*Friendship Not Included

by Liquid Truth

[e-mail] in:sent

Subject: applejack's youpone

To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Darling, you just have to come to the cafeteria for lunch! I've just found out earlier that Applejack's one of those ponies who take videos of their food and uploads them to YouPone. She spent so long taking pictures and videos of it that the food gets cold and she has to ask the cook to heat it up again! It's positively hilarious!

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Oh, cool. AJ's making a new video on her Apple Tour series? Can't wait until she uploads them! Wonder what kind of apple she's talking about this time. Maybe it's apple fritters? I remember it's on the menu yesterday.

Anyway, sure. I'll see you guys at lunch ;)

- Dr. Sparkle
Arcane Engineering Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Wait, Twilight, dear, darling, precious, love, you can't possibly be saying that you watched Applejack's videos??

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------
I am! She makes quality videos about culinary arts and their nutritional values. You should watch the one about marshmallows, it talks about the perfect degree of burn for optimal meltiness while maintaining its sweet taste.

Oh, and she's nearing five million subs. You should congratulate her when she eventually does!

- Dr. Sparkle
Arcane Engineering Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Marshmallows. Seriously, darling?

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---

Subject: stinky stinksss!

To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Goodness, darling, have you met the janitor? I swear he's positively radiating stink lines everywhere he goes.

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Aw, don't be so harsh, he's really nice once you get to know him. He probably smells because he works hard all the time, there's a reason he's been here as long as the director herself, you know?

He's also really dependable. Once I accidentally broke my quill and he got a new one in, like, two minutes.

- Dr. Sparkle
Arcane Engineering Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Ugh, whatever.

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------
I'm serious! You should give him more credit the next time he tidies up your office. Talk to him when you're passing by, he's quite the jovial friend to talk to, always have something positive to say about every little thing he sees.

I also heard he has quite the dance moves. Maybe you'll consider that for the next gala?

- Dr. Sparkle
Arcane Engineering Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
How tempting. But no, thank you, Twilight. I'd rather take you as my plus one.

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Haha. Very funny, Rarity. You got me there.

- Dr. Sparkle
Arcane Engineering Department
Alicorn Tech

---

Subject: whatever could this be?

To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Oh Darling guess who just got

<3 ~ INJURED ~ <3

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
Cc: All
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------

EMERGENCY

B011_req_loc_A021
B011_req_auth:tport_A021

- Dr. Sparkle
Arcane Engineering Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
Cc: All
From: Admin <[e-mail]>
---------------

EMERGENCY

Dr. Belle is at office #A021.

Dr. Sparkle is now authorized for intra-office teleportation to the Management and Maintenance Building.

System Admin
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
Cc: All
From: Mrs. Inkwell <[e-mail]>
---------------
The facility would like to remind all personnel of Alicorn Tech to not abuse the <URGENT> function unless a level 2 emergency or above occurs.

In case of lower priority urgency which requires immediate mobility responses, the transit tubes can be overridden per request of security personnel.

Thank you for your attention. We wish you a nice afternoon.

- Raven Inkwell
Personnel Coordinator
Alicorn Tech

---

Subject: What a fine day, isn't it?

To: Dr. Pie <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Good afternoon, Pinkie! How's your day been? I bet it's been very pleasant!

Have you heard about the mysterious case of missing lunches? Oh, yes, it's positively dreadful. Twilight's lunch has been disappearing every day for the past week! Can you imagine that?

Anyway, there are security cameras everywhere and took clear videos of the culprit from every angle, but we can't quite put who they were because all we can see is this puffy pink hair obscuring all her features!

On a totally unrelated note, there's this virus in the system that locks the cupcake quota for anypony with the initials "P.P." to zero and blocks all attempts to send any letter of complaint to the admin.

Don't you find it weird how specific that is? Although, you shouldn't worry. I'll do anything I can to prevent that from happening to you, darling. We both know how much you love cupcakes!

XOXO,
Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---

Subject: Results from Harmony Labs

To: Director Invicta <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Director,

Everything went well. Despite her reluctance, [REDACTED] has finally agreed to work with us.

She can begin at your convenience.

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---

Subject: rude

To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Our new gofer keeps staring at my flank. You meet her a lot in the Arcane Engineering Dept., right? Can you tell her not to do that please?

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------
It’s her eyes, Rarity. She has strabismus. You’re probably making it up.

- Dr. Sparkle
Arcane Engineering Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
No, not Muffins. I know about her. I was talking about the blue one with rainbow mane. She kept looking at me at lunch! How can you not notice it??

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------
That’s Dr. Dash, the newly-appointed Head of Flight and Aerodynamics Department. I thought it’s your job to know about these things?

And yes, she’s single ;)

- Dr. Sparkle
Arcane Engineering Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Firstly, being a gossip queen is my passion, not my occupation. Secondly, stop trying to be a matchmaker, please? You’re really bad at this.

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---

Subject: I’m sorry

To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Dear Twilight,

I am deeply sorry for everything I did yesterday. Please believe me when I say that it’s because of the nature of my work, of our work, that I did what I did. It wasn't my choice to make, and I can’t afford to lose this job. I’m sure you understand.

I know that it will be impossible for us to rekindle our friendship, and I won’t beg. You have all the rights to be upset at me. But please, know that I’m very, very grateful for everything you’ve done to me, including what you did yesterday.

Your remorseful friend,
Rarity Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
---------------
Dear Dr. Belle,

I know you are, and for that, I’m relieved. I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed that you agreed to do such immoral acts against Sapient Rights.

But don’t you worry, I’m not that evil to report you or Alicorn Tech to the authorities. If anything, it’s so you can pay for your sister’s medications until she recovers. Do extend my regards to Ms. Belle. Tell her that she can have a bright future ahead of her if she stops listening to you.

And while I too am grateful for our friendship, I hope we never meet again.

Sincerely,
Dr. Sparkle

---------------
To: Dr. Sparkle <[e-mail]>
From: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
---------------
I certainly will, Twilight. I hope you can find a better job soon.

Say hi to Spike for me, will you? Tell him I wish him luck for his highschool application.

~ Dr. Belle
Information and Statistics Department
Alicorn Tech

---------------
To: Dr. Belle <[e-mail]>
From: Admin <[e-mail]>
---------------
The email account that you tried to reach ([e-mail]) either does not exist or has been permanently deleted. Please try double-checking the recipient's email address for typos or unnecessary spaces.

For more information, please contact our admin at [e-mail] or directly visit Dr. Belle at her office in the Information and Statistics Department.

System Admin
Alicorn Tech

---

Comments

[PonyDragon]

Marshmallows. Seriously, darling?

: "But of course!"

Have you heard about the mysterious case of missing lunches? Oh, yes, it's positively dreadful. Twilight's lunch has been disappearing every day for the past week! Can you imagine that?
Anyway, there are security cameras everywhere and took clear videos of the culprit from every angle, but we can't quite put who they were because all we can see is this puffy pink hair obscuring all her features!

I have a suspicion who that might be...
Did Chrysalis let her pet loose again?

[Commander Darklight]

WTF DID YOU DO RARITY!!!!!

[Mirvra]

So... Dr. Rarity might've had the hots for Twilight? But she ended up doing something that was not only Morally wrong... but also somehow got Twilight fired from Alicorn Tech...

Also... The manager printed a Twilight Duplicant during the first 30 cycles... and yet the Twilight we're following doesn't quite seem to be the same Duplicant... Which makes me a bit worried, are there multiple Twilight Duplicants running around, or did something happen to the previous Twilight Duplicant? Q.Q

[Adenbadens]

9846002
My guess is Alicorn Tech is the company that sent out the ships, and the Mane 6 aren’t close friends like the show, but rather coworkers. So Rarity, in the Information Dept. Did something against sapient rights as part of her job within the company, and Twilight is gone. If I were to guess, Twilight found out how the dupes are made (my guess is scanning the brain, but it kills the original in the process) and then was forcibly scanned, which is why her dupes blueprint is damaged and doesn’t like others.

[Mirvra]

9846165
It's possible...

Though you did bring up a nice point that I forgot about, Twilight's blueprint being damaged. That has SO MUCH story potential right there! not to mention possible character growth!

[Adenbadens]

9846194
Not to mention that our Twilight might not be the only one in the colony. Stinky the cleaning pony has at least two copies of himself. Science researcher Twilight from the last chapter and Gofer nee Astronomer Twilight might not even be the same pony.

[FanOfMostEverything]

Tell her that she can have a bright future ahead of her if she stops listening to you.

Ouch. That one's going to leave scars.

Fascinating data indeed. There's a mystery here, one the Dupes are ill-suited to investigate. Still, maybe history won't repeat itself.

[azereath]

From the sounds of it the Twilight from alicorn tech either took the blame for Rarity or Rarity put the blame on her. regardless it looks like Twilight may of been fired. Though that last email has all sorts of nasty implications. The fact that it says to contact Rarity about the issue even though Rarity is the one trying to contact Twilight is even worse. Maybe this is one of the company's that when they say you are terminated, they are being very literal.

[Avatar Sprite]

9846194
Where does it say about The blueprint being damaged?

Honestly, Dr belle does not sound anything like the Rarity Belle we know. There is a lot more maliciousness in the tone of the emails, She honestly sounds like the sort of pony that gossips about everyone, as soon as back is turned, ie not as a good natured gossip, but a "Did you see what she adared to wear yesterday???" kind. Makes me not suprised she did something so abhorant to Twilight

[Avatar Sprite]

9849310
if the IT department is bigger then 2 people, they may get a list of accounts to deactivate a day, which can often be automated, so Rarity could have genuinely not known the account was deactivated yet, with her name just being the default contact for incorrect or deleted mailboxes contacts.

not that I believe this rarity would not put anything past it

[Mirvra]

9852765
The cycle 21 manager log states

Speaking of Twily, I’ve noticed that she actively avoids social interactions. The database suggests that it comes from the imperfection of the blueprint itself, not the individual.

[Avatar Sprite]

9853390
That sounded like it was saying the blueprint was imperfect in that the pony it describes is asocial, not a damaged blueprint. Like how dupes in ONL have negative qualities as well as positive

[Mirvra]

9854193
Yeah, but at the same time, no two dupes from the SAME blueprint have the same traits. There's no guaranteed traits for any dupes, also it would honestly be more interesting story wise if Twilight's blueprint really is damaged in some way...

[DarkPinkie]

Oof. When the automated message refers to yourself as a contact to solve any perceived mistakes.

[Vaguely Demented]

9846002
9846165
I had assumed it just meant she deleted the account to avoid further contact with her.

[Mirvra]

9865567
You don't just ''delete'' a company e-mail account.

Normally you're given an account when you start working there and all your work related e-mails are sent to that account... so that when you eventually end up quitting the job, they can just delete your e-mail account and all the e-mails in it, thus getting rid of any and all sensitive documents you might have been handling.

[Vaguely Demented]

9865583
Depending on ones clout in the company you could delete it. But yes, under normal circumstances it’s not something you could easily do unless it was somehow compromised.

[Adenbadens]

9865592
Especially since, judging by the auto-response, Rarity is the one who would have final authorization over such a thing. And she would not have sent Twilight an e-mail if she had deactivated the account herself.

[Vaguely Demented]

9865604
True but I assume Rarity would not handle the deletions personally. It probably recommends a direct visit as a form of escalation that is odd enough in its own right, as usually corporations make it so you have to climb the ladder step by step so higher ups aren’t bothered by something that can be handled by a subordinate.

[Adenbadens]

9865628
I guess we’ll find out more as it happens.

[K-O-D-E-X]

Looking at it it sounds more like Sparks fully blocked Rares in a way that it makes it look like an email deletion.

[EasyBreeze]

9865628
kind of like what happened to me at my work; i sent an email to the CEO of the company (known internally as an Executive Open Door), and it immediately got kicked back to store level into the Store Manager's inbox. either way, it got me the results that I wanted (my hours were being cut to an unsustainable level, and as the old saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease)

[Vaguely Demented]

9880520
I’ve always identified more with: The squeaky wheel causes the slow mental erosion that will either showcase the amazing ability to put up with any annoyance out of stubborn laziness, or end with grease application. Not as catchy but damned if it isn’t true.

[EasyBreeze]

9846165

Yes, it has something to do with the director's stupid ambition and what you just did to Twilight. No, there's nothing we can about it.

an excerpt from the latest chapter.

[Iron Comet]

From reading this and the 'sapients rights' I think the first Dupe was a Rarity Dupe. And Twilight considered it immoral to create. It's why she called Rarity a Doctor then recommended Ms Belle a good life. That and later Twilight quit which us why the e-mail address was deleted.

[Blaze rod]

9846165
According to the actual lore of the game, It's likely the fact that there is a chip capable of limited mind-control installed into dupes in order to make them more obedient and better workers.