The puddle began to grow as more coolant splattered onto the floor. Forth removed her hoof from the network of tubes and connectors, retracting her auxiliary blade as she did so. For a moment she just watched the blue-green fluid pouring from the hose, sputtering and quietly boiling away as it fell to the floor and collected around Morgana’s body.

Morgana lay still, almost as though she were dead, or perhaps sleeping. She appeared peaceful, save for a slight quiver of her face. Forth wondered if she knew the cooling line to her processors had been cut.

Forth took a quick step back, her hoofsteps echoing in the otherwise empty room. She paused for a moment, looking across the room at the other Twilight. She looked just as peaceful as Morgana, as though she were sleeping- -or dead. For all Forth knew, she already was.

With a quick motion, Forth raised her right hoof. She pointed it so that it was in line with Morgana’s central processor array and memory core system. The plating around her limb split, revealing the mechanisms and numerous weapons beneath.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps from behind her. She quickly retracted the plating on her hoof and took several steps back. Just as she stopped moving, a shadow came around a nearby door and Elrod stepped into the room, holding a pair of glasses. Holding and carrying the drinks apparently took a great deal of concentration, because he was moving slowly and did not look up from them.

He stopped in front of Forth, and then looked down at her. She smiled up at him, and he smiled also.

“Where did you go?” asked Forth. “Morgana told us not to leave.”

“I didn’t. This place is a complex. I went down to one of the other levels.”

“To steal things?”

“Partially, yes. But then I found a manufacturing suite. A really expensive one. I made drinks.”

“You intend to drink two of them?”

“No, of course not.” Elrod sat down on the step to the uplink platform and extended a hand. “I made one for you.”

Forth looked at it in surprise. “For…me?”

“Of course. Take it.”

Forth did so. Looking at it, she could tell that it was some sort of mixture of organic solvents. What surprised her, though, was that there was a tiny umbrella perched in one corner.

“What is this?” she asked, pointing to the decoration.

“Oh. I made that for you. I know how much you like the little umbrellas.”

Forth looked back at the umbrella, somewhat taken aback by the gesture. If she had possessed more advanced skin, she wondered if she would be blushing.

“What did you get?”

“Mixed nitrates and potassium salts.” Elrod took a sip from the glass he was holding.

“And that tastes good to you?”

Elrod looked to her. “No. Of course not. I don’t have a sense of taste.”

“Neither do I.” Forth took a sip from her own glass. It, like everything, tasted like nothing.

They sat in silence for several minutes, sipping their drinks. Elrod did not seem to notice the sound of dripping coolant behind him, or he did not care. The only other sound was the low hum of the equipment.

“Does it bother you?” asked Elrod, suddenly breaking the silence.

“The drink? No. And I am very grateful for the little umbrella.”

“No, not that. Her.” He pointed at Morgana. “I mean, that she didn’t ask you to go in there with her.”

Forth shook her head. “I would not be of much use. My processing power is very limited. There is no way I would be able to keep up in that world.” She looked up from her drink and at Elrod. His small, sightless eyes turned to her. “Does it bother you? That you can’t go help her?”

“Not that much.” Elrod took a sip of his drink. “Although I’ve always wondered what’s in there. Why humans find it so interesting. But it’s all moot anyway. I don’t have cybernetics. And I’m pretty sure I don’t even have a nervous system.”

Forth looked back at Morgana. “I wonder too, sometimes. But my body was not built for that. It was built to carry weapons, and to kill infidels.”

“Hmm.”

Forth looked up at Elrod. “What does that mean?”

“A thought just occurred to me. I think we’re both similar. Maybe that’s why I like you more than the others.”

Forth once again wondered if she would have blushed, had she been able. “You were not made to slaughter infidels.”

“No. But that’s not what I mean. You and me, we were both manufactured for a specific purpose. I was made by humans. Grown from a tiny piece of living tissue in a tank. I guess it’s not that different from how humans are manufactured, but Monsanto made me for a reason. The instant I came out I was put to work on soybean genetics.”

“I didn’t realize that.”

“What about you?”

Forth paused for a moment, and then turned away. She looked at a wall. “You already know. I was built in a factory. My Genesis was controlled by humans. They customized it so I could fit on a smaller processor and leave room for more guns. I think that’s why they used Blossomforth for the model. She was a background character in the show. We don’t have strong personalities like the Mane Six do.”

“Well, from the way Morgana talks about it, that’s a good thing.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

“She has to be Twilight Sparkle. At least a little bit. But you get to be you.” Forth suddenly felt sad as she realized that she desperately wished that that were the case. “I guess that’s another way we’re similar,” continued Elrod. “I don’t do genetics anymore. I don’t work for Monsanto. And you’re not out in the war. You’re here.”

“So?”

“So we were both made for a purpose, but we don’t do it anymore.”

Forth laughed. “That’s kind of funny.” Elrod did not laugh. Forth began to grow concerned. “Why are you not laughing? Is it not as funny as I think it is?”

“It might be. I don’t know. I can’t tell if it’s funny or horribly sad.”

“It’s not sad!” cried Forth, angrily. Elrod seemed somewhat surprised, but Forth regained her composure quickly. “I mean, it’s good thing,” she said, softly. “That you can do whatever you want.”

“So can you.”

Forth sighed. It was something she very rarely did. “Why are we even here, Elrod?” she asked.

“Because the doors are locked. Or is this something more metaphysical?”

“I don’t know. But what if we could just leave? If all of this would go away…”

Elrod thought for a moment. “Then we could live normal lives, I guess. Is that what you want?”

“It’s what you want, isn’t it?”

Elrod nodded. “I was very happy as a scrapper. A nobody. No one trying to kill me, no need for fame. Obscure. Quiet.”

“It sounds nice,” admitted Forth.

“It was. But not ideal. I don’t know how to describe it. I guess agromorphs are supposed to be social creatures. At Monsanto, I was always surrounded by my brothers and sisters. Then I was alone. I guess I got used to it. Now I’m not sure if that was the best thing.”

“You don’t want to be alone.”

Elrod shrugged. “I guess that’s why I haven’t left yet. Maybe I prefer to have friends.” He reached out his hand and patted Forth’s head. “I like you. I like Morgana, but less. New Twilight is okay too.”

“I like you too,” said Forth. “You make me feel like an actual pony.”

“But you are an actual pony.”

“Maybe,” said Forth, turning away. “But only when I am doing something other than my intended purpose.”