I sigh as I walk into the Everfree Forest. My head hangs low as I walk through. The world around me begins to get darker as the trees begin getting thicker and thicker, blocking out the sun. Eventually, I see one more house. More of a shack really. Zecora's house. I thought as I knocked a hoof on the door.

No answer. I knock again. I look to my side and see a note taped to the window. I walk over and it says.

I moved back to my old village for a while.
Please don't enter my house while I'm gone.

P.S. Apple Bloom, feel free to enter. You
have my key. You are always welcome.

-Zecora

I walk over to the door and pull on the handle. It's locked and won't budge. In anger, I throw a rock on the ground. I walk deeper and deeper into the forest. I begin feeling a sense of dread as I walk through the forest. I knew what kinds of things live in here. It's a really dangerous place especially for a filly like me.

I eventually begin to walk off of the path. I wasn't going to find anything useful if I just stayed on the path. A lot of ponies used the Everfree Forest path as a shortcut to Las Pegasus. Assuming they had to go there by hoof. After a while of walking, I began to feel nervous.

It began to rain. Pretty Heavily I might add. I knew my waterproofing could protect against rain. But I didn't know if rain this heavy could break through it. After a couple more minutes, I found a cave off to the side. I ran inside. Run: "Heat"

After looking around with my thermal cameras and noticing there was nothing inside, I turned off my cameras and turned to my bag. I opened it up to see what Rarity had packed for me. Lots of water and food. There was also a really nice sleeping bag in there. Along with a really old picture of me and my friends as fillies next to Rarity. At the bottom of the bag, I smiled as I saw two bottles of apple cider. Rarity sure knows how to pack.

At the very bottom, I saw a small note. It was folded up very similar to the one I found in my front leg a few moons ago. I unfolded it and began to read.

Dearest Sweetie Bot,
If you're reading this, then things didn't quite
go how we wanted them to. I told you that I
was going to give you a few more upgrades
just in case. Before I tell you what I've given
you, please allow me to say a few more things.

I never meant for anything like this to happen.
I gave you your weapon system to make sure
you could defend yourself under extreme
circumstances. I know that I should have
told you what would happen. I take full
responsibility for what happened. That being
said, what you did was dangerous and
immature. I will continue to fight for you and for
your return to Ponyville. if you return, your
weapon system will be extracted.

I have left your system intact. I'm aware that you
might have need of them. Please don't use them
recklessly.

Finally, let me tell you about your new commands
and upgrades.

Run: "mag"
This command will activate the magnets I have
put into your hooves. While I don't know the use
of this, I think you'll find one.

Run: "Shield"
After your incident, I realized you needed a way
to defend yourself without murdering anypony.
This command will cause a shield to come out of
your horn. This shield is transparent and incredibly
sturdy. It will go in front of your face and will protect
you.

Run: "Mail"
You can send me messages. I have a receiver that is
connected to you so I will be able to message you
back.

Finally, there is one more command I want you to be
aware of.

Run: "Run"

The name is confusing, I know. I must tell you what
this one will do for you. This will override any free will
your body has.This sounds bad but let me explain. This
is another command to use under extreme danger. Your
sensors will guide you and your legs and you will run
away until you are completely out of danger. Think of
It like a "Flee" Button in those weird games you and
Button used to play.

I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I
acted very irresponsibly as your guardian but I think
you'll be okay.

Your loving sister,

Rarity.

(P.S. Check the side pocket of this bag. I hid some more
things for you."

I laughed a little as I walked around to the side of the bag and opened it. Inside, I found a tool kit. My eyes opened wide as I saw something that made my eyes light up. My joyboy! It was a gift from Button Mash. I laughed as I saw she had also packed my case full of games! Super Mare-io land! Pocket Monsters Blue, Red, and Yellow! The Legend of Delta: Jet stream's Awakening! Tetris!

The charger was wrapped up in another note.

There's a USB on the very top of your head
if you want to charge this. I don't understand
what you see in these games but have fun!

As much as I wanted to fire up the joyboy and play for hours, I had work to do. Sighing, I turned around and began to survey my surroundings more. The cave was small but I was the only pony inside it. Looking over to the mouth of the cave, there was water leaking in from the rain outside. I ran outside quickly and grabbed as many leaves as I could.

Rarity had taught me how to weave baskets for the winter wrap up. I figured I could do something similar to make a big makeshift door. I got to work. I found that I could run a data analysis on the knots to make sure they were as sturdy as possible. I put the thicker leaves around the edges and then put it against the mouth of the cave.

A perfect fit!

I walked outside to get some small sticks. I found four and pushed them through two knots in the bottom corners. I climbed to the top of my cave and hooked the other edges under some rocks I found. I had woven a small door in the wall I had made and, to my surprise, it was super functional.

I walked back inside, completely drenched. Luckily, it seemed my waterproofing was holding up incredibly well. I looked back towards the joyboy. I still wanted to play that thing so badly. I decided against it however and pressed and held my command key.

Me: AI?

Yes Sweetie Bot.

Me: Are we going to be okay?

I think we will. Tell me though, did you mean what you said earlier? Do you really think you would have been better off getting destroyed.

I sigh.

Me: I don't know. I still need to get used to never seeing anypony ever again. But for now, I need to download a few new commands.

Good luck Sweetie Bot!

Run: "mag"
Run: "shield"
Run: "Mail"
Run: "Run"

All four download bars began filling up and then they finished. I continued typing. Run: "Free"

Command: |

Command: Threat

Define: Threat?

Threat=Deploy(Component:Defense)

Threat= Guns deploy but do not shoot? yes/no

I click yes and it begins to download. I figured I could use it in case I ran into timberwolves or something along those lines.

Run: "EXIT"

**********

Over the next few moons, I began to adjust to my new lifestyle. I did have a few timberwolf encounters but I used my "Threat" Command and it worked like a charm. I continued to grow as well. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about Apple Bloom. Or Scootaloo. I still hadn't brought myself to message Rarity. I wasn't sure whether to be mad or forgiving with her. I wished she would give the receiver to Button. I want to talk to him just one more time.

I was enjoying being free for once though. No school or chores. No responsibility. In fact, I sat around most days playing my joyboy.

After almost eight moons, it was finally my 160th birthday. I decided I would do something special. I would go back to Ponyville. Not publicly of course. I would sneak into town and maybe get myself a gift of some sort. I looked over to my apple cider. I had decided to save it for a special occasion so it sat untouched.

As the sun was going down, I grabbed my saddlebag, left my cave, and began walking back towards Ponyville.

**********

As I approached the town, I didn't really see many ponies outside. In fact, I didn't see anypony. However, I did remember needing to duck off of the path near the nightmare night statue. I saw some green pegasus with a red mane walking by. I might have been crazy from living in the woods, but I thought I saw princess Luna walking with him. I shook the image out of my mind as I set my sights on the place across from the rest of the town.

Sweet Apple Acres.

I snuck through the shadows. There may not have been anypony outside but that doesn't mean that they wouldn't be able to look out their windows and see me. When I reached the orchard, I made my way towards the barn. I knew the apples kept their cider in here and I took a few bottles.

I sat in the barn for a little bit, contemplating my next move. I decided to sneak towards the game store. I knew that a new game was coming out. The legend of Delta: Tears of the Junkyard. I began to sneak towards there. I remember Button telling me about a secret entrance in the back where the owner let him sneak in to play the arcade machines whenever he wanted.

I snuck around to the back and sure enough, there was a small hole in the wall leading to a small tunnel. I crawled through it and emerged in the game store. I looked around the game store until I found what I was looking for. The game! I put a copy into my saddlebag and began to walk towards the tunnel again. I stopped as I saw a light coming from the back room.

I was curious. Have you ever heard the term, "Curiosity killed the cat?" Well curiosity could very well be a problem for me as I began to walk towards the light in the back room.

When I opened the door, I was shocked to see a small brown earth pony sitting on a stool near an arcade machine. As I opened the door, he jumped, causing the propeller hat he was wearing to fall off of his head. "S-S-Sweetie Belle?"

I smiled. As more ponies were beginning to call me Sweetie Bot, he was the only one who still kept my name. I look at him happy and nod. He looks at me and frowns. I click my command key. Run: "Data"

This pony seems to be, distressed, concerned, happy, and also very afraid.

My smile falls as I look at Button closer. "You're afraid of me?" I asked, hurt.

He looks down and says, "Well, there's never any telling what you'll do."

"Button! The judge went over this. It wasn't my fault! I didn't know what would happen!"

"That doesn't mean something like that couldn't happen again."

I needed to change tactics. If I was going to get through to him. I needed something to remind him of the good old days. I did of course, know one thing that could take his mind off of anything. I gestured over to the Nintendo 64 in the corner. I levitated over one of the boxes beside it that read, "Fighting Is Magic"

"One game?"

Button looked hesitant at first but after a second, he slowly nodded. He walked over and picked up two controllers. He plugged them into their respective ports and started the game. As usual, I was horrible at the game compared to him. But he was in my trap now. He kept insisting on one more game. Looking back now, I think a big part of him was happy I was back. Eventually, he had no choice but to talk to me.

"So how have you been?"

"Fine. How about you? Where have you been these past few moons?"

I sighed. "Living in a cave in the Everfree Forest."

Button laughed. "Good thing we played so much Minecraft when we were younger."

"It's not as easy as it is in the game. I can tell you that much."

"GAME!" The sound from the tv almost made me jump out of my seat. Even though I expected it. Button turned to me.

"You know Sweetie Belle, I don't think I was really afraid of you."

"Oh?"

"I think I was just afraid to talk to you again. It's been eight moons and you haven't sent me as much as an e-mail."

"Right! Because I totally have a computer in a cave."

Button looked through my bag. "I heard you rummaging around out there. What were you looking for?"

"Well, since it's my birthday, I thought I would grab myself a gift."

He pulled out the new Legend of Delta game. "Did you pay for this?" As I shook my head, he laughed. "Now that's the Sweetie Belle I know and love. I swear! Nothing will get between you and this game series will it?"

I laugh and shake my head. My processors were still turning one word over in my head. He said, love. I was unsure why, but I could still feel feelings for him. But, was I really feeling?

Before I had any time to react, Button leaned over and kissed me. It felt strange feeling the fur against my metal skin. But it also felt a little natural. Like it was still meant to happen. He pulled back and his face turned red. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"

I laughed. My eyes lowered a little. "That's alright Button. I'm okay with it."

I pulled him back in and we kissed again. Eventually, he said, "Is this wrong? I'm making out with a robot!"

I laughed. "You heard Rarity, I'm basically lifelike." The passion I once felt for him came flooding back into my head as I said, "You know, I'm 160 now. Do you wanna-"

He cut me off. "Okay! I'm sorry but I'm definitely not doing that With a robot. I'm really sorry. That would just be too weird."

I close my eyes. I was a little bit sad about getting turned down but I definitely saw where he was coming from. I looked over to the clock on the wall. 4:00. It would be daytime soon. "I'm sorry Button. I have to go."

"Wait! When can I see you again."

I turn back. "I don't know if you ever will. It was reckless of me to come back here. Goodbye Button."

I crawled through the tunnel and began walking towards the forest.

**********

I entered my cave as the sun was rising. I opened my left saddlebag and put the contents on the floor. I had taken exactly four bottles of apple cider and added them to my little box at the side of my cave. I also took out my new game. I levitated my tool kit towards myself. I know these screwdrivers are for repairing myself if necessary, but they were also good for opening stubborn plastic packaging.

A look of confusion spread across my face as I looked at the contents of the box. There was, of course, the game manual. But there was also the cartridge. It looked just like my normal joyboys cartridges but it was shorter. I tried and tried to fit the cartridge into my joyboy but it wasn't doing anything. Frustrated, I walked over to my apple cider. I finally opened one of the older bottles and began to drink some of it.

I kicked my saddlebag in frustration. I was confused when the right saddlebag dragged on the floor a little. I didn't remember putting anything in it. I walked over and opened it. There were video games in it. I don't remember stealing all of these, I thought. I sifted through a lot of them. Super Mare-io Odyssey, Super Mare-io kart, The legend of Delta, Skyward Sword HD. There were a ton of games in there. All of them looked brand new. Five big games that also caught my eye were, Super mare-io Advance 1-4 and The legend of Delta: Breath of Fresh Air. I laughed as I began to open all of the games.

I growled in frustration as I saw that they were all shaped just like the other cartridge. None of them would be able to fit in my joyboy. I pulled all of the game out of the bag and saw one more box. It was bigger than the rest of the games. It was a little heavier too. I read the words on the box. "Joyboy Advance."

I saw a small note attached to the box that said, "To Sweetie Belle"

Button, I thought as I smiled.

I unfolded the note and began to read,

Dearest, Sweetie Belle,

You might need this. Don't worry! I paid for the joyboy
and the games. I miss you! I hope you decide to come
back when you're 170!

(P.S) I still love you.

I gasped as I read the last line of the note. I smiled and could feel myself getting a little woozy from his words. One thought would always remain in my head though. I don't really feel anything.

I decided to ignore my thoughts for the time being and I opened the joyboy. As I thought, the cartridge slot could fit my new games. I smiled as I played it through the night.

***********

Things do seem to be going nicely don't they? Things would keep going like this for about twenty more moons. I would relax in my cave and only go out to find water or food. Neither were ever really hard to find. The Everfree Forest was packed with exotic types of berries.

At this point, I've told you most of my backstory. There is but one part I haven't explained.

The part where everything goes wrong...

(To Be Continued...)

Author's Note

Fun fact: Pokemon stands for pocket monsters. Hence the reference in this chapter.

Yes, I'm aware that "tears of the kingdom" is a switch game but seeing as joyboys are already a thing, I figured a joyboy advance would make more sense.

And yes. I referenced "The Alicorn Prince" In this chapter. Sue me!

Ps. I love hearing from you all! If you liked it, leave a comment :)