Getting Trixie in physical form was my duty for this mission. As much as none of us were concerned for her safety, Trixie was the only one who knew the access codes to the manehatten stronghold, and she was the most experienced with the enemy. Her intel was too valuable to lose, so if she was going to be useful to us, we would need her alive. Naturally, Twilight knew that Vinyl would not agree to helping the azure mare, so I was the next logical choice. It was odd being on the other end of a training program.

Trixie strained to do some sit ups as I stood next to her. She was having a hard time just doing twenty of them. There was no doubt she was out of shape. "Sweet Luna, what did you do when you worked with the darkness? Sit on your flank all day?"

Trixie groaned as she completed another sit up. "I was an agent, I never had to be in active combat."

I shook my head. "The leader should be ready to throw their blade into the battle too. The enemy should fear the general the most."

Trixie grinned. "Clearly you haven't met Spitfire and Hawk yet..."

I squinted as I listened. "Who?"

Trixie did a few more sit ups as she spoke. "Spitfire is the only mare who ever bested Rainbow Dash in combat. She even managed to hold her off when she had her element of harmony active. Not even the power of loyalty was enough to take her down. Far stronger than me."

I sat on a bench nearby as I watched her continue the instructed exercise.

"And Hawk..." She groaned again and fell back to the floor. "We were never sure of his story, but he is a force to be reckoned with. He does not fear death, and we always wondered how he got the scars on his face..."

"Sounds friendly." I joked.

"Far from it. Hawk never said much, but I've seen him fight. He's a lot stronger than Spitfire, and if Spitfire is stronger than Dash... Well you'll need a lot more than that sword to beat him. He's a griffon, a born fighter. He's an unstoppable force, I would rather fight two Rainbow Dashes than him." Trixie explained.

Could he really be as strong as she said he is? Could there actually exist a griffon that Rainbow Edge even would not be enough to slay?

"How'd he end up working for the darkness? It sounds like he never needed any assistance in being strong." I asked.

She shrugged. "Dunno, but I can say that Hawk isn't truly on the darkness' side, and that is more frightening than if he were. He is the only creature I know who willfully sides against Equestria, and the darkness."

"Why does he help it then?" I rose a brow.

"I couldn't tell you. I've never asked him, and I don't think anypony dared ask either. He isn't really a very approachable guy..." She said.

The thought fascinated me, nonetheless though he would still die if he stood in our way.

"So why are we coming out here?" Trixie groaned as she followed behind me.

The two of us had been trudging out into the ruins for a scheduled meeting. What was planned was too rowdy to do inside the city. I had set up a training exercise for her.

"Well, we need to get you some fighting experience, lucky for you I found a mare who volunteered. Though, she warns me she won't be pulling any punches." I explained.

"Sounds lovely..." Trixie retorted.

"That's the nicest compliment I've received in years." Another voice spoke as we watched a pink earth pony come out from behind an old rock. Her silky pink mane flowed gently in the wind, and her glasses looked rather ineffective with her mane always blowing in the way.

I'll never forget that scar right across her forehead. I had heard stories that she survived being shot in the head. Though her mental state was questionable.

"This is Dr. Pie." I introduced.

Trixie nodded and stepped forward. "Ah yes, the mad scientist. Your reputation is quite known in Equestria. I've already heard horror stories about you."

The good doctor laughed as she adjusted her glasses. "I'm flattered, though I'm far more dangerous than those stories tell. Seeing me in action is an entirely different experience, I assure you."

"Dr. Pie has agreed to be a sparring partner for you. I've been told she's very good in combat. I would suggest not holding back if you wish to survive this training. Over the next few days you'll be sparring with her." I explained.

Trixie sized up the pink pony and gave a look of uncertainty. It was clear she was skeptical of this creature's abilities.

"Shall we begin?" Pinkamena smiled as she drew her blade.

Trixie sighed and took a battle stance with her blade at the ready. "Alright... Let's see what you can do, doctor..."

Pinkamena grinned and bolted forward at amazing speeds. She began striking with fierce vigor. Trixie was just barely halting her attacks. Pinkamena's strength was incredible, certainly more than I had expected.

"Is that all? I'm not even trying yet!" The doctor teased.

Trixie grunted as she tried to strike back, however she was having difficulty finding an opening. Pinkamena moved with too much experience for the former unicorn to hit her.

Showing a little sympathy, Pinkamena lowered her sword. "I'll give you a free one. Hit me as hard as you can, just try not to kill me."

Trixie blinked and shook her head. "That would be dangerous..."

"And you need to get used to that danger. You're a weakling because you fear killing. You have to break that fear and not be afraid to strike." Pinkamena lectured.

"I thought this was just training..." Trixie reminded.

"It is, now strike me!" Pinkamena puffed out her chest. “I am training you to kill!” She reminded.

Letting ambition go, Trixie struck her blade right to Pinkamena's skull. I gasped thinking she may have actually killed the mare, but what amazed me more was what happened when the sword made contact. The metal blade shattered as it hit Pinkamena's skull. I couldn't believe it, she broke Trixie's sword with just her skull.

Trixie was trembling from what just happened in front of her. "H-how...?"

Pinkamena grinned. "Oops... I didn't mean to show my true power..."

True power?

"You can't win a fight only defending, Trixie." Pinkamena winked. "Be thankful you're only fighting me; Pinkie Pie is far worse." She added.

"So I've heard..." Trixie looked at her broken sword, still confused.

We would have to hold this conversation for later, because at that moment we realized that out of the surroundings, several savages made their way to us. There must have been at least twenty of them.

"Shit, this is a fantastic time to have a broken sword..." Trixie groaned as she stepped back towards Pinkamena.

I drew my blade, but even I wasn't arrogant enough to take on twenty by myself. Trixie was useless in a fight and had a broken sword to boot, so I was only hoping that Pinkamena was skilled enough to stand ten at once, that way we could cut the workload in half.

"I have to admit, this doesn't look good..." I replied.

"No ammo either, so all direct combat." Pinkamena reminded.

We didn't think we'd be needing ammunition for this exercise, but we never suspected so many savages would be close to the Canterlot region. They usually roamed much further away than this. They probably saw we were out here and came towards us.

"Can you handle ten of them?" I asked as the three of us backed ourselves against a giant boulder. At least we had our backsides covered.

Pinkamena grinned as she removed her glasses and handed them to Trixie. "Nope, I can handle all of them." She said.

Trixie blinked as she took the eyewear.

All of them?

Pinkamena took a confident stance and smiled to all the cannibals around us. She looked them all over and then returned her gaze to the center of the group. "Can you all understand Equestrian?"

They all chuckled at her question.

"Good, then you will understand my warning." She drew a line in the dirt with her hoof. "Don't dare try to cross that line if you want to live." She warned.

They all started laughing and took a few inches towards her.

"Your advance means you wish to fight me then?" She asked with a cocked eye.

One in the middle of the group chuckled as he responded. "Bring it on, meat..."

She nodded. "Very well then, but you'll regret that choice."

Pinkamena took a strained stance and looked to the ground. Groaning in pain, she began to emit a growl from her throat. Something was happening to her body, it was starting to crackle and slowly change shape. Her hooves sprouted claws, and her tail became solid and scaly. Her size began to grow as her body swelled. Teeth became fangs,and the growl was slowly becoming more fierce.

"What in the name of Celestia...?" Trixie gasped.

When the growl ended, there before us stood a full sized dragon. The savages began to step backwards.

With a swipe of her claw, she tore one of their heads off and roared. Gripping another in her mighty claw, she squeezed the life out of him before tossing his body into the crowd, knocking several to the ground.

One was foolish enough to challenge her and stand his ground. The dragon opened its mouth and roared loud enough for the heavens to hear. Then a split second later, chomped the pony in half and spit him out. The rest began to make their exit, but it was already too late for them. This foul beast wasn't about to let them walk away from this fight.

With another roar. It breathed fire in their direction and toasted half of them. The remainders were all scooped up in a claw and squashed. With their broken bones in her grasp, she hurled their lifeless corpses as far as she could, sending them miles in the opposite direction. One of them fumbled and collided into a rock, splattering as he did.

Once the dragon had finished its rampage, it lowered its head and emitted a low growl as it began to shrink in size, making the same crackling noise we had heard minutes before when the creature appeared before us. Only a few seconds later, Pinkamena stood where the monster stood.

Trixie held out her shattered blade in a threatening manner. "What the hell are you?"

Pinkamena placed her hoof on the remnants of the blade. With a smirk, she pulled and snapped the remains in half. "Put that away before you hurt yourself."

Trixie took another step back. "You didn't answer me... What are you?"

Pinkamena looked at me and smiled. "Something greater than you could possibly imagine... I am evolution... I am the beginning of a new age. Something your tiny brain could never comprehend..."

"Now I see why ponies fear you... You're a never ending source of surprises aren't you?" I replied calmly.

The doctor winked as she retrieved her glasses from Trixie. Placing them back upon her face she looked back to me. "I always felt like glasses made me look smarter. So even after I no longer needed them, I kept them." She said.

Finally answering my question she locked eyes with me. "And yes, I am."

"Don't you get it Scent? We are the answer that the world has been waiting for!" Pinkamena grabbed the young changeling's face with glee. "The only issue is we have not come at a time where they are prepared for such an answer... They are still too naive to comprehend..." She releases him and sat in thought for a moment. "However, we can keep it to ourselves until we perfect the process!" She grinned.

Scent was just trying to keep up with the eccentric mare. Often she confused him, either from his lack of education, or just general social awkwardness she had. Even as a changeling he understood that Dr. Pie was very atypical for a pony. There was so much about her that was "not right."

"I don't quite follow... How is my blood the answer to the world's problems?" Scent asked with a cocked eye.

She pranced over to him and placed a hoof around his neck. "Your ability to change. That could be key to solving medical problems."

"What kind of medical problems?" He asked.

"Every medical problem." She grinned.

"But the transformation is cosmetic only. It doesn't change anything but appearance..." He pointed out.

The young doctor released him and smiled. "Yes, however with some minor modification... This gene that allows for this transformation..." She paused as she locked eyes with him. With his sky blue eyes, he watched her. "We can modify our very DNA at will..."

He blinked. "Huh?"

She trotted over to the precision lasers and started fiddling with a few controls. "Imagine, we could make our bodies immune to any disease, any ailment, medical science would be unnecessary. Everypony would be equal in appearance, strength and vitality. We could achieve true equality..."

"And what about us? We're the test subjects for this crazy new gene?" He responded.

She shook her head and approached slowly. "Oh no... We'll be much more than that. We can not trust this gene with the current world, they're not fit for this power..."

"What then?"

She grinned as she placed a hoof upon his cheek. "You and I will create a new world. You and I will be the Adam and Eve of this new world. In just a few generations we shall ensure that our kind will become the dominate species of this planet."

Scent looked to her hoof, but remained silent.

"And when it is done..." She strokes his cheek lightly. "We shall rule over this new world... As king and queen. What say you to that?"

Scent paused and sat in thought. It didn't take him long however to look up to her with a smile. "Lead away my queen..."

She returned the grin. "Then we'll build a new world."

Trotting alongside Pinkamena, we kept close as we made our way back to Canterlot. "This is absolutely ludicrous, so according to your story, you fused your DNA with some odd changeling, and now you can shape shift into anything you want?"

The good doctor shook her head. "False. I have modified my DNA to be breakable. Changeling transformation is merely aesthetic, while mine is a genetic change."

Trixie placed a hoof on the mare. "What does that mean?"

Pinkamena stopped and looked at her. "It means I can rewrite my biology whenever I like. Meaning when I transform into you, I become you. Scans will indicate that I am you, and I can adopt all of your physical traits, right down to your birthmarks."

"Impossible, if I had marks you've never seen, how could you replicate them?" She asked.

"Right now, I can see your genetic code. All I need to do is look at a pony and I can see their genetic make up, its part of the trait." Pinkamena explained.

I finally chimed in. "Can you die?"

She turned to me and adjusted her glasses. "My cells replicate faster than they die. It is an isolated gene I added, so my offspring won't inherit it. Essentially, I can not die of age, or disease and it would take a significant amount of damage to destroy me. So the short answer is no."

"Then we'll have no choice but to trust you." I grinned.

She returned the grin and nodded. "I suppose you will."