My Life As A Teenaged Ocellus

Chapters

First Day - Worst Day
Short Fused
First Task
Acquaintances
Apple Science

First Day - Worst Day

Ocellus was a short thing, not exactly manufactured to have the height of King Thorax, or the even greater height of Princess Celestia, the current ruler of Equestria. Of course, in spite of this newfound information, she wasn't exactly one of those creatures built from flesh and blood. Well, she was something quite different, in replacement of something so. She was a robot, or what Professor Pharynx liked to call, a bugdroid. She figured it wasn't the most clever name of all, but that wasn't important. Being a Professor wasn't a glamorous thing, or so she was told.

Back to the aforementioned topic, she was something far more unique than somecreature made up of something so... destructible. Mentioned already, but for a second time, she was, in fact, a robot. Her eyes glowed the same way changeling eyes glowed, but brighter. Her chitin looked nearly the same way changeling chitin looked, but tougher. And there were also -a notable change- jet black grooves here and there around her forelegs, abdomen, hind legs, and ears, showing where her joints and moveable areas were.

Sure, she looked like a toy, but really, she was something very different than that. She was evolution. And of course, evolution thought better than the past. They looked to the future, so that newer phases of evolution could be formed. Ocellus thought to the future just like she should; she was a very obedient piece of technology, and easy to work with, as well. That was something her creator was very, very proud of. He thought highly of himself, and highly of her.

Now, as they reached the entrance to the School of Friendship (with countless other students and guardians surrounding them, intending to enter just as well), Professor Pharynx adjusting his goggles and making sure his labcoat collar was straightened, he looked down at Ocellus, a proud grin at his lips. "You ready for your first day of school, 'Cellus?"

Ocellus blinked her glowing, turquoise eyes, processing the Professor's question as a blue circle on one of her metallic temples blinked a little bright yellow. "Y-Yes, Professor Pharynx," she answered, in a hesitant voice. Ocellus' voice was a little high pitched, and in addition, with her artificial manufacturing, it had a little bit of a deeper, digital tinge behind it.

Pharynx stared. It wasn't like his little bugdroid to stutter, or sound unsure. "What's wrong, Ocellus? Ain't ya excited for your first day?"

"I-It's actually 'aren't' and 'you,' Professor... and... I..."

Ocellus blinked again, the circle on the side of her ear flashing yellow once more. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. After all, this was probably just a system error. "I-It's nothing, Professor," she lied, giving a small, crooked smile to assure that she was fine. Pharynx's gaze softened for a fraction of a moment.

"Well, if you're sure."

The doors opened, and the two, along with a number of other creatures and their guardians all entered the school. Ocellus looked around in a self-conscious manner, getting lost in the hysteria of it all. Her circular chip blinked yellow, then red, a little, at the sight of so many other students. So many new personalities to get to know, and keep logged in your memory circuit. So much social mess to get immediately shoved into. It made her ears flop, or, rather, lower, the mechanical whirring noises following said action.

Just before she knew it, Professor Pharynx was no longer by her side. It was most likely he got lost in the crowd, with the last three percent suggesting that maybe some other thing happened. She didn't know; her cloud was a bit clogged up at the moment. She had never felt such unease in her short life, not until now, that is. It wasn't until this day that she had been pushed into something the couldn't predict the gravity of.

After all, since she was told she'd be taken to Equestria to be taught in its school district, specifically at the School of Friendship, no less, she had already predicted her own little plan, in her own little bubble of unlimited knowledge she had. But as it turns out, her "unlimited knowledge" turned out to be strangely... limited, for the first time. It scared her. A lot.

Using her environment to her best advantage, the one thing her program suggested she'd probably do is walk around and get to know her surroundings better before thinking too much ahead. She was given a lot of rope to hang herself, allegedly. No matter, however, she continued trotting, looking around almost frantically for her creator.

"Why am I here?"

She saw a tall, lanky orange dragon storm through the crowd in a huffy manner, a snarl on her face. Ocellus was a little less intimidated by this dragon, since she had done her research from the small little source in her program. She knew a lot about most creatures, and therefore was able to define them from a visual approach. Though, she found it best not to approach and talk to the creature at the moment, but instead just listen in. See if any given information would be any help as of right now.

Another taller, blue dragon with indigo spines and medium legnth, curled, white horns came stomping through as she grabbed the younger dragon by the wrist, violet into blue interiored wings flared. "Because I ordered you to be!" She scowled. The orange dragon snatched her arm away, folding it and her other arm over her chest. She looked frustrated, really, she did. It really didn't look like she was cooperating with whoever that other dragon was.

Ocellus figured it was her time to leave the situation and continue looking for the Professor, as it turned out virtually none of that gained information was going to be helpful in the current moment, unless her and the dragon were to see each other again.

"'Cellus, there you are," a familiar, gruff voice called. Ocellus turned around and bumped straight into Pharynx. The Professor stumbled back a little, due to the unexpected bump from... well, a hunk of metal. Of course, Pharynx wouldn't want anyone calling her that, but it was definitely the truth. "C'mon, we gotta go introduce ya to the Headmare." Ocellus looked around, scanning her surroundings for the Headmare and fabled Princess of Friendship. Pharynx shook his head. "Nah, we gotta go to her office. She'll be in there waiting for us."

Ocellus blanked for a second, not quite understanding what her Professor meant by that. "Wait, but..." She paused for a second, wracking her brain for a single memory of where she's seen any other creature and their parents and/or guardians making their way to privately speak to the Headmare at this current moment. Failing once again, she decided to continue. "...isn't anyone else meeting the Headmare? Personally?"

Pharynx shook his head again. "Nope. Just us. Remember, 'Celly, you ain't like any other student in here. You're special. You wanna know why?"

Ocellus nodded her head. "Because-"

Pharynx interrupted her, patting her head gently. "Because you're made out of metal. Mind completely and carefully shaped by the best technology your Professor could manage. And this maaakes..."

He dragged out his last word, waiting for Ocellus to finish for him. The bug-droid was very amused at this, giggling quietly. "It makes a bug-droid, Professor."

"Good girl."

Pharynx patted down Ocellus' artificial light pink gossamer fin again, reassuring Ocellus just a bit more about this conundrum. Everything was going to be alright, as long as her Professor was by her side. "Now let's go," he said, turning around and trotting off. Ocellus caught up with him, her joints making that very same whirring sound as she trotted with him.

Once the two made it upstairs and into the Headmare's office, Ocellus grew a little more nervous than she was before. Though, she was able to identify the Princess of Friendship as easily as she wanted to (she was a very open book on the internet), she had absolutely no idea how she'd react to having a robotic student. Something almost just as predictable as any regular creature, but twice as dangerous. What if she didn't want to take a chance on her anymore? What if... what if...

"Come in, come in," she said, clopping her hooves in excitement, as Ocellus could see from the door ajar. Instead of what Ocellus thought the Headmare would feel, she actually looked quite joyful and excited to see her. It was something entirely new to Ocellus; usually creatures weren't generally as accepting to creatures like her. To objects like her, anyways.

"Princess Twilight," Pharynx nodded, his eyes blinking closed as he bowed his head, and then opening as he looked back up. Twilight Sparkle, Ocellus thought. Well, it was understandable that all her greatest fears about said lavender alicorn was proven wrong. She was the Princess of Friendship, after all. It's no wonder she'd be so welcoming. It was as if ten pounds of her own metal body had just lifted from Ocellus' shoulders.

"Hello, Prince, and... Professor Pharynx, heheh. I see you've brought our new student here. Hello there, Ocellus."

It wasn't until Twilight leaned at an angle and waved at her that Ocellus realized she was hiding behind her Professor. Ears drooping a bit in embarrassment, Ocellus stepped forward, her joints clicking as she did so, and stood in front of the Headmare. "Hehe. It's nice to see you here at the School fo Friendship. I've never taught a changeling before- much less a robot. But I'm really glad your Professor brought you here. And as much as I am glad to see new faces, that isn't exactly the only reason why."

Ocellus frowned in thought for a moment, as she looked back at Pharynx. Said Professor nodded, and placed a hoof on Ocellus' cold, metal, rose red and white spotted elytra. Twilight nodded at some other creature behind her, and before such action, Ocellus could already feel two more presences standing in the doorway. Her wings made a mechanical buzz as she turned her head to see, and the creatures she saw in question happened to be the two dragons she had seen interact before.

This new event shocked her, but even still, she looked back to the headmare, legs and arms practically stuck together in an attempt to appear diplomatic to match every other older creature in the room. All except... that dragon.

Said orange, scaly creature huffed as she stomped into the room, arms crossed. Ember was leading her inside, step by step, gaze firm at the Princess before her. "Princess Twilight," she bowed, much like Professor Pharynx had when he entered with Ocellus. Said bug was confused as to why these two curious creatures were standing here. Just the young dragon's presence sparked little tinges of angst within her, making her feel small. She wasn't familiar with that kind of feeling- not at all. In fact, she thought just as highly of herself as Professor Pharynx did. Very compelled to assist and, quite frankly, be better than the one she was assisting. But even so, this entire situation made her feel... incompetent.

She dreaded feeling incompetent.

She felt Pharynx's hoof tap lightly on her elytra again, and when she looked at him with unease, she sensed that maybe her chip was glowing a color that signaled she may have been upset. She really didn't like that chip. She didn't like being easy to read. She was made to be predictable- likely for the safety of other creatures. Of course, she understood that, and being a trifling ways more advanced than they were, she figured they had to have some way to get ahead and put their best hoof forward.

With this realization, she looked forward again, standing as strong as she could.

"Ocellus, meet your new client. Smolder, this is your support-bot."

Ocellus blinked again. "Support Bot?" she thought. "But Professor Pharynx didn't mention anything about a 'support-bot'. Is that what I am? Is... is that a new command?"

Fear began to touch down on her circuits again, filling her cloud with all these cognitive distortions. This dragon? Support bot? What did that even mean? Ocellus had never even heard of that before. Much less being one.

"I know you're probably really confused," Twilight continued, a sympathetic look on her face as she cast a knowing gaze to both of the creatures. She gestured to Pharynx and Ember, who both backed away and allowed their students to stand up front. "And that's okay. We'll work through that, starting now. I'm guessing you both are seeking more information about what in the world a support bot is," Twilight chortled, swivelling on her office chair and stacking together a few papers she had printed out beforehoof.

"For your information, a support bot- Ocellus being one of the first in manufacturing, mind you- is an android built in the form of a creature, so that they may put on a more friendly face to those uncomfortable with working with robots. They are designed to help you with whatever disabilities or mental, or emotional issues you may have- enter Smolder, for example." She gestured to the orange dragon, who in turn, had smoke pluming from her nostrils as a response. "Smolder here has a bit of an... issue, I've been told. Aggression issues. And Ocellus, you're in charge of helping her regulate those issues. Be it by lending a helping hoof with her things on her way to every class, or have access to helpful information on some secretly incrypted software, or just be a good friend in general.

And Ocellus," Twilight skipped level-headedly out of her office chair, putting a hoof on Ocellus' shoulder with a kind smile. "That's how you're going to help Smolder, here. And I have a feeling you'll be the best at what you're assigned. Professor Pharynx has told me a lot about you!"

Ocellus looked to Pharynx with a hurt look, more susprised and anxious than anything that her Professor hadn't told her anything about this beforehand. Sure, she could adapt to virtually anything you would throw at her, but she would've still appreciated the heads up!

"And Smolder," she watched as Twilight walked over to the dragon, who in turn, just turned away from her. Twilight chuckled nervously. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll fit in just fine at the School of Friendship. I hope you'll find lots of great friends that'll appreciate you just for who you are. Including Ocellus, here."

Both glanced at each other, the two equally as reluctant.

Twilight only brushed this off, clapping her hooves together. "Now, first class is about to be in session, you two. Remember, I want you both sitting next to each other at all times. And when there are no classes taking place, I want you two staying close together, alright?"

Ocellus looked at Smolder, her glassy, compound eyes making a clicking sound as she surveyed the dragon.

This was going to be a very long semester.

Short Fused

Ocellus had exited the Headmare's office with this new dragon, not exactly knowing what to do or say since her own program suggested she didn't say a thing. That, and that she wanted to. It felt a bit awkward walking through the halls to her first class without saying anything to her first client. Someone she was supposed to help better themselves, and she hadn't even socialized with them once? Just one full minute with them and she had already felt like she needed to be decommissioned.

"Can't believe I gotta have some fuckfaced tin can to watch over me..."

Ocellus' ears clicked as they perked toward the current speaker, the dragon beside her. She had never heard such verbage before; not unless the Professor had a couple of drinks and decided he'd pull an all-nighter working on one specific project. Even then, only one or two expletives would slip, and they weren't anything like what she just heard.

She felt like this dragon was questioning how capable she really was. That she was trying to say Ocellus was a waste of time, or something. Ocellus knew very well she wasn't a waste of time. She was evolution. She was better than the rest. She didn't need to be babysitting some short-fused dragon who probably only threw very minimized temper tantrums.

Raising a hoof, she spoke up, a diplomatic tone in her digitally modified voice. "Look, I am very well aware that you may not be comfortable with my presence, but-"

"Good. Be aware." And the dragon continued walking, arms folded as she slumped over in a grouchy manner. Ocellus didn't know what to make of that awkward situation. Usually, when she was speaking, no one would interrupt. It was what gave her the effects she had on everyone. The way she was able to read them in an instant; but this situation was entirely different. She didn't predict this- not by a long shot.

While most dragons had been easy to read for any detesting bone in their body, this one was relatively strange. Ocellus couldn't quite read her past the intense aura of anger she was displaying. And even though Professor Pharynx tried as hard as he could, he couldn't give Ocellus the ability to taste and sense emotions like normal changelings could. Well, past reading their body language and whatnot. Scanning their eyes, their mouths, or their hands for a possible fist clench. All of those were examples in which she could tell what a certain creature was feeling.

Smolder, in particular, was all rage. Now, Ocellus truly knew what she was dealing with. It wasn't some walking temper tantrum, no. They were the physical embodiment of pure, cynical, sarcastic, unbridled rage. Or, at least, that's what Ocellus saught just by looking at her. "Smolder, please, wait a minute."

Her cognitive program told her that she would most likely win the dragon over in terms of agreement. Something like reasoning with her, better than she did the first time, anyways. "Please, just listen to me. I know that you think I'm a waste of time."

Smolder chuckled. "You're right about that one."

Ocellus frowned, looking away as her ears went down. Nevertheless, she continued. It wasn't going to be any use if she let this alien feeling get the best of her. "But I want to help you. I really do. I want to make things easier. It's my job to make sure you don't do anything rash that might get you in trouble. I want to keep you out of it."

Smolder turned around, arms folded. "So? You think since you've got this document of certification that you're the most qualified bucket of bolts in Equestria that you can help me?" She spat. Ocellus obviously could tell that Smolder detested her with all of her very being at the moment, but that didn't mean she couldn't change that.

"Yes." Ocellus said briefly, her joints clicking as she cantered forward to catch up with Smolder. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do, starting with our first class." She smiled up at Smolder, intending to have a positive outlook on the matter even though she knew this dragon was about to be a real piece of work. But managing that work would take time; she knew. So the best way to go about it at the moment was to testify against the rising negativity between the two and move past it. Hence Ocellus' favorite word: evolution.

"So are we going now?"

Ocellus' eyes flickered toward the dragon. Until now, she hadn't realized that she was so caught up in feeling so very proud of herself that she had nearly forgotten it was almost class time. "Right! Follow me. I have a mental map image of the entire school laid out before me. The complicated part is that you may not be able to see it, so you'll have to follow-"

"Got it," Smolder interrupted again. Ocellus' chip flickered yellow due to her sheer annoyance. Really, she meant it. No one had ever interrupted her because they respected her, but it was clear that this... rude dragon wasn't about to do the latter anytime soon.

And with the smug little grin on her face, Ocellus could really tell that this dragon knew how to push her buttons- no pun intended. "Then let's go."

Smolder quirked a brow as Ocellus just stood there, like she was waiting for some kind of invitation. "R'We gonna go, or what?" Ocellus smiled, now that she had the dragon confused. It made her happy that just when some creatures would think they knew her, she'd have another trick hardwired in her mainframe.

"Hop on."

Students watched in awe and surprise as Ocellus deactivated the rocket-esque energy embedded in the bottoms of her hooves, the cyan fire dying out as she landed safely on the ground. She waited by the door for Smolder to stumble off, needed to grab a hold of something in aide to the high speeds they were previously travelling at, careening through the halls at, like, mach-20. "Woah... I take back everything I said about you... that was awesome..."

Ocellus smiled. Finally, she got one shred of gratitude from such a disrespectful creature that she thought'd never change her mind. There was one thing she thought, though.

"Wait... what'd she say about me?"

First Task

Majority of class went fine. Smolder and Ocellus walked in, and just as expected, both were assigned seats next to each other in the front row of desks. It was common knowledge at the school now, with all its staff, at least, that Smolder had an AI operated robot to help her learn. Ocellus would've thought of it as learning with her if it weren't for the fact that she knew practically everything already.

This was Professor Fluttershy's class, even. The class of one of the kindest ponies Ocellus had ever even heard of. The renowned Element of Kindness, no less. Ocellus had only known for the same reason she knew so much already about Princess Twilight after all. Digressing from the topic, however.

When class was dismissed, it was a whole different story. It ended as any normal thing would end after literally any class would be dismissed; students would grab their things and leave. Ocellus didn't exactly need any school supplies, so she stood there beside Smolder's desk as she watched her gather her things. "You gotta watch me grab my stuff? Really?"

Ocellus' eyes clicked toward the clock, then to Smolder again. "It is imperative that I survey the way you preform any certain tasks. That way I can observe your body language and help you just in case I sense a-"

"Do you really have to serve me an entire-ass monologue every time I ask a simple question?" Ocellus furled her brow, and her chip flickered yellow again. She stood silent, not exactly sure what to say to that. Smolder chuckled, "Heheh. Exactly what I thought." The bugdroid had no comment, so instead she thought she'd keep waiting until her client was done picking up her school supplies. Though she wasn't any creature with non-artificial traits, she had to wonder... did it really take this long just to pick up your things?

"Sweet robot, dude," someone commented from a position right behind the two. Ocellus' eyes clicked again as she stood up and turned around, looking at the new persona and surveying him closely. He was a laid back, seafoam green earth pony with messy, dark green hair. He was looking at Ocellus just the same, his light green eyes observing her closely. "Wish I could have one."

Smolder barely looked back, standing up with her small satchel at her side. "Yeah? And what's it to ya?" Ocellus looked back toward Smolder, sensing little tinges of frustration sparking from within her.

"Well, um... I was just saying you have a cool robot, y'know? It'd be pretty sweet if I had one like yours. I mean, she's really pretty." The colt chuckled lightheartedly, obviously not realizing Smolder's exasperated tone. Ocellus could tell Smolder didn't feel like talking to this pony; albiet his compliment was definitely not less than appreciated.

"Smolder, have you got all your things?" She tried, attempting to divert the dragon's mind from the pony that was talking to her.

"Ooh, and I really like her voice! It's so... digital. Really cool. Oh, by the way, my name's Sandbar. Sorry for coming up out of the blue, by the way. I just saw you and this awesome robot and couldn't help but say hi."

"...You really like this robot, huh?"

Ocellus was on edge, now. Sandbar was walking on thin ice and he didn't even know it. Were earth ponies always this oblivious? Well, it obviously wasn't just earth ponies since what happened in Headmare Twilight's office, but...

"Yeah. Again, she's really pretty. You're lucky, you know. Heh, not every student gets to walk around having their own robot servant."

Ocellus furled her brow. She really appreciated the compliment- it would be nice to have someone who respected her for her stature. However, now was not the time. She watched as Smolder clenched her fist, and decided it was really time to go. It would be less than two minutes until their next class; they really needed to get going, like, right now.

"Sandbar, I really think it's time we should-"

"You like the robot so much, maybe you should take her." Smolder pushed past Ocellus. At this point, Professor Fluttershy was outside in the hallway waiting to greet her next class. Ocellus didn't think she noticed they were still in the classroom. Perhaps she forgot?

Never mind that. For now, Ocellus had to stop the situation from escalating as best she could. She watched as Sandbar frowned. "Woah, sorry dude... I didn't mean to offend you, I was just saying how cool your robot was... really, you're super lucky to-"

Smolder gripped Sandbar by the hide on his neck, slamming him against the wall. "Say that again and I will fucking tear you to shreds..." Sandbar looked Smolder dead in the eyes, shaking with fear. He had never seen a dragon so up close before, Ocellus could tell. Even if he had, he didn't look like the type who would want to be in this kind of situation.

"Smolder, stop it. Let Sandbar go, and we can get to our next class."

Ocellus put a hoof on Smolder's left shoulder, intending to pull her away from the colt if she had to. She felt it. Smolder was shaking and seething with anger. Her heart rate, she could just barely feel it, increasing rapidly as her adrenaline did the same. "Aha, I bet you don't think having a robot servant is so cool now, huh? What happened to all that verbal dick riding you were just doing, huh?"

"Smolder, stop!" At this point, Ocellus gripped harder on her client, just in the middle of pulling her away.

...Until Sandbar wasn't thinking anymore.

He threw as hard a punch as he could. His hoof struck Smolder's jaw, knocking her back at least two feet. He slumped down against the wall, a hoof over his chest as he looked up at Smolder again.

Smolder clenched her teeth, gritting them to the near gum. Ocellus looked to Smolder, and then at Sandbar, her cloud overflowing with all these options and ways to pull these two apart and stop this mess. There were... there were so many options, so many paths to choose that she could barely even think anymore. Her circuits felt like they were frying under the pressure, and she almost felt the slightest bit of perspiration.

The dragon looked like she was about ready to spring straight into a fight with this pony, so Ocellus felt like her best option off the top of her head was to stop Smolder mid attack. Then, she'd work her way up from there and continue to block the situation from escalating. Maybe if she... separated them? Then, if she reported to the teacher all the transpiring events that led to now that... that maybe-

"Smack! Smack! Smack!"

Ocellus' mechanical heart dropped. She turned to where Sandbar was, and now Smolder was over there, holding him up against the wall and delivering furious punches toward his abdomen, and some aimed up at his jaw. She had... she had failed her task. The first and only real task she was given to protect her client from trouble, she had already failed.

Okay, okay, this wasn't important. What was important was that Ocellus would stop the fight right in its tracks and hope that nothing even more rash would continue.

Quickly, Ocellus tore Smolder off the colt and pushed her to the ground as gently as she could. As Professor Fluttershy, and countless number of students rushed in to see what was going on, Ocellus was focused on holding Smolder tightly so that she wouldn't cause anymore damage.

"W...What in the world went on in here?" Fluttershy gasped, rushing to the unconscious Sandbar, who at least wasn't missing any but one tooth, and was also given a black eye in the scrap. Fluttershy turned to Ocellus for extra added information on the situation, but Ocellus could only grip Smolder tightly and rush out of there as fast as she could.

...

And now they were sitting in Twilight's office again, both in the same location, but in a whole different predicament. Now, Ocellus got to experience full force what she was dealing with, and it wasn't pretty. No, not at all.

Twilight cast a knowing, yet disappointed look to Smolder, hooves on her desk while she peered over at the creature. "Look, Smolder... Ocellus told me about how the entire thing went down. I understand you were frustrated with Sandbar's questions, but that didn't mean you had to do what you did."

Smolder huffed, smoke puffing from her nostrils and floating through the air. Ocellus tried to help. Her joints clicked softly as she gingerly raised her hoof to quite literally fan the smoke away with one puff of air from the tiny little vents in the bed of her hoof. With a kind smile, she lowered her foreleg back down, but Smolder didn't seem to notice. Even if she did, she didn't seem to care at all.

"Ocellus? I see that you tried your best with her. I talked with Sandbar in the nurse's office," Twilight started again, turning to Smolder one more time. "And Smolder, you owe him an apology."

And so, to the nurse's office they went. Ocellus kept glancing as Smolder as she hovered near, watching her bored gaze as she traced every ince of the hall in a destesting trance. Ocellus felt obsolete. "Hey... what you did. It... it won't hurt to talk about it. Why'd you do it, anyways? Were you really frustrated that he was asking you so many questions?"

Smolder huffed. She just kept walking silent as she was through at least a quarter of the way. Ocellus looked around. "This place is pretty overwhelming, if that's what you're thinking. I was nervous when I first arrived here as well."

Still, no answer. Ocellus felt a little more conflicted as they arrived to the nurse's office. She stood even closer by Smolder's side than she was at the very beginning, just in case she got out of control again. Sandbar sat upright on the infirmary bed, his hindlegs kicking idly as he looked down at the floor with his one functioning eye at the moment. Of course, it would look a little less swollen than it did before since he was most likely holding an ice pack to it for a little while.

Ocellus looked to Smolder, then to Sandbar. As soon as Sandbar heard her trademark mechanical clicking, he looked up. "Oh... hey... it's you guys..."

Ocellus smiled and waved a little. Sandbar waved back. Smolder snorted, her tail lashing like a leather whip made out of the freshest cow hide. "Sandbar, Smolder has something she wants to say to you."

"...S-She does...?"

"Yes. Smolder, go ahead."

Silence.

"Smolder, Sandbar's awaiting your heartfelt apology. Do you maybe wanna apologize? Like, now? Sometime today?"

Smolder looked to Ocellus, and then to Sandbar, where her gaze surprisingly softened. "Look man, I'm sorry about the way I acted. I got a little hot headed, and that really wasn't cool of me," she sighed, plopping into the supposed nurse's chair and laying back with her hands behind her head. "It was just... you asked a lot of questions about something I don't really like, for starters."

Sandbar looked confused. "You mean... her?" Ocellus cringed back a little when Sandbar gestured a hoof to the exact space where she was standing. Well, to put it simply, her. It stung, of course, to be assigned to protect someone that doesn't appreciate your efforts. They don't like you, don't talk to you, don't respect you, don't acknowledge you- anything. It made Ocellus... it made her feel... s-

Small.

Something she didn't like feeling. Something she had already established not liking.

As Smolder nodded and huffed, she fiddled with her claws. "That little outburst I had with you? Pfft- one in a million, dude. And that bucket o' bolts right there is supposed to help me? Ha, please."

Sandbar chuckled nervously, but stopped and looked sympathetically. "But she's meant to help you, isn't she? Back there, it kinda... it kinda looked like she didn't want you in trouble." Ocellus smiled thoughtfully again. Finally somecreature got it.

Somecreature that wasn't Smolder, though...

Ocellus didn't like taking things too personally. This, however, cut straight into her metal chitin. It made her feel... gutted. Like every other accomplishment and accolade she's made was sheer nothingness to this dragon. She was one of the only creatures she had failed to impress, and it was weighing down on her, so, so much. "Yeah, whatever dude," she finally heard Smolder say, standing up out of the chair. "But I just want you to know that... that what happened back there... it weren't nothin' personal, okay?"

Sandbar smiled. "Right. Dually noted. I'll... see you sometime?"

Smolder chuckled. "Yeah, maybe. See ya."

Smolder waved as she exited the room. Ocellus smiled back at her as she stood and waited for Smolder to realize what she had just done. "Have you made a new friend, Smolder?" She asked. Smolder folded her arms again, a brow quirked.

"Uh, no. Just cause we happened to converse about something that we possibly mutually agreed on, and then most likely arranged to have something go on later in the day does not mean we're friends."

Ocellus peered, a teasing smile on her lips.

"Not a word, tin can."

Ocellus giggled. "Got it."

Acquaintances

It was a free period. Every other class went pretty smoothly, after all. Smolder didn't want to make anymore accidental "friends", anyway, so she remained peaceful, or as peaceful as she could. Ocellus stood by her side the entire time just as she was supposed to, ensuring that nothing else went wrong. Obviously, she did well enough for no other risky events to take place.

As they walked together to the courtyard of the school, where every student was flocking to study for their first few lessons, Smolder carried her satchel, full of study time snacks. Why did she have study time snacks? She didn't know. Maybe they were just an "eating in class" thing she knew her teachers would protest against, so she saved it until later.

"Sandbar's meeting us here," Ocellus chirped, eyes flickering to Smolder's position. "We're having lunch together, so you can get to know each other." Smolder finally realized what Ocellus was talking about, then flopped her arms and groaned.

"C'mon, tin can, I already apologized to him once! I did it once! Ain't that enough?"

Ocellus smiled, then shook her head. "Negative. It is very likely that you two would become friends, and I'm not one to pass up an opportunity presenting itself so clearly."
"
Smolder shot a glare so powerful, that if it got anymore fiery, it'd fry Ocellus' own circuits. "Well then, just-"

Ocellus smirked, ears rising with a quiet whir. "Sandbar's arrived."

Smolder's claw met her face as she sank to the ground, sitting criss-cross applesauce on the grass while Ocellus sat down in front of her, looking quite satisfied with herself. Sandbar stood awkwardly behind Smolder with his comic-branded lunch box. "Err- hey guys," he nervously croaked, lifting a hoof and waving it softly. "We having lunch here?"

Smolder grunted, her talon still unmoving. "Yeah, sure, just have a seat," she muttered into her palm. Sandbar's ears perked, and he sat down next to her, opening his lunch box and pulling out one of two daisy sandiwiches. He smiled at the two as he bit into it, thankful for their-Ocellus'-generous invitation. Smolder spread two of her fingers to peek at Sandbar, who looked back. "So... feelin' better?"

Sandbar nodded. "Yeah. My eye's still a little bit swollen, but it'll work out," he explained, mouth full as crumbs of his sandwich got spread around and flecked onto the grass. He pointed to his mildly purple eye, which was still swollen shut. Ocellus figured since Sandbar had only been in the nurse's office for about two-thirds of an hour(she had been counting ever since Professor Fluttershy had taken him away), it'd make sense. After all, not every injury heals within a day.

Ocellus smiled. "Well, Smolder and I are definitely glad you're doing okay." Sandbar chuckled in response, finishing up his sandwich. Ocellus could tell he wasn't exactly the type of colt to eat a whole lot at one time, so it was understandable when he shut his lunchbox and didn't continue eating.

At this point, she just felt like she was looking for things to analyze.

"Who're you guys being assigned with? You know, with the dorms and all that."

Ocellus blanked for a second. So did Smolder. None of the two seemed to know any of what Sandbar was talking about. Well, aside from the dorms part. They knew this school would be one of the "dorms" type schools. However, none were spoken to about the whole dorm assignment thing. Obviously it was something they were supposed to know about, but...

Sandbar frowned in realization. "I take it you two weren't there for the dorm assignment portion? You know, with Counselor Starlight?"

"..."

Then, it hit her. Ocellus and Smolder must've been in Twilight's office at the time. The Headmare did actually mention their classes would be starting soon. They didn't get the chance to recieve the informational papers and whatnot. "I don't recall being there, no..." she finally answered, putting a hoof to her chin. Her joints clicked again.

"Oh, well, I'm assigned with this griffon named 'Gallus'. I think he's really cool. I just know we're gonna get along!"

Finally realizing that she hadn't eaten yet, Smolder opened her satchel and pulled out a plastic baggie filled with gems. At this point, she was confused about how these sharp rocks didn't cut through the plastic. That was very odd, but she didn't mind it. Opening it up and tossing a few gems into her mouth, she looked up at the sky. Sandbar looked up as well, watching the fluffy clouds roll by.

"How're you guys liking it at this school so far," he asked, flopping onto his back so that he may look at the sky at a greater angle. "I think it's great!"

"Heh, yeah right," Smolder chuckled. Sandbar looked at her with a confused expression. The dragon only flopped down on her back beside him, looking up at the sky as well. "I dunno man, I- I mean, I guess it's alright." Ocellus smiled as she watched the two, finding it satisfying to finally see her stubborn client admit such a difficult thing for her. It wouldn't be difficult for Ocellus to say; and personally, she'd say far greater things. For now, what Smolder said would have to do.

The bell rang. Now, it was time for the second half of their classtaking to start. Sandbar sat up, and so did Smolder, both getting of their haunches and quickly standing. "So- I guess I'll see you when I see you?" Sandbar asked, lifting a hoof. Smolder smirked, offering him a fist bump. Sandbar returned the exchange, smiling happily.

"You'll see me later. That or tomorrow. After these next few classes, I'm definitely gonna crash out," she replied.

"Heh, alright, then."

And that was that. Smolder smiled as she saw Sandbar walk off, having one last chuckle. It was until Ocellus came up to her and poked her side with a hoof that she finally acknowledged she made a friend. Or- or something. "What did we learn?" Ocellus asked, a coy tone in her digtal voice. Smolder frowned, glancing over at her with a brow arched.

"What?"

The two began walking back into the school. "It's obvious, isn't it?" Ocellus asked. "You made a friend!" Smolder looked baffled.

"I did not!"

Ocellus giggled at such exerted denial. She decided not to push her little game any further lest she upset the dragon. But now she felt a little safer around her. Something she noticed; the last monologue she had professed to Smolder, the dragon hadn't interrupted in any way, surprisingly. It may as well have happened again through the next gaggle of speeches she was going to give.

Perhaps this time wasn't on purpose?

Eh.

Ocellus didn't like making assumptions. She'd definitely stick to the first notion.

It wasn't too late in the evening, now. Students would be out in Ponyville for dinner, perhaps, or downstairs in the main area chatting with each other about their first days. Smolder and Ocellus were on their way to the Headmare's office-for the third time that day-to see what dorms they had been assigned to, and who they'd be assigned with. Ocellus dreaded missing out on things, especially since she could've had the opportunity not to.

This was one of those times where she didn't, so, she earned herself a bit of a free pass. Smolder really seemed like she was in a hurry to find out where she'd be sleeping for this portion of school. Seen as she seemed so eager to rest after classes that afternoon. Ocellus couldn't blame her. It was a really busy day.

"Smolder, Ocellus!" Twilight called out from her office, realizing the two were now about to enter. She wasn't sitting at her desk this time. Probably organizing some papers as far as Ocellus could infer- she was hovering a few feet above the ground and from the looks of it, was trying to organize the books on her small little shelf. "What brings you two here? I'm lucky to have been here- I was just about to leave."

A below average sized, purple dragon with green spines portruding from his head all the way down to his tail deadpanned from his standing position on the floor. "Correction- she was just about to finish organizing these books. For the fifteenth time in one day."

Twilight sighed in exasperation, moving herself from the shelf and landing on her hooves in front of the two. "How can I help you two," she asked, smiling warmly.

"We need to know what dorms we were assigned to," Ocellus started with her digitally diplomatic tone. "Since we missed it earlier. We didn't realize we hadn't really known until earlier today."

Twilight looked surprised. "Oh, well... I thought you two knew you'd be assigned together. I mean, the dorm room part is understandable, but I just assumed you knew you'd be partners."

Smolder's pupils shrank about the smallest they could, her irises could almost be considered nonexistent. "You mean I gotta spend all day with this- this thing," she started, her voice already raising above level and catching Twilight's attention, along with her small draconic companion's. Ocellus couldn't lie- she was even a little caught off guard. "And I have to share a dorm with it?!"

Twilight looked bewildered, honestly. And so was Ocellus. She really thought they were getting closer that entire time. She guessed some creatures would take a bit to adjust to certain things, but this actually kind of hurt her.

Smolder sighed. "You know what? Whatever. Tin-can, get the keys."

Ocellus looked to Twilight, who trotted behind her desk and shuffled through a few drawers of her's. Then, finally looking as if she found something promising, she hovered back over and gave Ocellus the dorm keys once she touched down. "I should've remembered Starlight gave me these- said you two forgot to come and collect them, hehe. Bad Twi, Bad Twi," Twilight said playfully, trying her best to get Ocellus back into a happier mood.

"Thank you, Headmare Twilight," she said, at least thankful for the attempt.

As she trotted out of the office, she looked at Smolder, gaze softened. "Hop on?"

Smolder noticed that this time, it was more of an inquiry than a statement. As if Ocellus was trying to sympathize with her, or something. She was a robot, wasn't she? She couldn't have possibly gotten her feelings hurt over that little Freudian slip, right? Smolder sighed once again, then nodded, taking a seat on her bug-droid's back. Ocellus took off again, headed to their assigned dorm.

She didn't recall Twilight really telling them which dorm they should be looking out for, but she didn't exactly need to dwell on that. It said the room number right on the keys, after all. Ocellus had a mapped image of the entire school laid out in her mind, like she said before. So this wasn't exactly difficult for her.

As they arrived at the dorm, Ocellus gave one last look at Smolder to unlock the door.

The two walked in, and immediately noticed the affixed plug in the wall beside one bunk bed. Smolder sure had no idea what in Equestria the plug was for. Ocellus even sensed that she didn't get the idea. But it didn't matter now; it was virtually the only real important thing about her that Smolder needed to know about, so ot could wait until later.

The sun had just began to dip below the horizon, as they could see from their window. There were purple curtains, and one purple rug, which were about the only things that really decorated the room. That and the oak-wood study desk with the purple-shaded lamp. Now, the only thing really left to do before the night was over was to go over homework.

Ocellus really felt a bit... off, since their time at the office that evening. She could move past it for now; nothing too big. They'd probably grace on it a bit later, but not now. After all, she already knew the dragon wasn't very used to her being here. It would be a lot to move past, anyway. "So, I'm guessing it's homework time?: Smolder asked, sitting on the bottom bunk and crossing her arms.

Ocellus turned to her with a soft look, then nodded, gesturing at the dragon's satchel. "We'll... we'll start on Headmare Twilight's sunject. Page four."

And they continued to work on each and every subject, one by one until it was officially night time, and it was finally time for bed. Smolder was about ready to climb up onto her bunk and get to that sleeping portion of the always anticipated night, but Ocellus stopped her.

"W-Wait! I, um... I need you to do something, first."

Smolder arched a brow, hopping off the step ladder and crossing her arms. "What is it, tin-"

Ocellus bent over, lifting up her tail. "C-Charge me?"

Apple Science

Ocellus felt her circuits frying by the minute as she awkwardly stepped out of the dorm. If she wasn’t entirely made of metal (and therefore, weren’t so sturdy) she would’ve fallen over due to the intense force Smolder had put into charging her the other night. Ocellus didn’t find herself getting upset very often, but she was especially miffed that Smolder put the charger in the wrong way.

The dragon herself, awfully cranky, shoved past her with an awfully personal push. Ocellus squeaked, stumbling on her hooves. “Smolder! You’re supposed to be careful,” she whelped, spreading all four of her legs. She looked as if she was about to be pulled apart, all four limbs trying their best to clamp to the carpet so she wouldn’t fall.

“Not my fault you didn’t tell me how to charge you,” Smolder replied, leaning against the wall and gazing fondly down at her claws. She then turned her head to smirk at Ocellus, who wore an uncomfortable frown. The bugdroid’s elytra sprang out in a moment of desperation, and in a moment’s time she found herself gracefully hovering just a few feet above the ground in comparison to her not-so-graceful hoofwork. And as she glared annoyedly down at Smolder, she found her artificial chitin overheating.

“It’s not my fault you put it in too hard.”

Smolder’s smug grin didn’t falter. And Ocellus’ self-glorified resolve began to crumble under her confident stare. At this point, she knew she wasn’t going to come out of this in the right. Or, well, of course she was in the right but at this point it probably wouldn’t matter.

Yet, the dragon’s smug grin stayed persistently at her lips. Ocellus pouted as she continued hovering, her wing beats growing faster and more frequent as more time passed by. Even still, Smolder didn’t seem too bothered.

With a soft sigh, the changeling dropped back to the floor. She had a little bit of a tumble due to her legs still being a little weak, but she stood up straight, fixing her posture just like always. “It’s time for class, Smolder.”

“So you admit I’m right?” Smolder’s grin split her face even more than before. Ocellus’ left eye twitched as she feigned a small smile. “Go on. I’m waiting.”

Ocellus rolled her eyes as she turned her back to the dragon, spreading all four of her hooves again to gain a better surface area. She buzzed her elytra once again, looking back at Smolder. “Just get on.”

“Fine, fine.”

Smolder strode over with her satchel at her side, gripping it tightly as she took a seat on her bug-bot’s back. She was surprised Ocellus was able to hold her up- she was short enough that even as she sat on her, her paws still touched the floor.

Still, Ocellus broke into a rocket-powered hover. Cyan flames roared from the beds of her hooves like four electric blue flamethrowers. Smolder gripped on her midriff tightly to prevent herself from falling. She had learned the hard way the first time she fell off.

Ocellus let out a small giggle. “That tickles!”

Smolder ended up giggling herself. “Just take me to class, tin-can.”

And with that, they roared off, a small heatwave blasting through the halls as they zipped through the school. Students left and right looked at them with surprised and shocked stares when they passed, slack-jawwed and even a little jealous of the kid with anger-management issues.

She had a kickass robot to back her up.

Ocellus landed slowly by the door of their class, the electric blue fire under her hooves slowly dying out and dimming down. And when her hooves hit the floor, she ended up scorching the stone a bit.

“Oops…”

A light blue blush covered her cheeks as she sheepishly flicked her tail. Smolder pat her on the back as she hopped off her robotic ride. “I’m starting to like this new tech.”

Ocellus grinned proudly as she buzzed her wings. “If you like it so much, you should become a technician.” she chirped, her digitally augmented voice sounding a bit brighter and less artificial. Smolder found herself smiling on the inside just at the sound of her.

As they entered the classroom, they saw Sandbar smiling and waving at them from the back of the class. He leaned back on his stool as he grinned happily, looking like he was just about to fall on his back. The smile Ocellus wore only grew larger at seeing her familiar friend. She took her seat at the front row, eyes following Smolder as she sat at the desk directly placed behind her.

“Good mornin’ class.” The familiar apple-oriented earth pony, Professor Applejack, stepped up to her teacher’s desk. Ocellus didn’t know what it was, but for some reason her natural orange coat had some kind of glow to it. Somehow, Ocellus’ world just felt a bit brighter. And it wasn’t just Professor Applejack that was glowing.

Her desk, the apple on her desk, the walls, the windows. Somehow, in some way, Ocellus just felt...happier. Her software, her world view, everything. It just felt way better than it usually did. There was a tingly sensation in her chest area— perhaps she was experiencing a software update. Maybe said software update would allow her to shift her brightness to the different moods associated with different areas.

Something like that.

Just as it seemed like Professor Applejack was only talking about apples—

“Apples, apples, apples apples, apples, apples…”

—Which, she probably was,

Ocellus found herself drifting into a different state. Her peripheral vision allowed her to look at pretty much anything without turning her head, which was just about similar to the effect that having compound eyes would have on normal changelings. And as she just barely turned her head, she found herself staring very fondly at her client.

Smolder.

The dragon had her feet kicked up on the desk as she flicked her pencil around between each of her claws, one by one. She stared up at the ceiling as she did so, obviously bored about Applejack’s fruit lecture.

A small smile came to Ocellus’ lips as she continued to stare.

It was nice to have someone to help. To have someone that made all those software updates worth having. And it wasn’t just someone she was endlessly serving with nothing else to go to it. There was...something else there. Like the two were forming some kind of relationship.

Ocellus giggled quietly as she watched Smolder continue to flick her pencil back and forth.

“Ocellus.”

The bugdroid frantically averted her gaze to look at her professor.

“Can you tell me how someone discovered that an apple best represents the earth’s orbit?”

Ocellus felt her heart drop, as the chip on the side of her head turned a dim yellow. She wasn’t paying attention during any of that. Sure, she could just pull up an article from the internet and recite from there in a paraphrase, but at the same time…

“Plick!”

Ocellus’ ears flicked up. She felt something lightly tap the back of her head. She turned around to see a #2 pencil on the ground beside her stool. And as she looked up, she saw Smolder smirking at her, feet still kicked up at her desk.

Ocellus grinned back.

When she turned back to her professor, she cleared her throat.

“In reference to the apple, the moon, and the inverse square law, an earth pony stallion- and famous scientist - Newton, theorized about the earth’s orbit because of an apple falling onto his head as he was sitting under a tree in an apple orchard.”

Applejack smiled. “Five bonus points for accuracy. That’s right, class. Now I ain’t much of an expert on science, but I do know that…”

As Applejack continued on, Ocellus and Smolder continued on trading glances. The dragon held a proud grin. Ocellus felt her artificial heart flutter.