"How did you manage to get an 'A' on that test, Spark?" Scootaloo asked the mech. Recess had just started and the quartet of ponies was on their way to the playground.
"Math really isn't that hard, Scootaloo." He replied, "You just can't hear the lessons over your snoring."
Sweetie and Apple Bloom both snickered into their hooves.
"Oh har har, very funny." he pegesus said, "You could stare at a rock for hours. I'm a pony of action."
Scootaloo struck a very Rainbow Dash-esque pose.
"And you show it by...falling asleep in class?"
The group was almost to the playground when they met with another pair of fillies. One was pink with a pastel purple and white mane, and a tiny crown that matched her Cutie Mark. The other was a lighter color grey than Sparkplug was, but had a two-toned grey mane and light blue glasses.
"Oh look, it's the blank flanks." The pink one sneered.
Sparkplug looked to the pony next to him, Apple Bloom, for what to do.
"Just ignore 'em." She whispered, "They'll go away eventually."
"What's a blank flank anyway?" he asked, "They keep calling me that."
"It's a pony that doesn't have a cutie mark yet." Scootaloo said, "They got theirs last year."
The pair of ponies forced themselves into the way, blocking their path.
"How can you be a pony and not know that?" Silver Spoon asked.
"Because, he's not a pony." Diamond Tiara said, "He's one of those weird metal things."
"I'm not THAT weird, am I?" The robot asked.
"You might look like a pony, but you'll never be a real pony." she said
"I already am a real pony." he replied proudly, "That's what Dad said. If he said I am, that's plenty good enough for me."
"Hmph. Well MY daddy says the Captain is selfish and stupid." Diamond said, matter-of-factly.
I paused the flashback and looked over to the stallion in question.
"So I'm selfish and stupid now?" I said, glaring at Filthy Rich.
"I never said that." he replied quickly.
Can we shoot him NOW?
Later, maybe.
"Yes you did." Diamond interjected, "Right after you got home the last time you tried to buy his robots."
"Don't worry about it." I said with a smile as I restarted the video, "I've called you WAY worse."
The fillies looked to the colt to see what he would do. They had expected him to flip when she insulted the Captain, but Sparkplug just stood stock still, as though a statue.
"What? No clever comeback?" Diamond hissed.
"Ah told him to ignore you." Apple Bloom said, "That's what he's doin'."
"See, you can't even think on your own." The pony said. Sparkplug held his ground. if it weren't for his eyes moving, he'd look like a piece of lawn art.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!"
Sparkplug's friends could see Diamond was getting furious, and they could see his eyes were changing color. He was feeling threatened by her, but he was suppose to ignore her.
"Diamond, don't!" Scootaloo shouted. She watched as the bully reached out a hoof and tried to put it to his chest on an attempt to push him, But he quickly backed up, keeping her from shocking herself.
"You really don't want to do that." he said, "You might get hurt."
"Oh really?" she asked, "So now you're going to hurt me?"
"If you keep trying to touch me, then yes." he warned her.
Darn it, that sounded like a threat. He thought, I just want her to leave me and my friends alone.
Diamond's resolve stayed strong. She reached out again, surprising the Equimech and managing to make contact. Just as her hoof touched the faux fur exterior, an arc of electricity shot up her leg, contracting her muscles and forcing her to jump back in pain. She shook her hoof to rid it of the stinging, then looked back at her sidekick. Silver Spoon was almost as shocked as Diamond, just staring at the metal pony.
"Y-you'll be sorry for this." Diamond said as she and her crony retreated, "I'm telling Ms. Cheerilee."
The memory dissolved into static as it ended.
"I'm betting Diamond didn't say any of that." I said. Cheerilee looked over to the other pair.
"No, she didn't." the teacher confirmed, "Sparkplug, is that really what happened?"
"Yes Miss Cheerilee, that's exactly as I remember it." he said, "Straight from my memory banks."
"And you did warn her what would happen?" She asked.
"I tried to, but she wouldn't listen."
Cheerilee's gaze softened.
"I believe you, Sparkplug." she said, "You're a good student, and would never hurt somepony on purpose." This set Filthy off.
"You're seriously going to believe a glorified kitchen appliance over an actual pony?"
"You call him one more name, so help me..."
"What are you going to do?" Filthy snapped, "Shoot me?"
I reached down toward my holster.
That is a fantastic idea.
"I wasn't going to SAY that, but now that you suggest it."
Sparkplug stuck out a hoof, stopping me.
"Look, I'm sorry for what happened." Sparkplug said, "I didn't want to hurt you, Diamond, but I did warn you what would happen."
"And that is why you're not in trouble." Cheerilee said, "Captain, You and Sparkplug can go."
"How can you just let that thing go? It tried to hurt my daughter."
"No, he tried to protect himself." Cheerilee said.
"If you want something that can hurt you, I have a few Titans can accommodate you." I reminded him as I stood to my full height. It is so easy to be intimidating when you're twice someone's size.
"Could we not tell the Titans about this?" Sparkplug asked, "Ti-86 got them in enough trouble."
"I was just kidding, Sparky." I said as I opened the door, "Let's go."
Outside, Sparkplug and I headed back toward home, ready to forget about this.
"I'm proud of you, little guy." I said.
"For hurting Diamond Tiara?" he asked.
Yes, I'm quite proud of that.
"No, you didn't give in to her harassment." I said, "And you did it without intimidating or force."
"But I still hurt her." he said, "I didn't want to, but she wouldn't listen."
"And that is why I'm proud of you." I said, "You did everything you could to protect her, even though she was mean to you."
"So...I did the right thing?" he asked hopefully.
Stop making things complicated I thought.
"Yes, you did the right thing." I assured him, "But are you sure I shouldn't send a Titan to school with you tomorrow? All you have to do is ask."
"Daaaaad." He groaned.