//------------------------------// // The Doctor's Gift // Story: From the Desk of Ambassador Wildcard. // by Gladi Writes //------------------------------// Wildcard calmed Colgate down long enough to take a shower and make himself reasonably presentable. Whatever that paper was, she was frantic to show him. Wildcard recognized it as something from Dr. Flankenstein's lab early on, but he was too hung over to really care about it until he cleared his head. His forehooves also felt like he had been dragged by them for hours for some reason, the last night was a blur. He had ended up in his own room though, and didn't find a member of the warrior caste beside him. So he decided that whatever happened, it was the best case scenario and he wouldn't think on it any more. Leaving the washroom a squeaky clean changeling, he found Colgate pacing in the centre of the room. A recess in the carpet traced her path as she paced in an oval, intently staring at the remaining page of Flankenstein's work. "Alright Colgate, what's so important?" Wildcard asked, putting a hoof to his aching forehead he looked to her with a pleading expression, finding that familiar feeling as her magic healed his head. She pointed a hoof at the bed and continued pacing. "Have a seat, Ambassador." Wildcard did as asked, and then found Colgate staring him down. "Ambassador, I'm primarily a dentist, but I went to same school Dr. Flankenstein did- we took genetics together. Do you have any idea what this means?" She said, and floated the paper to before Wildcard. It was hard to make out, but there looked to be three columns, a few of the columns were highlighted red across, or the two to the side had a matching green highlight. "I have absolutely no idea," Wildcard said. "Fine, then let me explain," Colgate's horn glowed and before Wildcard a cleaner image of the paper floated in the air, the first column shimmered into view. Around 20 boxes, each filled with some variation of ATA, GAT, or PON ran down it. Wildcard remembered Flankenstein talking about this in his lab, although that had been only two columns, so what of the third? "This, as far as I can tell, is an Alicorn. We sequenced these genes years ago. You'll notice these two in particular, which when activated correspond to wings or horns. An Alicorn has both, only Celestia has the power to activate the other." Two spots on the column became highlighted, and then a second column shimmered in beside it. It was of the same length, and a few of the elements differed. "This, looks to be a regular unicorn. The gene for a horn is activated, but not wings." A third column came beside the others. "This one is different then the others, and has a few genes turned on that I was taught were just junk PrNA. Here's the real kicker though," Colgate said. A red highlight connected the 'horn gene' across the board, and a green highlight came over the left and right 'wing' gene. "The one on the right seems to be an Alicorn, but a few genes are switched off, I'm not sure what they corresponds to, but I can guess." This was at the top of the right column, and flashed for a moment. "On the actual Alicorn, there's a match between these mystery genes and the third," She said, and those became highlighted in green. "So, this Alicorn share's genetics with the mystery pony?" Wildcard asked. "I think we both know who the mystery pony is," Colgate said. Above the third column a basic doodle of a changeling appeared. "Are you saying Alicorns are connected to Changelings?" Wildcard asked, so intrigued that he only occupied the bare edge of his bed. "I'm saying Alicorns are Changelings, or more precisely Changelings are some strange corrupted version of Alicorns. I imagine the switched off genes would end up corresponding to magic energy, I've never seen those switched off before." "If you're logic is right, doesn't that mean Alicorns and Changelings share the ability to shapeshift?" Wildcard asked. "This one does, at the very least," Colgate stated. "And if Alicorns are artificial..." Wildcard trailed off, and his eyes widened with the realization. "Then you are too. If I had to guess I would say somepony tried to make a race of Alicorn's, and failed," Colgate said, and the display flickered out of existence. "I wish I had the rest of this, I'll bet that I could track down whatever it is that gives you those blue eyes and insect wings too, might even explain the unisex nature of the Hive." Wildcard was too deep in his own mind to notice Colgate talking. The Doctor was right, they were all ponies in the end. Who had made them, and why, was the central question now. He leapt up from his seat and brushed past Colgate on the way out, he had to see a mare about a pony. Colgate trailed behind as he took to the hallways of the castle. Wildcard threw the throne room doors open, finding Celestia on the throne. She was alone if not for the guards flanking the door. They narrowly sidestepped the swinging doors as Wildcard rushed in. Celestia smiled down at him. "Good afternoon Wildcard, you missed the bri--" She stopped when she noticed Wildcard glaring up at her, Colgate coming in behind with the paper. "Buck the meeting, we have more important things to talk about." Wildcard demanded, and grabbed the paper telekinetically. The two guards drew their pikes and marched towards Wildcard. Celestia shook her head, and they stopped. "Leave us." She ordered. "All of you," She added, looking to Colgate. A moment later the door shut, leaving the Princess of the Sun and the Changeling Ambassador alone. "So he did it," Celestia said, levitating the paper over to herself. "He found the truth." With a flash of light the paper was consumed by flame, completing what had started a day earlier in Baltimare. Wildcard galloped forward with a cry, sliding to a halt at the ashes of it. "Why, why would you do that?!" He demanded. Celestia came behind him as he prodded the ashes with a hoof, and put hers on his shoulder. "To keep the peace," She said. Wildcard turned and saw the smile had disappeared from Celestia's face. She almost looked like the Queen. "Tell me, Wildcard, what would happen if this became public knowledge?" Celestia asked. Wildcard considered it for a moment, and found he had no answer. "Exactly. There's no way to know, and right now there's enough chaos that I can't allow this to become known, not yet," She said, and trotted to look at one of the stained glass windows. Wildcard noticed it was the one depicting Princess Twilight's 'ascension'. "She wasn't my first protege, only my most successful," She lamented, and turned back towards Wildcard. "My first, five hundred years ago, is your original ancestor." She looked him dead in the eye standing before that painting. "Her name was Crystal Star." All the pieces began to connect in Wildcard's mind. "But why?" He asked. "She always wanted power over all else. I tried to teach her otherwise, but she turned away from me, and embraced the sciences as well as dark magic. When I denied her the same ascension given to Twilight, she left for the forest with a group of followers. A few months later we sighted the first Changeling," Celestia explained. "I hope she has come to her senses by now, and it does look that way, but only time can tell." "And now you know, what will you do with this information?" Celestia asked. Wildcard considered it. If he reported this immediately chances are Chrysalis would either remove him if she didn't want this information known, or it wouldn't matter anyway. In any case the ponies had too much on their plate already to take such a revelation. "Nothing, for now." He replied. Celestia nodded. "I had hoped you would be as wise. Only you, the Doctor, and myself know the true extent of all this. Colgate only knows a piece of the puzzle, in due time the rest will become known to all," She said, and approached Wildcard. "What happened to him anyway, Captain Massé reported he was injured." Celestia inquired. "He repented," Wildcard stated. "He 'repented'?" Celestia asked. "He and your sister are on fair terms now," Wildcard explained. Celestia nodded, and returned to her spot on the throne. "Very well. I don't think I can ever forgive him, but it looks like justice has been served." The door opened with a golden field, and the guards came in to return to their positions. Wildcard bowed and turned to leave. "Wildcard." Celestia said as he did. "There will come a time where you will have to choose your future. Remember who you are, and choose wisely." Wildcard left the throne room, and took a walk around the castle as he ran through all the recent revelations in his head. The Queen wasn't superior, as he had always been taught, she was just a failed Alicorn. What this said about the caste structure of the hive he couldn't even begin to fathom. And he was a pony- they all were. They were as much ponies as pegasi or unicorns. His worldview had shifted to the point where if he was told the world was round, and orbited the sun, he would have to believe it. In his wanderings he found himself at the stairs to that same turret he found that sentry in nearly a week ago. Wildcard clambered up the steps, maybe the view of the valley would help him clear his mind. In the turret Flash Sentry sat 'forever vigilant'. Wildcard carefully slipped past him, noticing that he was, as expected, dozing, and sat beside him to look at Canterlot and the rolling plains beyond. In the distance the edge of the badlands was visible, and beyond that was the Hive, his home. No. This was his home. _______________ Eta-Eta, 'Medulla', got off the train and looked over the city before him. He had never been out on assignment, he was the one that made the assignments. Still, his new rank of Alpha led him to take inventory of the Hive, and he was here to check up on the new ambassador. The Hive hadn't heard from him in a while, and after taking delivery of the cider, (which the hive greatly appreciated, Queen Chrysalis most of all) he cantered off through the ponies; feeling naked without a disguise. He wanted more then anything to cover up himself, wary of the eyes that watched him as he went to the castle. He had his obligations to the treaty though, and he wouldn't dare ignore the Queens wishes. It didn't take long for him to arrive at the castle, and he approached the two door guards to find where his subordinate had been assigned. They told him that he was on the third floor, left side. Wildcard entered the castle and noticed how lax the security was, not a single guard asked him for a reason to be there, or for identification, or anything. If it wasn't for the alliance he probably could have walked right into the throne room. Granted he would still have to contend with a nearly godlike alicorn, but it still didn't look well on the guard. Perhaps he could arrange for some sort of drill... In any case, he found himself at the Ambassador's office, and pushed the door open to find two ponies looking out the window. "Where is he, the Captain said he would be here?" One asked the other. "I thi--" The other began to reply then glanced behind to see Medulla in the doorway. The stallion nudged his partner, and they both turned to him. "Ambassador Wildcard?" The stallion asked. Medulla considered for a second assuming his identity, but thought against it. "No, I'm actually his superior, I was looking for him." "Oh! That's perfect!" The mare exclaimed. Medulla noted their cutie marks formed a bridge when put together, he thought that was adorable. "I'm Longitude, and this is my brother- Latitude. We owe Wildcard a debt of gratitude, and would be happy to help with this rail line you're hoping to construct," She said. So Wildcard was some sort of pony hero now. Interesting.... ____________ When the sun hit midway on the horizon Wildcard decided that he had enough contemplation, and it was time to get back to work. He turned to leave and was startled to see Flash Sentry staring at him. "I didn't feel like interrupting your meditation." he said with a wink. "I won't tell if you won't tell." Wildcard said, and then descended the stairs back into the castle. "By the way!" Flash Sentry shouted down at him, his voice echoing. "The Captain is looking for you!" Wildcard paused for a second, he had no idea where the Captain's office was. "Second floor, on the left!" Flash added. Wildcard smiled and continued on his way. A few minutes later Wildcard found Captain Massé's office. Taking a deep breath to collect himself he pushed the door and entered, startled to find two changelings inside conversing with the Captain across his desk. They all turned to Wildcard as he entered. "Ah, Ambassador. I was just talking to your superior here. He's promised those reinforcements I requested," Captain Massé said, and gestured Wildcard come over. Wildcard recognized the changelings as Eta-Zeta , and Eta-Eta- 'Medulla'. Zeta smiled, Eta did not. That, and Eta was the only changeling to have an iris and proper pupil in his eye. "Good afternoon, Eta-Eta, Eta-Zeta, Captain." Wildcard said to each in turn. "Alpha now, but thank you." Medulla said, "I'll leave you and the Captain be, meet me in your office when you're done here," He left and took Zeta with him, closing the door behind. "Wildcard, I've been looking for you all day," Captain Massé said, and gestured to a chair before the desk. Wildcard took it. "I wanted to thank you for your work yesterday, the Night Guard was able to fight off the attack on Manehatten so well that nobody except them and us even know there was one," He said, and reaching in his desk to pluck out two small glasses, pouring a bit of cider into them from a silver canteen on the desk. He pushed one towards Wildcard. "No thanks, not on the job." Wildcard said. The captain smirked and downed them both. "Your loss, although I hear you're quite the lightweight." Wildcard frowned, and the captain laughed. He then put a hoof to his shoulder from across the desk. "Don't worry about it friend, you've already proven yourself," He said, and fell back in the chair. "Your commander seemed quite impressed with you, I think a promotion is coming your way!" The Captain winked and then stood, gesturing at the door. "Go get it, you deserve it." Captain Massé said. Wildcard nodded politely and took off through the door for his office. When he got there he found Medulla standing in front of his desk, inspecting it closely. Walking around to take his seat Wildcard made a note to find some chairs somewhere, it was undignified for all his guests to have to stand. "You've been doing quite well so far, better then I expected." Medulla said, and prodded a document on the desk. Wildcard leaned over to read it "I talked to those engineers you recruited, and here's an outline of the steel they'll need. Look it over and send it off to your supplier, they estimate they can have the rail line done in four weeks. Impressive really," Medulla explained. "I'll get right on it sir," Wildcard said with a quick salute. "One more thing before I go," Medulla said, and with a sharp whistle summoned Eta-Zeta into the room. "I'm promoting you to Eta-Delta, Zeta here is your new assistant. Keep doing us proud," Medulla said, and departed to leave the pair together. "So, what are we going to do first boss?" Zeta walked to the desk and asked. Wildcard sat back in his desk, and considered it. "There's a bill in my room, open us an account and use some of it to buy oh... a dozen bottles of cider should do." Zeta saluted and left, the door swung silently shut behind him. Wildcard put his hooves up on the table and reclined in his chair. Things were going to change around here.