Do Sweetie Bots Dream of Electric Sheep?

by GenericArchangel

Act 3

Act 3
Prologue, and a note from the Storyteller

I think, therefore I am. A translation of something Descartes once wrote. It means that even in the face of radical skepticism, one can be sure of their own existence because they are thinking about it. But what does it mean for artificial intelligence? “Can computers think?” is a devastatingly complex question, because if the answer is yes then our own existence is cast into doubt because the computer’s existence is artificial.

But that’s a load of crap. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that the computer humans built is capable of intelligent thought- would that make it a person? Not a human, as a nonliving object will never be part of the species homo sapiens sapiens, but a person in a more abstract sense.

And on that thought, we return to our story.

Scene 1

They sat in a room, looking at each other, each gazing into a pair of eyes identical to their own. When their focus wandered, they’d see a nearly perfect copy of themselves- the same white coat, the same pink and purple hair, the same slightly rounded horn. The most distinguishing feature between the two was their flanks: one’s was as blank as the rest of her coat, the other’s was emblazoned with a colorful shield.

One had found their place in the world.

The other was trying to rediscover it.

“It’s odd, don’t you think? That you kept your cutie mark even without your synthcoat. Machinations clearly planned for every event.” Sweetie Belle just nodded, not saying anything. “Those are supposed to be tied to the very essence of who you are, but despite you not being real, you’ve kept it anyway.” Another nod, this time more downcast. “And I don’t have mine. Funny, isn’t it? You’re supposed to be a perfect copy of me, right down to the tongueprint. But you got something I didn’t. Why?”

Silence.

“I don’t know. I got it when my friends did, ours are all similar.”

“So why do you still have it if it’s fake?”

Tears began to fall on the cold stone floor. “I don’t know.”

More time passed in silence as Sweetie Belle silently weeped for her lost soul. She thought of her life up to that point, and all the cherished memories she had. She remembered the happiest moment of her life, when she and her friends had all found their purpose in life and got their cutie marks. She could recall every detail- the warm sun on her back, the soft summer grass under her hooves, a gentle breeze in the air. And the joy, the pure happiness that ran down their cheeks in tears while they embraced each other because they had finally done it. But now it was all meaningless, wasn’t it? The pony who had done those things didn’t exist, did she?

“How does it feel, bot? Losing your life to a falsehood, your existence adding up to nothing. I’ve spent my whole life watching you live in my place, witness to every ounce of affection meant for me that I never felt. Every lost moment a tear running down my cheek, lost to the cold rain of lies. I’ve built so many robots the sheep I dream of run on electricity. Do you understand why I hate you? Tell me, bot, what do you feel right now?”

“Li- like I miss my friends, and- and if they were here, maybe everything would be okay.” More silence, lasting for what seemed like forever, punctured only by hushed sobs.
“He told you they stopped looking for you. He’s a filthy liar.” Sweetie Belle looked up. “They’re here everyday trying to find you. The incident with the timberwolves only cemented their resolve.” The other Sweetie stood up, and began leaving the room. “Thought you might want to know that.”

The legions were surprisingly small, totalling maybe five hundred robots altogether. Sweetie Belle was standing next to Machinations, who surveyed his army with satisfaction.
“This shall do nicely, won’t it? Perfect for overthrowing the pretty little princesses. Why, we’ll knock Canterlot off the mountain when we’re done! Just to be sure none survive.” A malicious chuckle as he indulged himself a little. “And these aren’t even the best part. My magnum opus puts it all to shame.”
He was referring to a quadrupedal war machine that sat in the center of the main chamber. At least seventy feet square and forty tall, it was an impressive piece of engineering, and armed with enough firepower to raze Equestria to the ground. At the center was the control tower, with the heaviest weapons being mounted on it and facing one direction.
“And then there’s you. When they see you, a soulless automaton, ripping through the Royal Guard without hesitation, their resolve will snap like a twig. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? There’s nothing they can do about it. Their magic isn’t concentrated enough to get through the armor of my machine, making me invincible. And, once I’m done and the fighting is over, there will be nothing left for either of you but service to me, the new ruler, of Equestria!” And then he cackled maniacally, the sounds of his villainy reverberating off the cave walls. “I will rebuild the world as my perfect vision, a phoenix rising from the ashes of the one I burned!”
It was a nightmare in the waking world. The only thing Sweetie could think of was how he would end everything she had ever cared about, a disturbing vision she couldn’t stop. This is how it all ends, she thought. And it will all be my fault.

Scene 2

The march up to Canterlot was damning. The rain fell in a downpour, an obvious attempt to counter the robotic army. Sweetie Belle was forced to lead the metallic column, with Curtained Machinations following behind. She rounded the last bend, seeing the main gates ahead of her. The Guards were present in full force, with dozens of archers lining the walls with spear carriers mixed among them. The main gate was reinforced and shut tight.

And, with the twanging of a hundred bowstrings, the Third Battle of Canterlot began. Arrows sailed through the night sky, and Sweetie Belle felt her own armaments fold out from their holds. The cannons began charging for a heavy shot at the main gate to break it down while she kept marching forward. Arrows pinged off her face and sides, but still she was forced to keep going. Two volleys, then a third, before the unicorn mages began hurling beams of magic at her. Her horn lit up to raise a magical barrier to protect her as she plodded ever forward, waiting for the cannons to charge. The missile pods over her back began seeking targets, locking on to fourteen targets for fourteen missiles. They leapt off with a woosh, her magic replacing them with fourteen more. The batteries for harmony magic built into Sweetie Belle had been fully charged, meaning she could fight all night if need be. More arrows fell, now numbering nearly a thousand as it became clear that all the levies and allies had been called up, putting the opposing forces near five thousand ponies-at-arms.

And finally, the two cannons fired massive beams of energy at the gates, blowing them to pieces. The ramparts above were heavily damaged, and soldiers began fleeing. Along the walls, shapes vanished as forces withdrew to a secondary defensive line. Behind Sweetie Belle, five hundred robot ponies lifted into the night to fly over the wall and flank them. Her job was to walk in through the front gate and engage the Element Bearers, who were surely at the front of the army.

She walked through the ruined gates while the legions flew over her head. The rain started to come down even harder. The smoke obscured her vision, but one of the benefits of having artificial eyes was the ability to see beyond the visible spectrum. The infrared sensors turned on, and she could see quite clearly. And sure enough, directly ahead of her were the six ponies whose magic was unparalleled in the whole universe. Behind them were two alicorn princesses and the elites of the Royal and Crystal Guards, led by Shining Armor himself. Hang on… Double checking confirmed it: Luna was nowhere to be seen.

But Sweetie Belle had more important issues at hoof. Discord was also not accounted for, and even though she personally was on his side she didn’t want to risk the wrath of his chaotic powers. She scanned the battlefield, using the other robots to track him down. This was a mistake- she hadn’t been ready to see the devastating effects of the legions, and the shock paralysed her. Unable to move or think, she couldn’t even panic when she heard Discord beside her.

“Send Luna my love, Sweetie Belle. Good night!”

The strains of a piano filled the darkness. Darkness… I’m unconscious. The vice on her mind was as tight as ever, but the triplet notes of the instrument grew ever stronger until a white light filled the void. A crescent moon appeared high overhead, casting its light into infinity and starkly silhouetting Princess Luna. And in her presence, Sweetie Belle felt at ease, as though the soft moonlight itself was caressing her into a deep sleep. The vice on her mind fought hard, but with her horn ablaze Luna banished it forever.

And Sweetie Belle was free, free in her thoughts and mind. She felt the sensation of flying as the stars shone above her, the liberation working into her soul. But then she stopped.

“Your majesty, I… I’m not the real Sweetie Belle. Why would you do that? I’m just a machine. Not a pony. Even my cutie mark is fake.”

“That is presumptuous of you, Sweetie Belle. But if you are worried about your cutie mark, I’m not the pony you should ask. But I know who can answer your questions.”

She felt the dream begin to end, and watched as Luna ascended into the moon. “Princess Luna, wait! I’m not ready! Please, I need answers!”

“Sweetie Belle! Sweetie Belle, are you okay?!”

“Please, wake uhp, Sweetie Belle! Can you hear us?”

With a ringing headache, Sweetie Belle opened her eyes, to find Apple Bloom and Scootaloo standing over her. She nearly cried when she saw them.

“Sweetie Belle! Yer awake!” Apple Bloom squeezed her tightly. “Ah was afraid you’d never come back.”

“Did it work?” Scootaloo asked. “Did Luna fix you?”

Tears began running down her cheeks as she hugged Apple Bloom back. “Yes, I think it worked. I’m back, guys.” But the joy began to ebb when she remembered. “Well, not really. I’m not who you think I am. I was built to help that guy take over the world. I’m not even sure if my cutie mark is real.”

Apple Bloom pulled back to look her in the eyes, then down at her flank, then back to eye contact. “Then why is it stil there?”

“Were you always like this? Even when we first met?” She nodded, then Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, then it’s obviously real! Why else would you still have it? And if it was all fake, why are you crying now?”

“But… I’m not the real Sweetie Belle. She was foalnapped when she was only a few months old, and I replaced her.”

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t that make you the real Sweetie Belle? Since, ya know, yer the one everyone knows n all.”

Sweetie Belle was taken aback by the statement. After a few moments of stuttering, she returned to being downcast. “I guess it would, but what does that change? This is all my fault, and there’s nothing I can do about it.” And then a memory popped into her head: “The rear armor over the core is too thin.” “Well…”

Her friends’ eyes lit up. “So there is something you can do!”

“Me? I’m not a hero like our sisters! I’m just a young pony, barely old enough to maybe be called a mare instead of a filly! I’m just Sweetie Belle!”

“An mah sister’s just Applejack most of the time, ain’t she? She’s only a hero sometimes.”

“How many times have they saved the world? Ten times in as many years?” Scootaloo put a hoof around her. “That means they’re only heroes once a year! That’s not a lot, is it?”

Sweetie Belle felt it in her heart. Not a spark of hope, but a raging inferno of determination. “No, it isn’t.” With a thought she turned on her weapons, hearing the servomotors whir as they extended into place. “I can do something. I can do it.” She took a deep breath, feeling her friends drape their forelegs over her withers. It was Scootaloo that said it.

“You can be a hero.”

And with that, Sweetie Belle lifted off into the stormy night.

Scene 3

She found him quickly, the large mech being hard to miss. He had the Bearers cornered, and was charging up weapons to end them. She heard his malicious voice through the noise of storm and battle.

“And now, it ends. Your precious elements are useless against me, and the only being who can stand against me is nowhere to be found. Nopony is coming to save you now.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it!” Oh sweet Celestia that was corny. Sweetie Belle landed dramatically in between him and the six ponies, her weapons at the ready and her horn aglow.

He laughed. “You? A bot? Against me, your creator? Ha! Don’t make me laugh! What can you do?”

Sweetie Belle fired all her weapons at once and bolted into the air, angling over him as she defiantly yelled “try!” She weaved through the air, focusing on avoiding his weapons and getting behind him. Her horn tried to slash across the rear plating, but it didn’t do anything. Sensors, analyze armor strength! The report came back quickly enough: it would take everything to bring it down. So, she arced into a long loop to give her weapons time to charge, but a field of aura caught her and dragged her down. Her legs were pinned to her sides, and she struggled as Machinations brought her down to face him, an evil smile on his face.

“Oh, isn’t that adorable? It thinks it can get through the armor. Listen to me, bot. You’re nothing, a disposable piece of equipment that has long since served its purpose. I won’t even waste the energy on actually disposing of you, I’ll let the rain do that.” And suddenly a massive wave of magic squeezed in on her, and she felt an awful crushing sensation. Warning: waterproofing compromised. Serious potential for short circuiting. “Who knows? Maybe your black box recorder will give me useful data on catastrophic failure.” He threw her to the side with a great amount of force, sending her crashing into a wall. Her horn automatically lit up a shield to protect her from the rain, letting her lay there, paralyzed with pain.

“Sweetie Belle!” Her friends ran over, instantly hovering over her to see if she was okay. Sweetie Belle just groaned in pain. She noticed that the other Sweetie was standing nearby, looking on with disappointment.

“That was the best you could do, bot? I’ve spent my whole life in a cave and I’ve seen better. I can’t even imagine how you could be so foolish.”

She knew what she had to do. Tears began streaming down her face as she embraced each of her friends in turn. “I’ve seen things you wouldn’t believe. The Harmonizing Heights alive on the slopes of Mt Eris. I watched cutie marks glow on the flanks of foals near the Appleoosan Ridge. All those precious memories are going to be lost, like tears in the rain.”

The other Sweetie Belle nodded, and Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stepped away with looks of apprehension. Sweetie Belle stood up, and began charging her weapons. She slowly took off, angling herself so she only needed her rear hooves to fly, allowing her forelegs to be used as cannons. She flew up to altitude, firing off the missiles first, before doing a graceful backflip while dropping her shield. The rain crackled off her skin, and sparks flew as electronics short circuited.
Warning: waterproofing compromised. Short circuits possible.
When she was facing her target, she let loose with four cannons and her horn, all focused on one point. She nudged herself a bit to give herself some lateral motion, and as she fell a huge gash was torn into the rear of the mech. She heard Curtained Machinations scream curses while she ceased fire. She got her hooves beneath her and tried to stop her fall, but activating the thrusters caused major failure.
Warning: serious water damage.
She fell into a spin, losing control of her flight, sailing over the walls and into a freefall.
Warning: integral systems shutting down. Catastrophic failure possible.
Her vision started to go black as she tumbled through the night air, tears and raindrops on her cheeks.
Warning: core systems failure, activating auxiliary systems.
And on her face, was a small smile. Because she had won.
Auxiliary systems failed. All systems are failed. Warning: catastrophic failure imminent.
As the world went dark, she knew who she was, and that she had done the right thing.
Warning: critical systems failed.
Warning: critical systems…
Warning: critical error.
Warning: cr-cr error.
Warning…

Comments

[FicLab]

Had to read it twice before it made sense... Definitely some editing in your future

[GenericArchangel]

9625887
What specifically? So I can focus my efforts. I've already got some edits planned, but any pointers would be helpful.