//------------------------------// // BONUS Chapter #2 - TOBOR Chats with... Star Swift? (Edited) // Story: The Adventures of T.O.B.O.R. // by The EnderPony Master //------------------------------// Grey. That would be the appropriate term to use to describe how TOBOR's day was going. It has been 2 days since the heavy rainstorm came to Ponyville. There was nothing but grey clouds for miles. Apparently, the weather team were overdue with their storm schedule. Why would these ponies need a storm schedule, he would never know. Why it had to be stormy? Couldn't a gentle shower been better? It doesn't matter. Right now, TOBOR was just lounging on the balcony in the middle of the night, watching the rain pour down onto soil, with the occasional thunder echoing in the distance. The only thing keeping him dry was his umbrella. He was planning on using it for the beach, but that plan was out for obvious reasons. "Whenever I want to go to the beach, there's always something that will keep me from going. Every. Single. Time." TOBOR sighed. TOBOR was indeed planning on going to the beach with the girls. Hoping to have a little group outing in the sun, but that idea had to be ruined. "I wonder how the girls are doing." Ah, yes. The girls were all staying in their homes also, along with everypony in Ponyville. They were all instructed to stay indoors until the harsh storm would pass over. Twilight and Spike were both caught under the storm on their way from the park, but they were able to take shelter at Rarity's boutique since it was the closest. Trixie was still out somewhere in Equestria with her new trailer. TOBOR thought of hanging out with Cave, but the large white android pony apparently had to deal with a nest of giant dessert worms his underground base dug into. How he gotten the base, TOBOR was clueless. Anyway, he was all alone in the library, with nothing but books and his comics. Though, he has read through them 3 times already. Kind of a downside of having a super processor in his features. He can read faster than a normal human can, or pony in this case. "I am so bored!" TOBOR whined. "There is literally nothing to in this treehouse." TOBOR got up, and walked back inside before closing the doors to the balcony. "There's got to be something to do." TOBOR muttered. "I wonder if could visit-" Knock Knock Knock TOBOR was a little startled by the sudden knocking. 'Huh? Who can that be?' He thought. 'Why would they be here in this type of weather?' "Coming!" TOBOR called out. TOBOR walks down from the stairs that lead to the balcony and reached to the doors. When he opened it, he was surprised at what he saw. In front of him was a grey pony. Their mane and tail were pitch black with a midnight-blue streak. What was eye-catching was the wings. They weren't feathery like any other Pegasi, they were leathery like a dragon's! Not only that, but her golden eyes were glowing dimly. "Mister, I'm so sorry for disturbing you at this time of night, but I really need shelter." The mare's voice sounded young. "I know you don't know me, but can I please stay here for the night?" TOBOR came back to reality before he steps aside. "Of course! Please, come in." TOBOR said. "Oh thank you!" The mare sighed in relief. "I thought you would close the door on me too." This confused TOBOR. Why would he close the door on her? He'll have to ask later. Anyway, TOBOR closes the door after the mystery mare trotted in, leaving a little trail of wet hoofprints. "Sorry." She said when she saw her trail. "It's alright. It's just water, it can dry out." TOBOR said. Now that the mare was inside, TOBOR can see clearly with the lights. The reason why the "mare's" voice sounded yound was because she wasn't a mare, but a filly. TOBOR still can't tell ages from a filly and a mare, or a colt and a stallion. Though, he was certain that this pony was at least close to that of a teenager. TOBOR notices that the filly was shivering. Knowing what was wrong, he makes his way into the kitchen. A moment later, he comes back with mug. "What's that?" The mare asks. TOBOR tried to speak, but his voice was muffled by the mug he was holding. He sets the mug down in front of the filly. "It's hot chocolate. I thought you might of been cold from outside, so I made a little something to heat you up." "Oh, thank you, but you didn't need to. I don't want to impose." "It alright. I wouldn't mind." The filly smiled before she took the mug in her hooves and started drinking the chocolatey goodness. She hummed as her wings fluttered a bit. "Thank you." "You welcome, Ms...." "Oh! I'm sorry. My name is Star Swift." "It's nice to meet Star." TOBOR greeted back. "My name is TOBOR. TOBOR the robot pony." "Robot?" Star tilted her head. "I never heard those types of ponies before." "Oh, robot is not really a type of pony. It's just another word for machine." "Machine? You look like a pony." "That is true, but on the inside, I'm full of parts and other gizmos." "I think you're lying." "If only I had a bit for every time nopony doesn't believe me." TOBOR muttered. "Well, if you don't believe me..." TOBOR turns to his side. "... then feel my 'coat'." Star was surprised by this sudden action as she blushes a little. "W-What? You w-want me t-to touch you?" She said flustered. "Yes." Star's blush reddened a little more, before she decided to reach out. When her hoof touched TOBOR's side, she squeaked and closes her eyes. Though, her little 'intense' moment didn't last long as she turned from flustered to confusion. Star looks back at where her hoof was. She moves her hoof around and was surprised to feel it was hard has rock, instead of being soft like other ponies'. "What... but how-" "Like I said before. I'm a machine." TOBOR chuckles. "I may have the body of pony, but I'm not real." "Wow. That's amazing." "Thanks." TOBOR thought of something. "Say, can I ask you something?" "Um, sure. What is it?" "What are you exactly? I never seen a pony with those kinds of wings before." "I'm a Thestral," Star looks down. "But other ponies call us Bat Ponies." "You don't sound so happy about it." "I'm proud to be a Thestral!" Star glared. "Woah! I didn't mean to offend you." TOBOR leans back. "I sorry." Star calmed down, but she looked sad. "No, you didn't offended me." Star looks away. "I'm just really sensitive when ponies talk about my kind." "Don't ponies get along with other types of ponies?" "Some of them do, but most of them don't." "What do you mean?" TOBOR raised a brow. "It's just... ponies treated us like vicious wolves of the night ever since our ruler, Princess Luna returned." TOBOR remembered what Twilight told him of her and the other's last encounter with Luna. The time when she was Nightmare Moon. "I guess. I mean, she did put up a show when she came back from her banishment." TOBOR cringed. " N-Not that there's something wrong with Luna! It's just that... what I mean is-" "It's fine." Star waved a hoof. "Even I admit that what she did, or what she was going to do scared me. I love the night like any other, but I like to live to see it though." TOBOR nodded. If Luna did bring Eternal Night, then this world's crops were die out, along with everything else due to low temperatures. To put it simple; No sun, no sunlight and heat. "By they way, I forgot to ask, but what brings you to Ponyville?" TOBOR asks. "And way travel in this weather?" Swift looks down. "I ran away." "What?" That got TOBOR's attention. "I ran away from home." TOBOR was shocked. Why did she ran from her home? Where are her parents? "I know it's none of my business... but why?" Star Swift paused for a moment before speaking. "...I got into a fight with my dad." "What happen?" "We were having another argument about the same thing." Star explains. "My dad wants me to join the Royal Guard like my older brother." "Something tells me it has to do with tradition?" "Well, aren't you a smart one." Star grumbled. "Hey, I was just guessing." TOBOR said. "No need to be prickly." "I know, and I'm sorry." Star's ears folded. "I'm just tired of talking about the same thing." "Well, if you don't want to join the Royal Guards, why don't you just tell him." "That's what I've been doing, but he really wants me to join. My mom understands and supports my decision, but my dad is really stubborn." "I know that feeling." TOBOR remembers how his creator, Dr. F can be stubborn too with his science experiments. 'So many damn tests.' He thought. TOBOR suddenly realized something. "Uh, Star?" He said concerned. "Don't your parents know you left?" "...No. When they both went to work, I snuck out of the house and went to the closest town I can find." "You can't do that, Star!" TOBOR scolded. "They'll be so worried about you!" Star just stayed silent. Though, TOBOR can see tears starting to form. "You didn't think this through, did you?" Star started to silently cry. TOBOR sighed before going over and giving her a hug. "Look, I know you're mad that your dad won't accept your decision, but running away from your problems won't solve anything." TOBOR felt like a hypocrite. Here he's giving a filly advice about dealing with problems, but he himself decided to stay in Equestria and away from his creator. "I-I know." Star whimpered. "Shh... It's okay." TOBOR lets go of Star before spawning a pile of comic books to Star's surprise. He then got up and went to the door. "Where are you going?" Star asks. "I have to go and get something." TOBOR said. "I'll be right back. You can read those comics while I'm gone." With that, TOBOR went out into the rainy night, leaving Star Swift by herself in the library. Star wondered where TOBOR went off to. What was it he was going to get? She will have to wait until he comes back. In the meantime, she could read some of those comic books the white robot left. These were probably the best comics Star Swift has ever read. This 'Mr. L' fella is truly an interesting superhero. He may be a bit clumsy, but his strength and determination makes up for it to Star's opinion. "I wonder where I could get more." Star muttered. "Maybe I can ask-" POOF "EEP!" THUD Star was startled for the second time this night by a flash of light. Star gets back up to see TOBOR has returned. Though, he wasn't alone. There were other ponies with him. They were carrying bags and pillows. "I'm back, Star." TOBOR smiled. "TOBOR, who are they?" Swift asks shyly. "These are my friends." TOBOR points a hoof. "This is Twilight and Spike" "Hello, Star Swift. It is nice to meet you." Twilight greeted. "Wow. I never seen a bat-pony up close before." Spike said. TOBOR moves to Applejack. "This is Applejack. She is Ponyville's local apple farmer." "Howdy there, Star Swift." Applejack said. TOBOR moves to Rainbow Dash. "This is Rainbow Dash." "Yep! I'm the fastest pony around. I got say, your wings look cool. Just like mine." Dash said as she floated. TOBOR rolled his eyes playfully before walking to Rarity. "This is Rarity." "It is a pleasure to meet you, Darling." Rarity said with her usual ladylikeness. TOBOR was about to get Pinkie Pie, but she already beat him to it. "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! I never met a Bat Pony before. Well, I've seen one, but I never got to meet one up close. Do you like parties? I like parties! Do you have to hang upside down when you sleep? Do you like apples? Can you talk to other bats? Is it true that-" "Hold your horses there, Pinkie! One question at a time. Besides, she can answer them later." TOBOR interrupted. "Oops! Sorry about that! Talk to later!" Pinkie said before back up. TOBOR moves over to last one of the group. "And last, but certainly not least, Fluttershy." "Hello, Star Swift." Fluttershy greeted. "It's nice to meet you all." Star said. "Though, not to be rude, but why did you bring them here, TOBOR?" "Well, this isn't my house. It belongs to Twilight and Spike." TOBOR responded. "And I thought it might be great for you to meet my friends." "But what's with the pillows and bags?" "It's a Slumber Party!!" Pinkie cheered. "Exactly." TOBOR smiled. "I figured that this might cheer you up a bit." Star smiles before she gives TOBOR a hug. The girls 'awed'. "Tell you what, Star. After this, I'll take you home and I can help sort you and your father's problem." "Thanks, TOBOR." She said. The rest of the night was fun for the ponies, and dragon. They played games, ate delicious snacks (curtesy of Pinkie Pie), and told scary stories. After a while, everypony and dragon was asleep. Well, except for TOBOR and Star Swift that is. TOBOR was now taking the little filly home. Hopefully, he can bring the Thestral family back together.