//------------------------------// // The Birth of Dragotron // Story: A Dragon and his Robot Friend // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// Over the last two weeks since Spike decided to build himself a robot friend, the young dragon was hard at work constructing it. The good Doc supplied Spike with many parts from his junk pile reconfigured to Spike's specifications. Although he managed to keep it hidden from Twilight or any pony else in the castle, as he continued to perform his daily routine from taking care of the castle and assisting Twilight. But when she and the girls took off to do something be it have a party, a picnic, or travel somewhere without asking him if he wanted to join, that was when he was able to get more of his work done. Inside his work room at the castle, Spike stood before a chamber pod with a glass shield to show something was resting inside of it. “It's almost complete, but it needs a boost. Enough power to bring it online,” Spike told himself, “I'd settle for magic to power it but the last thing I want right now is to ask Twilight to help me with it. Besides she's probably too busy to help anyway. So I'll resort to the next best thing. Lightning. Fortunately for me, the weather ponies will be whipping up a storm around Ponyville tomorrow night. If I can harness a single bolt of lighting to charge my creation it'll be finished. And since Twilight and the girls will be too busy entertaining the Princesses, Cadence, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart here tomorrow night for a royal slumber party I won't be interrupted.” Spike began to pace, “I just need a way to harness a bolt of lightning into the chamber,” he looked out the window and gasped upon seeing Starlight, Pinkie, and Twilight were flying kites. He smirked at the sight of the kites, and said to himself, “That'll work.” The next night had arrived, and Twilight and her friends greeted the royal sisters, Shining Armor, Cadence, and Flurry Heart who arrived just before the storm rolled into Ponyville. “Welcome, everypony.” Twilight greeted, as she embraced her sibling, Cadence, and niece. “It's good to see you, Twily.” Shining greeted. “Flurry's been looking forward to this.” Cadence said, as Flurry sat atop her mothers head giggling. “And it looks like we arrived just in time.” Celestia said motioning to the weather outside. “I'd like to think the pegasi held it off until we got here.” Luna boasted, as the girls giggled. “Wouldn't be surprised if that were true.” Applejack noted. “Well, it's good you're here.” Twilight smiled. “Because now the fun can begin!” Pinkie cheered, as she used her party cannon to shoot confetti into the air, much to every pony's amusement. Meanwhile Spike was in his work room holding a kite in hand, “Starlight shouldn't mind one of her many kites is used in my experiment,” he stopped and heard something echo outside the room, “Sounds like the princesses, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart are here. Good, they can distract the girls from my work.” he began making the kites tail longer while connecting a power cord at the end of it. In the castle's dining room, the ponies were setting up for dinner, as Pinkie was ready to come out with the food, “Alright, come and get it!” the party pony cheered. The group looked at the spread feeling famished, and ready to dig in. Suddenly Luna took notice of one purple scaled dragon missing. “Pardon me, Twilight. But won't Spike be joining us tonight?” Twilight upon hearing that name suddenly realized, “Spike?” she looked around seeing no sign of him. “Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him since we got here.” Cadence agreed with Luna. “He wouldn't be out there in this weather would he?” Shining Armor asked his sister. “Spike would know better than to stay out in a storm like this.” Twilight assured him. “Did we start a game of hide and seek and forgot to look for him?” Pinkie asked the girls who gave her dry reactions. “Perhaps we should hold off on dinner until we find Spike?” Celestia suggested. “Agreed, Princess.” Rarity replied. “Come on, ya'll. Let's find us a dragon.” Applejack said, as they all left to look. Back in the work room, Spike finished making the kite tail long enough and connected to a power cord hooked up to the chamber. He went to the open window in the room and started letting the wind take it up higher and higher into the air, “Yes. Now I just need to catch a bolt of lightning that'll channel through the power cord connected to the kite and into the chamber bringing to life my creation.” he smirked. “Spike!” “Where are ya, Spike?” “Dinner's ready!” “Spike!” Spike's eyes shot open and groaned, “No! Not now!” Before he could react, he saw the door to the room open, and every pony walked in. “Spike?” The girls asked. Twilight looked around at all the equipment, the chamber, and Spike standing next to the open window with something flying out it. “Spike, what're you doing?” she asked. Spike just scowled, and replied, “This doesn't concern you, Twilight. Or any of you for that matter.” “What?” Rainbow asked in shock, as the others were surprised by his tone. Starlight looked seeing what was flying outside the window in the storm, “Is that one of my kites?” “Trust me, Starlight, it's about to serve a big purpose.” Spike assured her. “Spike, what is all this?” Celestia inquired. “You're about to find out,” Spike answered, as he looked back out the window to see a lightning bolt strike the kite sending it's electrical energy channeling through the power cord all the way back down, “Jackpot!” he cheered. The ponies watched as the energy channeled through the cord and into the chamber that started glowing and a gauge meter on the chamber was rising at an alarming rate. Spike stood before the chamber and announced to what was inside of it. “Yes! Ten trillion watts of power surging into your EPU!” The ponies not knowing what to do just stood back watching the scene unfold. When the power died down, the glass of the chamber was kicked off and landed on the ground shattering into pieces. Spike and the ponies watched something step out of the steaming chamber. When the smoke cleared they saw standing before them was a silver dragon about the height of Celestia with a normal sized build, blue eyes, and blue spines. The group was surprised, as the metal looking dragon looked around as if analyzing its surroundings, before its eyes fell on the ponies. Suddenly as if on instinct it lunged at the ponies, only for Twilight to use a shield to repel it sending it upward. Popping out from the dragons back was a pair of silver wings to keep it airborne. Before the ponies were ready to attack it, Spike slid before them holding his arms out wanting them to stand down. The robot dragon while airborne floated his way down to the ground, as its wings were folded back into its body. It spotted its own reflection in one of the bigger pieces of glass from the chamber. It felt its face over, and blinked a few times before lifting its face up to face Spike and the ponies. “I'm sorry. That was very... strange,” the robot dragon said calmly, before looking down at Spike, “Thank you.” Spike smiled happily. “Spike, you made this?” Cadence asked the small dragon. Spike answered, “I did, with help from the Doc of course.” The robot continued while feeling its head, “This is all so new to me. I must've been asleep, or rather I was a dream.” "Yes, you were a dream,” Spike confirmed, as he stood before his creation, “But now you are a reality. You are... Dragotron.” “Dragotron,” the robot repeated, as if contemplating on it, before speaking, “Yes, that'll do nicely.” Twilight wanting to get answers stepped forward, “Um, excuse me. I'm not sure what this is all about, but let me introduce myself. I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, and these are my friends.” the girls approached. “Howdy, partner, name's Applejack.” “I'm Rainbow Dash; fastest flier there is.” “I'm Rarity, or Ms. Rarity if you prefer.” “I'm Fluttershy.” “And I'm Pinkie Pie!” The older ponies approached robot, as Celestia spoke, “A pleasure to meet you, Dragotron. I am Princess Celestia.” “I am Princess Luna.” the younger sibling greeted, Shining spoke up, “I'm Shining Armor.” “And I am Princess Cadence,” Cadence said, as Flurry flew around the robot who didn't take his eyes off her, “And that is our daughter Flurry Heart.” “Greetings.” Dragotron greeted them all. “Spike, how were able to accomplish this?” Luna asked. “As I said, Doc Whooves aided me in the creation from the parts and all this.” “What inspired you to create such a being?” Celestia inquired. “From one of my Power Ponies Comics. I created a robot companion. A friend.” Spike said squinting at the girls who were curious. “How did you ever have the time to work on this?” Twilight asked in surprise. “Oh, I've had all the time in Equestria, Twilight. Whenever I was left all alone here in the castle, while you and the girls went and did stuff together,” Spike explained bitterly, “Stuff I apparently wasn't asked to join or even partake in.” “What're you talking about?” his oldest friend asked. “You don't remember? Maybe this will ring some bells,” Spike began to replay what Twilight told him weeks ago, “ Oh, sorry, Spike. But I'm gonna have to take a rain check on us hanging out. I just received a letter from Queen Novo telling me she will be meeting in Canterlot today for a diplomatic meeting with Princess Celestia, and wants me and the girls to be there for it. I asked why I couldn't come, and how do you reply?” he didn't even give Twilight a chance, as he answered for her, “Sorry, Spike, but this is a big diplomatic meeting and you are a baby dragon after all.” Twilight remembering that is what she told Spike suddenly realized she said it like she didn't even care about his feelings. Spike just continued, “And it wasn't just you. When I tried to see if any of you girls had the time to hang out, you all were busy. Even when I offered to help you, you all rejected me because you thought I couldn't handle the work,” Applejack bit her lip, “Just wanted to exploit my services for your own benefit,” Rarity looked guilty, “Wouldn't stand up for me when their bratty pet rudely wanted me to leave,” Fluttershy looked sad knowing she let Angel get away with too much of his meanness, “Or just prank me in front of so many ponies without even so much as an apology.” he finished as Rainbow and Pinkie realized that prank they pulled on Spike was a little too far. “You're right, Spike,” Twilight began, “I-all of us have been neglectful of you as of late...” “As of late?” Spike repeated still scowling, “Try for a long time now. You didn't let me come along to see Rainbow Dash in the Young Flyers Competition. You all ditched me at the Gala. You all moved Twilight's birthday party to Canterlot without informing me. Wouldn't let me come to the National Dessert Competition. Wouldn't let me come to see A.K Yearling and learn she's Daring Do herself. Not even invited to watch the Ponyville Team compete to qualify for the Equestria Games.” The girls realized Spike really wasn't with them in those important events, “Spike, we're sorry we never invited ya to the better events.” Applejack began. “It so wasn't cool of us.” Rainbow agreed. “You're darn right it wasn't,” Spike agreed, “And it's not just about that. It's also about how little my friendship seems to mean to all of you.” The girls were once again taken aback by Spike's choice in words, “Spike, how can you say that?” Twilight asked. “Your friendship means so much to us.” Fluttershy tried to reason with. “Really? Did it mean much to Rainbow when she tried comparing me to a tortoise thinking we're one and the same? And did it mean much when she asked me what would I know about anything when I'm 'a dragon'.” Rainbow shirked back, as the older ponies looked at her in shock, “Ok, I went too far that day, but in my defense I had a lot on my plate and didn't think before speaking.” “Excuses or not, you didn't even apologize to me afterwards. How would you feel if you grew up in a dragon society and some dragon told you, 'What do you know, you're a pony'? How would that make you feel?” “Th-that would... really hurt.” Rainbow confessed, as it sank into her that she never apologized for that racial remark to Spike that time. Spike looked to Pinkie, “You invited the girls and their pets to meet your sister Maud. You invited the pets but not me?” Pinkie's mane started deflating realizing that was unfair to Spike, “And you wanted all your friends to make rock candy necklaces. I guess I'm not as much your friend as I thought I was.” he frowned making Pinkie's mane completely deflate. Suddenly she burst into tears. “How could I have been so cruel?!” she sobbed. Spike not affected by her tears continued, “And that day when you were all cleaning up Celestia and Luna's old castle. Twilight promised me we all had to be ready to lend a hoof, or a claw. And then come the next day, you just left for the castle without even waking me,” he told Twilight, “You realize I had to trek through the Everfree Forest by myself and risk running into Timberwolves or other creatures that live there? And when I finally made it you all just flat out rejected my offer to help saying you all had it covered. Even when I could've done something that opened up you just automatically took it. And I haven't forgotten you girls calling out for me afterward.” “Well, we were lookin' for you.” Applejack recalled. “And why?” “We were breaking for tea and biscuits and wanted to bring you with.” Rarity reminded him. Spike frowned again, “Why? I didn't do anything to warrant a break for anything because I wasn't being allowed to help any of you. Basically all I'm getting from that is you girls were just pitying me.” Starlight looked to Twilight and the others, “Wow. You girls really have a bad habit of overlooking Spike.” this only made the girls feel more guilty while Starlight decided to keep her mouth shut for now. “Spike, we really felt sorry for getting your hopes up to help and thought joining us for snacks would make you feel less bad.” Twilight tried reasoning with him. “It wasn't about helping out, Twilight. Maybe it was back then, but it's much more than that now. I wanted to help because I wanted to hang out and help my friends. But I guess I was truly never a friend to any of you as much as I thought.” “Of course, you're my friend, Spike. You were always there for me before we even came to Ponyville.” Twilight said. “Yeah, always there to wait on you claw and foot, never having a chance to have a life of my own. I spent so much time being your assistant it was the only way I ever felt useful. Well, that's all gonna change now that I have Dragotron with me.” Dragotron looked between Spike and the girls. “What do you mean?” Rarity asked. “I mean you girls can do whatever you want and go anywhere with each other and not invite me. Because with Dragotron I won't feel so bad about being left out anymore.” “Spike...” Twilight gasped feeling like her oldest friend was slipping further away while the rest of the girls felt just as bad. Spike ignored her and turned to his robot, “Come on, Dragotron. There's a lot I want to show you.” “Of course,” Dragotron confirmed, as Spike walked past the ponies with Dragotron following. Before he walked out of the room, he turned back to them all, “I'm sorry our meeting wasn't under better circumstances and hope I can get to know you all better than how my friend made you out to be. Goodnight.” he left the room. Twilight looked down at the floor as tears fell from her eyes, “What have I done? What have I done?” she dropped to the floor and cried. Her friends feeling just as sad gathered around her, “You mean what have we done, Twilight.” Rarity corrected her friend. “I'll tell ya what we've done,” Applejack replied, “We took for granted the friendship of a little dragon who really thought he was a part of our group.” “And we never made him feel like he really was.” Fluttershy cried. “I am the worst.” Rainbow beat herself down. Starlight sniffled, “Maybe if I didn't move in so quickly and join you girls Spike wouldn't feel like I was wanted more than him.” Celestia spoke up to the group of friends, “You all learned something right here. While I feel disappointed at how you neglected the most different friend from all of you, I am glad you realize it now. Neglect and taken for granted can change not just a pony but any creature if they feel like they weren't as much a friend as they thought they were.” she glanced at Luna who sympathized with Spike knowing just how he felt about being ignored and overlooked. Shining Armor sighed, “I should've been more a brother to him when Twilight brought him to live with us. But I was too busy with my own training in the royal guards to be the older brother he needed back then.” Cadence and Flurry comforted him. “Now what do we do?” Fluttershy asked the girls. Pinkie spoke up with determination as her mane poofed up, “I'll tell you what we do. We're gonna show Spike just how much his friendship means to us!” “And how?” Rainbow asked. “Let's throw him the biggest appreciation party there ever was!” the party pony declared. The girls brightened up feeling that's just the kind of party Spike needed, especially from all of them. Cadence spoke up, “Before you all get too befuddled in that idea, I think for now it's best you give Spike some space. He created Dragotron to be a friend, and maybe for now a new friend is what he needs.” Twilight and the girls looked at each other realizing it's best to give Spike the space he needs and bond with Dragotron before they decide to try and make amends. Though they didn't want to they knew if they tried acting now they would only come off as desperate in getting Spike to forgive them. Later that night, as every pony was asleep, Spike came into his room with a plate of gems, “I probably shouldn't have skipped dinner tonight.” he told himself, as he ate a sapphire. Spike looked to see Dragotron reading history books of Equestria, “Dragotron?” Dragotron looked at Spike, “Forgive me, Spike. While you were getting a snack I helped myself to some Equestrian knowledge.” “Well, you deserve to know Equestrian history,” Spike admitted, “And I want to apologize for showing that ugly side of myself in front of every pony.” “You were clearly getting all your pent up anger out. It is not healthy to hold onto all of that inside.” Dragotron explained. “That's for sure. And now that I did, I feel a lot better,” Spike said in relief, “And I'm tired. Make sure you go into recharge mode when you're done, Dragotron.” “I shall, Spike.” Spike climbed into his bed and pulled the covers over him, “Goodnight, Dragotron.” he yawned before falling asleep. Dragotron looked to Spike and answered, “Goodnight.” he continued to study what books he hadn't covered yet.