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