//------------------------------//
// Chapter one 
// Story: Subject Six 
// by Dogezon 
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Named Subject Six, she was amongst the earliest examples of the ponies we know today.

“Subject Six” stated the cold calculating voice, the source of which was unknown to the subject.

Subject Six grunted, but no audible response. This was expected, being the sixth test subject she was bound to have imperfections. The last test subject killed itself with its hooves, it had taken a week to clean the room, and this outcome was certainly to be avoided if it could. Funding for the project had turned south, and its entire outcome rested on this foal. The Observer was anxious for this to be a success, finding employment was hard nowadays. In order to avoid another death the test subjects now got ‘leisure time’, they were released into a confined area which replicated the horses natural habitat; for it was certain that despite increasing their intellect these ponies still retained the animalistic instincts of their less intelligent counterparts. Also exercise allowed testing of the subject’s stamina, vital for the work they were being prepared for. The Observer prepared to speak again, leaning towards the intercom
.
“Subject six, respond to your master” stated the Observer, trying his best to retain a calm, authoritarian tone of voice.

Subject Six was quivering in the corner, still uncertain where the voice emanated from. She had raised her hooves over her face and was franticly waving them, and was trying her best to make sense of this omnipresence. It was a sound she had never heard before, and it frightened her. The Observer noted her response, and decided that anymore exposure could potentially damage the subject’s mental state. As such Subject Six was left alone, in her metallic world. The purpose of these tests was to accustom the subject to the human voice, yet all involved had to remain detached from the subjects; slaves can’t expect friendship from their masters. And if shown friendship now, the subjects would crave what they missed, but if never shown love or care the subjects would become accustomed to indifference and expect nothing else.  Such was the world in which Subject Six lived, alone and scared; every day the omnipresent voice would return and every day for the next year she would hide in the corner, franticly thrusting her hooves in terror at the invisible noise, sometimes emptying her bowels.

Seeing that progress had not been made with Subject Six, the Observer became ever frustrated at the situation. Gradual Desensitization hadn’t worked; the subject’s fear hadn’t decreased in any noticeable way, and the constant bowel movements were affecting the subject’s health. As such the decision was made to switch to Desensitization; the Observer would constantly talk to subject six until her fear subsided. It was decided to start treatment immediately, the sooner the subject learned not to fear the human voice, but rather its tone, the sooner verbal communication could be taught. The Observer had not taken this decision lightly, the last subject killed themselves and the four before that had been failures. The board wasn’t allocating anymore funds to his project unless he got credible results. The others had passed this stage within a several months. Whilst knowing that this increased intellect allowed speech, the Observer wondered if it allowed complicated emotions; he had certainly been moved by the last words of the fifth subject. He dismissed these negative thoughts; he had to remain detached from the subjects in order to effectively train them. As such, unable to dismiss these thoughts, he leant once more towards the intercom, weighted down by these thoughts.

“Su…”

He didn’t even finish the word and already fear had taken its grip. Subject Six was once again curled in the corner, once more trying to defend herself against the unknown force which had invaded her entire world and left her helpless. Her hooves flared about franticly, tears worked their way painfully out of the tear sack as she sobbed at the unknown sound, and her inability to stop it. The Observer didn’t finish the word, or even attempt to, none of the other subjects had reacted this strongly at the first stage.  The subject’s response had not changed over the last month, and the subject’s sleep had become more and more restless. Action had to be taken soon, but he was afraid to take it. His career, his family, may depend upon this job, but he had begun to doubt whether he could do what that entails anymore. They always say that the first death is the worst, he wondered who they were; and whether or not they knew what responsibilities his work put upon him. Such thoughts were new to the Observer, having failed to train four subjects and, at least he thought, being responsible for another subjects death it was only natural to think such things; especially with Subject Six not looking like she’ll fare any better. If he showed the subject affection there will be a chance that she’ll overcome the fear, but a guarantee that the desired mind-set shall not be achieved. If showed kindness, even once, the subject will know what happiness is; and that memory shall be stored and provide a beacon of hope for the subject. He leaned into the intercom once more, but stopped himself.

Entering the subjects cell, he half felt pity for the creature; who, upon seeing his entrance, became more fearful than she ever had. Her hooves became steady, and her tears stopped. This was the first time she had ever seen another living thing in her entire life, and the foal was taken back. Attempting to stand her legs gave way, and she quickly found herself lying on the floor, her face looking in admiration at this being. The Observer was unmoved by this and stood, stiff, in the cell. He cleared his throat and began to speak, in a clear tone of indifference

“Subject Six, I am your master, you shall obey me at all times”

Upon hearing the noise she immediately identified the Observer as the source of the fearful omnipresent voice. The foal’s facial expression remained unchanged, and no bowel movements this time either, she had become so fearful that her body had frozen. The Observer attempted to move towards the foal, the subject crawled backwards. He turned around and left the room, confident that the association had been made. He slept easy that night.

The Observer was confident now that stage two could begin. He peered through the glass at Subject Six, and that same half pity he felt yesterday arose in him. Again he doubted whether he could do what his work demanded of him, and again he was reminded of the stakes. Subject Six had been awake all night. She had remained seated the whole time, still and un-flinching. Her perspective of the world had been forever changed, she was intelligent enough to know that as the thing, she knew not what it was, entered her metal world that she was not alone. That these grey walls, and the green outside, weren’t the only things in existents. That was the conclusion that she came to last night, and it had horrified her more so than the being or even the strange noise it emitted had. It had taken her the night to discover this, and her brain was so perplexed by the situation that it denied her sleep or any other thought but ‘why?’.  Why was she denied to see what lay beyond these walls? She stood now, and cantered ever so slowly to the east wall. Reaching out her hoof she placed it on the walls surface, and then quickly retracted it. The Observer would have described it as cold to the touch, she of course knew not of such words. Her curiosity was noted in small, precise, handwriting. The Observer put down his clipboard.

For the next five years indifference would reign. Subject Six would learn the art of speech, and how to read. Her metallic world would have new meaning to her, she couldn’t of course make conversation with the Observer but she became less fearful of him. The omnipresent voice became just a voice, and the books presented to her, though mere dictionaries and thesaurus, gave her a secret joy. She could make sense of the world around her now, describe what her eyes saw. But the question still lingered, why? As a foal she had no way of answering this, and as a filly she still knew not the answer, but she could think about it now. The multitude of words she knew allowed her to contemplate the question and, whilst an answer was not found, it was enough for her that she could at least think of one. She could speak, and read, and that was enough. The Observer could declare her ready now, and claim at least one success on his record. That too, was enough. Subject Six would appear before the board tomorrow and, if deemed ready, which the Observer had no doubt she would, would then procede to stage 3.