H.A.R.M.O.N.Y

The next morning, we find Twilight and Fluttershy in Twilight's lab, with the former deactivating the force-field around subject 76642's stasis pod while the latter watched.

"Are you sure it's okay for me to do this?" Fluttershy asked.

"If I didn't, I wouldn't of asked you to do so." Twilight replied, "Look, considering what happened yesterday, subject 76642's might have been crippled by the dark chaos energy infusion and he would be deemed useless as a test subject if that were the case. That's why I need you enter his mind and see if he's mentally stable or not."

"I'll try my best." Fluttershy said before asking, "How long do you want me to do this?"

"For as long as you think is necessary." Twilight responded, "Anyway, I'm going to run some scans on subject 76642. While the medical team deemed him completely normal, I'm going stay on the safe side do an analysis on him myself, just to make sure that there wasn't anything they may have missed."

"If you say so." Fluttershy said before pulling a nearby chair in front of the stasis pod and sat on it, "And if you don't mind me asking, what's subject 76642's real name."

"That's something I don't know myself." Twilight said as she began running scans on a nearby computer, "In fact, nobody, not even the lead director, knows the names of all the subjects. And considering all the things they go through, it's better that we didn't, just so we don't end up connecting with them on a personal level."

While not liking the answer, Fluttershy felt that Twilight kinda had a point, despite how it goes against her own morals.

Shaking those thoughts away, Fluttershy closed her eyes and began concentrating. After a moment of this, she opened her eyes again, only for them to be glowing white.

Once again finding herself in a dark void, Fluttershy wasted no time and began wondering around, hoping that she could find subject 76642.

As she was about to call out, Fluttershy heard a voice say, "I see that you came back. Where you asked to come here, or did you come here on your own terms?"

Deciding to not lie, Fluttershy replied, "While I was asked to come here, I was planning to do so anyway, considering what happened to you yesterday, that is."

"I see that you've given me an honest answer, can't remember the last time I've had one of those." Subject 76642 said.

"What do you mean by that?" Fluttershy asked.

"That's not important." Subject 76642 said before bluntly adding, "Now that you know I'm fine, you could leave."

"Actually, I was hoping that we could talk to each other for a while." Fluttershy said, "And that you could answer some questions for me."

Subject 76642 remained silent for a moment before saying, "Fine," and appearing in front of Fluttershy (but was facing away from her and had his arms crossed, along with his appearance matching how it looked outside his mind), "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Smiling at subject 76642's cooperation, Fluttershy replied, "Well for starters, I would like to know your name."

"You already know it." Subject 76642 said bluntly, "The researchers you were with yesterday told you my name."

"I meant your real name." Fluttershy clarified.

Upon hearing that, subject 76642 tensed up for a moment before replying, "Sorry, but that's something I plan on keeping to myself."

"But it would make addressing you much easier." Fluttershy insisted.

"Just drop it." Subject 76642 said, a mixture of anger and annoyance in his voice.

"But-" Fluttershy tried to say.

"I SAID DROP IT!!!" Subject 76642 yelled angrily, causing the black void to shake at the power of his voice.

Feeling that she may have pushed a little too far, Fluttershy in a slightly upset tone, "I'm sorry."

"No, I should be the one apologizing." Subject 76642 said before hesitating for a moment, "So much has been taken away from me already, I simply want to have something that I could keep to myself that I could use as a beacon of hope that'll help me believe that my life could change for the better one day."

While understanding it might be a sensitive topic, Fluttershy hesitantly asked, "What do you mean? You did volunteer to undergo all the chaos infusions, didn't you?"

Instead of answering the questions, subject 76642 replied with a question of his own, "How long have you worked in H.A.R.M.O.N.Y?"

While confused about the question, Fluttershy replied, "This is my second day."

After hearing Fluttershy's response, subject 76642 let out a humf before saying, "That means you don't know."

"Don't know what, exactly?" Fluttershy asked.

"It's better if I didn't tell you, for your sake." Subject 76642 said before changing the topic,"Now, is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?"

Although she had questions about what he meant, Fluttershy calmly replied, "Of course."

Meanwhile in Twilight's lab, said mare was looking over the scans of subject 76642's body when she heard footsteps approaching her.

Turning towards the source, Twilight saw that it was Starlight.

"Starlight, what brings you here?" Twilight asked.

"I just arrived and as I was making my towards my lab, I figured that I would check up on you and subject 76642." Starlight responded, "Speaking of which, how is he anyway?"

Motioning towards her computer, Twilight replied, "I took some scans on subject 76642's body and found what the medical team said was accurate, the only thing that changed about him was the fact that his quills became sharper and that he grew more quills on his body. While that itself isn't too interesting, I find what happened yesterday as the complete opposite."

"What do you mean?" Starlight asked.

"Remember when subject 76642 was trashing around while he was being infused with dark chaos energy?" Twilight asked, earning a nod from Starlight, "Well, one thing that caught my attention was that he was able to destroy some of the machines in the testing room, and you know fully well that those machines were made to withstand our strongest subjects when they are infused with chaos energy."

"Now that I think about it, that is fascinating." Starlight said, "But what exactly are you trying to say?"

"What I'm saying is that dark chaos energy gave him a stronger boost in strength that normal chaos energy." Twilight responded, "We always thought that dark chaos energy was just as powerful as normal chaos energy, but it would seem that we were wrong."

"Even so, considering that dark chaos energy is made when subjects become aggressive after being infused with chaos energy, it's safe to say that everyone would cautious about that stuff." Starlight said before nothing that Twilight appeared to be deep in her own thought, "I know that look, what are you planning now?"

"First, I what to know if you can help me with something." Twilight said

"Well, sure." Starlight said, "What is it you need help with?"

"All I'll say is that I need to call the lead director and ask if he could have a few things arranged for me." Twilight replied, having a confident smirk on her face, "We're about to do something that no scientist in H.A.R.M.O.N.Y has ever done before."

Back inside subject 76642's mind, the subject in question and Fluttershy continued their conversation.

While did exchange information about themselves to each other, Fluttershy was doing most of the talking since subject 76642 would refuse to answer some of her questions.

Deciding to take a different approach, Fluttershy began to see what subject 76642 likes.

"What's your favorite food?" Fluttershy asked.

"Chilldogs." Subject 76642 answered simply.

"Favorite hobby?"

"Running."

"Favorite instrument?"

"Guitar."

"Favorite outdoor location?"

Upon hearing that, subject 76642 tensed a little, having been taken completely off guard by the question.

"I'm sorry if that's a sensitive topic." Fluttershy apologized, noticing subject 76642's discomfort.

"No, it's fine." Subject 76642's insisted, "It's just... it's been a very long time since I last been outside."

"Too nervous to go outside?" Fluttershy asked.

"No, that's not it." Subject 76642 responded.

"Then why haven't you gone outside?" Fluttershy asked, becoming concerned.

"It's best if I don't tell you." Subject 76642's said.

"Well, when was the last time you've been outside?" Fluttershy asked.

"Years." Subject 76642 replied, with a small bit of sadness (so little it's hard to notice) in his voice.

"I see." Fluttershy said, not sure what to say after that.

Noticing Fluttershy's discomfort, subject 76642 hesitantly said, "My favorite outside location is a place called green hill zone."

"I've never heard of that place." Fluttershy said, "Can you tell me where it is and what it's like?"

Subject 76642 took what sounded like a sigh of nostalgia before saying, "Green hill zone is located on south island, as for what it's like, paradise is the only thing that comes to my mind. Lots of large, green fields with plenty of space to run in, beautiful blue lakes, large waterfall vistas, palm trees, flora in various colors, and the list goes on." Subject 76642 then let out a depressed sigh before murmuring to himself, "If only I could go there again."

"What was that?" Fluttershy asked, hearing the mumer, but wasn't able to understand what he said.

"It's nothing." Subject 76642 said before asking, "If there anything else you would like to know?"

Fluttershy thought about it for a moment before replying, "No, I think I that's it."

"I suppose you'll be leaving now?" Subject 76642 asked."

"Of course." Fluttershy responded.

Subject 76642 remained silent for a moment before saying, "I suppose I'll be seeing you once it's time for my testing."

Fluttershy nodded before replying, "Yes, I'll see you then."

With that said, Fluttershy closed her eyes and began concentrating.

Before she could leave however, subject 76642 suddenly said, "Wait."

Opening her eyes, Fluttershy asked, "What is it?"

Staying silent for a moment (almost as I he was reconsidering something), Subject 76642 finally said, "It's Sonic."

"What?" Fluttershy asked, confused by subject 76642's words.

"You asked what my name was, and my name is Sonic, Sonic the hedgehog." Subject 76642 clarified.

Upon hearing this, Fluttershy smiled before saying, "It's nice to meet you, Sonic."

Sonic turned towards Fluttershy (revealing a small smile on his face as he did so), before saying, "I trust that you'll keep all the information I told you to yourself."

Fluttershy nodded before replying, "I will."

"Good to hear." Sonic said before adding, "It would be best if you leave now, wouldn't want to keep Twilight waiting."

Fluttershy nodded in understanding before closing her eyes and began to concentrate. A moment later, she began to glow white before the glow illuminated the dark void.

The glowing in Fluttershy's eyes began to fade away before she blinked (her eyes becoming normal once they opened again).

"How did it go?" a voice asked.

Turning towards the source, Fluttershy saw Twilight and Starlight next to her.

"It went along great." Fluttershy responded as she stood up from the chair she was sitting on, "How long have I been out?"

"For about an hour now." Twilight replied before a serious expression formed on Twilight's face, "Now, how's subject 76642's mental state?"

"It's completely normal." Fluttershy said, "I only recommend waiting until tomorrow for any testing you want to do on him, just to be safe."

"Speaking of testing, I already have something in mind." Twilight said, "I only need to wait for the lead director to tell me when he'll have what I requested ready."

"You still haven't told me what we're going to do." Starlight said, "I can't exactly help you do something that no other scientist had ever done in H.A.R.M.O.N.Y if I don't know what that something is."

Before Twilight could respond, a phone on Twilight's desk began to ring, prompting the mare to go and answer it."

"Hello?" Twilight asked once she picked the phone up, "...Doctor! I didn't expect you to call so soon! ...Yes. ...By tomorrow? ...That's perfect! Thank you sir! I'll try not to disappoint!"

With that, Twilight put the phone done, ending the call.

"Who was that?" Fluttershy asked.

"It was the lead director." Twilight responded, "While you were inside subject 76642's mind, I spoke with him and asked if he could have some things arranged for me, and he just called and said that they'll be ready by tomorrow."

"While that's great to hear, can you know explain what exactly you want to do?" Starlight asked, clearly tired of waiting for a response.

"I'll tell you tomorrow." Twilight said as she began to make her way out of her lab.

"Wait a minute!" Starlight exclaimed, "Why do I have to wait until tomorrow?!"

Upon hearing that, Twilight turned around with a smirk on her face before replying with confidence in her voice, "Let's just say that this experiment could lead to the biggest breakthrough H.A.R.M.O.N.Y has ever seen."

With that said, Twilight exited the lab, prompting Starlight and Fluttershy to exit as well.

'I've got a bad feeling about this.' Starlight thought to herself as she and Fluttershy exited the room.

'Hopefully subject 76- I mean Sonic isn't harmed by whatever experiment Twilight has planned for him.' Fluttershy thought to herself, clearly concerned about the mobian hedgehog's wellbeing.