Notebook #4
Microscopic investigation Lab Notebook #4
Entry one: 15/6/302 P.D.
Current Goal: Scientifically find the most base unit of life possible
I have recently made improvements on my best microscope. Hopefully, using this new technology, I may have better luck at investigating my goal.
Success! I have determined that the smallest unit of life is a particular combination of 6 protein structures, arranged in a helix-like formation. These helices appear to conjoin to create larger structures.
More research is necessary.
~Starswirl
Entry two 25/6/302
Ten days have passed since I discovered these helices. I have determined, using my own mane fibers, that ponies contain 72 of these helices.
(Note: particular helices seem to bundle up further, to make four larger structures.)
Helices are now to be named Chromosomes, because they absorb color easily. The larger structure group into distinct shapes, which I will name X, Y, U, and P, because those are the shapes they take.
~Starswirl
Entry Three 4/7/302
I have acquired different samples of hair from other specimens: one from a female earth pony, one from a male pegasus, and one from Princess Celestia herself.
My own sample showed that I had six structures, labeling myself as an XYUPUU. After investigating the sample from the Princess, it shows as completely different, an XXUPEA. Two new structures, E and A, have occurred, along with the noticeable absence of a Y structure.
The female earth pony structure appears to be XXEEPU.
The male pegasus structure appears to be XYPPUE.
The female unicorn structure appears to be XXUPUU.
From this, I can determine that there is a correlation between the structures present and the race and gender of the pony. Considering Princess Celestia appears to be the only one with an A structure, it leads me to believe that this structure may be unique to alicorns.
At first impression, the results also indicate that if a structure is in a majority, it will override the race of the pony. If this assumption is followed, it means that the P structure correlates to pegasi, U for unicorns, and E for earth ponies.
~Starswirl
Entry Four 3/1/303
Almost six months have passed, and I have done the same research on nearly all the ponies in Canterlot. I have been lead to two conclusions:
My initial speculations were indeed correct in how the structures determine gender and race.
The other is that both Princesses have the exact same structure set, leading me to believe that a structure of UPEA is required for an Alicorn to be born. Others with the A structure are extremely rare, as only one currently exists in Canterlot.
Research closed temporarily due to more pressing concerns.
~Starswirl
Entry Five 5/9/310
I have recently rediscovered this journal, after over 7½ years. Between the threat of Tirek and Scorpan, along with the final signing of the Treaty with the Griffons, I have had very little time for research.
Goal: Determine whether these structures appear in other creatures.
~Starswirl
Entry Six 5/12/310
The structure do indeed exist in other creatures!
However, different shapes appear in replacement of the normal structures of UPEA. The structures X and Y appear to be unchanged in all creatures I have tested.
~Starswirl
Entry seven 6/4/310
Thanks to my contact with Princess Celestia, I have studied the structures of an actual griffon-pony hybrid, also called a hippogriff. The subject still has the same number of structures, six. However, it has structures from the pegasus mother and the griffon father.
If this is consistent with other species, it means that almost any interspecies mating could, in theory, produce offspring.
~Starswirl
Entry Eight 8/4/310
I discovered a wasp nest in the lab today. Before having it removed, I happened to scavenge a few eggs from the nest in hopes that I could study them for my ongoing research.
I had a wild idea soon after: if cross-breeding between a pony and griffon was possible, then was cross-breeding between an insect and a pony possible?
As a trial, I have taken three structures (UPX) of my own, and inserted them in locations inside one of the wasp eggs.
~Starswirl
Entry nine 9/4/310
Dear Gods above . . . It worked . . . The wasp egg is now fertilized, and is growing.
I suppose I am a father now. How strange indeed.
~Starswirl
Entry ten 7/5/310
The embryo has grown at an exceedingly rapid rate. Today, the egg hatched into a small creature.
Looking at the creature, it looks mostly like a pony . . . in fact, quite like an Alicorn. However, its body is full of holes at random places, and its wings are wasp-like.
Disturbingly, the newborn creature is refusing to eat any type of nutrition I put in front of it. Even simple sugars, which I know a wasp will feed on, are ignored.
Strangely enough, it seems satisfied whenever I hold it and give it attention.
~Starswirl
Entry eleven 21/7/310
The growth continues extremely fast, and is now as large as a filly or colt five years old. I have been teaching it words to communicate, and is learning at an extraordinary rate.
As it grows, I realize that the creature does not actually need physical nutrients, but actually subsists on solely magical energy. My apprehension about it not eating solid food has vanished.
It appears the best form of energy for feeding appears to be emotional energy aimed at the creature. For example, love or kindness.
The creatures has chosen a name, Holes. Quite an odd name, but I shall abide by it. She is now Holes.
~Starswirl
Entry twelve 4/8/310
Holes used magic and had her first flight today. Apparently, her magic is almost completely illusion-based. In fact, she was able to turn into an exact copy of me, and scared me while I was doing other lab work.
~Starswirl
Entry Thirteen 12/9/315
It has been quite a while since I have written in the journal. I have since moved Holes into my home. Using her illusion magic, I have enrolled her in school with children her mental age. She still shows rapid physical growth, but her mental growth has slowed drastically.
Thanks to the influence of the pony blood in her, she is now starting to physically mature to the point where she is going into heat. However, strange things are happening . . . often times, I find her room covered with thick green mucus, with large sacks of liquid lying around. I am assuming this strange behavior is due to her wasp ancestry.
I have a confession to make here, where nopony will see it: For the last five years, I have kept this research completely hidden from Princess Celestia. She does not know Holes exists.
Am I doing the right thing by hiding her?
~Starswirl
Entry Fourteen 5/4/316
I originally planned this experiment as a test of science. It now occurs to me that it has become a lot more than that.
I am a father now . . . not just to Holes, but to an entire race of beings. I found fertilized eggs in Holes’ room. When I asked her about them, she told me under a truth spell she had never has sex with another pony.
This can only mean one thing . . . her new race reproduces asexually. I have noticed drastic changes in Holes as well . . . she now stands nearly as tall as Princess Celestia without her disguise.
Tomorrow, I plan of telling Princess Celestia about Holes. I’m quite apprehensive about this, because this experiment has been going on for so long without her knowledge. But with Holes about to be a parent herself, I can no longer hide this. For the first time in a long while, I have no idea what to do. I can only hope the princess can guide me here.
~Starswirl
Entry fifteen 5/5/316
HOW CAN SHE BE SO BLIND!?!? I pleaded with Princess Celestia to allow Holes to stay as my daughter, because that is exactly what she had become. And you known what she did? SHE BUCKING BANISHED HER! SHE BANISHED MY DAUGHTER, AND MY MOST WONDERFUL EXPERIMENT EVER!
I . . . I can’t stay here . . . I explained to Holes what happened, but before I could finish, Celestia was there with two guards, and took her away. My wise mentor has now degraded into a corrupt, bigoted tyrant, and not even Princess Luna will help me.
I finally came up with a name as Holes left, for her new race. I call them Changelings. I don’t know where Celestia exiled my daughter to, but I know I cannot stay in Canterlot.
I suppose I will travel. Maybe to Saddle Arabia, maybe to Griffonia or even the Seapony capital. I might return one day when my anger has settled, but for now I must leave.
~Starswirl
Final Entry 7/8/333
I am fifty years old now, and I have finally found my daughter. She was banished to the badlands, where no vegetation grows and creatures are few and far between. She is a very old Queen now, with hundreds of Children, and a Princess of her own ready to take the throne.
As I write this, I realize that maybe it was for the best that the Changelings be separated from the rest of Equestria. Out here, they can live in peace, and not worry the ponies of Equestria. I find myself forgiving my mentor, and now feel I should return to Canterlot.
Before I do that, however, I will give this book to my granddaughter, who is soon to be Queen, so that all the Changelings will known their ancestry and how they were born into this world.
~Starswirl the Bearded
A large Changeling, a Queen of her people closed the small tattered book. It was tradition among the hives queens to read the book before making a decision. Chrysalis was her name, and protecting her Lings was her lot in life.
She thought about her situation, which was rather grim. The magical energy in the badlands has reduced over the years, and is now nearing the point where my Children will not survive.
I must do something.
Opening the book again, she saw something . . . her Lings could feed off of emotions better than the natural energy of the land. If that’s the case, I must find this so-called Canterlot, and take it. If I fail . . .
No. I can’t think like that. I must succeed.
She reached down and held a small egg sac, a special egg sac, one that would grow a new Queen that could take over if she died.
Chrysalis grabbed a small bag of personal items, mostly keepsakes of carved stone, a hobby for the Changelings, and walked out of her hive, unsure if she would return with good news for her people, or if she would fail and condemn the race of Changelings to death in the beating sun of the badlands.