"I won't pretend to know how you feel." said Necra.
I pull away and turn to face her. "I appreciate the gesture...I just...think it would be best if we drop the subject." I say in a descending tone. I start to feel...I-I don't know what this feeling is...a mix of sadness yet also comfort, but at the same time part of me wants to tell her everything even though it would cause unneeded emotional stress.
"Most ponies think my kind are incapable of feeling emotion because we live off of it...they think we're just emotionless vampires..." said Necra in a clearly sad tone.
"And to the lives I've ruined they would see me as a heartless demon from hell...yet to the Empire...I am just a science experiment...a-a weapon of mass destruction..." I say with out even realizing I begin to cry. Tears start to from in my eyes as I look into Necra's pale white face.
"Your not a weapon..." said Necra in an attempt to comfort me.
"All of you have seen what I can do first hand...I try and fight my programing not to kill my targets...I almost killed Luna 3 times and helped with the destruction of the Crystal Empire...and thats only what I've done on this planet." I say as tears fall from my face.
"We're safe now Serena. You have no enemies here." said Necra.
"And of Shining Armor? He could be plotting to fruitlessly take me down any moment now." I say as I predict millions of possible outcomes of what he might do, less then 7% would be successful given what I know about him or what might have caused his sudden change in behavior.
"I-it doesn't matter anyways...all I am is just a collection of ones and zeros...n-nothing but binary code..." I say as I fall to my knees and clench my head as I begin to realize what I am...and that I am nothing but a simple automaton.
"No...your NOT just code." said Necra, rejecting my reality.
"I'm not even alive...I have no choice but to fallow my programing...even if I resist my primary directives I can never deviate from my secondary objectives...I-I...can't even think for myself..." I say as I look at my hands and think of the countless lives I've shattered with them. Necra kneels down and hugs me.
"Your so much more then just a machine..." said Necra as she pulls away from me and looks at my bright red blushing face.
"H-how could you possibly know...y-you have the free will to do what ever you desire." I say as more tears fall from my face. Necra puts her forelegs on my shoulders.
"Robots don't feel Serena. YOU have genuine emotions." said Necra passionately.
"I-I only have simulated emotions and free will..." I say as my thoughts begin to focus on my internal programing.
"Changelings survive off of love. The most powerful emotion of all. No one has ever shown a single shred of love felt towards me...all except you." said Necra as I stop analyzing my programing at those words, I stare at her shocked at what I just heard. My cooling vents activate, shooting out heated air out from the side of my head.
"I...can love?..." I say quietly.
"I've been surviving off of what little love you give off...you radiate it like a dim neutron star. I know your capable of unlocking your own emotions." said Necra. I begin to feel a strange sensation in my core...I do a quick scan...all systems normal...I feel...happy...no...w-what is this...strange feeling...i-it's growing in strength.
"I'm...like a...star?" I say to the carbon based life form before me.
"When you took me in I thought this could finally be my chance to show these ponies that not all changelings are bad...and make a friend before I die of starvation...yet for an artificial intelligence to feel genuine love...towards ME of all ponies...I-I just...don't want to lose you..." said Necra, she smiles greatly at me, revealing her small fangs.
"I...don't want to lose you either." I say as for the first time in my life...I give her a small smile. Unknown to me out lips are mere inches apart.
"Serena I...think I..." started Necra, she pauses.
"Love me?" I say for her. Necra's blush grows brighter as she nods slowly.
"Do you...feel the same?" asked Necra a bit nervously.
"I-I...don't know...these...emotions have just surfaced...yet I feel...strongly towards you..." I say, when I finish Necra kisses me to my surprise for a few seconds. The feeling in my core returns once more. I feel...like I-I can finally...have someone to care about. I embrace the exiled queen and hug her tightly as I accept her kiss. I feel her hooves brush against my hair as I accept her loving embrace. She pushes away and looks at me with a deep smile on her face, as if she's been relived of a great curse like me.
"All my life I've lived in fear of everyone...rather it be the ponies bursting through the doors and slaughtering us all...or my own hive killing me in cold blood...but with you...I feel..." said Necra, but she couldn't find the words to complete that sentence.
"Loved?" I finish for her.
"Yes...a-and I love you too." said Necra. Strange, the holes in her legs seem to be slowly shrinking as well as her horn becoming less jagged, this process may be noticeable in a few days.
"Are you...just using me for food?" I say as I recall her kind needs love to survive.
"I was never a good lier...so no." said Necra with a hint of worry in her voice.
"Thats...ironic..." I say as I realize the irony of a changeling queen who has the power to shape shift into any pony, but not good at lying.
"So...what now?" asked Necra.
"Y-yes...right, we need to get to the lab." I say as I get up and walk down the hall with Necra close behind.
======
Nova
928 million light years to Serena's left
The Pure Fire of Innovation floats over a supermassive black hole in the center of a spiral galaxy. I pace back and forth in the bridge thinking of the mission.
"Perhaps you should try a different approach to this." suggested my lovely assistant.
"And what are you suggesting?" I say in an annoyed tone.
"I could summon a fleet of ships to spread out so we cover more space." said V with confidence.
"It's risky...but I don't have any better ideas." I say as I contemplate my other options.
"It's the best we can do at the moment...I'm warping in 10 recon fleets from the storage universes." said V as I look out the window to see many ships warp into view.
"Thank V..." I say in a distant tone as I fly back to the cockpit.
"Something else is bothering you isn't it." said V with genuine concern in her voice.
"I just hope Serena is safe..." I say as I fire up the ultradrive.
"Me too Nova...me too." sad V. The Innovation flies around the black hole at increasing speeds, getting further away from it as it's speed breaks the light barrier. I activate the ultradrive and send us 40 million light years away into another galaxy.