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// Plans For Population Control 
// Story: Twilight Sparkle Goes to the Dark Side of Science 
// by Brian Jacko 
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	Twilight Sparkle flew across the skies in a golden chariot to Canterlot. She was on her way to visit the Princess after receiving a very important message. When the chariot touched ground, she got out and began to run up to the gates where the royal guards were stationed. 

The guards put their hooves to their foreheads as they saluted Twilight Sparkle. "Welcome Princess Twilight Sparkle!" one of the guards said as he opened the gate for her to enter.

Twilight Sparkle hurried through the gates. Once the guards opened the main entrance doors to the palace, she quickly hurried inside.

"Clop, clop, clop." The sound of Twilight's golden shoes resonated throughout the palace. The floors of the palace were so pristine and shiny that she could see her own reflection. Twilight hurried up the stairs and entered a room that was so secret and private that not even her guards were allowed to enter. 

"Princess Celestia, I'm here! What is the matter!?" Twilight asked.

The Princess was pacing the floor like a mad pony back and forth across the room. The shades were drawn and it was very dark inside the room. The Princess looked over to Twilight with the most worried look on her face and said, "Twilight, how did the speech go?"

Twilight bit her lower lip and said, "I'm sorry Princess, but the ponies are very upset about your new proposals and they were very angry with your new decree. I had to cut my speech short when one of the guards informed me of a very urgent letter from you."

Princess Celestia shut her eyes tightly and grinded her teeth in agony. "We have to do something, Twilight! I fear that I will be overthrown and killed. The population of Ponyville has gotten so large and if there were ever to be a rebellion, then I don't think our guards would be able to stop it. We have to come up with a new plan to keep us safe. You do know that Princess Luna left us and went to rule elsewhere because of what is going on. This is why I have left you with the responsibility in raising the moon. I even had Discord turned back to stone because he began to question me. Princess Cadence has also left us to rule another part of the world with Princess Luna too."

"What kind of plan do you have in mind, Princess?" Twilight asked.

Princess Celestia kept pacing back and forth in the small room. She was so fearful for her life that ludicrous things were running through her mind. She suddenly stopped pacing and looked down at Twilight Sparkle with a very serious look on her face. "We have to reduce the population of Ponyville. I know that the ponies were furious when I introduced the killing of preborn foals that I called abortions, being allowed by the medical professionals, but it is not enough. We know that abortions are known to cause cancer to the mothers that get this procedure, but it's still not killing off enough of the population."

Twilight Sparkle gasped. "Princess! How can you even suggest such a thing?"

The Princess became angry and shot back at her, "This is my life we are talking about Twilight, and your life may be in danger too. Remember, I have the power to strip you of your royalty and your wings. I might even have you killed for disagreeing with me."

Twilight Sparkle gulped at that thought and bowed down low to Princess Celestia. "Your wish is my command Princess! How can I help bring about your plan?" she asked with a slightly quivering voice. 

The Princess straightened up and said, "Twilight Sparkle, you are the most knowledgeable and scientific pony that is known throughout all of Equestria. I have special labs set up in the basement of this palace so you can do scientific experiments. I need you to create some kind of genetically modified virus that would wreck havoc on Ponyville."

Twilight Sparkle gulped. "I-I-I..." she stuttered. "Can I at least tell my best friends to stay indoors during this plague?"

The Princess nodded her head with approval. "Yes, that is the only exception though. I need to have as many causalities as possible, but you may keep your friends safe. After this event, we will need to come up with new fraudulent medical treatments and statistics, in order to pretend to show the ponies of Ponyville that we care about them while giving off the illusion that we are helping them."

Twilight Sparkle felt a drop of sweat run down the side of her head. "How dangerous do you need this virus to be, Princess?"

The Princess stared down at her with great intensity in her eyes and said, "DEADLY!" 

Twilight Sparkle spoke in a shaky voice again and said, "W-w-w-when would you like me to start my Princess?"

"NOW!" the Princess said in a demanding voice. 

Twilight Sparkle bowed very low to the ground. "I will get right to it," she said.

"Come with me," The Princess said as she walked past Twilight and used her magic to open the door. 

Twilight Sparkle walked behind the Princess as she nervously looked around the palace. 

Princess Celestia opened a door and went down a spiraling stair case. 

Twilight Sparkle followed behind her. She looked at the torches on the wall that were eternally lit with a special kind of magic to illuminate the way into the dark basement. Once they reached the bottom, two guards stood at attention. They instantly saluted the Princesses and opened the doors. 

Princess Celestia had hired extra royal guards throughout the palace to keep her safe. 

Twilight looked around the room. It was very dark and musty inside. She looked at all the supplies of test tubes, syringes, microscopes, tongs, and a host of other scientific goodies to do experiments with. 

What goes on in the basement, stays in the basement. Do not let any other pony know, besides me, about what you are doing down here. After you create this new disease, we need to cover up what we did and pretend to help the hurting ponies. Once you finish your task down here we can discuss that later. Good luck Twilight. I will come back to check on you later. We must rule the ponies with an iron hoof." The Princess left the room and the door slammed with such force that it echoed throughout the basement. 

Twilight gulped and then said, "I guess I'd better get started."