1. [Video]

[brodakota]

[The video turns on to reveal North, still in his armour at one of the restaurants. There's a red and blue hologram floating by his head.]

I think it's on, North.

Huh? Oh yeah, it is.

[He clears his throat]

Hi, I'm Agent North Dakota, most people just call me North, and this is my partner, Theta.

Hello.

We've been here for a while, and I was just wondering if anyone else had come across a way home or a clue or anything? I'm starting to get the feeling that I should be getting back home, fun as this place is.

[He pauses for a moment, thinking]

If not, anyone got a good name for a pricklemane?

Thanks.

[Theta ends the feed with a few fireworks, deciding to show off.]

Comments

[raisethemoon]

[Blink. Blink.]

Thou art...partnered with a spirit?

[brodakota]

Actually he's an A.I.

[He won't go into details about the fragment part.]

[raisethemoon]

...explain.

[brodakota]

[What's the best way to do this without going into confidential information.]

Well, AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. They're computer programs that are just as smart as humans, and capable of thinking like humans as well.

So Theta is my partner, and he helps me out with things I need to do.

[raisethemoon]

[See this look? This is the long, flat stare of a pony princess who probably needed to start with the basics of what a "computer" is.]

...he is an artificially created human, then? Simply without his own form?

[brodakota]

[He doesn't blame her. It's one of those things he gets and doesn't. He tries to pay attention in class, really he does.]

Something like that, but more like he's based off a human brain.

It's hard to explain.

I'm pretty sure this is my form though.

[raisethemoon]

Ah...we meant bodily form. But there are a few beings in Equestria who exist without such things. We suppose we understand well enough. [Really, it's only windigoes. But that's hardly a nice comparison.]

[brodakota]

Oh, right. Yeah, he's just a hologram. I suppose the closest body he's got is his chip...

[But he's reluctant to show that because that would mean pulling Theta. And he doesn't really want to deal with another spike of AI induced anxiety.]

[raisethemoon]

We see. Dost thou create thine fireworks in a similar manner?

[brodakota]

Yeah, I do. It's pretty easy.

[raisethemoon]

Is it fun?

[brodakota]

Yeah, it's a lot of fun. I can also make a skateboard

[And that's just going to come into existence.]

[raisethemoon]

Oh! We have seen the foals of Canterlot ride these!

We cannot conjure a board of skating. But we can do this! [She rears onto her hind legs, accompanied by several sudden bolts of lightning zapping down around her from the previously-clear skies.]

[brodakota]

Canterlot?

[Of course the lightening display prevents any further thought.]

That's really cool!

[raisethemoon]

Neigh, 'tis quite warm! Our magic simply keeps it from starting fires, unless we wish it to do so. [What is slang]

[brodakota]

No, I mean it's really neat that you can do that.

[raisethemoon]

Oh! Our thanks, then!

Forgive us...we are still not quite accustomed to newer ways of speaking.

[brodakota]

Fair enough. Do all ponies talk like that?

[raisethemoon]

...they did, once. Nowadays, they speak more like thyself.

[brodakota]

I guess modernization happens everywhere.

[raisethemoon]

It does, indeed.

[She looks a little saddened by this, but only the smallest bit; she's mostly come to terms with the idea. She's just glad he didn't ask where she'd been during this modernization.]