Subject #126by Neon VenueChaptersPrologueThe GrindCelestia's NoticeScorpius IncidentPrologueA/N: Welcome one, welcome all. This is my first writing that I actually have an end to, and I'm hoping that it will come out the way that I want it to. Leave a comment, rate, do whatever it is readers do. Read, I guess. Thanks! +++< >Year: 1001 ANM +++< "Alright Rainbow, thanks for the help! I'll see you soon!" Rainbow sped off into the sky as her librarian friend waved her goodbye. She had been helping (more like forced to help) Twilight take care of her assistant Spike, who had come down with a case of the dragon flu. It involved cleaning up lots of thrown-up gems and an awkward moment with a thermometer... Rainbow Dash shook her to get the strange thought out of her mind. She just wanted to sleep. Any cloud would do. But, her being Rainbow Dash and all, it was just her luck that Cloudsdale had a cloudless sky scheduled for today. Rainbow Dash sighed as she alighted the cloud base of her home. She gently pushed open the door and walked inside, scanning her living room as she entered. Rainbow spotted something hidden under the drawer stand she had next to the door. A small paper triangle peaked out from underneath the stand, it's paper-white standing out against the floor's almost pearlescent white. Rainbow reached down, curious to see what the foreign object was doing in her home, and grabbed it. The paper slid out from underneath the drawer stand and into full view. It was an envelope, it's faded white surface showing it's age. A name was written on it's surface. Rainie. Rainbow immediately remembered and pulled it into her chest, her eyes leaving the letter to stare off into space. She backed up aimlessly, falling onto her couch, it's plush surface helping to calm her down some. How could I have forgotten... It's been so long, how could I FORGET?! Rainbow Dash stared the envelope with her name on it, tears coming to the rims of her eyes. She wiped them away with a hoof and smiled sadly. Nopony even calls me that... She gingerly opened the envelope and unfurled the letter inside. Rainbow Dash began reading it. My daughter Rainie, I'm sorry...I'm just so sorry. I'm sorry you will never get to grow up with me and your mom. I'm sorry I have to do this to you. I wish I could stop it, find some other way. I want to be there for you, to hold you when you have nightmares, to take care of you when you're sick, all the things a good dad should do. I wanted to teach you how to fly, I wanted to teach you how to soar... I know it's a stupid thing to think. A unicorn can't teach a pegasus how to fly. But I would have found a way, any way to be there and share those moments. Alas, I can't under the given circumstances. I can't tell you much, but it doesn't matter... As long as you're safe. So I'm sending you to Ponyville, to live in a house I provide and be provided for by me. At least I can have that. A good friend of mine, Rays, will check up on you to make sure you're doing okay and going to Cloudsdale Academy. If you're going to fly, you should only have the best instructors... I don't know when all of this is going to clear up, or when I can see you, but I just wasn't you to know that I will do everything in my power to be with you. I hope it will be sometime soon. I'm...I'm sorry about mommy. She won't be able to come with me. I'll explain everything when I see you. She loved you Rainie. She loved you so much. You look so much like her... I know you'll probably be mad at me once you learn to read and receive this. Everything will work out. I love you. Be strong, Daddy Rainbow could only make it halfway through the letter before she began sobbing. She just couldn't take it anymore. She'd been waiting so long. The crying wracked her whole body, but she didn't care. If anyone dared make fun of her for crying now, she would buck them right where it hurts. Rainbow set the letter down and held herself, and began softly singing to nopony in particular. Rainbow Dash sang the same song she had always sung when she felt bad. She learned it as a foal, but couldn't put her hoof on it. She just laid on the couch, holding herself and pouring her heart into the words. Her beautiful voice echoed off of the walls of her home, creating the perfect harmony to match the tune. All the lonely ponies, where do they all come from? All the lonely ponies, where do they all belong? Ah~, look at all the lonely ponies... Ah~, look at all the lonely ponies... The Grind"A fact is a simple statement that everyone believes. It is innocent, unless found guilty. A hypothesis is a novel suggestion that no one wants to believe. It is guilty, until found effective." -Edward Teller +++< >Year: 985 ANM +++< Eleanor Rigby, died in the church and was buried along with her name. Nopony came. Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt from his hooves as he trots from the grave. No pony was saved. All the lonely ponies, where do they all come from? All the lonely ponies, where do they all belong?~ Test Tube gently woke as the music drifted around the room. The A.I. immediately activated, turning on all the lights and shutting off the music once Test's brainwaves registered conscious. "Good morning, my liege. You have two appointments today. Would you like to schedule anything?" The rough whine of the A.I.'s female voice thrashed against Test's eardrums, causing his usual early-morning headache to smash it's being into the side of his head. "No, Symmetry, that will be all. Can you tone down your volume, though?" "As you wish." Symmetry's volume turned down to a more natural level. The lights dimmed as well. Obviously the A.I. had picked up on it's owner's displeasure and attempted to help. Why do A.I. have to seem so sentient? Test smiled at it's thoughtfulness as he climbed out of bed, throwing the blue covers wherever he pleased. They sat for a second before beginning to move, their shape realigning itself to the bed. It was so interesting how magnetism could be used to complete menial tasks nopony wanted to do, like making one's bed. Test chuckled at the sight, as it never ceased to amuse him. As Test trotted across the room, electric blue pulses emitting from his hooves and spreading out on the floor panels. He flicked his front hoof over the closet panels, the sensors recognizing his coat color and opening. Inside were all his personal belongings and supplies. Test ignored most of the other object, choosing to take his favorite goggles and lab coat. The goggles were some of the most advanced in the world, sporting heat sensors and night vision. The lenses were tinted the same color as his coat. Test snapped them over his eyes, covering their entirety. He always wore his goggles, even when he wasn't doing test or experiments. His bright, rose-colored eyes contrasted the rest of him so much that it often startled people. When he had joined the division, he always got comments on his eyes. He eventually got sick of it, and just decided to hide his eyes. Test threw on his lab coat, wrapping it around himself and pulling his I.D. card from the pocket. He hung it around his neck, and made his way to the door. Activating the keypad on the door with magic, he typed in his door code. "1114." Test smiled as he remembered that it was his birthday today. Twenty-two is a good age to have a steady job and a large savings account. The door slid open, leading into a long white hallway. Test stepped out and stood in front of his door as it slid closed behind him. He looked to the side, watching the rest of his fellow employees and co-workers step into the hall way and do the same as him. The door next to his and slid open. An older stallion stepped out from his room and turned his head to look at Test. "Hey, Upkeep." "Morning, Test. You stay up all night working on those darn P.M.D.'s again?" Upkeep spoke with a gruff tone, his mustache getting in the way of his words. "No, I think I got to bed at a reasonable time..." Test replied, looking at the ground and kicking a hoof in embarrassment. "And what time would that be?" "...four." Upkeep laughed loudly before shaking his head. "You're going to just collapse one day..." "What about you? You're always up doing... janitor stuff and-!" Test was interrupted as the ground underneath them began to move towards the double-doors at the end of the hallway. "Well, back to the grind." Upkeep sighed to himself. Upkeep and Test Tube passed through the double-doors and into the huge chamber behind them. Once they were a considerable distance from the door, the ground stopped moving. Test looked around at all the other ponies, some looking bored and others looking nervous. Test chuckled to himself and turned to Upkeep. "Well, I'll see you around. Gotta greet the mincemeat." Upkeep waved as he and four other people walked towards another door, heading for the supply area. He had been here for more than ten years, taking extreme care of the facility as the head janitor. Some people joke that he's had been there to witness it's opening. Those rumors were fabricated, of course, seeing how the facility had opened up almost twelve hundred years ago. Test Tube left his place amongst the employess and strode up to the front of the room. As he did, a podium had begun to rise out of the floor. Test made his way behind it once it had risen to it's full height. He cleared his throat and begun his weekly speech for the new test subjects. "Welcome, new employees! My name is Test Tube. I lead most of the projects for the Equestrian Warfare division here at the Canterlot Underground Research Facility. You have all been selected to become trials for a project we have been working on. Here is what we plan to create." At this time a large screen dropped from the ceiling and a projector faded to life. On the screen was a large vial filled with a viscous, rainbow-colored liquid. The serum seemed to glow off the screen. "This, my friends, is what rainbows are made of. Imagine taking twenty to thirty rainbows and forcing them into a jar. All of the energy of a rainbow at the tip of your hooves. What we attain to do here at C.U.R.F.E.W. is harness the power of concentrated rainbow and use it to protect Equestria. We have been studying for quite some time now, and we have learned that if we can get it successfully matched with a pony's DNA, it will grant them some of the abilities of Celestia herself!" Test laughed loudly, not to encourage the test subject, but more because he knew he wasn't lying. If they could really do this, it would in fact yield those exact results. The speed of the sun goddess, the stamina of an Alicorn, the magical strength of Celestia herself. But if they could do it, they would have already. Researching the same subject for more than three years proved that progress, for now, was at a stand still. The solution? Keep testing, obviously! "Now, all of you share a common trait. Your DNA resembles something close to what our calculation's say is a perfect match. We will test certain ways of introducing you to the rainbow, whether hidden or not. You all volunteered, so you know the risks." A bold pony in the back raised his hoof. "Yes?" The stallion stood up and and spoke loudly. "Why does everything seem so... futuristic here?" "Ah, good question, my good stallion! See, here at C.U.R.F.E.W., Celestia has provided us with the most technologically advanced- well, technologically advanced everything! We are eons ahead of current Equestrian society. Celestia has decided to keep them in the dark about these kinds of things, but it is for their own happiness. After all..." Test smiled softly at the crowd. "Ignorance is bliss. Now, all of you, please watch this orientation video and report to your respective experiment rooms." The video began to play, and Test walked away from the front of the crowd. Today was going to be a long day... +++< Upkeep was covered in blood, from head to hoof. They had only begun testing six hours ago, and yet somepony had already died. It wasn't a new record, but hey, he wasn't complaining. The pony had exploded suddenly. Literally exploded. The only thing that showed that there was a pony even there was the mutilated, torn up carcass in the center of the puddle. It's chest cavity was completely open, the ribs spiking out at different angles but all pointing in the same direction. There weren't any organs in it's abdomen. No, sir! Those are up on the wall and the ceiling! Upkeep hummed to himself as he mopped up the blood in front of him. He even paused to draw a smiley-face in the puddle, laughing at the way it came out. Luckily he was alone and- "What the BUCK is wrong with you..." Nevermind. Upkeep turned on his heels to find another janitor pony, much younger than he was. "Ah, Brush Off. What can I do for you, my friend?" Brush was staring at Upkeep with a horrified expression. He had just joined recently, and was still new to the job. "H-How can you be so happy around so much death? I've already puked like, four times!" Brush whimpered. Upkeep laughed loudly. "If you've been here as long as I have, you learn how to amuse yourself." Brush turned his back on Upkeep, walking away and muttering something about 'these crazy old ponies'. Upkeep called out after him, but Brush ignored the senior janitor. "Hey Brush! I didn't know your name meant two things!" Upkeep chuckled before turning his attention back to the work at hand. Celestia's Notice"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." -Edgar Allan Poe +++< Test Tube flopped onto his bed, still wearing his full clothing. It had been a long, long day, filled with many experiments. All of which failed. Miserably. Test sighed to himself. Three thousand, two hundred and fifty tests to supervise in one day. It can really take its toll sometimes. There were nights where Test didn't want to sleep, as he knew he would only be greeted by horrific nightmares. The dreams that plagued him each and every night, taunting his failures by forcing gruesome images into his head. Images of all the lives he had ended in the name of "science". Images of mutated test subjects who would never see the light of day again, forever cursed to be abandoned into the Pit. Images of the subjects who didn't make it through, their twisted bodies peering into him, eyes glazed over and pleading for mercy... Test flopped himself onto his bed, and nuzzled the covers. He didn't want to see the nightmares, but he needed some sort of rest and he couldn't keep siphoning sedatives from the medical supply. The scientist closed his eyes and drifted into sleep, his mind wandering. Tonight would be just like the others. +++< Upkeep sighed as he trotted along, heading towards his last task of the night. This was the only part of the job he had problems with. It always managed to shake him up, no matter how much he tried to make some sort of entertainment out of it. The Pit. A giant room connected throughout the back of the levels, mutated test subjects would be herded into the Pit and left there. And at the end of the day, it was Upkeep who had to approach the Pit and begin the incineration process. He was the one that had to put the poor beings out of their misery. He was the one that seared their flesh, rendering them unrecognizable. He disintegrated them. He charred their bones. He killed them. But it wasn't his fault. It was just his job. Upkeep stepped up to the control console and peered inside the Pit through the observation window. All of the mutant ponies stared back at him, waiting expectantly for him to release them. They crowded around the window, shuffling against each other. There was always a rumble of moans emanating from the Pit, as if the gaping maw was in tangible pain, crying out with the voices of a thousand ponies. Tears came to Upkeep's eyes as he stared into the eyes of one of the mutants. It's left eye was completely white, the iris completely gone. But other than that, it seemed fine. I thought only mutated ponies got sent here! She looks fine! It spoke, it's voice distinctly female. "...Why...do you...do this t-to us...?" Upkeep blinked back tears. "I-It isn't me... I'm just hear to clean up after them. I'm sorry..." The mutant mare attempted to speak, but Upkeep shut the observation window. He took a deep breath before taking out his keys and finding the one marked 'PIT'. He entered it into it's slot on the console, turned it, and prepared to push the button. Is...is this right? Should we be able to trick ponies into giving up their lives? Upkeep shook the thoughts out of his head. The division always told him these thoughts were what lead to death. The only way you left C.U.R.F.E.W. was if you had a family. If not, you met the same fate as the mutants, once your time came. Upkeep sighed and pushed the button, igniting the incinerator. He could hear the mutant mare over the roar of the inferno. Her screams sounded louder than the others. +++< Test sat up. He trotted around the lab, observing all of the ongoing experiments. Noticing the notes strewn around the floor, he picked up a paper. It had to do with cloning. Why am I researching cloning? We finished that project, but found no application in pony society. Test set down the paper when something glinted in the corner of his eye. He turned and saw a machine he thought he recognized. But somepony was inside. They were glowing rainbow colors, the light reflecting off their coat. The pony was beautiful, and Test took a step towards the machine, trying to- +++< "W-Wha..." Lights were flashing all around Test as he rose, taking in his surroundings. He was still in his room, and the floor was emitting a hum. "I apologize for the inconvenience, my liege, but the Director has called an emergency meeting for all C.U.R.F.E.W. employees. Please report to the assembly hall." Symmetry blatantly stated. Test sighed, getting out of bed and readjusting his goggles and lab coat. He made his way to the assembly hall, meeting up with Upkeep on the way there. "Hey, Upkeep. How's it goin'." Test said nonchalantly, rubbing the lenses of his goggles. "Fine..." Upkeep replied, looking at the ground. "...Upkeep, I can tell something happened." Upkeep turned and stared blankly at Test. "...Just a little shaken up...I'll be fine." Upkeep threw in a fake little smile to convince his friend. It appeared to work. "Alright, well just let me know how I can help." "Can do." The two of them found their way into the assembly hall, brushing against their fellow employees to get a good view. Test thought back to his dream. I wonder what that was all about. What was that machine called again? The lights in the room dimmed, allowing a spotlight to shine on the podium. A blue stallion with a navy-blue mane walked into the light. His cutie mark depicted two crescent moons. "Good evening, C.U.R.F.E.W. employees. I am the director of the Canterlot Underground Research Facility, Moonlight Sparkle. I bet you're all wondering why I called this meeting. I've recieved a troubling letter from the princess recently, and I will now read it aloud." Moonlight produced a roll of paper from the podium. It was simple parchment, like most letters, and was stamped with the royal seal. "Director Moonlight, I am contacting you today regarding the testing at the Canterlot Underground Research Facility. It has been three years since I've gotten a report from you regarding any progress. I have also checked with my supervisors and have found that the number of deceased test subjects has sky-rocketed over the past three years. I am sorry to inform you that I will be cutting your supply of test ponies. Unless you plan on showing progress, I will have to shut down the research facility due to high maintenance costs. I look forward to your next report. Signed, Princess Celestia." There were several gasps around the room, but for the most part everypony was in stunned silence. An orange pony in the back stood up, shouting his question to the director. "W-What will happen to us?" Moonlight sighed and looked straight into the eyes of the pony. "If the facility dies...you will die with it." Now there were several shouts, and massive murmurs amongst the crowd. "Now wait everypony!" Moonlight attempted to get a reign on the crowd. "This isn't the end yet! We can still fix this!" "How can we test without test subjects?" "You're going to kill all of us?" "I say you die with us!" The crowd was in an uproar now. Test ran the situation through his head, going over thousands of scenarios at once. How could he keep his life? Could he really fix this when Celestia has condemned them so easily? He went over every memory, every detail. Then suddenly he had the answer. It was the machine from his dream. Test slowly stood up and raised his hoof. The crowd immediately went quiet as one of their brightest brains stood still. "Yes, Dr. Test Tube?" "Sir, I do not understand what the problem is. We have the means to overcome this. If Celestia won't supply us with test subjects, why can't we manufacture our own?" Moonlight pondered this a moment before answering. "That would be a great idea, but we are attempting to infuse ponies with concentrated rainbow. How can we be sure the manufactured subjects' DNA won't immediately reject the serum?" "Simple. We can code the rainbow into the subject's DNA, so when the subject is created it will already be infused with rainbow." "And what can we use to code and manufacture the new test subjects?" Moonlight questioned, frowning at Test. Test grinned. "The GZPC-X4 Mach II Integrator." +++< A/N: Whelp, if you're reading this, good. It's been two chapters, and I'm glad you like it enough to continue reading. Drop a comment or two in case you spot mistakes, as I still haven't gotten a pre-reader. I plan on finishing this fic, but I'm still open to suggestions and ideas. Thanks again for reading, and have a wonderful time. ~Neon Scorpius Incident"Cloning is great. If God made the original, then making copies should be fine." -Doug Coupland +++< Test Tube grinned as he typed away at the keyboard. The Director had given him full use of the Integrator, as well as a team of scientists to be at his beck and call. Test had been working non-stop for the past two weeks, barely eating or sleeping. He had to get everything ready, everything had to be perfect. Experimentation would soon begin, and Test wanted to keep failures to a minimum. He didn't want to go on creating some sort of unstoppable species of mutant ponies, although even that idea seemed not-so-far fetched. Cloning was a risky business, but creating artificial life was even worse. You couldn't just create something out of nothing, that's what they had the Integrator for! The GZPC-X11 Mach II Integrator would sustain life within it's sleek glass walls. It breathed the very essence of life, nurtured it, built it. Raw cells would be pumped into the machine like a fine mist. The Integrator's internal component would then tell the cells where to go and what to build, beginning from the necessary structures to the simpler ones. The skeletal system would appear first, followed by the the organs, then the muscular system, then the circulatory system, then the nervous system, then the being's epidermis and hair folicles would slowly grow onto it's body. Test had the technicians modify the Integrator with a new component, a large pumping system that would add the concentrated rainbow to the subject after the previous processes were completed. Finally the subject would be hit with seven hundred volts of electricity. This started the being's heart, and was performed last in order to save it from feeling the extreme pain of it's own body being built. The whole process could take anywhere from a minute to an hour, depending on how complex the coding of the creature's DNA. Although the process seemed fool-proof, there were many things that could, and may, go wrong. In the name of science. Test finished up the coding on the first test subject's DNA, plugging a flash drive into the computer and transferring the file. He then carefully walked over to the coding terminal in front of the machine, and placed the file inside. He then turned to his assistants, which he had just now noticed had gathered around him. "Everypony, I have finished the coding for the first test subject. We will begin testing now, based off of this coding. Please record any observations, and be ready for whatever sort of life, or lack there of, that may emerge from the Integrator." Test began the integration process. +++< Upkeep sighed. "Why is it that I always have to be the one to get rid of all the experiments? I think I deserve a break, maybe cafeteria duty or something..." Upkeep had been standing in the hallway for an hour. He was trying to coax the monster out of the vents, but was unsuccessful. To be honest, the thing freaked him out a bit. It USED to be a pony, but it didn't even resemble one anymore. Its head was rotated 180 degrees, and its front legs were absent from its midsection. Instead there were six spines, or legs, or whatever the hell you want to call them. It used these spines to scratch across the floor, and it seemed as though the spines had joint that moved in two directions. Its back legs and tail were melted into one, and sported a very large, jagged spike. It held this new limb like a scorpion, and there where a few holes in the linoleum from when it had tried to spear Upkeep. On top of this, there were rips in it's skin and patches of it's coat missing, giving the pony-turned-scorpion a zombie-like appearance. "Dammit, Test." Upkeep cursed to himself. "How is it that you made a demon out of a pony?..." The beast suddenly exploded from its hiding place, other-worldly screeching coming from its mouth. Upkeep quickly dove to the side, the pony-scorpion landing exactly where he stood before. Upkeep attempted to stand up, but the monster pounced him, the force of the creature causing the old janitor the fall underneath the beast. Upkeep tried his hardest to kick the mutilated thing off of him, but it held him down and attempted to stick its stinger into his head. Each time the pony-scorpion brought its jagged appendage down, Upkeep would turn his head slightly, allowing it to zip past him and into the linoleum. Finally the monster appeared to get fed up with the game of "dodge the spike of death". It opened its mouth, but not like a regular pony. The beast's jaw simply ripped apart into pieces, showing that the entire inside sported jagged teeth. The monster reared its head up, and brought it down on Upkeep's face. Before the creature could reach its target, Upkeep reached behind him and grabbed his broom, swinging it upwards with his eyes closed. The broom made contact with the back of the monster's mouth, and easily went through, puncturing its head and exploding grey matter onto the wall behind it. Upkeep gave the beast a final kick, sending it backwards a few feet, where it skittered for a moment, making loud tapping sounds on the cracked linoleum before the life left its horrendous body entirely. Upkeep stood up and checked himself for any wounds. He had a knot on the back of his head where he had ever so graciously hit the floor, and three large cuts from when the monster had landed on him. Upkeep sighed, looking at the pony-scorpion's carcass. Suddenly the body began to swell, growing larger and larger. Upkeep covered his face, just as the body exploded outwards, splattering the entire length of the hallway with its blood and guts. Then everything was silent, save the quiet dripping of blood. A drenched Upkeep grew angry. "Well, just FUCKING great!" +++< Test sighed. He looked upon the body of one of his assistants. Once the experiment had begun, the Integrator's glass had fogged up. The integration process had gone off without hitch, even the rainbow serum was added. It went wrong when one of the assistants had gone to retrieve the subject, and found that it had mutated horribly. That was when the creature suddenly burst to life, sticking the assistant though the neck with a stinger-like appendage. The mutant had escaped whilst everyone attended to their fallen co-worker. Upkeep was hunting the thing down, so Test wasn't worried. Upkeep could handle almost anything, as was proved in previous incidents. The medics in the room pronounced the scientist D.O.A., and took the body away. Nobody mourned, nobody cried. It was just another death on the job. Test was the first to speak up. "Alright everypony, so that may not have gone exactly to plan, but we'll get it right next time, am I right?" He spoke with mock enthusiasm. Apparently everybody else picked up on it, as nobody responded, instead choosing to silently go about their work. Test sighed, walking back to his computer and attempting to figure out what went wrong with his code. He had done everything perfectly, there was no indication of any chance of such a drastic mutation. Although one could never really predict a mutation, Test had double-checked the code. He growled as he went about rewriting it again. The subject had to be male, and had to be able to use magic. That was the whole point of the experiment. +++< A/N: Updated dates. This chapter is a tad bit short, but the next one has a major event in it. Also found an editor. Stay tuned!
PrologueA/N: Welcome one, welcome all. This is my first writing that I actually have an end to, and I'm hoping that it will come out the way that I want it to. Leave a comment, rate, do whatever it is readers do. Read, I guess. Thanks! +++< >Year: 1001 ANM +++< "Alright Rainbow, thanks for the help! I'll see you soon!" Rainbow sped off into the sky as her librarian friend waved her goodbye. She had been helping (more like forced to help) Twilight take care of her assistant Spike, who had come down with a case of the dragon flu. It involved cleaning up lots of thrown-up gems and an awkward moment with a thermometer... Rainbow Dash shook her to get the strange thought out of her mind. She just wanted to sleep. Any cloud would do. But, her being Rainbow Dash and all, it was just her luck that Cloudsdale had a cloudless sky scheduled for today. Rainbow Dash sighed as she alighted the cloud base of her home. She gently pushed open the door and walked inside, scanning her living room as she entered. Rainbow spotted something hidden under the drawer stand she had next to the door. A small paper triangle peaked out from underneath the stand, it's paper-white standing out against the floor's almost pearlescent white. Rainbow reached down, curious to see what the foreign object was doing in her home, and grabbed it. The paper slid out from underneath the drawer stand and into full view. It was an envelope, it's faded white surface showing it's age. A name was written on it's surface. Rainie. Rainbow immediately remembered and pulled it into her chest, her eyes leaving the letter to stare off into space. She backed up aimlessly, falling onto her couch, it's plush surface helping to calm her down some. How could I have forgotten... It's been so long, how could I FORGET?! Rainbow Dash stared the envelope with her name on it, tears coming to the rims of her eyes. She wiped them away with a hoof and smiled sadly. Nopony even calls me that... She gingerly opened the envelope and unfurled the letter inside. Rainbow Dash began reading it. My daughter Rainie, I'm sorry...I'm just so sorry. I'm sorry you will never get to grow up with me and your mom. I'm sorry I have to do this to you. I wish I could stop it, find some other way. I want to be there for you, to hold you when you have nightmares, to take care of you when you're sick, all the things a good dad should do. I wanted to teach you how to fly, I wanted to teach you how to soar... I know it's a stupid thing to think. A unicorn can't teach a pegasus how to fly. But I would have found a way, any way to be there and share those moments. Alas, I can't under the given circumstances. I can't tell you much, but it doesn't matter... As long as you're safe. So I'm sending you to Ponyville, to live in a house I provide and be provided for by me. At least I can have that. A good friend of mine, Rays, will check up on you to make sure you're doing okay and going to Cloudsdale Academy. If you're going to fly, you should only have the best instructors... I don't know when all of this is going to clear up, or when I can see you, but I just wasn't you to know that I will do everything in my power to be with you. I hope it will be sometime soon. I'm...I'm sorry about mommy. She won't be able to come with me. I'll explain everything when I see you. She loved you Rainie. She loved you so much. You look so much like her... I know you'll probably be mad at me once you learn to read and receive this. Everything will work out. I love you. Be strong, Daddy Rainbow could only make it halfway through the letter before she began sobbing. She just couldn't take it anymore. She'd been waiting so long. The crying wracked her whole body, but she didn't care. If anyone dared make fun of her for crying now, she would buck them right where it hurts. Rainbow set the letter down and held herself, and began softly singing to nopony in particular. Rainbow Dash sang the same song she had always sung when she felt bad. She learned it as a foal, but couldn't put her hoof on it. She just laid on the couch, holding herself and pouring her heart into the words. Her beautiful voice echoed off of the walls of her home, creating the perfect harmony to match the tune. All the lonely ponies, where do they all come from? All the lonely ponies, where do they all belong? Ah~, look at all the lonely ponies... Ah~, look at all the lonely ponies...
The Grind"A fact is a simple statement that everyone believes. It is innocent, unless found guilty. A hypothesis is a novel suggestion that no one wants to believe. It is guilty, until found effective." -Edward Teller +++< >Year: 985 ANM +++< Eleanor Rigby, died in the church and was buried along with her name. Nopony came. Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt from his hooves as he trots from the grave. No pony was saved. All the lonely ponies, where do they all come from? All the lonely ponies, where do they all belong?~ Test Tube gently woke as the music drifted around the room. The A.I. immediately activated, turning on all the lights and shutting off the music once Test's brainwaves registered conscious. "Good morning, my liege. You have two appointments today. Would you like to schedule anything?" The rough whine of the A.I.'s female voice thrashed against Test's eardrums, causing his usual early-morning headache to smash it's being into the side of his head. "No, Symmetry, that will be all. Can you tone down your volume, though?" "As you wish." Symmetry's volume turned down to a more natural level. The lights dimmed as well. Obviously the A.I. had picked up on it's owner's displeasure and attempted to help. Why do A.I. have to seem so sentient? Test smiled at it's thoughtfulness as he climbed out of bed, throwing the blue covers wherever he pleased. They sat for a second before beginning to move, their shape realigning itself to the bed. It was so interesting how magnetism could be used to complete menial tasks nopony wanted to do, like making one's bed. Test chuckled at the sight, as it never ceased to amuse him. As Test trotted across the room, electric blue pulses emitting from his hooves and spreading out on the floor panels. He flicked his front hoof over the closet panels, the sensors recognizing his coat color and opening. Inside were all his personal belongings and supplies. Test ignored most of the other object, choosing to take his favorite goggles and lab coat. The goggles were some of the most advanced in the world, sporting heat sensors and night vision. The lenses were tinted the same color as his coat. Test snapped them over his eyes, covering their entirety. He always wore his goggles, even when he wasn't doing test or experiments. His bright, rose-colored eyes contrasted the rest of him so much that it often startled people. When he had joined the division, he always got comments on his eyes. He eventually got sick of it, and just decided to hide his eyes. Test threw on his lab coat, wrapping it around himself and pulling his I.D. card from the pocket. He hung it around his neck, and made his way to the door. Activating the keypad on the door with magic, he typed in his door code. "1114." Test smiled as he remembered that it was his birthday today. Twenty-two is a good age to have a steady job and a large savings account. The door slid open, leading into a long white hallway. Test stepped out and stood in front of his door as it slid closed behind him. He looked to the side, watching the rest of his fellow employees and co-workers step into the hall way and do the same as him. The door next to his and slid open. An older stallion stepped out from his room and turned his head to look at Test. "Hey, Upkeep." "Morning, Test. You stay up all night working on those darn P.M.D.'s again?" Upkeep spoke with a gruff tone, his mustache getting in the way of his words. "No, I think I got to bed at a reasonable time..." Test replied, looking at the ground and kicking a hoof in embarrassment. "And what time would that be?" "...four." Upkeep laughed loudly before shaking his head. "You're going to just collapse one day..." "What about you? You're always up doing... janitor stuff and-!" Test was interrupted as the ground underneath them began to move towards the double-doors at the end of the hallway. "Well, back to the grind." Upkeep sighed to himself. Upkeep and Test Tube passed through the double-doors and into the huge chamber behind them. Once they were a considerable distance from the door, the ground stopped moving. Test looked around at all the other ponies, some looking bored and others looking nervous. Test chuckled to himself and turned to Upkeep. "Well, I'll see you around. Gotta greet the mincemeat." Upkeep waved as he and four other people walked towards another door, heading for the supply area. He had been here for more than ten years, taking extreme care of the facility as the head janitor. Some people joke that he's had been there to witness it's opening. Those rumors were fabricated, of course, seeing how the facility had opened up almost twelve hundred years ago. Test Tube left his place amongst the employess and strode up to the front of the room. As he did, a podium had begun to rise out of the floor. Test made his way behind it once it had risen to it's full height. He cleared his throat and begun his weekly speech for the new test subjects. "Welcome, new employees! My name is Test Tube. I lead most of the projects for the Equestrian Warfare division here at the Canterlot Underground Research Facility. You have all been selected to become trials for a project we have been working on. Here is what we plan to create." At this time a large screen dropped from the ceiling and a projector faded to life. On the screen was a large vial filled with a viscous, rainbow-colored liquid. The serum seemed to glow off the screen. "This, my friends, is what rainbows are made of. Imagine taking twenty to thirty rainbows and forcing them into a jar. All of the energy of a rainbow at the tip of your hooves. What we attain to do here at C.U.R.F.E.W. is harness the power of concentrated rainbow and use it to protect Equestria. We have been studying for quite some time now, and we have learned that if we can get it successfully matched with a pony's DNA, it will grant them some of the abilities of Celestia herself!" Test laughed loudly, not to encourage the test subject, but more because he knew he wasn't lying. If they could really do this, it would in fact yield those exact results. The speed of the sun goddess, the stamina of an Alicorn, the magical strength of Celestia herself. But if they could do it, they would have already. Researching the same subject for more than three years proved that progress, for now, was at a stand still. The solution? Keep testing, obviously! "Now, all of you share a common trait. Your DNA resembles something close to what our calculation's say is a perfect match. We will test certain ways of introducing you to the rainbow, whether hidden or not. You all volunteered, so you know the risks." A bold pony in the back raised his hoof. "Yes?" The stallion stood up and and spoke loudly. "Why does everything seem so... futuristic here?" "Ah, good question, my good stallion! See, here at C.U.R.F.E.W., Celestia has provided us with the most technologically advanced- well, technologically advanced everything! We are eons ahead of current Equestrian society. Celestia has decided to keep them in the dark about these kinds of things, but it is for their own happiness. After all..." Test smiled softly at the crowd. "Ignorance is bliss. Now, all of you, please watch this orientation video and report to your respective experiment rooms." The video began to play, and Test walked away from the front of the crowd. Today was going to be a long day... +++< Upkeep was covered in blood, from head to hoof. They had only begun testing six hours ago, and yet somepony had already died. It wasn't a new record, but hey, he wasn't complaining. The pony had exploded suddenly. Literally exploded. The only thing that showed that there was a pony even there was the mutilated, torn up carcass in the center of the puddle. It's chest cavity was completely open, the ribs spiking out at different angles but all pointing in the same direction. There weren't any organs in it's abdomen. No, sir! Those are up on the wall and the ceiling! Upkeep hummed to himself as he mopped up the blood in front of him. He even paused to draw a smiley-face in the puddle, laughing at the way it came out. Luckily he was alone and- "What the BUCK is wrong with you..." Nevermind. Upkeep turned on his heels to find another janitor pony, much younger than he was. "Ah, Brush Off. What can I do for you, my friend?" Brush was staring at Upkeep with a horrified expression. He had just joined recently, and was still new to the job. "H-How can you be so happy around so much death? I've already puked like, four times!" Brush whimpered. Upkeep laughed loudly. "If you've been here as long as I have, you learn how to amuse yourself." Brush turned his back on Upkeep, walking away and muttering something about 'these crazy old ponies'. Upkeep called out after him, but Brush ignored the senior janitor. "Hey Brush! I didn't know your name meant two things!" Upkeep chuckled before turning his attention back to the work at hand.
Celestia's Notice"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." -Edgar Allan Poe +++< Test Tube flopped onto his bed, still wearing his full clothing. It had been a long, long day, filled with many experiments. All of which failed. Miserably. Test sighed to himself. Three thousand, two hundred and fifty tests to supervise in one day. It can really take its toll sometimes. There were nights where Test didn't want to sleep, as he knew he would only be greeted by horrific nightmares. The dreams that plagued him each and every night, taunting his failures by forcing gruesome images into his head. Images of all the lives he had ended in the name of "science". Images of mutated test subjects who would never see the light of day again, forever cursed to be abandoned into the Pit. Images of the subjects who didn't make it through, their twisted bodies peering into him, eyes glazed over and pleading for mercy... Test flopped himself onto his bed, and nuzzled the covers. He didn't want to see the nightmares, but he needed some sort of rest and he couldn't keep siphoning sedatives from the medical supply. The scientist closed his eyes and drifted into sleep, his mind wandering. Tonight would be just like the others. +++< Upkeep sighed as he trotted along, heading towards his last task of the night. This was the only part of the job he had problems with. It always managed to shake him up, no matter how much he tried to make some sort of entertainment out of it. The Pit. A giant room connected throughout the back of the levels, mutated test subjects would be herded into the Pit and left there. And at the end of the day, it was Upkeep who had to approach the Pit and begin the incineration process. He was the one that had to put the poor beings out of their misery. He was the one that seared their flesh, rendering them unrecognizable. He disintegrated them. He charred their bones. He killed them. But it wasn't his fault. It was just his job. Upkeep stepped up to the control console and peered inside the Pit through the observation window. All of the mutant ponies stared back at him, waiting expectantly for him to release them. They crowded around the window, shuffling against each other. There was always a rumble of moans emanating from the Pit, as if the gaping maw was in tangible pain, crying out with the voices of a thousand ponies. Tears came to Upkeep's eyes as he stared into the eyes of one of the mutants. It's left eye was completely white, the iris completely gone. But other than that, it seemed fine. I thought only mutated ponies got sent here! She looks fine! It spoke, it's voice distinctly female. "...Why...do you...do this t-to us...?" Upkeep blinked back tears. "I-It isn't me... I'm just hear to clean up after them. I'm sorry..." The mutant mare attempted to speak, but Upkeep shut the observation window. He took a deep breath before taking out his keys and finding the one marked 'PIT'. He entered it into it's slot on the console, turned it, and prepared to push the button. Is...is this right? Should we be able to trick ponies into giving up their lives? Upkeep shook the thoughts out of his head. The division always told him these thoughts were what lead to death. The only way you left C.U.R.F.E.W. was if you had a family. If not, you met the same fate as the mutants, once your time came. Upkeep sighed and pushed the button, igniting the incinerator. He could hear the mutant mare over the roar of the inferno. Her screams sounded louder than the others. +++< Test sat up. He trotted around the lab, observing all of the ongoing experiments. Noticing the notes strewn around the floor, he picked up a paper. It had to do with cloning. Why am I researching cloning? We finished that project, but found no application in pony society. Test set down the paper when something glinted in the corner of his eye. He turned and saw a machine he thought he recognized. But somepony was inside. They were glowing rainbow colors, the light reflecting off their coat. The pony was beautiful, and Test took a step towards the machine, trying to- +++< "W-Wha..." Lights were flashing all around Test as he rose, taking in his surroundings. He was still in his room, and the floor was emitting a hum. "I apologize for the inconvenience, my liege, but the Director has called an emergency meeting for all C.U.R.F.E.W. employees. Please report to the assembly hall." Symmetry blatantly stated. Test sighed, getting out of bed and readjusting his goggles and lab coat. He made his way to the assembly hall, meeting up with Upkeep on the way there. "Hey, Upkeep. How's it goin'." Test said nonchalantly, rubbing the lenses of his goggles. "Fine..." Upkeep replied, looking at the ground. "...Upkeep, I can tell something happened." Upkeep turned and stared blankly at Test. "...Just a little shaken up...I'll be fine." Upkeep threw in a fake little smile to convince his friend. It appeared to work. "Alright, well just let me know how I can help." "Can do." The two of them found their way into the assembly hall, brushing against their fellow employees to get a good view. Test thought back to his dream. I wonder what that was all about. What was that machine called again? The lights in the room dimmed, allowing a spotlight to shine on the podium. A blue stallion with a navy-blue mane walked into the light. His cutie mark depicted two crescent moons. "Good evening, C.U.R.F.E.W. employees. I am the director of the Canterlot Underground Research Facility, Moonlight Sparkle. I bet you're all wondering why I called this meeting. I've recieved a troubling letter from the princess recently, and I will now read it aloud." Moonlight produced a roll of paper from the podium. It was simple parchment, like most letters, and was stamped with the royal seal. "Director Moonlight, I am contacting you today regarding the testing at the Canterlot Underground Research Facility. It has been three years since I've gotten a report from you regarding any progress. I have also checked with my supervisors and have found that the number of deceased test subjects has sky-rocketed over the past three years. I am sorry to inform you that I will be cutting your supply of test ponies. Unless you plan on showing progress, I will have to shut down the research facility due to high maintenance costs. I look forward to your next report. Signed, Princess Celestia." There were several gasps around the room, but for the most part everypony was in stunned silence. An orange pony in the back stood up, shouting his question to the director. "W-What will happen to us?" Moonlight sighed and looked straight into the eyes of the pony. "If the facility dies...you will die with it." Now there were several shouts, and massive murmurs amongst the crowd. "Now wait everypony!" Moonlight attempted to get a reign on the crowd. "This isn't the end yet! We can still fix this!" "How can we test without test subjects?" "You're going to kill all of us?" "I say you die with us!" The crowd was in an uproar now. Test ran the situation through his head, going over thousands of scenarios at once. How could he keep his life? Could he really fix this when Celestia has condemned them so easily? He went over every memory, every detail. Then suddenly he had the answer. It was the machine from his dream. Test slowly stood up and raised his hoof. The crowd immediately went quiet as one of their brightest brains stood still. "Yes, Dr. Test Tube?" "Sir, I do not understand what the problem is. We have the means to overcome this. If Celestia won't supply us with test subjects, why can't we manufacture our own?" Moonlight pondered this a moment before answering. "That would be a great idea, but we are attempting to infuse ponies with concentrated rainbow. How can we be sure the manufactured subjects' DNA won't immediately reject the serum?" "Simple. We can code the rainbow into the subject's DNA, so when the subject is created it will already be infused with rainbow." "And what can we use to code and manufacture the new test subjects?" Moonlight questioned, frowning at Test. Test grinned. "The GZPC-X4 Mach II Integrator." +++< A/N: Whelp, if you're reading this, good. It's been two chapters, and I'm glad you like it enough to continue reading. Drop a comment or two in case you spot mistakes, as I still haven't gotten a pre-reader. I plan on finishing this fic, but I'm still open to suggestions and ideas. Thanks again for reading, and have a wonderful time. ~Neon
Scorpius Incident"Cloning is great. If God made the original, then making copies should be fine." -Doug Coupland +++< Test Tube grinned as he typed away at the keyboard. The Director had given him full use of the Integrator, as well as a team of scientists to be at his beck and call. Test had been working non-stop for the past two weeks, barely eating or sleeping. He had to get everything ready, everything had to be perfect. Experimentation would soon begin, and Test wanted to keep failures to a minimum. He didn't want to go on creating some sort of unstoppable species of mutant ponies, although even that idea seemed not-so-far fetched. Cloning was a risky business, but creating artificial life was even worse. You couldn't just create something out of nothing, that's what they had the Integrator for! The GZPC-X11 Mach II Integrator would sustain life within it's sleek glass walls. It breathed the very essence of life, nurtured it, built it. Raw cells would be pumped into the machine like a fine mist. The Integrator's internal component would then tell the cells where to go and what to build, beginning from the necessary structures to the simpler ones. The skeletal system would appear first, followed by the the organs, then the muscular system, then the circulatory system, then the nervous system, then the being's epidermis and hair folicles would slowly grow onto it's body. Test had the technicians modify the Integrator with a new component, a large pumping system that would add the concentrated rainbow to the subject after the previous processes were completed. Finally the subject would be hit with seven hundred volts of electricity. This started the being's heart, and was performed last in order to save it from feeling the extreme pain of it's own body being built. The whole process could take anywhere from a minute to an hour, depending on how complex the coding of the creature's DNA. Although the process seemed fool-proof, there were many things that could, and may, go wrong. In the name of science. Test finished up the coding on the first test subject's DNA, plugging a flash drive into the computer and transferring the file. He then carefully walked over to the coding terminal in front of the machine, and placed the file inside. He then turned to his assistants, which he had just now noticed had gathered around him. "Everypony, I have finished the coding for the first test subject. We will begin testing now, based off of this coding. Please record any observations, and be ready for whatever sort of life, or lack there of, that may emerge from the Integrator." Test began the integration process. +++< Upkeep sighed. "Why is it that I always have to be the one to get rid of all the experiments? I think I deserve a break, maybe cafeteria duty or something..." Upkeep had been standing in the hallway for an hour. He was trying to coax the monster out of the vents, but was unsuccessful. To be honest, the thing freaked him out a bit. It USED to be a pony, but it didn't even resemble one anymore. Its head was rotated 180 degrees, and its front legs were absent from its midsection. Instead there were six spines, or legs, or whatever the hell you want to call them. It used these spines to scratch across the floor, and it seemed as though the spines had joint that moved in two directions. Its back legs and tail were melted into one, and sported a very large, jagged spike. It held this new limb like a scorpion, and there where a few holes in the linoleum from when it had tried to spear Upkeep. On top of this, there were rips in it's skin and patches of it's coat missing, giving the pony-turned-scorpion a zombie-like appearance. "Dammit, Test." Upkeep cursed to himself. "How is it that you made a demon out of a pony?..." The beast suddenly exploded from its hiding place, other-worldly screeching coming from its mouth. Upkeep quickly dove to the side, the pony-scorpion landing exactly where he stood before. Upkeep attempted to stand up, but the monster pounced him, the force of the creature causing the old janitor the fall underneath the beast. Upkeep tried his hardest to kick the mutilated thing off of him, but it held him down and attempted to stick its stinger into his head. Each time the pony-scorpion brought its jagged appendage down, Upkeep would turn his head slightly, allowing it to zip past him and into the linoleum. Finally the monster appeared to get fed up with the game of "dodge the spike of death". It opened its mouth, but not like a regular pony. The beast's jaw simply ripped apart into pieces, showing that the entire inside sported jagged teeth. The monster reared its head up, and brought it down on Upkeep's face. Before the creature could reach its target, Upkeep reached behind him and grabbed his broom, swinging it upwards with his eyes closed. The broom made contact with the back of the monster's mouth, and easily went through, puncturing its head and exploding grey matter onto the wall behind it. Upkeep gave the beast a final kick, sending it backwards a few feet, where it skittered for a moment, making loud tapping sounds on the cracked linoleum before the life left its horrendous body entirely. Upkeep stood up and checked himself for any wounds. He had a knot on the back of his head where he had ever so graciously hit the floor, and three large cuts from when the monster had landed on him. Upkeep sighed, looking at the pony-scorpion's carcass. Suddenly the body began to swell, growing larger and larger. Upkeep covered his face, just as the body exploded outwards, splattering the entire length of the hallway with its blood and guts. Then everything was silent, save the quiet dripping of blood. A drenched Upkeep grew angry. "Well, just FUCKING great!" +++< Test sighed. He looked upon the body of one of his assistants. Once the experiment had begun, the Integrator's glass had fogged up. The integration process had gone off without hitch, even the rainbow serum was added. It went wrong when one of the assistants had gone to retrieve the subject, and found that it had mutated horribly. That was when the creature suddenly burst to life, sticking the assistant though the neck with a stinger-like appendage. The mutant had escaped whilst everyone attended to their fallen co-worker. Upkeep was hunting the thing down, so Test wasn't worried. Upkeep could handle almost anything, as was proved in previous incidents. The medics in the room pronounced the scientist D.O.A., and took the body away. Nobody mourned, nobody cried. It was just another death on the job. Test was the first to speak up. "Alright everypony, so that may not have gone exactly to plan, but we'll get it right next time, am I right?" He spoke with mock enthusiasm. Apparently everybody else picked up on it, as nobody responded, instead choosing to silently go about their work. Test sighed, walking back to his computer and attempting to figure out what went wrong with his code. He had done everything perfectly, there was no indication of any chance of such a drastic mutation. Although one could never really predict a mutation, Test had double-checked the code. He growled as he went about rewriting it again. The subject had to be male, and had to be able to use magic. That was the whole point of the experiment. +++< A/N: Updated dates. This chapter is a tad bit short, but the next one has a major event in it. Also found an editor. Stay tuned!
