Chapter 7

It’s been a couple weeks since Master brought me back home to help with his work. In the morning and evenings, he’s been trying to help me get my memory back, but everything is still really hazy. I don’t know what I would do if he wasn’t here, though.
What Master does is really incredible. He finds hurt ponies, like me, and fixes them up nicely. He’s always on his computer, looking for any distress calls, or else keeping an eye on New Equestria. Sometimes, while he’s working, I’ll sit and watch the town on his screens. All the ponies seem to be so happy in their home, and I can’t wait to go back there again. Of course, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than here, helping Master. He says that the ponies he’s treating right now should be ready to go home in another few days, which makes me really happy. They’re still recovering, but today is a special day; Master said I could meet the two of them.
He was down in the recovery room as I watched some kind of sporting event occurring in New Equestria. I’d have to remember to ask Master about that; it sure looked fun. Heck, maybe I had been on a team before I lost my memories. There were just so many questions I had about my past life…
My thoughts were interrupted by the door opening; I rushed over and nuzzled Masters leg.
“Hey, Angel! Good to see you too.” He scratched behind my ears, smiling down at me. “I’ve just been checking on our new friend down there. He should be ready for a hello in-“ his fingers paused on my head for a moment as he looked up on the screens. “Angel Grace, I need you to do me a favor, alright?” his voice had changed, become…colder. Had I done something wrong?
He rose to his full height, fingers flying across the keyboard. “I need you to hide. It doesn’t matter where, just not down there and not in here.” One by one, the screens blacked out, then replaced with shots of the pony down in the safe room from all angles. I slinked back towards the steps, and he shook his head vigorously. “Look, get in here.” He lifted up a panel, and I crawled inside. Oh, this place was warm. “Stay out of sight.” He hissed, and I moved into the shadows as heavy footfalls came down the stairs. Master lowered the panel and stood up again.
A pair of shiny shoes stopped in front of my hiding place. “I expected more from you, Doctor. You promised me a working prototype by now.” The voice was deep, gravelly, and emotionless.
“There’s been unexpected side effects.” Master told the other voice, both sets of shoes moving closer to the computers. I pressed myself against the back of the compartment I was in.
“As you can see, the subject is still struggling against the transformation. Everything works, physically, but I simply cannot get them to accept the mental programming. The serum simply isn’t ready.”
“A shame.” The voice replied coldly. “I’ve invested millions in your research, Doctor. I have seventeen buyers who want their own personal pet. I’m curious if my own team might not be able to get better results.”
Masters voice took on a slightly panicked tone. “No, you can’t!” he took a moment to breathe, then went on. “I mean, it would take too long to get them up to speed, and I’ve nearly got just the right mix. This next batch will do it, I’m sure. You remember our agreement, though? The first success is mine to keep. Once I have proof of concept, you’ll have more ponies than you can sell.”
“If you’re so sure, then let me put it this way. You have until the end of the month to show me a pet pony. If you don’t, I’ll have to cut my losses. Good day, Doctor.” The shoes started to walk away, then paused a moment. “And I believe that agreement hinged on you providing a prototype in a reasonable amount of time. I have an anxious buyer; he gets the first success. You can keep the second.”
The shoes vanished from my vision, and a moment later, I heard them going up the stairs. I moved back towards the panel Master had lifted, waiting. He was slumped in his chair, head in his hands. After a few minutes of watching him, I tapped my hoof against the panel lightly. He looked up, and a smile crossed his features as he lifted the panel, letting me out. I trotted out, jumping into his lap when he sat back down.
“What was that all about, Master?” I asked, looking up at him. Whoever that other person was, he had really scared Master.
Master shook his head, petting me gently. “Nothing you have to worry about, my precious Angel Grace. Just some old business. So, how about meeting-“
An explosion suddenly rang out in the large room above it. Master jumped to his feet, and I landed on the floor, looking up. “What the blazes?!” he exclaimed, bolting up the stairs. I followed close at his heels.
At the top, there was a massive hole in the side of the warehouse, very close to where Masters house was. Two male humans were standing there, covered in soot, and next to them was a familar blue pony, coughing heavily.
Master took this all in, and turned around quickly; I followed his gaze, seeing an older man in a suit. His eyebrow was raised, and there was a calculating grin on his face as he looked at me.
“Not ready yet, huh, Doctor?”