Starlight looked up at the factory and sighed. The words: HYBRID CORP, were illuminated on a sign that appeared to be poorly built.
The area was dark with the black clouds overhead, so she made her way into the main office. She grimaced at how the words “Mane Oface” were etched into the doorframe. There was something off about this place.
She opened the door and walked in. There was a stallion neatly dressed in a tuxedo standing behind a desk.
He glanced up then smiled at the Princess of Friendship’s student.
“Why hello, I am…” the stallion said, he looked through a bunch of flashcards. “… Rustic Charm, how may I help you?”
“I have been sent by the princess to acquire information pertaining to your product Tex in a Bottle™,” Starlight explained.
“Ah yes, Tex in a Bottle™. Well what would you like to know?” Rustic Charm asked.
“How and why is our idi-erm I mean friend in your bottle?”
“Friend? I’m sorry but all of the Tex in a Bottle™, contents are ponies, and all creatures named Tex. We have the bounty hunter, baseball player, pony wonder extraordinaire, and many others named Tex. We have no say in who gets put into a bottle.” Rustic Charm cleared his throat. “We are not liable for any damages caused by any Tex, and we don’t give refunds.”
“Are you aware of the Equestrian law known as the Anti-Slavery law? I’m pretty sure this falls under that, and as far as I’m concerned the princess will frown upon this operation you are running.” Starlight glanced around and smirked. “Not to mention all of the ordinances you are breaking.”
“I-uh…” he pressed a button and spoke into a speaker. “We have a code, 26-80, break the spells, and set the captives free.”
“Who is running this show anyway?”
Rustic Charm frowned then whispered, “one who dislikes narwhals. May the-“
Starlight heard about as much as she needed. She knocked the stallion out and ran away from Hybrid Corp along side of the now free Texlings. This was something important that Twilight needed to know.
Tex sat on the table wearing nothing but a hospital gown. Flash was there so as to not make the purple haired boy uncomfortable, even if he wasn’t uncomfortable. He wanted to play matchmaker.
Flash talked to Princess Twilight, while Sunset helped Sci-Twi out with attaching the sensors to Tex. Every once in awhile she glanced over to Flash moving in on the one she loved. There was a sense of tension in the room.
“So he’s the one that Twilight kept writing about in her journals.” Tex said.
“You’ve read her journals?” Sci-Twi asked.
“I used to… but then she sent me to the frozen north. I think it was a banishment, but that’s when I discovered the Flying Narwhals and their kingdom.” Tex explained.
“So about the whole battle thing?” Sunset asked.
“That? It’s just like Princess Twilight said, I saved the day and won her castle back. Though I did die and did haunt the castle until she and Starlight figured out how to bring me back using the Necronomican.” Tex said. He watched as Sci-Twi applied some of the sensors to his hands. “So what’s all this stuff going to do?”
“It’s going to measure the magic within your body, and the Princess me should be able to see if there are any anomalies in that. At the same time it’s going to measure your health and other biological factors.” Sci-Twi explained.
“Do you remember anything before you were put into that bottle?” Sunset asked.
“Not really. The light was super bright and whoever caught me gave me a letter to hold then they cast the spell. I was transported back home… or what seemed to be home. The only thing that was different was the fact that I was alone.” Tex frowned and looked away. “I don’t like to be alone. I missed having fun with my new friends, and stealing AJ’s hat.”
“I don’t like to be alone either, but sometimes you can’t avoid it.” Sunset said.
“Now you have me.” Tex smiled and hugged Sunset. “For awhile at least.”
That put a smile on Sunset’s face as she hugged him back. Sci-Twi stood back and smiled at the touching scene. The two friends let go of each other and Sunset took a step back.
“Okay, let’s start the scans,” Sci-Twi said. She walked over to her computer and pressed a button. Various machines started up and started making various noises. The loudest machine made a loud PING every once in awhile, and then after a few minutes it spewed out a bunch of papers.
Princess Twilight walked over and looked at the papers with Sci-Twi. They would mutter back and forth to each other in egghead language. Flash talked to Sunset, leaving Tex alone.
There was a gentle knock at the door.
“Is Tex decent?” Rarity asked.
“I’m NAKED!” Tex yelled.
Everyone in the room looked at Tex as he was standing in the buff and all the sensors were removed. Both Twilights blushed and tried to shield themselves with the papers. Sunset blushed and turned around. Flash gave Tex a nod and chuckled a bit before turning around.
The door opened and the other girls stepped in. Rainbow fell over laughing, Rarity quickly turned around, Fluttershy blushed and covered her face, Applejack pulled her hat over her face, and Pinkie gawked at the sight of the naked Tex.
“You were warned.” Sunset said.
“I didn’t think he was serious,” Rarity said.
“What a Tex… “ Pinkie drooled.
“Pinkie!” Both Twilights and Sunset exclaimed.
The pink girl turned around with an upset humph. Tex quickly got dressed.
“Now I’m decent!” Tex cheered.
Everyone turned back around and looked at the now clothed Tex. He had a goofy smirk on his face as most of the girls were still blushing.
“I don’t joke about being naked,” Tex said. “What’s the verdict?” He sat on Sci-Twi’s office chair.
“There is some kind of spell that binds you to Sunset. Almost like a… well I’m not well versed in this type of spell. I’ll have to go back to Equestria and get some advice on this.” Princess Twilight said.
“Well, I guess that joke about a boyfriend in a bottle is no joke.” Sci-Twi said.
“Wait, what?” Sunset asked.
“So what would’ve happened if she opened the bottle instead of having it thrown at her?” Sci-Twi asked the Princess.
“I theorize that the spell could’ve been broken simply by removing the excess magic.” Princess Twilight explained.
“It became a bonding spell after the bottle shattered. Since Sunset has Equestrian magic, it reacted with that and created a strong bond.” Tex said. He sat back on Sci-Twi’s computer chair and spun around. Everyone looked at him. “I’ve read some of the spell books from the Crystal Empire. I mean Cadance’s book on love is a good read.”
“And I thought the only book you read was my journal.” Princess Twilight said. She glared at Tex, who quickly looked away.
“Only on Tuesdays.” Tex said.
“I’ll be back as soon as I get more information, in the meanwhile please don’t do anything stupid, Tex.” Princess Twilight said.
“I’ll try not to. Oh and give Princess Cadance my regards.” Tex said.
“Sunset, please don’t let anything bad happen to him.” Princess Twilight said. She gave Sunset a concerned look, the same look a parent would give someone they were leaving their kid with. Sunset nodded and Princess Twilight walked away.
“So she’s stuck with him?” Flash asked. He stopped the Princess at the door.
“Unless you want to take him.” Sunset said.
“Yes, she’s stuck with him.” Princess Twilight said.
“So would you b-” Flash whispered.
Twilight shook her head then said, “I wouldn’t try that. Tex is a little…”
“I get it, but would you be?” Flash asked.
“Tex will make sure you don’t. He’s like a brother to me… and I think he thinks the same.” Twilight explained.
Flash hung his head in disappointment. Princess Twilight left and Flash simply frowned at missing a chance to solidify any thing with the Princess he loved. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t try anything funny, you break her heart and I will take a crowbar to your knees.” Tex said.
The blue haired boy nodded. Tex then returned to Sunset and begged for a coloring book. Flash wondered how Tex got close to Sunset in this short amount of time. He turned around and gathered his courage.
“Sunset?” Flash asked.
“Yes?” Sunset asked as she handed Tex his coloring book.
“I was wondering if you aren’t doing anything tonight, that maybe you’d consider letting me take you to dinner.” Flash asked.
The other girls giggled in the background. Tex bit his lip and turned around.
“Well, Tex has to come with me because of the spell.” Sunset said.
“Hey, AJ wanna let me borrow your hat?” Tex asked.
“Y’all ain’t gittin’ mah hat.” Applejack protested.
“Will you go to dinner with me and Sunset?” Tex asked.
“No.” Applejack said.
“Fair enough, how about let’s make it a group thing so none of you are alone with me?” Tex asked. The girls thought about it and then ultimately approved Tex’s suggestion.
“I was hoping for more alone time.” Flash said.
“Well you don’t get that, lover boy,” Tex said.
“They don’t have to be at the same table,” Sunset said.
“Fine,” Flash said.
They discussed the date then left Sci-Twi’s lab.
In the distance someone was standing in the shadows, watching the young people. This person was in black armor and she had a sniper aimed at Tex. There was also a cloaked girl sitting next to the soldier.
“The target’s in sight, you want me to take him out?” the soldier asked.
“No, just follow him. Then when Princess Twilight returns, take him out,” the hooded girl said.
“Fair enough,” the soldier sighed. “It feels wrong killing someone named Tex.”
“Shut up Agent Tex. Just do your job and then I’ll release you from the spell,” the hooded girl said.
The girl laughed and walked away.