”Whoa…can someone tell me where I am? I’m hot…” the young foal moaned. He’d just been thrown onto what seemed like a dentist’s chair. The feeling of intrusion that came with such an experience was ten times greater here. The colt had no idea of his location, or even who he was. In the heat of the moment he’d lost all memory.
“Guys…anyone? Gimme an answer!” At only four or five years of age – he himself wasn’t even sure which right now – Game was an impatient and angry colt. His nature as kind and welcoming, albeit upbeat to the point of annoyance, incredibly frustrated just about everyone he knew. This led him to feel very isolated.
He definitely had enough fury inside him to fight anyone he saw as an enemy, but he chose not to for fear of the consequences. Those had been outlined to him far too many times, and he pictured anyone with the lack of brains to defy the boundaries as futile. It wouldn’t work. Besides, what satisfaction was there in that anyway? Would it make one appear stronger than the enforcers of such rules?
Anyone who could defy an Equestrian Royal Guard was exactly that. Nightmare Moon was more than some playground bully – if she were to defy Equestrian authority, the lives of all Equestrians would be locked into the prison of darkness Nightmare Moon plotted to hail as an eternal night. Forever. Just as she'd attempted about nine hundred and eighty-one years ago. And the scientists in this very laboratory sought to turn the tables by strengthening earth ponies in a way that was supposedly cheaper and more powerful than training alone.
“What’s the hold-up? Anyone? Anyone?! I want out! What’re you planning? Take me hooooome!”
…
“Close your eyes, and think.”
Within a second, one color remained in the colt’s mind – a strange, shifting burgundy. A moment later, even that mystery had vanished. He’d turned from a curious, furious mess of memory to complete nothingness in an unthinkably short amount of time.
A few minutes later, faint and muffled noises floated through Game’s half-conscious mind – there they’d remain on waking.
“Stop what you’re doing! This whole thing’s a farce!” These cries followed a door slamming against the wall, opened with overwhelming force.
“Excuse me? What makes you say such a thing? I wholeheartedly believe that this trial is foolproof, cheap and a revolution for the Royal Guards of the future! It may save us much more complicated processes in the near future!” This voice seemed fairly pompous and maybe a little too self-convinced.
“False, false and false! I can’t let you go on! By all means, if you’d like to do the honors of terminating this poor young stallion, I’ll let you, but I won’t let you present this as evidence! It’s all lies, damned lies and statistics!”
“Hmph.” The haughty voice seemed to see reason in the oppressor’s argument. “I suppose I did twist the tale slightly. But if this colt joins the Guard in future, perhaps our Princess might see the light! I’ll have my victory then. My intentions are only for the good of Equestria. Now, please leave and allow me to finish my work.”
“What a waste of a life…I can’t see this colt living a straightforward life! The foal won’t know his own strength…” The activist seemed to sigh, feeling as though he’d forgotten to say something. “I suppose royal decree isn’t enough to stop some people.” The slow, solemn hoofsteps of the mare echoed through the room.
“…what was that, madam? Never mind. I’ll carry on. Besides, we’re nearly done anyway.
Now where were we...Game Changer?”