//------------------------------// // 7th Month and 8th Month // Story: Notes of a Researcher // by Kanthaka //------------------------------// Day 2nd, 7th Month. When we taught them Equestrian language, these Shiftlings picked it up quickly. They are able to communicate with the others normally like ponies once they finish their language learning session, especially with the other Shiftlings. If we released them into the land of Equestria, the ponies there wouldn't even notice the differences. Day 30th, 7th Month. Me and my stupid jinx. I should have noticed it sooner. The Shiftlings were secretly conspiring behind our backs all along. They managed to shut down all the power of the facilities and disable the entire drone guards. Not only that, they also helped the kidnapped ponies escape the facilities. Teaching them how to communicate is a bad idea. Now here I am, with no test subject ponies since the Shiftlings already helped them break free, no Shiftlings since all of them ran away with the other kidnapped ponies, and no progress at all in Amalgamation Project for creating the artificial Alicorns. I was surprised, however, that the Shifting has compassion and a kind heart to help the other ponies. Day 5th, 8th Month. Of course Lord Glycon was absolutely furious with the escaping Shiftlings and the captured ponies. It sends shivers down my spine every time I remember what Lord Glycon is going to do to us if this incident happens again. We have no choice but to temporarily hold everything in this place until we establish a new research facility. The current one has already taken too much damage and been exposed to outsiders as a result of the shiftlings and former captive ponies escaping. I will bring this book with me, just in case. Day 17th, 8th Month. While I took some time to rest, I wrote a summary of the Shiftlings. It might be useful for the future, especially when we have the time to hunt them down. Here are the following important points that should be noted about them : The Shiftlings were recently discovered through the failure of the Amalgamation Project. The Shiftlings are officially documented as the fourth type or tribe of ponies in our records. The Shiftlings are able to shift their physical form into either an unicorn, a pegasus, or an earth pony. The Shiftlings are able to wield magic in accordance with the physical form they've transformed into. The Shiftlings are not Changelings; they are 100% pure ponies. The Shiftlings gained their cutie mark the moment they were created. It's always in the shape of a triskelion, triquetra, or other triangular symbol, representing their ability to shift between three different types of ponies. The Shiftlings are not advised to ascend into Alicorns because they cannot fully control their Alicorn form. The Shiftlings are mostly distinguished by their phlegmatic temperament, though some Shiftlings have been observed to exhibit other temperaments. The Shiftlings may manifest indifference on the outside, but they are shown to have compassion on the inside. The Shiftlings are quite fast learners, especially in cognitive knowledge. Day 26th, 8th Month. Lord Glycon ordered us to seal away the facility and put all the current research in one giant archive. He also told us to destroy any magical properties that are not related to the research, including this book that I am writing right now. But I won't; it's too valuable as a backup of our record. So I will put this book in my personal drawer and lock it. This is going to be my last entry in the notes. I hope the one who discovers this book will be our own.