//------------------------------// // 1 // Story: Mindwipe // by Rostok //------------------------------// “This pair are quite extraordinary. After immersion in ice for at least 14 hours, if not more, their tissues show no signs of damage or degradation. Indeed, I am astounded that their metabolic system or cardiovascular system has not failed, considering the presence of almost fatal hypothermia. The lack of muscle atrophy suggests they have spend no more than a couple of weeks encased. Physically, both must be in their mid-twenties, yet neither have flank-emblems, or “cutie-marks” on them, something nigh-unheard of in our society. Most interesting is their encephalographic signatures. While the areas of the brain associated with instinctive behavior are functioning perfectly, many other areas controlling social interaction, coordination, speech and memory seem to be scrambled beyond healing by magical means. Most alarming is the gray matter connected to the female's horn. The neural signals there are transmitting sporadically, if at all, and create patterns past what I thought possible. Thankfully, the logic and deduction functions seem fairly unharmed, even highly developed in both of their cases. Despite this, should they be woken, I suspect at least some forms of mild psychiatric issues in the very best case, possibly even insanity.” “In Equestriani please professor, even a skilled magic user like me found that to be complete gibberish. I did advanced first aid in training, and I still have no idea what an 'encephalographic signature' is.” “Well Shining, since you so nicely, they both seem alive, physically healthy even, yet mentally they-” “Look! They're waking up!” _ “Well, young stallion, what's your name?” The stallion opposite Professor Organic Process sat motionless. His eyes were fixed onto the Professor, regarding him with and iron gaze. He made no reply, instead moving to shield his compatriot, the diminutive mare, doing her best to avoid the gentle looks of both Organic and the Commander of the Royal Guard, Shining Armour. Both of the patients, at a glance, seemed to be normal ponies, in body and colouring. Yet differences ran deeper than a mere glance. The fur of both had a sheen to it, creating a white shine to her lilac hue. This white gleam hardened to solid, distinct white tendrils around her horn, climbing it like the vines of a wild plant. The stallion's gray coat was dappled, with individual hairs of purple and blue creeping across his tall, yet almost skeletal body. Perhaps strangest of all were their eyes. The white conjunctiva had a bluish, unhealthy tinge to it, contrasting with charcoal gray irises, embedded with sharp, shining gold spots. These eyes met the Professor's kindly smile, rejecting it. “So, can you speak, either of you?” No reply. “Can you understand me? Just a nod will do.” The Professor pulled out his notebook and pencil, offering it to the pair. After no response, he wrote “Can you read?” in large letters. At this the Stallion was confused, perplexed as to what the strange symbols on the page meant, examining each one in turn. “Can you write your name for me?” The male reverted back to his trademark glare, his eyes showing no sign of recognition, while the female cowered behind him, shuddering in fear. Neither moved, both simply staring at the unfamiliar surroundings. The Professor turned to Shining Armour, a concerned look on his face. “It seems that they have lost all ability of speech unfortunately, which leads me to wonder what other damage has been done. Hopefully, they will be able to be rehabilitated, and return to normal, yet from their unnatural appearance, I can only speculate as to their origin.” They turned back to face them, preparing to leave the two anomalous ponies, suddenly seeing startling change. The mare was staring at Shining and the Professor intently, watching their every move, a determined and inquisitive look on her face. Behind her, the male was poring intently over the notebook, slowly attempting to copy and rearrange the pictorial hieroglyphics of the Equestriani language. Both stallions stiffened at the sight of them, stunned at their behaviour. The Professor, extracting his 'Handbook of Scientific Constants and Formulae', placed it slowly and deliberately onto the floor, sliding it towards the inquisitive stallion, still staring intently at the Professor's notebook. After the lack a reaction, he gestured carefully with his hoof, motioning for them to leave. As they backed away, the mare moved once more. Slowly extending her back legs, she began to stand, wobbling at moving off of the floor. Eventually reaching a precarious, splayed stance, her leg started to move in an imitation of a normal gait. As she did so, looking frightened beyond belief, she toppled over, legs sliding this way and that. Mewling in surprise, her body and legs writhed and wriggled, sliding across the floor in a futile attempt to return to the sitting position she had started in. Her cries brought barely any attention from what was assumed to be her brother, as he continued his concentration on the text. Eventually, after her repetitive attempts to get off of the floor, she curled up, crying and distressed at her futile situation, alarmed at her inability to even walk. The guard and the scientist both ducked out of the room, locking the door on it's unnerving contents. “This is very serious. Neither can function well, so it's inevitable that we must keep them confined here, preferably in isolation to prevent alarming the medical staff. How much do the Royal Sisters know of the situation here? I wouldn't want to go behind their backs on matters as important as this.” “Nothing more than that we've found these two, and they are of unknown origin. They gave me largely free reign over this, seeing as it's considered a security matter. if you need to, feel free to tell them, but duty calls, so I'm off. Don't worry, they don't bite.” Professor Process chuckled as Shining Armour trotted away, recalling his few meetings with Celestia, and her charming, down-to-earth ways. It stood out in his mind that she was always close to her subjects, and sympathetic to their woes. However, he still felt that was far too serious a incident for her and her sister not to control. Not only had two alien ponies arrived from thin air, according to investigators, there was almost no magical residue at the site of the ice-crater. This disturbed the Professor the most. While some had dismissed it, there was simply no possible method to cause the appearance without magic. As an expert in the role of magic in the environment, and it's effects, he could safely say that nothing known in Equestria was responsible. He hurried off to warn the Princesses. _ In another part of the castle, deep in the ancient, cold lower levels, the few royally appointed practitioners of the obscure field known as “Science” were receiving some very strange data. Blackboards were scrubbed clean, tickertape was laid out, and theorems and graphs started to take shape.