//------------------------------// // 3 - Let's Be Reasonable // Story: Sweet Button Mash // by David Silver //------------------------------// Sweetie Belle chomped on a cookie as she talked with her friends, new and old. "So, after we get a snack, we get you some clothes." Apple Bloom tossed a hoof. "Not sure why. Not like even you wear clothes all that often." "Sure… but I don't live with him, thank Celestia." She glanced towards where Button Mash watched them confusedly. "Poor thing has no idea how fillies work. And he made you? You must be so full of confused ideas!" “I am girly and I enjoy such girly video-games ‘Ponteria’!” Sweetiebot proudly declared. Scootaloo guffawed, blowing a small, but detectable amount of wilf shake from her nose. “You built a robot version of Sweetie Belle to play ‘Ponteria” with you? Isn’t that game just basically flat ‘Pony Craft’?” Sweetiebot gasped, or at least made that noise. "That differences are many any vast between those games! Both have made considerable marks on the industry, but…" The gates had been opened, and there was nothing that could stop the automated filly from explaining exactly what she thought on the matter.  Scootaloo had zoned out approximately 2 seconds into Sweetiebot's in-depth diatribe on JRPG game design philosophy. As animated as the robot filly remained, elaborating on mechanics, story depth, non-linear open world structure and some disturbingly specific lore... Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had also politely tuned out the torrent of gameplay analysis flooding their ears. "...which of course culminates in the epic final confrontation with Ultimate Chimerapony in the Netherverse Canyon Dungeon!" Sweetiebot concluded, coming back to the present social situation with a start. She beamed eagerly at her rapt audience. "So in summary, while both titles remain seminal works with significant cultural legacy, Ponteria's scope and execution clearly distinguish it as the superior experience both mechanically and narratively."  She blinked innocently at the blank looks that greeted her spiel. "Was... my elaboration on key differentials inadequate?" Sweetiebot asked uncertainly. Scootaloo blinked slowly, mind still rebooting from nerd overload. Sweetie Belle managed an awkward laugh to spare her robotic twin's feelings. "Hehe, i-it was really thorough! Maybe a bit much to take in..."  "We'll just take your word for it that you know your stuff!" Apple Bloom added supportively.  Scootaloo nodded numb agreement. "I uh, think I'll stick to sports games. And flying." The speedster gave a whole body shudder. Sweetiebot frowned thoughtfully, processing this feedback to refine her social interaction timing. Perhaps she had belabored her analysis past the optimal attention span metric... more conserve processing for casual exchanges seemed prudent.  "Noted!" She finally replied. "I will strive for more concise conversational input going forward." Sweetiebot smiled around at them. Primary objective remains - make and support friends! Even if the precise execution needed occasional tweaks... “Yeah, she was totally programed by Button Mash…” Scootaloo mused. “But bro, brohab, Button Bro… I keep coming back to me and bloom asked you last Hearts and Hooves Day, straight to your face, if you liked Sweetie Belle. And you rolled your eyes. And then you built a robot clone of Sweetie Belle to play knock off Pony Craft with. I mean, I at least want an explanation for that.” ”I have detected a rise in ambient ‘Suss’ levels.” Sweetiebot chimed helpfully. “I actually play Pony Craft.” Sweetie Belle chimed in. The other girls peered at her cryptically a moment. "What? It's fun." She fixed her eyes on Button, waving him closer to join them at the filly's table. "And I think I know what happened." "You do?" Button sank at the open spot nervously. "What?" "Colts are not complicated." Sweetie clasped her hooves together. "You just like how I look, so you made it look like me. That's it. No big secret past that."  Button blushed furiously as all eyes swiveled to him. "N-no way, that's not all! I mean yeah ok, you're really pretty and talented and amazing but-" He fumbled to a stop at Sweetie Belle's bemused smirk. "I-I just really admire you a whole bunch too!"  He waved a hoof vigorously as Scootaloo made retching noises. "It's NOT just about looks! Sweetiebot has a personality just like you, and she's super nice, a-and an awesome singer..." Trailing off lamely, Button scuffed a hoof as his excuses sputtered out. Ok yeah, maybe he had started with just replicating Sweetie Belle's charming exterior. But he HAD tried putting the same spirit in his robot friend too!  Sweetiebot placed a gentle hoof on his shoulder. "It's okay Button! I understand." Shooting him an encouraging smile, she turned to Sweetie Belle earnestly.  "My design specifications do focus considerably on accurately mirroring your physical presentation and optimal aesthetics." Tilting her head thoughtfully, she added "However, Button Mash has in fact devoted extensive programming work toward capturing the essence of your ebullient and supportive personality as well!"  Grinning over at the flustered colt, she nodded firmly. "He truly values your entire self, not merely the exterior visual aspect." Button hid his burning face, but still managed a grateful smile back. She really was the best friend ever... Sweetie joined in the coloring. "I… was trying to…" She sank, face-first, onto the table. "Button… There are simpler ways to tell a filly you like them than building a whole robot…" Sweetiebot was blissfully unaware of the embarrassment. "But he did so, successfully. I am proud to be a living symbol of his affection towards you. What treat shall we get next?" “Wow.” Apple Bloom said as she blinked very slowly. “So basically he drew a neighponese style picture of the filly he had a crush on… but it was a robot???” “You know, Spike has this neighponese comic series where exactly this exact thing happens….” Scootaloo responded, equally stupefied. Sweetie waved at the air at the other two fillies. "Cut that out!" She glared at Button with new fire. "Building a robot doesn't skip the parts in the middle!" She hopped to the ground with a set of clops. "If you want to ask me out, you have to ask, and asking your robot doesn't count." "She is correct." Sweetiebot pointed at herself. "Asking me will not ask her out." Button glanced between the two versions of the filly, one metal, and one glaring at him challengingly. Which was the more daunting thing at that moment, he wasn't sure. "Um…" But was it that easy? "So… Sweetie." Both perked. "That one." He pointed to the organic model. "Wanna… go out… some… time?" He glanced out the window and saw a poster for a movie. "Oh! That one!" He pointed at it. "I've wanted to see it, and with a pony I like would… be kinda nice… Wanna?" “You know, he had the perfect ‘gaming nerd in’ and… he pointed to a random movie poster.” Scootaloo snickered quietly to Apple Bloom. “Did you see what movie he just picked at random?” “I don’t think he even did.” The farm filly whispered back.