"Is this necessary?" Ruy asked his father as they were making their way to the laboratory.
"It is if we want to keep our reputation as the top magical technology providers in Neighpon!" Crowned Diamond scoffed at his eldest son's question.
Little Butterfly followed his father quietly. He had learned long time ago to not ask unwanted questions, especially when father was unhappy. And if what his father had said earlier was true, after these tests, he could finally be a useful part of the family company!
The lab was buzzing with scientists working under Diamond who were all shouting numbers to each other and writing down test-results. Shô had only been in the lab one time before, and he did not remember that day with smiles, so he took solace near his big brother as many times before. Crystal Dragon looked around the unicorns working in the lab. He could sense the urgency in their step, in their voices. He had a bad feeling about this all. He noticed his father being ushered away from them ad the head scientist whispered something to his ear.
"What? What do you mean it's not ready for testing?" Diamond whispered, keeping his commanding tone in his voice.
"I'm sorry Kongō-sama! It's still too unstable to be tested on a pony!" the head scientist apologized, urgency in his voice.
"You told me it was ready to be tested not two hours ago!" Diamond demanded.
"I did, but I didn't mean on a pony!" the scientist whispered, looking at Shô worryingly.
"We don't know the... we can't tell if it would be..." she was stopped as Diamond took a strong step towards her and snarled at her.
"We will run the tests, today, right now, or you all lose your jobs!"
The scientist simply bowed her head and galloped to the others, still shouting results to each other.
Diamond raised his head. He didn't know the risks, and he didn't care. He would not be humiliated in front of his sons!
"Is... this safe?" Shô asked as the metallic horn was placed in his forehead. The two unicorns looked at each other, and simply smiled at him. But the smile was anything but genuine.
"Otosan. I know you want Shô to be a unicorn above all else. But this is risky." Ruy muttered to his father behind the protective glass.
"Think about the possibilities presented to us, Ruy! If this works, our family's status as a full unicorn-family will raise back up! And not only that, we have made a huge step towards the next magical technological breakthrough! Earth-ponies and pegasus everywhere will pay thousands just to get one artificial horn!" Diamond painted the image of great success, mostly to calm his own nerves. But Ruy did not believe his father was thinking straight. Worryingly he watched his brother, who was now left alone in the testing-area with a table of various items.
"Alright, Shô-san! We're ready whenever you are." the head scientist said to the speakers.
"I'm as ready as I'll get, I suppose..." Shô muttered, nervous of all the ponies staring at him.
"Very well. Please look at the items on the table in front of you. Now, imagine lifting one up with your magic. If it helps, you can close your eyes to help you concentrate."
Shô chose the green and red apple on the table, took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Seconds flew past them, as the whole lab was tensing up.
Just as the head scientist was going to call off the test, they saw green sparks surround the apple. Little by little, a green magical field surrounded the fruit, and slow, it lifted off the table.
Shô opened his eyes when he heard cheers through the speakers and turned to see the whole lab celebrating. He turned to see that the apple was indeed levitating above the table. Overjoyed, Shô turned to meet his brother's eyes, Ruy was smiling at him proudly, and relieved that nothing bad had not indeed happened. Then Shô took a peek at his father, who, for the first time in his life, was smiling at him. In truth, Diamond was more happier about the fact that his instincts had been right and he had indeed not been humiliated by his decision. But to Shô, that smile was for him.
The yellow pony was overjoyed. Maybe now, after all there years, his father would see him as a true son. Maybe finally, he could be part of this family. Maybe, finally, he would be a full pony.
Just then, the red sparks took over the magical field around the metallic horn. Shô was shaken by a sudden electrical current going through him. Before he could say anything, the apple he had been holding with his magic friend into ashes, and the magic lifted him off his hooves. Before anypony could do anything, he was engulfed into blue sparks that caused his whole body to tense and a painful scream escape his lungs.
The whole lab was blaring with sirens and red lights, only contrasted by the blue lightning caused by the metallic fake horn.