Clueless in Equestria

by David Silver

First published 2nd of February, 2015

A middle aged human ends up in Equestria dropped in the middle of nowhere. He wanders into town and quickly discovers pony folk are kind folk. Maybe there's a life to be made here.

A human in his mid thirties that makes his living off of online video games that he designed and by writing about ponies. When he gets his chance to go anywhere he wants, he opts to visit Equestria, despite more sane options being available.

Behold as our author-turned-protagonist deals with the dangers of Equestria as he attempts to make a new place for himself without looking too much like an ass. He will encounter faces he knows from before, and some that are not as they seem. Will he survive a convention traveling at the side of his new friends? Will he get his fill of Equestrian life and want to go home?

Additional Tags: Not chosen one, no super powers

1 - He Arrives

This is a story about a guy, a human. His name is David. He likes to write stories, much like this one. We will assume that he's not writing this very story, unless it's a journal that he left behind? That is a possibility, but one we won't fuss about for too long.

David was seated at his computer. The chair he was parked in was uncomfortable. He had assembled it himself for Christmas and must have put it together incorrectly. It was a bit of a shame he didn't have the little thing that worked the bolts. He liked it anyway, as it hurt just enough to get him off his butt and move around. In fact, he had been on a diet and trying to be a healthier person in general, and it was working! Down to 217 pounds in a little over a week was a monument to his amazing willpower, or at least his ability to deny himself nice things like food and soda. Ah well, he was in his mid-thirties, so it was then or never to get into any kind of non-pear shape.

Part of this new routine involved taking more walks around the neighborhood. He rose from the chair and moved for the front door, he tapped at his smart phone and it began tracking his location as he walked at an determined pace in a random direction. He thought back to the stories he was in the middle of.

What would happen with the Mane Six and their new friends dealing with a world suffering wide spread elemental chaos? That would be fun to write about. He was almost as eager to find out as his readers, though he had almost as little of a clue how it would work out.

"Turn left," said his phone softly. This surprised David. The app was supposed to track where he went, not direct him to anywhere. Not having anywhere better to be other than walking, he obliged the device and began walking down the new road. The phone chirped in notication and he began to inspect the new mails that came in, alerting him to books he was selling, and, oh, someone left a message on the Ponyfinder forum.

He began to punch in a reply when the signal suddenly dropped off the phone. He looked up to see he wasn't on the street he started on. Floating in a void, despite his feet feeling like they were on a solid surface, David did not know where he was at all.

All right, no reason to panic. I'm either dead, which means you can't do anything, or dreaming, in which case high marks on the clarity, or something amazing is happening, which is awesome.

"Hello?" he said, looking around in the inky darkness. He crouched down carefully and felt around. There was a ground here, but it was perfectly smooth, like glass. It wasn't slippery though.

Words appeared before him in fine filigree, burning brightly as they hovered in the nothing.

Where do you want to be?

David was confused at these words, but, opportunity! He wasn't about to allow this chance for adventure slip by. Sure he was older than most protagonists in stories found something amazing to do, but that wasn't going to stop David now that adventure beckoned. What should he say though?

"Can I pick anywhere?" he started.

Yes.

"Can I be anything?" he added.

You are you.

"Would it be impolite to ask who you are?" he pried with building curiosity.

No, but I won't tell you anyway.

David rose up to his feet fully. It was tempting to say Everglow, but that was a world of extreme dangers, where a thirty something year old human with no combat expertise can expect little more than maybe a job as a scholar (would 'Common' translate to English?) if they're not killed by something he would be powerless to counter. Maybe a nicer place.

"Equestria," he said. Surely he could survive there while having an adventure, right?

You may bring one thing with you.

This was a much harder choice. A good selection could make quite the difference.

David asked, "Is what I'm wearing and holding already counting towards that?"

No.

David nodded softly. It could have been worse. Shoot, he didn't have a laptop with wikipedia downloaded to it, that would have been awesome.

He decided to try his luck, "I'd like my computer desk and everything in/on it, but held in a little ball until I put it down and tell it to unfold."

There was a pause. David began to worry if he hadn't asked for too much. "Hello?", he called to the darkness.

Cheeky. Once you have placed your possessions, they will not fold again. Place it carefully. Since you have bent the rules in your favor, you will be placed in an unfavorable starting place. Good luck.

"I--" David found himself standing atop a snow packed mountain. Cold wind blew around him, cutting through his simple shirt as if it weren't there. Clutched in the hand without the phone was a little clear rubber ball with his desk in it. He stuffed the phone and the ball into his pockets quickly. He thought back to his Boy Scout training and... nothing came up. Sighing, he surveyed the area. At least it wasn't snowing, and he could see the faint hint of train tracks in one direction. That seemed as good a target as any, and he began to hike towards those tracks determinedly.

Fortunately, hiking was something David felt confident he could do for a long time, even as the muscles in his legs began to whine and complain about all the effort. What worried him more was the lack of food and water. Though he could still stand to lose a few pounds, a starvation diet was far from the ideal way of doing it. The air was growing slowly warmer as he descended from the mountain, but the sun was setting faster than he could descend.

"Celestia's sun," he said to himself, looking up at it. The temperature was starting to plummet with the approaching dusk, and David looked for shelter. His belly was tense with the faint ache of hunger, but that seemed a distant concern. He spotted a cave and quickly jogged to it. He dug out his phone and squinted at the battery, 70%. He turned on airplane mode to conserve power before turning the still bright screen into the darkness. The cave opened after a few feet and looked clean.

Not seeing any better alternative or signs of animal life, he dared to enter, waving his smart phone about to cast light. The temperature was a little better inside, though not much. At least he wouldn't be an ice cube in the morning, and that was good enough. "Just have to get to a town, and make friendly with the ponies," he said as he settled down to get some sleep. "Walk in confidently, smile without teeth, and be friendly. Put those sales skills to the test."

Different possible scenarios danced through his head, from the ideal immediate acceptance to the worst case being chased out of town by a herd of spooked ponies wielding torches and pitchforks. Trying to plan for the contingencies loosely, he surrendered his grip on the waking world.

David's dreams were an odd place, where things happened in wild orders and often without any true reasoning. He was busy making a withdrawal from a bank for a basket of muffins. He handed one to Derpy without even realizing she was there and walked out of the bank into oncoming traffic. He dodged a car and pulled the door open on the next where he was riding to a Ponyfinder game that he would be running shortly.

"Are your dreams always so turbulent?" asked a familiar voice to his left.

He looked and saw Luna seated in the driver's seat. Her appearance seemed as natural as anything else in the dream, but her words shook his hold on it, bringing him to a semi lucid state, "Huh? Oh! Luna! I didn't think I'd meet you this quickly."

"You know of me? You are not even a pony, or a diamond dog, or... are you a minotaur? You have the hands, but no hooves. No horn, are you female?" she grilled David before the scene shifted. They were walking along the sea, on a boardwalk high over the waves below.

David shook his head at her, "Nah, male. I'm guessing there are no humans, somewhere else in the world?"

She shook her head in return, "Wait, are you from beyond a mirror portal?"

"I honestly don't know," said David with a shrug. "I'm up in a mountain in a cave. I'm heading for some rail tracks but I didn't recognize any other landmarks."

Though Luna hadn't touched David, he suddenly was falling towards the water. He hadn't had a falling dream since he was a kid. He heard Luna speak, "Go to the tracks, human." He woke up just before he would have struck the water.

I, er, he woke up with a start. Already the dream was fading away as he pulled himself to his feet. The cave was not the most comfortable bed he had been on, and yet not the least comfortable either. He looked out into the dim light. Not wanting to waste battery, he moved out to take a peek at the sun or moon. The sun is what greeted him, low in the sky but rising. There was a nip in the air, but walking would only make him warmer, or so he reasoned, so he resumed his hike.

Sleep had done nothing to sate his hunger or thirst, but at least the mountain was giving way to grass lands. He couldn't see the rail from this lower elevation but he kept on forward, he hoped in the right direction. The sun was still in the same direction, if slowly rising, so that was confidence-boosting. A glance above made him pause. High in the sky soared two pegasi. They were far enough way to be barely discernible shapes, but he could see their wings flapping with some concentration. A quick shout didn't get their attention, and they moved on past. Well alright! At least he was sure he made it to the right place. Near as he could tell, the pegasi were heading Northerly. Following their direction, he saw another mountain far in the distance, maybe days away.

"Figures," he grumbled to himself as the hike resumed. A soft coo brought his attention as a small cloud of parasprites floated past. Two of them diverted to inspect him. "Sorry, no food here," he noted with a bit of a smirk as he walked on. Either understanding him or losing interest, they hurried to rejoin the cloud of other parasprites.

His day began to look far better when he came across a small pond. He almost ran for it before a thought kept him back. Untreated water could kill a man. He remembered reading that somewhere, and he didn't want to die of dysentery. Worst game over ever! But it was either drink, or fall over after another day of hiking and die not long after that, dizzy and miserable. Saying a quiet prayer that Equestrian water was less filled with micro-organisms, he took the chance and slaked his thirst deeply. "I'm giving you my faith, Equestria. I'll be good, promise. Don't kill me." The prayer was as much for himself as anything else, and the pond had no reply for it.

Author's Notes:

It begins. We've tossed Dave into Equestria. Where will he end up? What dangers will he face? You could help determine that! Leave your awful ideas for this awful fic below!

2 - Civilization

Several hours later, David regretted his decision. Was it supposed to turn bad that quickly? His belly rumbled and protested in painful jabs of pain as he forced one foot in front of the other. How long had it been? He looked up to the sky to see the sun already starting to sink again. Maybe it hadn't been a few hours after all? Nothing for it. Either he found some ponies, or he'd just die in an interesting place.

"Hey," came a new voice. David looked across the grassy terrain to see an earth pony. It was white with brown splotches over its form. It had a belt of supplies around its midsection and a fishing pole was attached that wagged with the pony's movements. David tried to determine if it's a boy or girl, but the pain was being far too distracting for that. "You ok?"

Alright! They didn't immediately assume he was some kind of horrible monster. Things were going to be OK. David nodded at the pony, "I need help. Please. My name's David."

The pony leaned forward, looking all the more curious. "David? Well you don't look so good at all." That sounded like a male voice, now that David could hear more of it. "I'm Wet Hoof. Follow me and I'll take you back to town."

He turned away from David and started heading away. David tried to keep up, forcing his aching body faster and managing it for a short time before he collapsed behind Wet, panting for breath. Despite the pain, he just frowned instead of groaning.

Wet paused and circled around to look at David. "Maybe you're worse than I thought." He sighed loudly before moving to heft up David onto his back, "You're heavy. Good thing you didn't get found by a pegasus or a unicorn. C'mon!" The world began to jostle and bounce as he was carried along on the helpful stallion's back.

David closed his eyes and tried to relax. "Thanks," he said softly, "I think I drank some bad water." Wet Hoof didn't reply. Soon David could hear the sounds of life and opened his eyes. It was a tiny town. He mostly saw earth ponies, and most of those were inside in well lit houses. They were a riot of colors as he expected them to be. Suddenly he heard knocking. He looked towards the sound to see Wet Hoot rapping his hoof against a door.

The door swung inwards to reveal a unicorn that was a red color that reminded David of Big Macintosh. He didn't have the stature of the stout earth pony, however. Emerald eyes went wide, "What is that and why are you carrying it?" He... she? moved out of the way of Wet Hoof despite his words.

Wet Hoof carried David inside and deposited him on one of several beds. The bed was a bit short, and his legs dangled off. Still, it was comfortable and soft. One of the other beds was also occupied, but the lump was under the covers. "I found them on the way to the fishing hole. He says he drank bad water, so I brought him to you, doc. He seemed like a nice enough sort."

The unicorn rolled her eyes, gender dispersed as she spoke more, "I bet you barely exchanged a sentence with him. You are far too trusting, Wet." She bonked Wet Hoof on the head, "Don't worry though. I haven't lost a patient yet and I won't start now, assuming he's as well behaved as you say he is. What is he, a new kind of furless diamond dog?"

Though David wanted keenly to listen in on the conversation, the comfort of the bed lulled him away, and he was soon retiring to the world of dreams.

David was busy typing up an important proposal about a new video game, somehow placing game elements with swipes of his mouse between keystrokes. Suddenly Luna appeared in the screen, "We meet again." She faded away as David started back and was suddenly face up, looking at the stars. If only he could find the right one, he could stop the world from being destroyed. "Your dreams are as chaotic as ever, human," came the familiar voice, bringing David into lucidity again as he looked around, finding Luna seated on her haunches beside him.

"Hello, Luna. I didn't think I'd see you," said David.

She tilted her head at him lightly, "Have you already forgotten our last meeting? What is your name, human?"

David tried to remember seeing Luna before even as he provided, "David. Nice to meet you."

"Ah, you do have a name." Luna said as she spread her wings, which was enough to prompt the dream to change again. They were flying through the sky. David had his arms out to the sides, while Luna flew easily with her wings. She asked, "Are you still in danger?"

David shook his head, "I don't think so... I drunk some water I shouldn't have, but some ponies found me."

Luna gave a slight smile, "This is good. I do not feel ill intent in you, so I must go if you are safe. There are nightmares to banish." With that, she as gone, and the dreams were allowed to proceed.

David woke up with a powerful, if natural, need. He swung his feet over the edge, noticing that he wasn't wearing his shoes and socks anymore. At least he had been left with his other clothes, even if ponies weren't very clothing shy in the show. He looked around for a moment before he realized, "I'm not sick anymore."

"No you are not," replied the unicorn as she stepped out from a small office. "It was just a minor infection, nothing we couldn't fix. Most ponies in this town chew on the herb that fights off this infection as a condiment. Now then." She sat down in front of David, "I am Patch Up, the doctor of this town. And you are?"

"David," he replied, looking over the red unicorn mare. "This is going to sound strange, and maybe rude. You can tell me no without hard feelings, but can I?" He reached out a hand towards her.

Patch looked perplexed before her expression brightened. She thrust a hoof up to meet his hanging hand, "Minotaurs shake hands, don't they?" she asked. Accepting her excuse, David shook her hoof, amazing at the feel of the hoof. While the outside of the hoof was hard, the limb was warm and alive. "Now that we know each other, where did you come from, David?"

David shrugged at this, "A mountain. I don't know what it was called. I could see a railroad and tried to get to it. Where are we now?"

Patch Up nodded, "Well, you didn't make it to the railroad, but this town's a little speck on the map named Long View. Think they called it that on account of the flat grass to all sides. So where were you from, before the mountain? Or are there minotaurs up in the mountains?"

David shook his head, "I know I might look kinda like one, but I'm not. I'm a human." He wriggled his toes, "As you can see, no hooves, no tail, no horns."

Patch seemed to accept this, "I never heard of a human, but you're just a pony in need of help as far as I can see. You are a good pony, aren't you?" she asked, staring David in the eyes.

He quickly nodded, "I'm not here to cause trouble."

"Good enough," agreed Patch. "Do you plan to move through, to the rail?"

It was a good question, and one he didn't have an answer for yet. This little town would probably accept him as he was, but what talent did he have that would be useful here? Heck, they probably didn't even need writers, just farmers, fishers, and other such rural jobs. "I'm not sure. I'm a little lost, you know? Is there a rail station close by, and how could I earn some, uh, bits, to ride on it?"

Patch smiled brightly, "I'll put the word around town. I'm sure someone could use the help and you can earn those bits."

"Good, I doubt they take credit," grumbled David as he fished out his defunct credit cards.

Patch moved up to peer at the curious card. "May I," she returned the question. When he didn't object her horn began to glow a soft green and lifted one of the cards over for her to look at. "Funny looking cards. They use this kind of thing in Manehatten?"

"Back where I came from," offered David truthfully as he stuffed the one still in his hand away. "It let you spend money in a bank without holding the money."

"That's a funny kind of thing," said Patch as she returned the card to him. "You should rest. If you were looking for the rest room, it's that way," she pointed to the back, "Second on the right."

Reminded of his morning needs, David thanked her quickly and was off to take care of things before they became a more pressing matter.

Author's Notes:

A little sleepy town to get a start in? What could go wrong! You tell me.

3 - My Creation

David was becoming bored of looking at the ceiling and deprived of his usual electronic means of distraction. The bed still being short was the final straw, and David soon stood back up and began pacing. He noticed that the bed that had been occupied was no longer so. All of the beds beside the one he had slept in were neatly made for the next patient. He spotted a bookcase and he wandered over and ran his finger along the spines while reading. To his relief, the words appeared to be understandable enough. He silently thanked the fates that the English writing of the show translated over.

Most of the books were at least tangentially medical in nature and dry reading, at least as far as the average pony was concerned. David plucked one up about unicorns and parked his butt on the edge of the bed, starting to read about maladies that could afflict a unicorn. He hoped he could learn more about how their magic worked, if only through the many ways it could go wrong. As it turns out, unicorn biology was much more complicated than he would have given credit for at a glance.

"Interesting choice," came the familiar voice of Patch up. "Plan on an exciting career in medicine?"

David looked up from his book, "Huh? Nah, just reading."

She rolled her eyes, "I couldn't pay most the ponies in this town to read through that, and you're doing it for fun?"

David shrugged a little, "Just curious, uh, Patch right?"

"You forgot already?" she asked, "Yes, that's my name. Patch Up." The book David was holding wrapped in the green magic as Patch lifted it from him, "And you are going to take a nap."

"I'm a little old to get that order," protested David, "I mean, thanks for everything, but I'm not tired."

She raised a furry brow at him, "You're not tired? You should be achy all over from that."

David gave a 'huh', "I thought that was from hiking for almost two days straight."

Patch nodded hesitantly, "And that's not enough to sit down?"

"I am sitting," he pointed out, "But I'm not tired."

Patch approached and reached up a hoof to poke a dangling green thing at his belt. "Is that your job?"

David looked down at it. Hanging from his keychain, besides a key, was a green bit of plastic that read 'Ponyfinder'.

"What sort of ponies do you find?" asked Patch with a hint of dubiousness, "Are you a bounty hunter?"

David shook his head, "Nothing like that, really! It's just a thing I made."

"A thing?" she asked.

He thought of how to explain it. "It's a game," he started. "Have you ever heard of roleplaying games?"

She nodded hesitantly, "Not my kind of thing. The little ones play pretend all the time."

He shrugged at that, growing slightly embarrassed, "Well, where I came from, adults do too. Ponyfinder is a game about pretending to be a pony and going on adventures."

She stared at him a moment before snickering laughter escaped her, "Celestia save me! Now I'm picturing a whole herd of you... humans? on all fours like a bunch of foals playing make believe."

David went quiet, embarrassed into silence. He would think of a thousand witty comebacks later, but for the moment, he just wallowed in his shame. "Uh, it was... kind of popular."

"I bet it was," came Patch with her amused smile still worn, "You're a curious pony, David. Do you have a second name?"

"Silver," replied David.

Patch brightened at the news, "There's a proper name. What is a 'David' anyway?"

Sinking deeper into shame, David replied, "An old king, back where I'm from. Also means beloved."

"Huh," said Patch, "beloved silver. I can work with that. Do you work with silver?"

He shook his head, "Nah, I made games. I'm a writer."

She seemed to consider this a moment, "Never played a game that needed a lot of writing. Well, I can't force you to sleep, but take it easy, OK?" She trotted off with a soft whistle as she retreated into her office and closed the door behind herself. David glanced at her retreating rump. Her swaying straight haired tail seemed to cover most of the objectionable bits. He noticed a lighter shade of orange ran down the middle of the otherwise red tail.

With her gone, he stood up. He was still barefooted as the cold floor made clear. He got down slowly onto all fours and peeked under the bed, finding the shoes and socks peeking out at him. He reached underneath and grabbed hold before he hefted himself back to a seated position and starting to get dressed again. Feet covered, he moved for the door. Deciding to err on the side of caution, he opened it slowly but surely, resisting the urge to toss it open or act like he had something to hide.

The small town had mares and stallions moving about. Most seemed to have clear destinations, but a few were parked beside the road, sharing idle conversation. Most of the ponies came up to his midsection while on all fours, though he imagined they would be at least as tall as he was if they reared up onto hindlegs. David felt a sense of wonder at this place. It was as fantastic as he'd hoped, and yet, mundane. These ponies were clearly not enraptured by their own lives.

Most of them didn't seem to pay him much mind, aside from the occasional glance at him before returning to what they were doing. Suddenly David was slapped on the shoulder. He went rigid even as he jumped, body protesting at the shock of it.

"Woah there, partner," came the familiar voice of Wet Hoof. "I didn't mean to surprise you." He fell back to all fours from where he had been standing. "I just saw you there taking in the sights and thought I'd come say hello."

David looked over the pony and the name came to him thankfully easily, "Damp hooves?"

Wet snorted, "Close. Wet Hoof. Good to see you up and around. I was starting to think you were going to stay down."

"Huh?" replied David, "It isn't the day after?"

He shook his head, "Add another day."

David frowned a little, "I... I mean, I appreciate it, but how am I still, you know..." he wobbled a hand before gesturing at his clothes, "dressed?"

Wet Hoof shrugged, "Patch Up says she's treated diamond dogs, and they get real upset if they wake up without their clothes if they went to sleep with 'em, so she just put them back on you each time. Must have worked, you look alright now."

David nodded a little, "Yea, that was actually kind of cool of her to do... So... what is there to see in this town?"

"Not too much," said Wet, "But we got plenty of work. Speaking of, I should get back to it. You're not going to stop me from reaching the fishing hole this time."

David waved a hand, "Promise, but what do ponies need with fish?"

Wet shrugged softly, "Trade, fertilizer, hay, some ponies like it as delicacy, but I think that's more common in the cities. Don't know no ponies in town that buy m'fish for that."

Having answered the question, Wet gave a parting wave, and moved out towards the direction of the dangerous water hole. This left David to resume his wandering. There, parked on a stool, was a dark brown pony who was furiously scribbling with a white quill held in his snout. Without the advantage of a horn, it seemed ink was a common casualty of this pony, with splotches on his face, sides, and even the blue saddlebag he wore.

David approached this pony, becoming more certain that he knew it with every step. Just about fifteen feet away, the pony looked up at David, and stared at him with widening eyes.

"My human!" he exclaimed as the book he was writing dropped to the ground, quill fluttering after it slowly.

"Uh, my pony," replied David, suddenly nervous. The pony did not share this hesitation, rushing up and circling David quickly.

"You're just as I imagined you!" He reached up and batted the ponyfinder keychain, "Even the little details. Luna be praised, my dreams have come true." Feeling all the confidence that David had lost, the earth pony began to inspect his 'creation' intently, butting his snout and hooves all over the stunned human.

"Woah, I mean, hold on there," complained David, backing up a few steps. "I'm --"

"David," said the pony before clapping his forehooves together, "David Silver, right?"

David nodded at this, "And you're Rough Draft, right?"

Rough bobbed his head, "That's me! How did you get here? Aren't you supposed to be living in the great city of Oak Town, with all the other humans?"

"Oakland," corrected David, "And I was, until I had a chance to visit. I thought you'd be in Everglow, not Equestria."

Rough Draft snorted, "So we're both a little off on where the other lives. I'll forgive if you forgive."

David nodded as the stallion suddenly offered a hoof. He took the hoof and gave it a light shaking. Rough Draft apparently wanted more of a shake and accelerated the motion.

David recovered his hand, then considered. Of all the ponies, his OC was the one most likely to agree. "May I?" he asked again, reaching for Rough Draft. Rough didn't object as David petted over his ears and ran fingers through his mane, "Thanks. I've wanted to pet a pony for too long."

Rough snorted out a snicker, "So long as you return the favor. Are you on an epic quest or something? Going to save the universe?"

"I hope not," said David honestly. "I'm not exactly in shape. I think you know that."

Rough shrugged, "So get in shape."

David pointed accusingly, "If you're anything like me, you're not much in shape either."

Rough Draft patted his belly with a hoof, "I could stand with one less doughnut with breakfast. But that's beside the point! My creation is standing in front of me! This has to mean something huge, it has to!"

Other ponies stared at the two of them as they talked, confused, curious, but moving along. David noticed their passing interest and asked Rough, "Do you always act... this way?"

Rough tilted his head, "What way? Excited that my creation from another universe just dropped in to say hi? Buck yea!"

David patted the friendly pony on the head, "I'm staying at the, uh, clinic, I think?" He pointed back where he came from. "Want to hang out a while? I don't want to get Patch Up worked up by staying away too long."

"You couldn't pay me to stay away," spoke Rough Draft. He quickly gathered his dropped book and quill, stuffing them into his saddlebag before hurrying after David.

Author's Notes:

David runs into his pony counterpart and both are just as awkward in their own way. At least the ponies are getting more exposure to the human and haven't formed a torch squad yet. Things are looking up!

Rough Draft isn't big on editing, let me know if he left any typos scattered around.

4 - Adventures in Finances

When David returned with his new friend, Patch was in the main area, cleaning up. She turned to face David and Rough, looking back and forth between them, "Made a new friend already?" she asked of David.

Rough Draft nudged past David. "Better than that! Tell me you recognize him!"

Patch shook her head slowly, "Can't say I do, unless you mean as my patient, which he is." David perched on the edge of his newly made bed, watching the other two talk.

Rough Draft buried his snout into his saddlebags, rooting around for a moment as loose bits of paper began to fall to the ground in the frantic search. Soon he pulled a sheaf of paper free, dangling from his mouth was a picture of a human.

Patch raised a brow, "You already had him drawn?"

Rough shook his head quickly, setting the paper down, "No! I've had this drawing for about a year. My artist friend drew it for me."

David drew out his phone and powered it on as the two ponies chatted.

"It does look like him," conceded Patch, "But don't be running off with him. The stubborn oaf needs his rest."

As Rough Draft gushed on in his excitement, David managed to pull up his picture of Rough. He spun the phone around towards the two, "Here. It was cached fortunately."

They paused in their chatter and looked at the curious device. There was a drawing of Rough Draft in disturbing detail, even with his book and the same quill held in his lips. "I do not have an ink splatter right there," he hotly defended, reaching up to put a hoof on the bridge of his nose, where he encountered a splatter that darkened his hoof, "Oh."

Patch Up smirked before shaking her head, "Alright, you convinced me. You're soul mates or something. I'm very happy for you both, but it's time for David's check up, so sit in the corner like a good colt." She pointed to said corner before advancing on David. David turned the phone back off and stuffed it away before putting his attention on Patch. She dutifully took his blood pressure, peered into his mouth and tapped him here and there, "You're getting better. Those are some sharp teeth in the front. You eat meat?"

David had read enough fanfiction in the prior months to come up with an answer quickly, "I don't mind fish."

Patch snorted, "Is that how you got the bad water, fishing with your mouth? That's not how you do it."

David frowned a little, but didn't reply as Patch concluded her examination. "Alright, if you're feeling good enough to walk around, this'll be your last night here, then you have to find a place of your own."

As she walked away, Rough moved up quickly to take her place, "Well, if you need a place, you could crash with me?" he said, sounding less certain of himself as he proposed the idea.

"Well," said David, "I... guess that's OK. I mean, we know each other." He reached, patting Rough on the head again. The warm furriness of those twitching ears felt good between his fingers. "I was hoping to earn some bits and get to one of the cities."

"Okay," said Rough.

David raised a brow, "OK?"

Rough nodded his head, "I'm not tied down. Most of my income's from royalties. You don't mind if I tag along, right? It'll be an adventure."

Acting on a sudden impulse, David reached down and hauled the pony up onto the bed beside himself, "Alright. We're like a team then."

Rough Draft held up a hoof, which David met with a fist in a bump, though this seemed to confuse Rough Draft. He waggled his hoof in the air again. Staring at the hoof again, David tried once more, but with his fingers out, offering a high five. This pleased Rough who almost giggled with delight.

Despite David's stubborn refusal, his body had the last laugh as he blacked out against Rough Draft, suddenly quite asleep. The pony blinked in surprise at the sudden weight and nudged David a few times before giving up and tucking him in to the best of his ability. He hopped down from the bed and moved for Patch's office. "Patch Up?"

Patch Up looked up from her desk, "Huh? What's up, RD?"

"I have a little favor to ask," said Rough, "For my friend."

Patch looked at Rough Draft dubiously, "Is he asleep yet?"

Rough quickly nodded, "Out like a lantern. We're going to go on an adventure, I just know it! He seemed worried he won't be ready for it."

Patch nodded slowly, "I'm not an expert on, what, humans, but he's about as old as you are, at a guess. You're both middle aged stallions. I'm not sure how fit he is compared to others... of his kind."

Rough kept right on nodding, "Right right, but I'm an earth pony. Being tough is just part of my skillset." Even as Patch rolled her eyes, he continued, "Can you help him? A little spell, make him stronger? Please?"

Patch developed a flat stare for Rough, making him start to wilt in place. "Those are very illegal..."

"I... but..." He started to sag in defeat.

"When used on ponies," concluded Patch with a devious grin. "There are very few magic laws that apply to humans, except the obvious things. I trust you've gotten his consent?"

Rough Draft nodded quickly, "Uh, yes, of course. He wants to be stronger!"

Patch hopped down from her chair and pulled a book from her personal bookshelf with her magic. She approached the slumbering David with the floating book. "I haven't had much practice with this spell, being illegal for all but wasting victims," she confessed as she set the book down on the side of the bed and flipped to the right page. "Don't blame me if he turns into a rabbit or something."

Rough's eyes went wide, "Could it do that?"

Patch snickered softly, "Very unlikely. More chance it'll just kill him." Though Rough Draft started to get serious second thoughts on the matter, Patch was already starting the magic.

As Patch concentrated, the green magic around her horn brightened to where it was painful to look at directly. Surrounding David's bed appeared a circle of runes that grew more complicated by the moment. Her tongue stuck out as she worked through the magic on the page step by careful step.

The concluding portion of the spell read 'And now place a prepared heart crystal [See section 4] on the target's chest.' Heart crystal? What's a heart crystal? There was a bright flash, rendering both her and Rough Draft blind for a moment and seeing stars for many after. The spell had concluded, heart crystal or not. She blinked rapidly to chase the spots away before Patch flipped to the back of the book to find section four.

"Did it work?" asked Rough Draft, "He looks the same."

"Shhh," hissed Patch Up, finally finding the page and reading it quickly.

"The heart crystal is a crystal, traditionally, but not necessarily, carved into the shape of a heart and attuned to an individual's personal magic field. It is required for many augmenting spells, which would otherwise prove far too unstable without it. The subject of such spells should wear their personal heart crystal for as long as the spell is active."

The book went on and on about how to fashion such a crystal, what the varying colors it could turn into meant, and other facts that all felt useless to know after the fact. David didn't have a heart crystal. She flipped ahead to the troubleshooting question.

"So you didn't use a heart crystal?

You're far from the first and, this author is afraid to say, likely to be far from the last. Without a heart crystal, the magic you've just woven into your victim is uncontrolled. Do not attempt to dispel the magic, as it has changed with the growing, changing, nature of the target. If the victim is experiencing immediate shock, seek medical attention and inform them to be on the watch for Thaumaturgical Rashes. If the victim appears to be doing well, great, you've already avoided the worst possible outcome."

"What are you reading?" asked Rough Draft, peeking over her shoulder. She wrapped him in the green glow of her magic and lifted him away. He squawked and flailed, but was less annoying floating in the air. She continued scanning the page, eyes following the old words.

Keep your victim calm for at least six hours to allow full integration. Afterwards, they should be fine, but the effect you have woven will flare up. There is usually a pattern for this, but it differs depending on the weaver, the target, the effect, and a little chance. While inconveniencing, it is rarely dangerous if you've made it this far. Congratulations, now don't do it again.

The next thing written was a rune that sent her mind down a very specific path that led to an instant blinding migraine. Rough Draft dropped to the ground in a pile as Patch held her head. Patch Up rubbed at her temples with an angry muttering. Stupid ancient wizards, leaving punishments in their books.

"It says to let him sleep," she said tiredly, "I'm going to do that too. If you're that worried, take the next bed over, but do not disturb him." Not feeling the strength to argue, she retreated into her office and kicked the door shut. She could face the consequences of her actions the next day.

The sun was just rising as David woke up with a soft grunt and sat up in place. Looking around, he saw Rough Draft's head peeking free of the blanket on the next bed over. David smiled, finding the sight adorable. He threw his feet over the side of the bed and realised he had gone to bed with his shoes on. Nothing for it now. He rose up and stretched for the sky in a long motion before he swung his arms loosely, feeling ready to tackle the day. Not wanting to wake up Rough, he moved to the door to do some pony watching, and slipped out onto the street.

5 - On the Town

David contemplated his new lot in life as he walked down the street at a brisk pace. The ponies seemed to be accepting him, and he had a buddy with some means. It could have gone a lot worse than it had. It was a shame on some level this wasn't Ponyville, or he'd hit up Rarity about replacement clothes. The ponies he'd seen didn't do... underwear, and wearing the same set forever seemed impractical.

"Stop right there!" came a female voice to his left. David froze as if encased in ice before turning his head to look around. A mare was trotting up to him, wearing a bright gold star on her chest where it hung off a vest. She had an off yellow coat with dark brown mane. Her eyes were a bright blue shade. Emblazoned on her rump were the scales of justice, but they were uneven and broken half way down the middle. "Now don't cause any trouble, you whatever you are."

David put up his hands, "Just taking a walk, no trouble here."

"I'll be the judge of that," she said as she inspected him. "So you can talk. I thought Patch was losing it. Are you giving her any grief?"

David shook his head, "Trying not to. What's your name?"

"I'll ask the questions 'round here," she countered, raising a hoof to point at him, "So what's yers?"

"David Silver," he replied, then went quiet, waiting for her to continue.

She didn't keep him waiting long, "Well, mister Silver, you watch your hooves. I don't want to hear you causing trouble."

"Yes Ma'am," he said. Well, pony cops were still better than what he feared back at home. Better a loud pony than a police officer with a gun ready to fire. "Have a nice day."

She seemed surprised at his words, "Uh, you too." She looked uncertain for a moment before she resumed her confident stance, "Instead of letting you wander around the town getting into mischief, how about we get some breakfast?"

She had his full attention, "Lead the way." He followed as she mosied down the main street and took a turn into what appeared to be a saloon of some kind. The sign above read 'Deep Swig Tavern', and had an outline of a pony tossing back a mug of something. Ducking past the door, David entered the building. There was a smell he couldn't quite place, but guessed it to be lingering alcohol. There were a few other ponies present, including a unicorn stallion plinking at a banjo as he tuned the instrument held in his brown magic.

The sheriff? led David towards the bar as she called out, "Hey, Greasy!" A mare behind the bar looked up from whatever she was doing and her wings flared up.

"Goldie! What's that you have with you?" asked the pegasus, pointing at David.

"Patient of Patch Up, and he looks like he has a mighty hunger." Goldie plopped down in front of the bar, "So get us both some vittles and pronto."

Greasy looked at David curiously, "So what do you eat? You like hash fries?"

David settled himself on one of the stools, idly wondering how ponies balanced on them, "Hash fries sounds great. Quick warning, no bits."

Goldie held up a hoof, "I dragged him in here, I'll cover his hash, and a drink. Go on."

Greasy grabbed a spatula in her mouth and was soon working on getting some potatoes frying on on a large flat grill. David watched her with fascination as he asked, "Do you have orange juice?"

Greasy set her spatula down as the potatoes softly sizzled. "All out. I expect a shipment later in the week. What about grapefruit?"

"Oh, I love grapefruit," agreed David easily, leaning on the counter. "So, if you don't mind my asking, do you know much about Rough Draft?"

Goldie snorted out a laugh, "That nutball? He's mostly harmless."

Greasy pointed a spatula at Goldie, "Don't be mean." She returned to agitating the hash mix carefully, "He's a nice stallion, just a little lost in his writing. Wouldn't hurt a fly."

Goldie received a glass of a dark brown liquid and took a sip before looking David over, "What makes you ask about him? Is he bothering you?"

David shook his head, "Nah, just curious." He watched Greasy as she retrieved a grapefuit and sliced it open. She set a glass under an odd contraption then pushed one half of the fruit onto its top. It shook and glowed as the juice was extracted from it and spilled into the waiting glass. After she repeated with the other half, the glass was offered to David. "Thanks. Magic?"

"Of course," said Greasy with a nod, "Cost a pretty bit too, all the way from Manehatten." She flipped the potatoes over, almost done turning into breakfast. "So how'd you end up in town? Headed on through?"

Goldie looked to David, equally curious about this. David grew a bit self conscious, "Uh, Wet Hoof rescued me outside of town. I'm just, you know, wandering. Rough Draft seems to have an idea where I should go next."

A plate of hash browns was set before each of the two by Greasy as she said, "So that's why you asked about him. He travels sometimes, to the big cities. Talking about his books or whatever. It all goes over my head. I barely read anyway."

Goldie snorted before she took a long pull from her drink. "I read some of it. Bunch of whimsical make believe, fit only for foals." She set the glass down and dug into her food with noisy eagerness.

"Maybe that's why it's popular," suggested David before trying some of his own. It was good! There was something... just different about it. While he could taste they were potatoes, some hidden factor made them just plain better, almost dancing across his taste buds. Maybe it was the cleaner environment, or maybe it was just pony magic in action. Either way, he didn't look a gift horse in the mouth, all the puns intended, and ate up.

The door to the road suddenly burst open, admitting a frantic looking Rough Draft, "Have you s... oh." His panic ceased as he spotted David turning to look back at him. He trotted up to the bar, "There you are. You gave me quite a scare just up and vanishing like that. Hey Greasy, Hey Gold."

Goldie pointed at David with a hoof and spoke sarcastically, "I found something of yours."

Greasy rolled her eyes, "That's mean."

Rough Draft shook his head quickly "What, no, he's not mine, I mean he is. He's my friend. Right, Dave?" He held up a hoof expectantly. There was an instant of delay before David decided Rough preferred high fives and gave one, to Rough's delight. "See? A finger out salute, just like my books said."

"Actually," said David, "They're called 'high fives' where I come from."

Rough Draft looked stunned a moment before he started grinning, "Oh I get it! Five! Fingers!" He buried his snout against one of David's hands, apparently counting fingers with his nose. Though David felt embarrassed at the contact, he enjoyed Rough's presence and didn't object. He ran the hand back, petting over those fuzzy ears and the thick mane.

Gold burst into loud fits of laughter, "Oh Oh! I get it. He's not your pet, you're his. This is too much." She clopped a hoof on the counter as she went limp with laughter. "You're too damn cute, Rough."

Greasy smiled but said nothing. Rough's ears went back as he blushed hotly, "It's not like that. We're friends, partners. We're going to go on an adventure." His words were not as convincing as they could have been with David still gently petting him. Much like the attention David had received, they filled Rough with embarrassment, but also made him feel good. In the end he remained where he was, accepting the affection.

Gold pulled herself upright, "Alright, enough of this. I have a town to patrol. You play nice with your whatever he is. If you're heading out, travel safe. I want the favorite town loon to come back in one piece." She left a few bits on the counter and walked to the door.

Greasy looked at the two, "You're both kind of adorable, like brothers. You here for breakfast, Rough?"

The idea of eating appealed to Rough Draft and he quickly slid up onto the stool beside David, "I'll take the eggs, scrambled, with some toasted oats. Orange juice on the side."

Greasy faintly giggled as she reported, "Your friend asked for the same, all out. You want some grapefruit too?"

"That'll work," agreed Rough as he buried his snout into his saddlebag and pulled out some bits that he placed on the counter. "How are you doing Greasy?"

"I'm just fine, Rough," she said in a friendly tone as she got to preparing his order. "I heard there was a sick pony at the clinic, didn't think it'd be... this." She waved a hoof at David.

"Human," offered David, "That's what I am."

"Right, Hu-man. He just walked on in here with Goldie," explained Greasy.

"He does that," says Rough, "Can't keep him held down for anything. He's nice though, and polite."

Greasy waved a spatula at him, "And yours?"

"And mi--Hey! Nopony owns anypony else. We're partners," corrected Rough Draft.

Greasy fluttered her lashes at David, "So if I tried to lure him away with my feminine charms, you wouldn't mind?"

David suddenly coughed on the juice he had been sipping at, peering at the flirtatious pegasus.

Rough Draft banged a hoof on the counter, "Greasy, you're making him uncomfortable. Uh, also I'm not sure if what I wrote about human mating practices is even accurate."

Greasy stuck out her tongue, "We could have found out, but noooo." She served up Rough his breakfast with a giggle, "Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I think it's in his belly," offered David, watching Rough Draft make short work of the meal placed before him. "So, uh, thank you." he said to Greasy. She looked ready to make another shot when Rough gave her a fresh cross look.

She swallowed it back and nodded at the human, "Enjoy your stay in town, and I hope your adventure doesn't get too... adventurous."

David was content to wait for Rough to finish his food, wondering about just where they were planning to go. "How far away is the rail line?"

Greasy perked an ear then pointed, "It's that way, maybe six miles? There's a terminal there, little one. Why, you want to head into the city?"

"Just checking the options," demured David, going quiet.

Author's Notes:

Soon, the adventure begins! Maybe. No promises.

Pony food is best food, as we have learned in this episode, unless you were hoping for bacon and/or hamburgers cause you're not getting any.

See typos? Report them! It's your civic duty.

6 - Welcome Home

With breakfast settled, David and Rough left the tavern. "Well," said Rough. "You're not living at the clinic anymore, so I'd better show you my place." He trotted at an eager pace through the small town with 'his' human following behind him. They soon arrived at a small one story house parked at the edge of the town. It looked like it could stand a new coat of paint, the aging blue hue peeling up in many places. The room was angled slightly towards the road with tar panels on top. Rough pranced up to the door and grabbed the handle in his mouth before swinging it open, "My house is your house."

David stepped up and peeked inside. It was a mild explosion of unorganized mess. Papers were strewn about and various things appeared to have been knocked over and forgotten about. There wasn't any food laying about, and no unpleasant odors. It wasn't... dirty, just cluttered and messy. "Huh," said David. "It's like my own room expanded out into a house."

"You didn't have a house?" asked Rough, sounding surprised. "I always figured you'd have a small one like I do." He pointed at his house before entering it behind David and nudging the door shut behind.

"I live with family," explained David, "Er, lived, I guess. Hope they're doing OK."

Rough tilted his head one way and then the other, "Not sure how to check on that. Let's talk about adventure instead." He cantered off to return with a map of Equestria. He unfurled it across the dining room table and reared up, his fore hooves resting on the table as he looked the map over. "You have to want to look at everything."

David nodded at this as he stood beside Rough, "Well, I do, sort of."

"Sort of?" asked Rough.

David rolled a hand, "Just being here is pretty exciting for the moment." He reached to start petting Rough Draft behind the ear where he had discovered a sensitive spot. "It's nice having a friend that wants me around all the time."

Rough started to lean into the petting before David's words brought him to a halt. "Oh... uh..." He glanced away before looking back at David again, "You were lonely too huh? I guess that makes sense. We are two peas in a pod." Rough reared up to his full height, matching David's own and gave him a sudden hug. David froze for a moment, but soon returned the affection. It became quiet as the two awkward souls found comfort in one another before Rough gently drew back, "Ok, enough mushy stuff. Come on, adventure! I know you want some."

"Alright alright," said David as he held up a hand, "Just don't get me killed. I don't have any amazing powers or fighting skills if you're hoping for those."

Rough looked him over a moment, "About that... Uh. Promise not to be mad?"

"What should I be or not be mad about?" asked David with a slowly raised brow. "You're not turning me into a pony are you? That's cliché."

Rough blinked at that and tilted his head, "Cliché? But this isn't a story... I bet you'd look like me if we made you into a pony, but that's not what I meant."

"Uh, can you do that?" asked David curiously. "I mean, you know, fanfiction goes on and on about that kind of thing, but I didn't see any evidence that such magic existed beyond temporary things."

Rough blinked as things continued to veer off course, "I... don't rightly know. I suppose so? I'm an earth pony, magic's not really my thing." He pouted a little and sat on his haunches, "Are you upset that I'm not a unicorn?"

David's hands found Rough's cheeks and rubbed them gently as he would a dog, getting a similarly positive response, "You are adorable just the way you are. You don't need a horn. Now what were you getting at before?"

Rough's ears perked as he started, "Oh! Yea, I kind of... had Patch put a spell on you?"

"You're sounding especially unsure about that," noted David. "Did she or didn't she, and what spell? I don't feel different."

Rough shrugged, "Well, that's the thing. I asked her to make you stronger, but I don't see any difference either."

"Not that I mind the idea of being stronger," said David, "Shouldn't you have asked first? When did you even do that?"

Rough shrank in on himself, "After you went to sleep..."

David rolled his eyes and reached in to plink Rough across his lighter brown snout, "Bad pony. I'm not likely to say no, but ask first? Besides, if it does something, I'd rather be awake to feel it, good or bad."

Rough rubbed his snout with a fetlock as he looked at David curiously, "Even if it hurt?"

"I'd rather hurt and know what changed," said David defiantly. "If you're asleep during it, it's almost like you died and some other person woke up in your place."

Rough slowly blinked, "That's... heavy. Are all humans like that?"

David snorted loudly in a half chuckle, "No. I'm an oddball that way. That makes two of us, right?"

Rough's expression brightened into a smile before he turned back to the table, "I, at the least, want to bring you to a convention."

"They have conventions here?" asked David, "Wait, what do you write?"

"Humanway, an expansion on the game Ways and Travels," explained Rough Draft, "Why play as a pony when you can roleplay a humanoid like, well, a human." He pointed at David, "Or an elf or a dwarf! I made up a bunch of humanoid races to choose from."

David laughed, quickly working down to a chuckle as he shook his head, "Ah man, it's like looking into a furry mirror. Do you know what Ponyfinder is?"

Rough shook his head, "The artist added that part. I thought she was just being cute."

"It's also an expansion game," said David. "To play ponies instead of humanoids. In my world, humans and elves and things are the defaults."

Rough Draft clopped his hooves together a moment, "So, uh... wait. Does this mean you want to be me and I want to be you?"

David roughed up Rough's mane gently, "A little. If we find a unicorn that knows a temporary mind switching spell, we can give it a try. Just expect to fall over a few times. Two legs takes a while to master."

Rough Draft snorted, "As if four legs are easier!" His defiant tone was less impressive than it could be as he leaned into the petting. "Let's see you get things done without those fingers of yours. Why are you so... accepting of these ideas?"

"Which ideas?" asked David.

"Like turning into a pony. You're a human, shouldn't you want to, you know, be human?" asked Rough, leaning forward.

David shrugged, "Doesn't stop me from wanting to know what it's like. This is a world of magic. Where I came from, it was technology or bust, and we didn't have any technology quite far enough to let someone consider being a pony. So, yea, if someone offers a chance to find out, why not? So long as it's not forever."

Rough Draft shook his head with confusion, "Well I'll keep an eye out for you, but that kind of thing is major magic as far as I know. It's not like we have a princess around to cast spells for your amusement."

David rolled a hand, "There's a good question. I'm assuming everything works like I thought it would, but assumptions are dangerous. What princesses are there?"

Rough tapped his chin, "Well let's see. There's Celestia and Luna of course. Then there's Cadence, but she's up North. Oh, and Twilight Sparkle, but she's new. She's to the West."

"Luna... oh!" Suddenly a memory returned. "Awesome. I saw her in a dream. I think she helped get me to town in her own way."

Rough Draft looked a little surprised but nodded, "That's where you're most likely to see her. I wonder why she picked out your dreams to be in. Were you having a nightmare?"

David shook his head as he looked at the map of Equestria then, "Where are we on this?"

Rough Draft quickly pointed to a spot just north of the Foal Mountains, "Right here."

David pointed to the Foal Mountains, "Pretty sure I was here then, and came down the mountains to get here."

"Huh, lucky," said Rough Raft.

"Why is that?" asked David, "I saw some parasprites, but nothing too dangerous."

Rough Draft chuckled, "Dragon territory. If it had noticed you, that would probably be the end of you. You're just full of luck. That reminds me, how did you get... here." He gestured widely with his hooves, "To Equestria. You said you don't have magic, so what was it?"

David shrugged, "I don't really know. I was just taking a walk, to get healthier, and bam, big black place. Some writing in the void asked some questions and then there I was on the mountain. Not how I thought it'd go. A mystery letter or email would have worked, and a chance to grab some extra clothes would have been nice."

Rough Draft moved for the sink and soon had himself a mug of water. David watched as he used hooves and mouth together to get things done, marvelling as the earth pony balanced the mug between hooves and walked back to the table to set it down and begin sipping from it.

"I'm going to guess," said David, "That since you're a mirror of me, you don't have a girl, mare? friend."

Rough Draft shook his head, "Never got to that... I could any time."

At his defensive tone, David gently brushed the stallion's neck, "S'ok, I know the feeling. The pegasus at the tavern defended you. I think she'd be into you if you gave her a chance."

Rough Draft went dark red in his cheeks and nose, "What!? Greasy? I mean... we're friends..." He stammered and sank to his haunches, looking more lost by the moment.

"Deep breath," advised David. "Just ask her if she wants to go to a movie, or, uh, festival. You guys do festivals? If she says no, no loss, but if she says yes?"

Rough Draft slowly nodded, "A movie, a trip into the city... Yea. I know!" He pointed at Manehatten to the east along the rail way, "I'll invite her along to the convention." He shuddered and looked up at David, "You'll be my wingstallion right? Come on, help a brother out."

David nodded as he flicked one of Rough Draft's ears, "We're closer than brothers in a way. I'll do my best, but you should know I'm as clueless as you are when it comes to ladies. It's easier to give advice than to do it yourself."

"Well great!" exclaimed Rough, nodding his head, "You advise, I'll... do."

Author's Notes:

David and Rough Draft learn more about each other, and then the shipping begins!

Spot any typos or get any ideas? Leave them below! I feed on comments!

7 - On the Road Again

After a night's rest, Rough Draft and David had a basic plan, which started with asking Greasy to come along.

"Are you sure she'll be alright with this?" asked Rough Draft, rubbing his hooves together nervously.

David shrugged, "If she says no, nothing lost. Just ask, be casual. You haven't always gone alone to these have you?

"Well..." Rough said, looking thoughtful, "I've met up with fans before and stayed with them, uh, once I went with a fellow player. Never with a mare though!"

David nodded, "Just the next step. I'll be with you, so don't sweat it."

"Alright, let's go." Rough got to his hooves and moved for the door. David grabbed the handle before he could and opened it for him. "Thanks." They were on their way back into town. They saw Goldie on the way, but it was little more than a passing wave on the way past her. They entered the tavern to see about half a dozen ponies enjoying breakfast. Their target was behind her bar, cleaning dishes. David gave Rough a soft nudge before finding a seat for himself to watch while pretending not to.

Rough trotted to the bar with increasing uncertainty. He watched her wash the dishes quietly as the moment turned into a minute of just watching her work. She looked up at him, "Hey Rough, I didn't notice you standing there. What brings you by, hungry?"

Rough shook his head quickly, "No, I mean. Are you busy this weekend?"

Greasy peered at him, "Not especially, why?"

"Well... I'm heading to Manehatten," he said, shuffling his hooves in place, "And I wanted to know if you wanted to come along to a game convention going on there."

She stuck out her tongue, "Silly stallion. I don't play those games, besides, if I don't watch this place, who will? I'm pretty well shackled to this town." She reached across the counter even as his face fell. She pressed her hoof to his nose, "Boop. Don't look so sad, Rough. Come on, smile."

He smiled reluctantly, and she nodded, "You're much more handsome when you're smiling. Now you have a good time and travel safely, alright?"

Rough gave a slow nod before he muttered a returned sentiment, turning to walk away. David followed him outside.

"She said no," Rough sighed out dejectedly.

"But she also said yes," said David. "She obviously thinks you're cute. She's just married to her job. If you want her, it'll have to be here. Have you considered starting a game here?"

Rough Draft perked an ear, "Here? I don't think half the ponies in this town would understand..."

David shrugged, "So long as she joins, the rest can take a hike. I think she would, if it meant being closer to you."

Rough seemed to consider this as he started walking through the town, "Maybe. I'll think about it. Let's get some supplies before we go." Rough led the way to a small store that smelled of hay and candy in equal measures. He moved up to the counter where an elderly mare with off yellow fur awaited him, "Good morning. Can I have trail rations, four days worth?"

She nodded and her horn shone as four little bags floated over to the counter, wreathed in yellow light before landing there before him. She pressed the large button on the register, "Three bits." Rough Draft paid and they were soon back on the street again.

"I meant to ask," said David, "Does it ever get confusing when a bunch of unicorns are together with all their magic colors?"

"Magic colors?" asked Rough, "What do you mean by that?"

David rolled a hand, "The color of their magic. Like that one back there was yellow."

Rough Draft shook his head and glanced back inside before shaking it again, "I didn't see any light at all. Is that a human super power?"

"Huh, guess it is," confessed David. "I'm not sure how handy that is in most cases, unless a unicorn was trying to surprise me."

Rough Draft shrugged, "I'll have to add that as a feat humans can take. I bet the other ponies will think I'm being unbalanced."

David chuckled at that, pointing at Rough, "I have the same problem. People loved to complain that unicorns had it best."

Rough Draft waved a hoof, "Well la de da, so I can't throw things around with my mind. Nothing wrong with being a tough strong earth pony anyway."

David reached for the top of his friend and ruffled his ears, "I wouldn't trade you for a unicorn anyway."

Rough seemed mollified at this. Soon they arrived back at Rough's house, but only long enough for him to grab a few supplies to bring to the convention, including his 'lucky' bag of dice. "It's a bit of a hike, but if we start now, we should get to the terminal way before it gets dark. You don't want to be out after dark, the big ugly things come out then."

They walked away from the town then, headed roughly northwards under the rising sun. "What kind of things?" asked David. "I know some of the critters that roam the Everfree Forest, but this is kind of a big unknown area to me."

Rough raised a brow, "I can't even guess as to how you know anything about the Everfree, but that's a bad place. Let's not go there. As for around here, you got giant jackalopes, drooping hyenapods, and the occasional timberwolf."

"Oh, timberwolf, I know about those. Well," said David, "I know about jackalopes too, but those are cute little things. Why would you be scared of those?"

Rough snorted softly as he trotted, "I did say giant. They're the size of a pony, and they think we're there to cause trouble. They'll butt you with those big antlers, and that can really mess a pony up bad, trust me."

David nodded cautiously, "Oh right, if we're headed into the city, think we can grab some clothes?"

Rough laughed at this, "Oh Celestia. I thought I was just making things up when I said humanoids prefer being clothed all the time. You're going to be an expensive guest aren't you?"

David looked sheepish and didn't pry further. Perhaps noticing David's sudden quiet, Rough nudged against his side, "I'm just playing. We'll get you some clothes. You're my guest, I don't mind." Though David said nothing, Rough took the ear petting he was getting that all was forgiven.

They walked in companionable silence until a soft growling emerged from a shrub they were walking past. Somehow assembling out of the small plant came the hulking form of a fully horse sized timberwolf, its green eyes balefully glaring. Rough spun around in place and drove his hooves against the creature, making it back up a few steps with a snarl.

David wanted to help, truly he did, but terror and inaction gripped him. He thought of a thousand things he could do to help his friend, but none translated to movement.

"One's not so bad," said Rough as he circled with it, "They're much more dangerous in packs." The great wooden wolf lunged, catching a hoof to the jaw but pushing past it to sink a sharp wooden stack of a tooth into Rough's leg, drawing a loud yelp from the pony.

Shaken into action, David grabbed the clenching jaw, pulling the top from the bottom in a burst of desperate strength. They came apart surprisingly easily, the lower half of the jaw flying away several feet in the hurried motion. Rough Draft drove the other hoof into the skull of the beast, making it collapse in a pile. "He won't stay like that, we should go." He began to walk away quickly, hobbling a little on the injured leg.

Remembering that Rough was heavy but not that heavy, David grabbed Rough up, belly up, and ran with him. Rough wasn't as heavy as he remembered, and they quickly departed the scene of the assault. Only moments later, however, the weight of the pony in his arms seemed to grow drastically. He crouched to the ground and let Rough half roll free of his grasp.

Rough tilted his head at the panting human. "You were pretty fast back there."

"Not that fast," David argued, "but when I'm really scared, I run. It's what I do. Run like there's nothing to do but run, until the danger's gone."

Rough nodded, "You'd have made a fine pony. But you carried me doing it, that was amazing." With breaths caught, they resumed their hike towards the train, "I wonder..."

"Wonder?" asked David.

"I mean, was that the magic? You know, that Patch did," offered Rough with a wave of a hoof. "Unless you've been ripping off Timberwolf jaws as a habit and've been holding out on me."

David shrugged, "If it was that, and I'm really not sure, it ran out. That's why I put you down." He looked at Rough's hindlegs, "You feeling alright? That looked like it really hurt."

"It did, and still does," replied Rough, "But let's get the hay to civilization before we worry about it."

As they walked along, Rough raised a hoof, "There's one of the jackalopes I was talking about." A comfortable distance away, a small family of enormous rabbits were grazing on a bush, removing its leaves with a ruthless efficiency. "They're harmless unless you get too close to them. So leave them alone."

"I'll resist the urge to pet them," promised David with a smirk, instead putting such urges to work on Rough Draft's mane.

The tracks came into view first, winding east and west in a line of metal that went on out of sight beyond the horizon. Rough took a left and began following them, "Shouldn't be too far now, just past the next hill," he said, sounding much happier about things.

"Sorry about the wolf," said David. "I bet you would have gotten away if I wasn't slowing things down."

Rough Draft gave a pfft, "Says you. Won't be the first time I showed up at the train stop with a bite or three. I wish we had enough guards to clear the way between the town and the tracks."

"How do you even get supplies out here if people, uh ponies, have to go through timberwolf land?" asked David with a roll of the hand and a raised brow, "Hardly seems practical."

Rough snorted then, descending down the hill towards the small station up ahead, "And that's why we don't get many. Most are pegasi though, who fly over the problems, lucky devils. Earth ponies get to fight, and unicorns usually just wait until they can get an earth or a pegasus pony to go with them."

"You mean there's something unicorns are worse at?" asked David.

Rough lashed out a hoof at David jestingly, "They can't fight worth a thing, most of them. A little telekinesis isn't very scary to a timberwolf or enraged Jackalope, and they're usually soft. Besides, they can only cast spells related to their cutie mark, and the fancier ones they have to have a book of magic to do. Just not cut out for timberwolves."

"What about Twilight Sparkle? She can take on timberwolves," argued David.

Rough shook his head as he climbed up onto the wooden platform of the station, "I don't know how you know so much about these things, but she's an alicorn princess. She can do whatever she wants. I can't count her as a normal example of a unicorn."

Author's Notes:

A tussle, a shot down proposition, and a little travel. What more could be asked of a chapter?

See typos, got ideas? Share! I thrive on comments.

8 - The Train goes Choo Choo

Rough Draft trotted up to the counter where a bored looking earth pony sat behind the bars. "Can I have two to Manehatten please?"

Barely looking up, the attendant said in a voice equally as bored sounding, "Pets are tagged as luggage, not as passengers."

Rough clopped a hoof on the counter, "You're not looking very hard. This is my friend and partner, not a pet."

David stayed quiet during the exchange, watching the two ponies. "We don't offer discounts for service animals, trained or not," said the attendant.

David decided to speak up then, "I'm not really an animal, not like that anyway. Can we get some tickets?"

The attendant looked up at David, "Huh. Some kind of shaved diamond dog?" He was already producing the tickets and collecting the bits, his attention span refusing to focus for any longer. "Just don't make a mess. The jewelry's fake anyway." He turned away and resumed his attention on a book propped up on the counter, seeming to instantly forget the other two were there.

Rough passed a ticket to David before claiming the other, "Thanks." He only got a grunt in reply from the attendant, but they were moving up onto the next platform beside the rails. Rough stopped next to a hanging schedule and looked between it and a hanging clock, "Looks like we have fifteen minutes. Not bad timing with it coming once an hour."

"I usually get it on time or just after," agreed David. He moved to a bench and parked himself on it casually, "Been meaning to ask, do you ponies have computers?"

Rough hopped up beside him and sat down on his haunches, "What's that?"

"Only what I spent most of my days messing with before," replied David. "Think of it like a combination of a typewriter, a postal service, a constantly updated encyclopedia and an arcade machine with new games every week or so."

Rough's eyes went wide, "That sounds beyond belief! Is it magic?"

David shook his head, "Electricity, like a light bulb."

Rough snorted as he rolled a hoof, "No lightbulbs do half of what you're saying. Clever fingers must make for clever minds."

David fished out the ball that held his desk still, "I brought one with me, but I can only unpack it once."

Rough leaned over then, peering into the milky depths of the ball, desk contained visibly, "What is that now?" He leaned in and bumped his nose against it, trying to squint at the tiny things on the desk. "Who gave this to you?"

"Heck if I know," said David with a shrug, "It's cool though. The desk itself is heavy, and all that stuff on it is heavier, so I don't want to pop it open until I'm sure. Some... god? gave it to me, in a dark place."

Rough jerked back, "God? We only have two of those around here and they don't even like being called gods. Which one?"

David stuffed the ball away as he replied, "I just told you, I have no idea. They were just floating letters. It could have been anyone, or pony. They asked where I wanted to go, and I said here, to Equestria, and they asked what I wanted to bring, and the desk became it."

Rough shook his head then, "That's kind of odd. Do you think it was Discord? He'd do something like that."

As if on cue, the train pulled into the station with a whistle. They both got up from the bench and moved to board. Only one pony got off, a pegasus mare. She tilted her head at the two of them, but then took off quickly in the direction of the town. The conductor looked over their tickets before waving them aboard, having much less to say about David than the attendant did.

"Not surprising," said Rough once they were inside and moving for their seats, "If we have tickets, we're good. Unless you tried to bite him or something. But you wouldn't do that, right?"

"Only if you asked nicely," replied David in a joking tone before finding his new seat. It was cushy and comfortable as it had looked in the show. It was a little low to the floor, but this could be lived with. "Say, how much demand is there for role playing games in Equestria?"

"More than I'd bet you're thinking," said Rough as he hopped up beside. "After all, just like our world is exotic to you, it's common day to us. Besides, nopony wants to go out on real adventures where they could get hurt or killed when they could play some pretend with some friends."

"Besides you," pointed out David.

"Uh, besides me," admitted Rough, "But come on! My OC is right here next to me, and he even has super powers."

David rolled his eyes as the train began to move. He leaned back in his chair, "I don't have super powers. A burst of adrenaline is barely qualified as normal, let alone super. I bet you're stronger than I am."

Rough raised a hoof, "One way to find out."

David peered at the hoof a moment, "What, arm wrestle?"

Rough bobbed his head, "Sure, what's the harm?"

David stood up and slid around the table between the two sofa like benches. Putting up his arm, Rough met it eagerly, wrapping his fetlock around David's arm. "Huh, I'm used to holding hands."

"I'll let you know when I get one of those," said Rough in a light hearted tone, "On three. One, two... Three"

They began to push against one another. David began to immediately regret not working out on a more reliable basis as Rough Draft pushed his arm down inch by inch despite trying to the last to gain some ground. Thump. David rubbed his then sore arm, "See, no super powers."

"Don't be sad," said Rough Draft, "Winning an arm wrestling contest against an earth pony's a mighty task, even for a writer like me. You did good."

The car they were in was relatively empty, though a few other ponies were present. Of those, two were watching the pair curiously. One of them, a unicorn mare with a mane styled enough to rival Rarity, rose and approached their booth. She had light cream fur and a bold red mane. Emblazoned on her flanks were a smiling face and a frowning face interposed. An actor maybe? "I say. That is a fantastic creature you have there. I've never seen the like. So well mannered too. Does he have a name?" Her voice was dripping with refinement and clearly female.

Rough got nervous instantly, "Oh uh, his name's Dave," he muttered, shuffling in place.

"Nice to meet you," said David for himself. "What's your name? Ah, and this is Rough Draft."

"Charmed I'm sure," she replied, offering up a crooked hoof. "I can't place your accent dear. Are you from Equestria?"

The hoof looked like she was waiting for something. He hadn't done it for a woman before, but when in pony land... He took the hoof and kissed the back of it lightly before letting it go. "I'm from abroad."

The mare looked uncertain how to react, looking between the human and the stallion seated before her. "Where are you headed, if I may be so bold?"

"Manehatten," replied David, glancing across at the tongue tied Rough.

"Oh really!" she exclaimed, "I as well. You simply must come visit. My friends won't believe me without seeing you for themselves. You'll be the hit of the gathering, I assure." A card floated free of a pouch she was wearing and landed lightly on the table. "You can find me there. Please do come."

David took the little business card as he nodded, "If it's alright with Rough here."

"He can come along as well," she said as if the thought hadn't come to her at first. "I wouldn't want to separate you from your guide, dear. Be safe now, ta ta." She turned around and returned to her seat with a sway in her hips.

When she got far enough way, Rough seemed to melt from the ice statue he had become. "David!" he whispered harshly, "Do you know who you were just talking to?"

David shook his head, "I don't recognize her."

Rough put his hooves on the table, his eyes wide, "You know Twilight Sparkle, and the princesses, and all kinds of things, but you don't know her? She's practically a city star! Nopony who lives in Manehatten doesn't know Nicole Foalman!"

David shrugged in reply, "So she's famous. I didn't much care about famous people in my world either. I met a famous author once and just gave him my book like any other potential customer."

Rough heaved out a sigh, head sinking to the table, "Well that's nice, but now she'll want us both to be there. Are you ready for that?"

"I don't plan to act any different," said David, "Though maybe we could get some nice clothes first?"

Rough nodded, "You think? I'll... want some too. I can't show up with just a saddlebag. That would be too embarrassing."

David took a moment to examine the card he had been given. Nicole Foalman, actress, producer, etc etc. There was a number scrawled on it. Did ponies have phones? He could also spot what appeared to be an address. "She seemed nice enough. Let's just go and have a good time. They'll probably have free food and an interesting pony or two to meet."

Rough waved a hoof limply, "And a bunch of ponies to stare at you like a sideshow attraction."

David shrugged, "If I was going to get squeamish about that, I wouldn't have come to Equestria. Besides, I got plenty of stares back home from fellow human beings."

Rough picked his head up off the table, "What do you mean? You look pretty normal for a human, least as far as I know. Are you missing parts?"

David snorted at that, "Nah, got all the bits and bobs. Now this is going to sound stupid as hell."

Rough sat up straight, "Lay it on me."

David rolls a hand lightly, "Well, not having distinct breeds like unicorn or pegasus, we went with dividing humans up based on their apparent place of origin, their nationality. I'm a bit of a mutt, with my father being a light skinned man and my mother being a dark skinned woman. But, as you can see, I got more of the dark side, so most people lump me into that category."

Rough slowly nodded, "Alright? That sounds silly. Imagine if they grouped up blue ponies or brown ones, as if they'd have anything else in common."

David nodded, "Yea, easy to say that from the outside looking in, but that's the way it was, and, just my luck, people tend to get nervous around dark skinned people. They assume we're up to trouble more often than any light skinned person doing the same thing or wearing the same clothes."

Rough tapped at his chin, "I didn't think ethnicities were such a powerful force." He pulled out a parchment and was soon scribbling on it with a quill in his snout, busily making notes about how he could adjust Humanway with this new found knowledge. "I could make a whole new book with this. Colors of Terra! I bet ponies'd eat it up."

"How do you talk with a quill in your mouth?" asked David with a raised brow, "That looks almost impossible."

Rough shrugged and continued his writing, "Practice I guess."

Author's Notes:

And suddenly, new ponies! They are well on their way to adventure now.

Love it, hate it? Let me know in the comments below.

9 - Arrival in Manehattan

The train arrived in the late hours of the day. It came to a smooth halt in the much larger terminal. The conductor pony went down the train, swinging the doors open for ponies to depart out onto the platform. Rough Draft and David took their leave into the bustle. Much like the New York City David had visited several times, the ponies here didn't seem to have much time for him in their busy schedules and paid them little mind as they made their way towards the street.

He heard the sound of a trumpet being played by a homeless looking pony with a hat in front of him. David had no bits to offer, but gave Rough a soft nudge. Rough looked where David was hinting towards and sent a bit flying over with a toss to land in the hat. The vagrant gave a thankful nod as they moved past.

"Generosity~" came the voice of somepony singing not that far away.

David whipped his head to the left to see the purple and green scales of a retreating Spike. "Ah shit. That's where we are."

"Manehattan," said Rough Draft, sounding confused as he said it.

"No, I mean when we are. Season four, early in," explained David to his friend's growing concern. "I'll explain when we get to where we're going. I'm not even sure it'll line up perfectly anyway. I do know if we ran fast enough, we could meet Twilight Sparkle and her friends."

Rough shook his head. "Stalk an Element of Harmony? I'd rather not go to jail today if you don't mind." He smiled up at David, "I hope you feel the same way."

"Yea," said David, "Like I said, I don't get worked up over celebrities. I wouldn't mind meeting them, but I'm not going to go running through the city after them. Rarity's already going to be late for her show as it is."

Rough slowly blinked, "OK, that's enough subtle hints. Let's get to our room and then you're not leaving until you explain it to me, or Celestia help me, I will pin you down and, I don't know, tickle you until you squeal."

David held up a hand quickly, "I'm ticklish. I give up already."

Rough stuck out his tongue, "No fun at all." He then thrust out a hoof, "Taxi!" Soon enough a carriage came to a rolling stop in front of them and they climbed aboard. "Take us to the Mane Fair hotel."

"Huh, I... think that's where they're going to stay," said David with uncertainty.

As the taxi lurched into movement, the earth pony hauling it quickly through the traffic, Rough Draft asked, "Who? Wait, save the explanations for later. Right now, you're in Manehattan, take in the sights a little."

David peeked out the side to see the towering buildings move past. They didn't seem to go up as high as the monolithic structures he had seen back on Earth, but they were impressive enough, especially compared to normal pony buildings. The sidewalks teemed with countless ponies of all three tribes, including a few bat ponies, or was that thestral, or lunar pegasus? The large city drew in all kinds it seemed, from the fantastically well dressed to the impoverished, though David did wonder why they would stay here when they could likely have an easier time in a small town like Ponyville.

"Rough?"

Rough looked up with a "Hmm, what's up?"

"What are the pegasi with bat wings called?" he asked.

"Anything but bat ponies," replied Rough Draft. "They hate that. Don't ask me why, I'm not a pegasus."

"Fair enough," David replied with a shrug, "Do crystal ponies visit?"

Rough Draft peered at his oddly informed guest, "Sometimes, not often. It's a long trip from the Crystal Empire. Why, you wanted to meet one?"

"Couldn't hurt," said David, "But no special desire." He reached over and patted Rough Draft on the head, getting a snort of amusement from the hauler of the wagon.

The stallion pulling the cart didn't speak on the odd behavior, simply pulling up in front of the hotel, "That'll be three bits." Rough gave him five and they were soon entering the building, just in time for a pony with a rack full of clothing to burst out and go running down the road. They pressed past him to see Twilight Sparkle speaking with the front desk pony.

"Thank you, this will mean so much for Rarity," she said.

David spoke frankly, "Yep, there she is."

Rough Draft took it less well, moving to hide behind a large potted plant and waved for David to join him. Seeing a chance to at least say hello to Book Horse, David instead strode forward. "Hello there. Busy?"

Twilight looked up at the strange creature approaching her and tilted her head, "Uh, no. I've taken care of things for now. How can I help you?"

David patted himself on the chest, "I'm David, David Silver, nice to meet you. I've been a fan of your work for a while now and just thought I'd say hello."

Twilight blushed brightly, "Oh! Well, I didn't know I had fans of other races." She offered a hoof, "Nice to meet you, David." David met the hoof in a light bump against his fist, "Are you staying here as well?"

"Yea," David replied, "I came with a friend to see a convention and take in the sights."

Twilight broke into a soft laughter, "You too? Well, not a convention per se, more of a fashion thing, but I'm here for a friend too."

Rough Draft peeked his head out from his hiding spot, then approached the two timidly, "I hope David's not bothering, Your Highness."

Twilight waved a wing dismissively, "He hasn't done anything wrong. And you are?"

"Rough Draft, Your Majesty," said Rough, almost shaking in place.

David spoke up for him, "He's just a little nervous. He's a fan of your work too."

"Well," said Twilight, "I seem to have that effect on a lot of ponies, unless they're taxi drivers. It was nice meeting you two." With a last smile, she turned and walked to the elevators.

When she was safely out of sight, Rough looked at David, "You're insane! She's the Twilight Sparkle!"

"And?" asked David, "She didn't turn us into frogs. She just wants to be treated like a pony, like anyo-pony else."

"Yeah..." said Rough, not sounding convinced. He moved up to the counter and smiled at the mare behind it. "I have a room reserved, should be under Rough Draft." She passed him a golden key and wished him a pleasant stay. Key in mouth, Rough approached the elevator where Twilight had stood moments before. David kept up with him, helpfully pressing the button to call the next elevator.

It came as a subtle surprise to see that the elevator was larger than he was used to, but, as he thought about it, it made sense. Ponies were longer creatures, so they'd need more space in an elevator to be comfortable length wise, but the ceiling was lower. Instead he was the odd man out, having to crouch a little to fit properly. The trip wasn't long, thankfully, the doors opened to allow them out onto their floor. They walked along the plush carpeted floor until they arrived at the right door. Rough pushed the key in and twisted his head, unlocking it. David took hold of the handle without prompting and the finely appointed room was revealed. There was a single king sized bed within.

"Huh, they didn't offer two twins?" asked David as he looked at it.

"Ah, dang. I didn't even think about it," confessed Rough, "I always get the one big one. I can ask if we can switch rooms." He started to move for the phone but David stopped him with a hand in front of Rough's nose.

"It's alright. Don't want to be a big bother." Rough started to object when David's fingers curled and brushed against the sensitive nose, making Rough Draft laugh and sneeze almost at once.

Giving up on reaching the phone, Rough turned around and closed the door, using his key to relock it. "Well fine then, but you better not hog the blanket."

David had found a seat on the edge of the bed, admiring its softness. It seemed the ponies really liked a soft bed, despite the fact that it looked like it should be much firmer. His considerations were paused when Rough Draft leaped up against his chest and knocked him backwards onto the bed. The weight of the earth pony settled on him, "Alright, now I want answers and I'm not taking 'no' or 'later'. How do you know so much about everything? Is this the world you made up?"

David laughed as he reached up to pet along Rough Draft's sides like an overeager dog instead of a curious pony, "Alright, I'll give. Again, this will sound crazy, but hey, your 'creation' is bunking with you, we're past the insane mark anyway." Rough Draft nodded a little in agreement, watching David. "Alright, well, in my world, your world's a work of fiction. Not by me, but by a team of writers that wanted to promote toy sales."

"Toy sales?" asked Rough, tilting his head.

David poked the stallion on his nose before starting the scratch under his chin, "Admit it or not, you ponies are adorable. Toys are very popular, and the story they made was compelling enough to draw a lot of attention from a wide spectrum of ages and backgrounds. Even military sorts might have one hiding around somewhere."

Rough half closed his eyes. Damn human fingers, why did they have to feel so good? "Alright, so... You read about Equestria, and Twilight Sparkle, and everything? Was I in it?"

"Sorry," reported David, "I made you, and I didn't make the rest, so no. It was mostly about the Elements of Harmony and the trouble they got into. We're not that far off from where the fiction ends, however, so I won't know what happens after that, not being there to watch the next."

"Watch?" asked Rough, tilting his head a little, "Was it a play? I thought it was a book."

"It's a fancy human play," said David, sparing the explanation of what a television might be. "But if things are still going according to plan, Rarity's going to have a fight with the others, but they'll make up in not too long, so it all works out. And they get to see Hinny in the Hills."

"Now that is a play I know. Never saw it myself though." Rough Draft stretched out on top of David, "Know anything else, like some lottery numbers?"

"Afraid not, but I do know... again, assuming everything is still going according to plan, that some great huge centaur is going to make everypony have a sad day when he steals their magic, even the earth ponies."

Rough raised a brow, "That have a happy ending too?"

"It's solved with rainbows," said David, "It always is."

"Yeah..." said Rough, not nearly as confident in the day saving abilities of rainbows.

Author's Notes:

A wild Twilight appears! David used Flatter! It was very effective.

Our heroes have arrived in the big city, and a hint is received as to when in the MLP timeline they happen to be.

10 - Foalman's Party

David pushed up off the bed, letting Rough slide off to the side to sit on his own. "So when's the con?"

Rough tilted his head, "Next weekend."

David blinked and threw his hands to the side, "That long? Why'd we come here that early if it wasn't about to happen?"

Rough scratched behind his head, looking perplexed, "We're not that early..."

A letter slid under the door, catching both of their attentions. Already standing, David went over and plucked it up, reading it over before offering the paper to Rough Draft, "Looks like we made an impression." He offered the paper to Rough on his way back through the room.

Rough squinted at the fine writing, "She's fast. Uh... do you want to?" The letter read:

To the Curious Biped,

I'm having a little private party and would like you to be there. Bring your little cute caretaker with you. It's tonight at eight, don't be late. Formal attire not required.

Hugs and Kisses,
Nicole Foalman

David shrugged, "That's kind of weird don't you think? I don't know much about famous people really, but inviting an alien over the first day you run into them with 'hugs and kisses' in the letter?" He waggled his fingers, "Sets something off. Can't put my finger on it, but it's just... odd. You're the expert, do ponies act that way?"

Rough Draft rubbed behind his head with a hoof, "Well, I don't know. I never had dinner with a famous pony before, or a party. I usually avoid parties with all the loud noise and dancing... I'll go if you want to."

"Well," said David, rubbing at his wild beard, "The con's not for a while, there's not much to lose, right? But first, a comb. This beard is out of control even for me, and my hair could use a brush up while I'm at it."

"Hair?" asked Rough. When David ran a hand through his thick curly hair he nodded, "Oh, your mane." He was down on the ground and trotted off, returning with a small package of various brushes and combs. "Courtesy of the hotel. You can keep it, they don't care."

David plucked up the package and looked over the wide assortment of hair care tools. "You ponies need a lot more different kinds of brushes for hair." He selected one and started combing out his thick hair, "Makes sense enough, covered in it and all. I bet you have a lot less skin care creams."

Rough shrugged and smiled up at David. With a wagging tail he confessed, "Couldn't say for sure, you're my first human friend. You didn't come here to get the same old as your old place anyway, so soak in the culture shock and enjoy it."

"Got a point there," agreed David. Once his hair was presentable enough, at least to himself, he picked out a strong comb and began working on his beard, "It said no formal attire needed, but at least brushing up seems the right thing to do. You need any brushing?"

Rough twitched an ear at David, "Uh... I don't brush that often."

"Another thing we share," said David. He picked a soft brush, unsure if it was the right one, and placed it on Rough's snout, starting to brush the fur there along its natural grain. Rough grew tense at first, but then started to relax, allowing his guest to set his pelt in order slowly.

"I feel I should point out," said Rough as he closed his eyes, "grooming is a sign of affection. Come to think of it, it's like that with most things, ponies or not. Do humans do that?"

David kept brushing over Rough's sides and backs, "Yes, but we are friends." He got to Rough's tail. Holding it in one hand, he worked the brush through with the other, making it straighter and freeing it of knots, "Practically brothers. Besides, I already told you, ponies are adorable."

Rough snorted at that, flicking his tail against the brushing hand, "I am not. I am rugged and handsome. You should respect me, not pet me like a dog."

"So you're saying," asked David as he moved a hand to a spot dogs always seemed to enjoy attention to and began softly scratching, "You don't like that?"

Rough's leg closest to the hand began to spasm as his tongue poked free a little. He struggled mightily to resist admitting it, squirming around before flopping onto his side onto the hand. David seemed to only take this as invitation to attack his belly with the brush. "Watch it!" hissed Rough, though he only stretched out, "I have sensitive parts down there."

David quietly brushed for a moment before asking, "So feel free to tell me to shut up, but, you know, have you used it?"

"Used? Oh! No... I mean..." Rough turned a deep red through his dark fur, "I haven't had a marefriend before."

"Something else we share." David set the brush down, "We're both looking better than we started. Think we need anything else before we go visit that Foalman mare?"

"Maybe some lunch," suggested Rough, sliding to the floor. With no objection heard, he led the way to some food.

Later that evening they walked down the still busy sidewalks. The address hinted to on the letter wasn't very far from the hotel and they arrived there in only a few minutes of a hike. The building was as tall as the hotel, and attempting to enter was blocked by a heavy set earth pony wearing dark shades despite the approaching night. "Who are you?"

David fished out the note Nicole had sent them and offered it. The pony nodded at it without taking enough time to have read it, or so David thought. He gestured with a hoof, "Head on in, floor twenty six." They proceeded into the building and found it to be devoid of hints to its function. The entry hallway had no directory or any signs. There was a front desk with nopony behind it, and three elevators. Soon they were riding up to the twenty sixth floor.

"So what are the odds we'll get jumped or something?" asked David.

Rough swiveled an ear towards him, "Uh, forty percent?"

"Rape?" continued David.

"Well that depends on her tastes," said Rough thoughtfully, "I suppose I'll put that at twenty percent. Rich ponies can be odd. Uh, are we talking violent or just uncomfortably pushy? Mares chase stallions when they want 'em, so slightly higher for that, lower for the other."

"Are we actually debating our odds of horror?" asked David with a half smile.

"Our odds of adventure!" exclaimed Rough Draft as the bell dinged. He stepped out of the doors as soon as it was possible, David trailing shortly behind. The elevator exited into a small corridor with a double door at the end. "Huh, guess that's why he didn't say where on the floor." He trotted up and rapped on the wooden door thrice. The door swung open under the strikes, nudging open several inches. Rough tilted his head at the door before taking a step in, "Hello! Miss Foalman? We're here."

There was no sign of the light furred mare, so the two entered fully. David nudged the door shut behind them out of habit. Soft music could be heard from the right so they ventured slowly down the hallway. The air was thick with some kind of perfume and the floors were spotlessly clean with a short-haired carpet. "In here," came her voice at last, beckoning to them from behind a closed door further in the hallway to the right. David made no move to get past Rough, letting his pony friend lead the way.

Rough looked back at David as he reached the door. While perfectly capable of mouthing a handle, there was no reason to not take advantage of one's fingered friend. David didn't catch the unspoken cue for a moment before he started in place and quickly grasped the handle, only to yank his hand back, shaking it, "It's covered in gunk."

"Gunk?" Rough leaned in. After David had touched it, whatever was covering the handle was much more visible. Some kind of jelly like substance did cover the handle. While David wiped it off on his pants, Rough stuck out his tongue and gently touched it. "Tastes fun--" Rough suddenly sank in place, knocked out instantly.

David jumped in surprise, "Jeeze. I didn't say to lick it!" He crouched down and started to slap at Rough's cheeks, "Wake up man, come on!" The door opened then, with the smiling face of Nicole Foalman coming into view.

"Ah there you are honey. Don't worry about your little babysitter. He'll be just fine in a few hours," she said in sultry tones. "We won't be doing anything that should bother him at all."

"Fuck," said David with all the grace that he could summon. "Um, look. I'm sure you're a perfectly lovely mare."

"I am," agreed Nicole, moving around Rough to get at David. David backed away from her a step which made her pout, "Don't be that way. We're just going to... talk."

"Talk, and then?" asked David, "I mean... God, I don't want to this to degrade into a bad anime."

She raised both of her brows, "Are those things from your country? Come here, you tall biped. Let momma Nicky take care of you." She grabbed one of David's warding hands in her mouth. Her teeth had a very firm grip without crushing muscles and bones, to David's surprise. Soon she was tugging him along over the still fallen form of Rough Draft into the dimly lit room. He made a feeble effort to extract his fingers only for them to brush against her wet tongue. She seemed amused at their motions and soon he was covered in her saliva in a manner that brought an undying blush to his dark skin. A backwards kick slammed the door shut behind them and she released his hand.

The room was dark. There was a bar to the left side and a few large bean bags scattered near the center. David could see a projector set up facing a blank white wall. There was film in the projector but it wasn't turned on. She pranced away from him, hips swaying, and approached that projector. "I can't wait to get an honest opinion for a change."

"Huh what?" said David, trying to figure out what was going on and failing entirely.

She pressed a button with a hoof on the side of the projector and it lit up, a movie starting. "We'll watch some movies and you'll tell me what you think, as an outsider. I want your honest opinion, no holding back." She held up a hoof, "I'll know if you're trying to suck up."

David approached her, and slowly settled on the floor near her, "So... you just want me to watch and review?"

"Yes, what did you think I wanted you for?" asked Nicole with a tilted head.

"How much trouble would I be in if I admitted I had very tawdry images in my mind?" asked David.

She paused, then punched David in the shoulder with a sudden lash of a hoof, "You are too much! Do you want some popcorn?"

It wasn't what he expected, but he could think of many worse ways to spend an evening compared to watching movies with a local celebrity while nibbling on snacks.

Author's Notes:

Things get tense in an awful hurry.

I keep telling the typos that no means no! They don't listen.

11 - What Happened?

A frantic knocking came from the door leading out of the viewing room. Nicole rose to her hooves, trotting towards it, "You keep watching, your little babysitter just woke up."

"You open this door, you evil siren! You won't take David while I'm around!" came the muffled shout of Rough Draft through the door, "Come and face me!"

David rose to his feet but didn't interfere. The show that had been playing was some kind of romantic comedy, through the obvious lens of a pony. It was both fascinating and horrific as familiar tropes did battle with unfamiliar rules of social engagement. Rough Draft hadn't been wrong when he said the mares do the chasing.

Nicole pulled the door open at just the right moment to allow Rough to teeter forward under his own momentum. "He's right--"

"That's enough from you!" declared Rough Draft in a half shout, regaining his balance and standing up to Nicole, "Surrender him right now."

"Or what?" asked Nicole with an amused expression. "Maybe I decided I should keep him."

Rough Draft clopped a hoof down on the floor, "No! You can't do that! He's my human! Besides, he has a mind of his own. You can't just... keep him."

Nicole gave a small shrug, eyeing the male intently, "I've kept stallions before, why can't I keep him? I doubt he'll say no if I offer."

David stepped up to the arguing ponies and held out a hand, "That's enough arguing about me."

"Dave!" Rough Draft hopped past Nicole and circled quickly around David, "You're alright, and a lot less nude than I feared."

"Why would he be nude?" asked Nicole with a raised brow. "Dare I ask what you do to him when you're not in public?" She nudged the door shut with a hoof before joining the two.

David quickly assured, "It's nothing like that." He reached down and pat the relieved Rough Draft over his head and ears, "Anyway! Nicole here just wanted to show me some movies."

"Movies?" asked Rough, turning to Nicole, "Why did you cover the handle in knock out slime if you just wanted to watch movies?"

Nicole's horn glowed softly as a glass of something purple floated over to her, wrapped in her bright blue magic. "It's a matter of habit. I don't need to touch door handles, but many of my 'adoring fans' do."

Rough plopped his plot on the ground, "You're kidding. I got caught in a fan trap?" When Nicole nodded he placed a hoof against his face, "Well, fine, ok. Sorry."

Nicole smiled at him, then up towards David, "Dear, he clearly cares for you. Now that we've put all this nastiness behind us, we have a few more movies to watch." When Rough opened his mouth, blue magic wrapped around his snout, gently shutting it, "And no speaking unless you have fingers or a horn. I want his unaltered view of things."

Rough consoled himself with the popcorn bowl that had been abandoned and began chewing softly on the treats. Nicole strode along to the bar and soon mixed up a new drink with her magic to bring over to David. Though he didn't normally drink much, what's the harm with just one? The bright green concoction was a bit sour, but passable as he sipped at it.

The next movie was a coming of age tale about a pony that just couldn't get her cutie mark. The make-up was pretty good, as David couldn't see a hint of Nicole's usual mark, making her appear to be the blank flank star, raging against a world that puts her down for not having a place in it yet. It had a lot of the tropes he was used to seeing in such movies, with the 'in' crowd making fun of the blank flank that got relegated to the role of 'dweeb'. Oddly, even those that were 'nerd' or 'geek' like looked down their long snouts at blank flanks through the movie, until Nicole showed her stuff in a triumphant dance number that resulted in a dancing cutie mark adorning her. Cue credits.

"Huh, not bad," said David, "Nice work with your pelt. Compliments to your makeup artist."

Nicole smiled, "I haven't mentioned it, dear? Why that's my talent."

"To cover your cutie mark?" asked David with a perplexed tone, glancing down at the flank mark.

"Goodness no," she said with a titter, "Changing my pelt, cutie mark included. That's a secret." She held up a hoof to her snout, "So no spilling the beans, darling." As she said that, her cutie mark changed to a handful of beans and her fur darkened to a ruddy red color while her mane turned a bright cyan shade.

Rough paused in his snack eating, ears perked at Nicole, "Wow, so what's your real mark look like."

Nicole shook her head, tail swaying slowly, "Ah'll never tell, pardner." She was speaking with a bit of a country accent then. "Now what else can ya tell me, David?"

David rolled a hand, "Well, I didn't think cutie marks were quite that pervasive. I mean I heard of little foals being picked on, but in the movie it was everyone. Is it really like that?"

Rough bobbed his head quickly, "Can be. Depends a bit where you are and who your folks are friends with."

Nicole nodded towards Rough, "It's especially bad in big city schools. Ah donated thirty percent of the proceeds of that movie ta helping foals in distress." She sat down on a cushion lightly, sipping from her tall glass, "Shoulda used more apples."

David thought back to Babs Seed. Her behavior made more sense in this context. If he knew where she lived... he'd be a creepy biped thing trying to grab her, no, scratch that thought right out... "That puts the movie in a more serious light. That was very nice of you."

"What did ya think it was, pardner?" asked Nicole, "Be honest."

David glanced at the blank screen and back at his two pony companions, "Well, I mean. I didn't think it was that big a deal, so I saw it as a personal struggle, rather than... a society one. You didn't show any other blank flanks, so I thought it was just her."

Nicole sipped from her drink again before nodding, "Ah can see that, but that's half th' trouble. Many blank flanks, and ya shouldn't go using that term, feel isolated like they're tha only one around."

David sat up a little, "What's the proper term? That's the only one I knew."

She held up a hoof, "Ah invited ya 'cause you're an outsida, no point being mad about it. The proper term is 'Pre-Marked'." The last sentence came without any accent in it, clear and clinical.

Rough Draft pointed up at the projecter, "You had another movie."

With a glow of her horn, Nicole brought over a new reel and soon had it loaded into the machine, "Just one more. This here's a sci-fi epic. Watch and share." Soon the projector was busily spinning the reel around, showing the movie.

The ponies in this movie were all dressed up in very reflective clothing. They went for space walks, but had no helmets or hoof coverings while doing so. They had lightsabres of a sort, but they wobbled as if flexible while they whipped them around in mouth or in glowing fields of magic. Oddly, the magic didn't seem to have colors on the screen. Whatever gave them a color apparently didn't get captured on the film. The movie seemed to revolve around some kind of space monster taking over this space station for no obvious reason. There were love interests and sword fights and a lot of running around before the evil monster, who's never actually shown on camera, was jettisoned into something like a black hole, except it was much more colorful.

Nicole had her eyes on David, taking in his reactions as things came and left the screen. He became amused at points when other ponies, Rough included, were startled, and even laughed at strange times. When the movie ended, she tilted her head at David, "You reacted very strongly to that one. Was it... good?"

"It's hard to say exactly," started David, "For one, science in Equestria is not quite at the level of where I'm from. I know ponies doing half the things they did would be very dead in an agonizing way."

Nicole swiveled an ear back, "Really? Have your people been to space before?"

David nodded, "Sure, many times. Science is kind of our specialty." He wriggled his fingers at Nicole, "We have to find new things to use these on."

Nicole suddenly wrapped David in the blue magic, lifting him up as the magic turned bright green instead, "You're not from around here," she said, "Where are you from, exactly?"

Suddenly bright green magic, color-shifting ability... David put the hints together and clamped his mouth shut in fear of saying something incredibly stupid. Rough Draft hopped up to his hooves, "Hey, put him down! We've been doing everything you asked for, no need to assault him."

Nicole gently set David back down, "Yes, yes you have. My apologies." Her magic shifted back to a gentle blue color. "I just got excited. Nopony's been to outer space before, except Luna, and that was more... metaphysical."

Mental note, comics do not appear to be part of the canon.

"So," said Nicole, staring at David, "Where?"

David settled himself back into place, looking between Nicole Foalman and Rough Draft. "That's hard to explain. I don't know exactly how far away it is."

Nicole raised her brows together, "You're lost?"

David quickly shook his head, "No, I wanted to come here, and I did, but I don't know how far I came to do that. Ok, quick question, what do either of you know about multiverse theory?"

Rough Draft held up a hoof quickly, "The idea that there are infinite other realities with every possibility. If you can think of it, it exists somewhere."

"Good enough," said David, nodding, "Somewhere in that mess, there's another planet, we call it Earth, and it has a lot of things like me on it."

"Not Terra?" asked Rough, sounding disappointed.

David snorted, "And I thought you lived on Everglow, not Equestria. We're even."

Nicole placed her drink on Rough's head, forcing him to balance it precariously, "As I was asking, so you're an alien? A true alien, not from another country, but bigger."

David waved a hand, "I really don't want to make a big deal about it. I'm not here to invade anything and there's only one of me. I come in peace."

Nicole tittered softly, "I'm not scared of you." She leaned forward, "I want to know more..." Her eyes flashed green, but Rough didn't seem to notice. Great...

Author's Notes:

Something's up with this celebrity pony! Can she be trusted?

What will happen to our heroes next?

The darkness of the screening may have resulted in a few mistakes, let me know.

Nicole:

12 - Green with Envy

Nicole reached over to Rough Draft, running a hoof gently over his cheek, "Why don't you be a darling," she asked as she reverted to her usual light fur colors, "And go see what is taking dinner so long? The kitchen's on the third floor."

Rough nodded quickly, looking flustered. He rose up and started for the door to have his saddlebag's strap grabbed by David on the way past. He looked up at David who was shaking his head in a way both subtle and yet obvious. "What's wrong, Dave?"

"Oh, why don't I go with you?" suggests David with a forced smile.

Nicole shook her head in turn, "Don't be ridiculous. It doesn't take two ponies to yell at the help. Now go on, go." She waved Rough off and the traitor trotted off with a confused expression. Once he was out of sight and the door closed behind him, she set her eyes on David, "Am I that frightening?"

Opting for honesty, David nodded, "Yes. No offense or anything. I'm hoping you believe me when I say that I don't mind what I think you are, but I don't want to be kidnapped or killed."

Nicole leaned one of her ears forward as the other skewed to the side, "And whatever do you think I am, hmm?" She reached over and set a hoof on one of David's crossed legs, "Are you going to scream?"

"I'm not big on screaming," replied David, glancing around for possible escape routes, "My guess is change--"

He couldn't finish the word as Nicole pushed him over backwards. His head smacked against a stiff cushion painfully but without any significant injury. Soon she was on top of him, looking into his eyes as she settled to pin him, "What does that tell you?"

David reached up, his arms unpinned, and gently pet the agitated, yet intrigued, mare on top of him. "That you could be very cool to know, or very dangerous, and I'm still trying to figure which it is."

She grinned, her teeth noticeably sharper than it had been before, "Astute, but most ponies don't know about it. What do you know, and how?" She made no objection to his wandering hands, even relaxing under the gentle petting.

Being forthright was working so far, so David went ahead with it, "You feed on affection, love specifically. You can shapeshift into any pony, and you have a queen." He counted these off with taps on her back. If she was an insect, the fur was very convincing, "Oh, and your normal form has a shell instead of a pelt."

Nicole snorted half way through his statement but allowed him to finish before she nodded, "There was one that thought she could declare herself queen, and she got banished for her trouble." She put a hoof over David's mouth. Though he could speak around it, the hint was clear. "The rest of us live on our own, by and large. We're not that different, curious creature. We don't want trouble. I get more than enough affection serving as an actor, and I can do good things. Is that bad?"

David quickly shook his head. When her hoof withdrew he said, "No, man, that's really good even." He reached up higher and scratched her behind an ear, "You're a good person, pony, or whatever."

Nicole stepped off David then, "That's nice of you to say, but why should I believe any of it? You're probably biding your time until you're out of this building, then you'll rush for the nearest guard. Where will I be then?" She sat beside him and brought her glass to her, wrapped in her blue magic, and sipped from it gently.

David sat up and reached for her, but she shied away from further contact. "I don't have much to offer for absolute proof, but I came here to meet interesting people, see amazing things. You qualify for both. I wouldn't mess with you. Besides, what are you even doing wrong?"

She smiled gently, "I wish I could believe that." Her horn flashed green, and the world went dark for David, consciousness fleeing him. The door swung open as several drones approached cautiously. "Be gentle with him. He may yet be helpful to us. Was his babysitter any trouble?"

One of the drones shook his head quickly, "No, my queen. He was easily subdued."

She cuffed the drone gently, "Don't call me that. I'm not a queen."

The drones shrunk back under her momentary anger before moving up to collect David. They hefted his slumbering form onto their backs and scurried from the room, leaving Nicole behind.

Into the tumult of David's dreams, a then familiar presence pushed in on it. As David punched a cartoon character in the nose, Luna slipped in beside him. Her immediate proximity made the dream shift, and they were seated in a gazebo under an enchanting night sky.

David only seemed to notice her then, "Luna! I wasn't expecting you again after so long."

Luna gave a light half smile and nodded, "We meet again, strange dreamer. You have a familiar edge to your dreams and it sets my instincts on fire. What transpires?"

David looked around the quiet clearing that the gazebo rested in, "Looks normal around here." With a soft glow of Luna's horn, full lucidity returned to David, "Shit."

"Indeed," said Luna. "You stink of changeling magic."

"That's a bit convenient. How did you notice that?" asked David, "Not that I mind too much."

Luna tilted her head faintly, "I have been watching you, human. It would be irresponsible to not pay you some mind. Your manner has been honorable thus far."

David wobbled a hand at Luna, "Why don't you do that with bad guys?"

Luna raised her brows, "Who says I do not?" At David's skeptical expression she continued, "Those whose dreams fall too far from harmony can be difficult to reach. Your own slumber is troubling, but not too far. I did not come this evening to speak of your past, but of your present. Tell me."

David considered his words carefully, "I ran into one, but I'm not sure she's a threat."

"Not a threat?" asked Luna, "We find this difficult to believe."

David shrugged, "I could be wrong. They could be hauling me off to one of those green pods. Can you tell that?"

Luna shook her head, "I can feel your mind, not your body. What makes you think she is not a threat?"

David stood up from the table and looked out into the grassy plain, "I think she just wants to be safe. She does a lot of good, and my knowing what she was is just scary for her." He shrugged, "I mean, I get it. I don't get the impression ponies would be happy to know she's there. What should I do to convince her I'll let her go?"

"Thou should not!" exclaimed Luna with frustration. She struck down the table she was seated at into splinters, then standing across from David. "Tell me who and where she is, and I will take her into custody."

David backed away from the angered alicorn, "Easy, hold up! I don't want anyone arrested."

Luna advanced on him, horn lowering, "If thou doth not tell me, We will hold you accountable for hiding her." Her speech varied wildly from modern to archaic, which David took as a hint that she was becoming all the more furious.

"Please, give me a day. If you come back and I'm still not sure, I'll tell everything," said David hurriedly. Luna jabbed her horn closer before she withdrew it.

"We will allow this, but hear my warning. You expose yourself to terrible risk remaining in their presence. You are a fool." She raised a hoof and pressed it on David's chest, "Don't die a fool's death."

The dream suddenly ended, David's vision contracting abruptly to the last snatch of Luna's concerned expression fading away.

"David! Wake up!" came the upset sound of Rough Draft. David opened his eyes. He was laid out on his side, wrapped up securely in ropes. Looking around, they appeared to be in a kitchen, laid out on the concrete on their backs. Rough Draft was wriggling around in his bindings, "You're awake! Finally! I thought they did something to you."

"They did," said David as he wriggled, "Nothing permanent I think. Did they hurt you?" He didn't feel any aches aside from the light chafing of the ropes biting at him when he struggled, which he stopped doing in favor of feeling with his fingers instead.

Rough Draft wriggled his way closer to David inch after inch, "They bashed in my skull when I came in here. It still hurts like hay. You were still asleep when I came to, I though they might have hurt you real bad. I didn't get a look at them though, just heard them before they whacked me."

David rolled over and bumped into Rough Draft, "Calm down, I think we're OK." His voice wasn't as sure as he had hoped.

Rough Draft trembled a bit, tears already staining his snout, "Are we? Really?" He wriggled in place, "Is this adventure? I'm not sure I want to do it anymore. Can we go home?"

David bumped into Rough, "Calm down. We wanted adventure, let's get through it. I'll feel too stupid if we give up on the first hint of trouble. Besides, I know a secret."

"A secret?" asked Rough, glancing around, ears dancing, "What kind of secret?"

David leaned in, whispering into that twitching ear, "We either resolve this peacefully, or the cavalry will come."

Rough looked all the more perplexed at this, but began to calm down a little, sniffling.

Author's Notes:

The plot thickens!

Forced unconsciousness may have impaired my typing causing typos.

13 - Heart to Heart

Two ponies entered with chef hats but carefully neutral expressions. They moved over towards the bound duo directly as Rough asked with pinned ears, "I don't suppose you're here to let us go?"

One shook his head before they both picked up Rough Draft by either end, using his rope as a handle.

"It'll be ok!" shouted David before clamming up, watching them withdraw beyond the door. It swung shut with a bang, leaving David alone in the kitchen.

"Why did you say that?" asked a voice above him. He swiveled his head to see Nicole looking down at him from a table. "They could be dragging him off to kill him. How do you know it'll be OK?"

"If they are... then there's no harm saying it anyway, but I'm hoping not," replied David, "I try not to panic about things I can't change. I'm glad to see you again."

"Are you?" she tilted her head down at him before hopping down beside him. "You should be afraid, or angry."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little upset about being tied up," he confessed, "but that's life. I did mean what I said."

Nicole sat down beside David, "Which part?" She raised a hoof to poke him in the belly, making him squirm. Even bound that was a ticklish spot.

David tried to point, but that wasn't to be, "You. You're a good person, I think, kidnapping put aside for the moment. Let's just review the facts."

"Yes, let's," agreed Nicole, "I am something hunted. You knew what I was just by watching me. You could ruin my life with barely any effort at all. Even if I got away from you, you or something like you could spot me again." She poked him again with a hoof, "Is that a fair summary?"

"It's a start," replied David, wriggling and trying to get upright. "It's odd talking with a pretty mare while at her hoof height." She rolled her eyes and her horn glowed its soft blue as David was turned to sit up. "Thanks. Now, from my perspective. You're a talented actress that uses her natural abilities to perform better. You don't hurt any ponies, and even act to make the world a better place. It sounds cheesy as hell but you deserve a medal, not to be hunted."

Nicole's disguise sloughed off suddenly, leaving her as the black carapaced insect she was with bright green eyes. "Is this the face of a good pony?" she asked.

David jumped with surprise, but not fear. "No," he said, "It's the face of a good person." She snorted at that. "You didn't already kill me or throw me in one of those pods--"

She pressed a hoof against his chest. He noticed just then that she wasn't riddled with holes like the show. "How do you know about the pods?"

"Uh, kind of a long story," said David.

She shrugged, "You're not going anywhere. You know too much. Give me answers."

David leaned back against the table he was beside, "Alright, well, to summarize then. I'm from another world where many of the details of this world are a work of fiction that has proven more real than not real, though not one hundred percent accurate. Like I expected you to have holes."

She leaned towards him as her Nicole disguise returned, "Why would I have holes? I am well fed and..." she stopped, then nodded, "I see. You have just enough information to be dangerous, to yourself, and to me." She whipped her tail across his face, making him sputter. "You're a well intentioned fool. If you weren't feeding me, I would have lost patience."

David raised his brows, "Huh, I mean, you're nice and all, but I didn't think it was quite love yet."

She poked him on the lower belly with a hoof, "Think lower. Curious thing, you think I'm attractive, even having seen my true self? Would you do it, for your friend?"

He flushed deep and grew flummoxed as the conversation went wildly into uncomfortable waters, "Uh, well. I'd rather it be after a nice evening, without veiled death threats..."

"But you would?" Nicole huffed softly, "You're perverted to even consider it, biped. We're not even close to the same blood." She nudged him again, "But thank you. It's flattering, if disgusting."

David's shame only grew deeper and his expression faded into a careful mask of neutrality he saved for when things became this special sort of painful. It only seemed to encourage Nicole, "Ah there. You can know anger, shame. I thought you may be hiding it away. Fear even..." She pressed close to him, her face hovering inches from his, "I choose to believe you, darling." Some of her more friendly accent returned to her. "Tell me whatever you plan to do."

A loud sigh escaped from David as he nodded. "I'm going to tell you something that will sound bad, but hear me out first." Nicole raised a brow at him but said nothing. "OK, Luna knows there's a changeling around."

Nicole smashed a hoof against his chest, knocking him back against the table, "What?!" Her shriek echoed off the walls, "Already? But how?" She sank then to her belly, "I'm doomed."

David breathed painfully, catching his breath from the sudden strike as he looked down at Nicole, starting to cry and sniffle where she laid. "Calm down." Nicole shot an acidic glare up at him. "I'm serious. I asked her to give me a day. If you come with me willingly, then we can work something out."

Nicole sprung up to her hooves, "Work something out? She'll throw me in jail for the rest of my life, and that would be the happier of the endings!"

"She's just scared," argued David, "Like you are, kinda. She thinks you're a vampire preying on her people."

Nicole shrank back, "I never hurt anypony..."

"Besides me," said David with a smirk. She rolled her eyes, "But seriously... Give it a chance. I'll speak up for you."

"Oh, fantastic. The word of some strange creature from another world." She threw a hoof up in the air, "Why don't I just put my neck on a chopping board and get it over with?"

"I'll get Rough Draft too," said David, "And I think Luna knows that I know more than I should."

Nicole raised a brow, then huffed a sigh. "Fine. I don't want to restart my entire career even if I did run away. Invite her royal executioner here and we'll talk. Either Nicole Foalman will mysteriously disappear, or we'll work something out. At least my legacy will live on." With a glow of her horn, the ropes fell away from David, freeing him to stand up.

David clambered to his feet as various joints complained at the treatment. "I'm getting too old to be tied up on kitchen floors."

Nicole looked him over, "How old are you?"

David waved a hand, "Before we get into that. Rough Draft, where did your helpers drag him to?"

Nicole gave a sharp whistle and the door leading to the hallway opened to reveal the cooks from before. Rough Draft was between them, still bound and wriggling. "Let him go, boys." Quickly, Rough Draft was released and rushed over to David's side. The two traded nuzzles and ear scratches a moment before Nicole cleared her throat, "Do what you're going to do. I don't want to wait too long to be killed."

The two outside came in, clearly pouting. "Mistress," spoke one, "What do you mean by killed?"

Nicole waved them off, "Luna is coming. Don't fight her. I don't want you two getting hurt."

They shrunk in place a moment before they hurried up and surrounded Nicole, as if to protect her with their bodies. "We won't let her hurt you, queen."

Nicole rapped the noggin of the closest, "I am not your queen, you lovable doofs."

Rough Draft looked up at David, "What are they talking about?"

David softly pet Rough on his head and looked up to discover another Rough Draft seated beside the first. The second nuzzled him and waggled his ears. The first looked at the second and jumped back, falling onto his haunches, "Dear Celestia!"

David scratched the ears of the new Rough Draft to find a third and fourth Rough Draft had joined him. He was surrounded by Rough Drafts, all seeming to demand ear pettings. He went from one to the next, using both hands to satisfy two brown ponies at a time. "Rough Draft, meet Rough Drafts. Our host has a little secret."

The original Rough Draft opened his mouth, closed it, then shook his head, "David, you are petting changelings like there's nothing wrong."

"Is something wrong?" asked David. "Luna is coming, and she'll want our take on them."

"Take?" asked Rough Draft Alpha, backing away from the others, "They foalnapped us!"

"They were defending themselves," said David as he gave all the psuedo-RDs gentle pettings. He had no idea which was Nicole of the group and decided it didn't really matter. "We'll defend them, because that's what good adventurers do when they find misunderstood monsters."

Rough huffed loudly, "You're... crazy... but right, I guess... Are you sure they aren't controlling your mind? I think they can do that."

David shrugged, "I don't feel any different. They were a bit too happy to know I could have negative emotions to be controlling them. Alright guys." He stood up, "Back to your normal shapes."

With puffs of green flame, Nicole and the two chefs returned.

David asked while making placating motions with his hands, "Now this is just an idle curiosity. You can tell me to shut up, but, uh, do changelings have genders?"

Nicole snorted out a half laugh at the question, "Yes, though it is more fluid in definition than you, oneflesh. So how do you summon Luna, Is it a magic spell?"

David shrugged, "Just have to be asleep I bet." No sooner said than Nicole's horn flared green and David was allowed to crumple in place.

Rough Draft hurried over to check him for harm and get him into a more comfortable position. "You should have warned him before you did that, sheesh."

Nicole poked Rough Draft in the cutie mark, "I'm probably going to be killed within the next day, forgive me." she spun on her hooves and marched from the room, her two assistants trailing behind nervously.

Author's Notes:

Will Nicole be horribly murdered by a vengeful guardian of the night?

Will Rough Draft ever get to that convention he planned on?

Will the author ever stop asking questions that only he knows?

Redundant questions are known to be a leading source of typos, watch out!

14 - Lunar Judgement

David had barely enough time to realize he was asleep to take in the fact that there was a Luna standing in front of him, staring.

"Oh jeeze!" he exclaimed, hopping back to land on his old computer chair, sliding backwards through several hallways before he was dumped rudely out onto concrete flooring. Luna stepped over him, looking down at him with one brow raised.

"You are dreaming," she states as fact as her horn shone with the spell that banished the sleeping fog from him. "We have no time for games. Tell me now, where do I go?"

David clambered up quickly, dusting himself off as he went, "Well, she agreed to see you."

"We were not aware it was a choice," stated Luna, "Where is the changeling?"

David held up his hand, "Hold your horses." She frowned at him quickly. "Sorry, stupid saying. Anyway, she still hasn't done anything wrong, and has done a lot right."

Luna raised a hoof to point at David, "By your own words she has assaulted you."

David shrugged, "I'm not pressing charges. She panicked, and I'm not hurt."

"Pressing charges?" asked Luna, "I don't know what that means. You can explain it to me in person. Enough, tell me." Her horn began to glow as the information was nudged towards the surface. In a pony it likely would have been instant, but a human mind was alien to Luna's expertise and the going was far slower.

David swayed as thoughts jumbled around in a disordered mess. Old memories floated to the surface as the last sentence faded away entirely. He grabbed Luna's horn, not in attack but to steady his dreamself as everything went out of balance. Sensing she had perhaps pushed too directly, Luna released her spell and waited for David to recover. "Please, David, just tell me. I swear I will listen to your story when I arrive, and hers as well, but she cannot be allowed to wander freely."

David nodded slowly, taking a soft breath that didn't truly exist. "Manehattan." He pulled out the letter they had followed to find the building and offered it to Luna. "Don't come rushing in with guards or through a wall. She's not a criminal."

Luna's wings flared wide, "You are bold to tell me what is or is not a criminal in my domain." The wings slowly folded to her side as David shrank back. "I will give her a chance to speak for herself." Luna frowned then, "You are aware, human, only powerful changelings claim a female gender beyond their momentary disguise. Be wary until my arrival."

Luna faded, and the dream around her collapsed, leaving David to a restful void of benign dreams.

David woke up to the feeling of a hoof poking his chin. Opening his eyes he saw Rough Draft nudging him. "Heya."

Rough smiled, "You were out for hours. Everything OK?"

David reached up to poke Rough on the nose, "Besides humans, name two other humanoid races in humanway." He sat up while he waited for the answer from the stunned looking Rough Draft.

"Uh, halflings and kanomes," said Rough Draft, "Why?"

"Kanomes? Really?" asked David, rising up to his feet.

"What's wrong with the Kanomes?" asked Rough, looking sheepish. "They're small and crazy. Ponies like them plenty."

"They are 'Nomes' where I'm from, with a silent G at the front," explained David as he looked around. He saw a plate of food had been left untouched on one of the counters and moved over to it, "This mine?"

Rough Draft quickly nodded, "They made it for you while you were asleep." As David started to eagerly devour the already cool meal of mashed potatoes and corn, Rough continued, "So you had Kanomes too? That's so weird. But you didn't say why you asked."

David set the half devoured plate down as he looked to Rough, "You could have been a changeling. I expected you to figure that out."

Rough raised an ear, "Oh yea. I guess I... Wait, can they become human?"

David shrugged, "Dunno, but they haven't yet. I figure if she wanted to seduce me she'd try turning into a human female, but maybe she has to see something to copy it, so she's in for a long wait to find a woman." He picked up the plate again and set to devouring the other half messily and quickly.

Rough Draft laughed and blushed at the idea, "Oh Celestia. One human is already close to too much. Is Luna coming now? Did you reach her?"

David replied with an ear scratch to start before nodding, "Yea. I don't know how long it'll take her to get from Canterlot to here? Think she'll teleport?"

Rough Draft shook his head, "I'm no expert, but that's a long way to jump. We should tell Nicole." He rose to all fours and strode from the room with David trailing behind. "Do you think she'll try something stupid?"

David shrugged, "I really hope not. I kind of put my neck on the line saying she was worth at least hearing out. I'll look real stupid if she comes off as a scheming no-good changeling after all that."

Rough Draft nudged David in the knee, making him stagger mid-step, "It makes you look like a pony."

Regaining his balance and punching the button to summon the elevator, David asked, "How so?"

Rough smiled brightly, "Ponies trust with their whole heart if they are trusting, and are scared entirely of what scares them."

David poked that sensitive nose of Rough's, "So do I scare you, or do you trust me?"

Rough pressed his snout against that finger, soon nuzzling his palm lightly. David took this as a good enough answer.

They arrived at Nicole's floor to find her near the elevators, holding a large glass of something likely alcoholic in her green magic. She looked up when they arrived and nodded, "So the executioner is on her way?"

"Yea," said David, "But don't call her that. You both got some heavy labels. Just call her Luna, or Princess Luna to be polite. Tell the truth, be yourself, and trust she will accept there's more to it than black and white."

Nicole snorted and took a heavy pull of her drink, "Black and white are the colors a pony lives by, no matter how brightly colored their pelts."

"I... don't think you believe that," countered David.

Nicole sneered, "What makes you think that?"

David rolled a hand, "You wouldn't waste your time trying to change the public mind if you thought that."

The elevator gave a soft 'ding'. All eyes turned to it as the imposing stature of Luna stepped out, flanked by two lunar guards with their bat wings flaring the moment there was room. "We have arrived. David, tis good to see you in waking." She looked from him downwards, "Rough Draft. I have seen many of your dreams, odd as they may be." And onwards she went, settling on Nicole. "Yours I do not recall, but your face is familiar."

Nicole looked like she wanted to hiss or spit, but instead deflated. She sank to her belly, her glass landing gently on the ground. "Alright, you can behead me now."

Luna started, "Are you not going to plead or fight for your life, changeling?"

David snapped his fingers suddenly, "Green." He reached out a foot and nudged Nicole, "Can you get the real Nicole?"

'Nicole' looked up at him with confusion, "What?"

"Really," said David, "We need a face to face with the real parties involved."

The psuedo-Nicole tucked her tail between her legs. With a flash of green flames, a changeling was left behind. "Alright," it said in its more masculine and insectoid voice. "Mistress! They have seen through the guise."

A door opened elsewhere and Nicole approached from around a corner with a sigh, "How do you do that?" She looked David up and down, then turned her gaze to Luna, "I do surrender. I would say it is a pleasure, Princess Luna, but that remains to be seen."

Luna's guards advanced on the lesser changeling, who offered no resistance as they put hoof-cuffs on all four legs and bound them together. Luna herself looked over the new Nicole, "You do carry yourself more like a changeling queen."

Nicole hissed softly, "I am no queen. I have no nest, and I don't want one."

The drone in the guard's hold whimpered softly, looking like he wanted to say something but kept it to just the whimper.

"Very well," said Luna, "The human, David," She looked towards him and then back to Nicole "He said you had a story to share. I have given a promise that I would hear it before judgement is decided on. You have surrendered willingly, I will also bear that in mind, now speak truthfully."

Nicole grabbed the abandoned drink with her blue magic and sipped from it gently. "I was born to a hive near the badlands. The queen of the time was still well in her prime and she ordered my disposal. My two best friends decided to ferry me away instead and fled to the pony lands with me as a grub." She smiled gently at the captive drone.

"We could do nothing less for our queen," whimpered out the drone, squirming in his chains.

She approached him and struck him across the top of the head, "You are my friend, not my drone, blast it."

Luna cleared her throat, "Please continue."

Nicole nodded softly, "Yes, well, they raised me, pretending to be stallions while enrolling me into school. I become Nicole Foalman, and, for the most part, I lived as a pony." She took a soft sip of the alcohol before sighing. "I became an actress. It seemed a natural fit, considering." She glanced up at Luna, "A few other actors know, close friends. I built a career for myself, and here we are."

Luna gave a soft huff, "How did you feed? Food alone will not fill the belly of a changeling, especially not a queen, whether or not you accept the title."

Nicole smiled gently, "Is it not obvious? I am loved, as a star. Even now I can feel gentle waves of my fan's adoration tickling at me. It's not strong with them not in person, but it's always there. I'm never very hungry. They love me."

David and Rough stood there silently, captivated by the story being shared, and both entirely unwilling to interrupt either party. Luna gave a slow nod. "I see. Have you ever impersonated a pony before?"

Nicole raised a hoof to point at herself, "Well if you count this? Every day." Luna shook her head and Nicole nodded, "Didn't think so. I have done so in a professional capacity a few times." She raised a hoof to point at Rough Draft, "I copied him once, as a joke."

Rough Draft snorted, "It wasn't a funny joke." When Luna looked at him severely, he went rigid. "I wasn't hurt!" he squeaked.

David chuckled softly but said nothing. Luna was still looking at Rough, "Tell me, Rough Draft. What would you have me do?"

Rough perked his ears up, "Oh, uh. I'm not a princess, your highness... but, uh... I guess she isn't hurting anypony. She scares me, but she hasn't actually... done anything... besides foalnap us." David swatted him over the head at that, bringing Luna's attention to himself.

"Human David. You strike your companion for telling the truth. Why is this?" demanded Luna with an impassive face.

David shrugged feebly, "Well, she did, but it was a moment of panic. I don't want to hold that one moment of fear up against a whole life of being a good pony. She didn't hurt either of us."

"Verily." Luna turned back towards Nicole, who had set her drink aside. "Changeling Queen Nicole Foalman, rise." Nicole rose to her feet before the lunar princess. "Show us your true form." With a flash of green, Nicole revealed her sleek changeling form. Neither she nor the drone sported the holes that David had expected. "You have eaten well and often. The rot of hatred has not ravaged you as many other hives."

Nicole blushed red in her cheeks, "I don't... hunt. They love me, truly, for who I am."

Luna raised a hoof, "That is not entirely true. They do not know you are a changeling."

Nicole winced and started to sag, "Will you tell them? They will turn on me, hate me. I just want to be... me. I don't want to be a queen." Tears started to flow down her smooth black carapace as she groveled before Luna, "Let me be Nicole, please."

Luna took a slow breath before looking towards David and Rough, then to her guards. They remained stoically at the ready at either side of the prisoner. "By the letter of the law," spoke Luna, "You are to be detained and executed for the safety of the people." Nicole's ears fell as she closed her eyes. Luna put a hoof on Nicole's head. Nicole flinched, ready for crushing weight to follow and to be squished like the bug she was born to be. "But the letter of the law pertains to changelings, not to ponies."

Nicole looked up, scarcely able to see beyond the hoof still gently resting on her head, "What?"

Luna tapped either of Nicole's shoulders with the same hoof, "We hereby do recognize that Nicole Foalman has met all requirements for induction in the great kingdom of Equestria. You have attended our schools, learned our ways, paid our taxes and followed our laws. You are a model citizen, and it is my pleasure to welcome you officially. We will have to fine you for not applying for citizenship properly, you and your friends, but we trust this will not be an issue. You are also to perform labor of our choosing for the assault of one David and one Rough Draft. We will find something befitting an actress of your skill to perform."

Nicole scrambled to her feet only to collapse over the legs of Luna, sobbing into the dark fur while whispering her thanks repeatedly and clutch to Luna. All her anxiety poured out with her sobs of relief. Luna turned to David and Rough, nodding at them. "You were right to stay my hoof, human David, but do not make a habit of it." She raised her unimpeded hoof to point at him, "If you do not wish the same fine, you will apply for citizenship directly." The hoof lowered to Rough Draft, "And you are charged with ensuring this occurs." With both nodding in agreement, she gestured at the captive, "Release him."

Author's Notes:

Ha, wow. I just typed and typed and didn't look at the word count until I felt I hit a good pause, and I far over blew my target of 2k, which was good since I was a bit short the last two days. The changeling arc hits its end. What amazing adventure will our poor human get into next?

Scribes tend to get nervous around Princess Luna and a transcription error may result.

15 - The Party Swells

Luna left shortly thereafter, leaving the stunned ponies, plus human, behind. "She's as pretty as I thought," said David.

Rough bonked him on the knee with a hoof, "That's a princess you're talking about. And you're not even her type, or species."

David shrugged then looked to Nicole and her friend, "Are you alright?"

Nicole took a sip from the glass she had abandoned before before nodding. "I will be." A slow breath came and went and she sat up. With a flash of green she took her usual softly furred appearance.

"Say," said David, "I never did learn their names." He pointed at the drone who perked up in surprise.

Nicole raised a hoof to bonk the drone lightly, "That is because no matter how many times I tell them to pick a name, they insist I do it for them." With a fresh puff of green, the drone became a shy looking chef pony and scurried away before he could receive any more ire. "I love them, really I do, but they refuse to stop being... drones..."

Rough grabbed one of David's hands in his mouth and gave a soft tug before speaking, "Well, it's been fun and I'm glad it had a happy ending but we really should get going. We have a convention to prepare for."

"Yes, we do." spoke Nicole, rising and approaching them.

David shook his head, "Uh, nice thought, but don't you have important famous things to be doing, and having a famous pony tagging with us at the convention..."

Rough perked his ears, "...will drive sales through the roof. Do you play Humanway?" his question asked with a hopeful smile, "Or any other roleplaying games?"

Nicole shook her head with a light titter, "I play a role playing game every day, don't you think." She flashed with the green flame as she became subtly different, with large round glasses perched on her nose. "You two could use a nice nerdy mare."

"You look mostly the same," said David, looking her over, "Besides the glasses, those are adorable."

Rough Draft looked perplexed, "Huh? She looks very different to me." He poked David lightly, "You have sharp eyes." He looked back at Nicole, "But he's right, what about your work as an actress?"

She shrugged, "I have two months before my next movie starts filming. Now stop trying to convince me. You saved me, now you're stuck with me." She sauntered away from the two and with a blue flick of her magic, pressed the elevator call. "Now show me this room of yours"

The other chef appeared, "Queen!" She glowered at him darkly and he drew up short, looking apologetic, "Sorry... Miss Foalman... Where are you going? What should we do while you're gone?"

She waved at him with a dismissive gesture of her hoof, "You two are on vacation. Do something that is fun, for you. Don't hurt anypony or leave me poor, other than that, go find what interests you, and only you, for a change."

He looked entirely uncertain how to take the news, shuffling in place. "We will try... Will you be angry if we don't do much?"

Nicole sighed exasperatedly, "Yes, but not angry... disappointed. There should be more in your lives than me. You already gave up most of it making sure I grew up, live a little." She looked back at Rough and David. The elevator dinged gently and swung open, "So have fun, that's an order." She trotted into the elevator car and sat down. Soon Rough and David joined her and they began descending towards the first floor.

"Huh," said David, "I didn't think the drones were that single-minded. Are they all like that, queens excepted?"

Nicole shrugged softly, "I don't know. This is my 'hive', me and them. If there are other kinds of changelings, I never met them. But enough of that. I don't want to talk about changelings. I want to talk about this, Humanway, was it?"

Rough eagerly began talking about his work, starting with an explanation of the game it was based on, "The idea is to let a pony play an adventurer with their friends. One pony is in charge and makes up the world and things in it. It is their responsibility to keep track of the story overall and lead the others through it. He is, at once, their greatest enemy and the grand orchestra for their lives. It's a big responsibility being the stable master."

"Stable Master?" asked David, failing to hold in a chuckle.

"What?" asked Rough defensively, "What do they call it on Terra?"

"Earth," corrected David as they stepped out of the elevator, "and we call it a Game Master. For a while it was Dungeon Master, but there was legal to-do about the term."

Rough Draft shook his head as he pushed open the door leading back out into the Manehattan streets, "So, uh, Nicole?"

"Nicky," corrected Nic...ky.

David raised a brow, "Oh come on, seriously?"

Rough Draft and Nicky looked at David with confusion.

He waved at Nicky, "It's so obviously her."

Nicky blinked up at the human through her thick glasses, then moved to the sidewalk where ponies were milling past. She went up to a dark furred stallion and smiled at him, "Excuse me, sir. I heard Nicole Foalman was close by. Have you seen her?" She sighed dramatically, "I was really hoping to get her autograph."

The stallion smiled brightly, "I can't say I have, little lady. I've seen her once or twice though. If I see her again, I'll let you know." The stallion tipped his top hat at her, then moved on with a soft whistled tune.

Nicky returned to the stunned looking David with a deep smirk. "You were saying?"

David slowly shook his head, "I can't promise I understand even a little of this. Ponies must be way more oblivious than I thought possible, and I'm hardly the model of perception."

Rough jerked his head back, "You're saying other humans are more perceptive than you? That sounds scary as hades to me. What else do you see with those special eyes of yours."

"Nothing much," demured David. "Besides the unicorn magic, and changeling magic I guess."

Nicky raised a brow, "What does magic even look like?" She moved then, gesturing with her tail for them to follow as she called for a taxi.

They had soon returned to Draft's hotel, with David explaining the hazy glow that he could see on horns and around objects that were being affected by magic. "And the color changes depending on who's doing it."

Nicky perked an ear, "I've seen that, but only when a unicorn is really trying something powerful." She batted her lashes, "Like this time I tried to lift all of my school books at once. It was so hard!"

David snorted at the adorable, if fake, story and hopped free of the carriage when it stopped. He held the door open for the others and they clambered out after him.

Rough paid for the taxi with a larger coin than David had seen before, getting a salute from the driver before he trotted off with the carriage. When they all marched past the front desk, the mare working there looked up at them. "Are you all together, Mr. Draft?"

Rough Draft pulled up short and turned to face her, "Huh, oh, yea, they're with me."

She raised a brow lightly, "Will you be requiring a rollout bed?"

Rough only looked more confused, "Why would I need that?" He walked on past her, joining the other two already at the elevator. When they reached Rough's room, he realized why she had asked when he saw Nicole hop up onto the bed and curl up there. "Oh."

David reached down to gently pat Rough on the head, "I'll sleep on the ground if it's too crowded. I've done it before for cons."

Rough perked an ear, "You have? I mean, no! I should do that. It's my fault we only have one bed anyway."

David flicked Rough's nose, making him jump. "I can handle it. Your punishment will be thinking what the front desk mare thinks you're up to, here, with only one bed, and two guests, one of them being a cute mare."

Rough lit up a bright cherry red and wandered into the bathroom, be it to relieve himself or hide from the shame he didn't say.

Nicky laughed merrily at the exchange, sliding to the side of the bed to peer at David with her head resting on her forehooves. "You two must be good friends. I've tried teasing mine like that, and they just withdraw into themselves with shame. I can't get them to play along at all."

Rough emerged with the sound of a flushing toilet, "Just for that, you can take the bed! We'll see how you do with a seductress for a bed companion."

David snorted softly and moved to give Nicky a soft ear rub as he had done for Rough many times, "Whatever will I do, consigned to petting warm ponies. Who will save me from this cruel fate?"

Nicky settled into the soft rubbing and closed her eyes, listening to the two as they traded light hearted jabs back and forth. When the bed lurched, she opened her eyes to see David had flopped up beside her, but was still petting, "Either way," he said, "I'm going to sleep, for real this time. That fake sleep didn't do it for me."

Rough looked almost jealous at missing out on petting, watching the two of them before he hopped up, crowding the bed before he curled up with the others. David considered complaining, but was too tired to get into it. No, petting soft warm ponies and getting some sleep seemed like a perfect way to end this little escapade.

When Nicky could feel both of their emotions reaching a calm state of sleep, she shuffled and gave David a peck on the cheek. "Thank you." Then she joined them in slumber.

Author's Notes:

And so wraps up the changeling arc. What's next? The convention arc! And I promise it should be filled with comedy and awkward moments!

All this released tension may have made my typing a bit more lax, so punish me by finding the typos.

16 - Manehattan BipedCON

Refreshed and ready, the three trotted along to the elevator. David asked of Rough, "So you never said much about this convention, besides it exists and you hope to sell books here. What kind of con is it?"

Rough perked an ear, "Well, it's not a roleplaying one."

Nicky looked confused, "But you said it was a roleplaying game. Why wouldn't you go to a roleplaying convention?"

Rough lifted his shoulders, "It's a funny thing. It's easier to sell to people who like bipeds already."

David raised a brow, "Bipeds? Like dragons?"

"Sure," replied Rough as he entered the elevator, "Some ponies like dragons, or even diamond dogs or minotaurs, but there are also the made up one, myths and stuff." He pointed at David with a hoof, "Like humans."

Nicky burst into laughter, her glasses almost falling free before she pushed them back up along her nose, "You hear that? You're a myth. I never read stories about humans."

Rough shrugged, "It's a niche thing, but it's popular enough. Ponies get really into it. They'll dress up as their favorite bipeds, write stories about them, all kinds of things."

They emerged on the second floor and it was wall to wall ponies. Brightly colored equines cheerfully pushed and jostled around through the crowd as the murmur of their conversations created a constant din. When the three emerged from the elevator, a pony stopped and looked at David, blinking slowly. "By Celestia! That's the best biped-suit I ever saw!"

The mare's exclamation drew other curious eyes to settle on them. Soon David was surrounded by a thick shell of smiling ponies. "It's so realistic! Can I get a picture with you?" Without waiting for permission, a giggling blue mare slid up beside David and flashed a bright smile. Flash! She bounced off gleefully. Rough and Nicky where nowhere to be seen, lost in the flash crowd. A unicorn wearing a well constructed but still clearly fake minotaur upper body was standing there, balancing on her hind legs, offered a hand, fake as it was, "Aw yea," she said eagerly, "Great suit!"

David went with the flow, raising his own hand and returning the gesture. The mare suddenly began wobbling dangerously. The minotaur part of the suit fell off, revealing a sheepishly grinning Lyra Heartstrings. Bon Bon appeared in a moment, gathering up the suit. "Lyra! This thing's too expensive to be dropping, be careful."

Lyra waved at her friend, still balancing on her hinds, "It's cool. Check out this!" She pointed at David with a hoof, then approached him dangerously close without regard for personal space.

"Uh, hi Lyra," murmured David, trying to edge backwards, but he was already at the closed door of the elevator.

Lyra's eyes widened, "How do you know my name!? Ohhhh, you're a magic human! I can't even take this!" She lunged forward, grabbing his right hand between her hooves and feeling them. Her face went from wonderment to confusion, and then to outright rapture. "It's not a suit!" she cried, drawing a fresh wave of interest. Soon ponies were pressing in at David from all angles, asking far too many questions to hear any one of them. In the background, Lyra was talking with a small crowd of her own, "I touched his hand! It's real, and he knew my name without me telling him! He's a human, a real magic human!"

One mare gave David a poke in the belly, "How can you tell it's a he?"

A stallion laughed at her and poked him higher in the chest, "He doesn't have the, you know, udders."

David was frozen solid, unsure how to react to suddenly being the epicenter of so much attention. Aggressive, touchy attention. He tried to edge back again, to find the elevator doors were just as sol-- He fell backwards as the doors swung open, falling onto two mares gracelessly. The ponies started with surprise, but one of them, a unicorn, helpfully wrapped David in her magic and set him upright. "Thanks," he said. The moment was enough to feel the ability to move again and he burst from the elevator, nudging through the crowd. A hoof grabbed him from the side and pulled him. He was standing before Rough Draft who quickly nudged David behind himself.

The crowd advanced on Rough Draft and the human hiding behind him. "Everyone calm down," he called out. "This is David, a human."

"Hi David!" came an almost uniform chorus as many ponies waved at them both.

"He'll be at the Humanway booth, offering signatures," said Rough, "But no roughhousing or crowding. Humans are delicate creatures."

Somehow this was enough for the crowd, most faces bobbing up and down before starting to disperse back to what they were doing. Nicky emerged from the crowd, looking like she was failing to completely hold back her laughter. "You've made some new friends," she said to David. "I hope you like being famous."

David took a slow breath, "Famous is alright. Being ripped apart is where I draw the line. Are they going to do that again?"

Rough Draft gave David a gentle poke in the side. "Now that you're not being pressed into a wall, admit it. Part of you liked that."

David chuckled and shook his head, "I never saw so many ponies so tightly packed. They... looked so happy to see me."

Nicky nodded, "Well you are a walking myth. Imagine if," she rolled a hoof, "A pony appeared in your world at a convention. I imagine they'd get much the same reaction, right?"

David frowned with thought as he began to follow Rough through the crowd, "I'd expect more demands for a ride, rude pulls, and perhaps a few sexual invitations."

Nicky snorted, "You're joking. Oh who am I kidding? Of course you're not joking. Well," she glanced around the crowded convention floor, "The weekend is young. You'll get your chance yet."

"Chance?" asked David before his brain ticked with realization, "I'm not looking for a mare."

Nicky rolled her shoulders with a giggle, "You probably wouldn't say no if they came to you. You're forgetting I already know all about that."

David considered pulling out the tried and true line of humans and animals and it felt hollow in his mind before it even reached his lips and died in his throat. He was the animal, the myth, in this place. If some mare wants to bed him, she's the one that should feel bad. Oh god. "This is getting a bit strange to think about."

They arrived at a stand that had a brightly colored banner reading 'Humanway'. There were already books set up, little humanoid figures, some human plushies, and even... muffins. "They're the same." David pointed at the muffin plushes.

Rough Draft looked at the plushes as he assumed his position, "Same as what?"

David picked one up, turning it around as he laughed, "The exact muffins I sold back home, exactly the same!"

Rough twitched his ears, "Really? A nice mare makes them for me for not much and they're always popular."

David set the little plush back where it came from and joined Rough on the right side of the booth, "When'd you have time to set up this booth?"

Rough looked baffled at the question, "Huh?"

David waved at the booth, "This booth. We were with Nicky." He hiked a thumb at Nicky who nodded. "And now here we are, with a booth already set up."

Rough waved the question away as a familiar mint colored mare trotted up to the stand. She wasn't wearing her minotaur outfit and was on all fours. She locked eyes with David silently and stood there. Not long after she arrived, Bon Bon emerged from the crowd. "Lyra, you can't just stand there! They're trying to do business."

Lyra snapped out of her daze, "Huh? Oh! I'll take these." She flailed out a hoof, landing on a human plushie and shoving it towards Rough Draft, though her eyes remain locked on David. "Why are you so dark?"

Bon Bon's eyes went wide, "You can't just ask him why he's dark!"

David let out a rough little laugh, "I was born that way." He took the plushie after Bon Bon had paid for it and offered it to Lyra, "I didn't get much of a vote on the matter."

Lyra took the plushie in her mouth, looking up at David before she turned and gave the plushie to Bon Bon, who had a saddlebag to tuck it away in. "Are you the only one?"

"Here, on Equestria?" asked David, "So far as I know."

Lyra slowly nodded before she reared up, standing much closer to David's height, "Aren't you lonely?"

Nicky spoke up, "He has friends. Like his best friend, Rough Draft." She slapped Rough on the back with a hoof.

Lyra glanced to Rough, "Lucky..." Her eyes returned to David, "But what about, you know, a marefriend. Uh, I mean, you know, a female human friend?"

"Girlfriend," supplied David, finding Lyra's star struck awkwardness to be increasingly adorable.

"Yea, that!" agreed Lyra, her tail wagging quickly. "How are you going to find a girlfriend if you're alone here? Are you going to go back?"

David shrugged softly, "I was alone before I came here, but now there are ponies."

Lyra tilted her head at him, "But there are ponies everywhere, what's so special?"

David pointed at the ground, "Here, sure. Equestria is the land of ponies. It's in the name. Where I came from, a lot less ponies, with duller colors, and not very smart either."

Lyra tapped her chin a little, then clopped her forehooves together, "Like monkies!"

"That... is actually a very astute comparison," agreed David. "So what can I get for you, Lyra, Bon Bon?"

Bon Bon startled at her name, peering at him suspiciously. Lyra just grinned larger, "Are you going to run a game of Humanway? I want to be there!"

Bon Bon moved up beside Lyra, whispering almost comedically loudly, easily heard even over the convention, "He knows my pet name! How does he know my pet name!"

Lyra fell back to all fours and laughed gently, nudging Bon Bon, "He's a magical human! Just like my character."

David nodded, "So you do play?"

"Of course!" exclaimed Lyra with a wide grin. "I play a female human sorcerer that is a master of fire!" She began to wave her hooves excitedly, "Fwoosh, boom! Nopony can stand before her fury!" She suddenly stuffed her face into Bon Bon's saddlebag and soon returned with a little miniature of a human wearing mint green robes. She set the miniature down, "See, there she is. Isn't she awesome?"

David carefully picked up the figure, looking her over. Her legs were a little long, but so were her arms. Still, for never having seen a human, the ponies did a pretty good job guessing. Besides the faint inaccuracies in limb ratios, she looked perfectly human. He looked down at the smiling Lyra. Of course, the ponies also looked pretty accurate to human imagination. The multiverse was a pretty funny place... "She looks ready to kick butt."

Lyra perked an ear, "Ye... what's a butt?"

"Flank, for humans," explained David as he set the figure back down.

Lyra reclaimed her figure and set it back in Bon Bon's bag, "Oh! I never heard that before. I like it."

Bon Bon pushed ahead, nudging Lyra out of the way, "Enough. 'Magical Human', how do you know our names, my name especially?"

David looked at Bon Bon's scowl. Even angry, she seemed cute. "How could I not learn the name of Lyra's enchanting marefriend?"

Bon Bon went deep red from her neck up across her face and she staggered back, suddenly speechless. Lyra clapped her forehooves together rapidly, "No wonder humans get a +2 to friendship checks!"

Author's Notes:

David enters the con! Rough gets lots of sales. Nicky gets a never ending giggle fest of awkward pony interactions.

Conventions are loud places. We might have misheard some of the typing along the way.

17 - Manehattan BipedCon II

Bon Bon hauled Lyra away under the pretense of making it in time for a panel. David looked over to Rough Draft to see that there was a sizable bag of bits stashed under the table and fewer supplies on the table. "I look away for one moment. What happened?" asked David.

Nicky snickered and pointed a hoof at the curious faces still peeking from the otherwise mobile crowd. "You are a powerful magnet for biped fans."

Rough bobbed his head, "I've never sold so much, so quickly! Thanks, you know, for being there." He held out a hoof, met with a fist from David in a bump. "So, are you going to?"

"Pronoun game," replied David, "Am I going to what?"

Rough picked up a book carefully between hooves before lobbing it at David, who caught it clumsily. "Run Humanway, of course. I'm pretty sure you'd draw a huge crowd if you did."

David settled on the floor and flipped open the book, peeking through it. "How different is it from Pathfinder? Lyra said something about a friendship bonus? Do you ponies even use the same dice?"

Rough nudged a die sitting on the table, "We have four, six, eight, all of them! All the way up to twenty sides."

The rules appeared deceptively familiar, and yet tantalizingly alien. "It's... like everything can be solved with a morality lesson."

"Just about," agreed Rough.

Nicky snorted softly, "That's not realistic."

Rough poked Nicky softly, "Says you, miss 'pardoned by Luna'. Where would you be if things couldn't be fixed with a morality lesson."

Nicky rolled her eyes then locked her gaze on David, "Or, you could run something a little more exciting. Tell me how your game works."

David glanced between the two before he explained, "Well, it's an adventure. Your character has to navigate traps, monsters, and think tactically. A lot of it comes down to battle planning, but there's plenty of room for roleplay and social problem solving too."

Nicky thrust a hoof up towards David, "I heard enough. That's what you'll do. Run them a delightfully violent human game." She glanced at Rough, "Can your game of morality handle that?"

Rough cleared his throat, looking nervous, "Well, yea. There are combat rules. You're just not supposed to... you know, solve everything with violence."

Nicky developed a smug smile, "We'll see about that." She rose up, setting her fore hooves down on the edge of the table, "Hey! Everypony! Tomorrow, eleven in the morning, our special human guest is going to run a game of Humanway down in the game stable." She leaned forward towards the crowd that she held the attention of. "It won't be any normal game. He'll run a game of horrific violence fit only for a human. Gird your loins, tighten your armor, and sharpen your swords. We'll see if any of you survive the experience." She flopped back onto her haunches as excited conversation spread out through the convention like wild fire.

Nicky pointed at Rough, "Go, teach him the rules so he doesn't make a foal of himself. I'll keep selling things."

Rough let out a soft sigh, "You know how to run a stand?"

Nicky handed change to a pony and sent them off with a smile before glancing back at Rough, "Are you still here? Shoo!"

Rough grumbled as he led David away through the crowd. Soon they were riding the elevator back up to their room. Rough began explaining the basic rules when one of the ponies there turned towards them. It was Lyra. David felt silly for not recognizing that mint coat right away.

"So it's true! You're going to run Humanway!" Lyra bounced in place, "Please, please please please! I want to reserve a spot. I just haaaaave to be there. My sorcerer has to have a chance to be in a real human adventure!"

"Uh," started David eloquently, "I was just learning the rules real quick so I'll be ready for tomorrow."

Lyra pressed in close, shoving Rough out of the way a little, "I'll teach you! I'll do anything!" She leaned in alarmingly close, "Anything."

Ding. The elevator doors swung open and Rough cleared his throat, "Time for us to get off." He walked out past her, and David edged around her, but Lyra followed along without a care. She was already going into great detail how to play the game with a seemingly encyclopedic memory of every facet of it.

When they reached their room, Rough perked an ear at Lyra, "Time for us to study. We'll be headed inside."

"OK," said Lyra, smiling.

Rough unlocked the door easily and David pulled it open. Before either could even start to enter, Lyra darted in and was up on the bed in a flash. They entered to find her seated comfortably, still smiling at them. "Wow! You just have one bed, for the three of you? Humans get busy! I haven't been playing my sorcerer right..."

"It's not like that," complained Rough Draft, "Besides, I'm here too."

Lyra shrugged, "I know, crazy. Humans swing both ways. I never would have guessed." She looked up at David, "I do too." Her tone dripped with promise, tail wagging before she went right on, "So let's get those rules down!"

Seeing where this was going, or at least giving up with how they were going currently, David shrugged emphatically, "Alright, fine. A lot of it is similar to Pathfinder and Ponyfinder, and thank god for that."

"Which god?" asked Lyra, "Humans have lots of gods right? What's a Pathfinder." She pointed a hoof at David's dangling key charm, "And Ponyfinder."

David shrugged softly, "The big religions where I come from agree on one god to rule them all," he explained, "Big and unreachable. Just 'God'. Anyway, we're here to learn about Humanway, not Ponyfinder."

Lyra stuck out her tongue, only to have it swatted by Rough Draft. She squeaked as Rough began to speak, "Calm down, Miss Heartstrings. We're here for David, not the other way around."

Lyra bobbed her head, "Fine fine. So here's how to play..."

They went over the rules together, even playing a little test scenario to make sure David had a grasp of the rules. For as slowly as he learned some names, rules seemed to sink in well and fast. Lyra was excited to be there, and Rough was pleased to play a game of Humanway with 'his' human. By the time everyone felt confident in David's ability with the rules, it was getting close to noon.

Lyra leaned over, rubbing up against Rough, "So what's it like? I mean, meeting your human OC? That has to be so amazing! I think I might just die if I ran into Samantha Bigfire all of a sudden!"

Rough smiled at David, tail starting to wag, "Best thing that ever happened to me. Scary too."

Lyra tilted her head, "Does he do extra crazy human magic?"

Rough shook his head, "No, never seen him do any magic besides knowing a little about a lot of things, like your name. But he's... like a magnet for adventure... It's so scary, but..."

"But so awesome," finished Lyra. "Oh I wish I could go on wild adventures with my OC..." She thrust a hoof out at David, "How do I get my human here?"

David waved a hand, which Lyra's eyes seemed to follow intently. "There were no wizards or sorcerers where I came from. I came from a, what, plane? without much magic. So your OC is definitely not hiding where I came from."

Lyra suddenly pounced, hugging David around the neck, "Then I'll take you!"

Rough suddenly bit her on the flank, "He's mine! I already called dibs."

Lyra jumped at the bite, hindleg kicking out at Rough blindly, "You brute! You should take a mare out first before you get to love nips."

David flushed softly at the hug. He reached up to gently extract the affectionate Lyra, setting her down on the ground beside himself and Rough Draft. "Our party's already too big as it is."

Lyra shook her head with conviction, "Nuh uh! Six is the magic number."

David glanced at Rough, who sighed, "Well, yes. The elements." Rough narrowed his eyes at Lyra, "and just which element do you represent?"

Lyra pointed to her horn with a hoof, "Magic! Isn't it obvious?" She turned the hoof towards David, looking thoughtful, "You could be... honesty?"

David shook his head, "I'm not bad at lying and will do it if it's the easy way out."

Rough raised a hoof, "Kindness."

"What, really?" asked David.

The door suddenly shut as Nicky stepped in, "Kindness works," she agreed. "You did save me, after all, and you had no reason to."

David shrugged, "Ok, kindness. I can think of worse." He looked to Rough, "Generosity." When Rough looked confused, David pointed a finger at Rough, "We're in this room you paid for. I live in your house. I traveled with tickets you also paid for. These clothes? You covered them. I've taken your comfortable life and turned it upside down and made you cry, but you're still willing to give up more to keep going."

Rough's ears twitched softly, "I suppose..."

Nicky flopped beside the others, "And what am I?"

All three others looked at her, considering, when Nicky began to laugh, "Trick question." She tossed her mane back, "I just got a call from my agent. I have to get moving."

Lyra looked perplexed, "Are you a star?"

Nicky flashed a bright smile, "Something like that. I'll be sure to check in on you later." She rose and sauntered to the door, "Your booth's all sold out, by the way." Then she was gone.

Rough hit the carpeted floor with a thump.

David reached to gently pet the fallen Rough Draft, "Guess he never sold out on the first day before."

Lyra clopped her forehooves together, "That means we need three more!" David peered at her quizzically and she bobbed her head, "To make up the elements!"

Bang bang bang! Somepony was rapping on the door before Bon Bon's voice drifted through the wood, "I know you're in there, Lyra! You come out here right this instant!"

Lyra flinched back, but a smile quickly replaced the expression, "I think that's the sound of honesty knocking on the door. We should let her in." With a jubilant grin, she rose up onto her hind legs and sprinted for the door with unusual biped balance. She threw the door open, grinning at a very displeased looking Bon Bon with a wide flash of her teeth. "Honesty!"

"What?" asked Bon Bon, having little idea of what she was about to get swept up in.

Author's Notes:

The party composition shuffles a bit, and the con's not even done with the first day. Who will survive until the end of Manehatten BipedCON?

All of those colorful ponies shoving around may have nudged the letters out of place, be cautious.

18 - Manehattan BipedCON III

Bon Bon now stood in the room, looking around at Lyra, Rough and David. She huffed softly, "Lyra, really. These nice gentlecolts have business to do and don't have time to play along with your wild fantasies."

Rough waved a hoof, "Actually, I'm sold out." He giggled a little, "I've never been sold out completely before, and on the first day!"

Lyra leaned in towards Bon Bon, "See, Bonnie? It's as if destiny itself were calling out to us! Please! Be my Honesty!"

Bon Bon raised a hoof and placed her face against it a moment before she heaved a loud sigh and looked back to Lyra, "Lyra, have I told you that you're crazy?"

"Only twice today," replied Lyra, almost bouncing in place.

Bon Bon booped her on the nose with a light tap of a hoof, "You are laughter." Lyra opened her mouth to object and Bon Bon booped her again, "No buts. If you want me to play Honesty, you are Laughter."

"Fine..." said Lyra with a soft pout.

David shrugged gently, "Well, welcome aboard, though I guess we're missing a Magic now. Speaking of that, how good are you at magic, Lyra?"

Lyra grinned as her horn began to glow soft yellow. With a pop, a large lyre appeared and began to play soothing music.

David rolled a hand, "That's good, really, but that's your special talent, right?"

Lyra bobbed her head, "First trick I learned besides moving things."

Rough picked up where David was going and pointed at her, "So what else can you do, outside your talent?"

Lyra wagged her tail and looked thoughtful, "I never went to school for it..." She suddenly locked eyes with David, a habit she was rapidly forming.

A pain unlike any he had ever felt before exploded through his body. He tried to scream but little more than a choked gasp escaped before he fell over and it all went dark. When he came to, the others were gathered around him. Rough suddenly tackled him at the first sign of movement, "Thank Celestia!"

"What happened?" asked David as he returned the hug and paused. His arms felt funny. He crossed his eyes to see a snout jutting out of his face. "Shit, you made me a pony." David scrambled to his hooves and looked himself over. As predicted, he looked a lot like Rough Draft. They could easily have passed for brothers. Overwhelmed with curiosity, the former human began looking himself over from top to bottom, "Tell me this is a thing that wears off."

Lyra shuffled in place awkwardly before Bon Bon struck her on the side of her head, "Tell him."

Lyra squeaked and glared at Bon Bon before rubbing her forehooves together, "Well... I don't know. I just wanted to cast a spell and show you what I could do and... ta da?"

David rolled onto his back and pedaled his hooves in the air, "It feels like my fingers are all curled up and won't unclench." He twitched an ear at Lyra, just hearing her through his curiosity, "Lyra. Seriously, Lyra. Come on, that wasn't cool."

Lyra moved up to David and rubbed her muzzle against his gently, "If it helps, you're a handsome pony."

Rough snickered softly, "He better be, he's me, mostly." Rough reached out and met David's flailing hoof with one of his own. "But really, Lyra, fix him."

Lyra shook her head, "I don't even know how I did it in the first place!"

David huffed out in a loud equine snort, then burst into a bit of a chuckle, "Oh god I sound weird." He rolled back onto his belly, then rose up onto his hind legs, wobbling a little. He thrust his hips forward, forcing them a little painfully into proper standing position and starting to amble around, "This isn't... that bad."

Lyra clapped her hooves together, "So you're not mad at me?"

David softly bonked Lyra on the head, "I am furious, but also delighted. If you can fix it, then I'll thank you, otherwise you're not off to a good start, Laughter."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes, "Magic my flank." She narrowed her eyes at Lyra, "You will fix him or you're sleeping on the couch forever. And don't even start getting ideas about turning ponies into humans."

Lyra suddenly began clapping her forehooves together, "That's a--" Rough jumped at her, pinning her to the ground before she could finish the thought, "Hey! Come on! Guys!"

David shrugged, "Well, let's, oh," He poked at his clothes, still wearing them, if pinching in places and baggy in others. "These fit a lot better than I would have guessed. Anyway, probably for the best. A pony walking around on hinds probably... shows off too much."

Rough snorted at that, "Right, so what's the plan then?" He looked down to the still pinned Lyra, "Ah. We should get you to the closest library so you can figure out how to fix this. The Humanway players are going to be very upset if a pony shows up tomorrow instead of a human, and we'll be sure to tell them who to thank for the human's disappearance." Lyra flinched at that before nodding her head quickly.

Everypony was soon on their hooves. David reached for the handle, but his hooves just slid off of it on the first attempt. He brought the two together and trapped the handle between them, slowly turning it and nudging the door open. Triumphant with his victory over the door, his tail began to wag eagerly, which felt odd and new. David pushed the door aside and let the others pass as he peeked at his own rump and the twitching limb there.

They escaped the convention hotel without too much incident. Twilight and her friends were grumbling about something in the lobby, but there was no time to go say hello to them, and the others were in no rush to engage them, so David walked on past them and onto the street. The four ponies looked around a moment as David asked, "Do any of you know where the libraries are?"

Other ponies looked at David a bit oddly on their way past. There was little reason for him to be reared up as he was, but there he was, just standing there like it was normal. "Stupid biped lovers," muttered one horse as they trotted past, snout high in the air.

David peered at the retreating form of the pony before bursting into a loud but short laugh, "Oh god, you guys have those? They're like furry haters on backwards."

Bon Bon tilted her head quizzically, "Furry haters? They hate... fur?"

David waved an arm at her, trying to gesture but his fingers remained trapped in that hard hoof of his, "No, It's complicated, but some humans love the idea of animals that walk and talk, you know, like ponies. And other humans think they're weird for lots of reasons."

Bon Bon glanced sidelong at Lyra, "I know that feeling." She bumped into Lyra from the side, "But she's my weird biped lover."

Lyra greeted the affection with a rub of her own before she moved away, approaching a random Manehattan and chatting with her. She soon returned and pointed up the road, "Library's about four blocks thataway."

Despite David's best attempts, eventually the little aches and pains of forcing his new quadruped form to walk along bipedally became too annoying. He fell forward onto his new hooves and stretched out, working out the kinks that had formed in awkward motions.

Lyra giggled at him, nudging him forward, "That was some pretty good biped walking there, champ. You could have a chance of winning the stand off."

"Stand off?" asked David before it clicked, "They have contests for standing and walking?"

Rough nodded, "I never went to one myself, but yea. Every biped convention has at least one."

David asked as they trotted together down the sidewalk, "And what would happen if I showed up to that as a human?"

Bon Bon answered first, "You'd be asked to stand aside. Dragons, minotaurs, and, presumably, humans, are not allowed. That's cheating."

Avoiding speeding carts, they crossed the road and were that much closer to the library. Suddenly David lost a shoe. He stopped and looked back at the sad black shoe, having fallen off the hoof that was no longer anywhere the right shape to hold it on. He quickly trotted back to it, losing the other shoe. His socks at least fit well enough, coming up to his ankle easily.

Bon Bon advanced, collecting the shoes in her mouth and stuffing them into her saddlebags. "I have it."

David nodded with a warm blush and turned to resume their approach. Lyra snickered softly, sneaking glances at David over and over again. "What?" he asked.

"You only have two socks," she pointed out, "That's so weird."

David shook his head, but didn't argue the fact. The walk gave him plenty of time to consider his new form. He felt the play of alien muscles moving in harmony to propel him forward as he let the body carry him as it was meant to. He felt bigger in some places, smaller in others, and put together just enough differently as to be very noticeable with every step. But he was still David, with all his doubts and curiosities.

He glanced over at his companions, feeling that brotherly kinship towards Rough Draft, then a tinge of shame. Why did he feel closer to this pony than he did his real brother? He thought back to his twin, skinnier than he was, always asking for ideas and money, mostly money, sometimes tech support. He was loud, rude, and knew nothing of what David did, for fun or work. He claimed to love David dearly, but it didn't show in most of his actions.

Rough bumped against David gently, "You OK?"

David nodded, forcing a strained smile, "Just thinking." He moved his gaze onwards to Lyra and felt an uncomfortable sensation. He wanted her. She was... insane, but he could see even more clearly as a pony that she had all the right parts in the right places. He pushed those thoughts deep and out of the way. Trying to get intimate with people just invited pain and awkwardness. He didn't know how to handle a woman, or a mare. She'd find someone better than him easily. He should keep his mind on things he could actually do. Turning back into a human seemed like a good first step. Always one step at a time.

He looked towards Bon Bon next. She put off a different vibe than Lyra. She had her head on straight, was healthy, and straight laced. She would likely make a less sanity damaging mate, if he thought such was possible without screwing it all up, though she would also be a more mundane one. His thoughts wandered off, imagining the home life of Lyra and Bon Bon and the friction they must share on a daily basis. They hadn't come apart by this point, they must have just gotten used to the alien personalities of the other.

With his thoughts thoroughly distracting him, he bumped into Rough from behind. "Sorry," he muttered, glancing up. They had arrived at the library.

Author's Notes:

Oh no! Lyra!

Wild unicorn spells are known to occasionally scramble letters.

19 - Read a Book!

They all trotted up to the large double doors. Before David could try his luck with the new doors, Lyra pushed it open with a quick application of her magic. Lyra bounced past the others in an energetic canter, "I'll get to reading!"

Bon Bon trailed behind her, "I'll make sure she's reading something relevant."

Rough looked over at David as they trailed behind, "Sorry. This isn't what I planned on for your first convention."

David gave a bit of a shrug as his eyes wandered over the bookcases and their contents, "I am so spoiled by computers."

"Huh?" asked Rough, walking alongside David as the former-human wandered the stacks.

"Remember that thing I showed you, with your picture?" asked David. When Rough nodded, he continued, "I used to read books on things like that all the time. Now here I am with a bunch of real books, and not even some fingers to turn pages with." A sudden impulse hit him and he glanced around, "Well, about to learn how this body does things."

"Does things?" asked Rough, "You've been doing things since you became a pony."

David raised a brow, "Bathroom things." Turning in place until he saw a sign for the rest rooms, he trotted off quickly. Everything worked as it should, thankfully, and he soon emerged, though there was an issue...

Rough tilted his head, "Why are your pants hanging on your ankles?"

"Sorry, I couldn't pull them back up properly," explained David, twisting back towards the fallen pants with an utter lack of grace. His exposed flanks showed that he was blank, a fact that made Rough raise a brow.

Rough moved in to assist, then paused, nose wrinkling, "Back." He started nudging David, pushing him right into the restroom he had emerged from, door swinging shut behind the two. They emerged a few minutes later, clothing in order and Rough rolling his eyes, "Seriously, what were you thinking?"

"That I have no idea how to do any of this with hooves?" asked David sheepishly. "Thanks..."

Rough softly bumped against his side, "It's like I have a little big brother all of a sudden. Don't worry, big bro Rough Draft is going to show you all the tricks to being a stallion."

David snorted and bumped back, "Stop being stupid, but thanks. Let's find Lyra and see what she's learned?"

With a nod of agreement, the two trotted off together, looking for a splash of mint green and cyan in the library. As they went, Rough asked, "Did you know you were a blank flank?"

David tilted his head, "I thought that was a rude thing to say, but I kinda noticed when I was, you know."

Rough raised an ear, "Do you think it's because you haven't figured it out, or because you just became a pony?"

"I've read fanfics with it being either," said David, "No reason to stress about it. It's not like having one would suddenly give me super powers."

Rough snorted, "Well, sort of? When I realized what mine was, writing got a lot easier. It just felt... right, so I kept doing it, and the words splattered all over the paper, all the paper I could find!" He raised a hoof to point to the next floor up, where Lyra was seated on a couch the 'wrong' way and had a book floating in front of her. Bon Bon sat beside her in a more equine position, looking mildly bored.

With their target spotted, they headed for the stairs and ascended swiftly. "So, how bad is it?" asked Rough, "You know, being a pony, instead of a human?"

David considered this as he reached the top of the stairs. "Well, when I'm not thinking about it, everything just works on its own. If I pay attention to everything--" He raised a hoof and wobbled it to and fro before putting it down, then taking a slow step. He then swished his tail and flicked his ears around, "--It feels strange, but not... bad? Just new. It's like the body already knows how to be a pony, and the brain is catching up with it."

"Unless we're talking about relieving yourself," said Rough with a merry snort.

"Hey," objected David, "The body handled its part just fine." He turned and leaned in, bumping his snout against Rough's, "Maybe when we get this fixed and Lyra feels confident, we can do this again, when we're not at a convention."

Rough perked an ear, "You want to be a pony again? I thought you were in a hurry to be human."

David smiled and shuffled awkwardly, "I'm in a hurry... to make sure there's a way out, but once we know for sure? I want to explore this, a lot. I want to have twitchy ears and swaying tail for a while, as long as I can get my fingers back later." He reared up, balancing on hind legs and starting to clip clop his way towards Lyra, "Besides, it's not like I even have to go on all fours if I don't want to."

Rough followed and soon they arrived beside their new friends. Rough called out, "Any luck?" before he hopped up beside Bon Bon, taking up the rest of the couch's space.

Lyra looked up over her book and burst into giggles when she saw David standing like a human despite being a pony. "Hey guys! I found just the book." She spun the book around in her magic. David realized he couldn't see the glow anymore and frowned.

"Huh," he said, "It really is human eyes."

Bon Bon tilted her head, looking up from her own book, "What is?"

"The colors, and the light, from unicorn magic. I don't see it anymore," explained David as he pointed at Lyra with a hoof.

Lyra looked a little sad as she spun the book back around, "I'll fix it, promise... please don't be angry."

David reached forward, gently rubbing a hoof on Lyra's closest shoulder, "I'm not, even if I should be. If you can fix it, all is forgiven."

Lyra smiled brightly at the words, "Well, we could... try now? We just need a heart crystal."

"What's that?" asked Rough and Bon Bon together.

"What they said," offered David afterwards with a sheepish grin.

Lyra spun the book again as the pages flipped, showing a pendant of crystal shaped like a heart, "Exactly what it sounds like! They sell them in lots of jewelry stores for unicorns. It helps anchor personal spells, like... transformations."

David raised a brow and an ear, "But you didn't have one when you made me a pony."

"Ah... yea..." said Lyra, looking more and more ashamed, sinking into the couch.

Bon Bon frowned, "What did you do, Lyra Heartstrings?"

Lyra heaved a loud sigh, "Well I kinda messed it all up. You're not supposed to do big magic like that without one unless you're crazy powerful, like Princess powerful, which I'm not."

David fell to all fours with a clop, "Am I stuck like this?"

Lyra shook her head quickly, "No! I mean, I don't think so? The book says the spell, uh, clings to you if you don't use the crystal, which means some of it may meld or whatever in strange ways."

Rough Draft waved a hoof, "Can you translate that for the non wizards in the crowd."

Lyra shook her head, "Not really? It means he may have some pony in him even after we change him back."

David tilted his head, "So, what, a tail? Fur coat?"

"Maybe," squeaked Lyra, "Look, let's just... do it and see what happens, OK?" She slipped to the floor with the book floating along with her. "I'm really sorry. I'll pay for the crystal."

Rough was on the floor next, Bon Bon soon behind. Rough shook his head at Lyra, "He's my hu... OC. I'll pay for it."

Bon Bon rolled her eyes, "You can both pay half. Let's get this over with, David looks like he's going into shock."

David was off in his own little world, thinking about everything and not paying attention. He followed the others on a sort of auto pilot as he wondered what might stay or go. Would it be something big and obvious like a tail or the ears or a fur coat, or something that hides under a jacket, or, heaven forbid, would he end up without fingers forever? That would suck...

David came back into focus when he bumped into Bon Bon from behind. Her tail... smelled nice, but he quickly backed away from it before he could incur the full wrath of the mare, "Sorry!"

Bon Bon frowned back at him, "Are you alright? We're just heading to a jewelry shop."

The shop was only half a block away and across the street. After braving Manehattan traffic once more, they found themselves in a tiny shop. There were three display cases filled with various glittering pieces. The proprietor was a mare bedecked in hoops, rings, studs, and bangles. She smiled broadly when the four entered and approached instantly.

"Welcome to Deep Shine's Jewelry Store. I'm Deep Shine," she glanced between the four, looking thoughtful, "Double marriage?"

Three of them blushed as Bon Bon snorted, "Not exactly. We need a heart crystal." She thrust a hoof back at Lyra, "So she can fix her mistakes."

Deep Shine nodded her head, jewelry bouncing and jostling, "Heart crystals, we have a few of those in stock, follow me." She trotted around one of the cases and drew out three crystals that could have easily fit in the inside of a hoof. Two were heart shaped, the last was more spherical. "Here we are." She pointed at the sphere, "This one is a rare treat from Zebrica. Purest of natural manufacture and untouched by any craftspony, it should channel magic well."

Lyra leaned towards it with wide eyes, "Wow! I can feel it from here. How much is that one?"

Deep Shine quoted an amount that made Lyra flop to the ground, unconscious. Rough Draft rubbed at the side of his head with a hoof, "That's a bit... much.

Deep Shine bobbed her head, "Good jewels usually are, but we do have an excellent payment plan option. You can pay it off in two years in twenty easy payments that you don't need to be rich to afford."

While they conversed, David was wandering the store, looking from one piece to the next. For not having fingers, ponies knew how to make nice jewelry. Thinking back, David recalled that gems were often found pre-cut, at least in the show, but that didn't explain the housings and bands of delicate make.

Rough Draft nudged Lyra back into waking. "They can split it up into twenty payments over two years," he explained, "Can you handle half of that?"

Bon Bon scowled, "No, but she will anyway." She reached forward and bonked Lyra lightly on the head, "And maybe she'll remember it next time she decides to just throw magic around without knowing what she's doing."

Rough Draft produced his half of the first payment and set it down. Lyra's own share floated over to join it. They gave their names, addresses, and Deep Shine also took note of their cutie marks and colorations. "All yours," she declared, gesturing at the round crystal.

Lyra snatched up the crystal in her magic and saw it was dangling on a fine silver chain, "Is this part of it?"

Deep Shine nodded, "Heart crystals are no good without a string, and thinking of such a wonderful crystal on an actual string offends my sensibilities. It's yours with it. Please enjoy it, and do come back soon." She looked at Bon Bon, "You could use a nice blue ruby necklace. It would accent your mane so marvelously."

Bon Bon blushed and smiled in appreciation, and soon they had exchanged their goodbyes and were back on the road again.

"Alright," said Lyra, "Let's give this a try and get our human back to his marvelously biped self."

Author's Notes:

Will it work? What side effects await our world walker? You could help decide! Fire suggestions into those comments and let nothing hold back your fingers. At least he'll have a heart crystal so mares can stop messing him up in odd ways with their magic.

All of those books were a bit overwhelming. I may have spelled something in old Equestrian by mistake.

20 - Star Appearance

When they arrived at the hotel, Twilight Sparkle was heading out, but stopped. She fixed her eyes on David with a puzzled appearance, then glanced at his companions and then back at David.

"Hi Twilight," said David, raising a hoof to give a wave. "What's up?"

Twilight blinked softly, "Have we met before? I mean... Nopony else recognized me in this city."

Rough shook his head, "That's not true. We both recognized you before, Princess."

Twilight peered at Rough, then back at David, "I... what happened? He was biped, and tall, and mostly furless, and now he's a pony."

Lyra advanced with a sheepish smile, "That was my fault. Sorry."

Twilight raised a brow before closing her eyes. After a moment she opened them again, "David, stay calm, but your aetheric web is a total mess. How many times have you been changed?"

Rough spoke up, "Twice, as far as I know."

Twilight sank to her haunches, "Twice, by practitioners without enough raw power, or a heart crystal, by the look of it."

Lyra levitated the heart crystal they had just purchased into Twilight's vision.

Twilight pointed at it, "Yes, like that!" She grunted softly, "But it's already such a mess. What were you thinking?" She was shouting at David in the last, making him shrink in place sheepishly under her glare.

Bon Bon sighed softly, "He didn't ask for it, he is just a magnet for trouble. Don't be angry at David, Miss Sparkle, Your Highness."

Twilight's wings flared out, "Who should I be angry at? He's disfigured to the point even I don't think I could put it all back in order, and I never saw it the right way to do it properly. Does anyone know what his aetheric web should look like, besides..." She waved a hoof at the shocked David, "This mess?"

Lyra swallowed heavily before shaking her head, "Uh, no... I'm going to fix it, honest."

Twilight jabbed a hoof at Lyra, "You should be going back to jail, or magic kindergarten, maybe both." When Lyra collapsed with a whimper, Twilight let out her breath in a sigh, "Alright. First thing's first. Every minute we waste, his net is getting more tangled in these clumsy spells. We need to get him someplace quiet to work."

Rough raised a hoof, "Follow us, Your Majesty. I'll show you to our room and you can work there."

Twilight nodded at Rough Draft before moving at a quick trot to the front desk, "Tell my friends that I've been called away in a magic emergency, but I'll be right back." She pointed at Rough Draft, "I'll be in his room if they need me really badly."

Soon the group was crowded into the elevator as it smoothly raised. "Uh, thanks Twilight," said David. "If anyone can fix this, I'm sure you can. You were always my favorite."

"Favorite what?" asked Twilight quizzically before stepping from the elevator on the correct floor. "Thank you for the confidence though. I'll do my best."

Bon Bon stepped up to be beside Twilight as they approached the room, "Twilight, your majesty, please don't throw the book too hard at Lyra. She may be a numbskull, but she's learned her lesson. I'll keep a close eye on her."

Twilight glanced sidelong at Bon Bon, "Sweetie Drops, this is serious. Body alteration magic is illegal without a sufficient magic grade, and for good reason! You can kill somepony with it, or arguably worse."

"Worse?" asked David, "Like?"

Twilight shrugged, "What if I made you into a biped but you had hooves instead of hands and your feet remained hoof sized so you always fell over? Is that how you want to live the rest of your life?"

David quickly shook his head, "I'd rather be a pony than that."

Rough chuckled, "Being a pony isn't so bad. I may be a bit biased."

The door was opened and they entered the hotel room. Twilight nudged David to the floor and swept her horn back and forth over him. She said nothing, but her expression did little to calm David as he watched her. "Alright! Clothes, off."

David looked like he was about to object, but it made sense. He grunted instead and began wriggling, trying to work free of the clothes. Suddenly he felt his clothing being tugged on gently and went still to let whatever unicorn was doing it strip him to his fur. "I miss being able to see magic."

Twilight's ears shot up, "See magic? You have a spell for that? I didn't know you were a spellcaster."

Rough Draft answered first, "He can see magic, as a human. He said every unicorn has their own color. He could spot a lot of things that the rest of us couldn't."

"Fascinating, " said Twilight as she looked over David's prone form.

David began to grow self-conscious, being naked and at the mercy of Twilight Sparkle. "Do your best," he awkwardly muttered, forcing a hopeful smile and trying to be a good patient for her.

Twilight smiled, "You are a brave pony. I'm pretty sure most would be panicking if they were told what you were told." She placed a hoof on his chest, then poked him in the belly, then once more on the flank. "Tell me, do you want to be a pony?"

"Um..." David began blushing brightly through his fur, "Not forever... I miss my fingers for one, and seeing magic. Being bipedal has also grown on me a little."

"That lined up with what I'm seeing," She took a slow breath. "Alright. This is going to be serious magic. It's going to be bright, and maybe loud, but stay calm. You're in good hooves."

"I know I am," replied David with a more genuine smile, "Go ahead. I'm ready."

Lyra levitated the heartstone over, "Did you want this?"

Twilight paused and looked at it, "I don't need that, but it might help." She took hold of it in her own magic, not that David could see it anymore. It descended on David, the silver chain coming undone and then rebinding when it was around his thick equine neck. "Very high quality, this should make it easier." She adopted an expression of concentration.

At first, gentle ticklish warmth began in his core, making David squirm just a little despite his attempts to remain still. Twilight's horn began to glow, even to his pony eyes. The glowing became brighter and brighter, sheathing her horn in a bright pink glow along with a slowly building buzzing and sparking. The ticklish warmth grew into a deep thrumming vibration. Breathing became difficult, turning into little gasps as he flopped there and closed his eyes, concentrating on remaining still and getting what air he could. He could feel the ground being lifted away from him as he was borne in the magic. Cracking his eyes, he could see that the magic was thick enough to see even as a pony, and the others were gawking at him as Twilight worked.

"This is going to hurt," warned Twilight just seconds before the pain flared through David, concentrating in his face. He grit his teeth even as they changed against his tongue, slowly regaining his human teeth, though they were lacking the subtle changes that several fillings had endowed them. He tried to open his eyes but found he couldn't as the aching change continued there. Focusing on the feeling, he could tell his snout was receding back into the flat shape of a human's, and soon his ears stopped twitching as they too rapidly returned to their birth form.

The pain moved slowly downwards. "You're doing great, just a little longer," urged Rough Draft in his friendly tone. "She's doing it." As the pain swept through his throat, the necklace became looser, hanging from his less stout human neck. Though it hurt like the dickens, David was quietly glad to be able to experience it all this time. He marveled as his shoulders and arms began to shuffle and warp. Bones snapped with a sudden sharp agony and he grunted, biting back a yell that could distract Twilight. Suddenly the pain he had forgotten was released as his fingers slipped free of their hoof shaped prisons. He wriggled the returned digits with pleasure as the magic continued down, reaching around his belly before Twilight began to huff and puff for breath.

"I think... I've gone as far as I can," admitted Twilight, "The tangles are getting too dense and I'm running out of energy."

Lyra pointed at David, "His legs are still pony. How can he walk upright like he's supposed to?"

Twilight turned her attention, and the pain, to David's hips. With a disturbingly loud crack, his hips were forced into a bipedal configuration. His legs kicked weakly as the pain quickly traveled down to his hooves. They swelled under her magic before she released him with a tired sigh. David flopped to the ground gracelessly, but was quickly righting himself, pushing up to a seated position. He snapped his eyes open to look down at himself to find he was... "A pony satyr."

Rough Draft tilted his head, "Huh, yea, it is a satyr."

Twilight perked an ear, "What's a satyr?" A question agreed on by Bon Bon, but Lyra looked like she knew, grinning and clapping her hooves together.

David took a shuddering breath, working out the last of the aches from his altered form, "It's a half human, half pony, which... Well?" He gestured down at himself. Twilight looked embarrassed, but David reached for her. She flinched away, but not far enough to avoid a soft scratching behind the ear, "Thanks for helping. I can deal with being half pony, I think."

Bon Bon raised a brow, "Really? Just like that? You're a strange human."

Lyra leaned forward, "So I'm forgiven?"

Having a second hand, Lyra was soon being ear scratched as well, "You still owe me, but I can't stay angry at you."

Rough poked David in the side, "You should be. I mean, look at you. You're not... you."

"The hell I'm not," huffed David. "It's still the same me inside, now with an extra tail attachment." He drew his hands back and pushed off the floor, rising to his hooves unsteadily. He was glad they were made a bit bigger, making it easier to balance on just the two of them. "This'll take some practice, but I'll get used to it."

Twilight perked an ear, "You have admirable adaptability, but your friend is right. It can't be healthy to just... be OK with all of this? You may want to see a therapist. The magic could be affecting the way you think. Also." She pointed a hoof at the softly purple glowing heart crystal around David's neck, "Don't take that off. It's yours now, forever." She rose to her hooves and moved for the door, "I live in Ponyville, which I get the feeling you already know. Feel free to stop by." Soon Twilight had departed.

Lyra bounced in place, "At least she didn't arrest me."

Bon Bon clonked her on the head, "You would have deserved it! Don't do that ever again."

Lyra rubbed her head before pointing at David, "But now he has the crystal! I can make him a pony whenever we want and it won't hurt him."

David held up his newly returned hands, "Which is not right now. I want to be a human, or as close to it, for now."

Rough Draft looked David over before pointing out, "You're naked."

It was true! David blushed as he quickly scooped up his pants and fled to the bathroom to get into them. With him out of the room, Rough looked at the two mares, "So?"

"So?" returned Bon Bon, looking confused.

Lyra was much less confused, "So he has the best of everything now!" She leaned towards Rough Draft, "You don't mind, do you? You guys are, like, buds, not that kind of buds, right?"

Rough Draft shook his head, "Buds, partners in crime, that kind of thing. So long as you don't force him, you can do what you want with him."

Bon Bon frowned as it became clear to her, "Lyra Heartstrings! Get your head out of the gutter this instant and don't even dream of chasing him. He's been through quite enough, and it was your fault!"

Lyra pouted at the dressing down, "But... it'll make up for it... Besides, he's not even angry."

Rough shrugged gently, "I'm not sure he knows how to get angry properly." Speaking low, lest the dressing David hear him, he spoke, "Or, rather, I think he's not good at showing his anger. I'm worried about him."

Bon Bon nodded slowly before smiling at Rough, "You're a good friend. Now... we have a convention we're supposed to be enjoying. There are still a few hours left in the day." She poked Lyra, "The drawing your OC panel is in fifteen minutes."

Lyra perked and hopped to her hooves, "Oh yea! Thanks for reminding me." She was off in a flash, with Bon Bon following patiently behind.

Author's Notes:

A little Twilight Time never hurt anypony, right? We took a suggestion given and went half way with it, leaving our star a half pony from the hips on down.

What else could go wrong, besides typos?

21 - Let's go Shopping!

David emerged from the bathroom, pantsed. "It's trickier than you'd think getting pants on past hooves." He wobbled one of said hooves before setting it back on the ground, "And I'm pretty sure I felt them getting bigger while Twilight was working.

Rough trotted over and gave David a looking over, pausing at his soft purple pendant, before pointing at the rest of his clothes. David moved past him and selected a shirt, soon presentable again, at least for the human's satisfaction. "I guess shoes are out. How do you deal with sharp things?"

Rough perked an ear, "Well there are shoes for hooves out there, for ponies who work in dangerous places."

"Really?" asked David, "We'll have to go shopping again. So, how do I look?"

Rough trotted around David, then reached up, swatting his tail with a hoof, "The tail and the hooves are new, but the rest hides in those baggy pants mostly. You smell different."

"I do?" David set a hand on his fuzzy hip, "What do I smell like?"

Rough shrugged gently, sniffing at the air, "Like a stallion a bit more. I bet that's why Lyra was ready to chase you."

David held up his hands, "Wasn't she already ready to do that? What's the change?"

Rough smirked, "From you as a pony? Very little, but versus you as a human? Now you have the smell and the fingers. I was a little surprised she was lured away before she could propose."

David hiked a brow as he headed for the door, pulling it open, "You're going to have to explain that to me, how it all works. I'm stuck here for the long haul, even if I do find some crazy portal back to Earth. They wouldn't take too kindly to a crazy half-pony showing up."

Rough trotted along after David, "Their loss. I get to keep you. The stand's done for the weekend, what did you want to do?"

"Do you have a schedule?" asked David, "Let's go get one."

They quickly rode the elevator back to the convention level and began to navigate the eager, smiling, crowd. A small filly stopped them, standing in front of them and gaping up at David.

"Well you're too adorable to be anything but cute," said David, crouching on his new legs to be closer to the filly's level, "What's your name?"

"Cloud Buster," reported the little pegasus, flapping her wee tiny wings in a buzz. "What's your name?" She thrust a hoof at David in turn.

Rough Draft answered quickly, "This, is David, the, uh, mostly human."

Cloud Buster pointed down at David's hooves, then up at his face, "I think your suit's not on right?"

David shook his head, "It's not a suit. I'm a satyr, a pony satyr. Half human, half pony."

Cloud didn't look entirely convinced. She advanced on him and reached out, poking his hooves, then his legs through his pants, giving his tail a swat much like Rough did before she was reared up, poking him in the belly, chest, and then his face. David stayed still patiently until she settled back down, "See, no costume."

Cloud clopped her forehooves together, "That's pretty cool! I haveta go, mom's calling for me." Soon she vanished into the crowd.

As David rose to his hooves, Rough nudged into him, "You're good with foals."

"Nah," countered David, "Just patient with them. They're too cute to get angry at for long, like Lyra."

Rough rolled his eyes and began forward, "She does remind me of a foal in a lot of ways. A cute, horribly dangerous, foal."

They reached the registration table, where schedules were stacked in a pile. David snatched one and flipped open the little brochure. After glancing up at the clock, he found the current time, "They're just starting a 'Writing your OC' panel, want to mess with them?"

Rough burst into a loud fit of giggles, "That's almost too mean, to walk into there with my OC."

"Even if I don't look like your OC anymore?" asked David.

Rough waved a hoof dismissively, "You're still David. I'll just have to ask her to draw you as your new self. Oh look," He pointed at the brochure, "They're doing bipeds through the history of Equestria. You could learn something."

David did not look entirely convinced, but started for the named room, "Do you know who's running it?"

"Me?" asked Rough, "Nah. I never keep track of the panels. I'm usually too busy running my stall to enjoy panels."

"Same here," echoed David, reaching to pet Rough and getting a different set of ears. He looked down to see Lyra had somehow arrived and placed herself to get pettings. "Uh, hey Lyra."

Rough bumped against her, getting back into his spot to receive ear scritches. Lyra just grinned, "You're looking a lot better now, David. Where are you two headed to?"

"We," began Rough, "Are headed to the bipeds through history panel."

David nodded in agreement, "If I'm going to be here forever, learning a little background seems like a good idea."

"Of pfft," said Lyra, "I can tell you all about that. Let's do something you can only do at the con."

Rough turned to face Lyra, "Like what?"

Bon Bon emerged from the crowd, asking, "Yes, Lyra, like what?"

With Bon Bon giving her a severe look, her first idea died a miserable death. She lifted the schedule from David's fingers with a glow of her horn and looked it over, "They're doing a trot trot revolution tournament in the game room, celebrity signings are still going on..." she glanced up at David, not seeing any huge interest, she went on, "I heard some ponies saying they were going to have a party by the pool. We could have a little fun. You can read whenever."

Rough shook himself out before turning to face the general direction of the pool, "It's a floor up from here." He pointed up where the balcony could be seen, "She's not wrong. I have plenty of books you can read at home."

David suddenly snapped his fingers, a sound that drew the attention of quite a few surprised ponies. "Oh, sorry." he murmured, red with embarrassment. Once the crowd resumed its activities, he looked to his allies, "Why not shopping?"

"Shopping?" asked Bon Bon, "I thought we were looking for something to do at the convention."

"I am. I meant here, with the vendors. Conventions have the craziest stuff, and I was definitely never at a pony vendor's hall before. I want to see what they sell here, on the other side of the mirror," explained David, looking eager.

Rough smiled, "If that's what you want to do, OK. I don't usually find much, but I'm not a crazy creature from another world." He bumped David gently, "Let's get some souvenirs."

Soon all four were in the vendor hall. There were many booths set up to create a circle around the room, with booths on the inside and outside of the circle for attendees to wander past from left to right curve. The first stand was offering big foam fingers, like the #1 fingers David knew from his home world, but they didn't have #1 written on them. Lyra giggled at them as Bon Bon rolled her eyes, "Lyra already has three of those." David picked one up and turned it over. The inside was big enough for a hoof to stick into, or a hand. He slipped a hand into it and waved it at Lyra, making her fall over in her giggles.

David set the hand back where it came from and leaned in, looking over the little keychains of various bipeds, most done up to be cute.

"Nice spell," said the mare behind the booth, "That must have cost a lot."

"Huh?" asked David, looking up at her. She was a unicorn.

Her horn glowed soft purple as she straightened things on her stand, "Turning into a half biped like that." She raised a hoof to point at the purple sphere on David's neck, "And that heart crystal. I never saw one so perfect before. Are you rich?"

Rough pushed ahead, "I covered him. You can't even tell he's a pony, can you?"

She smiled brightly, "It's amazing. You're one lucky pony." She flicked a small keychain with a picture of a human doing a big grinning double thumbs up at David, "Here."

Rough Draft paid her despite her not asking for any while David looked over the little charm, "Did you draw this?"

"I did," she said proudly, "I made everything here. Enjoy the con!"

When they had stepped away from her, David looked to Rough, "Why did you say that?"

Rough shrugged, "Felt right. Think about it. Ponies are willing to accept you as one of their own."

David considered that as he hooked the little charm onto a belt hoop, "Yea... That is nice. But am I a pony?"

"Close enough?" ventured Lyra, "Except the good parts." She reached up and batted at one of David's hands with a hoof.

"You plan to do it officially, don't you?" asked Rough, "Luna said you had to file for citizenship. That makes you a pony, at least on paper."

Bon Bon snorted softly, "You talked to the Luna, and Twilight Sparkle? You two are blessed, or cursed. I'm still trying to figure out which one it is."

"Blessed, definitely," said David with a smile, "Or I wouldn't have run into you."

Bon Bon was silenced with the compliment, blushing and looking away as Lyra giggled with delight at the exchange.

Rough Draft poked David on the hip, "Before we kill Bon Bon with kindness, let's look at the next booth."

The next seemed to be overwhelmed with pillows and cushions of various sorts. They had dragons and minotaurs and even some more exotic bipeds like elfin looking humans on them. David looked at them with amusement, but wandered past them without too much interest. The booth after that was manned by a stallion covered in various colored ink splatters much in the same way Rough was typically covered in black. The earth pony smiled at them brightly, but looked at Rough in particular, "Rough! How's business?"

"Sold out!" said Rough excitedly, "You?"

"What, really? That's fantastic! Things are good," He gestured with his nose at the drawings on his table, "I got a few commissions I'll work on after the hall closes, and the prints are popular. Who're your friends?" He leaned a bit, "Is that Lyra? You're here every year."

Lyra waved a hoof, "Oh, you know, they can't keep me away." They shared a soft laugh before his eyes moved to David, then back at Rough, then back at David.

"So..." said the artist.

"Yea," agreed Rough with a grin.

The artist crossed his arm, "So how do I get my own?"

Rough shook his head, "No idea, but I'll share."

Soon David and the artist were shaking hands and hooves. "You have to let me draw you," begged the artist, "And I want to see you without all the clothes. Where does the human stop and the pony start? Can I see?"

David snorted softly, "Uh, no. I'm a bit shy about, you know, being naked?"

The vendor shrugged, "I'm naked." This was mostly true, if his multicolored hat wasn't counted.

"I am also naked," sang Lyra like it was a lewd joke.

Bon Bon softly bonked her, "Most ponies are naked, Lyra. Don't make it sound weird."

"It's ok," said the artist, "Just come by my room after the hall closes. I'm in room 1215."

"You don't mind if I bring Rough do you?" asked David.

He shrugged, "Sure, make it a stallion party! Oh! My name's Ink Splot."

Author's Notes:

No huge reveals in this chapter, just slice of life goodness.

Typos could be lurking in there still, thinking we won't notice them in the calm and quiet.

22 - Idle Questions

As David moved on to the next stand, he asked of his furry companions, "So, I tried to ask before but never got much of an answer. What's the deal with pony marriage? You obviously have more mares than stallions, do a lot of mares just not marry?"

Rough Draft looked uncomfortable, but Lyra was entirely willing to speak, "Sure, lots don't, but a lot of stallions take more than one mare." She reached for Bon Bon, drawing her close, "I have Bonnie here."

Bon Bon blushed softly, but didn't argue the notion as Lyra continued explaining, "But if I did find a stallion I wanted and chased him down, and he said yes, he'd have to take Bonnie too, or no deal." Lyra shrugged, "I'm not giving up Sweetie Drops for any stallion."

Bon Bon leaned in and softly kissed Lyra on the cheek, whispering something in her ear before moving away with a smile. Lyra looked satisfied as she asked, "That answer that?"

David shrugged softly, "Ponies must be a lot better about jealousy than humans." He looked to the next stand and saw it was full of pins. They were bright, shiny, and had pictures of all manner of bipedal curiosities on them, many entirely made up. "How... does a pony wear a pin half the time?"

The unicorn mare behind the stand smiled, "Easy! They have a little spell on them that lets them stick to fur." She grabbed a button of a goblin looking creature holding a birthday cake in her yellow magic. It was soon thrown against David's head, sticking to his beard easily. David reached up and gave it a soft poke before trying to move it. When he actively tried to move it, it came free like it wasn't stuck at all, then resumed sticking when he stopped trying to move it. Gently pulling it free, he hung it back where it came from.

"That's pretty cool," agreed David, to the pride of the mare.

"Did you want one?" asked Rough, pointing at the display.

"How much are they?" asked David. A glowing '2 bits' began to hover over the unicorn as her horn shone with the same yellow magic. "One couldn't hurt I guess." He picked one that looked like his new self, a satyr playing a pan pipe, and soon had it fixed to his shirt.

"Hey!" came a high pitched accusing tone. Turning, David saw a younger mare pointing at him with a hoof and flared wings, "They said you were a human. You're not a human!"

"Prove it," said David in an even tone.

Her wings began to fold back up as she pointed downwards, where his hooves were visible under his pants, "Humans don't have hooves. Everypony knows that."

David crossed his arms, "How many humans have you seen to confirm that?"

She shrunk a little, "Uh... one?"

David reached out a hand then, "So, nice to meet you. I'm David."

She approached cautiously, glancing at the other ponies gathered around David. Her hoof soon rested in David's hand and was lightly shaken, "So are you a human?"

"Born and raised," replied David, "Are you a pegasus?"

"Sure am!" she said, flapping her wings with pride, "Nice to meet you." She suddenly took off, easily getting over the crowd on her wings.

Rough chuckled softly, "You're gaining fans quickly."

David shrugged at this, "Hard not to. I can't imagine a pony at a pony convention would get them any slower." He turned in place and discovered his hooves were not exactly as his feet once were, and balance failed him. He began to fall gracelessly when Lyra's gold magic wrapped around him and nudged him back upright, "Thanks." She held out a hoof, which he met with a fist bump.

Bon Bon pointed at the schedule, "We could watch that movie about the grown mare that never got her cutie mark. I heard that's a real tear jerker."

David shook his head, "I saw that one already, and, you know, I kind of fall into that camp now."

Rough bumped into him from the side, almost threatening his balance again, "We'll find your talent for you, uh, can you get a cutie mark? I mean... you're only half a pony."

David lifted his shoulders, "The important half, right? I have a blank flank. I don't know."

Lyra stuck out her tongue, "You're cool with or without a cutie mark." Then she clopped her hooves, "I know how we can check!" She pulled the book she borrowed from the library from Bon Bon's saddlebags and quickly had it open, "There's a spell in here for markings and it says not to try to make a cutie mark with it. Here we go." She cleared her throat, "Do not attempt to mar the flank of a pony. The magic of the land will reject your sorceries and undo the magic quickly, for such is the inherent magic of ponies and their destiny. See? If I can put a mark on your flank, then bam, and if not, bang! Either way we know."

Rough gestured with a hoof around the room, "Not something to try in the middle of the vendor hall."

Agreeing, Lyra began to lead the group out of the busy room and cast her eager eyes around the bustling convention, "I'm missing most of the panels and I just don't care," she remarked in a chipper tone. "Best BipedCon ever!" She looked over her shoulder at the rest, then pointed a hoof upwards, "The pool. We can have fun in the water and try it out without being too obvious." She eagerly led the way to the stairs and trotted up to the next floor with her companions close behind.

As they approached the pool, David asked, "What about, you know, swimming clothes? These pants are not made for swimming at all."

Rough shook his head, "You'll get a kick out of this, I bet. Just keep going forward."

They entered the swimming area, the sound of happy ponies playing in the water, splashing and cavorting got louder. They stepped over the tiled surface as David noticed there was no mare or stallion side, just a singular entry way to the swimming area. Magic washed over them. It was a dull grey in color and in an instant it was gone, leaving all worn clothing changed into swimming variety. David wore swimming shorts and tight waterproof shirt while Bon Bon's saddlebags became quite waterproof and sealed, looking more like flotation devices now.

"See?" asked Rough, "These hotels don't spare expenses to keep their guests happy." He wasn't wearing clothes to start, and trotted on unchanged with Lyra as they headed to the edge of the water. Soon Rough was in the pool, doggy, or is that pony, paddling around. Bon Bon went in shortly after him. As they appeared, her saddle bags turned floaties made her going easy. Lyra waved into the pool with a hoof and David moved to the edge. Water slickened tiles were more than his new sense of balance could tolerate and it was only the supportive grip of Lyra's magic that got him into the water without incident.

She settled by the edge, "Stay there, and I'll try," she said, closing her eyes and taking a slow breath. David took a moment to watch the many colors of ponies playing in the water. Most were gabbing animatedly with one or more other ponies, though not all were engrossed in social activities. A few loners were comfortably perched on pool side chairs that looked more like sofas. They watched the others much like he was doing, or had their snouts buried in reading material.

A tingling sensation brought his attention quickly to his hips, where a gold glow could be faintly seen through the water. "Did it work?" asked Lyra as she leaned over the edge, "I can't see, get out of there."

David smirked and began pulling himself out, flopping onto the side. This was far enough to get a peek and lyra clapped her hooves, "Gone, it's gone!" she cried a bit loudly, drawing the curious gazes of other ponies. "Uh, your fear of water, totally gone!" Though she sounded to David like she was obviously lying, the other ponies seemed to accept this as fact, and began clapping their hooves in agreeable celebration.

David slipped back into the water, "Why did they accept you having your hoof on my shorts as a cure for water phobia?"

Lyra shrugged, "Beats me. Congratulations." She leaned in, "You're a blank flank officially now."

David huffed a soft sigh, "Not sure how happy I should be about that. I don't need more ways to be a minority."

Lyra reached and put a hoof on David's wet hair, "There there, you still have us."

"About that," said David with a cocked brow, "Don't you have to get back to Ponyville?"

"How'd you know where I live?" asked Lyra, pulling her hoof back, "You really are a magic human."

David pointed a finger at her, which seemed to capture her attention solidly, "That doesn't answer the question. Rough and I are going to probably head back after the convention to his place, and it's nowhere near Ponyville, or much anywhere."

Lyra sank to her belly and pouted, "You could come to Ponyville..."

"I could," agreed David, "But forcing Rough to move is pretty rude, and I don't want to interfere with the Mane Six while the story's still going on. I could mess something up real bad."

"Main Six?" asked Lyra, "It's just like the stories. You're all full of riddles and strange warnings. I can't let you go."

Suddenly Bon Bon was there, appearing with the situational timing that all ponies seemed to be born to. She grabbed Lyra by the ear with her teeth, "You are letting him go, because he is his own pony."

Lyra squeaked, "Ow ow ow! I didn't mean I'd foalnap him! Lemme go Sweetie!"

Bon Bon flopped down beside Lyra, letting her ear go. "I'm going to make this as blunt as possible, since I'd think you two would dance around it forever without either side just coming out and asking." She thrust a hoof at David, "Do you like Lyra?"

"Uh, sure, she's cool," said David, wading at the pool's edge.

Rough appeared at his side, conjured by the unseen tugs of narrative requirement, "Like like?"

"Oh," said David. Lyra was looking at him with an expression of hope and fragility and he was put on the spot. Would he pull off what he read so many protagonists do in so many stories? Nah... "Yea, I'd be willing to give her a try, assuming she cuts out the life threatening magic without warning thing."

Lyra began to clop her hooves together giddily, but then stopped abruptly. She conjured a pointing finger over Bon Bon's head, pointing at her, "I meant it! Do you like her too?"

David shrugged softly, "Look, you're kind of my first. I said I'd give it a shot, which means all of it. But I have a counter question."

Lyra raised a brow, "Which is? And I am? How have you not had a mare before?"

A soft snort came from David then before he chuckled, "Long story, but female humans are women, not mares." He pointed at Rough, who recoiled in surprise. "You have to give him a chance too. I'm not leaving him high and dry without anything."

Bon Bon frowned, "That's really weird. Do you... you know, like him that way?"

"This whole situation is weird," countered David, "but no. Rough is my brother, not that."

Lyra leaned forward, big eyes dominating much of David's vision, "Brother enough to share your mares with? That's so romantic!"

Bon Bon rolled her eyes, "Romantic enough to only appear in the cheapest romance books, the kind with a stallion with their mane blowing in an unseen wind with mares fawning at his hooves."

"They have those here?" asked David, "God." He pulled himself out of the water and shook out a little, "So? What'll it be?"

Bon Bon pointed at Rough, "First, what do you think of this, Rough Draft. Your 'brother' is dragging you into something."

Rough was a deep red under his fur, but nodded quickly, "I mean, you're both... very pretty mares... If you want to try that?"

Bon Bon looked towards David, a smile across her snout, "We'll just have to be the voices of reason in this messed up herd."

David reached for her, softly petting her curly mane, "I can't think of a better pony for the job. We're agreed. We'll give it a chance. If it works out, great, if not, hopefully we can still be friends."

Lyra looked ready to say something when she got a mouth full of Bon Bon's hoof, "Before you say anything at all, my little harp, no 'fun times' until we decide if we are compatible." Lyra nodded with a bit of petulance, but it was agreed.

Author's Notes:

Things take a romantic turn. Will David become the... co-stallion? of a new herd? Will Equestrian society as a whole be agreeable with a herd that has two stallions in it? How strange! Leave your thoughts below.

The water played havoc on the ink in this chapter, so expect smudges.

23 - Rude Awakening

David was asleep. He knew this as he walked down a seemingly endless hallway. He didn't remember when he had gone to sleep, but surely he was now. In the dream he was entirely human again, walking along on shoe-clad feet.

"Bravo," said a familiar voice. The door to the left of David swung open and an eye filled most of the frame, "You've really made a nice little fantasy for yourself," came the clearer voice of John De Lancie, er, Discord. With a flash, David was seated at a table with Discord across from him, "I do hope you've enjoyed all the effort I've put into all this."

"Into all what?" asked David, not liking the direction this was heading at all. "I didn't know you dream hopped like Luna."

Discord waved a claw lightly, "Oh pish posh, I can if I want to. But we're not here about me, we're here about..." He thrust a leonine finger at David, "You. You've been fairly tame about your exploits compared to many. You haven't made a move on the 'Mane Six'" He said the quotes with actual quote movements with his fingers, "Nothing's exploded violently, and there hasn't been a single spontaneous invasion from another universe, yourself excluded. You haven't even used your gift yet."

"Yea, but that's not my call, right?" asked David with a raised brow, "Why are we here?"

"Why indeed," said Discord, steepling his fingers. "Let me put this a simpler way. How did you get here?"

"Heck if I know," said David, shrugging. "I went for a walk, then a dark place with words."

"Did you look behind you?" asked Discord.

"Behind me?"

"You always do, at least usually," said Discord. "It's adorable. You scurry across a road, and quickly check to make sure you didn't leave a body behind, to see that you didn't die and fail to realize it. Did you look behind yourself?"

A chill grip began to run through David as he thought back to before he came to Equestria, "Uh... I... don't remember."

"You didn't," said Discord bluntly, "Just as well. You would have spent all that time in the void screaming and sobbing instead of answering my questions."

"So, what, I died?" asked David, "Or is this all a crazy coma dream?"

Discord wobbled a hand, "It could be either. Do you like it? You're already putting a family together for yourself, but you lack conviction, boy." With a snap of his fingers, David became a half-pony, "Look at you. Do you want to be human, or pony? The world already has one hybrid, we don't need new ones."

David was on his hooves in a quick motion, chair crashing to the ground, "I didn't ask for this, it just happened! Besides, you're already not the only hybrid. I've seen plenty in the show."

Discord waved off the argument, "Yes yes, my point still stands. Are you happy?"

David let out a slow breath, "Mostly? I... have a good friend." Rough Draft appeared on one of the blank walls, walking along in a repeating motion. "Lyra and Bon Bon are cool, but I'm still getting to know them." The two mares appeared side by side on another wall, leaning on each other.

Discord leaned forward, "I'm honestly surprised. Considering your... background, I thought you might just act in a most ungentlecoltly fashion with the mares, all of them. You've had no less than two imply as subtly as a thrown bag of bricks that they wanted your attention, but still you hold back. Why is that, my boy?"

David looked like he was about to reply when Discord put a finger to his lips, "Yes yes, I know this story's rating, but really. Give me a reason."

"I'm scared, OK?" admitted David. "I've never been intimate with a girl, let alone a mare. I'm still hoping it all works about the same."

Discord shrugs, "Tab A, Slot B. You and me, nothing but mammals."

"Pretty sure you're part dragon," countered David.

Discord gave a soft pfft, "Technicalities. So you're calm in the face of a changeling working up the nerve to kill you, calm when your humanity is ripped away from you without so much as a 'please', but kissy time, that's where you draw the line?" Suddenly Discord was behind David, hands on his shoulders, "You're a curious creature."

"I don't mean to be rude," said David, "I mean, you're a cool character and all, but am I dead or not?"

"Does it matter what you are on Earth?" countered Discord. "You're not there, you're here. You chose to be here."

"I'm curious," said David, "I mean... is this all fake?"

"Does it feel fake?" asked Discord, "If you do what you fantasize doing with Lyra, will there be consequences? Of course there will be. Does this make you a bad person?" He leaned in, "A little, maybe? Depends who you ask. Well! You're asking me. I don't see anything wrong with it. I already gave my heart to a pegasus, even if she wouldn't know romance if it bit her on her adorable little rump. These ponies are very good at drawing out your emotions, usually positive. If they want your love, they'll figure out how to get it." His brows knit lightly, "A little manipulative of them, but they mean well."

He stretched then, "Well, our time's about up. Luna's noticed me. Any last questions?"

"Will it last forever?" asked David.

"Try to look both ways before crossing streets," said Discord in way of answer, then he was gone, replaced by the Princess of the Night. Luna looked left and right, then at David.

"We meet again," she said, "This dream reeks of chaotic thoughts, and yet it is more stable than ever I have seen your dreams. Are you lucid?"

"Yea," replied David, picking up the fallen chair and settling on it, "Luna, I have a question."

"If it is within my power, I will answer it," said Luna, approaching on delicate hooves, then pausing. Having just noticed David's half pony state, she raised a brow, "What has happened to you, to give you those? Are you involved in more illegal activities?"

"Twilight already took care of it," David said with a dismissive gesture, "But I am half pony now."

Luna leaned in a little, "I see you are without talent. Does your question relate to it?"

David shook his head quickly, "That'll happen when it happens. I don't need to Cutie Mark Crusader this up. Tell me, are there any laws about me being involved in a herd?"

"A herd?" asked Luna, "Those are rare. Was it your idea, or did somepony ask it of you?"

"Rare?" asked David as his brows rose together, "Lyra made it sound common enough."

Luna shook her head, "In old times, perhaps, before I was banished. In these days, most ponies prefer one to one, but to answer your question, it is not illegal to have cross-racial marriages." she raised a hoof to point at David's lower half, "You are pony where it counts, for this matter of thing."

David flushed gently, "Uh, can you tell if it works?"

Luna raised a brow sharply, "That is most inappropriate. Surely you do not need my help to know if it works."

David waved a hand quickly, "Not like that! I mean, can I put a foal in Lyra? I mean, if we went down that road."

Luna nodded softly, "I think you could, but there is only so much that can be determined through a dream. I must go, there are other dreams to patrol. Be harmonious, human David Silver, and don't forget I still wait for your application for citizenship. You cannot start a herd without it."

Then she was gone, and the dream with it.

David jerked awake. He was in a hotel room, but a different one. Rough Draft and Ink Splot were seated side by side while Ink Splot worked laboriously on something that faced away from David. "Stay right there," said Ink Splot, "Almost finished." The earth pony worked diligently with his brush and paints while David settled back down and waited for it to finish.

Memories began to return. He had come up with Rough Draft to be drawn and fell asleep during the process. He was awful about staying awake while sitting and doing nothing. This didn't help very much while in school. David's attention was brought back when the painting was revealed, showing the slumbering half pony in vivid detail.

Rough Draft giggled, "It looks just like you."

David snorted gently, "It does. You're a very talented artist." He reached and gave Ink Splot a soft mane rubbing, to the pony's surprise.

"I told you he does that," said Rough, shaking his head.

Ink Splot smiled, "Harmless compared to some of the other habits I've gotten out of non-pony clients. Well it's getting late, you two should probably get some sleep. I know I need some."

Farewells were exchanged and soon they were out in the hallway, moving back towards the elevators. "Is he an old friend?" asked David.

"Oh yea," said Rough Draft, "We don't hang out a lot, but us earth pony artists have to stick together. I see him at about half the conventions I go to. He'll probably get a pretty bit for that drawing he made of you."

That didn't bother David, so he didn't say much, instead thinking about the dream that was still fresh in his memory. "Say, uh Rough, how accurate are dreams in Equestria."

Rough raised an ear, "Depends. If Luna shows up, it's about as true as it ever could be. Why?"

"No reason," lied David, worrying his mental teeth over what he had learned.

Author's Notes:

Another sharp turn! What did happen to David that brought him to this magic land of ponies? Will this change his plans for the future?

Will there be typos?

24 - Humanway

Rough Draft walked alongside David the next morning, "So if you want to stabilize a dying pony..."

"You make a kindness check, DC 10," replied David, "with a +5 if you have a caretaker or doctor related cutie mark."

Rough nodded, "You're quick with rules, just like me. I think you're ready. I'll be there, don't worry." Rough nudged open a door leading into a wide open gaming area. While some ponies were busy playing card games, many seemed to be waiting around an empty table. Those looked up at David and Rough and began applauding with hooves together and against the ground. "You're on."

David cleared his throat, tightened his grip on the rule book Rough had gifted him, and went into 'sales mode'. Concealed behind the protective screen of professionalism, he strode up to the table and took an available seat, "Alright, who's ready to die today?"

Many eyes went wide at his bold question and necks craned as pony looked to pony. The first volunteer wasn't a pony. "I am," came a deep voice a moment before a minotaur sat himself at the table, "Hit me with your worst, human."

David set his book down on the table before clapping his hands with a resounding noise, "Alright, our first victim! But he needs companions if he is to even have a chance to survive. Who," His eyes swept over the crowd of intimidated ponies, "Who... Surely someone is brave enough to stand at his side against all odds. The chance of glory awaits those willing to risk it all."

"Me, I will!" Came the reedy voice of a very nerdy looking pony, his glasses as thick as his nasally voice, "I'm ready!" He plopped down across from the minotaur.

Lyra pushed through the crowd, "I'm ready and I'm bringing fire!" she announced as she sat down to the left of the minotaur.

Bon Bon soon sat to the left of Lyra, "I'll heal her after she gets herself mauled."

David barely controlled a snicker. Girlfriend playing the cleric, classic. "We have room for two more brave souls!" A colt and a filly took up the last remaining spaces. Though young, they looked eager and had their own humanoid miniatures already prepared for action. "Alright. It looks like we have a well balanced party. You may yet have a chance." He thrust up a hand, fingers curled like claws as he spoke with thickly over-dramatic tones.

"The party has received word from the local King," David paused to glance over the crowd, "That's like Princess Celestia, but male, and human." He resumed the narrative, "He is desperate. The scouts have reported that an overwhelming number of diamond dogs are on the march. The kingdom will fall if they face them with the army they have at the ready. It will be an utter slaughter, with those not slain outright put to shackles and enslaved to dig the dogs' mines for the rest of their miserable lives." He slapped the table top, "Which is why he has called you, his last, best, hope. If you can slay the diamond dogs' pack leader, the rest will fall to infighting, and the invasion will be delayed. That is all the King needs, but this is no simple task. Diamond dogs are not stupid."

"Darn tootin!" came the rough voice of a diamond dog in the audience, crossing his arms.

David hesitated a moment. Huh... He wasn't expecting a diamond dog to be there, ah well, "The enemy commander has surrounded himself with his fiercest, loyalest, warriors. And they say he even paid a unicorn enough coin to turn her horn against the humans and the wizard trots alongside them."

The minotaur pushed his figure forward, a dwarf with a two handed maul, "I say we mash them to bits!"

The colt thrust up a hoof, "Maybe we can talk them out of invading."

The nerdy stallion shook his head, "That's very unlikely. Diamond dogs on the march are not known for welcoming diplomats."

They argued and strategized among themselves, and David let them, just listening to their ideas and thoughts. Some of them had particularly good ideas and twists, which he made mental note of to throw against the party later. Why plan ahead when the players will give you material for you? When they had settled on a plan to get through the marching army and approach the leader, David continued.

"As you sneak through the ranks of the sleeping soldiers... give me a generosity roll," David asked, bringing faces of surprise across his players.

"Generosity? What for?" asked Lyra even as she tossed her die onto the table.

They called out their results, with the filly wearing the biggest grin. A natural 20 sat on her die. David nodded softly, "Very good. You notice that many of the soldiers you slip past are malnourished. They look like they haven't had a good meal in weeks. Before you can contemplate that too heavily, you happen on a patrol of guard dogs. They raise their maces and flails, 'Intruders!' they shout and charge at you with angry barks and deadly intent."

The combat was thoroughly embellished with gruesome details of every exchanged blow. It seemed violence was a much rarer thing in Equestria, and David's descriptions of the battle kept the room captivated. "With a thunderous blow of Chris's maul, you cave in the last of the guard's skulls, his blood and brains decorating the ground like a macabre painting. The camp goes quiet again, as if in a moment of silence for the fallen."

Some of the ponies in the crowd couldn't take it, and departed looking a little green, but others took their places, eager to see the game continue. Lyra raised a hoof, "OK, so, the soldiers all look starving, but they still fight good. What do we do?"

"Don't look at me," replied David, gesturing around the table, "That's for you to decide."

They resumed debating their options, eager and fierce in their logic. Sure, their noise probably should have woken up half the camp, but David decided it was worth overlooking to let them hash it out. The nerdy stallion had the idea they went with, "Lyra, you have a high magic score, so do I. If we work together, we can make enough food for a lot of dogs and they won't be so eager to fight."

Soon they had created a vast pile of meats. "The dogs begin to stir at the smell of fresh meat, waking from their fitful slumber to the surprising sight of a bunch of humanoids standing beside a great pile of food. One of them rises with a spear in hand, 'What you doing?! You're not supposed to be here!'"

Bon Bon cleared her throat before speaking, "We are here to help you, friend diamond dogs. Take freely, eat and recover from your travels. There is no need for battle between us."

"Make a friendship check," asked David with a nod towards Bon Bon's dice.

Bon Bon took the die in her mouth and gave it a toss against the table. It bounced around before settling on sixteen. "Twenty five," she declared with a smile.

"Not bad," replied David, "The dogs seem unsure, but their hunger calls to them more strongly then than any battle lust. They are soon swarming over the pile, tearing and rending the meat in a great mess to satisfy their bellies. The more that come, the more that are drawn. As most of the camp awakens, a great voice bellows, 'What is going on!' The leader's large tent opens, flap tossed out of the way as a group of six dogs step free, a unicorn just behind, 'What madness is this? Get away from those intruders! I'll kill any dog I see not killing them!' comes the furious voice of the apparently leader, a real bruiser of a dog wielding a sword larger than himself. 'A hundred coin per head, and double rations!,' shouted a dog beside him, 'Sic 'em boys!'"

The battle became a furious free for all. He made mention of the dogs that shied away from the battle, which made victory a possibility as they struggled against the waves of soldiers.

The filly's hoof thrust into the air, "I want to sing a song!"

A desperate ploy, but, of course, this Equestrian game had song magic that could turn things around if done properly.

"Alright, mark two points of harmony off and let's hear it," David beckons, "And may the forces of harmony smile on your efforts."

The filly rose up, standing on her chair and looking around nervously. Another reason for the song being desperate is that the player had to actually sing the song, and its reception went a long way to determining how effective it was. She opened her mouth.

Look to the desperate fight,
Moon shining over the night,
Blood shed for no good reason now,
Can't we all be friends somehow?

The nerdy stallion stepped in with his own words.

We stand side by side in arms,
We don't want to bring more harm.
The magic of friendship rise,
Angry fall before the wise.

Lyra clopped her hooves together as she conjured her lyre from nowhere, playing it to the seven syllable beat. Bon Bon sighed and raised her voice to join the others.

Even if I have my doubts,
We remain the king's own scouts.
We will save the innocent,

Bon Bon paused, looking uncertain a moment on how to rhyme with innocent before she she continued.

Mercy to the ignorant!

The crowd clapped, stomped, and clopped at the song as David nodded, "Very well, let's see that harmony roll."

The filly let loose her die, 8. "Uh, 12," she announced a little morosely.

"Fortunately, your singing gets that to a solid sixteen," announced David. "Most of the dogs back off, unwilling to continue the battle and only pausing long enough to collect their fallen and haul them away. You are left with the head dog, fuming and gripping his weapon hard enough to turn his knuckles white through the fur. He doesn't look amused at your song."

The battle resumed, with the heroes against the fearsome diamond dog warlord. Lyra's attempts to incinerate him were foiled by the traitorous unicorn's counter spell, but the unicorn didn't return fire, instead just neutralizing Lyra's attempts. The more martial members of the party closed in, trading blow for vicious blow. The minotaur slapped the table heavily as his dwarf was struck down, looking quite upset. The nerdy stallion's character went down next, then the filly. Only the colt and Bon Bon's characters were on their feet, with Lyra still unable to cast any spells without being countered. "What will our heroes do," said David in an ominous voice, "It seems the tides of harmony of turned against them. They're against a wall, and that dog means business..."

The colt waved a hoof frantically, "I use halfer's luck!" He tossed a die, "Yes!" Critical.

"The great dog slips on the blood of one of his fallen minions, crashing to a knee with an angry curse," announced David.

Bon Bon nudged her figure towards the fallen, "I call on the light of Sol, goddess of the sun!"

With Bon Bon's healing, the party got to their feet even as the dog regained his own. The table had turned again. They soon had him surrounded and disarmed.

"The unicorn," said David, "bows towards Lyra and suddenly turns away, walking off into the darkness. With the war leader at your mercy, the attack has been brought to a screeching halt, for now."

The nerdy stallion nodded, "We should broker a deal. The diamond dog nation obviously has a problem. If we supply them with food, they could trade and we'd all be better for it."

The others nodded in agreement and David let them chit chat about the long term plans for a time before he slapped the table gently, "Heroes! You have done well this day. Carry your heads high and proud, for you have won to tell the tale. Thank you for playing Humanway."

The crowd quickly clapped and applauded in their own ways before it began to disperse back into the convention as a whole.

Author's Notes:

Nothing like a little roleplaying to get the blood pumping, amirite?

It was hard hearing everything with all the whispering and rattling dice, let me know if mistakes happened.

Diversion - Equestria Rules for Ponyfinder

It's the chapter no one asked for!

Equestria
A Ponyfinder Campaign Setting

Welcome, gentle reader. This document assumes that you already own and understand the Pathfinder Roleplaying System and its expansion, Ponyfinder. While the world of Everglow presented in Ponyfinder is all well and good, some of you want to adventure in the world presented in the show we all love. This document provides some ways to translate Ponyfinder rules to a more Equestria true setting.

Fingerless Rules: First step. Ponyfinder uses a semi-realistic handling of the four legged and hoofed nature of ponies. When playing it with Equestria, ponykind and other creatures should be treated as having two fully functional hands, even if they happen to be hooves. They can hold things in their mouth, but to keep things fair, they should not be using more than two 'hands' at a time, in any combination of mouth and forehooves.

Races: From the show, Griffons and Cloven are clearly present, along with the gem gnolls(diamond dogs). Other available races are up to you. There is a large world outside even the large map of Equestria itself, so who's to say there aren't the other options lurking out there in the great unknown. To keep it show loyal, you should probably keep it to the pony races, griffons, and cloven. If the GM allows it, a player can play a changeling, using the Doppleganger ponykind rules.

Gods: Fortunately, the gods of Everglow sync up with the princess' of Equestria fairly easily.
Sun Queen becomes Celestia
Moon Princess to Luna
Kara to Queen Chrysalis
The Night Mare to Nightmare Moon
Unspoken to Discord
Princess Luminace to Twilight Sparkle
Lashtada to Cadance

Songs of Power: The whimsical fey creatures that make up Equestria love a good song. They love it so much they don't even know they are singing half the time they do it. Denizens of Equestria can burst into song, as a free action, while attempting a diplomacy, intimidate, or bluff check. While singing, nothing else of importance occurs(though sudden dancing is possible).
All players besides the singer have one point they may award the singer.
The GM has one point per player, plus one.
Any player, or GM, that sings along automatically gives their point.
These points renew once per day after resting.
It requires, and spends, a point to begin singing. This counts towards the effect of the song.
Every point spent, be it the singer's initial points or points awarded by others at the table, is +1 to the skill check.
When a foe is singing, players may sing in counterpoint. If the GM feels the counter song fits well, they may allow the player to spend a point to counteract the foe's point(s) on a 1:1 basis.
Once a song is complete, most characters will behave as if no song occurred, and resume their intended actions.
The key factor to keep in mind is that this is for fun! Make a silly song, make a dramatic song, but sing like you mean it! The GM has the right to veto your use of your song point if you're not putting in any effort.

Non-Violent Solutions: While violence remains a solution available to Equestrians, it is not the first nor the best. When calculating experience rewards, decrease by 25% if violence is resorted to. If a particular encounter is especially difficult to bypass peacefully(Against enemies that attack first and are already quite opposed to the PCs, for example) and the players manage it anyway, increase the reward by 50%.

Alignment: Equestrian players should tend towards the goods and neutrals. Truly evil sorts do not get along well with the sunny dispositions of the Equestrians. Leave that to the villains.

Teamwork is Best Work: Everything is better when done with a friend. Equestrians that use the aid another action give 1 extra point(+3 instead of +2 usually).

New Feats: These feats are available to any creature of Equestria. Though ponies are most well known for their musical tendencies, griffons, cloven, and others can join in the spirit of things.

Song of Remorse
Description: You may use your song to counter an ongoing effect on yourself or any other single creature within 30 ft. The target gets a new saving throw against the effect with a bonus equal to the song point(s) spent on the song. If the effect cannot be defeated with break enchantment or restoration, then no reroll is given, but the singer becomes aware of a method of curing the target. A given effect can only be sung about once.

Prone to Rhythm
Description: Much like a certain pink pony we love, you are more susceptible to the whimsies of your muse than other fey creatures. You have an additional song point per day.
Special: If you are a bard or otherwise have bardic performance, you may spend 5 rounds of bardic performance to regain a song point, to your usual maximum, as a swift action.

Song of Magic
Description: There is magic in music, and magic in friendship. You may start a song as a swift action just before casting a spell. For every point that comes from someone besides you, increase the DC of the spell by 1. For every two points, increase the caster level by 1.

Infectious Tunes
Description: Your song sweeps through a crowd with frightening ease, causing entire towns to join along when you get it right. Whenever the GM awards you a point with their song point pool, you gain another point of effect, doubling their input.

Disclaimer: That show doesn't belong to us. Google says it belongs to Hasbro, so look them up and give them lots of money so they don't sue us or send nasty letters in our direction. Thanks!

Author's Notes:

Enjoy, and be sure to make Youtube videos of any particularly good or bad songs that result from this.

26 - Manehattan BipedCON Day 2, Lunch

David folded shut the rulebook he brought with him and collected the miniatures he had used for the game, along with the play mat they were resting on. Though most of the players had vacated, the minotaur still lurked, as well as Lyra and Bon Bon.

"That was an interesting game," spoke the minotaur. When David wasn't busy gathering things, he found himself face to face with the meaty hand of the minotaur, "I'm Steel Resolve. Your style is interesting, to speak lightly."

David quirked a brow, thinking on how similar Steel Resolve and Iron Will were. Maybe that's how minotaurs named themselves? "Nice to meet you. I'm David Silver." He met the hand with a hand, and discovered that minotaurs had a firm grip. He tried to match it as best he could, though handshakes were never his specialty. The awkward exchange soon passed, "You did good, even if the damage got to be a bit much."

Steel snorted, the ring in his nose jumping from the motion, "There's only so much a stout warrior can handle. Your descriptions, were you a soldier in your homeland?"

David shook his head, "Oh god no. I hope I never am. I've never been in a fight that I won."

Steel looked confused, "Truly? You speak as if you had seen the visceral horror of the battlefield first hand. I should be going, but thank you for the experience."

Steel Resolve excused himself and vanished into the crowd as Rough Draft joined the others around the table. "You did great, Dave! The ponies were hanging off each word." He pulled out a book full of scribbles, "I'm getting orders even without books!"

David held up a hand, "Come on, I wasn't that good."

Lyra laughed from where she sat, "Not that good he says! I never felt so threatened in all of my life!"

Bon Bon nodded softly, "You could paint a picture, with your words and your gestures, even your intonation, but mostly..." She wobbled a hoof, "So violent. Would you... ever do any of that? The thought of some of it still has me queasy."

David shook his head quickly, "Hell no. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, especially not at my hands."

Lyra hopped down and was soon nuzzling a hand, "Did you watch other humans do it? Less nice humans?"

David's hand wrapped around Lyra's snout and began petting and scratching her gently, "Violence is a common pastime where I'm from, not directly, but make believe. We have a lot of games were people get hurt in all sorts of ways. It's very against the law to attack someone for real, outside of very regulated arena fights."

Rough tilted his head, one ear going up, "Curious. Is that an aspect of your... ethnicity you called it?"

David shook his head, "Nah, pretty commonly spread across the colors, as it were. There are plenty of not-violent games too, but once you've seen it, it tends to stick, and we had our own kind of magic that let you see it, with better fidelity every year."

Bon Bon frowned, "Why would anypony want to see somepony die? That sounds awful..."

David reigned in his enthusiasm as he felt his companions react poorly, "Uh, yea... Well, really, I would never do that kind of thing for real. I don't want to hurt anybody."

Rough bobbed his head quickly, "Right. It's not against the law to make believe." He poked David in a furry knee, "Not that I would want you imagining hurting me."

"Never!" blurted David defensively even as a few horrible images sprung to mind against his will. He shoved them aside as he went down to a knee and pulled Rough in for a hug, squeezing him.

Lyra reared up and went in for the piece of the action, joining the group hug. Soon Bon Bon had joined as well. A soft rumble caught sensitive ears and they all pulled their heads back to look at David. "It's time to feed our human," said Lyra with a grin.

With everything gathered and packed away into Rough Draft's pouch, they moved to exit the convention hall. They walked as a cohesive group, nudging through the crowd easily on their way out of the hotel. A few ponies gave enthusiastic greetings and waves as they went, directed at Rough Draft or David, but the group wasn't stopped and soon escaped onto the streets of Manehattan.

Bon Bon looked around before turning to the group, "I know a place I've been waiting to go to. Lyra always overrules me, because she can't resist going to biped places while she's in town, but maybe..." She looked at the two new members, who could perhaps soon join her family, "We could try something new?"

Lyra's ears wilted, "I didn't know it meant that much to you, Sweetie. We'll try your place out."

Bon Bon smooched Lyra's cheeks, one after the other, "Follow me." She turned and walked away, leaving the other three to trail along after her.

They arrived at a small eatery that looked very Japanese to David, though a sign announced that, no, it was Neighponese. Of course. David chuckled to himself as they walked inside to the scent of freshly brewing green tea. An earth pony moved up to them with delicate steps. Her hair was done up in a bun with a pin through it and she wore an adorable little robe. She even had very almond like eyes and looked all the part for a Japanese pony. When she spoke, it had the accent David was expecting, "Welcome! Are you all together?"

She took a handful of menus in her jaw and led the group to a booth. David let his pony companions go first. They hopped up onto the curved and soft bench and laid down on their bellies, then David scootched in. The table was a bit low, and pressed against his knee, but it was bearable. Soft Asian music played from somewhere, adding to the ambiance.

The smiling waiter set down a menu before each of them then left just long enough to return with a tray of cups and a heavy looking kettle of tea. "It hasn't stopped impressing me how much a pony can hold up with just their jaws," commented David as she set about placing the cups before each diner and pouring the hot green tea into each cup.

Bon Bon nodded softly, "Pegasi and earth ponies get a lot of practice by the time they're stallions or mares. Unicorns can get away with using their horns for a lot of it." She brought her hooves together, picking up the cup in her hooves to sip from it, "Mmm, it has a lovely nutty taste."

David took a sip from his own. It tasted mostly the same as Earth green tea, though there was something about it. Maybe less pollutants? "Very nice. What do you think, Rough?"

Rough leaned in, putting his snout up to the clay mug instead of picking it up. After a quick sip, he nodded, "S'good!" He flipped the menu open with his hooves, sipping while browsing the selection.

Lyra, being the unicorn she was, had the menu in one mental grip and the tea in another. David took notice of this and asked without thinking, "So Lyra has the weakest jaws?"

Lyra spit up some of the tea she was drinking, "Hey! I mean... I guess?"

Bon Bon retrieved a napkin and set to cleaning the table, and then Lyra's face, though since the napkin was held in her mouth, this was an excuse for nuzzles. She set the napkin aside, "No shame in the truth, not that jaw strength is much of a contest."

"It can be," said Rough Draft, "I think there's a league for it. Never went to it myself."

Visions of ponies hauling huge weights along with their teeth filled David's head as he snickered and looked over his own menu. Avoiding things that had obvious flowers or hay in their description, he went for an old favorite,"I'll take the ramen with salmon and egg. They must have griffon customers."

Bon Bon shook her head, "Actually, Neighponese ponies enjoy fish and supplement many of their meals with it. I bet griffons do come here a lot though." She pointed across the way, where a griffon was clearly enjoying his or herself (Looked like a female? David wasn't one hundred percent sure) with a plate full of sushi that was being rapidly decimated under the birdcat's attention.

Lyra pointed with a hoof at the menu, "I'll have this, it looks yummy."

Bon Bon leaned over to see what was being pointed at. "Lyra, hon, I think you should pick something else."

"What's wrong with this?" asked Lyra, confused.

"Imagine," said Bon Bon, "your mouth was set on fire by your sorcerer and your lips were held shut. Pick something else."

Lyra went a bit pale at the mental image and shook her head quickly, "I'll have what David's having!"

Rough selected a plate of fried vegetables, and the waitresspony collected everyone's menus, bowed, and moved off to deliver the order to the kitchen.

They relaxed with their tea and soaked in the ambiance. Lyra smiled at Bon Bon, "Thanks for taking us here. It's really nice."

Rough and David agreed with nods and yeas as Bon Bon looked pleased with herself, "Wait until you taste the food! I heard it's just divine."

A pegasus in a similar robe to the waitresspony approached them, hovering in the air. She bowed low as she flicked out fans that seemed to have been attached to her hooves. Without hesitation she began an aerial dance, the fans fluttering in a provocative display of agility that matched the suddenly more energetic music playing. Using her wings to enhance the performance, she spun, flipped, and bent in impressive ways that had all four staring at her with undivided attention. As the song came into a slow finish, the airborne dancer came to the ground, landing just as the final note hit, her fans spread out as wide as her wings and her head almost touching the ground.

Rough began clapping his hooves together enthusiastically, met shortly with the others. The performer gave a shy smile and withdrew without a word, leaving them to discuss.

Rough bobbed his head almost roughly, "That was something else."

Bon Bon was still clopping her hooves gently, "I've never seen a traditional Neighponese fan dance before."

Lyra tilted her head, looking curious, "I wonder what a unicorn version of that would be like?"

"If you did it, it would be adorable," said David with a smirk, bringing a bright blush to the mint green cheeks of Lyra.

The food arrived shortly thereafter. Though Lyra was not used to the taste of fish, she soldiered through it, one eye on David who ate it easily and greedily.

Bon Bon and Rough Draft clearly enjoyed their meals as well, and soon it was nothing but a warm and delicious memory settling into their bellies. When the check arrived, Bon Bon moved to pick it up only to have Rough set his own hoof on it. "I couldn't dream of it," he insisted, "This whole weekend... it's been one big gift to me, financially and otherwise."

Bon Bon tugged the receipt gently, "I'm courting you, you big oaf, let me pay." Sheepishly, Rough released the receipt and Bon Bon produced the bits needed to pay for the meal, with a little extra for a tip.

David watched the exchange curiously, "Huh, where I'm from the guy is expected to cover."

Lyra snickered, "Imagine that! There are less stallions than mares, so mares are expected to go the extra distance." She shrugged, "Just the way it always has been." She locked eyes with David, "Were you hoping to pay?"

David sheepishly shook his head, "I don't have money to pay with... I'm still mooching on Rough."

Rough guffawed and nudged David in the ribs with a hoof, "You've already brought in more money than I've spent on you a few times over, so stop looking guilty. Besides, we're friends. Friends do that."

With that settled, they shuffled free of their seats and moved out. The convention wasn't over yet.

Author's Notes:

A chapter that's good for culture it seems, and some interactions between our main cast.

But what awaits them in the rest of the day? Typos, probably.

27 - Less than Welcome

After thanking the waitstaff for a good time, the group departed onto the street to discover a small crowd of angry-looking ponies waiting for them. About a dozen in all, they scowled at David in particular. Not wanting to confront the crowd, David turned to head back towards the convention hall, and the others went along with it. Rough Draft whispered, "What's that all about?"

Lyra whispered back with a hint of panic, "I don't know, but they're following us."

They hastened their steps, but the following group kept pace easily. This kept on for about a minute before a second group emerged from a side road and cut off their retreat. A unicorn at the lead of the second group pointed at David, "Who did that to you?! Why did you betray our race?!"

David was stunned. What? Rough Draft moved to interpose himself between the shouting unicorn mare and David, "He didn't do anything wrong."

A pegasus mare shouted from behind them, in the first group, "He's taken this biped loving too far! He's turned his flank on all of ponykind!"

An earth pony mare rushed up and jabbed a hoof, pointing at David's flank, "I bet he doesn't even have a cutie mark anymore!" Without delay, several colors flashed around his pants and they were torn down, the clasp busted effortlessly under the combined efforts of several of the unicorns in the crowd. "I knew it!" jeered the earth pony even as Rough Draft circled around towards her.

Bon Bon and Lyra looked like they were in full panic mode, hugging each other and trying to look as small as possible. This was all happening too quickly for David's liking. He grabbed his pants, yanking them back into position and keeping a hand at the front to hold it in a feeble display, though better than being exposed to all these angry ponies. "I'm not even a pony, damn."

"He admits it!" cried another earth pony, this one a stallion, "He's given up on his pony nature!" The crowd took this as a cue to begin hurling rotten fruit and vegetables at David and Rough Draft. Lyra and Bon Bon were hauled away, only to break into a flee and come out the other end of the crowd, galloping down the street quickly.

David felt a flash of annoyance, but had to admit he'd probably run too if he wasn't surrounded at all ends by adorable, but kind of scary, ponies. This wasn't the utopia he was hoping Equestria to be. The pegasus from before suddenly crashed into David from behind, knocking him to the ground and landing on his back, "It isn't too late! Give up this insane bipedalism and we'll get you fixed. You should be proud to be a pony!"

The crowd began to chant together, "Proud to be a Pony. Proud to be a Pony. Proud to be a Pony."

"Just leave me alone," cried David, swatting weakly at the pegasus on him. He didn't want to hurt her, or anyone. He didn't want to fight at all, and it made his movements pathetic at best. Jerky, full of hesitation, and empty of intent, he did little but ruffle her fur and nudge her. She bit his hand in return. Unlike when his friends had clasped his hands and pulled him along, the pressure was intense and pain exploded through his abused digits.

Rough bucked, his hind hooves colliding with the pegasus solidly and sending her flying off into the crowd. "That's assault," he angrily growled, "Stop attacking my friend. He's a human, not a pony! Leave him alone!"

Red magic suddenly caught his attention from just under his chin before his heart crystal was yanked away. With a ragged gasp, David collapsed to the ground. He couldn't breath, his heart thundered in his chest as everything inside of him seemed to go wrong all at once. He faded from consciousness quickly, leaving Rough Draft to step over his prone form defensively. Several earth ponies emerged from the crowd, ready to face Rough Draft. "You're being lied to, friend," said one of the earth ponies, a stallion, "Your friend is a pony, not a human. Humans are myths. Let us help your friend."

Rough quaked in fear, but didn't abandon his position. He bared his teeth at the approaching ponies, "He's my friend, I won't let you have him!"

A mare smiled, "That's very sweet. He's lucky to have you." Then she leaped, crashing into Rough and bowling him to the ground. As they wrestled for dominance, the others advanced quickly, grabbing the limp form of David in their teeth and hauling him off into the crowd.

"Put him down!" roared Rough Draft, but he was only a few steps better at hoof to hoof combat than David, certainly not good enough to wade through the sea of disapproving eyes, "He has rights!" He managed to toss off the mare on top of him and get back to his hooves, only to find the other earth ponies standing between him and David.

"It's for his own good," one of them said.

Rough Draft threw himself at the ponies, trying desperately to reach David, but he just couldn't force his way through the crowd.

David was unconscious. He knew this. He was aware of his condition somehow, and he boiled with frustration. He let loose with obscenities as he stomped around in his own mind, powerless to do much about it. With a sudden burst of purple energy, Luna appeared. She canted her head lightly, "It is not often I am called during the day. This does not appear normal for your dreams."

They were in a perfectly white expanse. There was no decoration, just a distraught David standing there. "Luna! I'm glad to see you."

Luna perked her ears, "As you always seem to be. It is good to be welcome. What manner of dream is this?"

David waved a hand, then stopped. The hand was a hoof. He grunted and focused, turning it back into a hand, "The ponies in Manehattan have gone crazy. They think I'm a pony rejecting his pony nature. I don't know exactly what they're doing with me, but I can't imagine it's good."

Luna nodded slowly, "Well, are you?"

"Am I what?" asked David with a raised brow.

"A pony rejecting your nature, of course," she explained.

David crossed his arms as his tail twitched behind him, "I've been a human for over thirty years. I've been a pony for maybe a few hours. I like ponies just fine, but I'm a human, not a pony."

Luna pointed at him, "That is up for debate. Have you been injured?"

David glanced down to see he was more of an upright pony, his hands once again hooves and a snout starting to push into his vision. "Ugh. This is my head, I can be what I want." Suddenly, he was human again, "They took my heart crystal and it knocked me out."

Luna frowned, "Removal of a pony's heart crystal without consent is a very serious crime. It can be very easily lethal, if heavy magic is being regulated by it. I will inform the Manehattan guard immediately." Suddenly she was gone.

The ponies deposited the half-pony on the mattress and looked down at his naked form. "I took off his heart crystal, but he's still... this. Shouldn't he have turned back into a full pony?" asked a unicorn mare. She brought the heart crystal into view, shaking the purple stone.

"Maybe we have to use a spell?" suggested the unicorn that had tackled him to the ground.

Only some of the crowd were in the room, three mares, one of each of the tribes. The earth pony mare moved up and poked David in the side, "He must be an earth pony. I can't imagine a unicorn or a pegasus would give up their horn or wings."

The pegasus pointed at his hands, "He has those. Maybe he gave up his horn for them!"

The unicorn made a face of utter disgust, "As if any right thinking unicorn would give up their magic for a few fingers. We have all the fingers we need." She turner her attention on the pegasus, who suddenly fell over laughing and giggling, "See?"

The pegasus squirmed under the unseen fingers, "OK OK! I give up!" she wailed as she writhed under the countless tickling digits. When the unicorn relented, she flopped, panting for breath with the occasional lingering giggle escaping her.

The earth pony mare rolled her eyes, "Let's get this over with as quickly as possible. You're our magic expert, Eclipse, what do you suggest?"

Eclipse circled the sleeping form of the half-pony, her magic taking in all of his nuances, "He's a mess. Whoever turned him into a half-pony did a terrible job of it. You can barely tell he was ever a pony at all, but it's in there." She clapped her hooves together, "I know! If we can get him to realize his special talent, that should shock him back into proper ponydom."

The pegasus, recovered from her tickling, was on her hooves, "And how do we do that? What even is his special talent?"

Eclipse raised a hoof, "Storytelling. They spotted him at that filthy biped gathering weaving tales for a crowd like it was second nature."

The earth pony shook her head, "Alright, so how do we get him to, you know, do that?"

The unicorn rubbed one hoof against the other, "Don't you worry, girls. I have just the idea that'll get our poor little pony back in shape again."

Author's Notes:

Things are not all rosey in pony land. How will David escape this, or will he?

The crowd decided on spelling by committee. We know how well that works, so expect typos.

28 - Tell us a Story

David woke with a start, sitting up on a cot. He felt the heart crystal bounce against his chest before he reached for it, confirming it was back.

"Ah, you're awake," said a female voice. Looking over, he saw the pegasus that had hopped on his back and bit his hand, "We were hoping you could tell us more about yourself."

David frowned, quickly getting to his feet, then realizing he was entirely naked, if one didn't count the jewelry around his neck, which he didn't. Her eyes flicked downwards at his pony half as he tried to cross his legs. There was a desk there, and he moved over to it, concealing himself by sitting behind it in the chair that was there. "I... Come on, this isn't cool at all."

"On the contrary," said the pegasus, "I think you're very cool. Tell me about yourself. Is that your natural color?"

David shook his head, "Huh? Yeah. I was always this color. The fur matches it nicely enough." He tapped the ground with a hoof, "Where are my clothes?"

"Don't be silly," chastised the pegasus gently, "Ponies don't need clothes. They're just for decoration. Where are you from?"

"I don't even know who you are, and you bit me!" huffed David, looking more and more uncomfortable and uncertain.

"Aw, I'm sorry I did that. That was very bad of me," she said, approaching David. She cantered around the desk. He shied away from her, but she came in anyway, nuzzling into his hips, "I'm sorry. Now tell me about you."

Some of the tension escaped at the soft gesture. On instinct his hand sought out her head, softly scratching behind one of her ears and petting her. She consented to it like a placid pet for a moment before she nodded, "Please, tell me. I'll be good."

With a sigh, David sat back, "Alright." Seemingly taking his posture as invitation, he soon had a lap full of pegasus. She smiled brightly at him, wings fluttering. Confusion mounted again within David as he wondered why this mare was being nice now, and why he couldn't have his pants. "Well, I came from a world we call 'Earth'. Original name, I know, dirt. Whatever, it wasn't my decision. I made games for a living, using a bunch of... technology that would confuse you explaining it."

She nuzzled into his chest,"Go ahead and try," she invited as she snuggled against him. She was warm and furry, her wings ticklish where they touched bare skin. If he wasn't fairly certain she was a bad pony, this would be far from a bad situation.

"Uh, alright. Imagine a book, now imagine the book can draw words from every other book in the world if you ask it to, and that you can write into, so other books can get its words," he started, "Now give the book the ability to show pictures on demand, or make sounds, and you're getting close. Two people can each have their own book and send words, pictures, and sounds back and forth to each other, even their faces, and chat back and forth as easily as if they were sitting across each other, even if they're half a world away."

The pegasus raised a brow skeptically at David, but forced it back down. She cleared her throat, "Please, go on."

Deciding to stop talking about miracle technologies, he went forward, "So, I was going for a walk one day, just for my own health, and I was suddenly in a very dark place."

"How dark?" she asked, patting him down with her hooves. The touches were straying towards places he wasn't comfortable with and he wriggled under her.

"Very dark, black. Words appeared and asked me where I wanted to go, and this is where I ended up." He gestured broadly, then put both of his hands on her head again, softly petting, "Now please stop molesting me. I know you're not attracted to humans."

She huffed, "You're not a human. Poor creature." She spread her wings wide, "You're a pony." She hopped down from his lap, "I'll prove it, if you give me a chance."

David crossed his arms, "Is it really that hard to imagine I'm a human that became half pony instead of a pony that became half human?"

"Yes," she replied emphatically. "Now do I get my chance?"

David let out a slow sigh, "Does it involve being bitten, kicked, or stabbed?"

"You'll do the stabbing," she replied, trotting off quickly and returning with the earth pony mare. "Look at Main Event here," she entreated, pointing a wing at Main, "Really look at her."

Main Event appeared uncertain by far. She had a light blue coat with a creamy mane and purple eyes. "Are you sure?" She leaned in close to the pegasus, grumbling something David couldn't hear.

"It'll be worth it," hissed back the pegasus, nudging Main Event towards David.

Main Event strolled up to David, "I'm not doing that. That is sick." She pointed at David, "What's wrong with being a pony?"

"Nothing," said David, "But I like being upright, and I like having fingers. The rest I can take or leave."

Main snorted softly, "You lived without fingers before, how bad can it be?"

David wriggled his fingers at Main, "For a few hours, yeah. I have nothing against you ponies, alright?"

She jerked back. "We ponies," she corrected.

"You ponies," said David firmly. He stood up, pants or not, "Can I have my stuff back?"

Main picked up a pencil with a hoof, somehow, "Hooves aren't that bad. You just have to learn how to use them. I'll show you, if you want."

Realizing these ponies were not going to give up, David switched tracks, "Maybe you're right. Show me." He settled back in his seat, "But I only have hooves for feet right now."

Main Event smiled, "That's a good pony. We can fix that."

"You can?" asked David, "I figured you would have if you could already."

Main shook her head, "Well, there are... complications. How did you get so, what did she say... mixed up?"

David rolled his shoulders, "Complicated. A unicorn decided to try making me stronger when a friend asked, and she apparently just mixed up my insides, magically speaking." He wobbled a hand, "Then another unicorn went 'Hey, let's turn him into a pony for fun', and poof, pony time." He plinked the hanging heart crystal, "Neither of them had this, and neither of them were good enough to do it safely. Twilight had to fix it."

"Twilight?" asked Main.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle," expanded David, "That's how I ended up a half pony. It was the best she could do."

"I see..." said Main with obvious thoughts swirling in her eyes. "Excuse me, we'll be right back." She trotted from the room in a hurry, gesturing for the pegasus to go with her, and soon David was alone again.

Main looked to her two fellow conspirators, "Even a princess couldn't put him back together right," she sighed out, "What hope do we have?"

The unicorn asked, "How do you know that's true? He could be lying, to discourage us."

"Call it earth pony sensibility," said Main Event. "If you don't believe me, go in there and see for yourself."

The pegasus ruffled her feathers, "It's such a pity too. He's a nice stallion. Even so angry, he doesn't try to run away or attack us." She flushed a little, "He gives nice pettings."

Main thrust a hoof at the pegasus, "We're not pets... and how do we know he isn't escaping right now?"

The unicorn rushed past the other two, shoving the door open with her blue magic to reveal David looking out a closed window. He wasn't trying to pry the window open or anything, just watching the street below. She let the door close slowly and turned back the other two. "So what happened with getting his cutie mark to show up?"

The pegasus sighed gently, "It's hard keeping him on track, and I think he has to be telling a story, one he made up, and I'm not sure he is."

Main hiked a brow, "You're saying he really is from another world."

"I don't know!" squeaked the pegasus. "I just wish we could fix him."

Main narrowed her eyes a little, "You always were fond of earth ponies." The pegasus flushed and took to the air.

"I don't have to listen to this!" she said hotly before darting out the door, leaving the apartment.

The unicorn grunted softly, "You didn't have to scare her off."

Main shook a hoof, "She wasn't helping. Eclipse, what should we do?"

Eclipse peeked through the door again, seeing David pacing to and fro, "We could try anyway. He has a good heart crystal. I may be able to get something done."

"Or kill him?" asked Main, "That's not the goal."

Eclipse held up her hooves, "I'll stop if it starts going bad."

"I have a different idea," said Main. "This is too big for us. Someone's attacked him. His brain's scrambled. We should take him to the academy of magic and let them figure it out."

Eclipse clapped her hooves together in a soft clop, "Excellent idea. You're right, this is too much for us. If anypony can put him back together again, they can." She rose to her hooves and the two trotted back into the room.

David turned to face them as they approached. Eclipse spoke first, "Hello. We're going to take you somewhere where you can be helped."

"I'm going to guess that's not my friends?" asked David, "That would be cool."

Eclipse nodded, "They are your friends. The academy of magic works for the betterment of ponykind, which includes you." she pointed at David, "Come on."

"I really want my clothes," said David, "I don't want to march through the city dangling out, and my stuff is in my pants."

Main chuckled, "Cloudburst liked you dangling out just fine, but whatever." She departed, only to return swiftly with his clothes held in her mouth. She put it down beside him, "Get dressed, we have places to go."

David was quite relieved to be dressed again, even if his pants buckle was still busted. Zipping it up would have to do, at least it held itself up. Decent again, David moved to follow the mares, not seeing the point in getting into a fight he'd just lose.

Author's Notes:

I've dropped too many innuendo bombs. I bumped the rating up to 'teen' because of that and the occasional cuss. Approve, disapprove? Let me know.

Teens are not known for their spotless grammar, be on the watch.

29 - A Dark Journey

When they exited the first room, darkness descended on David's vision, then cloth was felt around his face. "I'm not running," he complained through the bag, "Is this required?"

"Yes," said Main Event. His moving was slower, being unable to see his feet, er, hooves, and having not grown used to them. After tripping for the fourth time, he felt a strong form nudge up against him and soon he was resting on a pony's back, being carried along.

He heard Cloudburst's voice by his ear, "So, tell us about your family."

"They're all alive, so far I know. My father's a retired math teacher, and my mother wears a lot of hats. She's a therapist and a midwife primarily," explained David, seeing no particular harm in speaking of people more than a world away.

"Oh that's nice," said Cloudburst, "Did you get along well? Do they know where you are?"

"My father took every conversation as an invitation to tell me how I've messed up my life or treated him terribly," replied David, "He's not a bad guy, he just can not let go of the past, at all. I love him, but I can't be with him, and that was before I ended up here."

She paused, but asked, "And your mother?"

David shrugged in the darkness, "Nice enough, but times were tough and she was very stubborn about not giving up what she had. Everything had to be her way. She preached tolerance and understanding, but rarely practiced it in her own life. A bit of a hypocrite if you asked me, which I guess you did." He sighed then, "I wonder if she was forced to move after I left..."

"Why would she be forced to move?" asked Cloudburst.

"I was covering more and more of the bills with each passing month," explained David, "Trying to scrabble just to stay in the same place. If it was my choice, we could have moved away to someplace cheaper and saved a lot of money, but then there's my niece." A soft grunt, "It gets more and more complicated the deeper you go. I do hope she's stopped flailing against the tide though... but I don't know... she could be dead."

"Why would you say that?" asked a more subdued Cloudburst, "Uh, did she live in Manehattan or Canterlot? The rent there can be a bit much."

"Yeah, sure, we'll go with that," huffed out David, tired of arguing. "She was sick to varying degrees, to add to the trouble. At one point it almost looked like she would up and die, but she recovered from that. When I left, she was back to moving around and working. Heck, I went away for a while and she did alright... even if she did run up my credit card while I was away."

"Credit card?" asked Cloudburst.

The conversation simmered down and they soon arrived wherever they were going.

A new, but familiar, voice rang out, "What have you brought before the Great and Studious Professor Lulamoon?"

"Trixie?" asked David, easily recognizing the voice and the name. He was dumped to the floor for his troubles as Eclipse's voice spoke up.

"We need you to take a look at this one. He's had a bad case of magical cross-contamination and thaumaturgical tangling. Even Princess Twilight Sparkle couldn't put him right. He's stuck as this... thing, and his memory's all scrambled. Nopony deserves to be like this."

David sat up as he heard hoofsteps approaching him. "Trixie sees what you mean. He has been sorely abused with magic, but where Twilight has failed, Trixie will prove superior!" He felt her hoof on his belly, "Tell Trixie, are you in pain, strange pony?"

David shook his head, "I'm not, but I started as a human, not a pony." He rose his hands, wriggling them blindly, "I like having fingers. Also, I'm a bit of a fan of your work."

Trixie seemed to recoil, "Really? Trixie means, of course! Many ponies from all over Equestria are fans of Trixie." She stepped away, clip clopping, "You are correct, he seems delirious, even if he has excellent taste. Have no fear! Trixie will fix him!"

David opted for a gamble, "Miss Trixie?"

"Yes?" came her voice as she approached him again.

"Before you do any serious magic, may I see your pretty purple eyes?" he asked hopefully.

There was a quiet moment before the cloth bag was pulled off David's head. "Of course you can." She smiled up at him. She really did have pretty purple eyes. "Now then, begone." She directed that last at the trio of ponies that had brought him in. "Trixie will need complete concentration and will have to do research beside. Unlike that slapdash Twilight Sparkle, Trixie will make sure she gets it right the first time."

The others looked hesitant, but began to move for the door. Cloudburst zipped up in front of David, "When you're fixed, call me." She dropped a business card in his lap, winked, and fluttered off with her friends.

When they were all gone, Trixie trotted back to David and looked down at the card, then up at him, "Tell Trixie the truth."

"Which part?" asked David, "My coming to Equestria, Lyra turning me into a pony for a while, being abducted by an angry mob of ponies?"

Trixie softly snorted, "Lyra? Lyra Heartstrings? Somehow this is fitting of what Trixie knows of her." She reached up and pushed against David's chest, lying him down, "Trixie believes you. You lack several vital signs of a pony, and have a few that Trixie does not recognize. Your abductors should already be arrested."

"Uh, that fast?" asked David.

"A message was sent out to look for you and those that took you," explained Trixie as she circled him. "They were to be arrested."

"I thought you were working for them," confessed David.

Trixie laughed haughtily, "The Great and Deceptive Trixie is quite good at acting, is she not? Now that you are in the care of a true magician, you have nothing to fear. First, Trixie needs to examine you." With her light magenta magic, Trixie tugged David's already loose pants free and set them aside. "While Trixie believes your story, you are a mess. Trixie was not lying when she said that."

David tried to sit up, but magenta magic gently pushed him down flat, "You're not going to make me into a pony, are you?"

"Is that what you want?" asked Trixie, "Trixie has just earned the grade needed to legally perform that spell."

"So... you're studying magic now?" asked David, glancing around the room and seeing bookshelves filled to the brim. "You look like you're doing better, you know, after that whole amulet thing."

Trixie frowned, "What? You were not in Ponyville. How do you know of this?" Her horn flashed and something internally was tugged with a flash of discomfort inside of David, "How do you know? Tell Trixie and she will be merciful."

David wriggled a hoof in a flinch at the sensation, "I'm from another world, remember? I didn't mean any offense."

Trixie huffed, "Trixie has worked very hard to move past that... incident. Do you not trust Trixie?"

"I do," assured David, "Seriously. I think you're a good pony, and a good magician. Heck, I think the ponies were way too mean to you when you first showed up in Ponyville. Smashing your house and laughing when you ran away hardly seemed the right thing to do."

Trixie scowled, "Trixie does not like to think about that..." She tilted her head, "But you agree with Trixie?"

David shrugged, "It's the job of a show... mare? to be loud and exciting, and you were. That's stupid to get angry about."

Trixie bobbed her head, "Yes! That is exactly what Trixie thought." She trotted around David once in a slow circling, "Now let us begin. Trixie must study you carefully."

Trixie unleashed a new spell and the room began to glow with countless neon lines of different colors. Most of the room had neatly arranged lines that ran along the edges and sides of things in nice orderly ways. Trixie herself was more complex, but still there was a pattern of spirals and grids through her equine body. No matter how complicated it got, it was all neatly patterned. Trixie held up a mirror in her magic for David to see himself. His lines all jumbled across each other like they were drawn by an infant. There were many tangles, and even some lines that were clearly torn or stretched tight. It was worst where his human half ran into his pony half. Where a cutie mark should be, lines slumbered just beneath the flesh, a dull grey in color.

"It is amazing you are alive," said Trixie, "Doesn't it hurt?"

David shrugged, "No more than usual. I'm used to a certain amount of aches and pains."

Trixie shook her head, "Unacceptable." She raised a brow, "Are you aware you couldn't even have... whatever you call foals?"

David raised a brow, "There was little chance of that before, but what do you mean?"

Trixie snorted, "It's not obvious? You're pony down there." She flicked the mirror back to its resting place on a desk. "It would be charmingly romantic if you were married to a pony, but as it is, it's just sad."

"Actually..." started David.

Trixie held up a hoof. "Trixie does not want to hear of your love life." She paused and looked him over again, "Which you don't have. What were you going to say?"

David looked a bit flustered, "Uh, well, Lyra and Bon Bon--"

"Who?" demanded Trixie.

"Bon Bon? Sweetie Drops?" tried David.

Trixie nodded, "Sweetie Drops, do go on."

"They want me as their stallion," said David uncertainly.

Trixie opened her mouth, then closed it, and frowned, "It is Lyra Heartstring's fault you became a pony, is it not?"

"Yes."

"It is then her fault," said Trixie, "that you are still half pony, is it not?"

"Yes?"

Trixie stomped a hoof, "You are being tricked, stupid foal. She tweaked you, on purpose or unconsciously. Your pony half cannot help but find her appealing. Trixie is disgusted." She stomped again, then settled down, "Trixie would bet her own hat that Lyra's scent is a perfect match for your nose."

David raised a brow, "So ponies do have pheromones? The jury's still out on if humans can smell good enough to be affected."

Trixie waved a hoof, "Of course we do." She fetched the mirror in her magic and highlighted one of the many lines in David, "Look here. It goes right from your nose, to your..." She gestured lower. "You are being duped."

David wasn't certain how to feel. Should he be angry? "Can we tell if she even did it on purpose?"

Trixie shrugged, "That is beyond Trixie's vast and amazing abilities. You will have to ask her. But first, Trixie should fix you. You are a... whatever you are."

"Human," provided David.

"Yes, human. You should not be attracted to mares," reasoned Trixie.

"I'm half pony," noted David, feeling weird, "Is it... entirely bad?"

Trixie looked baffled, "Do you want to lust after mares?"

"I don't even know anymore," sighed out David, "This is all getting confusing."

Trixie sat down beside his head as a hoof moved to point at him, hovering just over his nose, "You have a choice to make."

Author's Notes:

Should David get 'fixed', or embrace the fact that he's stuck in a world full of ponies and this isn't such a bad thing? Either way has its perils. Which do you think he ought go with?

Trixie is far too proud to hire an editor, no matter how I begged, so watch out for great and terrible mistakes.

30 - A Great and Powerful Chapter

David was lost. "So... everything I feel for Lyra is a big fat lie?"

Trixie shrugged, "You knew her before she used her magic on you, yes? It isn't all a lie then, but Trixie would have many doubts about anything after that."

David frowned as he tried to sit up, only to be pushed back down with Trixie's magic. It wasn't rough, but it was strong. "Does she like me?"

Trixie tilted her head, "Trixie could not say. Reading minds is illegal unless for very specific reasons. Trixie does not work for a court."

David sighed out slowly, hands flopping against the ground as he went limp. "If she really likes me, I don't want to stop liking her."

Trixie booped him on the nose, "You have fallen for Trixie's trick. Trixie does not trust your answer, but wanted it anyway, to know how far you are in her hoof. Of course you want to keep it. To you, it is everything." Trixie's magic grabbed a door and pulled it open lightly, revealing some guards that led in Lyra and Bon Bon. "As you can see, we found them easily. They were looking for you, human."

"Where's Rough Draft?" asked David.

Trixie perked up her ears, "Who? Did they also enchant you?"

David shook his head, then paused, "Sort of? It was more of a strength spell I think."

Trixie groaned, "That explains some of what Trixie saw, but it was done with the same lack of grace. What does this unicorn look like, and what is their cutie mark?"

David tried to sit up again, only to be denied casually by Trixie's potent magic. "Is there a reason I can't sit up? Rough Draft's an earth pony. He had some other unicorn do it."

Trixie approached Lyra directly, "You are in big trouble!"

Lyra turned to Trixie, and David could see some kind of ring was around her horn. "What for? Why did we do wrong? We just wanted to get help for David." She raised a hoof to point at David, "He was being attacked!"

Trixie huffed, "You have performed illegal magics beyond your grade, and you have performed mental magics that are illegal at any grade! You are lucky Trixie is not a judge, or she would already be sending you away."

Bon Bon spoke up, "There's no reason to be harsh. I know Lyra's an idiot."

"Hey!" objected Lyra, but Bon Bon continued.

"But Princess Twilight Sparkle already saw the damage and undid it as best she could, and she didn't arrest Lyra," explained Bon Bon.

Trixie shook her head, "It matters not, Sweetie Drops. Princess Twilight Sparkle did not issue a formal pardon. Her being too busy and slapdash does not equate to Lyra Heartstrings being off the hook. Princess Luna is already on her way. You are not a unicorn, Trixie is sure she will be lenient on you, but Lyra is in big trouble." Her tone was full of smug satisfaction as she turned back to David, "She will also decide how we should undo the harm you've caused. This human creature is practically your slave. He would do anything to stay with you." She raised a brow, "And give you foals, if he is capable of it. Trixie did not check. You should be ashamed. There are enough available stallions for a unicorn with talents to attract. If you can cast this spell, you should have been earning your grades instead of breaking the law, and the stallions would fall over themselves for your hoof."

David blushed a bit at mention of giving Lyra, or anypony, foals, but kept his mouth shut. Lyra scowled at Trixie, "Like you're swimming in stallions?"

Trixie stomped a hoof, "I'm working!" She took a huff, regaining her composure, "Trixie sacrifices for the good of Equestria. She will find a stallion when there is time. She is not some addled yearling, bedazzled by such things."

A door opened, admitting Luna and two lunar guards. She nodded towards Trixie, then looked around. Her eyes settling on David, she sighed loudly. "You are never the direct cause of trouble, human David, but it certainly follows you. Rise."

David tried to sit up again. This time, Trixie did not stop him and he got to his feet.

"Explain," demanded Luna, "In your own words."

David thought back, "Well, alright. Back in the hotel, a few days ago, I met Lyra and Bon Bon."

Bon Bon went red and hissed, "Don't use my pet name in front of the Princess!"

"Uh, yea, Sweetie Drops," corrected David, "We hit it off fairly well, and Lyra wanted to make us all a team, including Rough Draft. She wanted to be magic. I was kindness, Rough Draft was generosity, and Sweetie Drops was honesty. Sweetie Drops convinced Lyra to be laughter instead, but I asked her what magic she could do. She turned me into a pony."

Luna looked at Lyra, "What is your grade?"

Lyra shrunk in place, "Three..."

Luna's brow rose together, eyes widening, "Three? Verily? What possessed you to try such a complex art of magic?"

Lyra squirmed in place, looking shamed, "I wanted to show I could do real magic..."

Luna tapped a hoof on the ground, "Lyra Heartstrings! That was selfish, and reckless. You could have easily slain your would-be friend outright."

Trixie coughed into a fetlock, "It does not stop there, Your Highness. The human has been made to react to mare pheromones, and has formed a committed bond with Lyra Heartstrings."

Luna raised a brow lightly, "Why would you do this, Lyra Heartstrings? You are pretty enough. Why would you turn to magic to force a mate, and with another species!? This is depravity the likes of which I thought banished long ago."

David raised a hand, "May I interject."

Luna snorted, "You may not. You are addled with mental magics. Your words are tainted at best."

David shrugged, "You don't have to go with them, but I do have something to say."

Luna settled her ruffled feathers, "Very well. You have spoken wisdom thus far, even if you have allowed this reckless unicorn to... Go on."

David took a slow breath, "Alright, first, a question. Is magic affected by the mental state of the user?"

Luna tilted her head faintly, "Yes. Of what matter is this?"

David rolled a hand, "I'm getting to it. Does that get worse with more powerful magic?"

"Yes," said Luna, "The farther the magic is from a unicorn's comfort level and practice, the more extreme the effect can be."

David looked to Lyra, "Lyra, what were you thinking when you turned me into a pony?"

Lyra glanced between David, Trixie, and Luna, "Uh, well. I really wanted to show you what I could do! I wanted you to be impressed..."

David nodded, "She wanted me to want her around. The magic worked, and I became a pony, but I also wanted her. Not... that way, exactly, but I didn't know where they were coming from, so my thoughts might have wandered that way." He looked over Lyra again. It was very hard to put a finger on it, but the ponies all had... something... they didn't have when he first arrived. Lyra had the most of it. Were pheromones that potent? "I really don't think she intended to do it."

Luna huffed a soft sigh, "I am willing to forget charges of debauchery and... rape," she said the last word with a severe distaste. "It is just as well, Sister would cry to hear somepony was being charged with it in her peaceful kingdom. None of this explains how you became half pony, rather than a pony, or a human."

Trixie raised a hoof, "Trixie can explain this. The human happened onto Twilight Sparkle, who took pity on his changed state and attempted to undo it. Because the previous magics worked on him were all done by unskilled incompetents," Lyra frowned but said nothing, "and he was not wearing a heart crystal, his internal aetheric net was badly tangled. Twilight handled it like she handles most magical problems, extreme force. She pulled his net apart from the front to the back, breaking thaumaturgical connections and badly stretching others along the way. It eventually became so tangled and knotted that she stopped, for fear of ripping it all apart and killing him, leaving him as a half pony. Trixie can only imagine it was a very painful experience for the human." She huffed delicately, "A most barbaric display of magic use."

Luna approached David, "May I?" He stood still as she touched her horn to his head. Everypony was still for a moment before she drew back, "I admit, I thought you were exaggerating, Trixie Lulamoon, but the evidence is clear. Princess Twilight Sparkle must have been in quite a hurry to perform such work."

"The studious and hardworking Trixie does not inflate the truth," she said with pride, "I have offered to fix the human's perceptions, but he refused, as Trixie expected. He is legally insane and cannot be trusted to make decisions in his own best interest. Trixie is sorry for him."

David looked angry, "Hey, that's not true at all! Look at it from my perspective."

Luna nodded, "Very well, educate us. For what reason would you wish this? Know that I side with Trixie in this matter. Your body and mind have been interfered with in very base ways. You may think you see clearly, but your world is now distorted."

David lifted his shoulders softly, "So...? I'm the only human on this planet. I'm going to live and die with ponies. I didn't ask for it, but is it really that bad I can see past your four legs? I'm still having a hard time believing it's just a smell, but I can look at Lyra, or even Trixie, or you, uh, Your Majesty, and see a pretty female. Is that really wrong? What's right, that I wait for a human woman to show up instead?"

Luna looked thoughtful as she trotted towards Trixie. "If that is your true feeling, why would you not wish to be a pony entirely? As you are, very few ponies will accept you. You are neither some new species to be curious about, or a pony to be friends with, but something in the middle."

Trixie pointed out, "Trixie did offer to finish his transformation. Trixie is sure he would make an acceptable stallion."

"But I'm not a pony," argued David. "Nothing against ponies, but I still prefer to have fingers."

Luna turned to face David, "What if we made you a unicorn? You would regain your dexterity, and learn magic beside" She glanced at Lyra, "Safe, responsible, magic." Lyra shrunk away again, huddled against the wall. "Surely that would be an equitable trade for a few fingers."

David was not as quick to refuse. To have magic, who wouldn't want that? Old dreams of his childhood floated to the fore as he thought back to when he used to practice magic as a child, but now it could really be true. He shuffled in place, tempted and torn. A new thought leaped up in his mind. If he was a unicorn, he'd be more like Lyra.

Trixie snorted out a half giggle, "Trixie thinks the human likes the idea."

Luna did not comment on David's reaction, instead watching him levelly. "I will not lie. It will take time to learn how to use a horn. It is not as easy as unicorns display, but when you do, I believe you will find it worth the challenge. You have a keen enough mind to master magic, in time. I will make it better." She trotted up to David, "As a reward for the work you have done for me in the past, I will welcome you as a full citizen of Equestria, and offer a small stipend to have you put up at a good school for unicorns. They will not question why you are there as a stallion, instead of a colt."

A new thought came bubbling up, "Could you do that? I mean, the colt thing?"

Luna raised a brow, "It is very draining and complex. Only the highest of spellcasters may attempt it legally. So high, only the princesses have the grade for it currently. But that would be even more dramatic of a change."

"So?" asked David, "I would be young again. I could grow up as a pony, and I'd get another thirty years of life out of it. I'm old enough to appreciate that. I wouldn't be some awkward stallion unicorn that can't use his horn. I'd just be an adorable colt first learning."

Luna shook her head, "You have not done enough to warrant that gift, human David."

Trixie frowned at David, "Trixie is confused. Should we be listening to him? His thoughts are clearly diving deeper into madness."

David let out a frustrated growl, "It's not mad. It makes perfect sense. Right now I'm a middle-aged confused half human in a pony world, but I could be a curious colt that asks a lot of questions, which colts do anyway, and make mistakes, which colts do anyway."

Trixie poked David with a hoof, "You would not be able to have Lyra."

"Sure I could," argued David, "As a friend."

Trixie rolled her eyes, "Trixie doubts that is what Lyra wanted."

Luna shook her head again, "Sister is very particular about that spell. I cannot cast it lightly, or she would be very cross with me."

"So what do I have to do?" asked David, "I just want a chance to not fuck up my life." A tear ran down his face into his beard as he confessed his true feelings on the matter and he began to shake in place.

Luna frowned, but the expression softened as she regarded Trixie, "Trixie Lulamoon, I require your services."

Trixie hopped into ready position, "Anything, Your Highness. How can Trixie help?"

She pointed at David, "You will have a new student." She turned to Lyra and Bon Bon, "As for you two. Lyra will wear the magic blocker for three years. She will have to rely on her friend, Sweetie Drops, for everything. I pray you learn how precious magic is, and to use it more carefully. It is a gift, and it can be taken away."

Lyra's ears were sunk, but she nodded.

Luna looked back towards David, "There is one more thing. A price. You will serve the crown in a matter we see proper. Your life is ours until you are again thirty five years of age. Now, two questions. Do you accept?"

"What's the other question?" asked David uncertainly.

"You cannot be an orphaned colt," spoke Luna, "That is no fate we would levy on anypony. Do you have a parent in mind?"

"I do," said David.

Trixie snorted, "It had better not be Lyra or her marefriend."

"I almost considered you," said David, looking at Trixie.

Trixie flushed hot, "Trixie is..." she trailed off, stunned at the idea of becoming a parent.

"But there is a pony I trust entirely," said David, looking at Luna, "If you can find Rough Draft and bring him here, preferably before we do any magic."

Luna sent off her guards to fetch him before she looked at Trixie, "I have released the other mares you apprehended."

Trixie raised a brow, "Why was that, Your Highness?"

"They were correct," spoke Luna, "His mind was addled, and they brought him to you, a very responsible action. They did not physically harm him, or keep him isolated for any significant time."

David thought about being bitten, but decided against bringing it up. He didn't feel any particular ire towards the mares, bite or not. He settled down on the tiled floor, and waited. It was about ten minutes before the two bat pony guard marched in with Rough Draft moving along with them. Rough Draft looked like he had seen better days, with his front right leg in a thick cast and a bandage over his face covering an eye. When Rough Draft saw David, a smile erupted and he rushed over. David and Rough shared a soft hug as David spoke, "You will not believe what I've gotten into."

Rough plopped onto his haunches, "Try me. You're a source of impossible situations."

Luna cleared her throat, drawing their attentions, "The human, David, has chosen to abandon his human nature, and his physical maturity. He will be reshaped into a unicorn colt, just old enough to start learning magic and how to use his horn. He has chosen you, Rough Draft, to serve as his guardian."

Rough jerked his head back in surprise, looking at David, then Luna, "Seriously? I mean... I won't say no... but... seriously?"

"He is serious," spoke Luna. "I wish him to attend a quality school for unicorns. If you can't afford such a relocation, the crown will cover the difference. We want him close to us, in Canterlot." She tilted her head, "He may become a unicorn, but there is still knowledge and ways of thinking in him that would never occur in a unicorn. He is ours for thirty years. You may be his guardian, his father, but his flank belongs to royalty until then."

Rough's ears went down as he nodded, "Of course, your, uh, majesty. When do you want me to go?"

"Now. Please step aside. The magic requires concentration." Luna advanced on David. Tightness built in his belly. If he was going to change his mind, this would be the time to do so.

Author's Notes:

Well shoot! I checked the word count when I hit a good break point and boom, over 3000 words! There's a lot going on in this chapter. Should David go through with it and join Equestrian society entirely, or cling to that humanity?

What lore does Luna hope to drag out of David once he's a unicorn? What adventures may await him in school, a place he loved so much as a human! (Protip, he didn't like it at all. Maybe pony schools are better? We'll find out perhaps)

Be on the watch for typos, for they offend royal sensibilities.

31 - A Ray of Light

Luna spoke as she gestured at the ground with a wing, "Lay down. I will render you unconscious so--"

"No," said David, though he did sit down.

"No?" asked Luna, "Have you changed your mind? You will remain human?"

David shook his head, "Not that. I want to be awake. I have to be, to make this a transition, instead of a death."

Luna looked faintly perplexed, "It will be uncomfortable, but if that is your wish." With a flash of her magic, David was suddenly a foot to the left, with his clothing left behind. They fell to the ground in a heap, but Luna's attention slid to the lumps in them. She reached into his pants and pulled out his possessions. She found a phone, some cards, and a little rubber ball. She lifted the ball up and stared through it, "This has a curious magic about it. Where did you get it from?"

David felt a bit self-conscious, being naked, but tried to ignore it. He would be naked for most of his new life, so this was as good a time as any to try and get past that, as embarrassing as it might be. "I got that when I was coming here, to Equestria. It has my desk from back home, and everything on and in it. I never had a chance to use it."

"Mine," said Luna simply, "Consider it the first of your payment. You will show me how to use these artifacts after you are settled." She picked up the phone and cards as well in her magic and tucked them away for later research. She turned to the others, "It may be a formality, but I would have you all stand witness. The human David has surrendered himself and his old ways, of his own volition, nay, his own initiative. I, as princess of Equestria, welcome him as one of our own, adopted in body and name." She turned back to David, "What name will you bear?"

David timidly offered, "Silver Lining."

Luna smiled, "A fine name, now lay down please, and I will begin." David laid flat back and Luna shook her head, "On your side." He rolled over obediently and she lowered her head. Intense light descended from her horn over David. At first, nothing seemed to happen. He couldn't see the network of aether within him being corrected carefully, each line worked smooth, broken lines mended, and all the trauma being put to rest bit by bit. As the meeting of his pony and human sides began to be healed, they bled into each other freely instead of a neat line. Fur spread upwards over his belly even as patches of flesh intruded downwards, almost making stripes. Little pains that David had taken for granted fell away as the moon princess worked. His hooves shrunk as Luna undid Twilight's enchantment there, and a faint sense of weakness made him wonder if that strength spell had been dispelled as well.

"You are clean and ready," announced Luna before getting right to work. David could feel a sharp tingling all through his body, right at the edge of being painful. The fur began creeping upwards at a quick pace, overtaking his body as a snout pushed out of his face. The noises they made were quiet, objectively, but sounded like thunderous snaps in his own ears as David winced and tried to be still despite it. All sound faded away as his ears pulled in, leaving nothing, then a sudden tingling eruption announced the appearance of new ears, twitching atop his new skull. His hands clenched tightly, slowly becoming a hoof as his middle finger became the supporting structure and a tough shell grew around it. On some level, David was amused at the idea of flipping everyone off, forever.

"There's the silver lining," commended Rough Draft, who was watching on intently. David couldn't see any silver lining. The only fur he saw was the same soft brown that covered Rough Draft. At least they'd look like father and son. The thought was comforting for a moment before heat began to radiate from him sharply. He began to glow as the room slowly got bigger and bigger. Was he radiating mass as light and heat? He'd have to put out a lot more than he was doing... at least if magic cared about physics. His thoughts became distracted as a sharp pain started in his forehead. His horn freed itself with a few lines of blood, growing to a rounded nub where he could barely see the tip of if it when he looked up around his new snout. It didn't feel... magical, but what would magic feel like?

Luna looked absolutely massive now, and the other ponies simply large. He had missed the plethora of tiny changes, distracted by the larger, more obvious, shifts in his skull and hands. With his back end having already been a pony, it saved Luna some effort. The magic washing over him tapered away and David rolled over, trying right away to stand. Ungainly coltish legs proved much more of a challenge than stallion legs and he wobbled dangerously before flopping over. Instead of grumping, he laughed at it, feeling silly, and yet elated.

Luna smiled gently at the newly forged colt and opened her mouth to speak when a flash of golden light drew everypony's attention to the suddenly appeared Celestia. Celestia looked less than pleased, looking around, "Sister, what is going on? I felt forbidden magic being used and feared you were being attacked."

Luna's wings unfurled, "Attacked? Nay, sister. I am well and safe. I am dispensing justice."

Celestia appeared less than convinced, raising a brow, "Justice? What justice requires that magic?"

Luna shook her head quickly, "I misspeak. The magic you felt was not a punishment. It was asked for."

Celestia looked at the other ponies, quivering with worry, and at the small unicorn colt that just looked at her with curiosity and amazement. "We should speak, in private, sister."

"I'm almost done here," replied Luna.

"Now." said Celestia, leaving little room for arguing. The two vanished with flashes of light.

Trixie cleared her throat before stepping towards Silver Lining, "If Trixie had to guess, Luna was not supposed to do that."

The guards, with Luna no longer present, moved to depart. "Be good," one said to Lyra, and they were gone.

Lyra nodded a little, then joined the crowd around the new little colt. "So... are you angry?"

Silver Lining shook his head, "I wasn't angry in the first place." He put out a small hoof, "Friends?"

Lyra bumped the hoof with one of her own, "Friends!"

Bon Bon's bit Lyra's ear, tugging her back, "Alright, now that we're all settled, come along." Lyra whined at the abuse of her ear, but Bon Bon was not to be denied, and soon hauled Lyra out of the room.

Silver Lining looked at Rough Draft then, "Hi Dad."

Rough Draft snorted loudly, "Don't call me that! I'm... not your dad. I'm still your friend, your best friend. I'll keep you safe." Rough Draft reached over, grabbing Silver by the scruff of his neck and tossing him up onto Rough's back.

Trixie grabbed a mirror in her magic, the same as before, and pulled it over in front of Silver, "Luna did a very good job. Trixie would have been a little more decorative, but it is good enough."

Looking at himself, Silver could see he was a deep brown pony, like Rough Draft, with lighter patches around his snout and flank. His mane was a brilliant silver that stood out against it. His horn was the deep brown shade of his fur coat. His hooves were black and tail was the silver color of his mane. Overall, Silver was pleased with his appearance and smiled brightly. "So how do I do magic?" he asked from on top of Rough Draft. "Do I just imagine what I want?"

Trixie smugly hmphed, "It's not that easy. Trixie will teach you. Luna did not specify, but Trixie will come with you and move to Canterlot. She cannot be expected to tutor you from Manehattan."

Rough Draft's ears wilted, "Sorry. We didn't mean to drag you away from your job."

Trixie waved a hoof, "This is Trixie's job. She works for the crown. They will receive a bill for all expenses and they had better pay," she said with utter confidence. "Now," She pointed a hoof at Rough, "Have you been to Canterlot?"

Rough perked his ears back up, "Once..."

Trixie snorted, "Then you have no idea how to find housing. Come along, the generous and wise Trixie will help you relocate."

The trio trotted out of the room, Silver Lining still riding on Rough's back. It felt safe up there, and he watched the world go by until they reached the reception area. The three mares that had kid... foal? napped him were there. They saw Trixie and Rough Draft and hurried towards them. "Did it work?" asked Main Event, "Is he fixed?"

Cloudburst nodded, "Can I see him?"

Trixie looked away, hiding a chuckle that was struggling to escape her. Rough Draft pointed upwards, directing a hoof at the little pony on his back.

Cloudburst blinked, "Huh?" She leaned in closer to Silver Lining, sniffing at him and jerking back, "What?!"

"They fixed me," announced Silver Lining. His voice was somewhat recognizable, but clearly changed, now coming from a pony snout and a smaller body.

Cloudburst wobbled and collapsed, fading from the waking world. Eclipse raised a brow, "You were a foal that entire time? What terrible magic was used! I hope the pony responsible was severely punished."

Main Event shook her head slowly, "I would never have guessed, not in a million years. It's good that you're fixed, little one. Is this your father?" She blinked owlishly, "Oh Celestia! I helped his father be pummeled while trying to protect you!" She threw herself at Rough Draft's hooves, "I'm so sorry! I didn't know!"

Rough Draft became acutely uncomfortable, unsure how to react, "Uh... it's... OK... Everything's alright now. Water under the bridge."

Eclipse nodded at Rough Draft, "You are a kinder pony than we deserve. Have a nice day." she nudged her companions to the door, and soon they were gone, Cloudburst carried along, still unconscious, on Main Event's back.

Trixie allowed her laughter free, "The looks on their faces! You have made today worthwhile for Trixie." She led them out onto the streets of Manehatten and they were soon headed for the rail station. "Trixie has friends in high places. We will stay the night with one of them, and have a house on the next day."

Rough Draft raised a brow, "We?"

"Of course," said Trixie, "Unless you suddenly feel confident in the raising of a unicorn colt."

Rough Draft shook his head, "Well, no?"

"Then Trixie will live with you," she said. She raised a hoof and softly ruffled Silver's silvery mane, "Trixie is an expert in many things, including foalsitting, even if this foal is special." She wrinkled her nose, "But remember, Trixie knows. She will not tolerate foalish behavior."

Silver nodded his head quickly, "I'll be good. I don't want to make a big fuss, er, more than I already did. Thank you. I always knew you were a good pony."

Trixie held up a hoof, "Best pony," she corrected.

"Best pony, besides Rough Draft," said Silver, squeezing his guardian's back. When Trixie pouted, he tried, "Best unicorn?"

Trixie gave a soft hmph, "Trixie supposes that will do. Now come along, we have a train to catch."

Author's Notes:

David becomes Silver Lining, and Rough Draft's confusing love life shifts, with Lyra and Bon Bon falling off the radar and a new mare suddenly moving in, but does he even dare look at the Imposing and Magnificent Trixie in that light?

Some typos may want to catch a ride on the train too, but they're not allowed, so kick them off.

32 - The Long Train-Ride Home

They were soon comfortably settled onto the train. Trixie had arranged for a private booth, and Rough Draft had paid for it, and now they sat together in the cozy and private chamber. Silver Lining bounced on his bed a little, still testing the limits and function of his new equine form. He felt so... alive. All the little kinks and pains gathered over life were simply gone, and he found just bouncing in place on the bed to be inordinate amounts of fun, until Trixie sat down beside him.

Trixie nodded at him, "Don't let Trixie stop you."

Silver shook his head quickly, "Since you're here, can you show me some magic now?"

Trixie smiled gently, "So eager. Perhaps you will make a good student yet. Very well, Trixie will give you your first lesson. The most basic tricks that all unicorns learn are being able to move things with our horn, and to channel enough magic to create light. Just about any unicorn, even those untalented in magic, can eventually master these techniques. Let's try light first. That will give Trixie an idea of how well you can channel magic." She patted the bed with a hoof, "Sit down and relax. Imagine there is a flow of something warm and powerful inside of you. Let it begin to pump through you faster and faster, and relax the base of your horn."

"Base of my horn?" repeated Silver. He tilted his head and tried to feel for this muscle internally, though that was easier said than done. His brows waggled as he tried to find the right mental connection that would lead to it. Little grunts of effort came from him before he flopped onto his side, panting a little but with no magic to show for it.

"Trixie will help. Pay close attention to what this feels like," she said as her magic wrapped around Silver's horn. He could see it, which surprised him. The last time he was a pony, magic was invisible. Trixie saw his startled reaction and shook her head, "Trixie will not hurt you. Relax, and focus on what it feels like." Her magic squeezed around his horn, then seemed to seep into it a little. Suddenly he felt a muscle he never felt before as it was gently nudged to open. Warmth rushed from his body up into the horn with a faint tingle before Trixie released her grip and her magic vanished. "Now do that on your own."

Having felt the muscle move, Silver was much more easily able to focus his thoughts on it, making it quiver and jerk at first. The lesson became one of learning how to flex and feel the muscle and little more, but they agreed that this was a valuable lesson to learn. "Trixie admits, she forgot about learning to use that. It has been some time since Trixie learned magic from the start." Silver Lining nodded at her, wagging his tail.

"It's OK. This is progress. Thank you." His control was less than perfect, but he could move that sphincter, and that was good enough for a first lesson. Trixie excused herself and trotted from the room, leaving him alone with Rough Draft. Silver looked over at Rough and saw a thousand tells. His ears were down, his head was down. He looked anywhere but at Silver, and he would sigh so sadly once in a while. Silver launched himself from the bed and trotted towards Rough, still uncertain on those legs, "Rough?"

Rough Draft jerked up and looked down at Silver Lining, "Huh? Is your lesson over?"

Silver nodded quickly, "Yea. Trixie went off to get a drink or go to the little mare's room. What's on your mind?"

"Nothing," replied Rough even as his ears fell again.

Silver shook his head, "Something's wrong. Come on... we're friends, right?"

Rough Draft reached down and grabbed Silver by his scruff, placing the colt on his table where they could look eye to eye, "I thought you liked me, as I was."

Silver looked confused at this, "Huh? Of course I do."

"Then why a unicorn?" asked Rough. "You could have been anything, and you picked a unicorn."

Silver realized the problem and those pony tells overwhelmed him. His ears fell and he shrunk towards the ground. He struggled against them, forcing his body towards a more neutral stance instead of laying his feelings naked to the world, "It was Luna's idea, to replace my fingers. I was barely thinking about it when she brought up I could be young again." Rough didn't look comforted and Silver approached, gently nuzzling one of Rough's forelegs, "You are perfect the way you are. I picked you to be my guardian, not Trixie, or Nicky, or Lyra."

Rough snorted out a laugh, "I don't think Luna would have allowed you to go with Lyra after all that, or a changeling, even a nice one like Nicky." He suddenly grabbed Silver in his forelegs, hugging the little colt close, "Are you really OK with your, uh, guardian, being an earth pony?"

Silver found a squeak escaping him and laughed a little at the noise he had made before he could reply, "Of course I am. I want you, nopony else." Silver began nestling against Rough, curling in with him, "My big strong guardian. My clever, creative guardian." Rough began to relax, and they sat together, enjoying one another's warmth until Trixie returned. Trixie smiled at the two cuddled up before moving to the free bed.

"Trixie is taking a nap. Wake her when it is dinner time." She climbed up and was soon asleep.

Rough took Silver by the scruff and stepped towards the other bed. Being held by the scruff was far less painful than Silver Lining would have imagined. It actually made him drowsy. Thinking back, he seemed to recall kittens had a similar built-in reaction to it. Rough set Silver down on the bed after he had put himself on it, and curled up with the colt, seemingly ready to take his own nap. Soon only Silver was awake in the cabin. Not feeling particularly sleepy without that pressure on his scruff, he passed the time with practicing that magic.

Once he could open properly, he could feel the flow within him, and he focused on that feeling. It seemed leaving it open for too long made it a little sore, so he had to do it in little bursts. He tried to hasten that feeling, to focus on the flow of power through him. His little form began to grow warm as the flow picked up and the tingling slowly became more and more intense. Once it built to an almost burning intensity, he opened it. Silver light burst from his horn, not as a glow but a fountain of sparks. He tried to close it again, but all the magic he had gathered needed escape, and he could not deny it. He aimed his betraying horn away from the other ponies, hoping they wouldn't set anything on fire. The feelings of this little magical overdose were dizzying and yet just a little pleasant. Fortunately, it faded away after about ten seconds. He let out a relieved sigh, only to see Trixie staring at him from across the bunk.

"You gathered too much," she said in soft admonishment. "But you did make light. Trixie congratulates you. Now do it without sparking it. You won't impress anypony with those."

Though her tone was so smug and self-confident, Silver could find no ire towards it. He liked Trixie, ego and all. He nodded quickly at her, "First step's first. I'm not going to be happy until I've replaced my fingers." A bit of a lie. He felt pretty happy already. Learning magic, any magic. Who couldn't be happy? He calmed himself and reached for that rush, but instead of letting it build to boiling, he opened himself just a little. His horn began to sputter with weak silver light. He spent the next few hours practicing the balance between the internal rush of energies and just how he flexed his horn. By the time dinner rolled around, Silver was proudly wielding his weak, but steady, light. It took a lot of concentration to hold that internal muscle just right, but he tried to keep it going even as he walked along with Rough Draft and Trixie Lulamoon towards the dining car.

They seated together, Silver's light sputtering as he struggled with climbing into his chair along with the trick. Rough leaned over and grabbed him by the scruff. The moment he had a grip, the magic went out like a snuffed candle. The internal muscle relaxed without asking Silver's opinion. Rough set Silver on his chair with a smile. Silver smiled back, even if he had to reignite the light. Practice was practice, after all. He let out a little breath, "What are we eating?"

Rough nosed open the menu, "Well, since you're a pony now, you can eat like one. Tonight, you try some flowers."

Flowers did not sound appealing. His rebellious new body broadcasted this fact without his thinking about it, and he found his tongue sticking out in distaste. He reeled the betraying tongue back in quickly, blushing through his fur. Rough Draft folded his menu shut, "I'm going to feed my new little colt right, whether he likes it or not. Luna trusted me with this responsibility."

Trixie nodded a little, "Trixie agrees. Using magic is a tiring activity. While great unicorns like Trixie make it look easy, a healthy diet is the basis of healthy wizards." She directed a blue-furred hoof at Silver, "So eat what your father tells you, and be happy you have a father that cares so deeply for you."

Rough and Silver both blushed at Trixie's words, going quiet together in shared social awkwardness. Trixie snorted and began to laugh, "If Trixie did not already know better, she would be hard to convince that you two are not truly related." Her eyes settled on little Silver Lining, "You chose well."

Rough Draft squirmed a little before he spoke, "We are related, in a way."

Trixie perked an ear. "Oh? Tell Trixie more."

Rough clopped his forehooves together lightly in thought, "I imagined him, and he imagined me. We were a world apart, but we both knew about each other. We both wanted to meet the other, just a little. It was a fantasy for both of us, a passing thought... but then it happened. He was there, in front of me. We surprised each other so much."

Trixie shook her head, "You imagined a, what was it, human? And it was Silver Lining?"

"David," said Silver Lining, "I was David back then. David's the human, Silver Lining is the pony." His concentration lapsed and his horn glew brighter a moment before he could rein it back in.

Trixie reached across the table and put a hoof on his horn. The magic cut off, the muscle contracting the moment Trixie touched his horn. "Don't overextend yourself. You're just learning. Besides, you need to eat."

The food arrived, though Silver missed the part with the waiter. Did he space out during that? Either way, a plate of hay fries and a sandwich with flowers, whole flowers, even some stem, in it. New body, new taste buds, right? He hoped this was the case, as the food smelled appetizing and his little belly was urging him to sample it. He tried to pick up a hay fry with fingers he didn't have, doing little but nudging the top fry off the pile. Not wanting to ask for help eating, he tried throwing magic at it, but he had no idea how to direct the magic yet, just release it. This didn't stop him from trying.

He released the silver magic and tried to direct it at the hay fries, doing little but making the light sputter and dance oddly on his horn. Suddenly the muscle snapped shut. He glanced up, cross-eyed, to see Trixie had her magic wrapped around his horn. She waved a hoof in a 'tut-tut' fashion before she lifted a fry and held it in front of his snout. David blushed softly, but accepted the help. He snapped up the fry and chewed it quickly. Mmm! His new palete agreed with the salty snack and he eagerly ate each one that Trixie held up for him. Suddenly the sandwich was there instead of a fry.

A flower fell out of the magic grip and hit the plate. Silver leaned in past the sandwich and snapped up the rose-looking bud and chewed on it. Intense flavor burst in his mouth. The closest he could describe it was like raspberry with a bit of romaine lettuce. He liked it, and was soon tearing into the levitating sandwich. It was all too soon that his plate was clean of any sign of food. Thinking back on it, he wondered aloud, "How did I eat so much with a little body?"

Rough Draft perked an ear, "Even I know that. Unicorns use a lot of energy with their magic, and you've been practicing a lot."

Trixie nodded in agreement, "With practice, you will learn when you need to eat, and you will become more efficient. Some unicorns just make a slob of themselves." She leaned over the table a little, "Have you seen Princess Twilight Sparkle? She eats like a starving pig. It amuses Trixie to no end. Trixie prefers oat shakes when she is performing great feats. She can sip on them without making a mess and they are filling."

Silver remembered the shake Trixie was sipping, back in that episode, when Snip and Snails were harassing her. "Alright, as long as I'm not overeating. I don't want to get pudgy all over again."

Trixie waved a hoof, "Only a truly gluttonous, or magically lazy, unicorn can get obese, though Trixie has seen a few." Trixie went quiet as she focused on her own food, nibbling delicately on her salad.

"So," asked Silver, "Will I be going to a magic school when I get to Canterlot?"

Rough Draft shook his head, "Trixie is your teacher, at least for the basics. The school you're going to is for foals in general. You have to learn about Equestria, and laws, and learn to live with other ponies your own age."

Silver shrank a little, "Oh. I didn't do so well in school when I was young the first time. I thought it was going to be a magic school."

Rough Draft reached over and ruffled Silver's mane gently, "You chose to be a colt, you have to deal with school. No colt of mine, even a friend, is getting to skip school."

Trixie finished the leaf she was working on and spoke up, "This is true. You must have a basic level of general education before you can apply to any magic university. This should not be difficult for you?" She looked uncertain a moment, "How much do you know? You knew Trixie before you met her, but Trixie is not on the test. Do you know math?"

"Two and two is four. Six minus three and a half is two and a half," started Silver, "A squared plus B Squared equals C Squared to figure out triangles. Three to the second power is nine. The square root of sixteen is four."

Rough Draft whistled softly, "You have math down pretty well. What about... spelling?"

"Are the letters called the same?" asked Silver. "I'll assume they are. Silver Lining. S-I-L-V-E-R-L-I-N-I-N-G."

Trixie nodded, "Trixie does not predict general education will be that challenging for you, at least on the technical side. There are nuances of pony society you should learn, so pay attention during those lessons, no matter how foalish they seem."

Back to grade school, thought Silver Lining, at least this time he'd be coming in pre-armed with more knowledge than would even be fair. This should be a snap. David Silver was done, now it was time for Silver Lining to do it all right, the first time. Looking between his two caretakers, a bright smile overtook his new snout. Things were looking up.

Author's Notes:

THE END!

Stay tuned for the sequel, which will start with Silver Lining and crew settling into Canterlot. How will the human-turned-colt do in school?

What trouble did Luna get into over all this?

Will Rough Draft get comfortable with being the father figure of his formerly human friend?

Will Trixie make a mistake? None that she will admit willingly!