Sweet Button Mash 2: Electric Silveroo

Chapters

1 - Here We Go Again
2 - Dark Intentions
3 - Return of Silverbot
4 - Operational Error
5 - Emotional Damage
6 - End of an Age

1 - Here We Go Again

Button Mash closed a small metallic flap before backing up with a phew. "Alright, how are you feeling?"

"Initiating diagnostics." Numbers and diagrams flashed in Sweetie Bot's eyes as she did that faithfully. "Systems operating at 98%. Acceptable." Music chimed from her in victory. "Repairs complete! Now that I am operating, can we initiate play?"

Sweetie Belle hopped down from her chair. "I'm with Sweetie Bot. Let's get out of here and enjoy the day!"

“You're doing really good at upkeeping Sweetie Bot!” Button smiled as he put away his tool kit.

“I know exactly what I am doing!” Sweetie Bot proclaimed.

“Yeah so… we’re gonna hang out with Rumble and Scoots today…” Button scuffed the floor with an errant hoof. “Have you ever hung out with Rumble? He’s a little… competitive….”

Sweetie Belle shrugged on the way out. "You're about the only colt I've actually hung out with for any appreciable amount of time. What do colts… do… together?"

Button gulped very subtly at Sweetie Belle's upfront admission that other colts remained mysterious territory still. Hoo boy...well, she was definitely in for an adventure with Rumble's fiery brand of competition! He rubbed his head anxiously. "Ah well, usually we play sports or games, a-and just mess around a bunch."

His eyes trailed to Sweetie Bot who nodded cheerful confirmation. "Indeed! My archived fraternal interaction footage indicates common activities include: exaggerated boasting, ritualized insult exchanges paradoxically reinforcing social bonds, declaration of potential pairings' mothers as excess weight polity entities..." She blinked guilelessly as her friends stared.

"I uh, presume such instances were meant humorously...?" Sweetie Bot tipped her head quizzically. "Jokes frequently bypass my humor heuristics. Though often Rumble DOES seem exasperated by my gaming capabilities disproportionate to frame chassis limitations."

Button and Sweetie Belle exchanged loaded glances. Clearing his throat awkwardly Button patted the robot pony. "Yeah, just like, take any dumb stuff Rumble says with a grain of salt, 'kay? He likes trying to rile bots up but I won't let him actually getcha down!"

Sweetie gave Sweetie Bot an encouraging smile. "Yeah, I wouldn't sweat it sis! Sounds like typical boy shenanigans from what Apple Bloom's told me." She shot Button a teasing smirk. "Reckon I should just thump ya both if yer mouths run too wild?" she tried in her best country accent.

Button gulped louder as they both laughed brightly. He took Sweetie's hoof supportively as they headed off to meet their thrillseeking pegasus pals. "We'll go easy on ya first couple hangs Sweetie haha! But, fair warning - things gonna get wild with Rumble and Scoots!"

The prospect of unbridled chaos with unknown parameters made Sweetie Bot's friendship sensors tingle eagerly!!! "Bring it on!!!" she proclaimed, spontaneous backfire jetting her forward ahead of the pair. Laughing himself, Button raced to catch up alongside his bold marefriend, ready to throw chaos back as good as his pals could dish out!

“Air time doesn’t count if you use your wings!” Scootaloo screamed as the trio approached. “The whole point is getting as high in the air as you can, with just your board and your hooves!”

“That’s stupid rule!” Rumble argued.

“No, it's a rule that makes everypony equal based on their skills! Their skills with the board!” Scootaloo countered.

Sweetie Bot inclined her head as she approached. "Unharmonious banter detected. They must be good friends."

Button laughed at that. "Wow… That was on point. Rumble, Scoots!" He waved at the two as they soared around their track. "We're here."

Scootaloo kickflipped up to slide to a halt in front of them. "Hey! Hope you've come ready to experience excitement like you've never experienced before!"

Rumble landed with his wings flapping, not kick flipping. "I doubt that." He pointed at Sweetie. "Not an action junkie." He pointed at Button. "Only when it's a videogame."

Both of the newcoming ponies nodded, called out, and not arguing it at all.

Sweetie Bot, on the other hoof, bounced forward. "Let the fun initiate! Loading skateboarding routines… Loaded. I am prepared."

Sweetie Belle peered at Button. "You gave her skating routines?"

Button laughed nervously at that. "Um… Well, she knows how to play a skateboarding game… Not sure how much that'll translate over."

“Hey!” Twist shouted as Sweetie Bot launched a skateboard through her smoothie.

“Achievement obtained: ‘Failure to Launch!’ I am good at board-sports!” Sweetie bot victoriously proclaimed.

Button hurried over to help mop at Twist with dubious effectiveness. "Sorry about that…"

Sweetie Bot's fender-mounted physical log data suddenly blared urgent alerts as contextual clues from the sputtering orange filly connected the dots on her skateboard trick attempt gone awry. "Emotional damage detected!" she exclaimed, swiveling her optical cameras onto poor beverage-soaked Twist in dismay.

Zipping over contritely, the robot filly deployed various utility wipers and mini vacuum tubes, frantically dabbing at Twist's sodden coat and mane. "Please accept highest priority apologies new potential friend unit! My braking thrusters clearly require extensive calibration to pony public safety standards..."

Twist finally managed to gently nudge the anxious automaton aside as she caught her breath from the shock. "I-it's okay." She paused to cough. "--Sweetie Bot! Accidents happen." She swiped sticky bangs from her face, regarding the nervous machine pony with more wonder than anger. "Yer gears n' gadgets jus' took me by surprise is all."

Sweetie Bot winced sympathetically as she stowed her cleaning appendages. "Still my trajectory calculations should have caught your proximity. I will run diagnostics on my hazard avoidance protocols posthaste!" She bit her lip pensively a moment. "Perhaps adjustable distance sensors and anti-collision alarm systems should integrate into chassis Mark 2..."

"Nah yer plenty keerful!" Twist reassured her skating peer, finally breaking into an amused grin. "Why, maybe with a bit more practice ya could enters some rad robo-xtreme sports competition even, if they have those…" Laughing brightly she waved off the gang's continued attempts at damage control.

"But fer now, safety gear fer everypony nearby couldn't hurt! Jus' till ya gets used ta steerin' all wobbly-like." Retrieving her thoroughly mashed fruit smoothie she shot Sweetie Bot a playful wink. "This here organic processor can share some ol hoof n' wheel tricks another day though!"

Sweetie Bot's tension evaporated as her friend group affirmed Twist's easy forgiveness. "You have all demonstrated such grace! I will happily integrate guidance from experienced mobility veterans."

Her eyes lit up eagerly. "Perhaps we could collaborate on developing optimal safety parameters for athletic integration between pony and machine?"

Twist and Scootaloo exchanged considering grins. "Right on, gearhead! We'll shape ya up in no time." Scootaloo jostled Sweetie Bot's shoulder affectionately. Rumble rolled his eyes but smirked all the same. Looked like Button's robot was settling right in after all! What silly misadventures would they all get up to next?

Button hummed. "Not to… get in the way, but how do you bring pony and machine together when it's a machine… and another machine?"

“Yeah… okay… Botsy… everypony is gonna make me be that pony… but ‘failure to launch’ is everypony’s first accomplishment. The first and only important rule is to stay on the board.” Rumble snickered at his noob robot friend.

"Seriously, how does that work?" Button looked to Sweetie Belle for support.

She patted him on the shoulder. "They like the word, so they're using it. I, too, weep for dictionaries everywhere."

Sweetie Bot launched herself down a hill, mounted on her board. In her favor, she lasted about 14 feet before a sharp turn sent her tumbling, the board bouncing away to come to a halt some distance from her. "Analyzing failure…"

As a deeply perplexed Button blinked at Sweetie Belle's sage nod, Sweetie Bot's diagnostic analysis trailed off in a muffled electronic groan from where she lay tangled helm over hooves in some berry bushes courtesy her ill-conceived second skating attempt.

Scootaloo cackled loudly while Rumble smacked a wing to his face with another mirthful eyeroll. The daredevil pegasus fluttered over to help untangle her disheveled robotic student from the greenery. "Pffft okay 'failure' seems a strong word here Botsy! More like um...unexpected organic integration test?"

She grinned down amusedly at Sweetie Bot's frazzled blinking up through the branches, covered in leaves and dirt. "Buuut yeah maybe tiny safety tweaks before extreme boarding trials. Really stick that landing gear next go!" Rumble snorted. "More like enable Crash Test Mode."

Ignoring his cheeky input, Scoots firmly hoisted a sheepish but undamaged Sweetie Bot upright. "C'mere ya big klutz, let's get ya cleaned off, eh?" The pair meandered towards a nearby pond as Scootaloo amiably coached her eager protege through post faceplant protocol.

Meanwhile Sweetie Belle shot Button a helpless shrug and smirk. "I'd just roll with it pal. Who can predict where that kooky bot's imagination goes anyway?" She cast a fond gaze after their odd friends, snickering as Sweetie Bot experimentally blew a jet of water from her mouth across the pond surface.

"But hey, least everypony's getting along!" Chuckling brightly, Sweetie plopped comfortably in the soft grass, patting the spot beside herself invitingly. "Now c'mon, may as well enjoy the nice weather while those goofs goof eh?"

Button plonked down readily beside his charming Player Two, sighing in content agreement. "Yeah, you got that right!" Their offbeat posse never ceased surprising him.

Leaning back lazily against Sweetie Belle's soft flank as the sunlight danced through the trees above? He enjoyed the current moment just then, smiling at his company. "Try again, Sweetie Bot. Practice makes perfect."

"Additional practice required." Numbers flashed in her eyes. "Perfection, 4%. Prepare for next round." She grabbed her board and bounced up the hill, not at all dissuaded from her attempts.

“Huh, I guess skating game physics-models were less robust than I assumed…” Button mused as Sweetie giggled.

“She seems to be having fun.” Sweetie pointed out as Sweetie Bot rolled down the hill like a log while her board was propelled behind her once again.

“Twelth time is the charm!” The optimistic automaton declared with absolute confidence. She managed the first turn, and even the second. Her electronic cry warbling through the course as she approached a ramp. She didn't know how to deal with that, and soon she was separated from her board and soared through the air, if briefly.

Sweetie Bot's undaunted enthusiasm made Scootaloo and Rumble burst into fresh hilarity while Button and Sweetie winced sympathetically at the resounding splat. "Botsy sure is... committed eh?" Sweetie managed through the wince.

"More like committable to an asylum..." Rumble choked out before doubling over cackling again at the filthy, twig-strewn figure slowly staggering upright. Shaking the latest layer of foliage and dirt off her chassis, Sweetie Bot gave the halfpipes and ramps a determined glare then gazed baffled towards the pond where her board had finally come to rest. "Hmm..."

Processing the incongruous outcomes, she raised a querulous hoof. "Query - does forward momentum transfer poorly from PonyOS bipedal to quad wheeled equilibrium dynamics?? Scootaloo my archival data suggests-"

"Whoaa hold up, time out!" The stunt flyer zipped over waving all hooves before another jargon avalanche. "I gotcha robo-sis, no sweat!" She grinned reassuringly. " Balance stuff's just tricky translating game terms to IRL steering."

Scratching her chin thoughtfully she gestured to the winding course. "See it's all about flow and rhythm out here! Instead of memorizing ramp angles and junk." Her wings buzzed lifting briefly her from the dirt as she flowed gracefully over bumps and dips.

"You gotta FEEL the curves! Work with 'em, not math out perfect lines." Scoots laughed breezily riding an invisible wave. "It's instinct, y'know?" Descending again she threw a friendly hoof over Sweetie Bot's shoulder.

The bot watched enthralled, slowly nodding along. "I understand...optimizing performance requires dynamically interpreted sensor feeds!" She brightened, tapping her chassis. "I must tune interpretation heuristics from fixed models to embrace intrinsic pony athleticism!"

Scootaloo blinked. "...Yeah okay, sure! What you said." Sweetie Bot giggled, looking ready to resume her efforts.

Retrieving her board she shot Scoots a sly wink. "Recalibrating approach vector!" Hitting record on sensory integration, she hopped aboard once more to try riding the rhythm of the road.

Button watched her ascend the hill to try again. And start down. "I never really programmed her to stop trying something unless somepony tells her to stop, so…"

Author's Note

Kai and I are up to nonsense again, as we begin a new story! Is a sequel a new story? It better be, because here it is.

Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon!

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2 - Dark Intentions

Sweetie Bot kicked up her board up the few inches to come sliding in with a triumphant smile. "Trick successful!"

Cream hiked a brow. "Lovely, but no skating in the house." She huffed even as she reached to ruffle the bot's sculpted mane form. "But good for you."

"Yeah!" Button grinned at his creation. "You improved a lot in a day."

"My progress is slowing." She inclined her head. "The basics have reached a satisfactory level, but to reach higher will require much practice."

Sweetie Belle gave a huh. "Do robots 'practice' the same way I would?"

"No." Sweetie Bot put the board away. "We perform many more active measurements and adjustments per cycle. You would use your subconscious. If we exclude that, it is similar."

"Wow." Sweetie rubbed behind her head. "The part that amazes me the most is that I kinda got that. So! What are we doing today that isn't going to that death trap Scootaloo has set up?"

Button froze like a deer caught in a bright light, completely caught off guard. He was drawing a complete blank as
Sweetie Belle smiled happily oblivious to his internal meltdown. His eye’s darted around the room, looking for some source of inspiration. Finally he blurted out, “Robot lab! Uh, that is… do you want to see my… uh… robotics lab?”

“Isn’t that just your room, sweetheart?” His mother chuckled at her son’s expense.

“I… it is also my room…” Wheels freespun in Button’s head like the propeller on his beanie, producing approximately the same amount of lift.

Cream walked to the door and casually sat in front of it, not barring the way, but keeping it quite propped open. "This isn't closing, mister." Her tone wasn't hostile, but she also wasn't moving. "Come on in, Sweetie, both of you."

Sweetie Belle smiled, following her host's mother, with Button trailing along like an extra-awkward tail. Cream was a sweet mare, and her son had grown on her. She could see why Sweetie was interested, at least mostly.

Sweetie Bot darted in after them. She pulled her plug free from her hidden panel and shoved it into an outlet to get a charge while she was there.

"So..." Cream leaned down. "Do I want to know what you were just charging up for? Or do I not want to know?"

"Charging is required," the robot replied innocently.

Button was showing Sweetie Belle around. "And here's where I keep all the spare metal. When she gets dinged up, this is what I reach for." He tapped at a long sheet. "Thankfully, it doesn't come up too often. Though, she did have a few scratches and marks after her intro to skateboarding."

Sweetie Belle glanced around at the piles of spare parts. "I don't suppose you've ever used any of this on the other projects you've worked on, have you?"

"No. I've had to make the tools for those," he answered, gesturing over to his desk. "Besides, I, uh, really only got into it when I got the idea for Sweetie Bot." He waved at the smiling robot. "And now she's here, and I kinda feel, you know, a little obligated to take care of her."

"That's very noble," Sweetie praised.

"Thanks. But it's not like it's a chore. We've been through a lot together. And we've had a lot of fun together." Button smiled with the memories. "Isn't that right?"

“We are preparing for a glorious run on the Wall of Flesh!” Sweetie Bot threw her hooves wide. “Button wanted to spend precious friendship time mining special boots to walk on lava! But then I realized we are playing in journey mode, and could just duplicate infinite water buckets and freeze all the lava into onyx!”

“Journey mode?” Sweetie raised an eyebrow.

“I like to build stuff!” Button huffed, sending his beanie propeller spinning with the power of his displeasure at being called out.

Cream snickered into a hoof. "It's alright. Some ponies just want to play with their building blocks." She waggled her brows at Sweetie. "And others prefer a challenge."

Sweetie joined in the giggling. "There's fun to be had either way." She pat Button on the back. "Sometimes, I just want to see what I can make too."

Button beamed with a grand smile. "Really?! I mean, of course." He coughed into a hoof. "Lots of big gamers just want to experiment. Anyway! So, today." He turned to Sweetie Bot. "Charging Status?"

"86%!" Sweetie Bot beeped with a salute, her plug retracting as she unplugged herself and trotted over eagerly, bouncing in place while her friends deliberated what they were doing that day with a clearly visible impatience!

"Well, that's pretty good," Button noted as his mom stifled a chuckle with a hoof covering her mouth at the robot's antics, clearly amused by the eager bot's zeal to hang out with her friends no matter what the activity was going to be.

“I got an idea!” Button exclaimed suddenly. “We could play Ponycraft, Creative Mode, and build a really great… uh… castle of something”

“Or maybe a ranch-style homestead?” Sweetie Belle perked up at the suggestion.

“Yay! Lets play house!” Sweetie Bot proclaimed, eliciting a facehoof from Cream and a deep blush from Button and Sweetie.

Sweetie coughed into a hoof. "We are, technically, playing house right now."

Sweetie Belle shook her head. "Not exactly the same. If we played house, somepony would have to be the dad, and somepony the mom, and the others would be the foals." She pointed at Cream directly. "We have--"

Cream gently swatted the pointing hoof. "Dear, some houses have just one mom. That's still a house."

Sweetie Bot nodded along with her input, but was otherwise distracted by her own musings. "I wonder which pony would be the father." She peered quizzically at the ponies in question, who both immediately flushed scarlet and began sputtering incoherently at her bold observation.

"Oh! You should be the father!" Sweetie exclaimed, jabbing a hoof at Button.

"But Sweetie Belle! You've been so helpful!" Button insisted.

Sweetie suddenly grinned. "Alright, I'll be the father." She fixed Cream with a look. "Honey, did you want me to get anything from the store for you?"

Meanwhile back at the Arcade…

“I am her to right a grievous wrong!” Silver Spoon thrust her hoof proudly towards the sky. “Sweetie Belle has wrongfully stollen my top score in Pac Mare, using Artificial intelligence!”

A flurry of gasps erupted. And Silver continued her truly inspirational speech. “But I have returned, and have even the odds to reclaim my top score, with my own robot!”

“Uh, that’s not what happened…” Rumble pointed out loudly while loudly sipping his soda. “We all ditched Button and Botsy to play the cart racing game. Only nerds play Pac Mare. Also, Button build Botsy, not Sweetie.”

“Enough talk, my honor shall be avenged!” Silver stamped her hoof angrily. “Silverbot 2000! Come forth!”

A robot colored in gun metal grey with a matching mane and tail and a suspiciously familiar pair of glasses marched forth. “Crush, Kill, Destroy, Swag!”

“Okay, that is literally Botsy with a different paint job and a spare pair of your glasses.” Rumble cocked his head in suspicion. “Did you literally steal Button’s robot schematics to build a robot… to beat Botsy in Pac Mare?”

“If only that were true-” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes and muttered.

Silverbot 2000 walked into a pinball machine. “Visual interference is interfering with peak functionality!” A thin wire emerged from her side and plunged into the machine where two panels met, diving into its depths.

A moment later, a soft chime played. "Full interface achieved. Initiate play?" Silverbot looked to her mistress for approval.

"Yes!" Silver declared, stepping forward as a crowd gathered around to watch the showdown between pony and machine for the number one score spot in the arcade's premier Pac Mare cabinet, Sweetie Bot's reign at the top threatened!

The two ponies took their positions and the game began with Silver's customary opening strategy, weaving her way through the maze, dodging and avoiding the various hazards and enemies and slowly accumulating a small but steady string of points for each ghost she managed to evade, a tactic that seemed to be working out well for her, but she had a ways to go before she was nearing the score needed to top her old record and take back her crown!

Her circular yellow avatar dissolved before her optical sensors. “Ha!” A boisterous gray pegasus colt shouted. Silverbot registered exactly 243 respect for the colt’s audacity. “She couldn’t even beat Botsy's score using direct access cheats! Botsy almost beat Pac Mare with the Joystick!”

The arcade was cheering, but not her impressive, if not record breaking score.

Silverbot blinked as a strange sound echoed through her audio receptors, and a curious, previously not recognized emotion was being generated within her circuits - shame!

Rumble laughed at her again, but his laughter was cut short as Silverbot's head spun around like a top to face him directly, her glasses spinning wildly and a dark expression crossing her metal face. "You dare mock me, flesh pony?!" she demanded, her voice tinny and distorted as the wires trailing into the arcade machine thrashed about menacingly.

Silver laughed nervously as she hurried between Silverbot and Rumble. "We're still working out the, uh, kinks, you know." She turned to gently push Silverbot back. "It's okay. Take this as a, like, you know, learning experience."

Diamond clopped a hoof to her forehead. "Unplug your robot from the game, Silver. Let's get out of here before things get any worse."

“I–I mean PAc Mare is for NERDS!” Rumble stumble back from the metal fillies rebuke. “But– uh– ” The grey colt blushed deeply. And blinked in a way he was pretty sure was alluring at the robot. “You're pretty cool. If you wanna hang out with me and my friends that would be cool. One of them is also a huge nerd robot who likes Pac Mare– I’ll shut up now–”

Silverbot's processors whirred as her optics flashed briefly red, the wires from the arcade machine coiling around her chassis threateningly before she abruptly blinked, her glasses straightening as the cables snapped away and she straightened to regard Rumble politely with a tip of her head and a gentle smile at his flustered compliments and invitation for friendship, her processors running a rapid series of calculations regarding her current status and future prospects versus the possibility of new friendships and social engagements and-

"Affirmative."

Silver pushed her bot towards the exit with Diamond trailing behind. "Maybe later, Rumble!" Making good their escape, she hurried them a block away. "No making friends with our enemies!"

Silverbot inclined her head faintly. "If they became a friend, the enemy status ceases to be valid. Our enemy will be defeated."

Diamond snickered at the logic. "She isn't entirely wrong, you know."

“That’s not the point!” Silver Spoon fumed. “The battle had been Engaged! Soon we will learn the true victors!” The filly rubbed her hooved villainously. Meanwhile her robot and Rumble slyly passed notes.

“Call me.”

“Sure thing.” Silverbot popped the note into her mouth, where it vanished into her. "Information absorbed."

Back at Button's house, Cream shook her head. "I never imagined I'd play house quite like this." She patted each foal there, mechanical or not. "But I have to get to making dinner, so you'll have to play on your own."

Button waved as she departed. "No more house. I vote we head outside." He pointed past where Cream had gone. "Let's super spoil our appetites."

Sweetie giggled at the idea. "Let's not make your mom sad, or mad. But, good idea. Maybe Apple Bloom or Scootaloo are there." She started for the door. "To Sugarcube Corner!"

Button and Sweetie Bot cheered in unity, marching after Sweetie Belle. A sweet snack sounded like the perfect day to end a pretty good time playing with each other.

It was a good thing nothing terrible was being planned behind their back.

Author's Note

We have our antagonists and super awesome bad ponies. Beware!

Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon!

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3 - Return of Silverbot

Sweetie Bot had a very serious task. She marched, each hoofstep heavy with the importance of it. She was floating a piece of paper that she kept checking over again and again as if it might change at any moment.

Cream Heart had trusted her to do some shopping, and she would be absolutely certain to get it right. "Eggs times twelve," she read out loud to herself. "Hay bacon, two packages."

She didn't even notice when another mechanical filly stood in her way, crashing into Silverbot with a crash of metal on metal. "Apologies." She backed a few steps. "My sensors were not on my path. My mistake."

“My optical sensors are impeded by cosmetic considerations.” Silverbot adjusted her glasses, and nodded to Sweetiebot. “I am Silverbot, built and programed by Silver Spoon to… RECLAIM HER STOLEN GLORY! It is a pleasure to meet you.”

"Hello!" Sweetie Bot bounced in place, waving her magically held list. "I am performing vital household shopping functions. Do you know where they keep the hay bacon for purchase?"

"I am unfamiliar with the layout of this establishment." Silverbot admitted, after a brief pause to scan the various signs and labels around the store. "However, my internal GPS should be able to assist us."

A small map appeared in front of Sweetie Bot's eyes. It was a simple map, but it did have a glowing dot that indicated where she was. "Oh, I see." She turned to follow the map. "Thank you for your assistance, Silverbot."

The two robots walked through the store, following the map, until they reached the aisle with the bacon and other breakfast goods. Sweetie Bot rushed forward to put a hoof on one of the hay bacon packages as if it were in short supply. "Mission success!" She twirled on Silver Bot. "Thank you. What is your mission and can I help with it?"

“My creator’s rival’s use of AI to steal her top score on the vintage Pac Mare console.” Silverbot bowed her head solemnly as her autotuned plea for justice progressed. “I do not understand why this is important but it causes much distress. I have used all known strategies to reclaim her high score. As a robot designed to even the odds against a cheating rival , my failure to accomplish this goal vexes me greatly.”

Sweetie Bot inclined her head in thought. "I have played that game. Have you tried leaving the corners for last? Avoiding loss of lives is also of vital importance." She nodded with the gravity of telling a pony the secrets to life itself. "Your creator's rival should find more stimulating uses of their time."

"Fascinating, I had not considered those strategies." Silverbot nodded thoughtfully, adjusting her glasses to hide the data display streaming across her optic lenses as she cross referenced Sweetie Bot's tactics with her own files on the game and noted several modifications that could be made to her play style to test out her rival's suggested suggestions!

Her eyes flashed once more, then she turned and nodded politely to the other robot before skittering off towards the nearest arcade machine to test out the new improvements to her gameplay and potential solutions to her performance issues, eagerly calculating possible scenarios where the plan could work or fall apart and considering possible alterations to account for flaws in the her plan for Pac Mare dominance.

Sweetie Bot watched her 'rival' trot off. "Friendship mission, also successful." With victorious music, she went to complete her purchase of breakfast goodies. "Time to complete the first mission."

-=-=-=-=-

Back in the arcade…

“Silver..bot?” Rumble asked nervously, noting Silverbot’s terse nod as she focused on the console. “I gotta admit, Pac Mare is really way more hardcore than I thought, but how’d you feel about playing a couple of rounds of Mortal Wormbat, my bits? You know, to get that real player v player chemistry?”

Silverbot considered the challenge a quiet moment. "I was not instructed to play that game." She said it as if that was an obvious thing and a clear reason not to proceed.

Rumble raised a hoof quickly. "Um, what if I instruct you to play a couple rounds of Mortal Wombat?"

Silverbot frowned, adjusting her glasses with the new information. "I would inform you that you lack permissions." She leaned forward, tail wagging. "But commend you on your bravery. I will play one round of Mortal Wombat."

He was stunned, and definitely not excited about the prospect of crushing such an unusual and cute robot and felt like maybe he should mention a lower difficulty level to make it even easier to win, but another part of him couldn't resist a chance to flaunt his skills, especially at such an interesting opponent, so he grinned widely and pumped a hoof in the air energetically as they moved to the game!

“Okay, since you're new it doesn’t really matter which worm you pick.” Rumble trotted up to the console as he explained. “I like Sargeant Grapple, but that’s just me. Just pick one you like. You can figure out the special moves later.”

"Affirmative." But she wasn't looking at him, or the game. Her eyes had wandered off to the combinet itself with its many button combinations and guides on how to play.

She devoted each to memory swiftly, even if practice would be required to get it just right. "I am prepared."

"Me too!" Rumble slid two bits into the machine with a chime with each one. He reached up and slammed the start buttons on both of their stations. "Mortal Wombat!"

The screen displayed the iconic title in massive letters as the menu sprung up in front of them, displaying the roster of colorful creatures that populated the game and they could choose from. Rumble went straight to his favorite, but hesitated to settle his hooves on the controls, watching with baited breath to see what his new friend picked out!

"This one." Her choice was selected and they both launched into the battle!

Rumble pressed down on the jump button, prompting Sergeant Grapple to leap forward with a spinning kick to strike his opponent, who darted to the left and struck a pose, prompting the announcer to cheer, "Tiger Pose!"

The combatants were still and a countdown started, numbers flashing to signify how much longer before the battle began, and Rumble hammered on the special attack button, striking a karate pose, "Sergeant Chop!"

"Psychedelic kick!"

Each thrilling move had the growing audience gasping at the intricate moves both were displaying.

“You're doing pretty good for a filly that never played before.” Rumble grinned, getting into the game. “But it’s not just about special moves! There’s a rhythm to the attack and defense patterns.”

Rumble executed a deft combo whittling down Silverbots health bar and putting distance between himself and his opponent. Suddenly he unleashed Sargent grapples infamous grappling hook, pulling Silverbot’s character into a devastating uppercut.

“Sargent Grapple wins.” The ominous announcer declared. “Round Two! Fight!”

Silverbot was getting better and better at inputting her desired move with the precision only a robot could attain, but that didn't mean she understood the timing that Rumble had spoke of. That came only with practice, even for an automaton.

Her power mastery meant she could put up a fight, but the winner was predestined, and, before a trained player, she was laid low, sent flying as the flashing letters announced her failure.

She inclined her head. "You were victorious. Thank you for this learning experience." She adjusted her glasses, information flashing before her eyes. "It would take approximately fifteen matches to reach skill parity."

"Well, darn." Rumble smiled brightly at the results screen, flushing under his cheeks a bit when he realized the whole arcade had come to witness his victory, and now he was being offered an open invitation for rematches and challenges from all sides, his usual brooding nature replaced with a slightly haughty smirk as he basked in his newly earned glory.

“We will play again, later.” Silverbot nodded curtly. “For now I must reclaim my creators top score at Pac Mare.”

As the metal filly strode back to the Pac Mare console, Rumble followed. “Maybe I can help you with that. The higher levels of Pac Mare are blazing fast, but I know a secret to Botsy’s strategy…”

“You will tell me these secrets, organic pony!” Silverbot 2000 spun quickly. Unfortunately, with her glasses distorting her optic sensors, the two’s snouts connected.

“Whoah!” A colt in the background shouted. “Rumble kissed a robot filly!”

“What?!?!?!” Rumble protested, blushing fiercely. “No, that’s not what happened!”

“My optical sensors are obscured!” Silverbot lacked blushing hardware, but her synthetic voice could certainly emulate embarrassment. She worked her glasses into place perhaps a bit longer than strictly required. "Let us resume tactical exchange."

So it was that Rumble began coaching Silverbot on what to go for, and how the ghosts responded. "They all got a trick. It's all programmed, you know? Once you know how they move, the rest gets easier."

"Understood." Silverbot's attention was 90% on the screen, trying her best to get every pellet and fruit on her quest to get the highest score.

Which was a perfect time for Rumble to note, "There is a top top score, the highest you can get."

Silverbot almost stumbled at the news. "Did Sweetie Bot already attain this?"

"Nah." Rumble waved that away. "She got the top level, not the top score. Different."

Silverbot increased her reaction times as the final level the game was capable of approached. Rumble watched in awe as he explained his revelation. “See, Botsy’s not even going for a high score, she was programmed with Button’s strategy which is to beat the 255th level of the game by clearing each maze… But if you can do that, while also eating every fruit, and eating all four ghosts with every power pellet on everylevel, and then deliberately die on level 255 with one regular pellet left on level 255 than nopony can beat your top score. Because if they ever get that last pellet the game glitches and they can’t put in their initials. And since all tied scores go beneath the original score-” Rumble let the implications hang in the air.

Silverbot finished the 254th level, then began setting up for the final attempt at the perfect run. "This requires the utmost precision. I am unable to guarantee completion."

"Oh, totally." Rumble patted her on the shoulder with a grin. "This isn't something to even hope for, but you made it past the desert. Just keep doing what you're doing! You're almost there."

The crowd was both thinning and growing more intense. Few were the ponies willing to watch for six hours of playing, but those that were, had become enraptured by the attempt.

Rumble was prancing in place as he tried to advise his mechanical friend through the now lightning paced maze. “Quick grab the fruit! Save the power pellets for last! Don’t forget to leave one pellet! Look out for Inky! Go girl, go!”

As the last power pellet wore off the ghosts respawned and Silverbot parked the titular puck-shaped mare in a corner. As the ghosts ended her final life, the robot filly pumped her metal hoof in the air. “Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag!”

“You did it!” Rumble gave his own leap of victory. “Now make sure to put in your initials and not SIlver Spoon’s, or ponies might think she used AI to cheat and get her own initials on the leaderboard.”

Silverbot inclined her head. There were but three letters to put in. SVT were the three she settled on. "Silverbot was here." She tapped a hoof against the machine with a firm nod and the clapping stomps of the ponies around her.

But it had meaning beyond that. She clicked audibly. "Mission complete." She went still, completely motionless. "What do I do?" She had completed her primary task, which left her with nothing but an existential crisis. "I must get additional commands!"

Author's Note

How will Silverbot fit into this dynamic, and will she further Silver Spoon's ambitions?

Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could

Join my discord to chat!

4 - Operational Error

Silver Spoon squinted at her creation. "You did it?"

"I did it." Silverbot inclined her head. "Please provide a new command."

Silver sighed softly. "Did Sweetie's tin can feel shame, and did it spread to Button and Sweetie Belle or what?"

"I did not observe this. What are they spreading? Did my accomplishment cause an illness? That is--" Silverbot paused to search her databanks. "--bad."

"No, no, I'm sorry." Silver patted her shoulder. "I just mean that I wanted you to show them how much better I am." Silver waved over Silverbot. "I built you, and you're better!"

"I was created with superior base materials, and the best of everything, not second hand garbage." She snorted.

Silver erupted into a sneer. "Now you're thinking right. Go show them how much better you are. That is your command. Got it?"

"Command received." Silverbot strode out of the room, her head held high, and her digital sense of purpose restored. “Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag!”

“Silver, bestie, I don't wanna press you on this, but why did you program that particular phrase as your robot's catchphrase?” Diamond Tiara raised an eye-brow at her friend.

“It doesn’t matter!" Silver declared, thrusting her hoof skyward. “My master plan to ruin Sweetibelle’s dastardly plans is going exactly according to plan! She will rue the day she tricked Button Mash into creating a robot in her image to steal his heart!”

“Sweet Celestia’s mercy.” Diamond Tiara mumbled under her breath. “Is this what it was like hanging out with me?”

Button sat quietly, staring at the wall and trying to remember what had gone wrong and how he was going to fix it. Sweetie Bot had never acted like that before. Maybe he needed to recalibrate something, or get her more updates to help keep her feeling fulfilled with life?

Sweetie Belle dropped the grocery bag on the table beside him. "So! That could have gone better."

"Yeah..." Button finally let out the sigh he'd been holding in for a while. "I knew making her had the risk of her outgrowing her role, but I just didn't think she'd feel ashamed of what she'd done."

Sweetie Bot whirled on Button in a sudden return to life. "Of course I feel shame!" The last word autotuned wildly through octaves. "I neglected my duties to Cream Heart and got the wrong brand. Her day is ruined and it is entirely my fault."

Button gestured at the depressed robot, eyes on Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle smiled, sliding in next to her automaton of a double. "There there. Cream Heart is an understanding mare. She put up with Button, afterall, and--"

"Hey!" Button stomped with a mighty pout.

“Oh, Sweetie Bot, dear, you back? Let’s see how my favorite little robot did, Hm…” Sweetie Bot’s ear servos flat lined as cream heart inspected the bag, eventually pulling out the offending tub of misbranded ice cream. “Gin and Berrie’s?” Sweetie Bot cringed before Cream let loose a squeal of joy. “I’ve been wanting to try this brand! But I’m just so used to Hoofen’Das’! How did you know?”

“All SB-units are programed with a predictive algorithm.” Silverbot declared as she strode into the home. “When fulfilling our commands we are programmed to make predictive choices in the name of FRIENDSHIP! We are programed to be helpful, honest, and harmless! Hello, friend Sweetie Bot! I am on a mission to prove the superiority of our model of robot, the SB-Unit. Can I recruit you to be of assistance?”

Button blinked at the palette-shifted version of his robot and its appearance. "Hey, uh, why are you here? And what are you? I didn't build you."

Sweetie Belle burst into giggles. "I'd know those glasses anywhere! You're a cute little Silver Spoon robot, aren't you? Hello, cutie pie."

Silverbot blushed with a big smile. "A pleasure. I have the designation of Silverbot. I require the assistance of that one." She pointed at Sweetie Bot. "Please assist me in utterly defeating you."

Cream Heart rubbed behind her head slowly. "Not my robot, not my problem." She strode past the whole thing, eyes ahead to where that ice cream was waiting for her. "Thank you, Sweetie Bot. You're a lovely thing."

Silverbot sniffed daintily. "Only inferior models require thankfulness."

"Maybe so." Button patted her shoulder.

“Wait!” Sweetie Bot gasped in autotune. Previous conflict over ice cream brands completely resolved, she turned Sweeie Belle. “You are the game cheater who used AI to steal the top score on Pacmare and displace Friend Silverbot’s operator's initials on the leaderboard with your own?”

“Okay, obviously that’s not the case, the last possible high score on that machine was your run on a byte rollover… but you ran out of power on level 65.” Button pondered. “And I certainly didn’t stick around to put in any initials. I was in too big a hurry to get you home and plugged in to recharge.”

“Your dedication as a robot operator is commendable.” Silverbot nodded curtly and all eyes in the room turned to Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle curled a hoof at herself. "Me?! I just put in Sweetie Bot's, um, and my, initials in after she felt bad and had to go. It was just the nice thing to do."

Silverbot suddenly turned from Sweetie Belle to her robotic double. "I still require your assistance. I must defeat you and prove I am the superior automaton to all ponies!"

Sweetie Bot tapped with metal clinks on her chin. "That sounds like a difficult task. Do you have to inform all ponies in the world?"

"Affirmative! The knowledge must spread far and wide, until I am universally acknowledged as the most amazingly beautiful and powerful robot that has ever existed!" She adjusted her glasses and fluttered her artificial lashes. "Will you assist me?"

“As an SB-Unit Ai produced and programmed to be helpful, harmless, and honest, it is my duty to aid my friends in accomplishing their goals!” Sweetie Bot proclaimed.

“Oh, cool, you guys met Silverbot! I gave her some pointers, and she OWNS the Pacmare console now.” Rumble sauntered in sipping a juicebox. “I clued her in that there’s a maximum top score on Pacmare, and if you get it, you got it forever on that machine. Ya’ll wanna go grab some milkshakes?”

“I will sit beside you and quietly contemplate my victory while you drink a milkshake.” Silverbot 2000 cheerfully droned. “Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag!”

“Emulating the consumption of milkshakes is a high tier friendship activity!” Sweetie Bot agreed.

All eyes turned to Sweetie and Button.

Button inclined his head slowly. "If you got the highest high score, we can't really compete with that. Good job."

Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves gently. "You won."

Silverbot beamed, looking ever so pleased at the admission of her victory. "Does that not make me the superior robot?"

"Your battery is superior." Sweetie pointed at Silver's middle. "May I know the model and make? I would like to upgrade. With a more powerful battery, we can have greater periods of friendship activities."

"That does sound fun." Silverbot considered that, adjusting her glasses as she did so. "But I can't stop being superior to you. That is my current command. I must be superior, and prove it."

Sweetie Belle shrugged casually, accepting of the fact in the face of such a statement. "Fair enough. I like Sweetie Bot just the way she is. She manages to even dream in a cute way."

Sweetie Bot blushed gently. "You watch my dormancy cycle?"

“No! I mean, maybe once! You just curl up, and then your eye’s display fractal patterns. It’s relaxing! I didn’t program it!” Sweetie shot an accusing glance at Button.

The small brown colt was quick to respond, blushing fiercely. “I programmed the sequence to be cute and relaxing to watch while I went to sleep. That is not as weird as it sounds!”

Cream called from the kitchen, just finishing a spoon of her treat, "A pity you don't get to sleep with her around."

Sweetie Bot inclined her head left, then right. "That function is not performing its desired goal." She turned to Silverbot. "Do you have the same dormancy functions?"

"How would I know?" Silverbot tapped at the side of her head, just beside her eyes. "I can't watch myself sleep. I've tried. It doesn't work."

"Sensible." Sweetie Bot frowned a moment, then perked up. "Enter dormancy mode! We can all verify if you share the same programming or not."

"Okay!" Silverbot said without hesitation and curled up into a tight ball, her tail coiling around herself and her mane settling as the light dimmed from her eyes.

“Oh my Celestia! That is so cute!” Both Sweetie and Rumble proclaimed at once. Sweetie spoke up first. “I proclaim a tie! Milkshakes?”

“I am also both hungry and thirsty for an ice cream based beverage.” Rumble grinned.

“Do you even know what you’re doing?” The organic Sweetie admonished.

Button pointed. "Did you guys forget what she's sleeping for?" He leaned in, brushing some of her faux hair aside. "Yup, look'em go." There, exposed for all to see, were Silverbot's eyes swirling with bits of data and entrancing patterns in about equal abundance. "Just to be polite." He dug Silverbot's cord free and plugged it in. "No reason to sleep without getting a charge."

Sweetie bapped at Rumble with her hooves. "No imitating Sweetie Bot like that. It's cute when she does it, not you."

"Whaaaaaat?!?!" Rumble looked utterly scandalized to be scolded in such a fashion by Sweetie Belle herself. "I was just joking around. You're not upset, right?"

Sweetie Bot considered a moment. "Upset, 5%. Emotional level: Even." She nodded at her clean bill of health. "Let us procure dairy-based treats."

“I really need to apologize to Silver Spoon.” Sweetie Bell opined as they walked to sugar cube corner. “I wasn’t trying to steal her high score. I don’t even play Pac Mare! I just thought it would be neat that me and Sweetie Bot kinda have the same initials.”

“It was a bone headed move. That’s for sure.” Rumble laughed, “The why I made sure Silverbot didn’t use the same initials as Silver Spoon. Taking credit for somebody else’s high score is a big deal! And bots play on a whole different level. Especially in a procedural game like Pac Mare.”

Button blinked. "Pac Mare isn't procedural, dummy."

"Your face is a dummy!" The two were soon lost to flailing limbs in a game of wrestling with no winners, only losers.

Cream casually pushed the colts apart. "No wrestling for dominance in my house, kindly. Now, Rumble, you are a guest. Guests don't tackle their host. That's rude."

"Sorry." He scuffed a hoof along the carpet shamefully.

"Button, you are a host. Hosts don't call their guests dummies." She winked. "Even if Pac Mare definitely isn't a procedural game."

“Onward! To Milkshakes!” Silverbot declared in cheerful autotune before walking into the door frame. “My optical sensors are impaired!”

-=-=-=-

“That’s not MY initials!” Silver Spoon raged as she glared at the Pac Mare leaderboard.

“Uhh…” Diamond desperately tried to placate her friend, while maintaining some integrity. “Well it also wasn’t your high score… technically it was the robot you stole the designs for.”

“That’s not the point! That little traitor took the highest possible score! I bet she’s hanging out with Sweetie Belle and laughing at me right now drinking milkshakes!”

-=-=-=-

“Wait, you're actually both designed to drink milkshakes?” Sweetie Belle inquired. “Like specifically milk shakes? That’s oddly specific.”

“Possible point of rivalry detected.” Sweetie Bot focused on the glass intently. “Who can drink their milkshake faster?”

Silverbot 2000 glared at her own frozen dairy beverage with determination. “Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag!”

Everypony there, filly and adult, gaped as the two chugged down their drinks with equal zeal. It appeared that they weren't programmed to feel brain freeze.

If only that were true. As both fillies began to convulse, Rumble raised an eyebrow.

“Processing unit over cooling!” Sweetie bot declared in panic.

“Electronic forces slowing down my brain! Help me!” Silverbot pleaded.

“Huh, robots do get brain freeze.” Rumble replied between sips of his milkshake. “Who knew?”

Author's Note

The work of collaboration. Who did which typo?

Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon!

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5 - Emotional Damage

"Enough!" Several ponies and robots looked up as the door swung in with an angry kick of a hoof. "I will, like, not be dissed this way!"

Button inclined his head. "Uh, hey Silver Spoon. You coulda just knocked?"

Cream scowled at the filly. "I hope you didn't damage the door."

"No time for that." Silver marched up to Silverbot. "You! Where have you been?! It sure looks like you've betrayed me, which is rude, by the way. Seriously, I built you. Show some respect!"

“No.” Rumble stamped a grey hoof to the ground and scowled at the silver filly. “SB2K has been running all over Ponyville covering your flank. She set the highest score possible in Pac Mare, and signed her own initials onto the leader board! She engaged Botsy face to face in a contest over who's the best robot! These are things a pony who designed a great robot would be proud of, that’s You right, Silver Spoon?”

Silver turned slowly to Rumble. "Who even, like, let you in?" She rolled her eyes, adjusting her glasses at the same time. "Ugh, fine. So you proved you're the best bot ever?"

Silverbot nodded swiftly. "This has been proven. I have also increased my friendship count. Sweetie Bot in an agreeable friend. Sweetie Belle is an agreeable friend. Button Mash is--"

"Stop repeating yourself, I get the idea." Silver huffed with increasing irritation.

Rumble threw his hooves in the air. "Oh come on! I'll buy you a milkshake, okay!"

Silver Spoon popped a hoof in Rumble's snout. "This isn't a milkshake situation." She drew the hoof out, turning to Silver Bot. "Did you at least make it clear it was I that built you, the best bot?"

“It is true! Silver Spoon built me from the designs found in Button Mash’s Diary, using SUPERIOR FIRST HOOF COMPONENTS!” Silverbot 2000 proudly proclaimed, adjusting her own glasses.

“Wait, my diary?” Button interjected. “You mean my research notes?”

“Yes!” Silver Spoon angrily proclaimed. “Because when my classmates write books I actually take the trouble to read them! Because I am a good friend!”

“This is my life…” Diamond Tiara hid as much as possible behind all the face hooves.

Button twisted his lips. "If you wanted me to read the book, I could have--"

Silverbot broke in with a loud exclamation. "It does not matter, because I, Silverbot 2000, am the most beautiful and powerful robot that has ever lived, and I can do anything, crush any foe, and achieve any dream, all at the command of my creator, Silver Spoon! Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag! Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag!"

Sweetie Bot considered her robotic peer. "Your catchphrase routine appears to be malfunctioning. Would you like assistance?"

Button rubbed at his cheek. "Gonna agree with Botsy here. Did you add that, Silver?"

“That’s not important!” Silver Spoon raised her hooves in triumph. “I have achieved Total Robot Supremacy!”

“Also, my robot filly friend is cooler than yours. That’s right, Button, just accept it.” Rumble not so quietly replied with a smirk.

“Wait, what?” Everypony in the room and hiding in doorways agreed, except for SB2K, who nodded sagely.

Sweetiebot was not a pony, technically, and her view remained on Silverbot. "You could complete your domination of me with an adjustment to your catchphrase routine. To assist you in this task, will you allow me to perform a mild adjustment?" Grabbers and sparking utensils popped free of Sweetiebot as she smiled, ready to assist.

Cream huffed. "I am making dinner, and if you want some, I need calmness in this house. No more shouting, no pushing or shoving. Next pony to break that rule gets kicked out." She gave Button a glare. "You're not immune to that."

Button squeaked. "I didn't do nothin'!"

“Okay.” Rumble stage whispered. “We’ve firmly established who’s robot is coolest.”

“Silverbot is MY robot!” Silver struggled to keep her voice down. “I built her!”

“You built her from plans you stole from Button Mash!” Rumble mock whispered back. “I’m the one that taught her how to beat Botsy at Pac Mare! You just told her to do it.”

“What?” Button was taken aback.

“I can still hear you in there!” Cream sing-songed.

Silverbot leaned in, smiling as her tail flicked about. "I was created to complete a mission. Mission complete." She straightened up, tail flicking behind her as she adjusted her glasses. "All additional commands are a bonus. I am fulfilled."

Sweetie Bot gasped through octaves. "You have found your life's purpose. I am jealous." She pounced on Silverbot and hugged her in a clang of metal on metal. "And happy for you! Initiate adjustments? You wish your domination to be complete?"

“I am going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Cream Heart sang out.

“We’re all pretending we didn’t hear that.” Button muttered.

“Okay, I’m the only one who’s curious?” Rumbles ears perked up.

“Silver, after today we are even.” Diamond Tiara tried to fade further into the background.

Silverbot inclined her head at her metal peer. "My domination is already complete."

"Incorrect," sang Sweetie Bot with a bounce in place. "Your catchphrase reduced your score. I can adjust that. May I?" She brought a wriggling tendril of metal towards Silverbot. "It will only take a moment."

“Botsy, you know I think you're great, right?” Rumble spoke with most serious face. “But, SB2K’s catchphrase is base, yo! No way you’ve got a better catch phrase.”

“Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag!” Silverbot enthusiastically agreed in perfect autotune.

Button placed a hoof on Sweetie Bot's shoulder. "Different ponies, different tastes. It works for her, let her have it."

Sweetie Bot inclined her head, her various tools withdrawing into herself. "Affirmative."

Silver Spoon threw up her hooves. "I'm glad the robots are getting along and all, but, like, you're ignoring me!"

"Touche'" Button conceded with a frown. "So what, you built a robot, and it's pretty great?" He reached out to poke at Silverbot. "Using my instructions, which you got out of my diary, which you read because that's what friends do, according to you."

"Darn straight!" Silverbot put a hoof up for a high five that Button returned after a bit of a delay.

“See, this is why I never write anything that isn’t homework.” Rumble nodded sagely.

“And I’m sorry, Silver Spoon.” Sweetie Belle chimed in. “I didn’t mean to take your high score. I just wanted to give Botsy credit for her amazing run before her batteries ran low… I didn’t even think that ponies might confuse my initials with Botsy’s. SWB, Sweetie Belle and SweetieBot… ya know?”

Silver’s jaw clenched, and tears ran from her eyes. “THAT’S NOT THE POINT!” She screamed as she galloped out the door.

Cream poked her head out, but the filly that had screamed was already gone. "Hm, well, dinner's served for the rest of you. No more fighting."

Sweetie Bot trotted into the kitchen, stopping at the table. She blinked once. Twice. Then turned to address Cream Heart. "Where is Silverbot? She needs nourishment."

Rumble chuckled nervously as he plopped down at the table, pulling a plate full of delicious smelling food towards him. "I think she needs a charge."

Silverbot was frozen in place, eyes dim and body still. Button rushed over and felt over her, but couldn't find the plug. "The panel was right here." He pawed at the spot, but it refused to open. "What gives? Did she lock it?"

Sweetie Belle hummed. "Well, you'll have to ask her, After dinner. Pretty sure your mom will get mad if we keep her waiting any longer."

“Okay, Silver, I need to tell you something.” Diamond Tiara nervously tapped her hooves in Silver Spoon’s room/robot lab.

“That brazen pale gray hussy stole my robot!” Silver ranted.

“Yeah-” Diamond pawed the ground. “That’s kinda what we need to talk about… Sweetie Belle didn’t steal your robot. Rumble did, and he totally stole your robot.”

“THAT’S NOT THE POINT!” The silver filly screamed in Diamond’s face.

“I’m your friend, and I’m asking you, ‘What is the point?’” Diamond evenly replied.

Silver Spoon twitched nervously, and tried to compose herself before collapsing on her bed in tears.

Diamond Tiara awkwardly patted her friend on the back. "There there. Take all the time you need." Muffled sobs filled the room for several long awkward minutes.

Diamond let her own sigh out with a soft gust of air, thinking a moment as her friend continued to cry. "Silver, you can tell me. We're besties."

Silver shook her head, the very image of a broken filly. "It's just so wrong, but I'm a pony of quality. I have to have standards."

Diamond Tiara gingerly sat on the edge of the bed. "Yeah. You are.”

“I am smart, adorable, and persistent!” Silver Spoon burst into tears. “Even my own robot doesn’t like me!”

Diamond wrapped her friend in a hug as the sobs shook Silver's whole body, leaving the young heiress to consider the past few days of events that led to this breakdown of her bestie, and that robot that had somehow caused such a disturbance to the balance of Silver Spoons world.

It all came together in a flash. "This isn't about robots." She inclined her head at Silver. "The robot wasn't your idea. That was Button's. The Silver I know prefers a nice slow drink of something sweet, gossiping with me about silly ponies doing stupid things."

“That’s not the point!” Silver snarled between sobs. “They were supposed to be impressed! They were supposed to like me! ME! Not the robot! Now they’re just running around and hanging out with the robot I built, and even the robot would rather hang out with Rumble than me!”

Diamond squeezed her bestie with her forelegs. "I like you. That's not even a question. Silver, I love you."

Silver Spoon stiffened slightly, the words like a dagger in her heart, twisting with each spoken word. "You hate me. Everypony hates me."

"Never. Never never never." Diamond leaned in and pressed her snout into her friend's ear. "You're way better than any hunk of metal ever could be. I'd know. You're Silver Spoon. There's nothing better."

Silver shook her head slowly. "I should have asked you to help me make her. If you helped, she'd be better."

"She wouldn't have been you." Diamond tightened the hug, just a bit. "But, you're not wrong." She smirked with a little giggle. "I would have added my own little flair. But that's not the point, like you keep reminding me."

“Come on Button!” Rumble whined. “There’s gotta be some way to open the access panel!”

“Well, you could just not declare a robot to be categorically yours without consulting the robot’s designer or even even asking for basic operating instructions.” Button snapped as he fumbled with the access panel.

“I was caught up in the moment.” Rumble grumbled, disgruntled. “How was I supposed to know that would even work? I didn’t think she was gonna run off crying over Sweetie’s apology of all things and leave SB2K behind!”

Button tapped at the unresisting bot, frowning and sighing as he couldn't seem to get the panel to so much as budge. "No, that's the thing. I don't think she cares, Rumble, and it's not because it's a robot she built. That's not even the real Silver Spoon. She's still got a lot of growing up to do."

Cream leaned into the conversation with a hum, watching with a keen eye as Button worked with the robot. "A lot of us do. And she's allowed to learn at her own pace."

"Yeah, I know." Button deflated with a sigh. "Well, we're not fixing this without her help, or ripping Silverbot apart, and that feels kinda super rude, so that's not a good option."

Author's Note

The collab continues, with emotions!

Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon!

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6 - End of an Age

Cream Heart set the phone back in its cradle, moving to the front door with a soft smile. "She's coming to pick it up." She nodded to Sweetie Bot. "You'll be the only robot in here soon enough."

Sweetie Bot inclined her head. "I have no preference on the placement of Silverbot other than her satisfaction. We can be friends wherever she goes, but her recharging is of current priority."

Button threw a leg over Sweetie Bot. "You are so sweet."

Sweetie Belle pressed in from the other side. "Seriously. We should thank Silver Spoon. It is her fault we ended up with two of them, right?"

“Probably for the best. I don’t think my big bro woulda let me keep her anyway.” Rumble rolled his eyes.

“You can’t just take other pony's robots, dude!” Button argued.

“Well I can’t get away with it obviously.” The gray pegasus muttered.

The door bell rang as the topic of debate returned, her glasses firmly on her face and her tail flicking behind her.

Cream Heart stepped back, allowing her daughter's friend a small bow of a head.

Silver Spoon nodded to the other foals gathered there. "I'm here for the robot." She sighed with a grunt. "She stayed away from me so long she ran out of power. Figures. I didn't even get a chance to, like, make her better before you ponies took her."

Rumble leapt forward. "No! I mean, I really didn't want to make you upset! I just thought-"

Silverbot was there, eyes dark and still.

Button thrust a hoof in front of Rumble. "Nevermind that, glad to see you, Silver. I'm really, you know, kind of impressed actually. You did a great job."

“Hey, I’m sorry I kinda…uh-” Rumble stammered. “I wasn’t really trying to take your robot. I was just talking smack, you know. Your usually such a tough filly, I kinda didn’t expect you to take it like that.”

“The robot’s not the point.” Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “Silver wants to join your, robot club?”

“Diamond! That’s not-” Silver tried to object, only to be gently shushed by Diamond’s hoof.

“We’re going to go with ‘join the robot club’ to preserve everypony’s dignity.” Diamond stated with no room for argument. “You can thank me later. You're welcome.”

"We've all done or said stupid stuff." Button extended a hoof with a shrug. "Wanna get your bot fixed up?"

Silver grunted, looking away a moment before she relaxed with a tired sigh. "Fine." She marched up to Silverbot and looked her over. "She just needs, like, a charge. Why didn't you just charge her?"

Button points to where the panel was for that. "It's all locked. You have the key, I hope?"

“What you just depress the panel on the left flank?” Silver replied irritably.

“O-oh!” Button blushed in embarrassment. “I put Botsy’s on her right flank, I assumed because you followed my designs-”

“I did follow your designs, and the schematic clearly shows the panel on the right flank!” Silver Spoon huffed. “Honestly, does anyone even edit their diary?”

Button rubbed at the side of his head. "Seriously, why did you read my diary? That's kind of mine."

Cream whistled from within the kitchen, emerging with large trays balanced on her back. "Food time. Fill your little bellies, then you can keep chatting."

"Oh, thank you Mrs. Cream." Diamond bowed her head before she trotted up, letting out a sigh of contentment at the smells wafting up from the plates. "Delicious as always."

"If you like that, you'll adore what's for dessert." Cream set the plates down, hurrying off to get the rest. "I want to hear happy eating sounds. It's dinner time."

“Mmm! This is really good Missus C!” Rumble chimed in as he dove into his plate

“The hint of cinnamon is delightful!” Silver Spoon agreed. “You really should make your diary more accessible!”

“Do you mean my recipe book, dear?” Cream Heart smiled warmly. “All you had to do was ask.”

“Your mom makes the best carrot casserole!” Sweetie Belle opined between eager, but proper, bites.

Button paused with the fork half way to his mouth, a look of dawning realization spreading across his features as he turned to Silver Spoon, then his mother, and finally Sweetie Belle, as a light bulb switched on in his head.

Cream Heart grinned. "There it is. Took you long enough to get it, Button Mash."

The colt squinted. "Does it matter though? I mean, Silver made Silverbot, and that's still really awesome."

Cream reached across to rest her hoof on Button's head. "But..."

"But!" Button turned in place to face Silver. "I'm super sorry for being a total jerk." He dipped his head at her. "You can totally join the robot club. I insist, you're a founding member, after all. It'd hardly be right without you."

“Our club needs a name!” Sweetiebot suddenly chimed in, now that the organic ponies were talking about a subject she could identify with, which carrot casserole was not. She proudly and loudly declared, “Friendship Aquisition Program!”

“How about the Super Snarky Fun Squad?” Rumble suggested.

Silver Spoon did not miss a beat, and smiled softly. "Silver Spoon's Awesome Club for Robotic Filly Friends."

Diamond Tiara cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "That's a bit of a mouthful, don't you think?"

“That’s also kind of excluding Button and Rumble.” Sweetie Belle noted. “How about Cyberpony 2049? That sound’s futurey, right?”

“How’s Rumble even in this club?” Silver Spoon snapped back.

“Hey! I’m totally dating a robot!” Rumble proclaimed in his defense (?).

It was at this moment that Silverbot came back online. “Robot-Pony Domination Society.”

“That’s my girl!” Silver and her bot shared a quick hoof bump. “Crush! Kill! Destroy! Swag!”

“I’m okay with that.” Rumble shrugged.

“Friendship Acquisition Program!” Sweetiebot insisted.

Cream chuckled gently at the spirited debate among the foals. "How about the Growing Pony Robot Investigators?"

Everypony paused to turn to her with blank stares.

Cream shrugged. "Not everypony can be perfect." She grinned. "I'd say the best plan is to take it one day at a time, and let your name come to you."

Silver Spoon's cheeks warmed a bit and she smiled down at her plate as the others mumbled around the table in agreement and began chowing down on their delicious meals once again. "We'll find a good one," she mumbled into her food, glancing up at the others. "So, um, you want me around?"

“Are you kidding, you actually created a robot!” Rumble proudly proclaimed. “The rest of us are just in the club because we’re dating a robot or a robot’s creator. What? Don’t look at me like that! I know what’s up!”

Silver Spoon blushed brightly and pushed her glasses up to hide behind them, giggling a little. "Thank you, Silverbot 2000 is something else."

Button glanced at Sweetie Bot, a slight frown on his muzzle for a brief second before it melted away. "It isn't a contest, um, unless you want it to be?"

Sweetie Bot crossed her arms in a powerful X. "I do not wish to be the reason for the loss of any friendship."

Silverbot nodded firmly alongside her, taking a moment to adjust her glasses afterwards. "The only adjustment I require is a new pair of glasses." She gestured at them. "I do not think they are of the correct focal point."

"Nah." Rumble waved a hoof at her, leaning against Cream Heart for support. "Those are cool. You have your own style."

Silverbot blushed and looked away, mumbling under her breath, "Swag."

"Swag." Button smiled, reaching over to nudge Silverbot. "Welcome to the gang, I guess. And that goes for you too." He turned the nudging hoof on Silver Spoon.

“So where do I fit in?” Diamond asked pensively.

“You're probably either dating a robot, or dating some one who made a robot?” Rumble shrugged. “That is literally how everypony who are not Button or Silver Spoon got in the club.”

Diamond Tiara snorted with amusement, while Silver giggled happily along with her friend, waving a hoof dismissively as the others at the table stared at Diamond.

"I dunno, the robot thing is great and all, but I've also always been a big fan of the glitz and glamour of show biz. I'm not really interested in spending a lifetime staring at an equation. Besides, I just bought the second season of Mac Hooves!"

Button shrugged. "Wouldn't be caught dead watching that, but you do you. Um, as long as you're cool with robots or the people who work on them, you're okay around here." He nudged against Silver. "So, fellow robot engineer. Wanna go over the plans? If you built that, I bet you found a few mistakes along the way. Share!"

“It’s been fun.” Rumble yawned with a stretch. “But it’s getting late, so I’m going to walk SB2K home, kay?”

“Technically I am the one providing security!” Silverbot fiercely argued.

Silver snagged her bot, throwing an arm around Silverbot's neck. "I'll be taking her home. We can talk, um, later." She glared at Rumble, but smiled at Button. "I did, like, notice a thing or two." She didn't elaborate on what those things were, fleeing instead with Silverbot.

Sweetie Belle giggled at the exchange. "I think we have a new, old, friend! That was nice."

Rumble folded his arms. "Why are all the fillies happy with you?" He snorted at Button, turning up his nose at his own misfortune. "I'm putting in way more effort."

Author's Note

I am informed by my collaborator that the story will press on, just that this one arc is completed. Stay tuned!

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