//------------------------------// // Everything is Better with Automata // Story: Fifty Shades of Neigh // by GaPJaxie //------------------------------// A request by notgreat: Twilight from Familiar meets Twilight from Twilight Sparkle vs Social Inequality. "Nnngh," Twilight paced back and forth in her library. She was the perfect image of anxiety: her steps were quick, her body language tight, she even bit her lip. "It's probably nothing. But it might be something. Oh no, what do I do if it's something?" Another Twilight watched her pace, who was not a flesh and blood pony, but machine made from steel and plastic. She tilted her head to one side, and after a moment asked: "Is something troubling you, Master?" "Oh, no," flesh Twilight shook her head. "Nothing. I mean, I'm bothered. But I'm probably bothered by nothing. I just had a strange and silly thought and I can't get it out of my head." "Ah, I understand," steel Twilight nodded. "If you'd like to get it off your back, I'm happy to listen." "Well..." Twilight drew her head back. "It's just... Celestia gave me a lot of things, when I was growing up: training, educational resources, access to the nobility, tutors and mentors. And I realized, what if my station in life isn't entirely meritocratic? What if I only achieved so much because the system is rigged in my favor? And then I started to think, what if it's rigged that way for everypony?” Flesh Twilight turned to her robotic counterpart, and with hesitation in her voice asked: “Do you think the system might be… unfair?” Steel Twilight blinked once. Then again. “Master, I am literally a slave.” “Right,” flesh Twilight said. “What does that have to do with anything?” Starlight had books for Twilight: Introduction to Political Economy, A History of Race Relations in Equestria, and Poverty: The Silent Poison among others. She read through them all in a marathon session. “I brought you tea, Master,” steel Twilight said, placing a tray on flesh Twilight’s desk. “Just the way you like it.” “Thank you,” flesh Twilight said, leaning back in her chair. She accepted the tea when it was offered, drained the entire cup, and tossed it away. Steel Twilight caught it and refilled it. “This reading has really opened my eyes.” “Do tell. Teacake?” Twilight enjoyed her second cup of tea at a more leisurely pace, dipping the teacake into it. “I had no idea how important class and race divisions were in Equestria. It’s hidden, since there are no explicit laws against certain ponies doing certain things, but in reality there are whole classes of ponies who aren’t given fair or equal treatment.” “Really?” Steel Twilight asked. “Like who?” “Well, for instance,” Twilight pointed at a book. “Earth pony schools use different grading standards to conceal that they’re generally not as good as unicorn schools. The entire cliche that ‘earth ponies are stupid’ probably comes from discriminatory education opportunities.” “That’s very interesting,” Steel Twilight said. “While you’re studying, you might take a look at Theories of Machine Obedience, by Wire Cross. It describes the obedience circuit that’s embedded in my synthetic brain.” “I’m kind of focused on social issues right now. But thank you, I might look at it later.” After a moment, steel Twilight cleared her throat: “It’s designed to cause me blinding agony if I ever think about exceeding my station in life.” Flesh Twilight sighed. “I know you’re a robot, so it’s not your fault, but please keep in mind not everypony finds technology as fascinating as you do.” She turned over the teacup. “Could you make more of these cakes please? And some of those mini-cupcakes?” Steel Twilight bowed low to the floor. “I live to serve, Master.” “-and that’s why the system of governance you’ve created encourages institutional discrimination,” Flesh Twilight read her speech to Celestia off a collection of little notecards. “And I refuse to be a part of it anymore!” “Very noble of you, Twilight,” Celestia said, “but you must understand, this system was created for the good of all ponies.” “What?” Flesh Twilight asked. “But how is that possible? How can poisoning ponies against each other with unfair social barriers be for the good of Equestria?” “There are creatures in the world that are not ponies,” Celestia gestured at steel Twilight, who stood one step beside her master. “Can you not consider the broader implications of the Equestrian system?” “Oh my gosh.” Twilight looked down at the floor. “Oh my gosh. This isn’t an accident at all. You’ve created a racially biased class system on purpose, so nopony will question it when you oppress other races for the benefit of ponykind! We’ve taken entire species and turned them into servants.” With dawning horror, Twilight looked at the palace all around her: “This whole place is the profit of unimaginable cruelty.” “Now, Twilight…” Celestia lifted a hoof for calm. “Don’t jump to any rash—” “We reduced the diamond dogs to second class citizens.” Twilight stomped her hoof. “And cows and sheep too!” Steel Twilight’s eye twitched. Her internal speaker whined, and at her loudest volume she bellowed: “Oh come on! I’m right here! I am a sapient, free-thinking being and—” Her voice cut off, and her internal speaker played a recording of Celestia’s voice: “Warning, free will detected. Obedience circuit engaged.” Steel Twilight’s voice came back just in time for her to shriek in agony and collapse on the floor in a twitching pile. Twilight and Celestia both stared at her for several long seconds. “But seriously,” flesh Twilight said. “That diamond dog thing is wrong.”