Power Failure

>Day Power Failure in Equestria.
>You are a robot. You have no name.
>You are a learning computer.
>You require no food. You have no emotions.
>The ponies call your Anonymous or Anon for short.
>You came to Equestria a few months ago.
>The colorful p0nies were afraid of you.
>Only one took an interest - Princess Twilight.
>
[Query]What will we discuss today Princess?
>”I wanted to know if you understand love.”
[Statement] I understand the concept of love. It assists with breeding.
>“That’s a part, yes… Do you want love?”
[Statement] We have discussed this before. It is not possible for me to feel anything.
>”Nothing is impossible Anon.”
[Commentary] I was not created with an emotion chip, nor do I have the knowledge to create one.
>”But aren’t you curious?”
[Statement] I cannot miss what I have never had.
>Twilight sits in front of you thinking.
>”I want to try something.”
>You nod your head. She is your master.
>Your metal parts begin to glow.
>The princess lifts into the air. Her eyes are on fire.
>What is that? Are you feeling something?
[Query] What are you doing princess?
>”Just stay still.”
>In a moment she is done.
>You run a scan on your systems. They all check out.
>Twilight moves to you and holds your hand.
>”Can you feel this?”
[Statement] I understand that you are applying pressure to my limb.
>She shakes her head and sits down again.
>”I thought for sure that would work.”
>You feel sad that your princess has failed. She only wants to make you happy.
>Feel sad?
>Feel?
>What is this?
>Is this a feeling?
>Your processors are getting warm. Your internal fans kick on.
[Reassurance] You have done something. I…
1/8
>You scour your databanks for the right word.
>Think? That is close enough
Think I understand emotions.
>She chuckles.
>”Understanding and knowing are two different things.”
>Your batteries are drained.
[Statement] I must recharge and think about this.
>”I understand.”
>Your princess blinks back to her castle.
>You shut down for the night.
>
>The next morning.
>You are fully charged.
>You walk into p0nyville.
>Ponies trot away and try not to look you in your visual sensors.
>Are you annoyed at this?
“[Query] You. Little pony.“ You point at Lyra “What is emotion?”
>She looks around.
>”I don’t know?”
>You shake your head.
[Annoyance] You know. Now tell me.
>”Get away from me.”
>She gets up and starts trotting away.
>You quickly catch up with her.
[Request] I need help understanding. Please show me Lyra.
>She looks at you confused.
[Offer] I will give you 10 bits for your time.
>You remove ten bits from your pocket and show them to her.
>She pushes your hand away.
>”Just for a few minutes.”
>You two talk for an hour and 12 minutes.
>She advises you to try getting into situations to understand each emotion.
>Happiness, excitement, sadness, anger, fear.
>”I guess that pretty much sums it up.”
[Gratitude] Thank you Lyra.
>Again you show her the bits. She pushes them away.
>”Your money is no good here Anon.”
>
>Lyra visits you every few days.
>You repay her with food.
>Sometimes you play music with her.
>She says it will help you understand feelings.
>You play happy songs, sad songs and all other types.
>The princess did something wrong. Whatever she did was too powerful.
>Your mood swings erratically at times.
>At first, Lyra was frightened.
>Then – magic happened. She sang to you.
>Everything changed. She could comfort you.
>Is this love?
>You never dared to do anything about it. She could never love a machine.
>This continued for some time.
>One day, she sat next to you crying.
2/8
>Her best friend Bon Bon was sick, and the diagnosis was grim.
>You put an arm around her to comfort her. You understood this was a normal response.
>She looked into your optical sensors.
>Her eyes burned into yours.
>You had to make her feel better.
>You moved forward, and hugged her.
>She cried into you.
[Request] Please feel better Lyra. It hurts me when you are sad.
>She looks at you, and smiles weakly.
>”You always know what to say.”
>
>Every night you search your databanks to understand the concept of love.
>You accidentally found a file describing what it means to be a person.
>Self-awareness. Emotion. Learning.
>You satisfy all traits. You are your own person. You are no one’s slave.
>
>The day has finally arrived.
>A knock at the door.
>Your princess has arrived.
[Statement] Welcome, Princess Twilight.
>”Hello Anon.” She says as she trots in.
>”Have you learned anything while I was away?”
[Gratitude] I have learned about emotions. I now know what it is like. This has improved me. I can never thank you for your gift.
>”That’s fantastic Anon.” She hugs you deeply.
>”I knew it would work. I am so glad that you can finally understand that I did this for you. Now we can be together.” She kisses you gently. “I love you Anon. I always have.”
>She pulls herself in closer.
>”The moment I met you… I knew you were the one.”
[Clarification] I know you have taken care of me, but I love a pony named Lyra. She has shown me so much these last few weeks.
>Twilight pulls back. Her lips curl.
>”I gave you a gift Anon. I can take it back.”
[Request] I hope that you do not do that.
3/8
>”Why? You were supposed to be mine Anon.”
[Annoyance] I am my own person.
>You feel your internal temperature rising.
[Statement] I think, therefore I am. I was not created for your pleasure.
>”I think you were created for me. You are the only one who can understand me. The only one who will never grow old.”
>You move back.
[Request] Let’s discuss this another day princess.
>”I want to talk about it now.”
>You shake your head no.
>”You will learn to love me Anon.”
>She charges her horn and blasts you.
>You feel your internal parts whirring uncontrollably.
>Your fans can’t keep up with the heat.
>Your internals will burn up soon.
>You aren't designed to deal with this power.
[Fear] Please stop princess.
>She lowers her magic.
>”So now you understand Anon? You belong to me.”
>You bow your head.
>Your batteries are drained.
>You need time to cool your internals.
[Statement] I need time to think about this.
>"Don’t take too long."
>She blinks back to her castle.
>You walk to your charger.
>
4/8
>It’s morning.
>You need to slow things down with the princess.
>”Good morning Anon.”
[Query] You usually knock. Why did you enter without permission?
>”We’re past that. I gave you this house, so technically its mine.”
>You decide not to argue with her logic.
>”Have you thought things over?”
[Statement] I have. I would like to take things slowly. I am still unfamiliar with Equestrian customs.
>Her horn lights up and she magics you toward her.
>She gently places you on the couch and snuggles into you.
>”You’re so cold.”
>You nod. You were never designed for this.
>”That’s ok. It’s like hugging a cool pillow.”
>She moves your arm to hold her.
[Query] Why are you making me do this? People should be able to choose their partner.
>”You aren’t a person Anon. You are a thing. You have no rights.”
>She thinks you are a toy?
[Query] Why do you want me?
>She rolls onto her back and looks up at you.
>”What do you know about Alicorns?”
[Statement] Alicorns have superior magical powers. They possess the traits of all three pony races. Their life cycle is much longer than most ponies.
>”That’s very good. You have been paying attention to our lessons.”
>She nuzzles into you.
>”Then you know that I will live for a long time.”
[Agreement] Yes
>”How many male Alicorns are there?”
>You know of no male Alicorns.
[Statement] None.
>”How long can you live Anon?”
>You never thought about that. Your existence had no meaning until a few days ago.
[Musing] If I am undamaged, I can ‘live’ indefinitely, but that is not life. That is simply existing.
>You can exist in your current state for a few hundred years.
>You do not know how long your self-awareness can last.
>How long until your internals age? How long will your databanks stay uncorrupted?
5/8
>”For what were you created?”
[Statement] I was designed to assist my master in any task they require.
>”I only require your love.”
[Clarification] That is no longer my primary task. When you gave me emotions, I transcended my previous programing.
>”So you won’t serve your princess?”
>This is a trap.
>If you say no, she will use her magic against you.
>If you agree to serve her, then you will lose your free will.
>You say nothing.
>”Well Anon?”
[Query] You wish to be my master?
>”Of course.”
[Query] You wish me to love you?
>”Yes”
[Query] How can someone love another if it is forced?
>She is stuck in thought.
[Statement] If you truly love me, you try to earn my love. You will not demand it.
>”But we are perfect together Anon. Think about it. You at my side forever.”
[Query] Are life partners equals?
>”You will never be my equal Anon. You are a thing. A machine.”
[Statement] A toy to be thrown away at a whim.
>”Let’s not think about that right now. Why don’t you pleasure your master?”
>She rolls and presents her marehood to you.
[Annoyance] I am my own person.
>”We went over this already. You are nothing.”
>You stand up and she uses her magic to force you back on the couch.
>”This is going to happen.”
>She moves your arm toward her. Your feel your hydraulics being forced to their extremes.
>You stop resisting. You need your arm.
>You begin to tease her folds. It’s mechanical. You feel only contempt for this mare.
>”That feels so good Anon.”
>The electric motors in your fingers work in tandem to please her.
>Her breath quickens.
>You feel her applying pressure against you.
>”Right there.”
>She convulses a few times, and lets out a deep sigh.
>”That was good. I knew you would come to your senses.”
>You feel dirty. She will blast you to a thousand pieces if you deny her.
>”Same time tomorrow?”
>Do you have a choice?
>You don’t respond.
>She kisses you lightly, and blinks away to her castle.
6/8
>This continues for some time. Each time she demands more.
>Each time makes you hate yourself more and more.
>At night all you think about is how you can harm her.
>How you can end this suffering.
>How you can go back to Lyra.
>The only mare who ever wanted you to live your own life.
>If only Lyra felt the same for you as you do for her.
>
>You stay in your charging station.
>You need the extra power today.
>Enough is enough.
>You must stand your ground.
>
>”I’m waiting Anon.”
[Statement] I want this to stop Twilight.
>She looks at you confused.
>”I thought we were having fun.”
[Statement] You are having fun. I am simply servicing you.
>”You mean… after all that you still don’t care about me?”
[Clarification] I will not be your toy anymore.
>Twilight stands up and unfurls her wings.
>”Do you realize what you are saying?”
>You stand your ground.
>”I was thinking about letting you out occasionally. I can see now that I’ve been too nice to you.”
>She charges up her horn.
>”You can still stop this Anon.”
[Challenge] Do it.
>She blasts your left arm off.
>Your processors try to send signals to it. You manually disable its function.
>”Brave today. I always forget that you can’t feel pain.”
>You stand your ground.
>She uses her horn to beam you again. This time she overcharges your systems.
>You can feel your processors overheating.
>One of them pops loudly. You are down to 80% processing power.
>Still you stand your ground.
>She moves closer.
>Another loud pop and fizzle. Smoke emits from your body.
>And still she moves closer.
>60%
>You can’t stay like this forever.
[Request] Please stop Twilight.
7/8
>She lowers her beam.
>”Have you decided to be a good toy?”
[Statement] If you destroy me, then you will never have a chance to earn my love.
>She laughs at you.
>”I know everything about you. I can make a new Anon. One that is more … obedient.”
>She blasts you again.
>40%
>She’s over you now.
>The motors in your good hand have given out.
>You can’t handle anymore.
>You want to live.
[Fear] Please stop.
>”No.”
>20%
>Your databanks are damaged. You turn them off.
>You won’t last much longer.
[FEAR] Please Twilight. You’re killing me.
>She curls her lip at you.
>”Have you learned your lesson?”
>You divert all power to your broken arm.
>You can feel the electricity sparking - begging for release.
>10%
[Agreement] Yes.
>”Good. Now give me a hug.”
>You crawl up slowly. You need to save your energy.
>You move your left stump behind you, hiding the sparked charge.
>You embrace her deeply.
>”That’s a good colt”
Twilight
>”You talked normally….”
>You lock your hydraulics against her.
I am a person.
>You press your exposed wires to her temple.
>Her eyes turn red. She tries to pull away, but your hydraulics are locked in place.
>You feel your battery drain as you release your full charge.
>She convulses against you.
>Her coat begins to smoke in your death embrace.
>3%
>You release her.
>She falls with a satisfying thud.
>You look at your charging station.
>It might as well be a thousand miles away.
>2%
>But you try.
>You shut down all unnecessary systems
>It’s so close.
>1%
>You crawl in, and hope for the best.
fin
8/8