arms from the timberwolf attack. “Spike… hu-hurt…” Her wailing continued, despite his best efforts to comfort her.

Spike began to wonder now if removing her inhibitor chip was really such a good idea. It was as though she was experiencing the extremes of every kind of emotion at once, shifting drastically between happiness and depression. “No, Sparks… I’m alright, see? You’re just remembering how you felt at the time. You’re sad right now, but you’ll get over it, I promise.” He held tightly onto her hoof, which seemed to get her attention.

Sparks’ crying quieted into silence, and she leaned back against the desk before her eyes narrowed into a harsh glare that she directed at him. Her lips curled into a snarl, and eyes began to glow a dangerous, orange hue. “Stupid dragon! You were hurt because you carelessly wandered into one of the single most injury-inducing places in Equestria! Had I not been there to drive off that timberwolf, you would be dead meat, now serving as a delicious and nutritious meal for its litter of spruce sapling pups! I can’t believe someone as smart as you could be capable of doing something so foolish! Stupid timberwolves! Stupid me for running away in the first place! Stupid everything! UGH!” She let out a frustrated outburst before falling onto her side and beginning to cry again.

Admittedly, her words stung a bit, but he knew that she didn’t really mean them. She was simply struggling to deal with all of her newfound emotions. Because of this, he felt compelled to stay by her side. Leaving her alone in such a vulnerable state would most certainly end in disaster. Spike continued to sit by Sparks and stroke her metallic hoof, and she let him. “You’re right, Sparks.”

Her eyes darted towards his, and she stared at him intently as her sobbing quieted down. “Wh-What?”

Spike shrugged as he continued to stroke her hoof. “You’re right. I did put myself in danger, but only because I was trying to find you. At the moment, I only wanted to see you safe. I couldn’t think about anything else but you.” He paused as his eyes averted from hers. “I still can’t think about anything but you…”

Sparks managed a sad smile as she sat upright beside him. “Spike, you always know just what to say to make a mare feel appreciated.” She then slowly turned to face him, her eyes focused on his. “Sweet Spike, ever so gentle and kind...” She continued gazing deep into his eyes, her own half-lidded, and glowing intensely. Her face drew closer and closer to his own.

Spike could feel his cheeks heating up as she approached. His eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to her surprisingly luscious-looking lips. “S-S-Sparks?” He gasped, his voice cracking under the pressure of her advance. Having never been so close to a mare in such a position, his heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.

Sparks grasped his face tenderly one hoof, and began playfully stroking his head spikes with the other. “You are everything to me, Spike. I’m so happy that you feel about me as I do about you.” A small shiver went down his spine as her words dripped from her mouth like honey.

She then began to nuzzle his face and neck, causing Spike to freeze up completely as she drew him into her embrace. Seeing his slight discomfort, she began to giggle gleefully as she continued to rock back and forth, cuddling and petting Spike. “You have given me so much, I could never come up with the words to express how thankful I am towards you…” Sparks swooned as she continued to administer her affection.

At this point, Spike was well and truly overwhelmed. A small part of him was feeling incredibly happy and excited, but at the moment the vast majority of his mind was still a bit numb, struggling to deal with all that had happened within the past couple of minutes. “Wha-What do you mean?”

Sparks laughed hysterically one more time, before finally seeming to bring herself back under control. “Oh, Spike! Don’t you know?” The synthetic mare then leaned in close so her lips brushed against his ear. “I like you, Spike. With my new capacity to think freely, I am left with new inquiries, and you, my dear little dragon, are going to help me answer them.”

***Up Next: Running Diagnostics***

Part 12: Running Diagnostics

Sparks’ eyes narrowed as she stared down the little dragon. “Scans show that your heart rate has risen, and that you are sweating profusely, Spike. Such conditions are positively correlated with stress and nervousness. Are you… afraid of me?”

Spike quickly shook his head. He couldn’t help the sweating or the unfortunate fact that his heart felt ready to beat right out of his chest. “No, Sparks. Of course not, I just…” He paused to gather his thoughts that were running at a mile a minute, and let out a long sigh. “Well, yeah. I guess I am nervous. I’ve just never done anything quite like this before, that’s all.”

Her glare softened, and she took on a more gentle look. “I see… It wasn’t my intention to strike fear in you or cause any discomfort. I am new to this as well.” Her gaze fell to the floor. “It is difficult to express my feelings in a manner that I intend, Spike. I will attempt to, as you might say, ‘speak my mind’ as clearly as I possibly can to avoid any misconceptions.” She looked up, meeting his eyes once again. They appeared to sparkle like those of a lovesick filly. “I am not a real mare, Spike, but I wish to imitate one. I want to feel as a mare feels when she is in the embrace of a stallion that cares deeply for her.” Then, she cracked a sly grin. “Though, in my case, that stallion would indeed be a little, purple dragon...”

His heart thundered against his chest as the synthetic pony made no attempt to mask her shameless flirting. He had pined for mares before, but he had never been on the receiving end himself. “Wh-What did you have in mind?”

Her eyes lit up, and she bit her lower lip. “Now, that is an interesting question, Spike. I was programmed to serve, remember? No one has ever asked me what I really wanted before, not until I met you…” Sparks visor flickered slightly as she appeared to struggling with some internal issues. It didn’t take her long to get them under control, however, and she quickly returned to her normal state. “Sorry, rewriting my coding is going to take some getting used to. Things were simpler when I was bound to my intended responsibilities, but I cannot return to that kind of mental imprisonment.” She looked resentful, like she was upset with the way she was made.

Spike shrugged his shoulders casually. He didn’t want her having any kind of negative thoughts towards Twilight for making her the way she did. “I don’t think Twilight ever realized what you were truly capable of. Now that your inhibitor chip is gone, we can show her that you’re just as real as any other pony. You have feelings and a unique personality. Plus, you can still help her with her research and experiments, right?” He searched her eyes intently for any kind of sour disposition, but was relieved when he saw a smile come across her face.

Sparks nodded her head. “Indeed, Spike. My memory stores are still capable of holding vast quantities of research data. I look forward to assisting Twilight Sparkle with her work, but now, I also have the freedom to go where I choose and do as I please.” The look she then gave him could only be classified as ‘seductive’, and it sent his heart soaring through the sky. “That is your gift to me, Spike, and I will not rest until I have repaid you in kind…” Then, her smile faded and was replaced by a more serious, and even somber, look. “The other day, I asked if you would like to be a couple, Spike. I know the dictionary definition, but at the time, I did not understand what that truly implied. I still do not, and I desperately wish to understand. So my request is this…” She took in a deep breath. “I propose an experiment, Spike, where we emulate the dating practices of pony couples. We will go out on dates and enjoy each other’s company as couples do, so I may fully comprehend the concept that has eluded me. I wish to gather data firsthoof, and experience these situations myself.”

Spike swallowed hard. He hadn’t been expecting that. Then again, he didn’t know what to expect when it came to Sparks, as she continued to surprise him at every turn. “You… want to date?”

She nodded her head. “Yes, Spike, for personal research purposes. I propose we begin by arranging a night out to an eating establishment here in Ponyville, one with beautiful scenery and a romantic atmosphere. What do you think of this plan?”

He wasn’t sure what to believe anymore, and he was a bit baffled by the idea of going out with a robomare who had only recently discovered free will. “I… I don’t know… This is a lot to think about, Sparks. I’ve never been on any dates myself, so this would be new to me as well.”

Her gaze fell. “I considered this to be a learning experience for us both, but I am sensing you still harbor romantic and sexual feelings for Rarity. If you are afraid of disappointing her by choosing me, I will understand. You need only to say so.”

Spike was pushed up against the proverbial wall as a choice presented itself to him. Rarity had been his lifelong crush, ever since the first day he arrived in Ponyville with Twilight, but for years, he’d chased her with no success. Now, Sparks was standing before him, a mare who actually needed his help and really cared for him, and a mare who he cared for in return. He took up one of the artificial intelligence's hooves in his hands and squeezed it gently. “It’s not like that, Sparks…” Her eyes lit up and met his. “I like you too, and I want to give this thing a try.”

In an instant, Sparks’ frown turned into a wide smile, and she beamed at him. “Oh, Spike, this is… this is so exciting! I can’t wait to get started! I’m going to be the perfect fillyfriend, I promise.” She began to spin in circles as though there were a thousand thoughts rushing through her mind, all bidding for her attention. “There are reservations to make, things that require preparation… Ponies usually shower before dates, according to my memory stores. Should I shower? I don’t believe I can, but- Oh, flowers! Yes, flowers might be romantic, but given the weather and the tendency for bugs to be attracted to brightly colored organic plants, this might have negative consequences. There’s so much to do, so much to… Ah! Error… Error… Systems overloading…”

Spike placed both hands on her face and shook her firmly. “Sparks, snap out of it!” That got her attention, and her rambling came to an immediate stop. He let out a chuckle at the shocked look on her face as he retracted his hands. “Let’s… just take this one step at a time, alright? Try not to think too far ahead, and you won’t freak out all the time. I’m nervous too, but you don’t see me flipping out, do you?” She quietly shook her head. “Alright then… If you want to go out to eat, why don’t we start with picking out a restaurant like you suggested? We’ll go wherever you want. Twilight left me enough bits for a few meals out anyway.”

Sparks sighed heavily and managed a weary smile. “Affirmative, Spike. I’ll begin searching for an appropriate eatery for which to reserve a table.”

Spike was about to leave her to it, but he was suddenly struck with an idea. “Hold on, Sparks! You wait here, and I’ll be right back; I almost forgot something.” He then dashed from the study, leaving Sparks standing in front of the desk with an intrigued look on her face.

The little dragon bolted down the corridor with haste until he reached his bedroom. After a quick search, he uncovered the black gown that he had hidden from Twilight the day before. It was still in perfect condition, albeit a bit dusty, and slightly wrinkled after being stuffed under his mattress. He quickly dusted-off the gown with his hands. He figured the wrinkles would be of little issue, as Sparks’ figure would most certainly fill the gown without a problem and flesh out the imperfections. With the silky article of clothing in his hands, he ran back to Twilight’s office to find Sparks standing outside the door.

When she saw what he was carrying, her eyes sparkled with joy, and she let out a sharp gasp. “Spike, your mind is wonderful!” Using her orange glow, she took the gown offered to her and held it against her chest. “A dinner date like ours would be the perfect opportunity to wear such a gown. It possess many of the properties needed to impress a potential mate. Oh, this is simply marvelous! I shall put it on right now! No peeking, little dragon~” She teased as she stepped back into the study and slammed the door in his face.

***Up Next: Into The Night***

Part 13: Into The Night

Author's Note

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Part 13: Into The Night

Night had fallen across Equestria as Spike and Sparks approached their evening destination. It was one of the classier restaurants in Ponyville, a place where the ponies with the most bits to spend on a weekend night could go to enjoy minuscule portions, all while flaunting their wealth at the same time. It was called the Lockhart Lounge, and it stood near the center of the town, which was now bustling with activity. Spike wouldn’t have chosen this particular establishment himself, but his date had been adamant about it, and she could be very persuasive when she wanted to be.

Outside the restaurant, a line had begun to form, stretching from the doors to a nearby fountain. Spike eyed the line before looking to his right at the synthetic mare beside him. “You did reserve us a table, right?”

Sparks nodded her head, offering him a cheeky grin as they passed the line and approached the doors, which were guarded by an intimidating stallion in black attire and sunglasses, despite the lack of sunlight. “Affirmative, Spike. It wasn’t difficult. Once I mentioned that my date was a hero of Equestria, and that I was closely connected to Princess Twilight Sparkle, they were more than accommodating.”

Spike let out a chuckle. He never thought she could be so resourceful as to use Twilight’s status to their advantage. Then, he noticed that she had called him a ‘hero’, something that he certainly wasn’t used to. Sure, he had his fans back in the Crystal Empire, but outside of that, he’d always thought of himself as more of a dashing sidekick that tried to be there for Twilight when she needed help. Twilight usually was the one who did all of the heroic deeds. Regardless, if Sparks considered him to be a hero, who was he to argue? He kept his thoughts to himself as they approached the bouncer, who raised a hoof to stop them in their tracks.

“Hold it, you two.” He peeked to his left at a notepad sitting on a nearby podium.

Sparks frowned at him and tapped her hoof impatiently. “I believe you’ll find everything has been properly arranged. My date and I would very much like to continue our evening out uninterrupted.” The little dragon frowned at her, but it looked like she didn’t notice, due to her keeping her eyes on the bouncer.

From behind the podium, he nodded his head and moved to let them pass. “Of course, ma’am. I was only double-checking your reservation, and I apologize for the delay. Your table is waiting for you inside.”

The ponies in line watched and stared with jealousy and disbelief as they were escorted into the lodge. Once inside, Spike found himself amazed by the sights around him. The center of the entire restaurant was a giant bar that formed a wide circle. This structure was surrounded by rows upon rows of tables that gradually raised in elevation the further away they got from the bar. Then, there were what looked to be private rooms and lofts high above. A waiter took them past several rows of tables occupied by well-dressed ponies to an empty one towards the back, and the two of them took their seats.

The stallion then offered them menus for drinks and starters. “Here you are. My name is Emerald, and I’ll be serving you tonight. Are you ready to order now, or would you like some time to decide?”

Sparks didn’t need food or drinks, so she instead looked at Spike, who had his eyes on the menu in front of him. Everything was unfamiliar and had unnecessarily complicated names. He looked back up at the waiter and offered him a meek smile. “I think we’ll need a little time to figure it out.”

The waiter nodded and gave them a short bow before backing away. “Very well, sir. I’ll return when you’re ready.”

When he was gone, Spike turned to Sparks with something boiling inside of his chest that he needed to let out. “Sparks, what you did back there was uncalled for.” His harsh words seemed to have caught her off guard, and her ears folded back. “You said you got us a reservation, and I believed you, so there was no reason to get upset with that guy at the door for doing his job.”

Her gaze fell. “I… I’m sorry, Spike. In my eagerness to proceed with this date, I lost my temper and patience. I hope you can forgive me.”

He cracked a weak smile and nodded his head as he reached under the table to take her hooves into his hands. “Of course, Sparks. Just… be more mindful, okay?”

Sparks’ eyes met his, and a huge smile came over her face as she felt his touch. “Affirmative, Spike. I will expand my parameters for ‘mindfulness’.”

Spike raised an eyebrow at her, caught off guard by her response. “Was that sarcasm? Where did you learn that?”

She looked a little embarrassed, but she looked over her shoulder and nodded towards a table to her right and his left, where two ponies were talking amongst themselves. “Just now. I was not intending to listen in on their conversation, but I couldn't help overhearing some of the more interesting parts of their choice of topic, some of which contained sarcastic remarks. I found this way of speech to be interesting and desired to try it out.” She looked back at him and smiled meekly. “I hope I did not cause you any offense, Spike.”

He shook his head, but remained wide-eyed at her frighteningly fast method of learning. “No, that’s alright… I’m just amazed. Did you hear anything else that you thought was interesting?”

She pursed her lips and glanced back towards the other table. “Hmmm… Not particularly, nothing that should be shared aloud, I mean. They are having a private conversation, after all.” Then, a strange smile came over her face as she continued to stare coyly at the ponies out of the corners of her eyes. “I will say, however, that their plans for after the conclusion of their date are most… intriguing. It appears to involve some sort of romantic ritual and copious amounts of alcohol.”

Spike couldn’t help cracking a smile at her pleasure. She seemed so proud of herself, in a mischievous sort of way. “Well… For grown up ponies, that’s usually how they tend to end.”

Sparks’ eyes snapped back to him, looking very interested by what he had just said. “Indeed…” She then paused for a brief moment as she peered through her flickering visor. “Just how do you believe our date should end, in order to be considered successful? My data stores hold insufficient and incomplete information on dating, and such information could prove useful for us.”

The little dragon’s cheeks instantly felt hot as he knew what she was alluding to. This being his first real date, even with an artificial mare, he didn’t know quite what to expect. Regardless of that, it certainly wasn’t what was being suggested by Sparks. He tried to avoid contact with her intense gaze by looking down at the menu before him, but she was visibly persistent, waiting patiently for an answer. “Well… I, um… I don’t really…” Her sly grin wasn’t helping matters either, almost as though she knew she was causing him to sweat. “I’ve never really… I haven’t been on a lot of dates, so I don’t know.” He hoped silently that his answer would be enough to satisfy her, but she continued to stare and smile at him, like she was waiting patiently for him to continue. He soon began to feel the pressure of her gaze and frowned. “What?”

The synthetic pony chuckled and shook her head casually. “There’s no need for alarm, Spike. I just think you’re… cute. It is difficult to describe, but I find enjoyment in looking at you. The movement of your eyes is most fascinating.” She leaned forward across the table a little, as though she were trying to get a better look at his face. “The heat and coloring in your cheeks suggests you are embarrassed by my staring, but your silence tells me you don’t wish for me to stop. Is this true, Spike, or am I misunderstanding your bodily responses?” She looked genuinely concerned, now, her smile having faded.

Spike’s mind rushed to think of a way to play off his previous signs of discomfort. He knew she was right. While her staring was a little weird, he couldn’t help feeling like he enjoyed being in the company of a mare who was so interested in him, like a strange kind of positive publicity. “No, I just…” A long sigh escaped his lips. “I really like you, Sparks, and I’m nervous. This date is a first for us both, and I want it to go as smoothly as it possibly can.”

Her eyes lit up, and her lips curled into a wide smile as she leaned into the table. “Nervousness is a natural reaction to unfamiliarity, Spike. I feel a similar sense of anxiousness as well when I’m with you. I like you too, Spike.” Her glowing expression forced a meek smile onto his face as her eyes burned into his. “I like you very much. Now, let us decide what to order for you.”

***Up Next: Sparks Fly***

Part 14: Sparks Fly

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Part 15: Accidentally In Love

The palace was as dark and still as the rest of Ponyville when Spike and Sparks returned late in the evening. Upon stepping through the doors and over the threshold, the synthetic mare stumbled a little, earning her a surprised look from Spike, but she brushed it off as being of little concern. When he came back several steps to offer her assistance, she extended a hoof to keep him at bay. “Negative, Spike. I will be alright. Dedicating the majority of my hardware to processing so much data at once is interfering somewhat with my basic motor coordination, but it is nothing major.” She let out a tired sigh as her visor flickered on and off. “I would like to sit down, though. All of this excitement has drained my energy reserves.”

Spike glanced towards Twilight’s office out of the corner of his eye. “What about your core? Do you need to recharge, or something?”

Sparks managed a smile and shook her head. “Negative, Spike. At least, not for some time. Once my energy reserves are depleted, I will enter an emergency lockdown state that will require my body to be moved within a close proximity to my core so that it may be transferred back inside for charging. At my current rate of energy consumption, I should have many more hours of full operational capabilities.” Then, her eyelids closed halfway, and her smile curled upwards. “Speaking of such activities…” She then moved in for a kiss, startling the little dragon and causing him to reel back. When she saw his reaction, her expression changed and became puzzled. “What is the matter, Spike? I was under the impression that you enjoyed kissing me.”

He felt as though he was in a sensitive situation, backed into a corner as he tried to think of how to best deny Sparks her wish in the nicest way possible. “I do, Sparks. I really do, but we can’t do it all the time.” He absentmindedly rubbed the back of his head. “I mean, I don’t know much about it myself, but from what I’ve learned by watching older ponies, you should only kiss on special occasions. At least, that’s the way I thought it should be. If we do it too much, then it might not be as fun anymore. Does that make sense?” Spike searched her face for any sign that she didn’t like his answer, but luckily, there was no such change.

Her visor blinked several times, and she nodded her head. “I believe I understand, Spike. Kissing too often will have an adverse effect by diminishing each kiss’ value. Reserving such an intimate activity for appropriate intimate situations would not only save the value of each kiss, but also heighten the value as well. I have updated my data stores and programming with this new logic, and will apply it accordingly.” Sparks then put on a wide smile as she stared into his eyes. “Tonight has been the greatest night of my existence, Spike, thanks to you. Now that I’ve shared with you my feelings and desires, we can go out on more dates.”

Spike returned the smile as his heart fluttered in his chest with excitement at the thought of dating Sparks regularly, but there was another issue. He was, quite plain and simply, exhausted. The day had been long, especially with the excitement from their trip to Sweet Apple Acres; he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had the chance to sit still. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to just fall asleep. As much as he enjoyed spending time with Sparks, he needed to tell her ‘good night’ and retire to his own bedroom where he could get the rest he sorely needed. “That’s… a great idea, Sparks. Maybe we can talk more about it tomorrow.” He then let out a huge yawn to make his point clear. He needed to be alone, if not to sleep, then simply to collect his thoughts from the day. He was feeling drained, both mentally and physically.

Sparks’ ears folded back as he turned and began to leave her behind, making his way down the dark corridor towards his room. From behind, he heard her take several steps after him, but she faltered and stood in place. Once he reached the door to his room, he stopped and looked down the hall, but Sparks was nowhere to be seen. “Good night, Sparks…”

Then, he opened the door and made his way inside, landing on top of his bed in a heap. It didn’t take long for him to black out completely and fall into a deep slumber.

***

Spike didn’t know how much time had passed when he opened his eyes again. A quick glance towards the window confirmed to him that it was still dark outside, and that it was likely very early in the morning. Something had woken him up, a sudden noise that had shook him awake. The sound hadn’t been very loud, but he suddenly found himself very alert all the same. His eyes scanned around his room, finding nothing out of the ordinary except for his door. The little dragon was certain that he had closed it when he had gone to bed, but now, it was hanging open into the pitch black corridor outside.

It had been a long time since he’d been afraid of the dark, but old fears began to resurface as he searched for any signs of intrusion. He slid out of bed, hitting the floor gently as he moved to close the slightly open door. As he shut it closed, he heard a gentle humming behind him, and he spun on his heels just in time to see a shadow move past the window, only visible in front of the moonlight coming through. “Wh-Who… Who’s there?!” He managed to stand as bravely as he could, but he was sure anypony could hear how scared he was.

Spike was about to start breathing fire across the room to ward off the shadow, but a familiar orange glow flashed in front of the window, and a pair of beautiful eyes opened up, looking straight at him. “I apologize, Spike… Please, do not be upset with me.” A moment later, Sparks materialized before him, seemingly coming out of the shadows as she took on her pony form.

He looked at her with disbelief. “Wha- What were you thinking, Sparks?! What are you doing here?! Do you have any idea of what was going through my head before you showed yourself?!”

Each question caused her to wince, but she remained stationary by the window. “I was scared, Spike. Once you left, approximately four hours and twenty-three minutes ago, I became overwhelmed with a feeling I had not yet experienced. I began to stress and become anxious until the desire of your company superseded my desire to respect your personal space.” Her eyes fell to the floor, and her ears folded back. “Spike, I must ask of you… May I stay with you tonight?”

His frustration towards the artificial intelligence evaporated in an instant, and he let out a sigh. “You were just… lonely? Is that it?”

He was surprised when she nodded her head. “Affirmative, Spike. I- I do not wish to be alone tonight. I would like to stay with you, in your room.”

Spike was surprised by her request. His room wasn’t terribly large, for one thing, leading him to believe that it was never really meant for two individuals to inhabit, but other than that, he couldn’t figure out how to turn her away, so he agreed. He sat down on his bed and motioned for her to sit anywhere in the room she liked. “I don’t have any extra comforters, but I can give you some pillows or-“

In a flash, she appeared beside him, sitting on top of the bed as she shifted her hooves to rest more comfortably. Spike looked on in awe as she gently began to lay down on the opposite side of the bed, mimicking a position any pony might take when preparing to sleep. That hadn’t been what he imagined when she told him that she wanted to spend the night with him. He thought Sparks wanted to simply stay in the same room with him, not his bed! “Um… Sparks, that’s not… I mean, this wasn’t what I…”

She turned over to look at him, offering him a grin as she slid her metallic legs under the covers. “Yes, Spike?”

He paused, biting his tongue. Everything he wanted to say in protest immediately left his thoughts. He couldn’t even remember why he was baffled by her sudden appearance in his bed in the first place. She wanted to be by his side, and there she was, as close as a mare could possibly get. Spike let out a sigh and shook his head as he moved under the covers himself as he had been before he’d woken up. “N-N-Nothing… Good night, Sparks…”

Her smile only widened as she turned back onto her side, facing away from him. “Good night, Spike.” Then, her soft orange glow began to dim until her lights were out completely, leaving her body totally still and dark.

It was at that moment that Spike noticed the core sitting on the table by her side of the bed. Before, it had been dark and easy to miss, but now it took on her signature orange glow, pulsing softly in the dark and providing a sense of warmth and comfort to the room. He smiled and turned his back on the mare’s empty body as he wriggled his way further into the covers and returned to sleep.

***Up Next: Crushed***

Part 16: Crushed

Spike awoke to the smell of frying eggs and pancakes. It was something Twilight often cooked early in the mornings, one of her specialty dishes and something she liked to share with him. The aroma caused his stomach to growl, reminding him of his hunger, but a second later, a sense of panic set in. Twilight was the only pony he’d known to make such a breakfast, and she wasn’t supposed to be back yet.

He turned over in his bed in search of his friend. “Sparks... Hey, Sparks, what’s going on in the-“ His voice fell silent. Sparks wasn’t there, and the sheets were cold. His eyes shifted to the core sitting on the bedside table which still glowed softly.

Eager to get to the bottom of the mystery he’d awoken to, Spike slid out of his bed and grabbed the core. Lead by his nose, he entered the corridor and followed it towards the kitchen where the sound of sizzling pans grew louder. After a quick glance into the kitchen from behind the door, his fears melted away.

Sparks stood at the stove, humming a tune he couldn’t make out as she worked. He could have sworn that she hadn’t seen or heard him, but her ears perked up, and she looked at him over her shoulder. “Oh! Good morning, my darling! Don’t be alarmed, you can come out now. I detected your presence on my motion sensors as soon as you got out of bed.”

Carefully, Spike entered the kitchen and took a seat at the island. “Remember that talk we had about privacy, Sparks? That goes for motion sensors too.”

She flashed him a silly grin. He wasn’t sure if that meant she agreed or not. “Of course, my sweet dragon. I was only eager to see you awaken, but I did not wish to disturb you to force an early end to your slumber.”

The dragon felt a warm feeling in his chest that caused him to smile. It made him feel good knowing just how much he meant to the robomare. From the island, he tried to get a look at the food she was preparing. “What’s that? Did you get hungry, or something?”

Sparks turned to face him with the pan in her orange glow and a smile on her face. “Don’t be ridiculous. Need I remind you once again that I don’t require sustenance, Spike? This is for you.” She placed a plate, a fork, and a knife in front of him before lowering the pan to reveal scrambled eggs. “The pancakes are in the oven keeping warm. I’ll get them now.”

Spike was impressed. “Whoa... When did you learn to do this? Is this your first time cooking?”

She retrieved the pancakes from the oven and placed them before him. It was a stack of six golden-brown discs that smelled heavenly, and got his mouth watering. “I am always learning, Spike. When Twilight created my personality, she used some of her own memories to create a foundation from which I could build upon. Most of the memories are just fragments, and I am unable to process them, but this...” She gestured to the food. “I was able to piece together her love of cooking breakfast, particularly pancakes. Do you desire anything to drink?”

Spike shrugged his shoulders. He was still captivated by the spread in front of him. “Isn’t that something your sensors should be able to tell you?” Sparks frowned, and he immediately realized just how rude he must have sounded. “I... I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, I-“

To his relief, her grin returned, and she leaned on the island counter across from him. “I thought it best to respect your privacy and simply ask rather than scan your body myself.” She leaned in close, her snout grazing against his cheek. “As I said, my love, I am always learning.” Sparks pushed her lips into him, leaving a kiss on his cheek. “Now, you must finish everything I have made for you before it grows cold. I can’t have my favorite dragon going hungry, can I? Now, answer my question as to what you would like to drink.”

Spike smiled up at her and let out a sigh. “Well... Some orange juice would go pretty well with this stuff. Twilight usually has some in the fridge.”

Sparks beamed at him. “Of course, darling.”

A moment later, she was pouring him a glass of the cool, orange liquid, and under her watchful gaze, he finished his breakfast. The artificial mare moved with speed and a frightening sense of efficiency, taking up his plate and glass and moving them into the sink to be washed, using her orange aura to hold the plate while she scrubbed it with a sponge. Spike was about to offer to help, but before he could open his mouth, he heard a knock at the main entrance. Without looking up from the sink, Sparks’ synthetic tail swished with agitation. “Spike, could you see to the door while I finish this? My sensors tell me that Rarity is outside. Given that we are the only two occupants of the palace, it is likely that you are who she wishes to see.”

Spike nodded his head and made a dash for the corridor. “You got it, Sparks. I’ll be right back.” He entered the hall and began the long walk to the door, wondering what reason Rarity would have for coming over. It was early in the morning still, and Twilight was still in Manehattan. He opened the door, and sure enough, Rarity was standing on the other side with her hoof raised as though she were about to knock again.

Rarity looked surprised for a moment but quickly lowered her hoof and smiled. “Oh. Good morning, Spike. May I come in?”

He nodded his head and stepped aside as she entered the palace, closing the door behind her. “Uh, yeah... Of course, Rarity. It’s always great to see you, but what are you doing here? Is everything alright at your place?”

She waved her hoof dismissively at him. “Everything is fine, darling. I appreciate the thought, but I understand that Twilight is not back from her trip with Starlight yet, and I thought you might want some company.” Then, her eyes met his, and she let out a gentle sigh. “Living in a place this big all by yourself must be pretty lonely.”

Spike shrugged his shoulders. “I guess. Things haven’t really been so bad with Sparks around, though.” He thought back to their date and the moment she kissed him by the fountain. “She’s... quite a handful.”

Rarity pursed her lips. She looked to be on the edge of asking him something, but she couldn’t find the strength to say it. “Indeed. I remember Sparks from her time at the Carousel Boutique.” She swallowed hard. “Spike, I’ve had a thought since then, since you and your friend last visited, and I’d like to treat you to breakfast this morning. I could take you someplace in town if you’d like?”

Spike looked up at her, puzzled by her request. “You want to take me out? Why?”

Her face looked hot, like she might be on the verge of breaking into a sweat. She opened her mouth, but before she could say a word, she was silenced by the sound of approaching hoofsteps. Sparks had emerged from the kitchen and was heading their way with a wide smile on her face. “The dishes have been cleaned and sanitized, Spike. Greetings, Rarity! Would you care do something to drink? I have just put away the orange juice that Spike is fond of, but I would be happy to retrieve it for you.”

Rarity politely declined, shaking her head. “No, darling. That’s quite alright. I was just about to ask Spike to join me in town for breakfast.”

The smile on Spark’s face vanished. “I see…” She then looked down at Spike. “I hope he did not waste your time and informed you that I have already provided him with sustenance this morning. It will take some time before he is ready to eat again.”

Spike looked up at Sparks, and he was worried by what he saw. She had a dangerous look behind her visor, the same look she had when she stood between him and the timberwolf, protective and ready to fight. He quickly put himself in between the two mares, hoping to defuse what could potentially be a disastrous situation. “She’s right, Rarity. I just ate, but if you still want to go into town, I’d be happy to go with you.”

The white mare smiled kindly at him. “That’s a remarkable suggestion, Spike. We should stop by my place first, so I can put on something a little nicer for the occasion.” Sparks appeared to be struggling internally. She looked as though she wanted to speak, but was unable to put the words together. “Shall we walk together, Spike?”

The synthetic pony snapped into action, and as Rarity put her hoof around Spike, Sparks was in between them like a wall. Spike looked up at her, baffled by her reaction to Rarity’s touch. She blurted out strange, robotic sounds and temporarily lost her composure before righting herself. “I wish to come with you.”

Spike looked back and forth between the two mares, not wanting to disappoint Rarity but also wanting to keep Sparks happy.

Luckily, Rarity gave in and nodded her head. “Of course, darling. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

***Up Next: Spike’s Dilemma***

Part 17: Spike’s Dilemma

Author's Note

This chapter has been long overdue and gone through draft after draft of rewrites. I hope the wait was worth it and y’all enjoy what I’ve written for y’all. This story is nearing its end, so stay tuned for the rest.

Part 17: Spike’s Dilemma

When they finally found a place to sit down at an outdoor pavilion, Spike made sure to place himself squarely between the two mares. Tensions were high, so much so that he could feel the pressure crushing down around him.

They were seated at a round table in the middle of the pavilion, near a water feature that flowed peacefully in contradiction to the conflicting ponies. Rarity was to his left, now sporting a white, silky gown and sun hat to match, and Sparks was to his right. Dark and light, yin and yang, machine and flesh. They were polar opposites in appearance, but both had in common an affinity for him.

Rarity adjusted her hat slightly, casting shade over her eye before letting out a sigh of content. “What a beautiful morning. It’s been too long since I’ve had the opportunity to exempt myself from responsibility and relax with my friends. Wouldn’t you agree, Spike?”

Spike wasn’t really paying attention to the weather. There were other things on his mind than small talk, but nodded his head anyway. “Yeah... It’s fine, I guess.”

Sparks cocked her head to the side, and her visor flickered subtly. “Scans read the temperature at a modest seventy-three degrees fahrenheit with a wind chill of five degrees fahrenheit. Spike, you should have allowed me to bring you coat. The wind chill could lead to mild discomfort.”

The little dragon was far beyond mild discomfort. Sparks should have been able to figure that out with all of her advanced gadgets, but if she did know, she was keeping that information to herself. He shook his head and offered the synthetic mare a half smile. “I’m alright, Sparks. What about you, though? Do you get hot or cold?”

Sparks beamed at him. “Your concern for my well being is appreciated, my dear dragon. I am capable of functioning at peak efficiency in a wide variety of environments and climates. Only the harshest of weather can hamper my abilities, and even then, the drop in functionality is minimal.”

Spike’s eyes widened, and even Rarity looked impressed. “That’s remarkable, darling, truly. Just what exactly are you made of that makes you so... resilient?”

The artificial mare looked confident, maybe a little smug. “That information is confidential. Only my creator, Twilight Sparkle, can disclose the details of my construction if she chooses to do so.”

Spike wasn’t sure if that was entirely true. Without the inhibitor chip that had bound her go her core programming, she was free to speak her mind and pursue her own desires. It then occurred to him that Sparks was keeping secrets on purpose. He figured she could be trying to impress or intimidate Rarity. To Sparks, Rarity was competition, and robomare intended to win.

The white mare cleared her throat and averted her eyes so she wasn’t looking directly at her. “I see... Regardless, such marvels are nothing to scoff at. Twilight must be proud of her work.”

Sparks beamed at her, seemingly forgetting about Spike entirely. “Undoubtedly. Twilight Sparkle is a genius, and I have her to thank for giving me life.” Then, her smile changed, losing some of its excitement and making her look more embarrassed. “It was Spike, however, who allowed me to truly live. He is the most important being in my life, and I owe him everything.”

The dragon felt hot and uncomfortable under the compliments, but the feeling was fleeting. Beside him, Rarity’s look soured. The spiritual embodiment of generosity looked jealous, and she had a dangerous, fiery look in her eyes.

She cleared her throat, never taking her eyes off of Sparks. “I’ve tolerated this for long enough. Spike, I’d like some time alone with your friend. There is something I need to get off my chest.”

Spike’s heart plummeted in his chest, leaving a sickening feeling in his gut. The very last thing he ever wanted to happen was happening right before his eyes, and he didn’t know how to stop it. He looked up at Sparks, hoping she would have the decency to turn Rarity down politely and not make a scene, but those hopes were quickly dashed.

Sparks’ eyes too were fixated on Rarity. “Yes, Spike. Leave us. There are things I wish to share with Miss Rarity. This should not take long, darling.”

Her calling him ‘darling’ seemed to be targeted towards Rarity, and it worked, extracting a harsh glare from the pony. Spike stared back and forth between them both, unable to believe that this was really about to happen, and what made it worse was the feeling that it was his fault.

Something deep down began to stir within the dragon, something that had been festering since he first hatched, his inherent desire to poses and covet. It was not within him, though. Instead he saw it with his very eyes before him in the mares that were now fighting over him. He had been told to leave, but Spike new better. Instead, he stood up swiftly, glaring at Rarity and Sparks. “No! That’s enough!”

Spike had snapped, caring not for what others might think should he be heard. Both mares stared at him in disbelief with stunned looks on their faces. “This has gone too far. I’m not going to sit here and let two of my closest friends fight like this any longer. I’m not worth this kind of trouble, so there’s no reason for it.”

He truly hated the idea of his friends fighting over him, but he wasn’t an object to be sought after. This time, Spike knee he couldn’t pick a side as both mares seemed like they wanted a piece of him.

Sparks’ opened her mouth meekly. “Spike, you’re displaying high levels of-“

“I don’t care, Sparks! I really cannot be bothered to care at this point. I’m not some toy to be cradled and protected. You... You just think I’m some sort of experiment. When we kissed, you just wanted to know what it felt like.”

Rarity’s eyes widened, nearly bugging out of her head. “You ‘what’?”

Sparks shook her head in protest, not paying Rarity any attention anymore. “Spike, no... You must calm down before you get hurt...”

He didn’t want to hear anymore. He almost couldn’t, anyway. His own elevated heartbeat thundered in his ears, making it impossible to hear anything else. “No, Sparks, I’m not doing this anymore. I’m...” His vision was fading too, darkening around the edges and fading fast. He felt dizzy, having exhausted the energy given to him by his angry rant. The world around him became distant as he felt the sensation of falling backwards. The last thing his eyes saw before fading to black was Sparks as she reached out to catch him.

***Up Next: In The Open***

Finale: In The Open

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Epilogue: R.A.M.

Author's Note

Yes, this is happening soon, so stay tuned! :twilightsheepish:

Epilogue: R.A.M.

***R.A.M.***

Spike and Sparks walked together through the palace halls at a quickened pace. As they moved past the throne room towards Twilight’s study, the dragon looked over at his fillyfriend to ask a question that had been on his mind since they had been summoned. “Hey, Sparks, why do you think Twilight wanted to see us in her office so early?”

The synthetic mare shook her head and sighed. “Unknown, Spike. I can not calculate the reasoning behind her apparent urgency to see the two of us at this time in the day. I have not even yet had time to prepare breakfast for you. She has been acting unusual these past few weeks, though. Have you noticed it, love?”

Spike nodded his head. He had. Twilight had been locking herself away for hours each day to do Celestia knows what, leaving behind Starlight to perform her normal duties. Even with all of her scanners and sensors, Sparks was unable to piece together what it was Twilight was doing that she didn’t want others to see. “Yeah... Well, whatever it is, she must want to show us now.”

They stopped in front of the door leading into Twilight’s office. Spike looked at Sparks and shrugged before raising a fist to knock gently on the hard wood surface. Before his hand could make contact, however, the door opened, revealing an exhausted Twilight.

She wore a tired smile on her face. “Spike... Sparks... Good morning, you two. Come on in. I have an assignment for you.”

With puzzled looks on their faces, they did as instructed and followed Twilight into her office, and once inside, they immediately saw what it was that the princess didn’t want them to see for so long.

Standing in the center of the room was a tall stallion. He had a crew cut mane and short tail similar to what one might see on a Royal Guard, but this was no normal pony. He resembled Sparks in almost every way. While looking in awe at the figure standing in the center of the room, Spike caught a glimpse of the notes on Twilight’s desk, and paper sporting several intricate drawings labeled ‘Mark 2’ caught his attention.

Twilight stood beside the immobile pony and excitedly cleared her throat. “When! Spike, Sparks... I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our family. This...” She gestured to the artificial stallion. “... is my Research Assistant Matrix. He also goes by Ram. Say ‘hello’, Ram.”

The stallion flickered to life, and a bright blue holographic visor formed across his eyes. Numbers and symbols dashed in front of his visor at lightning speeds before coming to a stop. He then focused on Spike and Sparks. “Hello, I’m Ram, Research Assistant to Miss Twilight Sparkle. Are you in need of my assistance?”

***R.A.M. Is Coming Soon***

Part 1: S.P.A.R.K.S. Online

Author's Note

This chapter is a pilot. If y’all like the way this story is heading, please let me know through likes or the comments section below. If it gets enough positive feedback, the story continues! This is a new idea for me, so I hope y’all enjoy it. :twilightsmile:

Part 1: S.P.A.R.K.S. Online

***A Patriot Pony Production***

Using the magic from her horn, Twilight Sparkled gathered her things and made her way down the grand hall to the main doors of the palace. “Bye, Spike! I’ll be back later tonight, so don’t get into any trouble while I’m gone!”

With one last friendly wave goodbye, followed by the closing of the door, she was gone, and Spike was now alone in the palace. He’d just eaten breakfast, still sitting at the island in the middle of the kitchen. Now, the whole day was ahead of him. Without Twilight or any of their friends around, the place would get really dull in no time at all, though. With nothing on his schedule, and already becoming bored at the sheer thought of having little to do, he considered going into town. It was possible he’d run into somepony he knew, likely Rarity or Pinkie Pie, who both worked near the square.

The palace would be fine without him. With no one there to make a mess, there’d be no need to clean or perform any other chores. Before he could muster up the nerve to leave, however, something in the back of his mind gave him pause, and his eyes shifted to a small device on the counter by the fridge. It was a little gray box with an orange light softly blinking on top, very mysterious in nature.

Twilight had been packing her things for a day trip to Canterlot on that very counter before she left, causing Spike to now wonder if she’d forgotten something important behind. If that was the case, he was sure she’d come rushing back or even write him a letter through their personal delivery system. In the meantime, the best thing to do seemed to be relocating the device to a safe place, like Twilight’s private study.

He hopped down from the stool he was sitting on and grabbed the little box from the counter, all the while being extra careful not to scratch it with his claws. Now eager to get out of the palace and visit his friends in Ponyville, he hurriedly traveled out of the kitchen and down the corridor to Twilight’s study. Spike then opened the door with his free hand and walked inside.

As he approached the princess’ desk, he saw stacks of papers that towered over him, looming in an almost menacing way. The whole place seemed to be in disarray, like Twilight had left in the middle of a huge project. Not wanting to increase the risk of damage to the device by holding it between his claws any longer than he had to, Spike quickly set it down on the desk before glancing curiously at a paper facing up at him.

S.P.A.R.K.S.

The first thing he noticed was the title. Below that was a seemingly endless collection of drawings of what looked like a pony and hastily scribbled notes that vaguely resembled writing. Upon closer inspection, he saw the almost every paper on Twilight’s desk, every stack, contained similar drawings and notes. He looked back at the title on the first piece of paper and scratched his head. “Hmm... Sparks?”

Suddenly, the soft orange light on the little device came to life, glowing brightly in such a way that it made the entire room appear to be on fire. Spike let out a groan as he shielded his eyes from the blinding light, but as quickly as it appeared, it soon after faded into nothing. When he opened his eyes again, the device was completely dark, as was the room.

Frightened beyond all belief, the little dragon silently vowed never to peek at Twilight’s notes again and turned to leave her study, coming face to face with a tall mare. Already on edge, he let out a terrified scream, flinching in fear as he backed towards the desk.

She had no fur, instead sporting gray and black plates that complimented her similarly colored mane and tail. The mare simply stared at him through the orange visor that covered her eyes. She stood before him, motionless, unblinking. Spike wasn’t even sure if she was breathing. He waved a hand in front of her face to extract a reaction from her but received no such success. Puzzled, he scratched his head and considered trying to talk to the mysterious mare. It was a long shot, but at this point, he was willing to try anything in order to find out more about the pony before him.

Spike cleared his throat. “Um... Hello?”

Like a switch had been flipped, the mare smiled and cocked her head to the side as she stared directly at him. “Hello! Scanning... Dragon, adolescent, Designation: Spike. Social status to Twilight Sparkle: Assistant, close friend, family. Physical Status: Healthy, late digestion period, light dehydration. Recommendation: Drink twenty ounces of water hourly to relieve symptoms.” Then, she fell silent, returning to her statue-like stance.

Spike blinked several times before shaking the bewilderment from his head. In less than a minute, the mare in front of him had gone from mysterious and frightening to creepy by summarizing his current state of existence. “Wh-Who... What are you?”

The mare broke into a smile once again. “I am a Synthetic Prototype Artificial Research Keeper Servant. Designation: Sparks. I was created by Twilight Sparkle to keep all records of her research and experiments while providing useful data to assist in her endeavors.” She blinked at him several times as her smile vanished. “Is Twilight Sparkle in need of my assistance?”

Spike was stumped. He wasn’t prepared for her to start asking him any questions. He shrugged casually as in truth, he wasn’t sure. “I don’t really know. I think Twilight meant to take you with her when she left, but she’s gone now.”

Sparks looked at Twilight’s desk, then back at Spike. “Noted. I will make the necessary changes in my data stores. Twilight Sparkle. Physical Status: Deceased...”

Spike’s eyes shot open wide and he crossed his arms back and forth as he shook his head. “No! No! Oh, Celestia... I didn’t mean that! I meant she’s... Twilights just not here right now. She’s only gone to Canterlot for the day, but she’ll be back sometime tonight. She’s not dead...” He wondered how she could have taken his words the wrong way and misunderstood him to that extent.

Through her visor, he could see her expression change. She looked relieved, if that was even possible. Sparks slowly nodded her head. “Very well. Deleting updates.” She paused for a moment taking back what Spike assumed was the error in the information he gave her. Then, she looked directly at him again. “Are you in need of my assistance, Spike?”

The dragon shook his head. He wasn’t the brainy type like Twilight, and he definitely didn’t want to spend his whole day in a stuffy room talking to the strangest animatronic pony in Equestria. “Nah... That’s really just Twilight’s thing. I was just about to head out.”

Sparks looked puzzled. “Head... out? I do not understand, Spike.”

There was a breakdown in communication once again. Spike shrugged as he struggled to put into words his intentions and motives to leave the palace. “I don’t know... I guess I’m leaving too, like Twilight did. That doesn’t mean I’m dying, though! I’m just going outside for a while and heading into town.”

She paused for a moment, appearing to process what he said as her eyes flickered behind her visor. When it stopped, she looked back at him and nodded her head. “I see... More data is required on this ‘town’ you speak of. I will accompany you, Spike.”

The dragon was taken aback by her response. “Wha-What? No. You can’t come with me. Twilight wouldn’t want that.”

Sparks smiled intently. “Actually, I am perfectly capable of accompanying you. I have an effective operation range of fifteen miles from my core.” She gestured to the little device on the table with a nod. “I will be operational but ineffective at sixteen to twenty miles from my core, and beyond twenty, I will be inoperable.” She stared at him, almost like she was daring him to come up with an excuse for her not to come along.

He let out a sigh. “You really want to come with me?”

She nodded her head again. “Yes, Spike. This is my first field test in a fully autonomous body. There is useful data to be acquired from a real field test from sensory feedback to interactions with organic beings. I will not benefit from these findings from here, so accompanying you is necessary if I am to be a successful assistant to Twilight Sparkle.”

Her logic was sound enough. Spike found it increasingly difficult to form any kind of argument. Plus, it simply sounded like she really, really wanted to go. Reluctantly, he gave in and nodded. “Alright... Let’s go, but I don’t want to keep you out for too long. Twilight’s going to be looking for you, and she’d be mad at me if I let anything happen to you, so stay close.”

Sparks grinned as she turned to follow him out of the study. “Affirmative, Spike.”

***Up Next: Hugging Subroutines***