MLP: Hybridization Studies

"Day 2 of study. We have our first sign of individual thinking. A bit late for that due to development being more than rapid, so it's possible the mental state of this artificial insectoid creature might be a bit slower than others. When it comes to letting it roam around the lab, I had to give it restrictions as I could not let it damage or taint any of the other samples with accidental physical contact. My assistant, a curious dragon named Skorab,

The camera is turned towards a tall, thin, but still very well built dragon, clad in silver scales with smoothed over red fins on his body, and a noticeable lack of wings, and a lab coat with goggles. the dragon sneered and waved pitifully at the camera before returning to work on something else.

has been working with me constantly to help provide more samples of dragon DNA, generously donated from his own body, as a scale can comprise of nearly 1/12th of pure Draconic DNA. With these samples, I'll be sure to properly introduce these soon-to-be Draconic hybrids to both of their kinds, Dragon and whatever I merge with it. Though some meticulous planning has already determine the several starter hybrids I have in mind will involve getting creative... in the most logical way possible. While my dragon assistant helps familiarize and teach the Changeling, I'm going to resume work on non-sapient or non-sentient hybrids, as to play god, on advanced mode."

The camera feed cuts to the sound of whirring machinery, and the sound of laughter, maniacal laughter. A bright light shines in the corner of the screen, and the sound of a squelch can be heard as something has Stable excited, as the camera rose to his face, his smile was normal, but the look in his eye was anything but that.

"Behold, my most genius work yet. By focusing in on the avian DNA that makes a Phoenix so bird-like, while also carrying its recessive genes for pyrokinetic ignition, and merging that with the DNA of a Gryphon, I have made the first ever known, Phosgryph."

The camera turns to a quadropedic animal. It's talons were white, burning the tough rocky ground beneath it, it's back paws were singing away at the fluids it was created from. It's brown feathers had noticeable streaks and wispy patterns in oranges and reds. It's eyes were as gray as ashes, the tips on its head, burning with a yellow and blue flame. The tail on its flank had now a blistering red flame at the end of it. It's beak was comparable to one of a parrot's, but that seems to be due to the stunted lack of physical variety in the gryphons of now.

"I'm rather impressed by how beautiful it looks. It carries over traits of both species. The mammalian backside, the avian front, and it adapts the pyrokinetic ignition from the Phoenix. I find it most difficult to try and re-introduce this hybrid to the gryphons, but it'll be much more difficult to introduce it to the phoenixes that its fire magicks came from. Now I have to be extremely wary, Gryphons are known to be aggressive, and can be a bit much... that Gilda the gryphon is an obvious example... good thing these samples don't retain memories or consciousness, otherwise, I feel bad for the gryphons who cross this hybrid."

Luna and Amethistle, were incredibly impressed by these hybridizations, but Celestia, who was now watching from the doorway, was just more distraught if anything. She wondered why her pet Phoenix was missing, and I guess this explains it. Celestia would've had half a mind to go down to that abandoned lab and banish this scientist to the sun, moon, or even one of the most out of reach stars to teach him a lesson... if it wasn't, well, abandoned... and there was no sign of anypony or any creature at all, so that raised a question in Celestia's already distraught mind. What happened to this unicorn, what was his fate after this horrendous crime against everything natural of a project?

The camera focused on the Phosgryph, it wandered around, observing the room, and then shifting its eyes towards its creator. The Phosgryph growled as a black smoke escaped its beak, but soon calmed down as it suddenly wandered into the testing chamber. All the while, surprising the scientist unicorn a fair bit.

"Immediate update... I think the Phosgryph has something most gryphons aren't known for... patience. Interesting, I'll have to study this further. In the mean time, I'll check if the Changeling is properly educated from time to time, and we'll see how they react to ponies, besides myself, of course." *CRASH* "Stable, the changeling's looking a bit yellow in the face... is that normal?" "Absolutely not! Get it to the medical ward, I'm looking into this. And WHY IS THERE BROKEN GLASS EVERYWHERE!"

The video ends as the tape slides out of the VHS, leaving Amethistle, and both of the princesses wondering what just became of that changeling. Of course, Amethistle turned to the Moon princess, and asked simply.

"Next Tape, your highness?" She asked. Luna nodded, still taking in the information as she thought about everything she just witnessed on the tape. the 4th video played, and it showed the Changeling, on life support, the artificial love being fed to the creature through a thin tube as it rested. The princesses, and Amethistle, were understandably shocked. The Changeling's dark slick green face was a pale yellow, gurgling as it looked dazed, and ill.

"Minor setback: Changeling: Sick. the creature had consumed some artificial love before, but its body is starting to refuse to use natural love as energy for the creature, as natural love seems to act more as a poison, or in this insectoid's case, a pesticide. This may be a genetic hinderance in both counterparts of changelings, reformed and not. It's possible this changeling can't take love the natural way, so in order to properly consume it, it has to be artificial. That's a major mental note I'll have to keep in mind if the plan to send it to PonyVille is still viable. Just have to remind it to consume artificial love, and not natural love... if it lives long enough for that to happen."

The camera cuts to the stallion and the dragon, Skorab, having a conversation.

"Skorab, if you're concerned with my well-being, then don't. It's like you told me when we agreed to work together on this. Dragons don't do friends. We are work colleagues, and nothing more. And as for my mental state, I underestimated the Phosgryph's physical strength, but it definitely could've sunk a claw or two into my head, if given the chance." "Says the unicorn who can't do anything on his own. It's because of your royal highnesses, we got the perfect project to bring every creature together, by exploring the benefits, the pros of what could happen if we just come together. And yeah, I did say dragons don't do friends, but that little purple dragon with the princess of friendship is no ordinary dragon, and I for one, am tired of being labeled as a dumb firebreathing brute. So what's say you, you wanna give this friendship thing a shot, or do you want to perish alone, with only your work to keep you company?"

It seemed like things were getting friendly between these two workers, up until that last bit by Skorab. The video ends there, and there's 6 more tapes in the first stack. And there were 3 stacks of 10 tapes in total.

"One more tape for now. I need to gather this tape's information and gather my thoughts." Luna stated to Amethistle. The pegasus nodded, putting in the 5th tape, which started off in a way unlike the first 4. In the start of the video, it was a small and quiet scene of Stable and Skorab taking a break, playing paper hoofball, and discussing something that got a genuine laugh out of the both of them, despite the audio being missing. The footage cuts to the Phosgryph, codenamed Solara, who was reading the latest Daring Do book, and not much would happen in the first few minutes till the footage cut to the slowly recovering Changeling, now codenamed Morphius. The face was less yellow, and he could get up more at most of the time. But the strangest thing was what didn't seem to happen at all.

The video ended abruptly, escaping the VHS as Amethistle looked towards Luna, and seemed a bit surprised by something that caused the pegasus to shiver. Luna, who wasn't feeling anything abnormal about her, looked at herself in a mirror, still seeing the same Luna that woke up in the middle of the night for an urgent summons. Amethistle decided to then call it a night and left the tapes in the room, while Celestia and Luna returned to their rooms. As Celestia went to sleep, Luna continued her duty to watch over the dreams of many, even as she felt an unexpected nip in the air.