“The unnatural advancement of evolution is a destructive force that corrupts the minds it touches.”
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“What are we going to do? If we can’t sell enough apples this month we are going to lose the farm.” Applejack was in the kitchen with Big Mac looking over the bill for the farm. “Since Granny Smith didn’t pass on her recipe for zap-apple jam, we lost our business with Filthy Rich. Now we have to come up with ten-thousand bits to keep our home.” She started crying and Big Mac put his hoof around her shoulders with a grim look on his face.
“Eeyup.”
The door burst inward and Apple Bloom rushed in holding a flier. “Applejack! Big Mac! Y’all have got to see this! Our problem is solved!” She placed the flier down over the bill and the three Apples looked over it.
Written in what appeared to be gold ink was the message, “Attention! Earth pony volunteer needed for study. Required to be in good shape with no health problems. Best candidate will receive fifty-thousand bits upon acceptance.” Beneath the message was a phone number and basic info required for volunteering.
Applejack wiped her eyes, “fifty-thousand bits and the only requirements are to be in good shape and health? Sounds like the perfect opportunity for me, what do y’all think?”
Immediately Apple Bloom responded, “You’re perfect for it Applejack, you should make the call an’ apply so we can keep the farm.”
“Eeyup.”
“Well then it looks like it’s settled, I’ll make the call now.” Applejack picked up the flier and went over to the phone and pressed the only button it had.
The phone rang once before it was answered, “Hello how may I connect you?”
“Yes could y’all put me through to 549135?”
“Just a moment.” The phone clicked and went silent for a couple of seconds before it started ringing.
“Hello thanks for calling the Laboratory for the Advancement of Living, how may I help you today?”
“Howdy, I’m callin’ about the flier I saw and I would like to volunteer for the study.”
“Great now there are a few requirements, first, are you an earth pony?”
“Yes.”
“Great are you in good shape and health?”
“I would like to think so.”
“Alright and finally what is your name and birthdate?”
“Mah name is Applejack and mah birthday is September 5th 981.”
“Alright well you seem like the perfect candidate, somepony will be by your farm later today to pick you up.”
“What about the bits? When will I get those?””
“Yes, the fifty-thousand bits will be delivered to the head of your household upon pick up.”
“That’s fine, I’ll be waiting.” Applejack pushed the button and hung up. Turning around she saw Big Mac and Apple Bloom with big smiles, “Well it looks like our problems are indeed solved.” She walked over and gave them both a big hug.
“What do you think the study is for? They really didn’t give out that much information.” Apple Bloom said after the hug was finished.
“I ain’t sure, just be happy we won’t lose our farm. Now, let’s get some lunch.”
“Eeyup.”
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The Apple family were done eating and Applejack was cleaning up the dishes when there came a knock on the front door. She heard it open and Apple Bloom start talking to somepony. “Applejack they are here to pick you up!” Drying off her hooves she headed into the foyer. Standing in the entranceway were two unicorns and a large bag.
“Ah, you must be Miss Applejack, how are you today?” The lime green pony said.
“I’m fine how are y’all doin’?” Applejack held out a hoof as she greeted them.
After shaking her hoof the yellow unicorn replied, “We are good, are you ready to leave?”
“Yes I am, did y’all bring the bits?”
“Right here in this bag, now if you’ll follow us to the wagon.”
“Right behind you,” Applejack said as she trailed behind them as they walked outside. Sitting in the driveway was the most detailed wagon she ever laid eyes on. The green unicorn opened the door and ushered her in where she took a seat and waited for them to follow suit.
The wagon jolted forward and the yellow unicorn started talking, “Now we have a few things to discuss so you understand what will happen. We are taking you to our lab for a procedure that two of our scientists came up with.”
“What kind of procedure?” Applejack said curiously.
“A surgical procedure, the surgeons will be grafting artificial wings onto your sides.”
“What?! Who came up with this?! Most importantly is it safe?”
“Calm down Miss Applejack, this is very safe if it is done with earth ponies. The brothers Flim and Flam built the wings so they are highly reliable.”
“Flim and Flam tried to put us out of business, why should I trust them?”
“According to them it was Apple Bloom that got your family into that mess. All they wanted to do was work with you to satisfy everypony.”
“I guess y’all are right, so how is this operation goin’ to work?”
“Basically the surgeons will put you to sleep and graft the wings onto the same muscle groups that pegasi use for theirs, allowing you to have full control over them. The recovery time is relatively short allowing you plenty of time to get used to them.”
“Well that seems pretty simple, when would I be able to go home?”
“One week is the normal time it takes for a pony to have fully functional wings.”
Applejack relaxed, one week isn’t very long and this might help me out with apple bucking. “That’s reasonable, so does this happen when we arrive?”
The green unicorn handed her a clipboard and a pen, “As long as you sign this waiver we can. If you decide not to then we will take you home and take back the fifty-thousand bits no questions asked.”
Applejack quickly read the paper over and scrawled her signature down. “I don’t think I could change my mind even if I wanted to, let’s do this.”
“Good it seems like everything is in order, you will be prepped for surgery when we have arrived.” The unicorn said as he took back the clipboard.
Around an hour later Applejack felt the wagon slow to a stop and the unicorns opened the door. Stepping out she saw the largest building outside of Canterlot. The brick walls were a stark white with no stains on them. Surrounding the area around the building was a tall electric fence topped with razor wire.
Noticing Applejack staring at the fence the yellow unicorn told her, “That, Miss Applejack, is a safety precaution. We have activists that try to break in all the time, so we built the fence to keep them out.”
“Oh...alright then.” She said as they continued forward into the building. Entering into a massive reception area the two unicorns walked off, so she took a seat and waited.
After a couple minutes passed a nurse walked in and greeted her, “Hello Miss Applejack, if you’ll follow me into the operating room we can get started.”
“Alright then,” she said as she stood up and walked after her down a long sterile hallway. The nurse stopped in front of a large door labeled “OR 2” and showed her inside. The room was quite large and smelled like rubbing alcohol. There was a polished steel table sitting in the middle with all types of medical equipment surrounding it.
The nurse turned to her, “Now Miss Applejack would you like to see the wings before we get you ready?”
“Yep, I would like that very much.”
Walking over to a table Applejack didn’t see before, the nurse started explaining, “These are your wings, they have been built to perfectly emulate the movement of a pegasus’ wings.” The wings looked intricately detailed and very complicated. The nurse pointed to some tube-like objects trailing from the base, “These are the artificial ligaments that will be attached to the unused ones in your body, giving you full control over them.”
“Well I’m not one for all that technical mumbo jumbo, Let’s just get this over with.”
Nodding the nurse moved her over to the operating table, “Now if you’ll just lay down on your stomach I’ll get you ready.”
Following the nurse’s instructions Applejack laid down on the table feeling the ice cold metal against her stomach. The nurse pony started attaching wires to her head and legs before rubbing a patch of skin with alcohol.
“Alright you are going to feel a slight pinch before falling asleep.” The nurse said before pushing a needle into Applejack’s leg. She started feeling light-headed almost instantly before everything went dark.