Ruby groaned. I and the voices in my head laughed.

“I can’t get over strange it is to witness you talk to yourself.”

“Spark, respect my private space and get the fuck out of my room.”

“Well, I would, if I had my own room.”

“You and I both know that you do. It’s the second guest room upstairs.” I hear a chuckle.

“Damn, I was hoping you would forget.” I turn to my robotic friend with an annoyed expression..

“I made myself a more organic-looking version of you. I think my memory is in the very least up to fucking par with Sherlock Holmes. Don’t patronize me.”

“Oh well. I’ll leave you to… what are you doing?” I feel her come over and look over my shoulder.

“Pretty much anything that’ll keep me occupied.”

“So... building some kind of robot or something?”

“Yeah, something like that.” Spark stays silent as I look at the various parts and random bits and pieces. “But I’m thinking there’s a way to make my body better.”

“What?”

“I mean. Yeah, I’m stronger, my brain processes things many times faster than Steven Hawking, and I can practically regrow any part of my body. But… I did reconfigure your body so you can actually use it.” I look to my creation with a knowing smile.

“You… you can’t be serious…” I nodded.

“Oh, I am. I just need to find a way to essentially ‘plug’ myself to a computer.”

“You’re… you- ugh...”

“What?”

“It fucking sucks being in that thing!” She snapped… why didn't she tell me this as soon as I brought this idea up?

“You couldn’t have told me from the get-go? And besides, you didn’t have access to the internet at the time.” At that her mouth closed at mach one speeds. “And I will.”

“You do realize, if you succeed in doing so, you will basically become omniscient?”

“Omni-what?”

“You’ll be all-knowing and crap.”

“Oh. Well yeah, that’s kinda my goal at this point.” I shrug. “But, since I’m basically made up of microscopic versions of you. Pulling it off is going to be a little difficult.”

“Yes, but taking that into consideration, do you really think it’s worth it at this point?”

“Well, like I said, this is out of boredom. If was determined to find a way. I already would’ve found one by now.”

“Fair enough... ” She said. “But why not… connect me? I already posses an access port.” I look up in thought.

“True...” I nodded. “Yeah… yeah, let’s do that instead. I can even make it wireless!”

“That would be nice.” She said. “It would be annoyingly restricting to have wires coming off of me.”

“Implying I couldn’t store terabytes of information? You wound Me Spark.”

“Ember, the world's public database is immeasurably large. How would you pack all of that information into one human-sized piece of memory space?”

“Pffff.” I do my best impression of a horse from Earth. “As if anyone can do that. I’m a robot engineer, not a miracle worker.”

“I see… Well, how do you plan to make a wireless outlet? I assume though some form of antenna?”

“You assumed correctly. I can easily get hands on some high-powered modem, so you’d get at least thirteen hundred feet of range… Maybe if I can build a satellite… Nah… too ambitious.”

“Yes, I agree with that… Don’t you ever think that you… I don’t know… some up with the craziest things when… I don’t even know how to put it into words.”

“Thank you.” I smile. “It’s thinking like this that lead me to create Max.”

“Max? Who’s Max?”

“I didn’t tell about Max?” Spark shook her head. “Oh, must’ve slipped my mind. Hm...” I shrug. “Meh, anyway, Max was my first creation. Well, first attempted creation.”

“What?”

“I got started on making Max. But I never really… completed the guy.” I said.

“... Maybe you can… Finish what you started?” She slowly suggested.

“I always could...” I think about it for a second. “Yeah… Yeah. Why not? I’ll be right back.” I summon the scroll and charge up the spell. “Oh, and don’t think I didn’t see what you did there.” I smiled knowingly. “You see Max as a brother, don’t you?”

I’m willing to bet my wings that’s exactly what she thought when I told her that.

“No, I do not.” I bet she would be blushing if she could. “I would just like to get to know him.” I stare at her blankly.

“... You do realize when I do finish Max, like I made you, he will know little to nothing besides the basic functions I gave you?” Spark went quite. Fuck, I couldn’t tell what face she was making.

“... Shut up.” I knew it. I fucking knew it.

“For an android, you’re a terrible liar.” I laughed, then teleported right before Spark could throw anything at me.

“Sorry colt. Can’t help ya out.”

“Why the buck not!?” The colt slammed his hooves onto the counter.

“Goin’ after that human’s a lost cause. After what happened at the Naughty Filly everypony’s been steerin’ clear of the guy.”

“Why? That bug could be doing Celestia knows wha-”

“Listen colt!” The older pony cut the colt off. “Ember isn’t a Celestia damned changeling. Get the buck over it. So what if he killed your friends? You’re lucky just to be alive after what he did to that place.”

“But… But!”

“Enough, I don’t want to hear you donkey dung. I have work to do.” The stallion huffed and returned to the kitchen. The colt snorted in anger and angrily left the establishment. While heavily ignoring the stares he was receiving.

*If nopony will help me. I’ll do it myself then.* With the colts mind set. He stomped off to gather what he will need to bring the bug to justice.

But before he could be anything about it. He had to prepare.

“Alright, let’s get started.” I put Max and a slue of other things next to and around my desk, since he was still in his stand when I last left my old lab.

“Where do you last leave off?”

“I think I was building his body. I don’t know.” I point at Max’s missing left arm. “Yeah, I think it was that.”

“You’re an asswhole.”

“No, I’m sarcastic. There’s a difference.”

“Oh, whatever.” Spark spun around and started storming off. “Call me when you’re done.” She said right before the door slammed behind her.

“You got it!” I yell back. “Now, was this his arm? Or the leg?”

“Alright Max, are you ready to get a body?” I ask my new computer.

“Yes sir.” It responded.

“Alright let’s get this started. And stop calling me sir.” I hook up the computer to the completed andriod body. I wonder if the same thing will happen with the transfer like Spark. God, please don’t let that happen. I really don’t want to buy another fucking computer.

“Alright, fathe-”

“Don’t.” I look back to the computer, a little smirk on my face.

“I am only-”

“Don’t, start.” I laugh. “Not yet. There are people better than me to annoy.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you, father.” I laugh a little. Why not? I did create him after all.

“Alright...” I plug in the last cord and give Max the go ahead. And unlike what happened with Spark. Max makes a clean, non-smoking tower transition.

“Everything functioning Max?” I ask as soon as his eyes blink to life in his new body.

“... Yes. All systems working and one hundred percent capacity.” He rolls of few of his mechanical joints for emphasis.

“Excellent!” I clap. “Let’s go show everybody how annoying you can be!” Max smiles.

Just like fucking Spark.

“Yes, let us start.” The two of us walk up the stairs and begin what I can say, with one hundred and twenty percent conviction, would be the most entertaining day of my life.

[hf]

“Please, Ember, Max, stop… I can’t take any more of it.” Chrysi gripped while covering her ears.

“What? We have just been having fun with ourselves.” Max replied.

“Besides, you should be glad. I bet you haven’t seen me smile this much, ever.” I said.

“We know Ember.” Spark said. “And I’m happy that you’re having fun. But please, for the love of god. Stop.” Spark said from her face-down position on the floor. “Ugh, to think I was looking forward to meeting you Max.”

“Pardon? Ember has only made me in his image.” Max said in an indignant tone.

“That’s the problem!” She yelled.

“You wound my newly found pride Spark. To think we were unofficial brother and sister.” He ignored Spark’s outburst like a fucking champ.

Wait… I’m feeling something. I feel… it feel like liquid pride is filling my chest. In fact, I can feel something streaming down my face.

I think this is pride I’m feeling. Yeah, everytime I look at Max, I feel immense pride.

Huh, so this is what having a kid feels like.

“C’mere!” I pull Max into a big man-hug. He’s a little caught off-guard at first, but I feel him wrap his arms around me. I look to Spark, who has a sad, jealous look on her face. I smile and wave a hand in invitation.

Her face performs a complete emotional one-eighty. Her frown warps into a smile, and she practically leaps into the hug. If it probably weren’t for Max, I’d be in the floor.

I then see Chrysi, she’s staring longingly. I roll my eyes and motion for her to join. She smiled and eagerly joined to the group hug.

I swear to god, this is the first time in years I’ve shed tears of joy. I think… Yeah, probably.

“Ember? Are you crying?” I heard Max ask.

*You little fucker…*

“Yes, you bastard.” A laugh from the new android confirmed my thoughts. “And they’re tears of joy.”

“Is it because we feel like a family?” Chrysi asked.

“Yes, yes it is.” I pull away from the group hug. The rest disperse. “And with the new addition.” I nod towards Max. He smiles back. “I haven’t felt like this since… Since...” Memories of Mom and Dad flash through my mind.

“Ember? Are you alright?” Spark waved a hand in front of my face.

“Huh?” I blink a few times. Apparently I was out in space.

Huh… I rarely ever do that.

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Just remembered some, good times.” I smile. “C’mon Max. Lets introduce ya to the rest of the town.”

“Oh! Let’s! I have been curious about these ‘ponies’.” He looked to Chrysi. “You’re the changeling, Chrysanthemum, correct?” The nug-pony nodded. “Interesting...” He paused. Probably storing info for later analysis.

Fuck me. I made him inquisitive. God damnit…

“Let’s go.” Max said as he turned to me. A bright little fucking smile on his face

*I did not make it so he could smile. How the ever-loving hell is he smiling!?*

-It’s magic Ember. It’s that fucking magic and it’s physics-warping abilities.-

“Alright, I got everything I need.” A colt muttered to himself. “There’s no way in tartarus that bucking bug will get me now.” With a confident smile, the colt left his home.

“Sweetie!” That is, he would have, if his mother didn’t stop him. “Where are you going?” The colt faced his mother. Her sweet, aged face almost making him stay home and care for her.

He mentally shook himself. He knew his mother could take care of herself, she’s just as capable as himself!

And besides, it’s not like that bug ever has a chance at him. He’ll kill it lickitey-split!

“I’m going out to see my friends mom. I’ll be back in a few hours.” The colt responded with an innocent smile. His mother beamed at him.

“Alright sweetie, just be sure to be back for dinner. You know how your father can get when you’re late.” The colt rolled his eyes.

“I know mom. I’ll be back before then.” The colt said as he left his home. Possibly for the last time.

“Learned a lot today Max?” I ask my robotic friend.

“Yes! So much!” He cheered. “Though, the ponies themselves are pretty fascinating. Only three subraces?”

“Well, technically there are four; alicorns. THey have both wings and a horn. But they’re pretty rare. You remember Twilight?”

“Ooooooooh.” He said. “I didn't her wings.” I snicker.

“Yeah, her wings are sort of hard to stop at first glance.”

“Oh… But, still! Only three subraces? That’s few compared to humans.”

“Eh.” I shrug. “For us, it’s more aesthetic than anything. We still are regular humans, just with different looks...” And then it hits me; shouldn’t he already know this? I installed that wireless receiver. “But, shouldn’t you already know about this?”

“I do.” He said. “But I still like asking questions I know the answer to.” I smile.

“Alright. Just don’t tell others that. Might annoy them.”

“Like how I am bothering you?”

“Exactly.” I nod. “But save it for tomorrow. Right now, I would like to get some sleep.”

“But, it’s only eleven.”

“I may be just like you on the inside. But I still have human needs.” He shrugs and follows me.

“Whatever you say, father.” I huff out a tired laugh.

“Ha, ha. Let’s go home before I get an aneurysm.”

“But, aren’t you-” I cut Max off by teleporting home. “Immune to human ailments?”

“Some, not all. I think.” I ponder it for about half a second. “Whatever. I’m going to bed.”

The colt is almost at his destination. All he has to do is sneak off the train and look for the house at the edge of the town that bug lives in.

*Aaand just blend in, please work please work please work…* The colt perfectly blended into the crowd as the ponies departed the train after it came to a stop. Somehow, he avoided the gaze of the conductor.

*Alright, all I need to do now is find that bug’s home. Shouldn’t be so hard…* It was late evening. The moon was peeking over the horizon, and the sun was dipping over the distant mountains.

~Hey, Ember I heard something come from upstairs.~

“Ugh… what?” I groggily respond. As much as I could being woken up in the wee hours in the morning.

~Someone’s in the house. I hear a bump.~ That little piece of info acted like an instant Five-hour Energy straight to the jugular.

“Fuck me.” Someone’s going to die this morning.

Without a care in the world, I get off my bed, trudge up the stairs, and throw the door open. Ruby said the noise came from the living room, so I went there and found a peculiar sight.

There was a pony, my dogs had him in a corner, and where growling pretty viciously at him. And he looked like he was about to shit himself.

“Uuuuuuhm...”

-I don’t think any of us were expecting this.-

*Ditto*

~Agreed.~