Royal Duties: Inheritance

by videomaster21XX

First published 24th of July, 2013

Like mother like daughter. Princess Skyla wants to take a vacation on earth, by swapping bodies with a human, but can only find a guy. Looks like he's going to have to deal with being a Princess for a few days...

Note: I highly HIGHLY suggest you read the story 'Royal Duties' before reading this one. Otherwise this story isn't going to make much sense. This is a sequel fic approved by the author of the original.

**Note on updates. They happen when they happen. I know that's an annoying thing to read, but sadly with my schedule as it is, that's the best I can do. :/**

I was just a regular guy. Sound familiar? I guess it should, from what I understand this has all happened before. It's just now I'm the poor sap who comes home from work to find a pony princess I've never seen before on my TV screen, asking to swap places for a few days. Don't get me wrong, visit Equestria? Live like a royal? That all sounds well and good, but there is just one problem:

I wasn't told I'd be her for it! How am I suppose to pretend to be a pony I know nothing about?!

**Little late, but special thanks to my editor Rainedash Go read her stories!**

Prologue

Today sucked. Not that I should be surprised, nearly every day was like this. Okay maybe I was overreacting a little, It’s not like I got mugged or anything. I shouldn’t really complain given what could have happened, but after working twelve long hours at a pizza place, while having to wear that stupid mascot costume for a couple of them, and closing on top of that. You don’t tend to be in the mood to be positive. So fuck it: Today sucked.

Whatever, I was home now. I was free. Free, with the next three days off from work, and as far as I was concerned that was the greatest thing in the world. It was enough to get me to ignore the poor state of my living room, which usually bothered me. A whole hand me down couch and two armchairs were about all the eyes could see. I couldn’t even remember the last time any of them were used. If my job didn’t suck there’d be a nice high class tv out here and a bitching surround sound system. Instead we had the thirty inch ancient in my room and no sound system to speak of.

Plopping down on the cheap bed-couch I had managed to buy off an old neighbor, I stared at the ceiling. Lack of cool shit aside, It sure as hell felt good to be home. Now if it just wasn’t almost midnight. What good is it to get home only to be this exhausted? I doubt I’d even make it through an episode of a tv show right now. With a bit of effort I managed to sit back up and stare at my TV. That’s when I noticed the faint bluish glow coming from the screen. Funny, I don’t remember turning it on. Hell I hadn’t even turned on the light when I entered my room, yet the screen was most certainly glowing. Reaching over to find the remote amongst the cushions I began to jab at the power button to no avail. Shit, had the batteries died already? As I debated how willing I was to get up and turn the thing off manual, I realized the glow was getting more intense.

It was soft at first, but it began to pulse as it grew brighter and brighter. Or maybe it was always pulsing and it was just too dim for me to notice before. Whichever the case, my television set was most certainly acting very weird right now. Looking closely at the screen, I thought I could see something beyond the haze of blue. The more I stared the more I was able to make out some sort of image. I was just about to piss myself with the thought of wells and ghost girls in my mind when I was able to make sense of what I was seeing.

I blinked. Was... was that a pink pony?

The longer I watched, the clearer the image became. It was a pink pony sitting in a small room with a few pieces of furniture around her. The pony was just sitting there staring at me, which I didn’t find much better then a possible ghost girl. She wasn’t a normal pony either. This pony was clearly from the old TV show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic given how she looked, though she didn’t look like any of the characters I remember. Then again I only just recently discovered the show online, it being off the air for a while now. I couldn’t even remember which season I had seen last. Only that I was a few episodes into the next one. Looking back at her, I began to make out her details. Whoever she was, she was a princess, considering I could see both wings and a horn on her, which only left me more confused. There were only four Princess’ in the entire show that I knew about. Well five if you count the daughter of Shining and Cadance, but I had literally just seen the episode she was introduced as a baby. Hell I couldn’t even remember her name. Sky Spell or something?

Wait a second, didn’t their daughter have a mane of purple and yellow? Looking at the screen again, I saw that this princess had the exact type of mane as that baby pony. It couldn’t be her could it? This mare was almost an adult. Then again, how the hell was I to know I wasn’t looking at her future self? Furthermore, what the hell is she doing on my tv?

>>Hi There!

I jumped. What the hell was that? Well I mean I know what it was. It was a voice. The problem is it sounded like a girl’s voice and it sounded like it came from inside my head. I should not have feminine voices speaking in my head, or any type of voice just talking in my head for that matter.

>> Hello? Can you hear me? Dang it! I was certain this was the spell my mom described...

No I was definitely hearing a voice inside my head that was certainly not my own. So either I was going crazy, or I was more tired than I thought. My utter exhaustion was probably the only thing keeping me from freaking out. What the hell? Maybe I was dreaming. I did plop down on my couch mere seconds after getting home, though I don’t ever remember falling asleep that quickly. It’s certainly possible though, and besides what else could this be? Anyway, I should probably try talking back or something.

“Hello?” I asked out loud before thinking better of it. The voice sounded in my head right? Maybe I should reply in my mind? That made sense right? I tried again.

Hello? I could immediately hear the happiness in the other voice.

>>Oh great! It DID work!

Um yeah I guess. Who is this?

>>You haven’t figured that out yet?

...No? The voice giggled.

>>I’m right here silly! In front of you!

With that I finally noticed that the pony on the TV screen waving at me excitedly. Okay now I know this had to be a dream. I was talking to the image of a pony princess via mind chat. Well whatever, for a dream this was certainly one of the more interesting ones. May as well go with it.

>>So, um... Can I ask you a favor?

I shrugged. Why not? It wasn’t like it’d matter when I woke up. Sure what is it?

>>Would... Would you like to swap roles for a few days?

...say what now? It was hard to tell but I think she blushed.

>>I want to trade places with you for a few days. You know, you in my world and me in yours..

...You’re kidding right?

>>No! Please? You’re a human right? I’ve heard such wonderful things about your world! I’ve got to see it!

How in the world do you know what I am, or about my world?

>>From my mom. She use to tell me stories of your world when I was a little filly. I never thought they’d end up real though! Oh now that I know I just have to visit!

Okay, and how does your mom know?

>>She grew up there!

I think I’d remember hearing about a pony growing up in my world.

>>Well she wasn’t a pony while there. Oh come on! Please? I really want to see it! You can be over here in the meantime! An entire palace for you to explore! Doesn’t that sound nice? Plus you’d have servants to wait on you. Come on! It’ll be fun!

So we just swap lives for a bit?

>>Yep! That mean you’ll do it?

Well I have to say, it sure is nice of my dream to give me a choice. I figured they generally just did with you as they pleased.

>>Dream? Oh no, this is real. See I really am from Equestria, and you are a human from Earth! Mom never told me how she got from there to here of course, but I uh, borrowed her diary for a bit, and it was all spelled out in it.

Right, and I’m sure any second now a talking platypus in a fedora is going to burst through my wall to bust up my dreaminator.

>>You have a what now?

I was joke- Look, there is no way this is real. That’s absurd!

>>Oh yeah? Then pinch yourself.

Okay fine, but I’m not sure that even really wo-OW!

>>See? This is real. So, wanna give it a try? Please? I’m not sure I can contact any other humans, so you may be my only chance!

Okay I needed a timeout. That pinch actually hurt, and I was still pretty certain that thing about not feeling pain in dreams wasn’t false, but if this wasn’t a dream, then what the fuck was going on? Was I just hallucinating? Maybe I was more overworked than I thought. Yeah, that had to be it. I was working so much in a job I hated that I’m going bonkers. That made sense. At least it made more sense than what she was telling me. So what do I do? Go along with the delusion? Then again, what if it was real? Did I really want to just ignore it? Fuck, I was too tired for this.

Okay hold up. Let’s just pretend this is all real for a moment. So I just walk into your world and you mine? Wouldn’t people, er ponies, find it odd to see a human walking around?

>>Well you wouldn’t be a human...

What?

>>You’d sorta be a pony.

...What do you mean sorta? What the hell are you talking about I’d be a pony!?

>>Well from what I understand. Your body will change it’s form to fit in here, and mine will transform to fit in there.

And what no one finds the fact a pony they’ve never seen before is just trotting around in the palace? I don’t think I’d enjoy my few days over there in jail.

>>Oh that wouldn’t happen. The most they’d do is kick you out of the palace.

Okay you are REALLY not helping your case here.

>>They aren’t going to do that! Trust me, no pony would kick you out! They’d be expecting you to be here!

Uh huh, and why would they be doing that?

>>Oh come on! I wouldn’t just stick you in here like that without a plan! I even have my friend Prince Luminare ready to guide you while here!

Prince? So I’d have a Prince looking out for me?

>>Yep! He’ll make sure you are well taken care of! So what do you say? Will you let me see your world? Come on! All you have to do is lay around for a few days and enjoy the royal life. Won’t that be fun?

Okay fine I admit it sounds nice, but why should I trust you over here? How do I know you won’t mess up my place?

>>Do you think I’d want you to mess up my stuff in return? I’m not looking to live there, just vacation for a few days. I won’t even leave the house if that’ll make you happy. I’m sure I can still learn what I want while indoors. Come on! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! You have to be a little curious!

Well she was right about that part. The chance to go to Equestria and just lounge around with a Prince as my guide? The offer was extremely tempting. It also sounded too good to be true.

>>Did I mention Luminare and I are willing to give you some nice jewels as a thank you present? From what I understand they are pretty valuable in your world.

Okay, now that sounded really nice! I still wasn’t sure though. There had to be a catch...

I’m considering it.

>>Oh don’t say that! Just think of- Wait what?

I said I’m considering it. Look, maybe I’m just hallucinating all of this due to stress or something, but whatever sure. I get to live a life of luxury for a few days and you get to be a human. Sounds weird, but you’re right. It’d be an adventure at the very least.

If I told her I was going along with it, she was certain to reveal the catch. All I had to do was keep my eyes open and I’d spot it. Of course if this was genuine, then I get to live as a prince for a few days! It’s a win win situation!

>>Yes, yes! Thank you! Thank you! Now all you have to do is touch this! As she spoke she picked up a small crystal orb with her two front hooves. The thing seemed to be about the size of a basketball, and was pulsing with a pinkish light.

How the hell am I suppose to touch it when you have it over there? Was I just suppose to place my fingers on the image?

>>No! Not this one! Your crystal!

My crystal? I don’t have a crystal. I swear she was looking at me like I was stupid.

>>Yes you do! Look down.

I did and sure enough there was a crystal just like the one she had sitting on the floor. It was even pulsing with a similar pink glow. How the hell did I miss that? So I just touch this- I thought, placing my hands on the crystal at my feet.

That had to be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life.

GKZZZCH! Oh geez! What the hell was that feeling!? Wait why can’t I get my hands free?

GKZZZCH! Ugh, my entire body is going numb. That can’t be good.

GKZZZCH! OW! OW! OW! OW! How was this so painful if my body was going numb!?

GKZZZCH! W-were my arms turning pink? Is that fur? Okay I get this is what’s turning me into pony now, but pink fur? Come on can’t I get a more manly color?

GKZZZCH! GAH! It’s like my limbs are on fire! A loud cracking sound causes my stomach to lurch. I really didn’t think I wanted to know exactly what just happened.

GKZZZCH! I can’t even feel my arms or legs anymore. At some point I ended up on the floor, I can’t remember when I fell. All of this just feels so weird.

GKZZZCH! A horrible pain explodes upon my back causing me to cry out. It felt like some creature just tore it’s way out of me. Just what the hell- Oh. I could just make out a pair of huge purplish pink wings extending from my back. So not only am I going to be a pony but a pegasus? That’s kinda cool I guess. I can deal with the odd color scheme if that’s the case.

>>Oops, I should have told you to take your cloths off first...

GKZZZCH! Wait, what? Looking back at my newly acquired wings, I see the remains of my shirt scattered upon me and the floor. Aw man! That was my work shirt! Well at least I still have the pants-

GKZZZCH! Another ripping sound. Fuck spoke too soon. At least this part of the transformation was numbed. I looked back just in time for another jolt.

GKZZZCH! As I watched my backside I could just make out a tail sprouting from my mostly ponified rear. Now that’s an odd sight to see. Sadly along with my coat it was the most unmanly of colors. Purple and yellow, just like the bit of mane I could see spilling down around my head. Funny I didn’t notice it growing before.

Wait a second, these colors looked a bit familiar...

GKZZZCH! I felt my manhood go limp as my brain slowly began to connect the dots. The way my body was coming out, I looked just like... But she wouldn’t right? She never said-

GKZZZCH! SHIT! NO NO NO! I could feel my dick melting away into my body, the sensation alternating from just plain weird, to unbearably painful. At some point I had begun to bite on the crystal I still held before me, noticing just how much I had changed. My face was now a muzzle, my arms slender pony legs and hooves -- really girly looking hooves.

GKZZZCH! I could feel my balls being sucked in as the last thing I ever wanted between my legs split open, causing me to scream in both pain and really fucked up pleasure. My voice didn’t even sound like my own anymore. I could hear it jumping in octaves. Fuck she was really doing it! The pony I was becoming was --

GKZZZCH! AHHHH! FUCK! FUCK THIS STUPID IDEA! I’M THE DUMBEST MOTHER FUCKER ON THE ENTIRE PLA-

GKZZZCH! My body was beginning to un-numb, which only lead to more pain and outright insane sensations. I could distinctly feel two mounds near my newly born slit, pressing against the carpet. My insides were on fire as I realized the spell must be giving me a womb for all the foal birthing I could want.

Okay, no. Out of my head, I don’t even want to think about that. Like fuck I’m going through with this now. The second this is over I’m telling her to change me back!

GKZZZCH! FUUUUUUUUUCK! The sheer agony of a horn sprouting from my forehead, made me consider waiting a couple of hours first.

GKZZZCH... Wait was it winding down? Finally! I felt like I had just run a marathon through a sea of needles. As I lay there, I began to process what I really didn’t want to admit. First, I was the pony princess on the tv. That much was certain, her little ‘swap’ was literal it looks like. I’m her, so does that mean she’s?

Looking up, I nearly jumped at what I saw. Half of it I really should have expected, so I’m going to chalk it up to the other half that really did it.

>>Can you still hear me?

There are very few things weirder than hearing your own voice speak to you in your head when you aren’t controlling it. It’s even more bizarre when your body is standing right before you. Okay, so first question has been answered. I became her, and she most definitely is in my body now. What I didn’t expect was him to be in the same room as me. Did he walk out of the tv? I had quite a few choice words I wanted to say to him. What came out however:

Yeah... I can hear you... How are you moving? I feel like I just got hit by a ton of bricks.

>>Oh good I was afraid the spell would wear off once we changed. Okay my mom is attending some political thing in Canterlot. She should be gone for a few days so you needn’t worry about her. My dad is a great guy, but a bit dense. I doubt he’ll notice anything is wrong. Don’t worry though, Luminare will fill you in on anything you need to know, just listen to him and you’ll be fine. Oh, I can’t wait to see the wonders of your world! You ready?

No I wasn’t fucking ready. You didn’t tell me I’d be you for this, you little shit. We are going to wait for me to regain the ability to move and then we’re switching back, and I’m going to bed and pretending none of this ever happened.

Wait wasn’t the floor carpet and not hardwood? It took me a few seconds to realize that while I was having my inner little dilemma, my former body had picked me up and carried me through my television somehow, laying me gently on the ground. Fuck, I really was out of it wasn’t I? Getting your body mushed into a new shape really didn’t do you any favors after a long work shift. I could already feel my eyelids beginning to sag. I didn’t realize just how drained I felt. Crap! I had to stop her before she just left me here!

Wait! I-

>>Oh yeah, and uh... One more thing I guess I should warn you about.

Despite the desperation of my situation, something about the way she said that made my blood run cold, causing me to waste what few precious words I could speak.

W-what’s that?

>>I am, well I was just coming into season, so that probably means you are now. Just stay away from the stallions and you’ll be fine. Have fun!

WAIT! I’M WHAT!?

With a cold sweat I watched as the blue glow began to swirl inwardly upon itself. Resembling the way toilet water would swirl as it flushed, slowly scraping away what I could see of the image on the other side. The last I saw of my body was it waving to me goodbye as the blue ‘portal’ closed in on itself, leaving me as a pony princess sitting on what I could only guess was one of the floors in the Crystal Palace.

I didn’t even know what the hell this mares name was, and I was suppose to live her life for a few days? I didn’t see this ‘prince’ fellow anywhere either, and my body still felt like it was ready to just shut down. I think she told me I could tap the crystal to contact her, but I couldn’t even move my legs, let alone crawl over to where the crystal might have rolled.

So to recap, I was a pink pony princess about to go into heat, in a world I’m not use too, and my only help is a prince who I’m uncertain of the relation this body has to him. For all I know they could be lovers.

The thought made me want to vomit.

“I am so screwed!” I said, getting to hear my new feminine voice for the first time. I immediately regretted my choice of words as sleep finally claimed me.

Author's Notes:

So it begins. One thing I feel I should address now. Royal Duties had a story with lots of clop woven in. While this story will have clop, it'll likely not be as common as it was in the original fic. I want it in, but will likely focus on Characters and development first.

Ch 1: A Rough Morning

“Skyla? Princess Skyla it’s time to get up!”

A soft nudging began to wake me from my slumber. Man, I must have been really out of it last night. I don’t remember closing being that bad, am I just getting old? Geez, it’s only been a few years since high school.

“You can’t lie around all day. Get up! You’ll miss breakfast!”

Breakfast? Now there was an idea. Crap, when was the last time I did any shopping? Was my milk still good? I think I still had some cereal left. Not the best of meals, but hey it worked. Man that nudging is really getting annoying. Can’t the voice see I’m trying...to...

Wait a second. How is the voice from the tv nudging me? I’m pretty sure that’s where it’s coming from. I don’t have a roommate. Did I invite a friend over? I don’t remember doing that, oh god I didn’t get dragged by my co-workers to a bar and get drunk did I? Am I in some random person’s house?

Blinking against the light, I managed to take a look around the room I was in. Aw fuck this isn’t my apartment. Wherever I am, it’s high class, like ridiculous level. I’m laying in a giant canopy bed, and I can just make out this girl’s vanity mirror to my right. Various other pieces of furniture are laying about. All of it is top notch, yet oddly not as feminine as I thought, at least going by the bed and vanity mirror. Though now that I look at it, I don’t think that mirror is used too often. Just where am I?

I still haven’t even gotten to the oddest thing in this whole room. This chick seriously has a pony in her room. She must be loaded for that kinda stuff. Kinda an odd color though, I mean yellow with a red mane? I didn’t think that was possible outside of cartoons. It’s even wearing a maid outfit-

Wait... Wasn’t there something with a Pony on my TV? What was the last thing I remember doing last night? Let’s see, the TV came on and... Oh shit... Oh shit! OH SHIT! OH SHIT! OH SHIT!

In horror, I looked down at my hands only to find pinkish hooves in their place. How’d I not even realize I was laying on my stomach this entire time? With a creeping sense of dread, I wiggle my right arm, only to see the pink leg respond. I feel a slight movement behind me as my tail involuntarily flicks. This can’t be real. I can’t be a pony, I just can’t. I especially can’t be a-

“Princess? Are you okay?” The maid pony asks me as she stares right at me. Fuck! I'm a pony, and I'm a princess! This is like the exact opposite thing I’d have ever wanted to be! Okay calm down, that princess pony didn’t say I’d be stuck like this. I’m pretty sure she mentioned a way back. Uh oh, that maid is looking at me like I just drank a bucket of pickles and chocolate. No doubt I look really odd right now staring horrified at my own body. I’m going to take a quick guess and say she knows nothing of the switch that just happened. So what should I do? Tell her I’m not the princess?

I shudder at the thought of being chased down while guard ponies scream ‘Changeling!’ at me. Okay no, not telling the truth just yet, but then what am I suppose to do? I have no idea who this pony I look like even is! What was it she was calling me? Skyla? Wait, that was the name of Shining and Cadance’s daughter in the show! Wait I’m their daughter right now? Oh crap, I’m a princess by every meaning of the word aren’t I? Shit what do I do?

“Oh I see, trying to pretend that you’re sick aren’t you?” The maid pony suddenly said with a huff, causing me to almost jump.

“If I may, Princess, I understand you do not care for Prince Luminare the way his parents and your own wish for you to, but you did agree to entertain him today. I simply can’t help you play hooky. Now get up, breakfast is in half an hour. Be ready.” She fixed me with a stern gaze as she stood there. Was she allowed to do that? I thought servants had to... I don’t know, bow down to their princess or something. This maid certainly didn’t seem all that nervous about my status.

“R-right! You got me!” I said trying to fake a laugh. Oh god my voice! It was so sing song and girly! If I wasn’t trying to pull this off so badly, I may have gagged. “I’ll uh, just get ready now so you can go and do... maid stuff?” Her concerned look from earlier was back.

“Skyla? You aren’t really sick are you?” She was coming closer, possibly to put a hoof on my forehead or something. That’s not good, what if she wants me to see a nurse or something? Could they tell I’m not really Skyla? I think I’d rather not find out.

“Fine! Fine!” Trying my best to sound cheery as I waved my hoof in dismissal. “I’m just uh, a little more sleepy this morning that’s all!” Ugh, did I really use the word sleepy to describe how I felt? What was I in magic kindergarten? I mean regular kinder- Damn it! What’s wrong with me?

Well the fact you are a pony princess is one... Came a voice in my head.

Shut up mind! It was a rhetorical question! Focusing back on the maid pony, it seemed she was accepting my bluff. Who was she anyway? Lemon squeeze, by the looks of her name tag. Wait really? Her name was lemon squeeze? What the fuck? Who the fuck names their kid that? Okay so yeah she was a pony and they all have weird names like that but seriously. Lemon Squeeze?

“Well I’d certainly say so. I found you passed out in one of the storage rooms. I don’t know what you were doing, but you’d better stop it before your parents find out. You know how they worry about you.”

“R-right. I’ll do that. Thank you Lemon Squeeze that will be all.” I gave her a slight nod as I made it look like I was getting up. In truth I had barely figured out how to properly control my two front legs. I really really hoped she left before I got to having to move my back ones.

“At least try to be careful,” Lemon Squeeze replied with a sigh. I was beginning to think this Princess Skyla was quite the handful. Or was that hoof full? Bah, how am I suppose to act like somepony I’ve never seen before? This would be so much easier if I was Cadance or something, at least her I have the show character to base off of. Thankfully Lemon Squeeze had already trotted across the room and was closing the door behind her, so at least for the time being I can get my bearings.

“Okay, ‘Skyla’ what’s first?” I asked myself out loud before wincing again at the sound of my voice. Speaking out loud was a sorta ‘sanity check’ thing I’d do at times. Whenever I was stressed or upset I’d find myself vocalizing my thoughts for any to hear. Luckily I had trained myself not to do it when anyone was around. Unfortunately, with my new girly voice, this wasn’t as effective as usual.

“Well first thing's first I guess. Getting out of bed.” I looked at the edge of the bed I was in, and my distance from it. I should be able to scoot forward enough to get my front legs on the ground. I think I can walk on those long enough to drag my butt out of bed.

Following through with my plan, I got close enough to the edge that I was able to drape my front hooves over the side. With a slight hesitation I was able to touch down on the ground, and soon had walked forward enough that I was able to slide my back legs onto the floor as well. So now I was standing on my new legs. That was progress right? Now to master walking. How did that song from Santa’s coming to town go?

“Let’s see,” I said absently as I began to recite the first line in song. I actually didn’t sound half bad if I do say so myself. “It starts... You put one foot in front of the other-” As I sing, I take my front right hoof and start to bring it forward about a short distance before placing it on the ground again. Next I just take my back leg-

The next few moments I recall are my surroundings spinning around me followed by smacking my new muzzle into a chair.

“And then you go tumbling across the floor...” I finish wearily. Seems I had tried to move my back leg too soon, and too quickly. Resulting in some sort of walk somersault that landed me in a tangle of limbs. After getting back up, I tried to walk much more slowly this time till I believed I had it down enough to pick up the pace. I did this for several minutes before concluding I could walk well enough to possibly get wherever breakfast was being served. I should be fine as long as I don’t run.

Hopefully the palace wouldn’t be that hard to navigate that I’d end up hopelessly lost either. Well no sense in worrying about that now anyway. I still had a body to freshen up. Wait did this mean I needed to shower? That... was certain to be a bit awkward. Let’s just go back to learning how to control this body shall we?

Looking to my sides, I could see my new wings curled up against them. I better learn how to move those as well, to avoid any awkward situations if anything else. I sure as hell wasn’t going to be using them to fly anytime soon. Okay let’s see: This is my left leg, I wiggled it to drive the point home in my mind. This is my right, this is my rear right...

I continued to do this with all my legs several times before I tried to feel out my extra appendages. If one could imagine suddenly growing a third arm, they might have an idea of just how weird this was. With a little effort I was able to ‘sense’ what connected to my wings and slowly spread them out. Feeling bold I flapped them a few times, letting the slight current they created blow my fur around. It was kinda funny how out of all the new things I noticed the fur the least. Guess becoming a pony just does that to you.

After I learned how to move my wings, I concentrated on my tail, then I tried posing in various ways, finding myself looking in the mirror as I did so. Now that I got a good look at her, Skyla was quite the little hottie. For a pony I mean. I tilted my head to one side while extending my wings just enough that they were half way extended. I then gave the best pouty face I could muster. Heh, I looked really cute, I bet I could have any stallion I wanted like this. Turning around I stared back at the mirror while wiggling my rear. Oh yeah that’s how you do it. With a little of that I bet any stallion would be proud to have me as their date!

My tail flicked up as I stood there, revealing a large wet pony pussy. MY large wet pony pussy!

My mind nearly froze. Was I just monologuing to myself about how I could make a stallion HARD!?! NO! FUCK NO! I was not just thinking about how hot I was for a pony princess! Guys do NOT think about those kinda things! I could already feel the panic trying to take hold. I needed to stop for a second, take a breath. Something must be wrong with this body, that’s all. She said she was going into heat right? Maybe it was effecting my emotions or something. Yeah that makes sense.

Convincing myself of this, I could feel my panic edge away. Only to quickly be replaced by anger. All this was happening because that dumb twit didn’t tell me I’d be her while here! Did she really think she could just drop me off in this world like this and I wouldn’t immediately go tap the crystal again? At least I’m pretty sure that’s what she said I needed to do to contact her. Well I can tell you the very next thing I’m doing! Hopefully I can find that room without bumping into any of the castle staff. I barely managed to fool Lemon Squeeze.

Thinking of said maid. didn’t she say I had half an hour to get ready? Just how long have I been testing out my body? Was she going to come back to yell at me for taking so long?

As if on cue with that thought, the door burst back open. However, instead of an angry yellow maid pony marching in, I was tackled by a small white blur, which promptly propelled me several feet through the air. After landing on my back and having the wind knocked out of me, I was able to make out the image of a small white colt with a pair of wings and horn of his own. Taking stock of his mane and tail, I saw they were nearly the splitting image of Shining Armor’s style wise, though the colors vastly differed. While the top part of his mane and tail were the same dark blue Shining had, the next color down was a much lighter purplish color. Finally the final, lowest color was a bright yellow, very similar to the yellow streak in my own mane.

“Hey sis! Dad sent me’n Lumy up to check on ya! Now stop stalling and come to breakfast!” He stares at me intently while standing on my stomach. “We can’t eat till you’re there!” He adds, jabbing me with his right hoof. I could see a small bandaid above his knee from some earlier mishap.

Great, as if I didn’t have enough to worry about, now I have a brother to deal with? My brain blanked from the combination of my earlier freak out and having just been tackled. Grasping at the first thing that came to mind, I tried to utter out a response.

“Y-Yes of course-” I began before he startled me into silence by covering his face and horn with this wings. I stared at him, my excuse forgotten. Just... Just what the heck was he doing? He answers me by opening his wings just enough to peek out at me.

“Sis?” He asks with a hint of confusion in his voice.

“Um.. Yeah?” I respond slowly. Unsure of exactly how to proceed.

“You aren’t going to-” He begins while lowering his wings, only for his eyes to widen as he brings them back up, “Wait! I know what you are doing! You’re trying to make me lower my guard!”

I blink at him. “Um lower it for what purpose?”

“Like you don’t know!” He shouted, before suddenly jumping backward off of me. “You aren’t flicking my horn today sis! I’m too quick for ya!” All I can do is stare at him dumbly. Flick his horn? How can I even do that with hooves?

“I uh... well...” I try to explain myself, but nothing is coming to mind. How the hell did Skyla ever expect me to pass as her?

“Wow, I think you broke her Eos.” A deeper much more masculine voice says from the doorway. It was about the time I turned my gaze that way, when I remembered my ‘brother’ had mentioned somepony else had come to check on me. My breath immediately halted as I caught sight of him. The unicorn stallion standing in the doorway looked wonderful!

He was a stunning sky blue, with a body that seemed to be chiseled out of muscle! Then his mane! His luscious light blond mane! It hung around his head magnificently, a single white streak splitting it in half perfectly. He looks at me with his crystal blue eyes and smiles, my legs wobble in response.

W-what the hell is wrong with me? Why is my heart racing all of a sudden? Fuck, my body feels all weird now. The fuck is it doing? Why was I so intent on how this stallion looked anyway? Damn it, can’t I get any kind of break!? It’s like every five seconds I’ve got another crisis on my hooves!

“Geez Skyla, I didn’t think I got you that bad. You usually dodge me.” The little colt, Eos I think he was called, was standing there with a smug look on his face. Pfft, little brat probably thought he was hot stuff. Yeah big stallion attacking a helpless mare like that, wait no! I’m a man not a mare! Well, okay so I’m a mare at the moment but it doesn’t mean I’m a mare I- ugh, my brain hurts.

“Skyla? Are you alright?” The larger stallion was asking me, a look of concern on his face. Aw, how nice of him to care. I shivered, that is- He better care! They just knocked me for a loop!

“Y-Yeah I’m fine...” I looked up at him trying to ignore the weird feeling in my stomach. This situation was quickly turning from bad to worse. I had two ponies, one who was her own brother, whom I had to convince I was her.

I’m fucking DOOMED.

“Eos... Go tell your father we’ll be a few minutes more. Don’t worry I’ll help her get ready.” He said while giving a slight pat on the head. Something about the way he was speaking now concerned me. Almost like he knew something was up.

“Sure thing Lumy!” Eos says before flying down the hall with his wings. I’d have envied the little brat if I wasn’t so focused on what ‘Lumy’ here had in mind. Did he suspect me? Was I about to be imprisoned? Or tied down to be studied? Or tied down to be studied in the place I was imprisoned at?

Wait, what if it was worse?! What if this is Skyla’s boyfriend and he wanted some private time before breakfast? I could feel my new girly bits tremble at the mere thought of that. No! Bad girl parts! We do not desire that!

“So Skyla... You okay?” He asks, his voice soft yet cautious. Oh man, he knew! He knew something was up! I’m so dead!

“O-Of course I’m okay! J-Just a little shaken from the tackle...” Fuck not even I would believe me right now. Maybe I could run by him? Gain enough time to find the crystal and get out of here?

“Well that’s a relief. For a second I thought he’d really gotten you. Need a hoof up?” He asks, his expression one big smile while he extends a hoof toward me. Wait really? Had he really bought that? Well fuck, no sense in jinxing it, I reach out my own hoof to his.

“Yes, that would be most pleasant.” I say, once more trying to sound ‘princessy’. Hopefully if I messed anything up now, I could just blame it on the tackle.

“I’m glad you are alright my dear.” He says once I was on my hooves again. “How about a kiss for your boyfriend?” He puckers his lips at me. I barely stopped myself from backing up in horror.

Aw shit, of course there would be a catch. Fuck, what could I do? I can’t refuse him, I just barely got him to not be suspicious of me. Even if he doesn’t think I’m somepony else, he might think I hit my head too hard or something, which leads back to unwanted medical attention. Looks like I was going to have to suck it up and take one for the team.

“O-of course!” I say leaning toward him. Oh god this is going to be so gross.

My lips met his with a bit more force than I intended. I had never actually kissed while a human, so I had no idea what I was doing as a damn pony mare. Thankfully he certainly seemed to have experience with this as he quickly took over. The feeling was... very pleasent actually. Without even thinking about it, I was kissing him just as vigorously back, my entire spine tingling at the sensation. I was almost sad when he pulled away.

Before I had any time to process what just happened, he backs up and points a hoof directly at me, a look of triumph on his face.

“Ah ha! You aren’t Skyla! Not only am I not her boyfriend, but she’d never have kissed me! You’re an imposter!”

I froze. Fuck! He fucking tricked me! How could he play with my heart like that! No, that’s not right! He found me out! Crap! I don’t want to be cut apart and studied- Why is he laughing?

“Dear Celestia, your face! You should see the look on your face! Oh wow, I never thought I’d see Skyla with that sort of expression!” He was nearly doubled over with laughter. I just stood there watching him. Fuck it, my mind had broken too many times today for me to be able to deal with this anymore.

“Okay, I quit. I just quit. Who are you? What’s going on? Why aren’t you calling the guards on me yet?” He continues to snicker at my questions.

“I do apologize for my behavior, but a kiss from Skyla, even if it’s not really her, was just too good to pass up.” With that he straightens up, his composure completely restored.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Prince Luminare, a friend of Skyla’s.” I blinked. Prince Luminare? That was the prince who was suppose to help me!

“Prince Luminare!” I practically cried, a wave of relief washed over me. “She said you’d help me out! Hey wait that means you knew I wasn’t her the entire time! Ew! I can’t believe I kissed you!” The prince gave another soft chuckle.

“Actually I did not, though I suppose you could say I anticipated it. You see Skyla has been telling me of her plan to visit the human realm for months. I was skeptical at first of course. It was based off of stories her mother told her while young after all.” He began to pace around me as he spoke, causing me to follow him with my head. I wasn’t sure, but I think he took a peek at my flank...

“However, her mother’s diary entries? The spells being real? I quickly took into consideration that there might be something to all this after all. Then about two weeks ago she told me she had managed to get everything ready, and she’d be trying to contact a human very soon for a swap.” With that he stops back in front of me, looking me over with his eyes.

“I must say, I never expected her to actually succeed. Why you’re the splitting image of her!” He winks, causing me to feel all sorts of wrong.

“Well she did succeed, and didn’t tell me I’d be walking around as her for my visit! So if you don’t mind, I’d like to go back to the room with the crystal and go home!”

“Tsk Tsk, ready to call it quits already? How dull.” He says with a yawn. What the? Was he saying I couldn’t handle this? How dare he!

“Hey! How would you like to be ripped out of your world and put into a body you have no idea who it belongs to or even how to use it?!” I was nearly fuming. I hadn’t asked for any of this and now I was going to be ridiculed for it!?

“Hmm, well yes you do have a point there.” He says rubbing a hoof against the underside of his muzzle. Was it his chin? Did ponies even have chins? “I suppose it wouldn’t be much fun becoming another species. I am surprised she didn’t inform you about becoming a pony. Did you not think it would be odd if you remained a human?”

“Of course she said I’d be a pony! She just didn’t say I’d be her!”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Just why would that matter?”

“Because I’m suppose to be a guy!” I scream before covering my mouth. Oh geez, I hope none of the staff heard that.

Meanwhile Luminare’s expression had changed to shock. “YOU were a male?” He asks in disbelief. I nod timidly. Now maybe he’d understand why this was such a big deal to me.

Instead he began to laugh harder than he had earlier. “Oh my! This is too rich! Skyla you rascal you! You would do something like that wouldn’t you?”

My eyes narrowed. “It isn’t funny! Now help me find the room! You can see why I don’t want to stay this way! Besides, might I remind you that this means you kissed a guy!”

“Did I?” He replies with a smirk. “All I see is a very sexy mare before me.” I felt my face go hot at his words. Shit, I better not be blushing at that!

“B-but I’m, I mean I was-” It was no use, I couldn’t form the words.

“You’re a mare. A very beautiful mare for the time being. What you were doesn’t really matter that much to me.” He shrugged turning back toward the door. “At any rate, you are Skyla for the time being. May as well get use to it.”

I huffed, “No, I think I’ll go touch the crystal now thank you.”

Luminare sighed, “Look. I admit this isn’t the ideal situation for you right now, and I also admit I can not begin to understand how it feels. However there are a few things you really should know.”

“Oh?” I say shooting him a look. “And just what are those?” He was crazy if he thought anything he said could get me to stay one more minute here, let alone the days she asked for!

“One, Skyla is a very good friend of mine, and this is something she’s dreamed about for a long time. I simply can not stand by and let it end that quickly.” Nope that wasn’t going to cut it, I don’t care if her vacation is cut short, I want to go home! Strike one!

“Two, you haven’t even been here for an hour yet. The very least you could do is give it a shot.” Nope! Strike two! I’ve had enough of being a mare to last a lifetime! One more to go!

“Three, the crystals that open the portal between your worlds, and swapped your bodies aren’t that strong. It’ll take at least a day before they have the power to do either again.” Strike th- Aw fuck.

“So as the lady can clearly see,” he said, putting way more emphasis on the word ‘lady’ then I cared for, “You don’t really have a choice right now, do you?”

“Well no, when you put it that way I guess not. Wait, how do I know you aren’t lying to me?”

He shrugged, “You don’t. How is this, I’ll make you a deal. You come down and have some breakfast with us, before Eos wants to kill us both for taking so long, and after we are done, I’ll personally take you to the crystal room myself and we can see if I’m telling the truth or not.”

“I’m not-” I began to say, only for my stomach to interupt me with a sudden loud grumble. Looks like my body wasn’t going to let me get away with saying that. I guess it had been a few hours since I had last eaten anything, and despite him knocking me over, I do feel sorry for Eos. It’s never fun to have to wait for someone else to do something. If he was as hungry as I am, he’s probably about ready to explode.

“I- Okay fine, but only because I’m hungry and I feel bad for Eos.” I replied in defeat. What the hell? They say it’s not good to fret about things over an empty stomach, right? A little food couldn’t hurt.

“Excellent! Shall we go then? I’ll just tell your ‘father’ you were extra sleepy this morning.” He grinned his big stupid grin at me. It made him look rather silly really. I couldn’t help but smile back.

“But as soon as we’ve eaten it’s straight to the crystal!” I stamp my hoof to prove I mean it. For whatever reason this causes him to chuckle again.

“Whatever you say Princess. Now come, any longer and Eos won’t be the only one who yells at us.” With a nod, I began to follow him down the hall, doing my best to walk naturally, which thankfully became easier the longer I had to do it. I then spent the rest of the trip trying to convince myself that I was definitely not checking out his flank!

Author's Notes:

Prince Eos is taken from a design I saw on deviant art.

Hopefully if that person ever finds this story, they won't kill me for using the character in a fic...

Ch 2: Unfamiliar sensations

“Now, just remember what I told you, and you should be fine.” Luminare said as we neared the doors to the dining hall. Aside from my totally not checking out his sweet tight flank, he took the time to give me a few pointers for this encounter. It was a way to make sure I didn’t do anything that would tip them off to me not really being Skyla. From what I understood, Shining Armor knew all about my world and the process of swapping lives. Thankfully he was rather dense about such things and probably wouldn’t notice unless I made it obvious. At least, that’s what Skyla and Luminare told me.

“Right, just act disinterested in everything and I should be fine.” I paused. “Is Skyla really like that?”

“Well no,” Luminare replied stopping just long enough to brush my mane a bit. Where’d he get the brush? “But when she’s in a foul mood, she tends to act like that sometimes. With luck they’ll just leave you alone.”

“Ah, good plan.” I said as I leaned into his brush strokes. It felt really nice to have it’s bristles sweep across my head and neck. Was this what it was like for all ponies when their manes were brushed? I stole a glance at my present company. Or was it just because the pony doing the--

I stopped the thought mid sentence. No! If it was anything, it wasn’t that! It couldn’t be that! It was probably just some sorta animal instinct. Like how a cat or dog likes being petted. Yeah, I bet if I was to do the same to him--

“Enjoying ourselves?” His voice cut my thoughts short. In horror I realized that at some point during the brushing, my wings had begun to extend and now stood stiff on both sides. In haste I tried to tuck them back away, only for them to ignore my commands.

“Getting this worked up over a simple brushing. Are you sure you were male?” he asks quietly so we wouldn’t be heard.

“Yes I’m sure! Now let’s go before we’re late!” With that I very promptly strolled past him and toward the double doors, not wanting to be alone with him any longer then I had to. Pushing the doors open, I strolled in.

Then again... I thought, seeing the scene before me.

Sitting directly before me on the ground and glaring daggers at me was my younger ‘brother’ Eos. Ignoring his look for now, I could see the dining table behind him, almost taking up the entire center of the room! The thing looked like it could seat not only the mane six, but every background pony I ever remembered seeing in the show! Seated in the center on the opposite side was my ‘father’ Shining Armor. Sitting next to him, in some sorta foal seat, was a tiny purple unicorn filly. She sure was cute whoever she was, her mane a dark blue with a single strip of yellow in it’s center. She looked no older than what I remember the cake twins to be, at least how old when I had last seen them in the show. Geez, by now they would probably be in high school, or whatever the pony version of it was.

“You took waaaaaaaay more than just a few minutes!” Eos grumbled, cutely stomping a hoof. “It’s not fair sis! With the others gone I thought we’d finally be able to start meals on time!” Others? Don’t tell me there are more siblings for me to meet. Just how many kids did Shining Armor and Cadance have?

“I’m sorry Eos.” I said feeling crestfallen. I hated making ponies wait, but it was more than just that. Somehow the fact the pony I had made wait was him made me feel even worse. “I’ll make it up to you later okay?” I ruffled his mane a bit as an apology which only served to earn me a very odd look. Crap! I had already forgotten how I was suppose to be acting.

“You okay sis? You’re acting super weird today.”

“Um, well that is...” Shit! I was screwing it up! What do I do? What do I do!?

“Since young Eos appears to be preoccupied, I suppose I can finish off his portion of the breakfast this morning.” Luminare stated rather plainly as he made his way past us to the table, a very knowing smirk upon his lips.

“Wait what?! Oh no you don’t!” Eos yelled as he took off toward a seat. I couldn’t help but giggle even as I felt relief wash over me. Eos certainly had his priorities set.

“Good Morning sweetie.” Shining said suddenly as he looked up from the little foal he had been playing with. “Feeling alright today? It’s not like you to be so late for breakfast”

“I’m uh, fine d-dad. Just not feeling quite myself this morning.” Oh dear Celestia, I did NOT just say that! Ugh, it hadn’t even been five minutes and I’ve already shot the plan to hell. What the fuck is wrong with me?!

“You’ll have to forgive her,” Luminare said with a sigh. “It seems young Eos here got a lucky shot in that’s rattled her to the core.”

>>Just keep quiet and do as I say.

I blinked. His voice was coming from inside my head!

How are you doing this? I could almost feel a pair of mental eyeballs roll.

>>You talked to Skyla correct? I would have assumed this was how.

Oh right. I’m an idiot apparently.

“Hey! I said I was sorry!” Eos shouted from his spot at the table. He had previously been jumping up and down in his seat, no doubt in his eagerness to eat, yet now sat completely still with his ears drooping ever so slightly. He just looked so adorable, I felt a sudden urge to hug him.

I had nearly leaned forward to do just that before managing to stop myself. Okay, this was really starting to concern me. I mean I didn’t normally act like this, right? I certainly don’t remember ever wanting to hug random strangers while a human.

“You are okay, aren’t you sis?” Eos asked hesitantly, genuine concern in his eyes. “You haven’t even teased me all morning.” His ears drooped lower as he added: “You aren’t mad at me are you?” Okay now I really wanted to hug him.

“I’ll be fine Eos, really.” Before I could stop myself I had given him a soft nuzzle, it just happened. I couldn’t bear to see him so down like that.

“Well, looks like you’re both getting along for once.” Dad commented with a smile. “You should tackle your sister more often Eos!”

I groaned and looked up at the ceiling. “Daaaaaaaaaaaad!”

Shining just laughed. “Okay enough fooling around.” He turned to one of the other ponies in the room who I assumed were staff. “Swift Spice, you may bring breakfast in now.” The pony in question, a brown earth stallion, bowed his head with a smile before trotting off into the kitchen, brushing his cinnamon colored mane aside as he did so. This left me with just my thoughts. Well, my thoughts and Prince Luminare in my head.

When did you have time to do this anyway?

>>Outside while I was brushing your mane, surprised you didn’t notice. Anyway, my father may not be the most sensible of ponies, but he did have a few good lessons to teach me. “Always have a plan B,” was one of the better ones.

I see... I sat down in a chair I assumed was meant for me as Swift Spice wheeled a large cart in. Given nopony said anything, I guess I chose my seat correctly. Turning to watch him wheel this thing in, and I couldn’t help but be amazed at the sheer size of it. Just what was he hiding under that thing, a motorbike?

The smell emitting from it was something else entirely. My first whiff of it instantly made my stomach rumble and mouth water. I couldn't remember the last time I had smelled something so wonderful! I couldn’t remember the last time my sense of smell was this accurate! Everything just smelled so powerful. It’s hard for me to explain it.

The food itself smelled wonderful, but that wasn’t all. Back on earth the flowers in the middle of the table would have gone unnoticed, but here their room filling scent was impossible to ignore. Not only did it make my entire body tingle a bit, but it complimented the food almost perfectly

Each pony had a different scent as well. Swift Spice smelled like some combination of flour and cinnamon. It wasn’t bad, but there was a roughness to it that I found off for whatever reason. Shining had a scent of something similar to a fine oak in the mountains, though I honestly couldn’t remember if I’d actually smelled such a thing before. It was just the first thing my mind could conjure up to describe it. It was a scent that gave me the impression of strong and proud. How weird, I hadn’t smelled anything like that with Swift Spice.

Eos had a similar scent, though his reminded me oddly of spring water. The little filly, whose name I still didn’t know, had a scent I could only describe as ‘new book smell’, which wasn’t unpleasant at all.

Then there was Prince Luminare. His scent... his scent was something else entirely. The fragrance I got from him reminded me of not only roses but lilacs as well, a combination of aromas that caused my wings to shudder. I never thought I could get so turned on by a smell before, but fuck! This was something else. Part of me wanted to jump him right here!

I violently shook my head to clear it, ignoring the looks it got me. This was just getting weirder and weirder. I’d better just focus on the food. Thankfully my empty tummy was loud enough to drown out anything else in my mind.

“Breakfast is served my prince!” Swift Spice announced proudly as he lifted the huge metal, dome? I really should learn the proper word for that sometime, anyway the big metal cover thing that was over the meal. Once up, it revealed to us the most amazing ‘breakfast’ I had ever laid eyes upon.

The plate had no less than three stacks of food upon it. One of pancakes, one of waffles, and the final being french toast, though here in Equestria I had no idea what they would call it. All three stacks easily stood about the same height as the little filly next to Shining. In addition to these were a small bowl of hard boiled eggs, some toast, three jars of jam along with a couple full of syrup, and even something that looked a lot like bacon but made out of... was that hay? Last of all there was a small bottle of what I could only guess was milk for the filly.

“Swift Spice...” I heard Shining begin with mild amusement, “Didn’t I say you don’t have to do so much for breakfast? I’m not sure we can even finish all this. Or do you expect little Twilight here to have more than just her bottle?” Sure enough, the bottle I had guessed was for her, lifted up into the air via his magic to float over to the young filly’s mouth. Who in turn, began to greedily suck at the little nub on top. I may have found this adorable, if I hadn’t felt my heart jump at the mention of her name.

THAT’S Twilight!? Twilight Sparkle!? I thought at Luminare fiercely. What on Equestria had happened to her!?

>>Of course not! Came his amused reply. As it was, he could be seen rather obviously holding back laughter. Something everypony was thankfully too busy with the conversation between Shining and Swift Spice to notice.

“I know sir, but I just can’t help myself sometimes!” He grinned as he set plates in front of each of us, before serving each of us a fair portion of goodies from the main platter. “Fear not, anything you can’t eat will be finished off by the guards or staff, as always.”

“I suppose I can’t argue with that.” Shining says with a chuckle as he concentrates on feeding little ‘Twilight’.

Well who is she then? I thought she was my younger sister or something before he called her Twilight.

>>Well technically she’s Skyla’s little sister, but it’s good you are thinking in that mindset, it will make it easier not to give yourself away. Her full name is Twilight Sprinkle. I’ve been told by Skyla that it’s a tradition in the house to name a daughter with ‘Twilight’. As you know, Shining Armor’s sister is named Twilight Sparkle, and their mother is Twilight Velvet.

Ahh, that made sense now. I knew enough about the show that Twilight’s mom was based on the generation one design of Twilight, though I wasn’t sure where the ‘Velvet’ came from. Come to think of it, had they ever named her on the show? Oh well, it wasn’t that important. It was also probably best not to go into just how I knew all this with Luminare either. I don’t know just how much Skyla and him knew about their lives being a TV show in my world. In any case, I was too hungry to care about that right now. Which I soon realized lead me to another problem.

How in Equestria was I suppose to eat like this? Sure I had a fork and knife laying next to my plate, but just how the heck was I suppose to use them with hooves? I watched with no shortage of envy as both Luminare and even Eos lifted their utensils with ease using their magic. Well I certainly wasn’t going to be able to do it that way. I doubt I could even get my horn to glow. So my only options were either have someone feed me, or eat like a dog. Looks like I was going to have to try and be sneaky.

Trying to make sure they were paying attention to their own food, I quickly reached my head down to my plate and tore off a chunk of the waffles before lifting my head back up so I could chew and swallow. As the texture of them hit my tongue I swore I was going to faint at the taste! The fluffyness of the dough, the richness of the butter, and don’t even get me started on the syrup! Forgetting all about trying to sneak in bites, I began to devour them like a starved animal. Had I just been eating play doh my entire life before? Nothing I had on earth ever compared to this! Then again, that was store brand pre packaged product, but this was made from scratch for royalty. It only made sense the tastes wouldn’t be in anyway similar.

“Er, sweetie?” Shining asked, causing me to pause in my rather unladylike dining. “Is there a reason you aren’t using your magic to eat?” My body shivered every so slightly. Shit! How was I going to explain this one?

“Oh, she’d love to, but if she does then she loses doesn’t she?” Luminare said with a devious smirk as he stared right at me. Thankfully Shining didn’t notice the look of confusion on my face.

“Lose? Lose what?” He asked, while ‘burping’ my younger sister.

“Oh, just a small bet amongst friends.” He replied nonchalantly as he peeled and ate an egg. “I just bet her a favor that she couldn’t go three whole days without using her magic. Of course I just need to wait for her to slip up.” With that he gave me a knowing smile. “Which I’m sure she will.”

Ooo! Nice save!

>>Well yes, ONE of us has to think of these things I suppose.

Part of me wanted to smack him for that comment, but I couldn’t deny the truth in the statement. If it wasn’t for him, I’d likely have been tossed in jail or something before leaving my room. Swallowing my pride, I played along.

“Oh yeah? Well we’ll see about that!” I shot at him with a glare.

Shining just sighed. “It figures. You know, it’d be nice if you two did something other than occasionally throw a challenge each other’s way.”

“Yes, I’m very aware of what my parents desire Prince Shining, and I do so apologize, but I’m afraid I simply do not agree with the idea.” Luminare said with a deep sigh. This caught my attention. He had mentioned that Skyla would have never kissed him, but I thought they were at least friends from how he’s spoken of her.

“I understand that.” Shining replied simply, “And Cadance and I would never want you to pursue something that isn’t there, but you could at least give it a shot. Perhaps go on a date? It’d make your parents happy at least.”

“I would really rather no-” Luminare began before glancing over at me. Oh, I really didn’t like that look in his eyes. “Actually I think that’s a great idea. How about tonight?”

What!? I don’t want to go on a date!

>>Oh come now, what else are you going to do? Like I said, the crystals won’t be ready till tomorrow at the earliest, so why not see the city before then? Well he did have a point. Though I was still going to check the truthfulness to that crystal business as soon as this breakfast was done. Meanwhile Shining seemed quite taken aback by all this.

“Really? You’ll do it?” He looked rather pleadingly at me. “Both of you?”

I swallowed down my bite of toast rather hard. “I-If I must.” My answer obviously elicited a positive response as Shining went back to his meal with a smile. Surprisingly he said nothing more on the subject, perhaps fearful to find that he only imagined this was happening if he did. Great, so now I’m not just a princess, but I have a date with a dashing prince. I groaned inwardly, things just kept getting more and more complicated the longer I stayed here.

On the other hoof, this meant I’d be out of the palace, right? At least then I wouldn’t have to worry about how to act around a family that wasn’t mine. Hell I didn’t even know how to handle having a family like this. Back where I came from, I didn’t even have parents. Now I’ve got a dad, and at least two other siblings!

No, Skyla has all this. I had to remind myself that none of this was mine: not the family, not the potential boyfrie-good friend Luminare, and not the grand meals. Though I could certainly get use to that last one.

I brushed the thought aside. The last thing I needed to do was get too comfortable in this life. Skyla was going to want it back, and I had no intention of being a pony princess, no matter what the perks. For now I need to focus on eating my breakfas-

“HEY!” I screamed, causing most of my present company to stare at me in alarm. The only one who hadn’t jumped at my outburst was my current younger brother who had just snatched one of my pancakes from my plate. “That’s mine!”

“Pfft, you were staring into space instead of eating. Besides, don’t you have to watch your marish figure or something?” He replied while scarfing down my food. “Also, I’m a growing colt you know!”

The little brat! Just wait until I got my hooves on him. Why I... I stopped as a devious idea came to me. Or maybe I could.

“You know, you’re right...” I said, fighting to keep my expression blank. Even so, it was pretty clear Eos was being cautious. “You are indeed a growing colt, and you do need to eat.” The grin I was trying so hard to hold back began to slip through. “But you know what else is good for you?”

Eos didn’t like my tone. “W-what’s that?”

“A nice big cup of-- dear Celestia! Look over there!” I cried pointing behind him. Sure enough, he immediately spun to face the imaginary danger, giving me plenty of time to bring my head down to snatch up all three pieces of the hay bacon he had left on his plate. Realizing his mistake, he quickly spun back around but much too late. He took one look at what was sticking out of my mouth before screaming:

“No! Not those! You know they’re my favorite!” He swiped wildly at them, a move I easily avoided.

“Mnnnf! Nffft! Trrrf!” I said as I backed up further. I had meant that to be: ‘They’re mine now’, but that certainly wasn’t what came out. Thankfully I was pretty sure Eos got the message.

“Oh no you don’t! Give em sis!” He screamed leaping at me, only to crash into a chair as I ran past him to the other end of the room.The moment he recovered he was on my tail, screaming at me to give them back the entire while. I can only assume he wasn’t very proficient with magic yet, or either just didn’t think to use it to take them from me. Meanwhile, Luminare smirked at the display.

“Not going to stop them Prince Shining?”

Shining shook his head. “I long ago gave up on having a peaceful breakfast around here,” he said with a smile while pushing a giggling Twilight back down into her seat after she started levitating herself.

“There, satisfied?” Luminare was asking me as I absently rolled one of the crystal’s between my hooves. Breakfast had pretty much continued in the same manner with me and Eos trying to steal each other’s food, balanced with trying to scarf down our own before the other got to it. Much as I hated to admit it, I had more fun during that breakfast then I had with most events in my life for the past couple of years. I really hoped Skyla appreciated what a wonderful little brother she had.

“Yeah yeah, not a spark. I guess it really won’t do anything till tomorrow,” I sighed placing the orb in a saddle bag I brought with me via another suggestion from Luminare. It wouldn’t do me any good if Shining found this thing, given that Luminare said he’d know what it was. Made sense if he knew all about body swapping and the like, though I was still a bit confused on the how. Should I ask Luminare what he knew?

“Say, that reminds me about something.” I said slowly, turning to face him. “How come he’d know what this crystal is? I remember Skyla telling me something about it, but it’s hazy.” I tried thinking back to the conversation we had not eight or so hours ago. How was it that I couldn’t remember? “I know it has to deal with stories her mother told her, but why does she know?”

Luminare stared at me dumbfounded. “Oh dear, don’t tell me you haven’t figured it out.” I stared back at him sheepishly.

“Really? You really haven’t put two and two together?” I again shook my head in embarrassment. I felt like the answer should be so obvious, yet for whatever reason, it wouldn’t come to me.

“Oh my, either you are very dense, or you have a severe lack of intelligence.” He groaned rubbing a spot next to his horn. “Skyla’s mother was from your world. According to what Skyla has told me, she swapped places with the first Cadance years ago, in other words taking her place.”

As this new information sank in, I could feel my eyes practically popping out of my head. If that was right, then that meant.

“Wait Cadance. You mean Princess Cadance was from my world!?”

Luminare nodded. “Of course! How could you not pick up on that!?”

I just sat there staring at him. I really was an idiot! Skyla had even told me during our chat! Of course I can remember that now. So Cadance at some point did the same thing Skyla had done to me, except she got stuck on earth, while whoever ended up in her body just sorta took over?

“Wow, that’s... kinda scary. Shouldn’t you be afraid of me doing the same thing or something?” He rolled his eyes.

“Right, be afraid of the pony who still came to this room just to make sure they couldn’t go back yet, that they might want to stay as Skyla.” I blushed, okay so maybe that was another stupid question. Of course I didn’t want to stay here...

...Right?

“Even so,” he went on, “I wouldn’t allow it. I may not want to wed Skyla like my parents desire, but she is still my friend. I’d never leave her over there.”

“You seem to be a really good friend...” I didn’t even realize my ears were drooping. It sure must be nice to have someone care about you like that.

“I must say,” Luminare lifted my muzzle with his hoof to look me in the eyes, “you are taking the information about Cadance rather well.”

“Oh, I guess I am,” I said mulling it over. “It’s just, it happened many years ago right? I dunno, I guess I just figured that by now, there isn’t any reason to feel shocked over it. Well, I am curious as to why the old Cadance was just cast off like that.”

“Yes well,” Luminare said, rubbing the back of his neck, “Again, I can only go off of what Skyla has told me from her mother’s story and the diary entries she mentioned, but if I understand the situation correctly, the old Cadance was... oh how should I put this? A bit of a uncouth ruffian. To put it lightly”

I blinked. “You’re kidding! Cadance!? But she’s the princess of love!”

“Well apparently the old one was a very good actress then. I obviously can not say anything for certain, the princess Cadance I know is very sweet and wise. If not a bit... ‘generous’ with her love at times.”

I had a feeling I was going to regret what I wanted to ask next. “What do you mean exactly?”

“Let’s just say I know the real reason my parents make so many trips here for ‘business’” Oh boy was I right! Okay, time for me to change the subject.

“Well that was more than I needed to know,” I said, quickly turning to trot out of the room. I knew we’d have to come back to this conversation at some point but right now I really didn’t want to think about it. Besides, I had a more pressing concern, and it could only be dealt with after I had gotten back to my room. Luminare rushed after me, thrown off by my sudden departure.

“My word, just where are you off to in such a hurry?” he asked, before his lip slowly curved into an impish grin. “Or are you that eager to prepare for our ‘date’?” Leaning over, he gave my neck a little ‘nip’ sending sensations through my body that I really didn’t want to think about right now. Thankfully my current concern was more than enough to take my mind off it.

“Not even in your dreams ‘prince’. As for the question, to be blunt I need to go powder my muzzle.” Luminare stared at me blankly.

“Powder? Say what now?” He asked slipping out of his ‘proper’ way of speaking for a second. It was rather cute.

“You know, drain the snake? Oh wait I can’t do that anymore. Oh foo, what would a mare say? Leak th- ew no. I need to well, uh...” Frustrated, I spun on him stamping my hoof as I hissed: “I need to pee!”

His eyes widened in sudden clarity. “Oh! Say no more, let us make haste!” He began to lead the way back to my room rather bashfully. Thank Celestia it didn’t take long for us to get back to my room. One quick point from Luminare later and I was rushing into my own personal restroom before freezing in place.

Okay first off, this was the most amazing latrine I had ever seen. The size of the bath alone looked like it could fit ten of me! However, that wasn’t what had caused me to hesitate. No, that would be the sickening revelation I had just come to upon stepping inside here.

I had no fucking clue how the hell I was suppose to pee as a pony mare. I mean, did I just go in the tub? Did pony mares sit down? How do I get it out? Okay calm down, first thing I should do is look for a toilet.

Surveying the room, I could see something to my right that looked kinda like one of those wall toilets you’d see in the men’s room except the shape was unlike any I’d seen back home. The thing’s bowl extended far enough into the room that I felt I could lie on the thing if the lid was down, though from the look of things it didn’t have one. It did have a type of seat to it, but instead of something I could put down or up, the thing seemed to have been carved right into the top of it. Meaning the porcelain simply curved into a chair up top, rather than it being a separate piece of plastic. Well I suppose it did make this a bit easier. I was a mare, and if this worked the way I think it did.

Turning, I backed my rump over the bowl till I felt something cold touch my behind, causing me to leap forward an inch. Looks like I reached the end, peering under me I could confirm that I should be in a position where I wouldn’t make a mess when I went, or so I hoped. Laying down upon the nice cool seat, I attempted to get this over with only to be reminded that I still wasn’t sure how I was suppose to get this body to do it.

Well relaxing should do the trick right? I just need to settle down, breath slowly and my body shou-

This was weird! Dear Celestia this feeling was so weeeeeeeeeeird!

Now the problem with that, was it made me tense back up, forcing me to try and relax myself again, which only reminded me a few seconds later about how utterly bizarre this was. All in all I spent way more time in here doing this then I had ever cared to.

After what seemed an eternity, I was finished, which only lead me to another confusing predicament. I didn’t see any toilet paper by me. How did they expect me to ‘take care of myself’ without it? I swear, there better not be a shelf with three seashells by me. Also, how do I flush this thing? Hold on a second, were there buttons by my front legs? Hmm one on each side.

Pressing the one on my right caused the toilet to emit a very familiar swishing sound. Okay so that one was the flush, but then what did this other one do? Well only one way to find out. Pressing the button, I was rewarded by a sudden cold jet of water shooting right up my backside. My reaction was about what you’d expect, “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!”

Mere seconds later Luminare came bursting into the room. “What is it!? Is thy lady alrigh-” that’s about as far as he got before being pelted in the face by a towel.

“AHHH! No! No! Out! Get out!” I heard myself scream as I threw item after item at him. I don’t remember exactly what I was grabbing, or how I was tossing them, but apparently I was doing enough damage that he quickly hightailed it out of there nearly crashing into the door frame in his haste to escape. Leaving me once more alone in a bathroom that was alien to me, within a kingdom I didn’t understand, where I was suppose to survive for three days. With a defeated groan, I slumped to the ground.

“Is it tomorrow morning yet?”

Author's Notes:

Sorry it took so long to get out. Hopefully there won't be as long a wait for chapter 3.

Yes still no clop. To be honest I'm not sure when any will show up. :/

Ch 3: Shower time blues

“Okay so we have Eos and Twilight Sprinkle staying here,” I said pointing at a couple of pictures in a photo album. Prince Luminare was standing next to me supervising my actions.

“Correct,” he said while looking over my shoulder. His warm breath caressed my neck, making my body tingle in ways I tried to ignore. “Eos, the only other alicorn foal, is kept close to the palace at all times. Being the only male alicorn means that he needs extra protection. As for Twilight Sprinkle, it should be rather obvious why she stays in the palace.”

I nodded. “Too young obviously.” I glanced at the other pictures he laid out. We had spent the few hours going over the ‘basics’ of the castle and how it worked. Well, after I was done apologizing for the whole bathroom thing anyway. I think I had most of it down, thankfully all the servants wore name tags. All I really needed to learn was my ‘family’ which was a lot larger than I had ever thought one could be.

“And these are my two younger brothers, who are older than Eros?” It was a bit of a silly question I admit. Just by looking at them I could tell they were Cadance’s. One was a rather dashing looking unicorn with a dark blue coat, possibly inherited from Shining’s father. His mane color, violet, appeared to be a mixture of Shining's and Cadance's. At least except for the single yellow strip that ran down the lower center. I was beginning to see it as a pattern for Cadance’s children. Almost like a genetic stamp. The other ‘younger’ brother had it in his mane as well.

He was a pegasus, his coat yellow with a pinkish mane. He almost looked like a male version of Fluttershy, except his mane had not only the telltale yellow strip but a blue one right next to it. The odd mish-mash of colors worked for him. Taking a closer look at his picture, I was hard pressed to imagine him actually acting like Fluttershy would. The look in his eyes was a just too daring.

“Ah yes, fine stallions they are,” Luminare said with respect as he brushed against me, an accident I hope. Of course, it caused me to feel that uncomfortable warmth again. “The unicorn is Knightly Aura. He’s currently in Canterlot learning magic. Even with all the advancements the Crystal Empire has made in the last several years, Canterlot is still the best place to learn spellwork. The younger one, Noble Dawn, decided to join his brother there in order to join the royal guards. While this empire has a notable military of it’s own, Noble didn’t want any favoritism being he’s a prince of this land. Though I suspect he also just wanted to keep his brother company.”

“Skyla sure has a large family. You’re not about to list three other sisters are you?”

Luminare shook his head, “You, or rather Skyla and Twilight Sprinkles are the only females to be born in the family. That might have been different if it wasn’t for her aunt. I always meant to ask Skyla if she regretted not having any sisters. I certainly would have enjoyed that. If they’d look anything like Skyla and her mother…” The look he had in his eyes told me more than I really wanted to know about what was running through his mind.

“Ugh, you’re a pig,” I said rolling my eyes. Really my own- er Skyla’s own mother? The age gap was… well, big. Luminare seemed to take my disapproval in stride though.

“Well I wouldn’t expect a pretty mare like you to understand the thoughts of a stallion.” I couldn’t see my own reaction, but I’m sure it was pretty sour given the knowing smirk he gave me. It was really starting to bug me just how he could get under my skin like that. He thought he was so charming with that million bit smile, and hard toned flank of his! Probably thought he could woo just about anypony. Well not this mare!

“Oh yes because acting like a stuffy, stuck up snob is the perfect way to woo a mare.” I shot at him snidely, sadly his grin only widened.

“Actually it does. A trick I inherited from my father. Though most mares would run away once they actually got to know him. I’d say it’s a miracle my mother married him but given how she is, it’s almost like they were made for each other.” Come to think of it, who was his dad? Could he be anypony I knew from the show?

“Okay I’ll bite, who is he?” What can I say? I was curious.

“Oh? Want to know who to thank for such a hunk of a stallion?” Ugh, I’m sorry I asked.

“You have a brother?” I think he actually frowned. Not bad me!

“Oh ha ha, my father, if you must know, is the dashing Prince Blueblood!” He puffed himself up as if it was such a big deal. Admittedly, while the name did have an impact, it wasn’t for the reason he probably thought.

“Y-You’re dad is-” I began to stammer. It all made sense now! The arrogant attitude, that smug grin of his, that perfectly muscled body, I mean that annoying glint in his eyes. Of course he was the son of that ass.

“Yes rather impressive if you know him. I suppose you wouldn’t, but even you can admit that the title of Prince would turn heads.” Oddly enough, he didn’t sound as proud as he did a few seconds ago. I probably should have just let it go, but for whatever reason I found myself probing further.

“Is that why your parents want you to marry Skyla? Because of her status?”

“Well that is part of it yes,” he replied, his frown increasing. “Though if it was the only reason I’d never speak to them again. There is a limit on how arrogant you can be. A lesson I’m happy my father at least has an inkling about. The real reason is because of how close our family’s are.”

“So what do you want?” I have no idea why I asked that question.

“I don’t know yet. Perhaps I’m still too young.” He rolled his eyes at my expression. “Oh don’t give me that look, I’m not so stuck up that I can’t see my own follies. I’m maybe a year away from what ponies consider stallionhood, and Skyla is only a couple of years below me. We have time to decide.”

“I see…” This conversation was making me feel a little weird, and I wasn't sure if I liked it. Time to change the subject.

“So you said Skyla might have had more siblings if not for her aunt. I assume you mean Twilight Sparkle? What does she have to do with anything?”

“Oh right, I did skim over that.” Lumaniare shrugged. “It’s nothing groundbreaking, but even for a Prince and a Princess it’s not exactly easy nor cheap to raise a foal. I asked my mother about it once and she told me Twilight came up with some spell that helps prevent conception. My guess is they plan when it’s a good time to have a foal and let it happen.” I raised my eyebrow.

“You asked your mom how Skyla’s mother gets pregnant?” He glared at me.

“Of course not!”

“But you just said-”

“Okay so I was asking about why I didn’t have any siblings alright? Skyla seems to happy with hers and I was a bit jealous, okay? So I asked and I found out about the spell.” This caused me to blink. Something wasn’t making sense here.

“Wait how does-” He cut me off.

“Because my mother can be an idiot.” With a sigh he continued. “When my mother heard that Twilight Sparkle made such a spell, she was determined that she could do it too. Except hers didn’t have a time limit. I think Twilight is trying to find a way to counter it even now.”

“O-Oh…” Well, this was awkward. After what seemed like an eternity, Luminare gave a small cough.

“At any rate, I do believe you know enough about the surrounding family to pass off as Skyla for the time being.” Oh right, that’s what we were doing.

.

“And if I fail?” I asked with a grunt. I still wasn’t happy with this, but what choice did I have? Until tomorrow morning, I was going to have to live as a Princess, complete with servants, fancy meals, and a big date tonight. I’d probably get lead around, shown many random shops, which I’d be able to buy anything from. Then a nice big dinner that Luminare already agreed to pay for...

...Okay so it doesn’t sound that bad when put that way, but I could definitely do without the ‘going into season’ part. Though come to think of it, I didn’t really feel like I was in season. I mean yeah my body was acting all sorts of wonky when around Luminare, but how did I know that wasn’t because he had some enchantment upon him? It would seem like something the son of Blueblood would do.

Also it wasn’t like I felt on fire or anything, at least that’s how I assumed heat would work. Maybe an inner itch or something, just begging to be scratched by a nice long- Ah! Not thinking that! NOT THINKING THAT!

“It’s not that much longer till lunch time. We should probably get ready to go. Shall I send in your personal attendants? You’ll need to look nice if we’re going out.” Wait I had to dress up now? Don’t I have enough girly problems to deal with already?

“What’s wrong with how I look?” I swear the look Luminare gave me suggested I just grew a second head.

“Skyla, you haven’t showered today, your mane is a mess, and you aren’t even wearing your crown. The real Skyla might not be that big on the whole ‘princess’ thing, but even she’d never leave the castle grounds looking like that. Every citizen would immediately know something’s up.” Aw damn it. Why couldn’t I have just gone to bed upon getting home? Noooooooo, I had to see why the tv was acting all glowy!

“Alright fine! I already know any attempts to argue this are going to end in failure, so what’s first? Also it’s really confusing when you call me Skyla, then talk about the real Skyla.”

“Well if you’d tell me your real name…” I shook my head.

“Nu-uh! No way I want to be addressed by my name while I look like this!” Luminare rolled his eyes again.

“Well then, it’s going to have to be Skyla. Now Skyla, the first thing you should do is take a shower. Seriously, you need it.”

Reflectively, I sniffed my hind quarters. Pee yew! He wasn’t kidding! No way a princess should smell like this! Wait, that’s not what I meant. No way any mare should go this long without a nice hot shower to refresh herself. Yeah, that made more sense.

...right?

“Oh boy more adventures in the bathroom. Very well, I suppose I should get this over with.”

Luminare nodded. “I can send in a maid or two to help you shower if you like.” His grin quickly widened to that of what I could only compare to the cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. “Or… I could give you a hoof.” Did...did he just wiggle his eyebrows at me!?

“Not happening. EVER.” If looks could maim, I prayed mine would melt his face. Sadly a cocky grin was all I got.

“You’re just so easy to tease, you know that? Skyla was never this much fun.” Before I could respond he was already heading for the door. “Take your shower, and relax for a bit. In a couple of hours I’ll send a maid in to help you get dressed for our outing. Till then I’ll give you time to adjust more to your body.” With that I found myself once more alone in the bedroom that was not my own, yet was to be my home for the next three days.

No wait, not three days. I could go back to my own life come tomorrow morning. Just one day, not even a full one. I could do that right? How hard could it be to be a rich princess? So what if I was a girl, and so what if I was pink. I was rich! I could do whatever I wanted! I could order ice cream and eat it on my bed! When I went shopping later I could buy whatever I wanted! I could get any stallion in the kingdom to rut me senseless!

My nether region seemed to twitch at that thought, causing me to mentally shudder. Why the hell would I be thinking of that? I wasn’t going into heat! I wasn’t! The last thing I wanted was to...to explore this, this thing down there. I don’t care how wet it was starting to feel. I wasn’t going to think about it.

Okay! This was bad, I had to distract myself! Anything! Wait he said I needed a shower right? Well what if I took a cold one? That should help right? I’d never actually tried it before, but it made sense, and I did need to bathe. Okay, shower it was then.

Walking into the bathroom for the second time that day, I cast a weary look at the toilet. I was not looking forward to using that thing again. With luck, depending on how this body took it’s liquids, I may not have to.

‘You know that’s not likely’ I could hear my mind practically shout as I tried to tune it out. Shut up stupid brain, just let me have this one!

Shaking that off, I took a look at the tub and shower system. Seemed simple enough to operate. Same handle system for hot and cold as we had on earth. Push it a little to the left for cold, all the way for scalding hot. I could see the knobs to pull for the drain and shower head. All in all your basic setup. What a sigh of relief that was, I really don’t think I was ready to have another instance like the toilet.

Stepping in, I pulled the curtain closed with my mouth. Yuck! That tasted nasty! How in the world did ponies do this? I must be going about this all wrong, because no way you’d ever want to do anything with your mouth if you could taste it. Thankfully the rest I could manipulate with my hooves. Turning the water on, I quickly ducked my head down in order to drink and gargle the taste of curtain out of my mouth. The water tasted…I don’t know, ‘more pure’ is the only phrase that comes to mind. It tasted clean, cleaner than any water I’d tasted before, and this was bathing water. I’d definitely have to check out the drinking water later.

Making sure the water stayed at a fairly cool temperature, I prepared to flip the little switch that’d turn on the shower head. I braced myself as my hoof touched the metal of the switch. Maybe I hadn’t tried a cold shower, but I’d had the heat run out before. This wasn’t going to be pleasurable, but it’d probably help get these stupid thoughts out of my head. Holding my breath, I flipped it over.

Only to grit my teeth to prevent from screaming as the icey cold drizzle rained down upon me. I knew it was going to be cold but damn! There was no way I could shower in this! I already felt like a popsicle, Celestia forbid how this would feel in five minutes. Nudging the water ever so slightly toward the warm side, I sighed in relief as the water’s temp became more bearable. Mmmm, that actually felt really nice upon my flank. Maybe just a bit more wouldn’t hurt…

I let myself revel in the feeling of the hot water pouring over me for a couple of minutes before I decided it was time to actually shower. I wasn’t exactly certain how I was going to accomplish this without hands, but I’m sure I’d find a way. Last thing I needed was Luminare giving me a ‘helping hoof’. I could just imagine his smirk right now, standing there holding that brush of his with his magic. I bet he’d just love to get in here-

Whoa! Did the water just heat up a bit more? Ugh, I don’t want to turn it back down now. It was probably just a temporary thing. I’d better get started and get out. Carefully grabbing a nearby scrub brush with my mouth, I played around with how to hold it a few times before feeling confident enough to remove it from it’s hook. Looks like it was all about the placement of the teeth and the tongue. With work I was confident I could move or hold things without tasting them. Thank goodness this brush handle was made of plastic. I’d hate to get splinters in my tongue.

I quickly found out that what was even harder then holding something in your mouth, was using it to actually scrub yourself. The first time I tried the thing was nearly ripped from my grip. The second time it stayed, but the pressure felt too weak to be getting any actual scrubbing in. After a couple of minutes I simply felt frustrated with it all. I wasn’t really going to have to ask somepony in here to help me bathe myself was I?!

Debating if I should just put the shampoo in and be done with it, I absently read the labels of some of the bottles next to me. Geez, what was with all these? Shampoo, conditioner, shampoo with conditioner, many different types of bubble baths, a body wash…

Wait body wash? Well that might help. Laying the bottle on it’s side and pressing it up against the wall ever so gently I managed to clip the flip top open and drip some onto my brush. Once I had that, the brush moved across my body much more easily, allowing me to finally relax. I’m only glad the hot water didn’t run out. Heck, I dare say it was warmer yet.

Cleaning myself went a lot better this time, though I obviously wasn’t doing this as great as a natural pony would. Much as I hate to admit it, a small part of me actually wished I had invited Luminare in here. I got shivers just thinking of how it felt when he brushed me earlier. Those strong confident strokes, that steady firm pressure. Yeah, that’d be nice. Seeing the water drip off of him as he stood here, his mane matted to the side of his neck, clinging to those firm hard muscles…

Man, why did the water feel so hot? I thought it was suppose to get colder the longer you were in. Surely the laws of physics applied to this world right? Well maybe not all of them, but that had to be consistent at least. This heat was causing my breathing to become irregular, which didn’t make it any easier to clean myself. Was that my tail standing straight up? Odd, but it did make cleaning back there easier. Might as well get it over with.

“Ah!” I screamed dropping the brush in the process. What was that? It felt… unlike anything I could describe. The moment the brush touched me back there, my entire body went numb. Shuffling, I tried reaching a hoof back there to feel if I had some sorta cut or something. Whatever it was, it was itching. No, not itching exactly, but it wasn’t tingling either. It was certainly driving me crazy however. I turned around, hoping the onslaught of water would help, but if anything it only seemed to get worse.

My breaths were coming much quicker now, and my back legs felt locked in place. Why was it so hot? My pussy felt on fire! I-If only I could nnng! R-reach that handle. My body was ignoring all commands to turn around, so I was forced to reach underneath me in an awkward manner in an attempt to find the nozzle for water control. Instead I felt my leg seemingly gain a mind of it’s own as it suddenly brushed against my slit.

“AH~” I heard myself scream with the sensation. D-did that really come out of me? It sounded so… feminine. Also how loud was that? I wasn’t going, ah, going to be discovered was I? Wait discovered doing what?

“Ah! OH! AH!” My hoof was slowly rubbing against my newfound mare bits trying so desperately to stop that horrible feeling inside me. That… that slightly wet… arousing…

Fucking shit, I was masturbating in the shower wasn’t I?

Both wings were brushing against the wall and curtain as my hoof continued to try and dig the intrusive feeling from my marehood. Every stroke against it caused my entire body to rock with bliss. By moving my hoof at just the right angle, I could reach it’s front tip inside my sex.

I can already feel my mouth open as the moans rush out, coming faster and faster. T-this is so wrong! I shouldn’t be doing this! I-I’m a human! A guy! I-I...I don’t care! It feels so good! J-Just a little more! A little bit more! I-I feel so s-strange…

Faster and faster my hoof goes, images of Luminare begin to invade my mind. He’s standing there once more, the water dripping off of him and, and underneath… underneath him is… He walks t-toward- “meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

I barely registered that last part was vocalized as my body practically shook itself apart at the sensation that followed. It… It was like taking the feeling of that first time masturbating as a dude, and giving me triple the dosage. I-If this was just masturbation, I wondered how it felt when there was an actual-

The thought sobered me instantly. I had just pleasured myself in the shower. Pleasured myself as a mare, a princess, and I liked it! I couldn’t talk about this, I had to forget all about it. Put it out of my mind. The rest of the shower was rushed, as I quickly attempted to wash my mane the best I could before leaping out and drying myself off. I had to have taken one of the longest showers this body had ever experienced, and I still felt dirty. I wasn’t sure if a thousand showers would make me feel clean again.

Author's Notes:

I'm sorry folks. All that time and this is all I can manage. :/

For some reason this story is proving hard to actually get out. I had originally wanted it much longer then this, but it just didn't work out. It's frustrating, because I know what I WANT to happen, I just can't get it on digital paper. >_<

I'm gonna keep trying. I swear I'll finish this story. I refuse to let it die.

In other news, this is my first ever 'clop' scene. So... I apologize if it sucks.

Ch 4: Out for Lunch

A swift knocking jarred me back to reality. I had forced myself to read a book in an attempt to forget… what should not be remembered. Thankfully the book was doing a great job of keeping me preoccupied. I sighed, it was just too bad I wasn’t making any progress. I don’t know why, but Skyla actually had a book on ‘Introduction Levitation’. I figured it wouldn’t hurt, I mean why have a magic horn if you couldn’t use it?

“Hello?” I called as I placed a bookmark onto the page. It wasn’t time for that date already was it? I didn’t even want to go anymore with the way this stupid body was acting. The door opened and out popped a head from behind it; a cute unicorn mare's head with a curly and red striped mane and tan fur to be precise.

“Princess Skyla? I-I’m here to help you get ready for your date,” she said eyeing me excitedly. She must be the maid Luminare sent to help me get ready. Fat chance of that happening. I'm not going anywhere near that stallion after-

I shook my head. It was too horrifying to remember. The point was that this… Ribbon Dance, according to her nametag, was going to have to go back to her quarters. There was certainly no chance I was going anywhere. Let alone let myself get all made up for it.

“Oh right, the date. Well I’m afraid-” I began, till Ribbon Dance cut me off with a sudden gasp.

“Oh no! I missed it didn’t I! I’m so stupid! I should have been here hours ago! I’m so so sorry Skyla! I-I’ll punish myself! I’ll quit right here! How dare I call myself a maid if I can’t even do such a simple job like this! I should just disappear!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” I cried quickly, my own panic rising in my throat. “You’re on time! You’re on time! I’m ready! Really!” What could I do? This mare legitimately scared the crap outta me. I was afraid she’d hurt herself if I so much as told her she brought me the wrong drink!

“Y-You mean it? I’m not late?” she asked me with big pleading eyes. I nodded vigorously, while silently cursing whatever gods this place had. Of course I’d get the psycho maid while I felt like this. Was everything working against me? Well at the very least this gave me an idea.

“In fact, I’m so proud of you for being here early that I’m going to let you choose how I look! That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier, t-that’ I’m afraid I need you to really wow me!” Perhaps this was a mistake; in fact, I'm sure it was. She looked at me as wolf eyeing a steak.

“Really!?” she screeched, her eyes practically sparkling. “You trust me that much?”
With a sickening feeling in my stomach I nodded my head. Before I could question just what I had gotten myself into this time, I was ushered onto a small platform I didn’t even know was in my room. Ribbon Dance lived up to her name as she danced around the room grabbing this and that, all the while asking me to pose in various ways. Without any sense of just what was going on, I simply tried to comply as best I could. She began with brushing and styling my mane, while somehow simultaneously applying eyeshadow and other pieces of makeup to my face.

“I promise you, I won’t let you down! I’ll make you very pretty! You’re gonna knock those stallions for a loop!” I played along with a smile and a nod. This was all wrong! I didn’t want to be pretty! I didn’t want my mane styled or my face made up or… or any of this! Letting my head droop I submitted to my fate. I was going to have to do every last little thing I swore I wouldn’t do in this body wasn’t I?

“Princess? Are you okay?” Ribbon asked as she stood before me, her face wrapped in concern. “Oh dear do you not like it? I-I’m sorry I really tried… b-but I guess I’m just not good at this stuff.” Crap, she’s taking my looks of distaste as reactions to her work. She’s already jittery enough, I didn’t need both of us having an emotional breakdown.

“No, it’s not that Ribbon Dance, I-I just feel a little tired that’s all.” I shook my head trying to clear it. “It’s not your work, trust me, I actually think it’s rather-” I gasped as I caught my reflection in the full length mirror. All that had been done was my mane and make up, but hot damn what a difference! Perhaps the most shocking effect was from the eyeliner, it begged to be noticed. Anyone who looked at me would have their attention drawn straight towards my blue eyes.

“I-Is that really me?” I asked, approaching the mirror as if I was seeing a ghost. There was no way the mare beyond this glass was me. She looked, well like a goddess! Okay, as much as I hated to admit it, I always found Cadance to be rather… well, hot. For a pony I mean. Like I wasn’t a, what did they call em? Cloppers or something? I didn’t really feel sexually attracted to cartoon ponies, but I could see why Shining Armor would find Cadance attractive.

Looking into the mirror I could definitely tell that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. As a human I figured that I looked rather average, so I wasn't even sure how to react to a reflection like this.

“You mean it?” Ribbon asked with an ever growing smile. I silently thanked Celestia I didn’t have to lie to her.

“I do. I really mean it, I’d like nothing more than to have you finish the job.” The look on her face was priceless. I'd never seen a pony go from that depressed to this happy in a second before; not in person, anyway. In a whirl of colors and fabrics she went back to work picking out my garments, and the like. To be honest? I wasn’t so put off by it anymore. My earlier complaints aside, I now really wanted to see how this was going to turn out. If I looked this good just from a new mane style and a bit of makeup, I couldn’t imagine the end result.

I just had to keep looking on the bright side. Wasn’t that a line from a movie? Well whatever, it seemed like sound advice. It was very clear I wasn’t going to be allowed to mope around in here. So buck it, I’m going on a date as a pretty princess. Least I’ll get free food.

“All done!” Ribbon exclaimed turning me toward the mirror. Okay, I accept it. I’m a pretty, pretty princess. The dress she picked out was purple and faded into pink at the edge of the skirt part, complimented by a gold band wrapped around the waist. The skirt section could have used some more length though considering that it fully showed off my butt to anypony that happened to be behind me. My god, I was a young stallions wet dream! The mere thought of what Luminare would think made me tingle- wait no! I’m just admiring a job well done! You hear me brain!? A job well done!

“It’s amazing! Ribbon Dance you are a true artist!” Oh ick, did I really just say something that corney?

“Oh thank you, Princess! I-I’m very glad you like it. Usually you never let me finish. What’s different about today?” Aw crap, I messed up again. Quick what was a reasonable excuse?

“Er, I just figured you could use a break today. You’re always working so hard.” I gave a small laugh, hoping my nervousness didn’t show through. Thankfully it looked like she bought it.

“Y-Yes, thank you Princess. Truth be told I was starting to doubt my talent.” She rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof. I still couldn’t get over their flexibility. In an instant she went from embarassed to determined. “But my mother always said I could do it!”

“Yes, well she sounds like a very intelligent mare. I guess I should get going right? Can’t keep Lumy waiting.” Ribbon blushed at my words. Geez, she wasn’t that shy toward praise was she?

“Oh my! A nick name! I didn’t realize Prince Luminare had become so close to you!”

“What!?” My eyes widened. “No no no! You’ve got it all wrong!”

“You always kept him so far away before, I’m glad to see you’re finally giving him a chance. I think you two would make a lovely couple!” My blood ran cold. No! Never! Never in a million years!

“It’s not what you think! I don’t like him! I’m just, it’s, I” How the hell was I suppose to explain my situation to her without sounding like a loony?!

“Oh no need to be shy, Princess. It’s good to try a new outlook sometimes, but if it makes you feel better I’ll keep your secret.” She said with a wink. I felt the breakfast in my stomach twist. Ugh, how’d she go from nervous artist to professional matchmaker so quickly?

Thankfully a knock on the door saved me from digging my grave any deeper, as an older green mare with an orange mane and tail stepped in. I was just able to read her name tag labeled ‘Lily leaf’ before Ribbon Dance rushed to hug her.

“Mom! You’re back from your trip!” They nuzzled for a moment before seeming to remember they were in my presence and quickly composed themselves.

“M-My apologies Princess. I lost control of myself for a moment.”

“Oh please forgive her!” Lily Leaf pleaded bowing alongside her daughter. “It’s my fault for being gone for several days!”

“Gone? Gone where?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. Lily Leaf only bowed lower, which I hadn’t thought possible.

“I was summoned to Canterlot to personally train the new gardner. I-I only hope they were able to pick up some useful tips from this unworthy mare.” Unworthy mare? Does she really talk that dramatically all the time? They wouldn’t have called for her if they didn’t think she was good right?

“I-I’m sure you did fine. Why don’t you go enjoy the day with your daughter? You both deserve it.” Both of their eyes widened.

“Oh thank you Princess! I-I’ll make this up to you I promise!” Ribbon Dance declared with a bow. Her mother once again joined her.

“Truly you are as generous as your mother. Thank you.” With great relief I watched them leave the room, no doubt eager to catch up after being apart. As exhausting as they were, it was nice seeing them so happy. I wonder if Skyla and Cadance were that close? It made me a bit envious…

“Knock knock!” came a rather familiar voice as Luminare stepped around the corner a few minutes later. “Are you- uhhhhhhhh” Whatever he was about to say was lost in the dumbstruck expression he was wearing while staring at me. What? Was there a broken window behind me or something? Looking around, it suddenly dawned on me that I was the reason he was so awestruck! He’d never seen Skyla get this dolled up before had he?

“Well well, and here I thought you were the regular James Bond of Equestria. What? My good looks too much for your brain?” I smirked at the pained expression on his face. He had slipped up and knew it.

“Y-Yes, well I don’t know who that is, but usually I am rather composed. I suppose such radiant beauty can ensnare even the most playful of hearts.” He reached out and kissed my hoof again. I felt my newfound mare bits shiver in anticipation. Something I desperately tried to put out of my mind.

“Y-Yes well I suppose we should be off. May as well get this over with, right?”

“Oh you wound me lady. Am I so hideous compared to your heavenly beauty that you won’t even give me a small kiss?” I don’t want to imagine the shade of my blush.

“What?! I-”

Luminare’s laugh cut me off. “Will you relax? I’m only kidding.”

My eyes narrowed. “Y-You rascal! Ruffian!”

His laugh only grew louder.. “Ooo, such strong language!”

“W-why I! Forget it! Date’s off! Get out!” I screamed ready to throw the bed at him. I’d figure out the how of that later. He raised a hoof in defeat.

“Okay! Okay! I apologize. Would it make you feel any better if I promise not to physically tease you for the rest of the day?”

“...or try to get me to do any mushy stuff with you?” He rolled his eyes, but bowed much in the same way the two mares before him did.

“I give my word as a prince.” I probably shouldn’t have believed him, but I did. He was rude at times, arrogant, and a player, but he was the only friend I had in this world, and oddly enough I trusted him.

“Fine..” I quickly walked past him to the door before adding, “After all, a gentlecolt wouldn’t kiss on the first date.”

“Oh, so it is a date huh?” he teased while he trotted to catch up with me.

“Hey! You said you wouldn’t tease!”

“I said no physical teasing. I said nothing about verbal.” He smirked. I fumed.

“Luminare!”

Okay, let me admit something right now. When all is said and done, I am still a fan of the show. How accurate this world is to it aside, and despite all my protesting and reluctance about going on this little ‘date’ of ours. Well, to be blunt, walking around the Crystal Empire in the flesh is fucking awesome!

Right off the bat I could see the pegasus flying about their business in the sky, some of the foals hopping from cloud to cloud. There were even some Crystal ones up there. I wonder if they always existed and we just didn’t see them in the show, or they’re the offspring of a crystal pony and regular pony?

Everywhere you looked, there were ponies, dozens upon dozens of them. Oddly enough I didn’t really see any ‘repeats’ either. I know in the show that was done to save time, so I guess it makes sense that in the ‘real world’ that wouldn’t be true.

“Well well, look who’s enjoying herself,” Luminare said with amusement as he watched me rush around like an idiot. For once I didn’t feel like trying to argue with him, there was no point. Instead, I continued to be amazed by all I saw as we walked. A small booth here selling what looked like fried oats on a stick, a shop window advertising tail streamers there. It was kinda neat seeing just how Equestria differed from my world, while also being slightly similar.

One of the major differences was the fact that the Empire, or city really, was relatively clean. There wasn’t any graffiti on the walls either. The citizens themselves felt different than what you’d expect from a large crowd as well. While I knew there had to be some bad eggs here, I wasn’t fearful that any second my saddle bags would be pilfered.

“So, any store you want to check out? It’s my treat.” Luminare said, standing beside me. Trying to ignore the warmth I felt when he was near I shot him a skeptical look.

“Your treat? Seriously?”

“What? It’s my way of making it up to you for tricking you into that kiss. Come on, even if you are the wrong gender, you have to at least be curious about some of these things. Whether or not they have to do with being a mare is up to you. Though I won’t argue against some nice socks.”

“Socks? Is that seriously a thing here?” Luminare nodded enthusiastically.

“Oh yes, and I have to admit it’s rather alluring.” I gave an inward sigh. How in the world was that a real thing? What’s worse, why did I have to be so damn curious as to how I’d look in some?

“Yeah I’ll think about it.” I said with a roll of my eyes. Then with a quick glance around I realized just how casual our conversation had gotten. “We should probably keep things about wrong gender underwraps, shouldn’t we?” Lumiare shook his head.

“Don’t worry about that, my mother taught me a spell that can keep all sound contained within a small radius. Unless a pony is right next to us, they won’t be able to make out what we are saying.

“Couldn’t they read our lips?” Another shake of the head.

“It blurs the area around our mouths from outside viewers. Kind of like an erratic fog.” Damn, that was impressive. A bit convenient though.

“What in the world does your mother do that she knows these things?”

“Oh relax, she’s a showmare. It’s for her act- watch out!” I felt an invisible force grab hold of my body and pull me back toward him. It was just in time to see a carriage go speeding by as two ponies, assumingly the drivers, chased after it. I shivered as I tried to calm my nerves after nearly being flattened.

“T-thank you…” I squeaked looking at the spot I had just been standing. Too close, that had been way too close. I shut my eyes as the memories tried to crawl their way to the surface. The shock, the pain. Though dulled over the years I could never forget them.

“Are you alright? Skyla? Say something!” I snapped out of my daze with a start. It was okay. I was okay. The feeling passed soon as it always did. Ugh, I can’t believe I still let this get to me. It’s not like I saw it first hand.

“I-I’m fine really. It’s just… Nothing let’s go.” I began to walk again, this time paying much closer attention to my surroundings. Equestria didn’t look like it had nearly the crime rate Earth did, but that didn’t mean it was safe.

“Nothing? You acted li-” I wasn’t in the mood to discuss this.

“I said it’s nothing!” Almost immediately I felt a wave of guilt as he stared back at me in shock. It wasn’t his fault I was like this. He was only worried about me. “Sorry, it’s just… I don’t want to talk about it, okay?” I don’t think he liked that response, but apparently relented.

“Very well.” We walked in silence after that. Neither of us brave enough to break the tension I guess. At least he wasn’t hitting on me.

...I kinda missed it.

I don’t know how long we remained that way, but I tried to shake it off by taking in my surroundings again. The way the sun shone against the crystal buildings was amazing. It really made you wonder just how they were constructed. Probably some weird sort of magic. I wondered if everything here had some sort of magic weaved into it. If I wasn’t so anxious to get back to my body, I could probably spend days looking up all this stuff. I wonder if this is how Skyla felt in my world right now?

“S-so,” I said desperate to shake away the awkwardness. The silence was getting too heavy for me. “How advanced is your technology? You got electricity yet?” He actually looked confused for a second, it was cute.

“Ela-what?” Guess that answered my question too.

“Electricity.” I repeated with a smirk. “It’s like a current of energy that runs through a cable or rope that if you plug it into something, it feeds it the power it needs to run.”

“Oh! That’s electa-city. I remember reading that in history books. No, we haven’t had the need for that in decades, not since the Griffions taught us how to use crystapods.” It was my time to be confused.

“Crysta-what now?” He laughed. I couldn’t really blame him, given my reaction about electricity.

“It’s a form of magic. I think I recall Skyla talking about something you had in your world that was similar, though not as refined. It’s basically a storage unit of power.”

“Huh, like a battery?” He nodded.

“Yes! That was the word she used. A batter-smee. It basically plugs into anything we could need to use and powers it for a certain amount of time. Usually at least a years worth of power, give or take how often the item is used.

“Huh…” So that’s how Ponyville had things like working stoves and the like. I bet Twilight’s science machine in her basement ran off of them as well. Except that didn’t explain why there was a hydro dame in the Mare Do Well episode. Perhaps a relic from those decades lost he just mentioned? Course it was the Mare Do Well episode I was talking about here. Hey I wonder if that’s what the Flim Flam brothers car ran on? Does that mean it was possible to make automobiles? I was almost tempted to suggest them.

“You seem quite interested in this stuff. Should we seek out a department store first for our day out?”

“A department store? Really? That hardly seems ‘romantic’”

“Ah, but you said it yourself it’s not a date right? Come on, I think you’ve been teased enough for right now. Let’s just focus on having a good time.” He smiled at me, which actually raised my spirits. He really seemed to be genuine with this stuff. Perhaps there was hope for him after all.

“Very well, a department store it shall be!” I said taking a few steps forward before I stopped.

“Um… “ I turned and gave him a sheepish look.

“It’s this way,” he said with a chuckle leading the way. Feeling foolish for the twentieth time, I followed. Maybe there could be something to this after all.

“But no clothing stores. I’m not playing dress up,” I stated firmly.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” came his amused reply.

We spent the next hour just browsing around, going from shop to shop. The architecture for this place still threw me for a loop, but it wasn’t as unworldly as I thought it might. I mean yeah everything was made of crystal, and you’d find doors up high sometimes in buildings for the busy pegasus to come through. One shop in particular, run by a family of unicorns had their crystal walls and floor enchanted to shift and move around as they willed them. The items for sale constantly shifting positions. Nothing in our world could ever compare to that!

If I had to compare it to something in my world, I’d say it was like going from America to Japan, or at least what I’ve seen of it. My mom went there for vacation once before she had me. Walking through this area reminded me a lot of the videos she took while there. Made me wonder if ponies from Canterlot got culture shock while here and vice versa.

Predictably, we found our way to a clothing store by where the socks were located. I was trying to pretend I didn’t care about them, but by Celestia there were so many to choose from! Black laced with white hearts etched near the top, frilly pink ones, plain purple; damn, we mares sure had the better end of the stick when it came to accessories!

Wait, we mares? Damn it brain! I’m a stallion not a mare! I mean a guy not a pony princess! Augh, this was getting frustrating. Maybe I should just stop fighting it, it was clearly getting me nowhere and it would only be for the day… I mean I was going to go back to normal tomorrow right? Perhaps I could try on just one pair of blue lacy socks.

“HOLD IT!”

I jumped backward almost instantly.

“I-I wasn’t taking them! I swear!” I cried, my eyes darting around in panic. Looking behind me I saw the commotion actually hadn’t been aimed at me at all. A tall orange crystal pony who I could only guess was the shopkeeper, was currently holding a small colt by the scruff of his neck. A very familiar white alicorn colt.

“So you have been following us.” Luminare said stepping forward with a disapproving look. “Really Prince Eos what is this about?”

“You two always get to go out and have fun! Why can’t I leave the palace too?” He cried, as the shopkeeper lowered him back to the ground.

“T-the royal prince? I-I had no idea-” The crystal pony began, but Luminare raised a hoof.

“You only did what any shop owner would. Fear not, no harm done. However if you don’t mind, I’ll handle him from here on out.”

“Y-Yes of course!” Before I could blink he was gone. Man those ponies sure could move.

“Prince Eos, you know how important you are to the empire. You can not just go wandering about without supervision.” Eos crossed his hooves as he sat there. It was actually quite amusing to see, though a bit weird at the same time. The flexibility we had was something else. It was almost like he was made out of marshmallow.

“It’s not fair!” Eos cried. I was afraid for a moment this might cause a scene, but to my surprise, most of the ponies saw who we were and hurried along. It didn’t look like it was out of fear either but more respect. Whatever Cadance was doing to rule this place, it was obviously effective. On earth there would be paparazzi swarming us already.

“Skyla gets to come here all the time!” Eos continued, “She doesn’t have to stay inside most of the time!”

“Your sister is nearly an adult. Not only that but she’s usually with a friend or bodyguard. You left with neither!” The look on Luminare’s face was that of a stern older brother. I couldn’t believe how much different it made him appear. Seems there was a respectable stallion in there after all. No wonder Shining let him hang around. Hmm, Luminare would probably make a great father- Ah! No! I wasn’t thinking that! I wasn’t!

“Sis? You okay? Are you mad at me?” Eos’ question broke me from my panic. Looking down at him I could see how upset he was. Poor thing. Did he really never get out of the palace?

“Y-Yes I’m fine Eos. Um, remind me, when was the last time we had a day out together?” Eos blinked. So did Luminare.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had one of those. You’re always so busy.” He scrunched his nose as he said that. My Celestia that was cute.

“What? Never? Why as a princess and an older sister this is unacceptable! How would you like to join us for a while?” His eyes widened.

“R-really? You’d let me stay with you?” His ears quickly flattened. “Wait this isn’t a trick to distract me as you call for the guards is it?” I shook my head.

“I promise on my honor as a princess of the Crystal Empire that you can join us for a few hours. However before it gets dark you’ll have to go back to the palace. Is that okay?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Eos cried jumping up and down before managing to compose himself. “I mean awesome. I shall accept your invitation even if you are a mare.” I practically rolled my eyes. Seems some things were multi-universal.

“Well now that that’s settled, shall we see about finding a toy store for young Eos here?” Luminare suggested stepping beside me. I swear he purposely just rubbed against me right then.

“Can we?” Eos asked, looking up at me pleadingly. I laughed.

“Of course. I’ll even buy you something.”

“Really!?” I nodded. However that skeptical look of his returned.

“You sure you’re okay? How come you’re being so nice to me today?”

“Am I really so cruel?” I asked. Did Skyla really not spend that much time with him? I’d have to have a talk with her about that.

“No of course not! It’s just you haven’t tried to prank me today, or tackle me, or any of the things you usually do.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Do you want me to tackle you?”

“No!”

“Well then, that settles that.” I ruffled his mane again. “Today I’m trying something different. So just humor me okay?”

“If I do I get a new toy?” I laughed again. He was such a little colt.

“Yes, but do realize I’ll have to go back to my old ways by tomorrow or so. Got to keep up appearances and all.” He groaned, but nodded his approval. Well that should settle anymore issues with that. I was getting pretty good at this!

“Nice one,” Luminare whispered to me as we walked. Thankfully Eos was too excited to be out and about to care about what we were saying.

“Thank you, though I’m surprised you went along with this so quickly. You didn’t even try to protest.”

“Why would I? Eos deserves a day out, and besides, it seems he’s the only one that can make you relax about your situation.”

“How do you mean?”

“Remember at breakfast? Both of you were running around like a pair of lunatics. I dare say you forgot all about your predicament at that moment. If that’s the kind of pony you become when he’s involved, then I’m more than happy to have him along.”

Huh, I guess he was right. I hadn’t even thought about what I was doing at the time. It was just nice to pretend I had a brother. I wonder if mom had originally wanted for me to have siblings? I don’t know if she was even dating before… Well, there was no point wondering about that now. I watched Eos happily prance along looking this way and that. Skyla wanted me to have fun while here, so why not? Today I was going to have a family. Even if it did mean I was the sister. With a smile I gave myself a slight nod as my tail flicked involuntarily. Now if I could only get rid of this itchy feeling. My newly acquired… pocket had been feeling warm since this morning’s shower. Perhaps I wasn't supposed to expose it to hot water.

“There! There’s the store!” Eos shouted and ran towards the toy store. Even Luminare was smiling as we followed him in. Once inside the building I froze. I couldn’t believe the sheer size of this place! Big as it was, it was a bit odd the shelves weren’t packed with stuff. It wasn’t until I saw another family of ponies walk by holding some teddy bears that I realized it was because ponies actually shopped here. In the show the shelves might have been full for looks, but here they were nearly empty because they were actually selling stuff. It’s weird when you think about it.

“Don’t go too crazy now,” Luminare said trying to keep the excited Eos from bouncing off the walls. “Your dad will get mad if we buy you something too expensive.”

“Yeah yeah, I know,” Eos said, the excitement barely wavering in his voice. After a few more seconds, Luminare stepped back and Eos was off in a flash, causing both of us to laugh again. I was definitely going to have to talk to Skyla about him. She was missing out.

“How about you? You see anything interesting?” Luminare teased as we stood there. Though annoyed by his joke I took notice on how his eyes never left Eos. He really was responsible when it mattered.

“Ha ha, I really doubt- Wait is that a… a video game system?” I couldn’t believe my eyes, but there were a few boxes of what I could only describe as a mini arcade cabinet sitting on a shelf. They basically looked like a tv with a controller attached to it. I guessed the large slot on the bottom was where you put games in.

“Oh yes, remarkable aren’t they? It’s only been a couple of years since they were invented. A home game unit. Never thought I’d see the day. I tried to get Skyla to join me in playing one once but she didn’t really take.” Nodding at him I managed to use my hooves well enough to move the box around so I could read it’s packaging. The Gamer Set 2000, huh? Hmm, made by Button Mash Inc. A picture of some brown stallion with a beanie hat and a thick mustache winked at me on the back of the box. Guess he was the inventor.

“Does it come with only one game or what?” I asked. If that info was on the box I couldn’t find it.

“Oh no you can buy crystal records for it.”

“Crystal records?” He sighed.

“They’re like vinyl records except able to hold a lot more information in a smaller size. Once ponies learned they could put games on them, the choice was probably obvious. I believe it comes with at least one game, and can even double as a karaoke machine!” My heart skipped a beat at the mention of karaoke.

“Y-You can sing to music with it?” He nodded, most likely seeing my interest.

“You want to buy one?” I tried to keep my face from lighting up.

“C-can we?” He shrugged.

“Hey you’re a princess remember? You can certainly afford one.”

“But didn’t we just tell Eos he couldn’t get anything expensive?”

“True, but that’s because Shining doesn’t want him to get greedy. Skyla never really asks for these sorta things, so I have a feeling he’ll overlook it.”

“I-I think I would…” A karaoke machine! At the very least it’d get me through the night till tomorrow. I just hope Skyla didn’t mind it when she came back. Now I’d just have to find some secluded part of the castle to use it.

“Sure we’ll come get it on the way home. No sense in lugging it around with us.” I couldn’t argue with that. Things were finally looking up!

“Hey sis, can I get this?” Eos asked holding up what looked like a blue frisbee, except a small yellow ball was stuck in it’s center. I cast a quick glance at Luminare for help.

“A saucaroo huh?” He said looking it over, “I thought you already had one.” Eos’ ears drooped.

“Y-Yeah it uh, sorta flew out the window and over the town. I uh, didn’t see where it landed.” Luminare gave an exasperated sigh as he took the toy from him.

“In that case go grab a second one to replace this one in case that happens again.” Eos was already gone before he finished the sentence.

"So, are you going to actually tell me what in Equestria a saucaroo is or make me guess?" I asked directly after.

He smiled and responded with, "I never hear Skyla talk like that. It's rather refreshing."

“Lumy!” I didn’t realize it, but I could just see my reflection in a nearby toy that I was puffing my cheeks out when I said that.

“Okay! Okay! It’s… Hmm well do you have Frisbee’s in your world?” I nodded. “Okay good, then it’s like a frisbee, but better. See that orb in the center? A deflection spell has been crafted into it. Anytime it comes into contact with something that’s not alive, a small field of force is emitted, causing the toy to bounce off of stuff without so much as moving it. Basically a way for little colts or fillies to play inside without breaking stuff. At least they won’t break stuff with the toy. Colliding into stuff… Well nothing is perfect.”

Damn, these foals and the toys of this world. I hoped they realized how lucky they were. Sure they probably didn’t have anything like laser tag or talking teddy bears, but I doubt they even needed them. Heck they already had videogames! Lucky stiffs. Why ever would Skyla want to leave?

We had just purchased the toys for Eos and were exiting the store when a flash of light momentarily blinded me.

“Princess Skyla! Does this mean you and Prince Luminare are an item now?” I blinked while trying to look around. As my vision cleared I could see several ponies with cameras and microphones. Shit, was this seriously a group of paparazzi? Did I jinx it earlier?

“Prince! Does this mean you finally wooed even the princess?” I think Luminare’s expression darkened a bit there, but before any more questions could be asked, he put on a big smile.

“Everyone! Please! If you all shout your questions out all at once I’ll never get to them. Now how about we start with the lovely mares first? It’s always a pleasure conversing with them, though please don’t get upset gentlecolts. Your questions are always the most delightful to discuss.” His horned glowed casting a quick spell.

>>Take Eos and sneak away. I’ll meet you by the side exit, the one by that neat little book store. You know the one?

I-I think so, but what about you? I think I heard a mental scoff.

>>I can distract these leeches no problem. Just wait for me. I’ll be right there. Now go!

Not wanting to leave him to the wolves so to speak, but seeing no other choice, I beckoned for Eos to follow me quietly. I don’t know how, but somehow he managed to keep any of them from noticing us as we made our escape. Before I knew it we were outside.

“I’m glad Lumy was here. I hate those kinda ponies!” Eos said giving the door a flick of his wings. Guess Equestria wasn’t paradise after all. We sat there for a few moments catching our breaths before I decided to bring up something that had been nagging at me.

“Say Eos…” I began. I hoped it wasn't a mistake asking this.

“Yeah sis?” He sat down before me, all ears.

“T-this is going to be a weird question but um… Do you like me like this? Or do you want me to be like I usually am?”

“Sis?” He tilted his head. “What’s up with you?” He took a step forward before his eyes grew wide with fear. “You’re not thinking of going somewhere are you? You’ve been acting all nice to me and all.. Please don’t go!” He hugged me ever so tightly and suddenly that I froze. “Knightly and Noble left for Canterlot and I couldn't go! They both acted real nice before leaving me too! I-I don’t want to stay here by myself! Don’t go!”

“Eos! Eos! I’m not going anywhere! I was just asking!” I said while absently rubbing his back. It never occurred to me just how lonely it must be in the castle when your siblings are all away, with none of the staff your age. With a shudder, I pushed the thought of how I’d have to leave all this out of my mind. Just one more reason I shouldn’t stay too long.

“Y-You promise?” He sniffled and lookied up at me with the biggest puppy dog eyes I’d ever seen. Damn it Eos! Stop being so cute! Ugh, I can’t believe this was the same brat I was fighting with this morning.

“I promise. Now you should probably straighten up before Luminare thinks I tackled you too hard.” Though still shaken, he nodded and sat back down. With relief I stretched my wings, which had become pinched by him. Ow! For new appendages, they cramped good.

“I...I like both.” He said after a few minutes.

“Both?” I repeated, another nod.

“I like you like this. Spending time with me, treating me nicely for once. I-I keep thinking you’re going to scream ‘gottcha’ and hit me with a pie or something though.” I giggled, not caring how girly it sounded for once. I think I was beginning to see the relationship Skyla had with him.

“Nope, no tricks today. Call it a day off.” I said smiling. He returned it with glee.

“Just don’t take too many days off okay? I like how you usually are too.” Once more I ruffled his mane, something I think he secretly enjoyed.

“It’s a promise. Why by tomorrow you may never realize I was different!”

“Ah, good you’re both still here.” Luminare said as he emerged from the building. “It took a while longer then I would have liked, but I managed to send those fools on a wild moose chase.”

“You mean goose?” He looked at me confused.

“What about a goose?” I shook my head.

“Nevermind, so how’d you manage to do all that anyway?”

“Doesn’t it hafta do with your talent?” Eos asked pointing to Luminare’s cutie mark. I admit I was a bit baffled. What did a flute have to do with what he did? Was he secretly the pied piper or something?

“You really don’t know Eos? I thought I told you.” He said moving to the side to give us a better view of his mark. It was just a flute with a type of ball on one side and some musical notes emitting from it. I should probably ask him to play me a song at some point. Could be interesting.

“Yeah it’s a flute.” Eos said with the same level of understanding I seemed to have. “So?”

“Ah ah, it’s not actually a flute. It’s a Pungi. A ‘charm flute’ if you will. Basically my talent is to be charming. So I guess that makes me a Prince Charming.” Ugh, I was reminded why I hate him. That smug expression was sicking. Even Eos made a face.

“Whatever,” Eos said turning around. “Sis can we get some ice cream?”

“Hmm maybe after lunch, and speaking of which I could use some.” Both mine and Eos’ stomachs growled.

“Heh, you two really are siblings, aren't you? Alright let’s go get something to eat. Eos, anything you’d like? Since you don’t get to come with us much I’ll leave it up to you.”

“Really? Then I know just the place! Come on!” he said and darted off. Both Luminare and I had to sprint to keep up with him.

“Is that really your talent?” I asked between breaths. He smirked in that cocky manner of his.

“Isn’t it just so me?”

I snorted. “Ugh, have you been using it on me this entire time?”

“Of course not. I have my pride,” he said. I wasn’t sure I could believe him though.

“Right just like I’m sure you don’t use it on Skyla all the time.” He just grinned.

“Alicorn magic naturally resists my charms. She’s never once fallen for it.” He seemed ever so cheerful as he said that. “It’s why we’re such good friends!”

We were having a much later lunch then we planned on being it was late afternoon, but it had been worth it to make Eos happy. We watched as he happily threw his new toy around with a few other colts his age, as we ate some ice cream. I found the entire thing kinda funny really, just like a scene from a romance movie. Not that Luminare and I would ever be like that.

“See? This wasn’t so bad was it? You didn’t even have to really go on a date either.” Luminare said with a smirk. He was eating strawberry vanilla, while I had chocolate banana. According to him it was Skyla’s favorite and I could see why. The taste was heavenly. If I wasn’t so afraid of it melting, I’d be taking my time while devouring it. Everything I tasted or smelled here just seem so much more intense than it did back on earth. It had to be the pony body, or perhaps it was the fact that magic seemed to flow through just about everything. Much as I hate to admit it… I was going to miss this place.

I was taking a sip from my lemonade, which tasted just devine by the way, when I noticed Luminare giving me a knowing smirk. Great, just what had he caught me doing now?

“You don’t even realize you are doing it do you?” He said levitating his own drink to his lips. Tired of these little games, I decided to be blunt.

“What? Am I eating like a girl now? Smearing my makeup? Are you going to point out every little thing like tha-”

“No, no, not anything like that,” he said holding up a hoof. “Your cup. Look at what you are holding and your cup.” My cup? Just what the hay was he going on about? Yeah I was holding my ice cream so it didn’t fall and because it was hard for me I had to use both hooves. Except I was thirsty, so I needed to grab my drink, but, but I never let go of my ice cream which meant... My cup was floating in the air next to me!

With a sizzle the pinkish blue aura of magic vanished from said cup, allowing it to plunge toward the ground. Thankfully Luminare quickly grabbed it.

“Whoa that was a close one. You should be careful using your magic.” He grinned as he placed the cup before me again. Stunned, I simply stared at it as I realized I had picked it up with magic. MY magic! Concentrating I tried to do it again, but it didn’t even jiggle.

“I-I don’t understand, if I was, but how?”

“Oh it’s not so surprising. Haven’t you been wondering why you can walk and move like any other naturally born pony? You haven’t tripped once since going on this date.” Huh come to think of it he was right. Heck earlier this morning I was chasing Eos around the kitchen like it was nothing and then we sprinted here. How was I doing that when just this morning I had to practice walking? Forget that, how was I levitating my drink after only reading about levitation magic? I went through school once already, I’m not that fast a learner.

“W-what’s happening to me? Oh Celestia am I becoming her? Am I going to think I’m Skyla!? That I was always Skyla!?”

“Calm down!” he commanded with a hiss. “And do try to look normal before ponies get suspicious of your erratic behavior. I took the liberty of casting a sound barrier spell around us to keep our conversation private, but if you start flailing around like a loony it’s bound to attract attention, and I for one don’t want to run into those ponies again.”

“How can you just tell me to relax? Are you the one in the alien body!?” Despite my outburst I did try to keep myself calm. Those blood thirsty photographers were the last thing I needed right now.

“You aren’t being overwritten, this is just how the orb was designed.” Taking another bite of his ice cream he seemed to enjoy taking his time eating while I eagerly awaited some clarification. “You see, there is a reason your body changed into hers, and vice versa, rather than your minds simply swapping.”

I held up a hoof. “Wait, how do you know that’s how it works? Did you help create the orbs?” He shook his head.

“No, but Skyla made sure to drill all the details into my head. Honestly I didn’t think it’d actually work, well the ‘other world’ part that is. I knew the body swapping part would.” I raised my eyebrows. He took notice and shot me a cheeky grin.

“You didn’t think we didn’t test them did you? After we made sure nothing would hurt the test subjects, I got the pleasure of being Skyla for a day.” In true comedic fashion I spat my drink out. Luckily I had been facing to the side or I might have sprayed him.

“You What!?” At this outburst Eos took notice and began to head toward us, but a quick swipe of my hoof to show I was fine was enough to convince him to continue playing. Sighing in relief I turned back toward Luminare. Eos was way too young to be hearing this stuff. Wait why was that my concern?

“Well who else could she swap with?” Luminare said matter of factly, distracting me from my thoughts. “I’m the only other pony who was suppose to know anything about this, so it had to be me.”

“Huh, well that does make sense but uh… you don’t-”

“Don’t what? Appear phased? A female body isn’t anything to be afraid of. I saw it as more as some type of adventure. Really it’s why I keep saying you should just relax and go with it. After all I did.”

“O-Oh…” Wait a sec, “I thought you said you couldn't imagine how this situation was for me.”

“I don’t, you went from some creature to a pony mare. Merely swapping gender for a day wasn’t really that big a deal. I found it rather… educational.” Okay I really didn’t want to talk about this anymore.

“Alright fine, but back to the point. What’s happening to me if I’m not being overwritten?”

“Well you see, despite magic being in an abundance here, things like body swaps aren’t exactly common. Even magic has rules you must follow, and the brain is a very complicated organ. Not even Twilight Sparkle could explain to you every little detail of how it works, so it isn’t so much a stretch to conclude that you can’t just pick up a brain and drop it into another body.” He took a sip from his soda. “In fact these crystal orbs are the only way I’ve ever seen it possible, and with them comes many fail safes built in.”

“Ah, so it’s not like any unicorn can just swap his body with a Princess I’m guessing.” He shook his head.

“No, and even non unicorn ponies have some sort of magical defense to prevent that. I admit I’m not sure exactly how it works, but basically here is the deal: By changing your body to hers, and hers to yours, you can ‘swap’ bodies. The crystals are needed as the trigger and corner stone. It’s like a self writing book in a way. It jots down all the information about your body and stores it within it’s crystal pages. Then once that data is recorded it transmits it to the other orb which simply uses it to ‘draw’ over your old body persay. Like a foal placing cutouts of somepony else over a character in a story book.”

I sat there eating my own ice cream as I listened to him with rapt attention. It was kinda like learning how a computer worked. Though if I understood what he was saying correctly, that meant my crystal orb in the very saddlebag I wore held a diagram of what my body was? Or rather my old body? I decided to ask that.

“Indeed. Yours still has all the information your old body, ready to restore it once the orbs are recharged.”

“I see…” Thinking about it, didn’t that mean if I broke my crystal my body was gone for good? Now I really wished I hadn’t brought it with me, but I was just too afraid of Shining coming across it somehow.

“W-wait so if I break my orb then I’m stuck like this!?”

“Of course not.” He said with a scoff, “You realize Skyla still has an exact copy of your body right? If you break your crystal, we can simply make another and just have them swap the two bodies again.” Oh right. Man do I feel really silly now.

“Do try to be careful though, while it’s not like the crystal is made out of glass, it’s not indestructible. It took months to make them, so unless you want to be her for that long I suggest you take care of it.” Ugh, now I really wish I hadn’t brought it with me. I made a note to be extra careful.

“Anyway, as for how that translates to you using magic, it’s only a theory, but from what I can see, it’s a sound one.” I nodded not realizing I was using my magic to move my spoon to my mouth.

“I had a taste of it when Skyla and I swapped. You see when your body transforms into the other’s, all the information of how to move, walk, and even use magic have been burned into it from years of use. In short, you can run and walk because that body has been doing it for years without issue. When you stop thinking about it, the brain is able to connect to that knowledge and simply work from there. Same with magic and many other things. However since your brain itself isn’t changed, your personality isn’t overwritten. Make sense?”

I had to admit it did in some ways. I’m not sure if ‘science’ really would work like that, but this wasn’t exactly science either. It was Equestrian magic. Still, It didn’t seem possible that just because my body knew how to walk or fly, that I could just do it without the knowledge of how to do so. Then again I did figure out walking and my body seemed to just take over. I also had read up on levitation magic and here I was using it to- clank. Well, I was using it to move a spoon. I almost wished I could talk to Cadance about all this. As it was, this was likely all the information I was going to get on the subject.

“Are you satisfied with our lesson? Because if you don’t mind I’d like to stop being the teacher here and go back to trying to have a fun date with a beautiful mare.” I hated how that made me blush.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t tease me like that anymore.”

“Correct, and what I said was the truth. Skyla is a very pretty mare, so my promise is kept. So, what do you say?”

“About what? Class? Yeah, I’m good.” Luminare nodded.

“Good because it seems it’s time for little Eos to go home,” he said having dropped the sound barrier.

“What!? But I was having fun!” Eos cried even as I saw two guard ponies emerge from the crowd.

“Don’t be greedy Eos. We spent nearly the entire afternoon together, now if you don’t mind I’d like to take your sister out on a real date for once.”

“But I thought you two didn’t like that kinda stuff!” Eos protested. Despite his reluctance to go, he didn’t move away from the guards. I thought it rather mature of him actually.

“Sorry little guy.” With that Luminare leaned his head near Eos’ ear and whispered something while indicating my way. Eos didn’t look happy but he nodded.

“Okay, I’ll go with them, but promise we do this again okay? Promise!” Luminare smiled, one I could tell was genuine.

“You got it. It’s a promise.” With that Eos ran over to me and gave me a hug.

“Thanks for the gifts sis! And thanks for letting me hang with you.” Smiling I gave him a little nuzzle.

“No problem. Just remember it’s only for today.” He waved his wing at me.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. See ya at home!” After waving goodbye to the foals he had been playing with he trotted back with the guards toward the palace. I hope dad didn’t ground him or anything.

“Very well Skyla. Now that it’s just the two of us, I have a special place to show you.”

“It’s not a hotel is it?” He mocked being hurt.

“Oh Skyla do you really think I’d do that?”

“Yes.”

“Bah! I made a promise and I’ll not break it. Come on, it’s something I really do think you’ll find special, now will you just trust me?” He held out his hoof, his eyes unreadable. Much as I felt this could be a trap I did say that I trust him and I meant it. With a sigh I placed my hoof in his.

“Very well, lead the way.” Much like Eos in the toy shop, Luminare seemed all too eager to take me away. “I promise you Skyla you’re going to love this place! It’s the perfect place to end the night!”

That’s what I was afraid of. With a growing sense of dread I followed him through the city. The warmth in my body becoming more distracting with each passing second.

Author's Notes:

My Celestia that took forever. I'm sorry I can't promise this means faster release times. :/

But there, you can all stop asking me how she was able to run during breakfast now. >_<

Also a small tidbit my editor mentioned. She said Luminare might not use the term 'overwritten' as they don't have computers. I'm basing it off of them being able to overwrite a spell or enchantment, so the term still works.