//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Arrival // Story: Digital Love // by Closer-To-The-Sun //------------------------------// Chapter 1: Arrival “Hurry up, Spike! We need to get this place looking spotless for when Princess Celestia arrives! We can’t have her come into our messy library and have her judging us on it! Let’s go, chop chop!” the purple alicorn was barking orders as she used her magic to reshelf books back on the bookcases, this time to triple check that all of the books were in the correct order, sorted by author’s name. The green and purple dragon was sweeping up the floor with a broom, “Don’t you think you are overdoing this? I don’t think Princess Celestia is going to care if the library is a little disorganized.” Twilight was frantically rushing around the library. Using her magic to tidy up the building in minor ways, such as adjusting the picture frames or fluffing up the pillows on the sofa, she replied, “But she expects me to be neat and organized! I wouldn’t be living up to the high standards she expects of me if she saw towers of books stacked up high and papers with scribbled notes scattered everywhere!” “I think she’d understand if things are a bit out of place, Twilight,” Spike added. The words fell on deaf ears as Twilight continued her panicking, “Stop talking, Spike! Princess Celestia will be here at any moment!” The moment after she spoke, there was a knocking at the front door. Frozen in dread, Twilight Sparkle just started at the door, unable to move toward it. Spike took notice of this, sighed, and made his way to the door. He opened it, revealing the princess of the sun herself, Princess Celestia. “Good evening, Spike,” the white alicorn happily greeted, “Is Princess Twilight Sparkle here.” Returning the smile, the dragon nodded, “Yes, she’s right over there,” Spike raised his claw to point to the purple pony who seemed to had not move a muscle since the door opened, “Please come in, princess.” “Thank you,” Celestia said as she entered the through the door, “The library looks very lovely, Twilight. It shows you really care for the literature that these walls hold.” Finally returning to reality by Celestia’s words, the purple pony nervously laughed, “Oh please….this place is a mess. I wish I could have cleaned up the library a little before you arrived.” With annoyed expression on his face, Spike rolled his eyes at Twilight’s remark. “Please, princess, sit and relax.” Twilight directed the princess to the sofa, “Spike, could you please go fetch us some tea?” With a nod, Spike made his way toward the kitchen, leaving Celestia and Twilight by themselves. Nervously, the purple pony pressed on, “So….Princess Celestia, what brings you to Ponyville? It seemed like you had something that you wanted to share with me.” Celestia giggled slightly as she sat down, catching her pupil off guard. “Princess Celestia? What is it?” “It’s you, Twilight. You seem to be making a big fuss over a simple visit,” the white alicorn’s expression was still one of amusement. Twilight sat down and tried to defend herself, “But this is a sudden and unexpected visit for you. It’s not everyday when you send me a letter saying that you are visiting Ponyville to talk with me about something of importance.” “You still need not worry, Twilight,” Celestia gave a comforting smile, “But you are right, I am here on business and wish to share something.” The purple pony nodded as she eagerly waited for what the princess had to share. Before Celestia could start, Spike had returned to the room with a tray of tea in his claws, “We were out of oolong tea, so I made some Earl Grey instead. I hope that’s okay.” “Thank you, Spike,” Twilight spoke as she levitated a cup off the tray and in front of her. Taking the other cup with her magic, Celestia raised it up to her lips to take a sip of the warm liquid. Releasing a content noise after her drink, she spoke, “Earl Grey tea, one of the finest beverages in all of Equestria. A unique blend of citrus and such a pleasing aroma to it. That’s why I made him an earl after developing such a fine tea,” at the end of her musing over the cup of tea, she looked toward the dragon, “Thank you very much, Spike.” Growing slightly impatience, Twilight Sparkle edged the Celestia, “Princess, you said there is something you wish to talk to me about?” Taking another sip of her tea, Celestia nodded, “Yes, you are correct. Twilight, what do you know of computers?” “Computers?” she echoed, “I know how they work, how to build them, use them, just about anything and everything about them.” Celestia nodded, “Good, good. I’d expect no less from my star pupil. What about the artificial intelligence?” Spike, who had not left and was listening in on the conversation, interjected, “Artificial intelligence? You like robots?” The white alicorn chuckled slightly, “Not like that, Spike.” “Artificial intelligence. According to Equestrian Heritage Dictionary, artificial intelligence is the ability of a computer or other machine to perform those activities that are normally thought to require intelligence. It is also a theoretical branch of computer science concerned with the development of machines having this ability,” Twilight explained with almost pin-point precision the definition of the term. Taking another sip of her Earl Grey, Celestia added, “Very good. Now, what if I were to tell you that branch of computer science isn’t so theoretical anymore.” “Come again?” Twilight raised an eyebrow in both disbelief and skepticism. Lowering the cup of tea to the coffee table in front of the sofa, she continued, “As you know, computers are still fairly new in our culture. We are just understanding how useful these machines are. They make organization much simpler, they allow us to store vast amounts of information in small spaces, they allow us to do things now that we thought would be impossible just a few years before. And it’s always changing. And with this ever-expanding field of study, a few scientists in Canterlot have developed something extraordinary: a functioning artificial intelligence program.” Twilight was speechless. Spike, on the other hoof, was more than willing to share his thoughts, “A computer that can think for itself? This is like something out of one of my comics!” his excitement was apparent. With her finally speaking, Twilight stated her opinion, “But….this is the talk of science fiction, stories of a Ray Bradberry and Iomud Asimov.” “That’s what I thought until I saw the data for myself. The first artificial intelligence program in the history of Equestria has been developed,” Princess Celestia explained. The purple pony looked at her cup of teach before back to her mentor, “This is great and all, but I don’t understand, princess, what does this have to do with me?” “Simple, I want you to help it learn. Teach it, help it grow, help it understand friendship.” Twilight was silent as she processed what she was just told. “You want me to,” she paused to form the correct words, “teach friendship to a computer?” Celestia nodded, “Precisely. I feel that you, the Princess of Friendship, can share the magic and the beauty of such with the artificial intelligence. This program is the upmost, state of the art software ever designed. In the trial studies, it far exceeded our hopes in the fields of reasoning, planning, knowledge, perception, and learning. The next logical step for us is obvious: introducing the AI to our world.” “I’m honored that you chose me for this assignment, Princess Celestia, I really am,” Twilight started, “but isn’t their somepony much more qualified in the field of computer science than me for such a task?” “I am not looking for a computer engineer to study the AI, instead I am looking for the ideal candidate to help it comprehend and learn,” Celestia explained. Taking a calming breath, the purple pony nodded, “I understand. Then I accept this task as your subject.” With an expression of amusement on her face, Celestia took a sip of her tea, “There’s no need to be so formal with me, Twilight.” “Oh, heh, sorry….” the pony was slightly embarrassed, “I just hope I do well in this undertaking.” Celestia smiled, “I’m sure you will do just fine, and I know it will be a rewarding experience for you.”