Manufactured Emotions

by Bright Keys


Power problems, birthday parties, and CMC's... whatever those are

Flitter was holding him steady. “Woah!” she said, “are you okay? You just fainted all of a sudden and fell out of the sky!” They were several feet below the other weather ponies.
“Analysis says my generator has failed. I’m on backup power now.” Alpha said.
“What the hay is up with you?” she asked, “You’re talking really funny and you weigh a ton. I mean, I noticed you were all metal looking, but I didn’t want to be rude…” She was slowly floating downwards.
“I am… a robot.” Alpha said, remembering what Volt had told him earlier.
“Really?” Flitter asked, “I’ve never met a robot before. Are you… a good robot?”
“I-I think so.” Alpha said.
“That’s good to hear,” she said, relieved. “Why don’t we get down to Ponyville and let you rest a bit.” She let go of him. “Can you fly on your own?”
“I think so, but I don’t know for how long.” Alpha said.
“Then we should head down there now,” she glided swiftly to the ground.
Alpha followed her at a slower, more careful pace. “Is there a place where I can… eat to fill my backup battery?” He asked.
“Ooh!” Flitter nodded happily and jumped up and down a bit, “Sugar cube corner is a great place to eat! It’s this way, I’ll show you.” She began to trot slowly down the road.
Alpha followed her, various readouts displayed in his vision. “I was only given an quarter charge on my main generator. My backup has a half charge.” He said, mostly to himself.
“Well, we’ll fix that right up!” Flitter smiled and turned the corner, gesturing grandly at Sugar Cube Corner, “Welcome to the best sweet shop in Ponyville!”
Alpha looked at the building in awe. “This place looks nothing like the laboratory.” He said.
“Well, duh, silly,” she joked, “It’s a sweet shop!” She pushed the door open and waved to the ponies behind the counter.
“Hi Mr. and Mrs. Cake!” she called, “Two Chocolate Cupcakes for me and my friend, Alpha here.” She placed four bits on the counter and sat down at one of the tables to wait.
Alpha followed her to the table, still looking around in amazement.
“Here you go, sweeties,” Mrs. Cake smiled, setting the cupcakes on the table. She looked Alpha up and down but said nothing, returning to the kitchen.
“Well,” Flitter said, gesturing toward the cupcake, “go ahead.”
Alpha looked at the cupcake for a few seconds before eating it. “High sugar content,” he said, “battery recharging.”
Flitter giggled, diving into her own cupcake, “I think my battery is recharging too,” she joked, “kicking clouds can be hard.”
“That pony who gave us the cupcakes looked at me. Should I say something?” He asked Flitter.
“Not unless you want to,” she shrugged, “Most ponies just mind their own business.” The door slammed open and a bright pink pony bounced in. She saw Alpha and gasped loudly for a long time.
“Like I said, most ponies.”
“Hello,” Alpha said to the newcomer, “what’s your name?”
“Hi!” she squealed, “My name’s Pinkie Pie! What’s your name? I’ve never seen you before! I know everypony and so I saw you, and I was like-” she repeated the gasp she had made before- “because I didn’t know you and I know everypony in town!”
Alpha sat for a few seconds, trying to interpret the waterfall of words that just spouted from this stranger. “My name is Alpha,” he said finally, “and you haven’t seen me before because I was only activated today.”
“Well, that makes sense! I never would have seen you if you were only activated today!” she bounced around him, seemingly fine with the fact that he was a robot. Then she stopped suddenly and gasped again. “Does that mean today is your BIRTHDAY!?” She shoved her face into his. Flitter giggled and licked the rest of her cupcake from her face.
“I... don’t know. Volt Spark never told me about birthdays.” Alpha said.
“Well, if today was the day you were born, then that means it’s your BIRTHDAY!!” She threw her back legs in the air and a cannon appeared out of nowhere.it exploded in his face, showering the entire room with confetti and streamers.
“I… suppose.” Alpha said.
“YAY!” cheered Pinkie, “I’m going to go get the party ready!” She galloped out of the shop, leaving Flitter in a fit of giggles.
“Is she always like that?” Alpha asked Flitter.
“Yep,” she said standing, “You still hungry?”
“My backup battery reads at eighty-five percent.” Alpha said.
“Well, you’ll probably get a ton to eat at Pinkie’s party today, so I’d say you’re fine for now.” She trotted towards the door.
“Okay.” Alpha said, following Flitter out the door.
“Oh, yikes!” Flitter exclaimed when they stepped outside, “I’m late!” She turned to the robot and smiled apologetically. “I gotta go, but I’ll see you at the party tonight. Nobody in their right mind misses a Pinkie Pie Party.” She spread her wings and waved as she flew away.
Alpha waved good-bye to Flitter as she flew away. “Now where to go?” He asked himself. He decided to explore around, looking at the various shops and buildings, asking questions wherever he went.
Just ahead of him there was a humble cart stand parked in the center of the road. Two ponies stood, selling apples to passing ponies. The smallest one reared up on her hind legs to peek into the top of the apple buckets. From where Alpha was standing, it was apparent that she too was a blank flank.
This caught his attention and he walked over to her. “Hello.” He said.
“Why, hello, sir!” she said with her nose in the bucket, “How can ah help you?” She turned, but when her eyes fell on him, she squeaked and backed up, bumping into the cart, causing a few apples to tumble to the ground.
“Apple Bloom,” the other pony called suspiciously, “What’s goin’ on over there?”
“I came over to say hello.” Alpha said. “Is something wrong?”
“Ah, uh,” Apple Bloom looked him up and down, “um, nuthin’ Apple Jack.” She swallowed hard.
“Hello, sir,” she repeated, “Can ah help you?”
“No, I just noticed that you didn’t have your cutie mark, and I decided to say hello.” Alpha said. “I’m told I’ll get plenty of food to recharge my backup battery tonight at a party that is being thrown for me.”
Apple Bloom leaned around the pegasus to see his flank. With this, she brightened.
“Wow! You don’t have a cutie mark either?” she said, “me and mah friends are all blank flanks too!” She stared up at him.
“What’s your name, stranger?” she asked.
“My name is Alpha.” Alpha said.
“Well, ah’m Apple Bloom!” she said, “Did you say there’s a party for you tonight? Is it a Pinkie Party?”
“Yes.” Alpha said. “Wait. Volt Spark told me to be home by sundown, but according to Flitter, the party’s tonight.”
“Oh, well,” Apple Bloom shrugged, flopping onto her haunches, “Ah’m sure this Volt Switch guy won’t mind if you’re a bit late.”
“Maybe. I could fly back and ask him also.” Alpha said.
“Ah, guess,” the filly shrugged. Her face brightened up, “You should join mah club, it’s fer ponies who don’t have cutie marks!” She jumped up and grabbed the stallion’s hoof, dragging him through the street.
“I’m not even sure I can get a cutie mark.” Alpha said. “I’m a robot.”
“That’s fine,” she said dismissively, “we won’t judge!” She pulled him up the road towards the Apple family farm, ditching the path to head into the orchard.
"You don't understand," Alpha said, "Omega's been active for longer than I have, and she doesn't have one either."
“So?” asked Apple Bloom, “We don’t care. You can be a permanent member!” Ahead of them, a clubhouse built in the top of a tree. Squeaky little voices were coming from inside. Apple Bloom threw the door open.
“Sweetie! Scootaloo!” she cried, “Ah found a robot pony who doesn't have his cutie mark either! Alpha, this is Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle!”
“Really?” said a cute little unicorn.
“I really should check in with Volt Spark.” Alpha said, looking at the sun through a window.
“Yeah, yeah, in a minute,” said the tiny pegasus, “So are you really a robot pony? Can you shoot lasers from your eyes or something?”
"I don't think I can," Alpha said, "but yes, I am a robot, and I'm supposed to be home before nightfall, so I really should be going back to the lab so I can ask if I can go to a party tonight."
“Oh, yeah! Pinkie’s throwin’ him a party tonight!” Apple Bloom told her friends.
“Then we’ll see you there!” squeaked Sweetie Belle, “We wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your parents.” Reluctantly, Scootaloo muttered agreement.
“If he lets me go.” Alpha said. “Am I free to go now?”
Apple Bloom giggled. “Yeah, sure. See you at the party!” The three of them waved good-bye.
Alpha waved back, left the clubhouse, and took off, a monitor of his backup battery in his view in order to prevent another accident like the one before. After a while, he made it back to the lab and knocked on the door.