1 The Saving Birth
Hidden deep in the heart of the Everfree forest, a lab was running silently. Many ponies were working away at a secret project that very few individuals were allowed to know about. Even fewer were actually able to access and work on said project. Princess Celestia had ordered that a new type of guard be artificially created. Ones that could be made so that if war ever broke out, then Equestria would be heavily fortified. To begin, the scientist started out by trying to create just one individual.
There was a white pony with white fur and a jet black mane and tail standing over a panel running several equations at once. The mare was tapping away as the calculations were processed. The black-haired horse wore a lab coat over a black t-shirt and had on blue jeans. “Damn it!” She suddenly exclaimed as her team jumped, looking at the equine. She sat above the screen, looking at it in dismay. She shook her head and rested an elbow on the side of the screen, holding her head with a hand. “We keep failing at our chances to make this right…”
The team looked at each other nervously, not sure what to do. A few other ponies went back to work, looking at the boss timidly every once in a while. Rumors were going around between several that they were about to be laid off. Tensions rose on the spot as things boiled over for the past months.
Eventually, another mare approached the boss. Her mane was a vibrant turquoise blue with white streaks spread throughout it. The tail on her rear end matched the hair, and her fur was a soft brown. She also wore a lab coat but had on a silver t-shirt and black leggings. As the small equine approached the boss, she cleared her throat. “Chemie…?” She called. “Are you okay…?” She asked nervously.
The boss mare, actually named Chemie Herz, looked up at the blue-maned pony. “No, Melody… I am not okay in the slightest.” She gave a very stiff sigh as the board in front of her dinged. “We have been at this for many moon cycles, and I have not had anything to show for it…” She whined as the pain in the mare’s voice. “This is the last shot our team has, and if it does not work out, then we are fu-“ She caught herself. “Screwed...”
Violet flinched at Chemie’s near cursing. There is one thing that Violet’s boss didn’t do, and that is utter a curse. Violet, whose full name was Violet Melody, shook her head as well. “I really wish I knew what to do, Chemie.” Melody tried her best to not whine with that statement. “The team here really wants you to succeed.” The vibrant-maned mare tried to cheer her boss up.
Herz looked at Violet for a moment before a small smile formed on her lips. Herz sat up and chuckled some. “Out of everyone here, you always have been the most positive.” The boss stood up and moved to the zygote that the team was preparing. “I believe that you are the one variable in this equation that helps us solve the problem.” Her smile faded. “Optimism can only go so far…” Herz’s eyes wavered some as she looked at the screen, sighing again. “One more hail mary attempt…”
Melody nodded as the team worked on making the genetic modifications to the clump of cells on the magnified screen. “If anything…” Violet started. “We can go home with the knowledge that we did our best.” She went quiet, somberly staring up at the screen.
After about thirty minutes of watching the science team work on the zygote, the cells seemed ready to be inserted into the test tube. Chemie steeled her nerves as she waited. The ponies around her watched the boss in anticipation. After a solid minute of waiting, Chemie spoke. “Go.” The simple command was given, and the zygote was planted into the artificial womb.
As the clump of cells made its way into the test tube, the team of scientists held their breaths collectively. Time felt like it started to slow as the zygote started for the walls. The seconds turned into minutes as the team watched with bated breath. After five minutes, the cells latched onto the artificial uterine chamber. “Please…” Chemie bit her tongue as the final results came in. After several tense moments, a green light lit up. The screen that held the magnified zygote read: “Implantation successful.”
It took several moments for that news to register. Chemie was the first to break the silence. “We did it!” She cheered, and the team erupted into celebration. “Down to the wire as well.” Herz sighed in relief as she went back to the chair and sat down. After a few moments of rest, she cleared her throat. “Everyone, we need to remember that this is only the beginning and that we have more work ahead of us.” She reminded the workers. “Do not let this one victory allow us to get conceited. This is only the first step in the long road!”
The crew settled down and went back to their work. The tension in the air faded after this revelation, and things brightened tremendously.
Violet approached Chemie again. “Well, it looks like we are on the way to make the Princess happy.” She beamed at the boss. “The payout will be grand.”
Chemie nodded. “I have to agree, Violet. Things are going to be looking up.” She suddenly grimaced.
“Chemie…?” Violet asked, now concerned.
Chemie shuddered slightly, shaking it off. “Ju-Just had a bad feeling that something would go wrong…”
Violet frowned. “If you think like that, then you are just asking for trouble…”
The boss mare shook herself some. “I know…” She huffed. “Sometimes, you can’t help but let those thoughts ring into your head,” Chemie stated simply. “Now, I think the team needs to rest.” She suggested standing up. “But, I need someone to watch the experiment.”
“Oh, I’d love to do it.” Violet smiled. “I would like to care for another child. I can’t have a third after Equinox.”
Chemie tilted her head at Melody for a few moments. She seemed hesitant after they had such a day. “If you are sure, then I will let you. If you need to rest, then try to do it in shifts…”
“I am fine, Chemie! I promise!” Violet rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “I still have my motherly instincts!”
Chemie smiled, rolling her eyes. “Alright. If anything comes up, you have my emergency line.” Chemie turned to leave. “Also, you better hug Equi for me when you are off tomorrow~.” The mare called as she left, chuckling.
After everyone had left Melody to her new duty, she double-checked to make sure that she was the only pony there. Violet smiled to herself giddily. She moved back to the test tube. The experiment couldn’t be seen, but the vibrant mare still watched the artificial walls. “Oh, dearie.” She started. “I cannot wait until you are here!” She giggled like a school filly who received a love letter.
There was a light breeze that blew through the laboratory. Melody shivered a bit as she looked towards the windows. They were all closed, and there was no other sign of a possible explanation of where it came from. The brown-furred mare pulled her lab coat over herself more as there was a feeling of a presence behind her.
“Perhaps I can help with that~.” A voice came behind Violet.
Violet yelped loudly as she spun one hundred eighty degrees around and then gasped at the sight that was waiting for her.
A very regal being stood before Violet. The feminine creature had a soft smile on her face, and the creature’s fur was cloud white. The arms on this being had similarities to a snow tiger. Large, lace-like wings were folded against her back, and her long tail resembled a dove’s tail. The creature stood tall and had antlers on her head that looked like an antelope.
Violet gulped as she looked up at her, now shaking slowly. “Wha-Who-What are you doing here?” The white mare seemed to be close to having a panic attack.
“Oh, I am only here to ensure that these ponies you are trying to create are not used for destructive purposes.” The being said in a cordial tone. “I am Tranquility, and I am a Draconequus of peace~.” Tranquility introduced herself.
Violet gulped at the Draconequus. “I-I can’t let you disrupt the experiment!” Melody exclaimed as she stood in front of the tank that held the embryo. “You are nuts to think I am going to let all we have done go to waste!”
“Oh, on the contrary, my dear.” Tranquility gently picked Violet up in a telepathic hold. “They may be super soldiers still, but I have to adjust them a slight bit so that they won’t cause much trouble~. Now, I am just going to have you take a nice restful nap while I work my magic, Violet Melody.” She chimed in a friendly tone as one of her wolf paws started to light up. “Hope you don’t mind~!”
Violet tensed hard as she watched the paw start to glow. “Please don’t destroy the wor-“ The white mare was cut off by the Draconequus, offering her hand at Melody. Melody instantly went to sleep and was limp in the grasp of the magic.
Tranquility gently lay Violet down. “Sweet dreams, dearie.” She turned to the vat that held the embryo, smiling gently. “Now, what shall I do with you, my new daughter?” She gently tapped her claws against the glass.
After a bit of a wait, a noise drew the attention of Tranquility. The snowy white Draconequus turned towards the sound. “You know you do not need to hide when it’s just us, love.” She smiled at the darkness.
A figure materialized in the spot that Tranquility was standing. Another Draconequus stood there, looking at the other, smirking a bit. The feminine figure was clad with tights and a loose-fitting shirt. The head of this Draconequus was a light grey, and her long black hair flowed down just past her neck. She had the left arm of a reptile, a brown bear’s right arm, a fox’s right leg, and a zebra’s left leg. However, the most striking figure was the large black and white skunk tail that protruded from her rear. “What~?” The newcomer cooed in a sultry voice. “And miss the chance to scare you, Lily~?”
Tranquility rolled her eyes. “See, that is unfair as if I scare you, I get severely hurt, but if I get scared, then the most you are going to get is a slight huff~.” She gave a slight huff to make her point. “Now, Hostility. I have more work to do before things get out of control here.”
Hostility snickered a bit. “You know I go by Li now~.” She teased in response. “Guess you only do that when you are fairly annoyed, eh~?” The skunk Draconequus asked as she floated over near the other. Her face fell as she looked into the tank. “So, what is the plan here?” Her tone fell to that of boredom.
“Well, I have thought about taking one from your book.” Lily clicked her tongue as she stared into the tank as well. “However, I won’t do it to make them suffer.”
“And where is the fun in that?” Li smiled as she looked into the tank with her fangs reflecting in the glass.
“I am confident that this won’t fail.” Tranquility turned her head to Hostility. “It can’t fail. A war would destroy Equestria…”
“And if it goes wrong…?” Li raised a brow at Lily.
The snowy white being fell silent for a bit. Her eyes darted back and forth. “If by chance it does fail… Then you can get your usual, ‘I told you so’ victory…” Lily snorted. “Not going to happen this time, love…”
Li smirked with a glint of amusement in her eyes. Her curiosity satisfied, she slowly turned her back to her fellow Draconequus. “Well, if you are going to do this, then this is your chance~” She teased as she offered her plume of a tail to Lily. “Just try to be gentle~.”
The snowy white Draconequus flinched hard as she looked at the large tail that was thrust into her personal space. After taking a moment to remember the deal, Lily nodded. “Yes, right…” She sighed a bit as the fear wore off. She gently put her paws on Li’s gigantic tail. The feeling of the plume was incredibly soft. The tail felt like silk; it was so soft. Tranquility shuddered, shaking her head to regain her composure. “Yes, right…” She delicately plucked some hair from the skunk Draconequus’s tail.
Hostility snickered, raising her tail high into the air. “Plucking hair from a Draconequus who is a skunk is a terrible idea~” Li taunted further. “You should know better than that!”
Tranquility flinched as her friend did so. “Don’t!” She protested. “Not here an-anyway!” She backed up against the container that held the embryo. In a bit of panic, Tranquility pushed the hair that she plucked into the tube. As it went in, the hair morphed into a type of essence, and it went into the clump of cells. They flashed with a bit of magic as they combined. The deed was done.
Li smirked back at Lily before snickering and lowering her tail, and turning to her friend. “Oh well then.”
Lily paused for a moment. Her eyes wavered as she looked at the clump of cells in the tank. “It won’t…” She said adamantly before turning away. “Why would they want a hybrid pony that will have a kind heart…?” The white Draconequus waved a hand, and a portal opened. “They want a killer? I am giving them a sweetheart.” She stepped through the gate.
Li shook her head. “You should have thought this through before going through with it…” She opened a portal as well. She turned to the tank one last time. “This can only end well…” With that, the skunk Draconequus slid through.
After about three hours, Melody sat up, holding her head. She groaned as he slowly got to her feet and shook herself off. “What a weird dream…” The odd-colored mare yawned hard. She started to turn towards the vat that held the embryo. “I thought I sa-“ Her eyes went wide as dinner plates, and the color drained from her face. She bolted to the phone and frantically dialed for her boss’s number. “Ch-Chemie!” She gasped. “We got a huge problem!” She nearly screamed on the phone as she turned towards the tank.
Where the embryo had once been, there was a small black filly. Its mane was long in the back and had puffed up around the front with a bit hanging over her eye. However, there was something more striking about her. The little being had two striking white stripes that ran down her back and along her tail.