Notes from the desk of -CENSORED-
These notes were recovered during a raid on the accused’s property, from over five-hundred pages of notes, only these were deemed acceptable to present to court due to the contents of most of them. These notes however, are enough to display the accused’s obsession with the subject in question, along with their unhealthy observation of other ponies whilst they were not aware of it. The nature of the notes also indicate that they were dictated, not hoof-written by the accused, whomever may have written these notes has not been found, nor have they come forward of their own volition.
12th April
Pony Genetics
Pegasi
The pegasi gene should be considered recessive, this means that a pegasi couple may only ever birth another pegasus. This could be considered a form of self-preservation as it means that winged creatures only ever beget winged creatures, which is useful when you may need wings to avoid falling through the city in which you live *cough* Cloudsdale *cough*. It would also make pegasi the rarest of the pony breeds which would explain their high level of segregation from the other tribes and their more aggressive approach to their dealings with them in general if the Hearth’s Warming Eve’s story is to be believed.
In addition to this it would make it most likely that a pegasus breeding with one of the other races would produce a non-pegasus child, such as in the case of Derpy Hooves and Dinky. A pegasus that breeds with a non-pegasus who does not have pegasus ancestry of any kind will have no chance of producing pegasus offspring. However, if they do have pegasus ancestry and are carrying the recessive gene, then there would be a fifty/fifty chance of begetting a pegasus. Also, if neither party was a pegasus, but they both carried the recessive gene, then there would be a one in four chance that their offspring would be a pegasus.
Unicorns
The unicorn gene resides in the middle, this one took some thought, but in the end it made sense, the unicorn gene is dominant over the pegasus one, but recessive to the earth pony one. This would explain the unicorn’s desire to ‘keep their bloodlines pure’ in some less savoury sections of the community, typically the higher classes. This is because a pegasus gene, being recessive, could remain hidden in the family for generations before unexpectedly causing a pegasus to be born into the family. Whilst an earth pony gene could cause the family to beget only earth ponies for generations, effectively causing the unicorn line to cease. So it could be thought that this selective breeding was originally a way to preserve their species, but has now become a ‘social standard’.
All of this means that the only way a unicorn can ensure they have a chance at a unicorn child is to breed with another unicorn or a pegasus, though if both unicorns have a recessive pegasus gene, then they may produce a pegasus, though it would only be a 25 percent chance. A ‘pure’ unicorn breeding with a pegasus would never beget a pegasus, though if that unicorn were carrying a pegasus gene, they would have a fifty/fifty chance of birthing either breed. A ‘pure’ earth pony could never have a unicorn child with a unicorn. However if it had either a pegasus gene or unicorn gene then the odds would be fifty/fifty, unless that unicorn had pegasus ancestry, in which case the odds would be 50 percent earth pony, 25 percent pegasus and 25 percent unicorn if it had the pegasus gene, and fifty/fifty if it were carrying a unicorn gene.
Earth Ponies
Earth ponies have the most dominant genetic group, this means that even if only one earth pony gene is present then there will be a fifty percent chance of creating an earth pony. This genetic dominance is probably due to the hardiness and adaptable nature of the Earth pony, it also means earth ponies are very grounded and reasonable about such matters, having little to no prejudice about which pony race they breed with, this has allowed them to form the bulk of the population.
Alicorns
All of this, though, led to the most difficult thing to fathom of them all, how would one create an alicorn? After all, they are said to hold the blood of all three pony races, but genetic theory says this is impossible, at most they may hold the blood of two pony races. Pegasi simply want to maintain their own existence, earth ponies in general don’t give a damn what they breed with and unicorns are obsessed with breeding for magical power, convinced that this alone will make them better. But this is not true, it simply can’t be! And so, how do we have three alicorns currently residing in our capital? How did they come about? Simple breeding alone could not do it, it simply is not possible, I have spent long hours observing the truths of pony breeding, and the truth of the matter is, we could fornicate until the end of time, and still be nowhere near godhood!
And so, how can I assure that ponykind reaches this pedestal, our next step as a race? Why, I must take things into my own hooves, of course! Where nature will fail us and leave us wallowing as what we are now, where selective breeding and magic will only take us around in circles, science shall lead the way! I will be the one to raise our race to godhood! Let us see the gryphons and dragons and changelings sneer and condescend at us, then! What will Celestia do? She will no longer be able to look down at us and call us ‘her little ponies’!
I will prove that we are not hers, I will unlock the secrets of godhood, and make them available to all! Then what will we have to fear? Nothing! No-one and nothing will be able to dominate us! We will truly be a great race, then, no longer content to sit in ignorance, we will accomplish great things! We will-!
-End excerpt-
At this point it was deemed appropriate to end the manuscript that had to be provided for evidence, what starts out as a scientific document quickly devolves into a rant, one which the prosecution believes shows the accused’s intent, and that they had the will to follow through with it.
-Excerpt from the Canterlot Archives-
No. 120494
Notes from the desk of -CENSORED-
16th April
Now that I have devoted myself, I feel my work must continue apace, it’s as if I’m in the grip of some fever, except this fever fills me with nothing but energy! I know that if the Princesses were to discover my work, they’d end it as quickly as they could, and I will not allow that, they have no right to attempt to stop my progress! Anyway, I would very much like to attempt to obtain a sample from one of them, the things a simple drop of blood could tell me! Alas, life is never so convenient as that, nopony could ever think of the Princess bleeding, the only time she has ever even appeared to be hurt was when blasted by that detestable changeling queen, still, one can fantasize.
Following this line of thought, I decided I should attempt to fathom at least some of the Princesses’ abilities, they do appear to be very tough, that is most likely attributed to their earth pony nature, though I must ask myself yet another in a seemingly unending list of questions, do their abilities as part of the other races extend as far beyond the norm as their unicorn powers do? After all, Luna and Celestia are able to sling our Sun and Moon around with little effort and then continue their day as if it were nothing. It does lead one to question what kind of headway they would make if they turned their talents to farming or weather control, of course, none of the current Princesses display any proficiency in that area, but if there were one who was…
For me, this cements the importance of my research in my mind, this is no flight of fancy, I intend to make good on my vision, I am decided now, I need samples, theorizing and fretting are all very well and good, but I am working with too many variables and too few facts. I need to lay some ground rules, and to do that, I need something solid, something tangible. I have already begun to plan a sampling procedure, it’s simple, really, all I need do is gain possession of something most ponies won’t even miss, after all, the hospital barely uses it. Rather than have it sit there unused, surely a better use is that of pony kind’s very evolution! I can only hope I can find someone who agrees with me…
18th April
Success! My new contact at the hospital came through! I now have blood samples from every pony race, and from every conceivable heritage they may have, I shall begin attempting to introduce the samples to each other immediately. I should really make further records but I find myself overcome with temptation! After metaphorically prodding around in the dark, I now have the equivalent to a lantern, and with it, I shall drive back the shadows that surround the alicorn secret!
2nd May
Damn! Two weeks of solid testing, and nothing works! I have mixed the blood samples in every imaginable way, even going so far as to be forced to order more from my contact. And nothing works! They always reject each other, the blood always separates and congeals within moments. How can this be? We know that the blood of the races must be able to co-exist, there are three living beings that attest to this! Is there some kind of catalyst for this mixing of the blood? If so, what is it? I must be missing something, I know it, I will solve this.
7th May
I have it! I realized my mistake, looking back on it, it seems so obvious, I was so obsessed with my acquisition of blood that I blinded myself, my own faults have cost me time, but I must press on, when ponies breed, they hardly mix their blood together after, they create new life on a whole different level. Their genetics mix together, not their blood. This revelation, however, leads me to a whole new problem, genetics is by no means an unknown in Equestria, after all, but our level of understanding is far too low. I need to know exactly how genetics dictates the form, and blood seems to lack this information most sorely, it was when I found this out that it hit me.
It is well known in medical science that new blood cells are produced within the marrow of the bones, thus it stands to reason that there must be some mechanism in place there, something that decides what kind of blood it should create. It seems there is something else to ask my associate for…
12th May
Finally! My associate was much less willing to acquire bone marrow for me, but eventually the price I offered persuaded them, I realise the substances I need do have medical uses, but if my research is successful then there will be little to no need for these medical practices anyway. Despite my explaining this to my associate he seemed uncertain anyway, I have to keep an eye on them, they may end up losing their will, if they go to the authorities, it could ruin everything.
Anyway, onto brighter things, intense magical scanning of the bone marrow revealed something within it, something tiny, it could almost be described as a package, unfortunately after only a few seconds of discerning it, I passed out, it seems that my scanning spell takes up a lot of energy at that level of use, I have had to rest for a couple of days, unable to use my magic. It seems luck is on my side, though, I could have suffered from a burnout, now that I realise how much energy I was using, I will revert to using MAE*. As I should have done from the start, once again my enthusiasm has led to a delay I can ill afford, I should be more cautious in the future.
But this ‘package’, what could it mean? Maybe it is this that contains the data I need, I will not know until I can examine it further, a couple more days and I should be ready and able to work again, I would say I can hardly wait, but remembering my earlier words, I know it would be foolish to tempt fate. Whilst I know my work must be completed soon, I will not jeopardise it by rushing.
Not again.
*Magically Assisted Equipment
-End excerpt-
-Canterlot Royal Court-
-Records from the trial of CENSORED-
-Audio log-
Day one
“Name?”
“Rush, your honour.”
“Indeed, Chamberlain, has he been sworn in?”
“Yes, your honour.”
“And what is your role in this?”
“I- I provided samples for –uh- the accused.”
“You are allowed to use his name, Mr Rush.”
“I don’t actually know it…”
“Really? Well then, you provided samples for CENSORED, to aid in his work. Make a note.”
“Your honour, may I?”
“Yes. Prosecution, you may proceed.”
“So, Mr Rush, you work at Canterlot General, correct?”
“Yes. I have for almost five years, now.”
“Hmmm, I have some doubts you’ll be getting to that half-decade after this, but very well. You admit to selling medical supplies, in particular donor samples, to the accused, correct?”
“Yes… Yes, I do.”
“Despite the fact you knew that these samples are retained by the hospital for use in life-saving operations?”
“Well, yes, but, the hospital has almost no cause to ever use them.”
“That may be so, but the possibility still stands, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, I suppose it does.”
“So you willingly put others’ lives at risk simply you could make some quick bits?”
“Objection! Your honour, this has nothing to do with the line of questioning, the prosecution is merely trying to paint my client in a bad light!”
“I am finding myself agreeing with the defence attorney here, we all know the ramifications of what the witness did. His trial is secondary to the issue at hoof, try to stay on track.”
“Of course, my apologies, your honour. So how many times did the accused contact you for more samples?”
“I honestly don’t know, I never exactly kept records, I avoided thinking about it as much as I could.”
“Indeed, so what were the exact nature of his requests?”
“Well, it started off with blood, then bone marrow, and some other tissue samples, which I was unable to provide. Blood and bone marrow are one thing, they’re stored en masse, but tissue sample are only taken when necessary. Then he started to get more demanding.”
“In what way?”
“He started demanding the tissue samples, started insulting me when I said I couldn’t get them. Eventually his demands started to scare me, he started asking for, um, birthing materials.”
“What, exactly, do you mean by that?”
“Well, um-“
“Spit it out! We’re all full-grown ponies here, what did he request?”
“What he asked for was the after-birth from a mare that’d just had a foal.”
“… *Swallows* … I believe we have heard all we need to. The prosecution rests.”
“Indeed, defence, you may take your turn, and then court will be adjourned.”
“My thanks, your honour, Rush, could you tell me why you sold these samples to a pony you didn’t even know the name of?”
“Well, I needed the money, medical training had drained all of my savings and I never got the highest grades so I wasn’t really getting paid much, I was struggling to keep up with my debt, and so, I jumped at the chance for extra bits for very little extra work.”
“Right, well, Rush, did you ever think of quitting your deal?”
“Yes, several times, actually, but he’d always give me this cold stare and then offer more bits, every time he did that, I thought I could see a way out, I kept telling myself that When I’d paid off my debts, I’d no longer need him and I could just ignore him.”
“But you found you couldn’t.”
“Yes.”
“What about when his demands started to scare you?”
“That was when I decided I’d had enough, I decided to go to the authorities, consequences be damned. I didn’t care if he pointed the hoof at me by then, I knew whatever he was doing was seriously wrong. Unfortunately, he must have known I told myself that.”
“How so?”
“Well, that was when he decided to pony-nap me, I guess he knew I wasn’t going to help him anymore. That was when I saw why he didn’t need me anymore, that was when I saw his test subjects-“
“I believe that is the point at which we should end this, Chamberlain, finish the day’s notes. Bailiff, see that he is escorted back to the holding cells.”
“But-“
“The matter of the test subjects is one that will be broached later, Mr Rush, your confession is enough to have you put in a holding cell, you may be called upon to give further evidence from there. Your own trial will proceed once this mess is sorted out.”
*BANG*
“Court adjourned.”
-End audio log-
-Notes-
Day one of the trial consisted of familiarizing the jury with the evidence and finding out how his operation started, hence the presence of Mr Rush. Actual trial of the accused was delayed for several reasons, one of which was the incapacitated nature of several key witnesses, another of which was the accused’s unwillingness to cooperate with the authorities.
Even within holding he attempted several times to convince his guards to let him out, resorting to bribes of a particularly unsavoury nature until eventually he was put in a special, soundproof holding cell at the request of Princess Celestia, who didn’t want any of her guards to fall to temptation.
Unfortunately his crimes continued to have consequences for those he had inflicted them upon even while he was under the strictest security measures…
-Canterlot Royal Hospital-
-Day three of trial-
Luna’s head drooped miserably as she walked up next to her sister.
“Luna? What’s wrong, has something happened?” Luna looked up at the Sun that Celestia had just finished raising.
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, sister.” Luna hated looking at her sister’s face when it was weighed down with exhaustion and worry as it was now “But intensive care just contacted me.” Luna could almost see Celestia’s chest tighten “Another has passed away.”
Something happened then that hadn’t happened in a thousand years, something Luna had hoped to never see again.
Celestia was crying.
