//------------------------------// // Chapter LIX: Moonlit (unedited) // Story: Memoir of Misery // by Silvak //------------------------------// “I have no idea how you manage to talk me into this.” “Oh Sapphire, you’re so silly! I lured you here with the fake hat you just finished, remember?” “... I was hoping somepony else would answer with something that wasn’t an obvious jab at my appetite,” Sapphire stayed in a flat tone as she used her hoof to wipe off some frosting off the side of her lips. The Elements, Sapphire and Skyward were waiting at the train station, with Pinkie hoping up and down with glee which Skyward was mimicking. The pair’s action was drawing glances from the other Elements alongside any locals, who then scurry off in fear of what the two hyperactive ponies might be up to. “Relax Sapphire, Skyward may have said that this pony was weirder than him, but you have to keep in mind that weird is a matter of perspective. For all you know, this pony could be normal,” Twilight proposed, drawing Sapphire’s attention towards her until Rarity cleared her throat. “Or perhaps this is a first impression that Skyward had, and there is a saying that one should judge by first impressions,” Rarity stated, causing Sapphire to rub her chin in thought. “Maybe you’re right, I could just be over-“ Sapphire started to say until the sound of a train whistle interrupted her, causing the group to turn their heads towards the incoming train. Coming to a stop, the train doors open to let out a small group of ponies as the group's eyes scanned the passing crowd, who all have greetings to Sapphire before moving on their way. “Hey, Skyward. I thought you sa—“ Sapphire started to say until she heard somepony clearing their throat right before her. Seeing nothing before her at first, Sapphire hear the throat hearing again, this time from below. Looking down, Sapphire saw a yellow coated, brown maned unicorn staring up at her, her mane done in a bun as she had a pair of oval-shaped glasses on her nose. With a pair of saddlebags on her back blocking the view of her Cutie Mark, the mare's violet eyes staring intensely at Sapphire, causing her to feel the need to back away. "Are y—" Sapphire started to say until the mare lit her horn up with a violet aura as the same aura wrapped around Sapphire's jaw, pulling it down to the mare's eye level. "Frontal teeth seems to be normal," the mare said as she placed a hoof at the bottom of Sapphire's mouth, forcing it more open as Sapphire just stared at the mare in surprise. "The rest of the teeth is normal for a pony as well. Tongue is normal with no signs of it being forked at some point." “Umm... what the buck are you doing?” Rainbow asked, finally breaking the silence that the group was experiencing. “Examining the alicorn from the Arulas clan to see it being from another world has cause any mutations to her clan,” the mystery mare said as she took grey cylinder from her saddlebags before she shaking it inside Sapphire’s open mouth, causing her to start coughing and hacking out of control. “Hmm... elemental breaths aren’t a likely mutation.” “Did you just threw some pepper down Sapphire’s throat‽ Who does that to a pony they just met, much less a princess‽ And why in Celestia’s name would you think she has some kind of elemental breath‽” Twilight cried after finally breaking loose of her shock. “I heard that Sapphire came from another world from Skyward, meaning her clan was isolated for thousand of years in a world that could have different environmental conditions from our world. So I’m not excluding any possibilities until I have verified if Sapphire possesses them or not,” the mare answered before blinking as an aquamarine aura engulfed her form before tugging her away from an irate Sapphire. “Forgive me for being rude with what I’m going to say, but have you ever heard of personal space?” Sapphire growled out as she resisted the temptation to grab the pepper shaker and stuff it down the mare’s throat. “Yes, but I find it to be a foolish concept that only gets in the way of the advancement of society. Now, please insert this tube into your rectum so I could gather some feces samples now,” the mare said, causing Rarity and Twilight to both blanch and cover their mouths in disgust. The rest however looked confused as they turn to the pair for answers. “I will not stick that tube up for whatever reason you need!” Sapphire yelled at the mare, who didn’t even blink in response. “Very well then, but I recommend th—“ the mare said as she levitated a tube until Twilight darted forward between the mare and Sapphire. Grabbing the tube with her own magic, Twilight tore it away from the mare as she said, “I don’t think that is necessary! If you need medical observations of Sapphire’s biology, I’m certain the doctors and researchers at Canterlot would be more than happy to provide you with their data, Miss...” “Moonlit Scan,” the mare said, causing both Twilight and the others to blink at the odd name. “Alright... Miss Scan, I can write you a letter to bring to the researchers so you can get a copy of their data,” Twilight proposed with a smile. A smile that soon became strained as Moonlit just stared at her without voicing a reply. After a minute of utter silence, Moonlit finally broke it when she said, “No, their data comes from a methodological examination that overlooks any other obscure possibilities. I prefer to be thorough, so I need to perform the examination myself. Now, back to said examination. Since you refused the rectum tube, we will postpone that in favor of taking pictures of your mouth," before she pulled up a camera with some rope wrapped around it. Leaning towards Fluttershy, Rainbow whispered, "Okay, this pony is a quack. Even I don't think that is something somepony should do to figure out whatever that mare believes Sapphire has." "Well... maybe she's just doing this for Sapphire's benefit?" Fluttershy mentioned, only to wither underneath Rainbow's flat look at her comment. "Or maybe for ponykind?" "I am not going to stick that camera down my throat," Sapphire said with a growl as Twilight just stared in complete disbelief at the camera hanging off the rope. "But you must, for it will reveal to all of us why you're able to consume large quantities of food without gaining any visible signs of such an act afterward. You might even have an enhanced level of stomach acid that could even erode inorganic objects," Moonlit stated as she shook the rope a bit. "Yeah... I just think what Skyward said was true, this mare is a nutjob," Rainbow whispered while making a circular motion to her head with a hoof. "Now that's just mean, Rainbow. I'm sure that deep down that mare has go—" Fluttershy said before noticing that Moonlit sighed before returning her camera to her pack, before pulling out a kitchen knife. "We need to get a blood sample then, along with a sample of your muscles, bones, and ne—" Moonlit said until a purple aura surrounded her, her saddlebags coming off her as they levitated towards Twilight. "Alright, knives are were I'm putting my hoof down, just what kind of cra—oh sweet Celestia!" Twilight started to say until she opened the right bag. "Why do you have a metal pole with a spike on it‽ And why do you have a lightning rod that is clearly made for you to hook a pony up to‽" Giving Twilight a slightly annoyed look, Moonlit answered, "The first is intended to provide sharp jabbing pain to certain body parts to observe the subject's reaction, in case there is some kind of mutation or development that allows for instant retaliation to hostile attacks, with the pole to allow me to stay at a safe distance for close range reactions. The lig—" "That was a rhetorical question! No pony should be carrying this kind of stuff, much less use it on another pony!" Twilight shouted as she glared at Moonlit. "Your methods are completely unethical!" "Ethics just slow down the pursuit of knowledge. In order to advance our understanding of the world and what lays beyond, we must be ready to do anything to obtain the answers yet to be discovered," Moonlit stated in a neutral tone. "Ethics are what keeps ponies from doing horrible things such as raising the dead! Ponies need morality, otherwise society would fall apart at the seams!" Twilight cried out, as Sapphire blinked while stepping back, putting some distance between her and the pair. "...Or maybe Skyward was right about Moonlit being crazy..." Fluttershy finally conceded, as the other elements were gathering together with Skyward sticking to Pinkie's side. "Morality, something that is easily ignored by ponies that desire to take advantage of others for their own financial gain. I highly doubt that the 'morals' of society is as effective as you believe." "I reckon that this mare has more than a few screws loose, for I don't know a wick of this science mumbo jumbo she was talking about. But even I know that you don't stick a camera down a pony's throat just to take pictures," Applejack commented. "Morality is what keeps our neighbors from just waltzing into our homes to take whatever they want! I'll admit that there are ponies that ignore such basic levels of respect to their fellow ponies, but that is what laws are for, with the guards there to enforce them. In fact, I don't know how you're not arrested for violating some pony with your 'examinations'!" Looking at the group, Skyward said, "I told you so... but we can still throw a party, right Pinkie?" as he turned his attention towards said mare. "Quite simple, since I travel the world with my clan while on the search for the Arulas clan, we aren't subjected to the laws that are observed in the settlements of the lands we visit. Furthermore, I do serve as one of my clan's doctors, hence my observational methods and examinations are permitted for the greater well-being of the clan." Pinkie smiled as she nodded furiously while saying, "Oh course! Even if Moonlit is a weird and maybe a bit of a meanie for wanting to stick that tube up Sapphire's butt, everypo—" "She wanted to do what with my butt‽" Sapphire yelled as she turned around to face Pinkie, as Rainbow and Applejack turned to look at Pinkie in shock as well. Shrugging, Pinkie answered, "Yeah, the rectum is located in your rear, so to stick that tube into rectum me—" "I get the point now, thanks Pinkie!" Sapphire shouted as she turned her attention towards Moonlit. "There is no way in Tartarus that I'm going to do any of these examinations you want to do! In fact, you're crazy! So crazy, that somepony needs to put you away for the safety of others!" Sapphire screamed as she pointed a hoof at Moonlit, who remained emotionless despite Sapphire's outburst. "...I see that you will be unlikely to commit to aiding me in the research of your body's potential functions, then there is an alternative route that you can take that wouldn't be as intrusive," Moonlit replied, causing Twilight, who was angry mere moments ago, to blink in confusion. "Wait, you have an alternative route planned if Sapphire refused your demands?" Twilight asked, as Sapphire's left eye twitched at the thought of letting Moonlit have her way in some form. "And why would I agree to this 'alternative route'?" Sapphire growled out as she started to grind her teeth together. "Cause I will pursue studying you, and I only have two methods that I will use. So either you do the alternative, or I will pursue my preferred method of study," Moonlit answered, to which Sapphire started to feel like one of her blood vessels will pop soon. "Will... this alternative form prevent you from laying a hoof, or a spell, on me?" Sapphire muttered out as she resisted the urge to just encase this mare in a block of ice and throwing her as far away from Ponyville as she can. "Yes, and along with that, you will be unlikely to see me through this alternative route," Moonlit replied, as Twilight got a bit curious and was about to open the other saddlebag when Moonlit grabbed it back with her magic before she could see its contents. "Fine, as long as I don't have to deal with you," Sapphire grunted out, only to see Moonlit nodded before reaching into the other saddlebag to pull out a camouflage cloak. As the entire group was blinking in surprise, Moonlit said, "Time to commence observations of the alicorn mare known as Sapphire Rain," as she trotted off towards the nearest bush. Silence overtook the group as they stared at Moonlit who promptly jumped into the bush, until Rainbow finally broke it when she commented, "I think Sapphire just got her first stalker."