Tales of a robot

(Twenty Moons Later...)

It was my 180th birthday. I was a fully grown mare now. I was sitting in my cave playing my joyboy advance. Even after twenty moons, I still hadn't 100 percented all of the games. I had to though. Not just because I was bored but because I know Button would be proud.

I hadn't gone back to Ponyville since my 160th birthday. I was cutting it too close the last time. I still missed Button a lot. But I couldn't risk going back to see him. I looked over to my stash of apple cider. I was drinking it in small amounts over the moons.

Maybe that's what I should do tonight, I thought, thinking about how it might be fun to get drunk.

I had definitely seen a small change in my behavior over the past few moons. I noticed myself singing a lot more often. Back when I was living in Ponyville, I never realized how much my sanity relied on the voices of ponies. If I had to stay here with just my thoughts, I would definitely end up going nuts.

I also talked to my AI a lot. It was a great friend and companion. At least there was somepony to talk to.

I walked over towards the alcohol sitting in the corner. The cider was honestly one of the best drinks I had ever had. I understood why even non-alcoholic mares in Ponyville at least drank a little every moon. Even if not for the alcohol, the taste alone would keep you coming back. I remembered Apple Bloom telling me that the cider was made with only the best apples they could find in their orchard. That might be why it has such a limited stock each year. Of course, they always made sure to keep enough for themselves.

I debated whether or not to go back to Ponyville soon for more cider. It did get tiring drinking only water all the time. I needed something to help my taste buds not go dead. Between all the water I had to drink and all the grass I had to eat, I was beginning to forget what flavor was like.

What I wanna know is how Rarity programmed taste. I wonder why she settled on fashion. She has some serious computer skills.

I opened the last two bottles and proceeded to drink them both dry. Afterwards, I sat, content, leaning against the wall of my cave. I could feel my sensors going super fuzzy and I realized that I had better not try to leave the cave again tonight. I did need food but at least there was a big field of grass right outside my cave. I just had to walk for like five minutes.

I stood up slowly and began stumbling around. This could be problematic. I thought as I continued walking towards the door. At the very least, I could see. The cider didn't have a super high alcohol content, but drinking enough of it would still leave you plenty drunk. I was still a little dizzy though.

I laughed as I fell against the door and opened it with one hoof. I walked towards my field of grass and took a few bites. Bland as ever. I sighed and began half-walking, half-stumbling towards the cave again. I noticed a horrible smell as I drew closer to the cave.

I turned a corner to find myself face to face with three timberwolves. I gasped and clicked my command key quickly. Run: "Threat"

My guns popped out and began revving up. The timberwolves continued to growl and got ready to pounce. Usually, the threatening worked. But this time, the timberwolves weren't backing down. I clicked my command key once more.

Looking back, I realize that any sober pony would have used the shield. Too bad my brain was too messed up to think of anything other than the same exact thing that had gotten me into this situation. Run: "defense"

The guns began to shoot rapidly, not just destroying the timberwolves but completely decimating them. There was no way they would be able to put themselves back together after this one.

After the power surge, I felt incredibly drained. I changed courses and walked towards the river. I took a long drink. I had to make sure I could fully replenish my energy tonight. I walked back to my cave and picked up the joyboy. I thought nothing of what I had just done for a couple of hours.

Later on, I heard an ear splitting ding sound. My sensors clouded a little and a picture of an envelope appeared in front of my eyes. No matter what I did, I couldn't make it go away. I turned on my keyboard and clicked on it. It said,

Email!
From: Rarity
To: Sweetie_Bot

Sweetie Bot,
you really bucked up now...

**********

It is here that the perspective of this story switches for a little bit. These were things I did not know were happening at the time of the timberwolf incident. Eventually, I will come to learn of these events. This is how they were told to me...

(Ponyville... Sweetie Bot's 180th birthday... Cutie Mark Crusaders Clubhouse...)

Two mares sat in the clubhouse. Neither of them were speaking. Scootaloo was writing something down on a piece of paper and Apple Bloom was staring out the window. Since Sweetie Bot's disappearance, they had retired from crusading. It wasn't quite the same without Sweetie there. They had become private investigators. One thing was for sure, they were really good at spying on other ponies. Finally, Apple Bloom spoke.

"It's her birthday today." Scootaloo nodded but continued to stay silent. Apple Bloom continued. "I really miss her. I wish we could go see her." Scootaloo nodded and Apple Bloom threw her hooves in the air. "For Celestia's sake Scootaloo say something!"

"What do you want me to say? I don't like thinking about her. It makes me feel guilty."

"Why would you feel guilty?"

"Because, Apple Bloom! There were things we could've done! We shouldn't have let her go into that fight!"

"We need to leave the past in the past Scoots. Maybe we could sneak out and go see her?"

"There's no way I'm risking that. You heard what Mayor Mare said. The Everfree Forest is now off-limits. Anypony found in there will be banished from Ponyville and forced to live out there."

Apple Bloom sighed and looked down. "I know." She stamped a hoof. "It's an over exaggeration if you ask me! She's just trying to protect her office. Selfish bi-"

Scootaloo clapped a hoof to Apple Bloom's mouth. "Watch your language. What do you mean by protecting her office?"

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. "You never were good at politics. If another pony dies to the same problem as before, people are going to start thinking that she isn't doing enough to protect her citizens. Clearly, she's prohibiting the Forest so that there's no chance of that."

Suddenly, both ponies jumped as they heard a familiar sound coming from the forest.

The sound of gunshots rang out across Ponyville. Out in the streets, parents hugged their foals close to them. Everypony stood still in fright.

Rarity, in her boutique, heard the sounds and rushed to get her receiver. She knew exactly what the gunshots were from. Meanwhile, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were huddling on the ground of the clubhouse covering their ears. Apple Bloom looked over to the wall. She too, owned a couple guns. Along with Scootaloo. They had been trained to use them in case they came in contact with anything dangerous. Luckily, they had almost never left that shelf.

In the chaos to get down on the ground, Scootaloo had accidentally bumped into the wall, shaking one of the guns to the edge of its rack. The balance shifted and the gun fell. Somehow, on impact, the gun fired a single shot which broke through one of the walls. Apple Bloom yelled at Scootaloo, "What the buck Scootaloo? I told you to keep the safety on those!"

"Sorry!"

Finally, after three minutes, the sound stopped. Ponies everywhere were relieved as they let go of their foals. Mayor mare ran up to the town hall and began ringing the bell. That bell meant that there was a town meeting that night. Apple Bloom sighed as she realized she wasn't going to have the night off after all.

**********

(That night...)

"As I'm sure everypony knows, there were sounds of gunshots coming from the Everfree Forest today. Do not be afraid! We do not believe Sweetie Bot is behind this. Rarity," She turned towards the white unicorn. "You did disable her weapons system, Correct?'

Rarity nodded. "Y-Yeah I did."

Mayor Mare either didn't notice the stuttering in her voice, or she didn't care because she went on. "This is however a matter of public safety. We need to find out what's causing this disturbance and put an end to it." She turned to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. "Miss Apple Bloom. Miss Scootaloo."

"Yes ma'am?" The two said at almost the exact same time.

"As Ponyville's best investigators, I would like to request that you would venture into the Everfree and find out what is causing this."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded and began to walk towards the door. Mayor Mare called out one more thing.

"Make sure you're heavily armed!"

**********

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were sitting in the clubhouse again, packing their saddlebags full of snacks, water, and of course, weapons. Apple Bloom was fastening a band to her front left hoof that was the same color as her coat. Inside, it held a knife. It was a concealed weapon in case she was pinned down.

As Scootaloo was fastening the same accessory, Apple Bloom spoke. "Do you think it could be her?"

Scootaloo, without looking away from the band she was struggling with, said, "No. You heard Rarity, her system was deactivated."

Apple Bloom shook her head. "No. I don't believe Rarity. Celestia knows she's lied plenty of times before."

"Touche."

"If it is her, what will we do?"

Scootaloo shook her head. "I don't know. I guess we'll have to kill her then." Scootaloo growled in frustration as she continued to struggle with the band. "Stupid piece of shit!" She yelled, throwing it to the ground. The compartment opened and the knife clattered to the ground.

Apple Bloom stared at the knife and said, "We can't kill her. She didn't do anything."

Scootaloo shook her head. "I know. But it's our job."

Apple Bloom. "Buck this job! If we find her, we're going to leave her alone!"

They sat in silence for a while until Apple Bloom asked softly, "When did you stop caring?"

Scootaloo was taken aback by the question. "What do you mean?"

"When you said we would have to kill Sweetie Bot, you sounded so casual. Like it was just another job. When did you stop caring about her? What about her feelings?"

"What feelings? She's a robot. She doesn't have any feelings."

Apple Bloom gasped and smacked Scootaloo hard with her hoof. "Don't ever say that again. As far as I'm concerned, she was a real pony. If you want to act tough, then fine. But I know that the thought of killing your friend is tearing you up inside."

Scootaloo went silent once more. She turned away from Apple Bloom. A small tear ran down her cheek. As for Apple Bloom, it was more than one tear. Scootaloo could hear her crying softly. "Apple Bloom. I'm sorry." She attempted to put a comforting hoof around her friend's shoulder but it was smacked away.

Apple Bloom wiped her eyes on her foreleg. "We leave in the morning." She said as she walked out of the clubhouse.

**********

(The next day)

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked through the forest. They were laughing and telling jokes as if the night before had never happened. Apple bloom suddenly put a hoof up as she saw something. She led Scootaloo over to a shiny spot on the ground. Apple Bloom held up a small object.

A bullet.

They found more and more around there and eventually, they came to the pile of wood that used to be three timberwolves. The grass around the area was flattened. It had obviously been stepped on multiple times before. Apple Bloom gestured to Scootaloo to be quiet as they silently walked along the path of flattened grass.

Eventually, they came to a cave. The cave's mouth was blocked by a woven wall with a door in it. Apple Bloom looked to Scootaloo with fear in her eyes. They both nodded and pushed the door open.

What they saw in there, was a white bunch of metal asleep on the ground. There was mud all over its hooves and there were black stripes all over it.

At the sound of the door opening, the robot woke up and turned around.

Apple Bloom gasped.

"S-S-Sweetie Belle?"