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.