1 - Far Beyond Different

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Chapter 1
What is your wish? A life filled with regret or a curse concluded with the unknown?
There are times where trust,
a formation of friendship can be tested.
But even you must
think of what the future holds manifested.

It had been a month after my defeat by the Elements of Harmony, I was 'captured' by their leader and am currently being held in her prison. She is too strong for me to fight back against at this current time. My objective is currently unknown and she continues to question me at random intervals.

There was knocking on the door that was up the stairs and a voice came through it, "Hello?"

Contact. She is at the door right now, my current location is Ponyville Library Basement. It seems to keep me locked in she has put a ward on the door.

There was even more knocking on that door and the voice said, "Hey, you there?" Then there some heavier knocking on the door like the person outside seemed anxious.

Closing self journal, will resume when ready. I can sense she is about to barge into the room and I cannot let any of them know of such hidden recordings.

Now I heard the door slide open and some hoofsteps and then a moment afterwards I heard a voice speaking to me, "Hey, what're you doing?" the purple alicorn that I figured was walking down the steps to check on me, I looked over at her and tilted my head like I was confused. Cannot express emotions too well; I must do my best though so she leaves me alone.

The purple alicorn, the leader of the elements of harmony forcibly pulled me into the main room. There I saw all of the elements gathered up together, what were they going to do to me? I struggled slightly but her power was just too great that I couldn't break free. They probably knew that I could break out of the grasp of a normal unicorn.

She forcibly sat me down on a sofa and said to me, "Don't try running okay? I'm just going to ask you a couple of simple but important questions and I have my best friends here to listen in as well."
I looked around and saw a multicolored rainbow pegasus, I could easily call from my records that she is the element of loyalty. Beside her I saw a small pink earth pony with a curly mane and tail, most likely the element of laugher. I continued exploring with my sight to see an orange earth pony, a yellow pegasus, and a white unicorn; in order I presume they are the elements of honesty, kindness and generosity. I nodded in submission as I couldn't fight back, my main objective to attack Canterlot was thwarted by them and they had destroyed my protective armor plating.

"Alright." the purple pony sat right in front of me. She was just out of my kill range and her friends were backing her up so I couldn't even try. Her eyes focused on mine and she asked, "What is your name?"

"M-my name...?" I said in a stuttered response like a confused foal. I truthfully tried to answer, "My name is Subject 00550."

"That's a lie if I ever heard'one." the orange pony with a hat on her head said.

I looked down and away, avoiding contact with their glares that I knew were coming. "It's okay, she probably doesn't remember that well." their leader pony said.

That purple alicorn looked straight at me once more and used her magic to force me to look her in the eyes. She then closed hers and slowly closed the distance between the two of us and the last thing I knew was a magical touch on my forehead.

I felt a rushing sensation of memories like something was bringing them back, I didn't want them back though... Never in my lifetime did I want them back... so I repelled the magic she was using with my will, I never want to remember my past, I don't want to!

Then visibly my eyes opened and at the same time I could see that five ponies were surrounding me. I shrunk back and slowly figured out what I did to get most of them looking angry at me. I looked over them and saw parallel to me the launched back body of the purple alicorn laying in front of a destroyed bookcase wall.

I saw her get up a moment afterwards, she was resiliant that's for sure. Note made.

Then with a surprised look I could hear her telling her friends to get away from me. Why? The purple alicorn got close to me and trapped me in a solid translucent shield. Now I knew. It was the curse that had ensnared my being with darkness by taking my left eye. It became something like a cat's eye and if they're avoiding me like this... I knew it must've started glowing brightly.

This wasn't the first time, you see, this curse makes my abilities so much stronger than ever... well... at the cost of not even being able to control myself I guess... It kinda just takes over.

"We're not getting anywhere, Twi!" I heard the rainbow pegasus call out and saw the pink, white, and orange one nod. The yellow pegasus seemed to want to see me so I presumed she might want a crack at talking to me. The purple alicorn nodded to her and left to go argue with the others and the yellow one approached me.

She sat down and calmly spoke, "U-uhm... I figure... T-Twilight said I should try speaking to you... you seem... angry..."

I-I'm angry? I don't feel any different, I'm just a lifeless machine right? I can't feel simple emotions... but it seemed my body was telling a whole different story.

"I'm... just... peachy-keen..." I cringed when I spoke.
The yellow pony looked at me and asked, "W-Well... I guess I'll try asking... e-even though it might not work..."
She took in a deep breath and sighed heavily.
"What's... your name...?" she asked politely without any real notice of stutter, even though she stopped and started back up suddenly between the first and second words.

It seemed the curse calmed away immediately and I was able to sigh kindly. I sat up and tapped my chin. I felt like I knew my real name... I felt it slowly coming back to me... "Motionne F-Flow..." I said, "My name is... Motionne Flow..."

"That's a... nice name... Flow..." the yellow pony smiled with a bright kindness that I still couldn't understand. Why was she being so nice to me anyways? She continued, "My name is... Fluttershy..."

Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness huh?

I shouldn't be feeling any kind of emotion but in the back of my mind I couldn't help but show an almost invisible blush. What is this feeling? I don't know. I looked at her and responded, "That's a... nice name too..." I can't easily make an escape right now so I'll wait for the right time, I guess trying to blend in is a good way to gain trust.

But how did I even remember my name... did that spell that alicorn did actually work?

"F-Flow... why does... why does your left eye keep crying...?" that timid Fluttershy asked me. I guess I better be truthful because I feel as if that orange pony might call me out on a lie again.

"A curse." I said.
The yellow pony gasped and I saw her put her forehoof in front of her mouth, then I heard her repeat what I just said, "A-A c-c-curse...?"

"Yes." I said, "The only thing I can possibly remember from it is..."

What is your wish? A life filled with regret or a curse concluded with the unknown?
"I don't want to feel regret all my life... but a curse... I don't want that either... but what choice is there? Both suck badly."
A life filled with nothing, A life filled with a need to remember, A life filled with no friendships.
"No..."
Or... A curse, lost memories... lost vision of the future... a venture into the unknown...
"I..."
"I choose the curse... I just don't want to ever remember anything... I don't care if I just venture into the unknown, I just want to forget everything!"
As you wish.

"So... I forgot basically almost every memory of my life except for basic memories of just surviving and living." I turned away to hide my cursed eye from the yellow pegasus in front me, "I don't even know how I remember this even now. I'm supposed to continually lose my true memories because of it."
I told a truthful lie on that last part. The robotic self in me is what should continually refresh my memories and only keep what was programmed. But somehow...

"What did... What did 'Twilight' do to me...?" I asked. I heard Fluttershy say her name but I wasn't sure if it wasn't just a fake alias or her real one.

Fluttershy shrunk back slightly, "U-Uhm... I t-think... I think Twilight used a memory spell on you."
So it was memory spell, but how was it able to reprogram my already solidified instructions? I feel free... but lost... like how it said a cursed concluded with the unknown. Was this the unknown?

The purple alicorn came back up to me and looked closely. She then released the barrier that trapped me. She then said, "Just stay right there, alright?"
I nodded.
She gathered up her friends and I saw Fluttershy talking to them in their little group circle. I could only presume that she was talking about what I've revealed so far.

The alicorn came back up to me and smiled, "My name is Twilight Sparkle, Flow."
The white unicorn followed up, "I'm Rarity, dear."
Then the orange earth pony came up next, "Name's Applejack, sugarcube."
The rainbow colored one hovered past me and stood behind me and I heard her say, "My name's Rainbow Dash!"
The pink one came up last, hopping, and shouted out, "...and I'm Pinkie Pie!~"

Twilight Sparkle looked at me, "You'll be staying with me for now, Flow, I need to contact Princess Celestia about how to deal with you." she took out a nifty looking black eyepatch from her backpack that was near the door and clipped it right over my cursed eye and around my head and she said to me, "This is a special device that I just recently got from Celestia. I asked her to make something that could hold back immense power and she said she and Luna could easily make something that can dispel curses temporarily and send it over today; she told me that a curse might be the best reason a simple pony like you became so much more powerful."

"I guess she was right" Twilight Sparkle hovered over me, "Oh and Fluttershy told me everything you said so far so don't worry about saying it again. I'll welcome you with open hooves here in Ponyville as long as you can be willing for rehabilitation here."
I nodded in response.

My time here might be longer than expected, I figured it would be long but I didn't think they'd try something so futile. I'll pretend to go along with it; I'll be truthful and honest mostly but there are things I must hide myself. I now know that slowly I'll remember many things that I don't want to and that the unknown in front of me is finally dispelling...

"You'll sleep in the same room as me on the spare bed, by the way. We kept you in the lower floor basement because of certain issues of trust by my friends but I convinced them it's okay. I might take a few precautions since you did try to kill us earlier, but otherwise you're pretty free to roam around ponyville." Twilight Sparkle said to me.
She winked and with a tease she said, "Oh, I also put a protective ward around all of Ponyville that will stop you from exiting. Until I can trust your rehabilitation has worked, you'll be staying here so you won't try to cause any damage."

I guess I'm totally stuck but I presumed she'd make such a measure. I touched the eyepatch that was over my eye and felt a rush of overwhelming heat. That must've been the curse within my left eye trying to break it.

I'll keep track of my built-in journal in the meantime whenever I get some alone time, otherwise I'll narrate to myself and record as much as I can without getting caught.
My left eye cooled from it's sensation of intense heat, it seems the thing behind the curse is giving up trying to break free now but I sense it might try again later.
But truly... for now... I want to see where my memories do lead me.
If they do lead me somewhere...

I've been asleep for three hours currently, but I've woken up with a need to question myself...
Do robots dream?
Maybe not, I'm sure they don't. I lifted up and stretched out my legs, it was still nighttime when I awoke but I'm pretty sure doing anything suspicious might take some freedom away from me. I do kind of not want that to happen, nor any kind of suspicion in general towards me.

I ruffled up my mane and laid back onto the soft cushions. I didn't need the covering over me since I was a cybernetic and all, but it felt familiar and also felt kind of... well... cozy.
I'm still a robot though... I have parameters... I have programmed orders... I shouldn't feel emotion and I should be... I should be stronger than anything...

The heat eminating from my cursed eye began pulsing once more, It started to even hurt slightly. I knew I had built in nerves because pain was a survival tool, but this amount of pain on the left side of my face was too much to handle. I choked back a scream and slowly remembered what I had said before, of my memories.

The curse that I obtained not only made me forget, it made me stronger and faster than many things, was the spirit only wanting for my own destruction? All I can remember after that was just... fire... flames... a burning town...
Was that my doing?
A curse.
I remembered much of the pain I felt when something subdued me. I think... I think I figured it was one of the princesses or something but I guess it wasn't...
But who was it? Who was it?!
Forever a wandering spirit
I couldn't get a good look at her face to even recall any details...
The curse within me began to burn furiously and I felt my steel plated wings overcharging with energy.
Forever without memory
I wanted to run.
Forever without a vision of the future to come...
I struggled out of bed and tried to be as quiet as possible by exiting down the stairs and through the front door. I knocked over some books on my way out accidentally and I felt a sense that something woke up.

I ran out of the building and the electronic eye-patch over my eye broke into small pieces and fell all over the ground as I fled.
Pain.
Pain is all I could feel right now.
I looked behind me for a moment and saw Twilight Sparkle on the ground below, looking at me with dismay as I sped away.
My speed increased in massive increments as per how my wings were designed to work. But it seemed the curse within me had also enhanced it as I could almost break the sound barrier.
I looked back once more and saw that purple alicorn preparing a spell but I knew I could probably outrun it's area of effect... right?
BOOM!
I broke the sound barrier and began flying even faster, my eyes were watering and my ears were momentarily deafened. I saw the large barrier that she talked about that came closer and closer every second a flew further and further...
Then I saw the barrier shrink and compact in size where I was flying towards.
Oh no...

I woke up once more after a minute or so from what I could tell from my internal clock, this time I was being carried down by Twilight Sparkle, it was still night outside but I think I woke every pony up with the sonic boom that I made. My left cheek was bloody, I guess something happened to cause me to bleed as well... I looked over at her face and saw her focusing a spell while hovering back down. Then... I fell back unconscious.

The next morning when I woke up, I was back in the library basement, except I was held down by numerous straps and metal-like grips. I analyzed my surroundings and saw a large white mare talking to Twilight Sparkle. That must be Celestia and I'll presume so unless stated otherwise.

"She's awake, Twilight Sparkle." I heard Celestia say.
"I see, well, let's go ahead and inspect her, Princess Celestia." Twilight awkwardly smiled at me and then they both came closer.
I tried to struggle slightly out of my binds to no avail, then I asked, "What's going on now?"
Twilight looked at me and said, "You tried to make an escape last night and when I tried getting you back in here you starting flipping out, your eyes were glowing a horrible shade of red but luckily I got Rainbow Dash to assist me when she heard that sonic boom you caused which made her rush over here.

I looked over and saw Rainbow Dash leaning back against a wall and eyeing me down.

"I see that the curse has already seeped through your whole body." Celestia nonchalantly said to me, "I can already tell from what Twilight has told me, you don't have any memories of your past."
She inspected me even closer, I felt like she was able to see something that I couldn't.
She then smiled mischievously and I could see her horn glow as bright as the sun. My left eye felt cooler, but I still felt this sense of flame behind that now.
The large alicorn mare then said to me, "I have put a spell on your left eye, which seems to be the catalyst for your curse, which will act as a long-term wall to stop most it's effects. Although that still means that it can break down and you'll just go back to step one once more, but I believe Twilight and her friends can help you."
She released me from my binds and I saw Twilight flinch backwards and Rainbow Dash crouch down, almost ready to pounce on me if it get's hairy.
Then I heard Celestia say to me, "I know who you are, but I want you to find your true self. The only way to break your curse is to remember everything that you've forgotten; Your sadness, your happiness and even your pain and suffering." she looked at me with a sad look as she then said, "Although this temporary spell will only last you seven days as it requires much magical prowess to even cast it. A curse like yours that has almost taken your whole form will only lead to a future unknown once it swallows you whole. I can only promise this spell for you this one time but the rest is up to you."
Twilight Sparkle looked at me and asked, "Do you think you could remember your whole past... in just a week's time?"
"I believe she can, with the help of you and your friends." Celestia smiled at her ex-protégé.
Rainbow Dash came up from the background and said, "I don't think I could trust her after she tried making a b-line outta here. Buuut, I guess I can put that aside... for now."
Celestia nodded, "There is one thing I must ask of you right now though..."

Celestia had this serious look on her face at me and I felt compelled to do something. So I did what I thought I should where I peeled off a small part of my fur to reveal my metal exterior that was hidden.
I also pulled off a feather from my right wing to show my steel-plated wing.

"So my suspicion was correct." Celestia smiled, "Thank you for showing the truth of the matter."
I looked at her with a sad outlook, "I guess I must go against even my programming now since I was giving back my free will."
Then I smiled at Twilight, "I have to thank you for that, even if I was going to try and kill you in your sleep."
Rainbow Dash almost tried to attack me for saying that last phrase but luckily Celestia held her back with her magic.
Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes like she didn't her that last part and gave me a... rather cute I guess... smile and said, "You're very welcome, even if it wasn't intentional as I was trying to give you back your memory but I guess even a spell as complex as that can be overwritten"
I looked over at Celestia and spoke, "I guess I'should formally introduce myself to you, Princess Celestia, even though you said you already know me."

"My name is Motionne Flow, I was genetically enhanced and physically modified to fight. I am cursed; I am of the pegasi... but I am not like any pony, for I am far beyond different."

Celestia nodded and then silently said something to Twilight Sparkle which I couldn't hear. Twilight Sparkle nodded in return from what I could see.
Then I looked over at Rainbow Dash and saw her crossing her forelegs almost unamused.
Twilight Sparkle came up to me and said, "For the rest of today, Flow, you can do whatever you like here in Ponyville as long as you don't do anything bad. But we're going to schedule you with my best friends and myself. Tomorrow you'll be hanging out with me and sleeping at my place. The day after that, you'll be hanging out with Rainbow over there and having a sleep over at her home-"
"H-Hey! I don't want a murderous, blood-fueled cyborg pony sleeping over at my place!" Rainbow Dash protested from what I could hear.
Twilight Sparkle gave her a glare and said, "This is to HELP her-" she pointed at me, "Alright Rainbow?"
Rainbow Dash gave a huff and nodded.
Twilight Sparkle focussed back on me once more and continued, "Where was I? Oh right, Then after that day, you'll be with Rarity; after that, you're with Pinkie Pie; then after that, you're with Applejack; and finally for the last day, you'll be hanging with Fluttershy."

"Okay." I agreed.
Twilight Sparkle left the room with Celestia and Rainbow Dash soon followed. I guess I was alone now and could record something in my internal journal.

Dear Journal,

It seems that my outlook of things must change now, for I am able to freely make my own decisions. I am looking forward to the next few days and I hope that I can rid myself of this curse that is soon to follow if I don't do anything about it. I will fill you in more later on but for now this is all I can think up of what to say.

Motionne Flow.

There will be tears
shed beyond all measures,
to pass the such fears,
no temptations or pleasures...

2 - Far Beyond Memory

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Chapter 2
As a life slowly whisks away, so too will the curse break off your form.
There will be thoughts
where memories collide,
But think'eth naught,
Irrelivance aside.

It was day two as I woke up from the extra bed that was still there for me inside of Twilight Sparkle's library in her room. Today I'm supposed to be hanging out with Twilight and supposedly it'll help me retrieve some of my memories. I still had a question to ask her, something that's been plaguing my mind ever since I could thnk for myself once more.

I rolled out of bed and fixed it up, it felt familiar...
I shrugged it off and then looked around for that purple alicorn, it seems she'd already woken up. Wait... why am I even sleeping anyways?
More questions needed to be answered now so I walked out of the room and down the staircase to see Twilight Sparkle having a chat with her friends. Although I didn't see that rainbow pegasus here which kind of worried me. I scratched the left side of my face and moved on.

The pink one then immediately approached me as I stood still and said, "So I get to hang out with Flow after Rarity? Coolios!~" she pressed her nose against mine and was really getting too far into my personal space. She said to me, "We're going to have such an awesome party for you on that day! I always gotta throw welcoming parties for new ponies here in Ponyville!"
She flipped backwards and smiled in front of me.

Twilight Sparkle walked up to me and said, "I was just telling the others about the schedule and how we'll being dealing with you for this week and most of them understand."
I saw her gaze sadly out the nearby window and she said to me, "But I'm not sure if Rainbow Dash really understands, she is a bit stubborn sometimes..."

I gave her a forced smile and patted her side as I said, "I'm sure she will, she is your friend right?"

Then I saw Twilight Sparkle give a small smile in return and to my surprise, I saw a sparkle in her eye. She gave me a small hug; from what I could see past her were happy smiles from the other four as if I did something right. My ears drooped down and I felt a rush a gratification, a feeling I've forgotten the feeling of for a long time...

"N-no... you can't die..." I looked at my friend whom was bloodied from the mid-section down and laying back against a tree, "...we haven't even found our cutie marks..."
She looked at me and pulled me into a weak embrace, she then said to me, "Flow... we've been at this for a few years now, even after graduating from elementary. Blitz found his cutie mark with your help and you should be so proud of that... even though he stopped hanging out with us as much..."

She coughed out a bit of blood, my best friend in the world and I had been attacked by wild timberwolves out of nowhere in the forest we adventured in a lot. I held her tighter and cried harder; normally this forest was tame... but a darkness was beginning to seep its grasp over it...

I looked at her one more time and she gave me such a tear-filled smile. She had protected me with her life but I felt I should've been the one to protect her. I choked out, "D-Don't die... please don't..."
She gave my cheek a small nuzzle and said, "You made my life so much more brighter, Flow... you and Blitz stuck by me even though you both were pegasi and I'm just an earth pony... You still stood by me when Blitz stopped hanging with us, and I thank you for that."

From what I could tell, her time was beginning to run out. She stopped me from trying to pick her up and I didn't want to have her feel any more pain that she needs to now...
Then her cutie mark appeared just on her brink of no return, this was her fate? Such a cruel irony... What appeared on her flank was a brightly lit pink heart with a ribbon that wrapped itself around. Symbolic of herself... I cried even more... she truly loved every pony she met, even if they hated her, and whenever I was with her she always had this bright starlight-like aura.
The pink heart was her love, how it was so bright and the ribbon was the soft embrace she'd gractiously had. Maybe it was supposed to happen some other way... but destiny ended up like this and revealing it through this sad moment.

She pulled me close once more and said, "Flow, you're like a little sister that I never had... I'd do anything to protect you because you're family to me... You protected me before, y-you could call this repayment..."
My tears of sadness were occluded by my expression of surprise and then once more she hugged me with the last of her energy and said, "Thank you for everything, I love you like a sister and I hope you'll always cherish our memories together..."
Her voice was slowly lowering in volume... she repeated, "Thank you... thank you... t-thank y-you-"
Her eyes closed and she finally succumbed to her blood loss. My eyes watered as I cried for her, but behind that grief I felt a small ounce of gratitude from her words... How she thanked me... She found her cutie mark that day and I will always remember her... I spent a whole night there, embracing her lifeless corpse, crying.
In some way I helped her see who she really was in the end, which I felt happy for... but the only thing left now in my mind of grief as I was left with a broken-heart and covered in the blood of my bestest friend in the world.

Twilight's friends had left already by the time I was talking to Twilight Sparkle about this. She was teary-eyed when I looked at her face after I finished telling the whole story.
"I regret not being able to remember those memories, Twilight." I truthfully said, "Even if I now just remember this one."
Twilight Sparkle looked at me with this sad expression and said, "I never knew that deaths like that could happen in Equestria anymore..."

Then I recalled one crucial point, "...i-it was my fault...!"
Twilight Sparkle tilted her head and questioned, "It was...?"
"I don't remember the details right now... but I know that it was..." I covered my face with my forelegs. I didn't want to cry, I really didn't.

The purple alicorn moved closer to me and wrapped a foreleg around me, saying, "It must just be a misunderstanding, Flow..."
"It can't be!" I shouted, even if I was acting stubborn I felt Twilight trying to calm me even though she was teary-eyed as well.

She pulled me up as she stood up and said, "Hey... Let's go visit Pinkie Pie and see if she can cheer you up."
That's right, that pink earth pony is the element of laughter. I nodded and wiped my eyes and cheeks as dry as I could with my forehooves and Twilight did the same with hers except with a small cloth.
She then motioned me to follow and then we both exited the library.

We arrived at a place called Sugarcube Corner, it looked like it was made of edible materials! Twilight Sparkle and I entered the establishment and there I saw Pinkie Pie handling the front desk.
She smiled and with such a cheerful tone she said, "Heya Twi! Hiya Flow! What can I get'cha?~"

You know, being around that pink pony really does brighten up the mood a bit from that dreary atmosphere from before. Twilight Sparkle giggled and I saw her give a motion with her forehoof to Pinkie Pie. After that I saw her whispering into Pinkie's ear and Pinkie Pie nodding.
My face was kind of stuck in an expression of anxiousness and I shyly looked down, then I saw the pink earth pony appear in front of me with a cupake on a plate.
"Don't worry, I got the payment covered." Twilight said to me kindly.
Pinkie Pie smiled and said, "I hope you like this cupcake because I baked it especially for you!~"
Baked it in only a few seconds? I don't believe it, but I took the cupcake and took a few bites.
"Mmm, Delish." I said with my mouth kinda full and then I stuffed the rest of the cupcake in my mouth and gave Pinkie a worthwhile smile showing that I did like it.

Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves together happily in front of me. I looked towards the purple alicorn and said, "So what'll we do next?"
Twilight Sparkle gave me a pretty mischiveous smile and said, "I kinda want to see you fly, especially since I know about your wings being special."

I nodded, especially since I did feel a need to fly as of recent. We said our goodbyes to Pinkie and left Sugarcube Corner, what a strange place.
Then Twilight and I arrived at this large clearing and to my surprise, I saw a certain Rainbow pegasus napping on a nearby cloud with my enhanced vision.
I said to Twilight, "Hey Twilight, is that Rainbow Dash up there?"
As I told her this she focussed her vision on the cloud I pointed towards and she then hovered upwards to her friend. I followed behind her and watched as she plucked a feather off my fake wing and tickled Rainbow Dash's nose.
Also before I even saw it, Twilight Sparkle had scraped a cupcakes icing that I presume she got from Pinkie beforehand onto Rainbow Dash's forehoof that was then lifted and immediately covered all over Dash's face.
"H-heh-..." I chuckled and then choked it back and Twilight giggled silently to herself. I didn't see this purple alicorn as a prankster-type as well but I guess you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover...
Never judge a book by it's cover...
It reminds me of how I met her...

Rainbow Dash immediately got up surprised and she looked at Twilight almost unamused from what I could tell behind my slight trance.
I don't even...
Then I felt Rainbow Dash immediately pounce on me, snapping me out of my slight trace. I shook my head and said, "Eh...?"
"Don't get going psycho on us again." she stated to me.
I nodded even though I didn't know why. I looked at Twilight with a confused look and Twilight walked up to me and said, "It's no problem, Flow, don't worry. Now remember I still want to see you fly with those specilized wings of yours."
Rainbow Dash got off me and smiled, "Pfft. I bet I could still beat her."
I looked down and felt hurt by that, even if I had technilogically advanced wings I was sure I'd still be pretty fast without them. Then I saw Twilight Sparkle roll her eyes at Rainbow Dash and then give me a little nod as she said to me, "Just quickly fly over to that tree there-" she pointed at the tree that seemed around 400 meters away and then continued, "-and immediately turn and dash right back here."

Twilight Sparkle looked at Rainbow Dash and I heard her say, "Rainbow, you can go ahead and start her off."
Rainbow Dash sat down on the cloud and said, "Fine, Twi."
The multicolored pegasus looked towards me and asked, "You ready, Flow?"
"Yeah." I nodded as a changed my stance into something a professional racing pegasus would do.
"3... 2... 1..." Rainbow Dash said, "GO!"
I kicked off the cloud and spread my wings, starting off with a quick glide. I then flapped them a few times and gained much more speed.
Faster.
My vision was occluded with a status pop-up that read...
Faster.
The feather from my wings fell off fully revealing my steel-plated, magically glowing wings from what I could see from the corner of my eye.
Faster!
My speed increased even further, why did it keep telling me this word?
Faster!
I was about to hit the tree in only a few seconds now with the speed I've accumulated.
FASTER!
I hit the tree and bounced off it, doing a full 180 degree flip immediately. When I hit the tree I could feel it break when I made the turn.
FASTER!!!
My speed now was so quick that I felt the explosion of a sonic boom right behind me, I looked forward to the two ponies that I was slowly closing in on.
Exec... Offline Safety Mode...
Then in only a fraction of a second I stopped right in front of Rainbow Dash and landed. I felt my wings burning with an overwhelming heat as if they had overheated because of that.
I panted from the slight heat that transferred from my wings to all over my body, my normal body acted as a coolant.
Then I looked at Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash whom I saw were in shock.

"Huh?" I asked and Rainbow Dash shook her head and snapped out first.
She then shouted, "That... was... awesome!" she then looked at me and then showed a surprised look and said, "N-not that I..." she stuttered and then I could almost see a blush and then she shouted "I-It could be twenty-percent cooler!" and then Rainbow Dash turned away.
Twilight Sparkle snapped out of her trance last and said, "Woah, those wings of yours are amazin-..." she looked at me and recoiled backwards and said, "F-Flow! Your eye is starting to glow again!"
It was...?
"It's glowing blue..." the purple alicorn in front of me inspected closer.
Blue? It's never done that before...
...!

What's going on...? I thought to myself as I looked over the bush to see little fillies in a playground playing. Then I stopped a familiar looking face hovering towards another familiar looking form.
"Hey there! What's your name?" the dark blue pegasus landed in front of and asked the soft rose colored earth pony.
She looked away for a second and then responded, "I-I'm... My n-name is... Blush Embrace..."
Remember...?

I looked and listened closer and then saw another figure coming into view.
"Yo Flow! Gettin' with the'mares already? Heh!" a cyan blue pegasus hovered beside the dark blue pegasus.
"I-It's not like that, Blitz!" the dark blue pegasus shouted in protest.
"Yeah right, Flow, come on we gotta practice for the race." the cyan blue pegasus said. He then looked over at the soft rose colored earth pony and said, "Sorry about that, My name's Blitz and maybe we all can hang out some time later but me and Flow have gotta practice!"
The soft rose earth pony nodded and said, "Okay..." and had only a small smile on her face.
Remember how we met...?

I could see the dark blue pegasus look back and I saw her face slightly cringe. Then I turned my attention to the soft rose earth pony to see her in conflict with the two school bullies. I held back to see what would happen...
The dark blue pegasus immediately turned around and stood in front of Blush Embrace with a fierce growl.
The two guys responded with a laugh and one said, "What're you going to try?"
"Going to try and fight us?" the other one said.
The dark blue pegasus said in response, "Of course I am if ya'll are going to try and bully'er!"
The two bullies laughed but one was met with a swift knockout punch to the face by the dark blue pegasus. The one that was still conscious reared back, he was only an earth pony from what could be seen and he made a leap towards the small dark blue pegasus filly.
Then he was intercepted by a ramming force to his side.
I saw the cyan blue pegasus kid dash and hit that other kid out of the air and it seemed he put in a lot of force into that hit.
The cyan blue pegasus landed in front of the dark blue one and with a smirk he said, "Already gettin' into fights, Flow?"
"Just trying to protect my friends, Blitz." the dark blue pegasus responded, she turned towards the cowering soft rose earth pony and said, "We are friends though, right?"
The soft rose earth pony stood back up and smiled happily, "Y-Yes we are! T-Thank you so much for helping m-me... Flow... and you too, Blitz..."
She looked directly into the eyes of the dark blue pegasus and said, "I-I promise... on my life I p-promise... that someday... I'll repay your protection this day..."

I looked to my side to notice my long deceased friend, in spectral form, looking at me and I jumped back in surprise.
Do you remember now...?
I nodded, I couldn't speak for some reason even though I wanted to; tears were beginning to flow from my eyes... real tears... I've never felt this way in a long time... Why did I shut it out...?
I promised... that on my life I'd protect you... and I did... but it seems it didn't work in the end... but now... even in this state... I promise I still will...
Then I felt her hug me, it was an embrace that I haven't felt in such a long time too, she was so soft with her hugs...
Look to the Rainbow... my dearest friend... that will be the closest to salvation...
The Rainbow...?
I've been... been by your side since I... since I died... I've seen your struggles... your pain... I looked for the answer... I gave you the best answer I can...
I held her tighter and didn't want to let her go...
But... I took on most of the curse to protect you... but soon even I will decay... We share one mind together since that time... but... but only now... only now could I respond to you...
I wanted to return every word but my mouth was sealed shut by some sort of magic.
You are far beyond different... you left everything behind... you ran away...
The curse must be what she is talking about again...
...you need to remember... your memories will show you the path... I can only talk to you... this one time... before I help hold back the curse's strength once more... find your memories, Flow... then you will find the light past the unknown path...
Her embrace began to fade to the point until she dissappeared from my grasp. Soon the world around me began to glow red and then finally I was blinded by a white light.

It felt like some pony was watching me and when I woke up, I saw a multicolored pegasus pony looking down at me. She didn't look too amused but she did look slightly worried past that expression.
I looked around to see I was in a hospital bed and I looked towards the door to see the purple alicorn talking to a nurse pony. Twilight Sparkle then walked back up to me and said in surprise, "Oh! Thank goodness you're awake..."
"Eh...?" I replied while groaning. I felt like I was in a slight bit of pain now as my senses were finally coming back online.
Twilight Sparkle said, "You passed out after your eye began to glow blue! Not only that but it seemed all your processes had been shut down and you literally fell through the cloud we were on!"
"You're pretty heavy, ya know." Rainbow Dash complained in the background.
I tried to get up but immediately my muscles seized and I was grounded back down onto the hospital bed underneath me.
Rainbow Dash immediately turned to me with a worried expression and said, "T-The doc said d-don't move!"
"She's right." Twilight responded, "It seemed that you were just a lifeless corpse when we brought you but I guess that wasn't true. I almost forgot about that fact your partially a cyborg because I was so worried!"
I tried to move again which caused Rainbow Dash to jump ontop of me and hold all my legs down with each of hers and I heard her cringe as she said to me, "Stop... moving..."
I didn't want to, I wanted to get up and move freely, so I struggled to move past the pain and past her hold.

Twilight Sparkle came up beside the bed and looked at me closely, I heard her tell me, "I think the main reason you can't move is because most of the processes are still offline. Most likely the one requiring you to move."
She lifted me up with her magic as well as lifting away Rainbow Dash from me while going off on a tangent and saying, "I'll be taking you back to my place and I'll see what I can do there. I probably need to actually access your inner mechanisms if I'm unable to get you walking without doing so! Oooh! It'll be so fun!"
I saw he clap her hooves together as she took me with her and Rainbow Dash landed on the floor and followed behind. From the corner of my eye I could see a very tiny blush coming from her. I wonder why though...

We then arrived Twilight's library and she took me into her room and laid me carefully on the ground. You know, being carried around by magic isn't really fun. The multicolored pegasus had left midway on the walk so I presume she went back home. It was getting dark already so I can understand why.
Then I felt my fake fur being removed from underneath my wings. Wait... how does that alicorn even know that my control module is located right there exactly? Had she been inspecting me while I was unconscious?

I looked over at her from the corner of my eye and heard her say to me, "Hm... there's a small screen here that says..." she stopped and I think she inspected it closer and finally she continued, "...executing offline safety mode...?"
Oh dear, Offline Safety Mode was enabled? That's not good...
I said to Twilight Sparkle, "Offline safety mode is a... failsafe..."
"A failsafe, huh?" she responded to me, "Coming from an external source from whoever had programmed you?"
I nodded very slightly, trying to avoid too much pain now as I said, "It probably means that they have disabled most of my processes like movement because I've gone 'absence without leave' or something."
I sighed and continued, "They're not going to retrieve me, but from my internal manual it says that it activates when I overheat and will shut down such processes so everything can cool without effort..."
Although I lied a bit there... I did tell the truth right? I mean, the mode is also enabled from enhanced emotions being experienced and by now I should be able to walk.
But why is it still enabled?
I saw a nearby mirror and stared at it closely to see my cheeks slightly pink. W-Was I blushing?! Am I even capable of that?! That must be why I can't move still... I need to think of something else and figure out why I was blushing in the first place.
Suddenly I felt my muscles loosening up and I managed to stand back up. I really need to start being careful if that mode is going to activate.

Although...
It still hasn't answered my question of why my cursed eye was glowing blue rather than red. I turned and looked towards Twilight Sparkle and then without fear I explained to her what I experienced while I was unconscious.

In the end after I told her that story, I think that she was in deep thought so I left her alone and walked up to that spare bed that was still in her room. Tomorrow was going to be a different day where I'd be hanging out with that rainbow pegasus and I wonder how that'll play out.
It felt like she was trying to avoid me the whole time but couldn't.
I laid down on the soft bed and tucked myself in, it still felt good to wrap myself up like this even though I didn't need to. Finally I closed my eyes and fell asleep...
Wait... could I even sleep? Do I even need to sleep...?
I also still haven't answered my long awaited question...
Do robots dream...?

Seeking past such sadness
that forms in your thoughts;
Believe in happiness,
let it be for 'naught.

3 - Far Beyond Determination

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Chapter 3
Believe in yourself for only you can push yourself to greater heights. But one falter will make you fall all the way back down.
A stubborn talk
with a heavy heart,
Can only stalk
those who cannot start.

I woke up once more and I knew that today I was scheduled to hang out with that rainbow mare as well as sleep over at her place.
"Flow!" shouted the purple alicorn.

From hearing that I immediately jumped out of the bed I was laying in. That wasn't smart because now my back slightly hurts; ugh... I hate these pain receptors.
I slowly looked up to see a small dragon and I quickly remembered that Twilight Sparkle said her assistants were a small dragon and owl. I think his name was...
"Hey! Twilight's calling you." the small dragon interrupted my train of thought.
Oh right, she told me his name was Spike. I shooed him away with my forehoof and stood up and I could tell my mane was a mess but I didn't care and so I walked towards where Twilight Sparkle was.

As I entered the room I saw a certain rainbow colored pegasus being talked to by a purple alicorn. Twilight Sparkle seemed to be telling Rainbow Dash something and I wonder what it was.
I waved towards Rainbow Dash who in return just gave me the cold shoulder. That made me frown...
Twilight Sparkle then visibly sighed and I saw her give Rainbow Dash a serious stare and then walk up to me. She said to me, "Rainbow's being a bit stubborn as of lately, Flow, try to be understanding okay?"

I nodded. I've answered my own question of if robots can feel real feelings as of late and what I'm supplemented myself was a yes. The reason for this answer is that I've come to realize that I've been crying during my moments of memory, to which it seems something that has prevented me from feeling emotion had finally been either destroyed... or maybe just disabled temporarily.
Twilight Sparkle then walked passed me and gave me a small pat against my back as encouragement I presume; I then walked up to the rainbow mare that was at the door.

I then looked at her and asked, "What'dya wanna do, Rainbow?"
She turned and glared at me almost menacingly and pulled me outside of the library. Then she gruelingly whispered to me, "Don't you 'What'dya wanna do' me! We're going to fly and I want you to tell me why you're really here!"
Her words were as cold as her stare and it hurt, my wings stiffened as if they were scared and I replied to her, "I-I'm not trying to hurt any pony!"
"Yeah right... we'll just see..." she turned away and hovered upward, she then shouted to me, "Keep up. Now."

Geez... I thought she'd have warmed up to me by now but I guess she isn't as trusting as her other friends...

Just as I thought that, I felt my cheeks burning but also felt the left side of my face brimming with heat. That isn't a good sign but I'll try to keep it under reps...
I looked around a bit cluelessly for a moment and then hovered towards where Rainbow Dash had gone. She was quick, and her angry tension made it feel like she was moving even faster away from me. What'm I getting myself into now?
Don't think that...
I'll be fine...
Right...?

As we were moving through the skies we were stopped by that orange earth pony. I looked over to Rainbow Dash who began descending towards the other pony, so I continued to follow behind.
Stay away from her...
Huh...?
I will keep you on this path forever...
W-wha...?
YOU CAN NEVER GET AWAY...
...
YoU WilL sTAy oN tHiS paTh fOrEVeR...
...forever on the path of the unknown...

I couldn't feel anything except the wind of my face; it seemed that my eyes were shut and I didn't know what was occurring.
I felt a spark of electricity move up my spine and my eyes flipped open.
"W-WHA?!" I shouted, I was falling from the sky and I couldn't feel any part of my body. This wasn't my mechanical body shutting down but I felt that it was something behind the scenes that was affecting me.
I felt a large shockwave overcome me during my fall, it was incredibly uncomfortable.
"Flow!" I heard somepony shout. I didn't know who it was because of my stiffened state, even when I looked around from my limited vision.
Am I going to die?
It would be nice to die...

Then I began to think to myself that if I died, I would get to be with Embrace again... We could be friends once more and this time I could protect her from anything in the afterlife...
Don't die, Flow...
But I would be with you again...
Don't... you have much more to look forward to...
I can't see anything to look forward to...
Look towards the Rainbow, Flow...
I must be clueless then... because I can't see it...
You're going to have to see it... if you really... want to protect me... Find the Rainbow that you've desired to reach for such a long time...

I shook my head and finally snapped out of my trance, it seems that I wasn't falling at all but it was all just my imagination...
What a weird imagination then, for a robot that is... I landed behind Rainbow Dash and stood back, listening to their coversation. I did my best to be respectful as they had conversation with each other but that was interrupted when that orange earth pony walked up to me and said, "Howdy partner', ya think ya could also lend me a hoof here?"
"Uh..." I trailed off in thought... What am I even going to help with anyways?
I looked at Rainbow Dash to see her staring off to who knows where, then I turned my vision back to Applejack and replied to her, "What'm I gonna help with?"

I felt a cooling sensation in my wings and then felt a rush of air blowing out of them. Oops, I think that's another revealing factor past my fake feathers...
Set internal notes to ON.
Applejack caught my attention and she pointing with her forehoof over her farm. Oh dear, there were so many storm clouds over them! Why were they so pink...?

HEADS UP DISPLAY ACTIVATION SEQUENCE
On my heads up display it showed me the photo of that cloud, then I swiped over with the flick of my eyes and looked at the connection. It seems that those clouds are connected to the Spirit of Chaos, Discord.

Then the display shut off and I saw Fluttershy a distance away having a bit of an small argument with the spirit of chaos himself, who was sitting back on a beach chair. It looked kind of ridiculous to me, in my opinion.
I heard Applejack say to me, "Seems Discord doesn't wanna dispel his fancy clouds'of his, even with Fluttershy talkin' to him. Ya think ya could destroy those 'fer me?"
I looked over at the clouds and saw that they were raining chocolate milk. I thought ponies would like that... but I guess it isn't good for growing crops though. I nodded to Applejack and she gave me a nice smile in return and the three of us approached closer to the problem.

When we got near Discord, I think Rainbow Dash begun to argue with him as well and it kind of left me with the work of destroying all those rampant clouds. They looked like they were pretty strong, for being made of cotton candy, and I could see a small shimmer like they had been enhanced with magic.

I flew up and aimed myself towards one of the clouds, my right foreleg extended outward in an attacking position and as I flew closer and closer I also picked up speed so that I could punch it out.
Then when I hit it, I stuck to it horribly and it was disgusting. I looked down to see Discord laughing at me but I couldn't hear what he was saying to the others.

I got myself out of the cloud and hovered back down, preening my wings and wiping off the excessive cotton candy.
Then I heard Discord say, "You're new here aren't you? What's your name, if I may so ask?"
His voice sounded mischievous but I replied, "Motionne Flow, and I already know who you are."
"Oh? So you know that I'm the spirit of chaos-" I saw him wave his paw around as he spoke, "-and that I'm 'reformed'?"
"Well... didn't know 'bout the reformed part, but otherwise yes." I said in return.
He looked at me even closer and then reared back in surprise, "You... are cursed? Hah, I didn't think that such potent curses still existed in this time!"
He laid back on his beach chair and a flash appeared over his eyes and when they disappeared a pair of sunglasses had magically formed.
I heard Fluttershy say, "Discord... you've really gotta stop those clouds of yours..."
Then Discord said in return, "And I'm telling you, Fluttershy, I didn't make these clouds nor can I control and dispel them, but it is fun watching your friends try to break them, ha ha!"
"Why don't you get your princess-friend, Twilight Sparkle? I'm sure she can get rid of those clouds for you." he said and a then a bag of popcorn appeared on his lap that he began to eat.
I turned away and looked at the clouds, there must be a better way to destroy them...

Wait...

"Activate, Winged Fear." I said and I think everyone that heard me began to stare at me.
I knew what happens now, Winged Fear is part of my robotic form and was a painful process to install. My wings began to expel clouds of air and a moment later my fake feathers fell off, revealing my metallic wings.
Then I knew exactly that the bladed parts on my wings had changed to a color of bright red, filling them with accursed energy, and I felt my left eye change in heat which told me that it was glowing bright red.
Once the formation was complete, my wings became deadly swords that I could fly around with without moving them.

I checked behind me to see a surprised look on everyones face's except for Rainbow Dash's. Even Discord had been surprised by this and I think it was because now he knew that not even I was just a normal pony just like the other two now saw.
Then a tear came out of my cursed eye and I flew up. I promised myself that I would never use these blades for anything and it was recommended that I never use them for anything other than a powerful princess. When I fought with the Elements of Harmony I didn't realize that Twilight Sparkle had just become an alicorn princess because my database wasn't updated.

My wings began to extend in size, but not with real wings but with tendrils of accursed energy that oozed out of the blades on my wings.
The purpose of these extensions was for maneuverability and to cut past the deepest of magical shields with an equally powerful accursed energy. It came with the cost of when I used it, my body would be weakened and fatigued when the ability had run its course and it corrupted my form by destroying cells in my real body.

It slowly would kill me if I wasn't careful, but I guess that's what happens when you try to utilize a curse that was powerful than most magics. Now I felt my right eye heat up and that signalled that the pinnacle of the blades and my curse has now been reached. All I had to do now was control the rage that would try to overcome me.
These weren't normal clouds, they were enhanced with a powerful magic that only I could probably counteract. I need to sacrifice myself in order gain the trust of everypony... I'm sure this will work...
Even if it kills you?
Even if it kills me.

The tendrils emitted from my wings extended out and moved on their own and I only just hovered forward so the clouds were in my range. They sliced through the clouds quite easily, quickly destroying each of them one by one.
But what mystified me was when I did slice one I heard a scream... like a shrill scream that would come from pain.
I needed to destroy all these clouds as soon as possible now, so that I can release this ability without much damage to myself. I flew faster and the accursed energy from my wings sliced through all the clouds in an instant.
So many screams...
I then turned back and landed, dispelling all the energy that was being emitted from my body but when I was doing so I had my eyes closed.
When I had them open, I saw Fluttershy look away and heard Applejack say to me, "Are... are ya okay, sugarcube'...?"
Discord was just as surprised as they were and he didn't say a word, nor did Rainbow Dash say anything. The yellow pegasus approached me shyly and said, "F-Flow... your hind-leg... is..."
Rainbow Dash shouted, "B-Bloodied!"
"I say..." Discord stood up, "...what in Celestia's name were you cursed with, My little Flow."
My vision had began to become hazy and I said...
ReGreTs...
Regrets...
Regrets...
"A curse concluded with the unknown..."

Then I saw Discord take a closer look at me, it was hard to see but I could also view that he had his claw against his chin as he was lost in thought. Then when he was done he said, "That spirit was banished so long ago by Celestia."
I heard Fluttershy say, "You know her problem then...?"
"Yes I do." Discord answered, "But I don't know any cure as there had only been one fatality to ever occur to it and no other known victims before its banishment."
That draconequus stood back and continued, "The death of that one victim though... was just as what looks like has happened to the hind-leg of your friend there... Bloody."
Then I said one word...
"Power."

I saw every one turn to look at me as I continued, "In exchange for power... I slowly die..."
I sighed and said, "Hey draconequus spirit, can you conjure'me up some bandage or at least heal it up if you can?"
"I'm sorry, Flow, but the power of your curse is much stronger than even the magic of the spirit of chaos himself." Discord stated, and then I saw him whisper something to Fluttershy which made her perk up slightly.
Fluttershy then approached me and said, "Maybe you should stay with me... I can ask Twilight to fix up your schedule for you so I can tend to your injury..."
"No wait!" Rainbow Dash shouted, "She's staying with me for the day!"
Applejack interrupted, "But sugarcube', I think Fluttershy's better at tendin' to that there wound."
The multicolored mare contested, "Fluttershy can do that at my place too, ya know!"
I sighed in the sidelines, my vision had began to steady once more during this period but I was getting a headache from just listening.

Discord had already disappeared to who-knows-where, but I guess this isn't really in his domain to be here.
Fluttershy nodded, Applejack nodded, and Rainbow Dash hovered back with a smile. Wait a second... what just happened while I was lost in thought? I also thought that Rainbow Dash didn't trust me, or did she change her mind during this event?
My hind-leg was weak but I could still walk so I approached the group and said, "So then what's the plan?"
Rainbow Dash, "Well, Robot-pony, you'll be staying with me still as Twi's schedule says but Flutter here is going to hang around and then to your bloodied leg; Applejack's going to notify Twi in the meantime."
"B-But... d-don't take it in any other way than as a friendly gesture!" she finished her small speech.
Applejack had already started a walk towards a large red stallion and told him something to which then he proceeded the farm and she left my vision in just a short amount of time. Then I felt some pony pick me up from underneath me and saw that it was Rainbow Dash who did it.

It made my cheeks heat up only slightly, b-but that was from that awkward situation of being picked up and carried. I-It was embarrassing!
But... It reminded me of something...
I closed my eyes and lost myself in thought...

"Hey Flow..." the soft rose colored earth pony asked her friend, "Do you think you'll ever find love?"
"Love? Pfft, that'll come later! My goal right now is to become a Wonderbolt!" the dark blue pegasus responded.
Only at that moment I realized what she was really asking.
"Heh... right, Well... I've already figured out who my special somepony is, but I'm too afraid to ask them." the soft rose colored earth pony smiled.
The dark blue pegasus looked at her and asked, "Really? Who is it, Who is it!"
"I'm not telling you~" that earth pony teased her friend.

They were both on a high hill that extended out of the forest, the forest that ponies were not allowed to pass into.
The earth pony was laid back against the hill and the pegasus was pestering her for an answer. That dark blue pegasus finally gave up after a minute and laid back beside her friend; they both looked up to the skies.
As they watched the passing clouds there was an uneasy silence... then right as they were perfectly relaxed a large explosion had occured and a spectra of rainbow had expanded across their vision.
A sonic rainboom...
"Woah...!" they both admired the amazing sight which then disappeared before getting to their town, luckily they were both in the forest on a high hill.
The soft rose colored earth pony then said, "That's a... sonic rainboom!"
"Sonic rainboom?" the dark blue pegasus asked.
Of course... I didn't really pay attention a lot of the time in class...

The soft rose earth pony smiled but didn't answer the question that was asked, which kind of annoyed her friend slightly.
"I want to... reach that rainbow..." the dark blue pegasus stated, "...that'll be my new dream..."
Rainbow Dash reminded me of my dream... that's what it was...

I woke up, it seems that I fell asleep on Rainbow Dash's back while she was carrying me and it seems now I was located in a home that was really white and looked like it was made of cloud but was solid like a normal home. There were some parts that were colored a bright blue around the room I was in and I was laid down on a bed.

Then I saw Fluttershy enter the room and Rainbow Dash follow behind. Now I remember what was going on.
"Oh! You're okay!" Fluttershy joyfully clapped her hooves together and then said, "I carefully wrapped up your injured leg for you after I very carefully disinfected it and washed it thoroughly."
"Well... uh... thank you Fluttershy." I stuttered because I was still in a bit of a hazy state from waking up.

"H-Hey! I helped too!" Rainbow Dash protested in the background.
Fluttershy gave a small cute giggle and said, "Yeah... Rainbow brought all the needed medical supplies."
Rainbow Dash walked forward and I could see an incredibly hidden blush as she said, "I-It was no problem for the fastest flier in Equestria!"

Fluttershy smiled at me and said, "I'll see you two later... I need to go tend to my animal friends too at the cottage."
"See ya, 'shy." I said, finally returning to her a smile of my own.
Rainbow Dash waved to her friend as she left and said, "See you later!"

Then when Fluttershy exited the room, Rainbow Dash approached me and her expression changed immediately. I heard her say to me, "Just so you know, Flow, Fluttershy also examined your metallic body and it seems that the metal just covers over your real form but somehow was broken after that move you just pulled earlier."

"Which reminds me... I know that I should trust you like every pony else but I want to know if you were planning on using that move against my friends and I!" she pressed her forehead against mine and it seemed she was getting slightly frustrated.
I answered truthfully and responded, "I wasn't... I... I was going to use it on Princess Celestia though... but... it was my orders..."
"Then why now is it that you can disobey your 'orders'? Hm?" she said to me.
I didn't know how to respond... so I went with what I could think up and said, "Twilight freed me somehow..."
"Ugh... I know that! But I still believe that you could turn on us at any moment!" she shouted angrily at me.
I felt a heat roaring up to my face... oh no...
"Grr..." I clenched back tears, "It's not like I would! I was given a chance and I'm taking it!"
There are no chances...
You will die here...

"I'll put up with you today, Flow... but don't count me in on anything else the next time we see each other..." she said to me bluntly.
"I don't count you as one of my friends..." she stated and then left the room, leaving me on this bed without a chance of saying anything in return.
I saw a small tear fall down her cheek before she fully made it out of the room... But her words...

It really hurt...
I was so determined to make her trust me that it ended up backfiring...
Why though... Why do I feel so hurt...
YoU AReN't ONe oF MY FriENdS...
Why...
DOn'T cOUnt mE In oN AnyTHiNg ELsE...
But...

What's going on...?
The skies were dark and gloomy, the stars weren't in the sky and the moon was dimly lit. The dark blue pegasus stretched out her wings and looked around to see if any pony was watching. She made sure that no pony was awake and immediately flew off.
This was... after you lost at the big race...

Her speed wasn't all too great as her flight was fumbling but she flew through the forest entrance. But behind her was the shape of two other ponies that seemed to tailing her... a pegasus and another earth pony.
You ran away... into the forest... we... we had a fight and you ran and then...

The dark blue pegasus had taken refuge in a cave deep within the forest, it was dark and lonely...
She cried to herself so much there... but there she met a wisp... a ghostly figure that was glowing a dark red.
...you met... it...

It approached her and comforted her and asked what was wrong. It seemed like it had good intentions and tried to make her stop crying. She then explained that she was weak and that she could never amount to anything.
...you were... so depressed...

The ghastly entity then said something but wasn't audible from where we were listening from. But it seemed awfully familiar...

But that... was just a part of the story... there were more emotions implemented into just a simple two choice wish but the effects never happened until later...

All that was left to be seen was the two tailing ponies following behind into the cave but the vision begun to become hazy.

I realized now that the spirit had tricked me... it tricked me by putting both choices onto me in secret... but only making the strength be revealed normally while I was younger...
You're right... but there's something you don't know yet, Flow...
Huh? What is it...? What don't I know from this...?
You weren't the only one with a wish...

I had been on the bed, sobbing to myself in incredible amounts as if rivers were flowing down my cheeks. I really wanted to fight in the argument but... but... I couldn't...
It was so open and shut and the only thing that was left in my mind that I couldn't shout out was... I thought you finally trusted me!

Flow... continue to remember those memories... the bad and good will lead you to the rainbow... that rainbow you so desired...
The voice of Blush Embrace was soothing and it helped me calm down a bit with what she had said. I want to reach that old dream of mine... even though I don't know exactly what I even meant by it...
...and I want to protect my best friend...

I began cycling through my thoughts and began to think about what had happened today; and what had went wrong... I thought that Rainbow Dash had begun warming up to me, especially when she carried me to her place before I fell unconscious...
But why... why... why! Why can't she trust me? Is it because she thinks I'm still a danger to all her friends?! I'm not! I'm not!!!
I felt the tears trailing down my cheeks again as I continued my train of thought.
I'm not a danger to anypony! Why would she think that?! All her friends trust me but why can't she! Why can't she?!
I started to feel worse than how I felt yesterday... Maybe tomorrow will be better... I hope that white unicorn mare, I think her name was Rarity, is okay with me...
But I was so determined to be friends with that rainbow mare...
I was so... so determined...
...I don't need to sleep... I'm just a robot after all...
Just a robot after all...
Besides... robots can't dream... I'm... I'm sure of it...

I wiped the tears away from my eyes and just laid there on the bed, staring into space.

Such deceitfulness
will never be true,
Even truthfulness
will occlude thy view.

4 - Far Beyond Love

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Chapter 4
Weakness is the first step. The last step is finding yourself. You will reach so far but you'll never catch it.
A wish can only harm
those with a weak heart,
A curse can destroy
all with a strong spirit.

It was already morning in Ponyville and unbeknownst to Rainbow Dash I had snuck out of her home. Hopefully she didn't rat me out to her friends but I really needed some alone time. I had landed by a nearby bridge and sat near the river that the bridge had crossed over.

That's where I spent my night... just sitting there and thinking to myself. I felt that I had stepped backwards a couple of steps in my rehabilitation due to Rainbow Dash... but... I don't want to accuse her of that.
I don't know why I don't want to though... I mean... isn't it her fault that I'm sitting right here by the river, now?

"Flow?" the sounds of somepony searching for me reached me ears. I didn't want to be found... Just not yet. I crouched down and hid as best as I could.
Then I saw a white unicorn staring down at me from right atop the bridge and say, "Dear, It isn't very kind to run away and hide like that."

I watched as she crossed the bridge to my side and approach me with a worried expression. Then I heard her say, "You had every pony worried, Flow."

"I... I didn't mean to worry everypony..." I said to her with a sigh, "I just wanted some alone time..."
"Alone time doesn't cut it, dear, you really should have warned somepony before rushing away like that." that white unicorn lectured me.

I wiped my eyes and then responded, "I'm sorry then, for worrying everypony. I'll try to tell someone when I'm leaving rather than dashing away."
She nodded to me and walked back up and I followed behind her and I saw everypony that was looking for me: Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity... but...

I didn't see Rainbow Dash...

I walked up to the purple alicorn and asked, "Where's Rainbow?"
All I got in response was, "She immediately flew off somewhere after she told me you were missing."
Fluttershy stepped up to me and said in her shy tone that I've heard before, "We thought she went out searching for you too because we haven't seen her in a while..."
"We only heard about'yer disappearance from Twi." Applejack stated as she approached me as well.
Pinkie Pie cartwheeled up to me and with a squeak she said, "Weweresoworriedaboutyouflow!"

"Uh... yeah... I'm sorry 'bout worrying you all" I said to everyone, the tone of my own voice sounded pleading in my own ears. I looked over to the skies and wondered where Rainbow Dash was... I kind of wanted to say sorry to her the most.
I saw that purple alicorn, Twilight Sparkle, look at me and heard her say, "Let's get back on schedule now, Flow... we still can't waste any time now after all the things you've been remembering."

Her eyes looked pleading to me as she said, "You have been remembering your past... right?"
I only gave her a nod but I avoided telling her about my last few memories. I'll keep those for later when I do need to tell them... Besides... They don't really need to know about them...
"Just a couple of things, really..." I said to her with a forced smile. I felt as if everypony knew that I was not really smiling but I shrugged away that feeling and thought about my problem again.
Then Rarity approached me closely and said, "Come with me, Flow, since it is my turn to be with you"
I looked at her and gave her a small nod and said, "Rarity... can I talk to Twilight a bit first? I... need to tell her something that I can only trust her knowing."
I saw that white unicorn give me a nod and I watched as she stepped away but before she left my view she said, "After you're done with Twilight you can meet me and Fluttershy at the Day Spa, dear."

I waved farewell as Rarity and Fluttershy went to the spa, meanwhile everypony except me and Twilight Sparkle had left afterwards and I gave them my farewells as well.
Then I looked to Twilight Sparkle and asked her, "Twi... let's go to your place because I don't want anypony hearing at all about what I'm about to tell you... okay...?"
That purple alicorn nodded in response and said, "Well, Let's get going then."
So that's what we did, I followed behind her as we trotted back to her place which was the Ponyville Library.

ESCAPE...
I stayed close and ignored the voice in my head... the grim, dark, and hate-filled voice that was whispering.

ESCAPE NOW...
We got to the library and I quicked passed by Twilight Sparkle and got inside. It felt like I had this cold sweat and I was worried about myself.
"T-Twilight... please make s-sure your assistant isn't listening as well..." I stuttered as I grasped for my words.
"He's already out..." that alicorn looked at me and worryingly asked, "but... is there something wrong, Flow?"

KILL HER...
"T-Twi... the memories... s-something is... th-there was..." I couldn't complete the sentence as if some third party was preventing me.

YoU WorThLEsS FoAL! KiLL heR NOw!!!
I struggled to keep myself still and I quoted what my friend had told me and so I said to her, "I-I wasn't th-the only one with a wi-wish!"
"What?!" Twilight Sparkle shouted in response.

KiLL tHEm aLL! ELiMinAte tHaT UsELesS rAce!
Initiation sequence activated... Primary armor functions in restore mode... Estimated time until completion... under 4 days...
YOu WiLL NEvEr bE fRee...
yOuR fRiENDs... ArE... DEAD...
"But... who else would possibly to that?!" Twilight Sparkle responded in a loud voice.
Then I looked at her, ignoring all the voices that were penetrating my mind other than hers and I said as I wiped the cold sweat off my face, "...my old friends..."

"But Twi... this isn't the only thing I want to tell you..." I said to her and was finally able to think clearly again and talk normally once more.
The purple alicorn looked at me straight in the eyes and said, "What else is there, Flow...?"
I got close to her side and whispered into her ear, "I want to tell you my dream..."

I better get to the Day Spa now... even though I'm not completely sure I should... although I guess that Spas are supposed to be calming and such.
I walked past the doors of the spa and was immediately greeted by a spa pony and she quickly introduced herself to me. I told her my name and she quickly led me to where Rarity and Fluttershy were and she said that my cost would be on the house which I thought was really kind.

Then I looked towards Rarity and Fluttershy whom seemed to already be having a conversation in the larger tub that I figured was filled with warm water.
"Hey Rarity! Hey Fluttershy!" I called out with a smile as I cantered up to them. I'm still getting used to this whole emotional feelings and what not and I'm still also figuring out how to express emotions on my own without automation.
Fluttershy was the first to look over at me and she greeted with her awkwardly silent voice, "Oh... Hi Flow...!"
"Yes, Welcome dear," Rarity said after Fluttershy and continued with an inviting tone as she spoke, "Come and join us, the water is quite pleasant."

The tub they were in was incredibly large and required me to go up a small staircase. I walked up and hesistated about going in, something inside of me was making me want to avoid water, "U-uhm..."
"Hm, what is it?" that white unicorn asked.
I replied, "Nothing!" and then I slowly made my way into the warm tub of water where Rarity and Fluttershy were relaxing.
Then I heard a familiar voice.

I remember this feeling. I'm sorry about letting the curse tempt you, Flow, but I was incredibly weakened by the current events.
I'm fighting a war that I don't think I can win without a true miracle and it seems that miracle is about to come true.
How so, my old friend?
Don't worry about it, little Flowwy, just... keep yourself going and don't let the darker voices tempt you... and don't forget to fulfill your dream...
That dream... I... I don't think it's possible.
It's only impossible for as long as you delay it. I believe that in the final moments you will gain that courage to fulfill it... I know so...
Alright, old friend... I'll see to it that I forge on.

"Flow?" the yellow pegasus pony silently called out to me and that seemingly hush tone had broken my trance.
I scratched my eyes with my forehooves, "Wha-Huh?"
"Oh! I uhm... asked you a question..." Fluttershy had shyly turned her cheek towards me as she spoke.
I looked towards her and gave off a short sigh and then I responded in my most kind tone, "I didn't pick it up, may I hear it again please?"

Fluttershy seemed to have calmed her nervousness when I spoke to her and I heard her say, "Okay... um... E-Earlier, Rarity and I were talking about where you might be from... s-so... D-Do you remember where you were born or w-what place you lived in b-before you arrived here...?"

Once I heard this question I undoubtedly already knew the answer and so I answered her question with, "I don't remember; I'm sorry, Fluttershy."
Rarity intervened and said, "There's no need to be sorry, dear, It was just a simple question and you answered it the best you possibly could."

Then I watched her lay back and relax and I looked towards the yellow pegasus who said to me, "Yeah... there's no need to apologize... I just figured if I asked then maybe it would help you remember something..."
I looked up at Fluttershy and gave her a soft smile as I said, "It makes me feel happy that you did try at least."

Then after that, time passed by quickly and we were out of the spa. It felt like only a couple of minutes had passed since I arrived, even if I did arrive late. I waved goodbye to the timid yellow pegasus as she left... being around her made me feel more at ease than normal.

Which reminds me...

"Hey Rarity..." I asked her as we were walking down the path to her place.
Then I heard her respond, "Hm? What is it, Flow?"
I continued to look forward and avoiding eye contact with her as I asked, "Do you think... No... N-nevermind, I forgot what I was going to say."

Truth was... I knew just what I wanted to say...

"You've fallen for somepony haven't you, dear?" that white unicorn said out of the blue which made me feel blue on the inside.
I winced and then replied to her, "I-It's not like t-that! It's j-just..."
"Love?" Rarity teased me with a smile and we bothed stopped walking and she turned to face me and she said to me, "I can tell when a mare has fallen in love, dear."

After she told me that we started once again trotting to her place and it was just silence the rest of the way.
I avoided talking to her about it now, especially if she knew exactly what I thought she knew...

We were at the door to a large establishment and I turned towards Rarity who, with a smile, said to me, "Welcome to Carousel Boutique, Darling."
I looked at her, "Carousel Boutique?"
"Yes dear, Carousel Boutique. This is my home as well as my workplace where I make dresses for every pony." Rarity answered as she then walked into the building. I followed behind her and once inside I was impressed by how decorated and beautiful it looked.
Rarity turned to look at me and she said, "Hm... I think I have just the idea for a dress just for you!"

I looked at her and said, "Uh, Rarity, I don't think I really need a dress."
"I'll make you a dress anyways, Flow, Just think of it as a gift from me to you." the while unicorn fixed my mane slightly, "Although, dear, I'll fix it up for you later because I still have some orders I have to attend to first."
I guess she's made up her mind about it now so all I could do was nod in agreement. Then I heard her sigh, "I know that you're worried about Rainbow Dash."

"Tch..." I recoiled backwards from her words.

"Every pony is worried as well, dear, but I have this feeling that you're much more so worried than us." she told me straightforward.
She gave me a brisk smile as she spoke, "I won't tell any pony so don't worry, Darling."

Then that white unicorn distanced away from me slightly as I saw three little fillies enter the room.
One of them was the same white color as Rarity, except with a much more curly lavender mane, the next was yellow with a red mane and had no distinguishing horn or wings so I presumed she was an earth pony, and the last one was an orange pegasus with a rough purple mane.

The three immediately approached me and started eyeing me down like they were inspecting me.
"Hmmmm... she's new 'ere isn't she?" the yellow earth pony said to her friends and in response the small white unicorn said, "Yeah! I've never seen her here before!"
The orange one circled around me and then spoke, "Woah! Hey girls, look at her cutie mark!"
The other two the circled to where she was and I kept my eye on them as they looked at my cutie mark, to which I wondered why they were so entranced by it.

"Hey lady!" the orange one grabbed my attention, "What's your cutie mark supposed to be?"
I turned towards and faced them and answered, "My cutie mark is of a flowing wave followed by a large tidal wave flowing in the same direction."
The yellow earth pony spoke, "Wow! Cool! How did'you get it, miss?"

I smiled and asked, "Maybe I'll tell you that story if you all give me your names first."

I guess it'll be good to be friends with these three.

They all looked at each other and smiled and then the small white unicorn shouted, "I'm Sweetie Belle!"
The orange pegasus was next and she yelled, "I'm Scootaloo!"
Finally the yellow earth pony was last and she cheered, "And ah'm Applebloom!"
Then in unison I heard them all shout together, "And we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

I looked at them with a puzzled face and asked, "The Cutie Mark Crusaders?"
Rarity then finally walked in between the three and myself and said to me, "Don't worry about them dear, Sweetie Belle is my little sister and these two are her friends and they just go around trying to find their talents."
"Hm, well honestly to tell you all the truth I don't believe my cutie mark really signifies my talent." I said to all of them.
I looked at Rarity and then said with a sigh, “I don’t actually remember my cutie mark story, I can’t even recall a single bit of it.”

Neither can I remember any of it.
The three little fillies all frowned and all I do in response was apologize. Rarity then shooed away the fillies and we were alone together again.

AFTER ALL... IT’S ALL A FABRICATION, ISN’T IT...?
Tch... then what am I, anyways...!?

The time hanging out with Rarity did make me feel more at ease with myself though, and I also got to hang a bit with Fluttershy as well.

In the end, Rarity led me to where I’d be sleeping for tonight and she didn’t put any pressure on me during our conversation earlier. The day ended quicker than expected as well...

Aren’t I just... a machine...?

“There would be no pony who could love me...”

“Rainbow Dash... I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash...”
I said these words out loud as if I knew no one was listening... but then I sensed a small presence outside the room I was in.

I felt as if nothing mattered anymore... the rainbow I chased was fleeing away...
You’re nothing but an insult to life.
That’s how I feel now... I just shouldn’t exist...

I wish I never existed...
I wish she never existed...

One is always affected
by the one they adore.
The other is expected
to try harder than ever before.