Tales of the "Good Doctor"

Tales of the good doctor
Patient: Subject 504

Thanks to the magic of next day airmail Dr.Softheart arrived the next day. Walking into the house she was directed to the sleeping doctor in his study. Waking up Dr.Cold saw the unicorn scientist looking over him, her fur was a shade of sky blue which was complimented by her navy mane and tail both cut to look as professional as possible. Cold haphazardly stood up to greet her "Nice to meet you doctor"

"Same to you" she responded

Setting a tape recorder on the table and activating it Dr.Cold spoke to his guest. "I hope you didn't mind the travel" said the doctor

"Not at all" Dr.Softheart responded "I'm used to it. Allow me to formally introduce myself, I am Dr.Softheart my PHD is in dragonology. I am currently employed by Alter Labs"

"Nice to meet you" responded Sand Runner.

"So tell me what you know about the hybrids" Cold asked

The scientist clears her thought than began her story "To get the obvious out of the way, yes we were working on a hybrid long before your foalhood. After years of failures and dealing with outdated equipment we managed to bond dragon and earth pony DNA, those were known as the Series 1 hybrids. After a half-year we contacted by Princes Celestia's science team the 'Royal Science Society' once they caught wind of our success and offered to help. We were fools for trusting them, there true intention was weaponization of our diplomatic research! We hoped that a being with a foot in both worlds would help pony-dragon relations. Although their equipment did what we couldn't, create hybrids the were able to fly or use magic. Those were the Series 2s. Things went down hill with the Series 3s, this new set were somehow angrier. Military grade psychological-manipulation turned them into killing machines, a kill team was sent to eliminate the Series 3 when they made there escape and cover the project by locking up those who failed to escape. My team helped those that we could in their escape, we're not sure where they are now but I pray for their safety"

"Interesting for you to say that" The doctor said pouring a glass of Appeloosan whiskey "I found one of those hybrids belonging to a local. Although he's at least adolescent in age the hybrid's stuck in toddler stage, and his mind is far beyond that state. Not to mention he has no clue about the program, can I offer you drink"

She nodded promoting him to pour a second glass. "Thank you"

"No problem" the doctor continued "What do you want to do with him?"

"If he's safe then nothing at all, but if you're looking for something to interrogate there is a female winged hybrid locked up in Foalsome prison. You should be able to take a train there and be back in 24 hours" the scientist finished

Just then part of the vision from the potion made sense "The Half-Bloods are the key"

"Somethings tells me that we should look more into this, it's a half-day train ride anyway I can use that time to read a few spell books" Cold Hooves finished grabbing his saddle bags and running out the door.

"Want an interesting fellow" stated Dr.Softheart

The long train ride to the prison gave Dr.Cold the time he needed to review the events that have transpired in his head up until this point, but before he could think of anything useful the train pulled into his stop. After a quick stroll the doctor arrived at the prison's gate "Halt" shouted one of the guards "Speak your piece, why are you hear"

Cold smiled "I am Dr.Cold Hooves former spec-ops Medical Officer for the royal army, I demand access to a prisoner named 504"

Hearing Cold's rank the guards straightened up and showed him to the basement. The door to the cell he wanted resembled a vault door, save for the air-holes. "Open it" Dr.Cold ordered

Opening the cell door caused the creature inside to awake. She stood a bit shorter than Big Macintosh, her black scales glistening in the light along with the purple on her under-belly and wing membrane. "504 reporting" she stated saluting

The doctor sighed "I didn't come here to retrieve you for armed services, I just need some information on the hybrid program"

The she-dragon let out a sigh of relief and slouched a bit "What do you need to know?"

"Interesting name, where'd you get it?" he asked

"We were all given a random number, it doesn't mean anything" she responded

"Also I was just wondering about the escape, and where you planed on going" Dr.Cold added

The dragon shed a small tear having to bring up that fateful night and told her story.

The escape plan started just as expected, the Series 3 hybrids began their training. A simple live fire target practice, 504 decided to blow the brains out of one of the handlers. Alarms went off as the 24 others made for the main hallway. "338 take your team and gather the eggs, 212, 990, and 487, go release the others" she barked out. Up ahead she saw a group of 5 unicorn guards preparing there spells, 504 leaped onto the first one and tore most of the guard's throat out. Jumping onto another she removed that guard's entire head and beat a third to death with it, causing the others to flee. Continuing the sprint down the hall her pack, joined by the others met up at the main door leading to freedom. The combined fire-breath from 25 dragons melted the iron door and opening a path to freedom.

Once they were outside under the cover of night 504 issued her final orders "Just as planned, meet in the Zebra'ha desert!". Just then the kill team caught up with them, while most of them got away 504 witnessed the brutal execution of her friends overwhelmed by spellpower and stun-rods. The 5 that couldn't get away and surrendered were spared and dragged back along with 10 dead members of the Series 3 hybrids.

"Why did you escape?" asked Dr.Cold

This prompted rage from the dragoness "We were tortured, sterilized, experimented on, and for what, science, war, some sick satisfaction, we had to get out of there"

Cold gave a sympathetic smile "Tell you what, help me out with something and I'll get you out of here""

504 squealed with glee "Thank you greatly, what do you need?"

"Back at my home town a hybrid living there has no clue about the program, fill him in on it and that's it"

She agreed, after unexpected flight home the pair returned Ponyvile.

Walking though town the pair were engaged in conversation "I'm surprised we're not attracting more attention, never-the-less we must get back to my home there is someone I want you to meet" said Cold walking through town, dragon in tow.

The route home took the two through the park. Out of the new sights for 504 something caught her eye, Mrs.Cake was out with her twins causing the dragon to stop and stare. "look at them, so happy, so care free" she thought to herself placing a claw on her lower abdomen, eyes watering up. Clearing her thoughts she caught up to the doctor before he noticed anything.

"Welcome back doctor, your son's out with his friends right now" Dr.Softheart greeted them. Cold Hooves and 504 fallowed her inside, the group all sat together in the living room having much to discus.

"What do we do now" Runner asked after 5 minutes of silence

"That's simple" said Cold "We convince Spike to join up with us, then we move forward as planned"

"How do we do that?" asked 504.

"Just convince Spike that everything he knows about himself is wrong" answered the doctor "Do what ever you see necessary, just don't turn him into a suicidal wreck" he finished and gave her the file and photo she would need.

"Fair enough" She responded while flying out the window. After flying around town she finally found her target, dropping out of the sky she confronted her target "Are you the one they call Spike?"

"Yes" the purple dragon responded nervously

"Good. I'm 504, pleasure to meet you. I'm what you've been looking for all these years"

Spike was getting confused and a little confused "And that is?"

504 smiled "The answer to the question you've been asking yourself for what seems like too damn long".

"Who am I?" he responded.

"Have a seat" she said directing him to a nearby bench. "So where do you want me to start?".

"From the beginning" he said nervously.

"You're not a dragon" 504 said.

"W-What?" Spike could not believe it, he felt his heart sink as his mind was blown

"You're a dragon pony-hybrid created long before you're hatching, Twilight Sparkle just happened to have only activated you within the last 2 decades. Thats why you look like a toddler rather than a common adolescent of your species, a bit of magic should fix that right up" 504 continued

Spike sighed at this information "So I'm just a freak of science, new low. Explains a lot really".

504 could easily notice the tears in his eyes. "It's not that bad, trust me we're better than your common dragon"

"But wait you'er wrong, on my birthday greed turned me into a giant. That must mean I'm normal" he said foolish in denial

"I looked into that, sapphire messes with our body chemistry stay away from it" she said shooting his hopes down.

"Well, at least this explains my attraction to Rarity. Thanks for telling me this" he said with a mixture of joy and sorrow in his voice. He hugged 504. "So who do I talk to about fixing my appearance to look older?" he asked with a bit of a better mood.

504 smiled "Fallow me" she said to him.

After receiving the spells needed to age normally Spike retuned home to Twilight looking like a proper adolescent hybrid, a bit taller than a common mare. Incidentally Dr.Softheart decided to spend a week's vacation in Ponyvile. 504 decided to gather supplies needed to survive in the desert and left to search for the other hybrids that night, although Spike was offered to go with 504 but he passed knowing his place

"Spike what in Celestia's name happened to you?" Twilight shouted with concern. After being informed about the Hybrid Program Twilight was in shock. "That sounds horrible, I'm sorry the answer to your big question was... well... that"

Spike "I know. Did you finish reading that file Celestia gave you"

Twilight Sparkle nodded "Yes, what was interesting was why Cold Hooves was discharged despite the fact he was already an insane wreck after his promotion. Apparently Princess Celestia knew something was off and decided to wait until it was post-war to get rid of him. Still something just seems off about her report"

After discussing the current state of affairs to two decided to resume there usual tasks.

Once night fell and Twilight was asleep Spike was out on the balcony, thinking about the most interesting day of his life. "Today Twilight, tomorrow Rarity" he said smiling