Trixie drew out a small wooden box. Rough and Silver looked at it curiously as she set it between them all. She flipped it open and a lavender-colored crystal sphere was revealed. "Do you remember this?" she asked, looking up at Rough and Silver in turn.

"Of course," said Silver as he grabbed it with a silver hand, hovering up the heart crystal with its silver wire, admiring the lavender orb, "I forgot all about it."

Trixie made a soft dismissive motion, "You had no need for it. Princess Luna removed all your enchantments. It is still tied to you. It always will be, unless it is smashed to pieces."

Rough perked an ear, "Even with his new body?"

Trixie nodded, "It is tied to something deeper. His soul, you could say? What makes him, him." She took control of the floating sphere, gently removing it from Silver's grip. His hand vanished as the orb was brought closer and its chain was draped around his neck, soon fastened. "You are still you, pony or human. Luna did not remove that."

Silver gave a nervous smile. The sphere shone gently in contact with him, and he felt a little better for having it back. "It's odd, but that's really comforting. I feel very different at times." He raised a hoof, brushing against the orb, "Starting with the lack of hands and this snout that's always in my vision." He suddenly felt a wave of self-consciousness, "Am I at least, you know, not an ugly pony?"

Rough blinked in surprise at the question, "I'm not the best qualified to answer that, being your friend, a stallion, and I'm not attracted to other stallions, but you're cute for a colt."

Trixie snorted gently, "You are perfectly fine. If you were older, Trixie would likely consent to your clumsy attempts at romance." She smiled in a wily way, "She would gladly accept your chocolates and let you take her to expensive shows. If you played your cards just right, you may even get a kiss."

Silver burst into a cheerful laughter, "You heartbreaker! You would string me along."

"Without mercy," said Trixie, "But you are not a romantic partner. You are a student, and it is time for you to learn." She raised a hoof to point at his heart crystal, "That can hold magic, and prevents spells from tangling. Trixie will use it to give you a few... edges. The next time you see that terrible brute, you will tell him that you are unimpressed with his oafish behavior. Do not engage him directly in battle." She waggled a hoof, "He'll do that for you. When he lunges at you, you spring the trap. Be careful. You want him to attack you away from the school and that simple-minded teacher. She will undoubtedly chastise you if she sees you using magic against him again."

Silver did not look entirely confident. With half-flagged ears he shook his head, "I'm not good at fighting. I don't want to... you know, swing at him?"

Trixie shook her head, "The spells your great and clever teacher has in mind will not require anything as uncouth as you brawling with that foal." She leaned forward and gently rubbed her muzzle against Silver's. He went tense and began blushing brightly. Why did all the mares he came close to smell so nice? "You keep that gentle, peaceful, soul. It suits you well."

Trixie's horn glowed softly as she focused on the heart crystal. Silver watched as the magic moved in extremely subtle ways. This close, without a television in the way, or the limits of flash animation, he could see that serious magic was... amazing to just watch. He was captivated as the patterns of Trixie's raw will rippled back and forth in delicate swirls and eddies. His sphere echoed the patterns precisely and perfectly, and the magic of Trixie flowed into him through the sphere, filling him with a familiar and comforting warmth.

Rough softly nudged Silver, "Are you OK with this plan?"

Silver considered the question, "I wouldn't trust many to do it, but I trust Trixie. She will do her best."

Rough nodded with a smile, "I will too."

Silver tilted his head, "If I thought it was cool for my adoptive father to just go, you know, smash the jerk... But it's really not."

Rough shook his head then with a sigh, "No it isn't." He leaned in, nudging his nose into Silver's cheek. He didn't have an appealing scent like the mares, but his was a comforting presence.

Silver returned the nuzzle, "You're great."

Rough seemed placated, relaxing when Silver said it.

Silver caught the reaction and perked his ears, "Rough, you know I... am really happy with you, right?"

"Why?" asked Rough plainly.

Silver blinked slowly, "Why? You're my friend. You're my father, even if you hate hearing that."

"It's growing on me..." murmured Rough.

Silver moved forward and nuzzled Rough's chest, "You are a safe place I can always return to. You care about me." He sat back, "I can't even say how much that means. You really care about me."

Trixie suddenly cleared her throat, "The first spell is complete, but creating spells of this magnitude is draining."

Silver thrust up a hoof excitedly, "I got some oat shake mix when I went to the store. It should be in the fridge."

Trixie blinked, "When did you go to the store?" She rose to her hooves, "One moment." She trotted out of sight and her voice trailed musically, "You lovely colt! Trixie's favorite brand."

Silver made a quick mental note of which brand he had selected for the future, but his eyes settled on Rough, "I did mean what I said. No matter how strange and hostile this wondrous world has gotten, you were there, ready to help. You drank poison for me, even if you didn't know it at the time."

Rough blushed softly as he thought back to the changeling's knock-out knob. "I wonder how she's doing?"

Silver shrugged, "A movie shoot, wasn't it?" Rough had relaxed, and Silver felt himself relaxing with him. He liked seeing Rough happy. "So tell me more about the book you're working on?"

Rough began going over the little statistical details of his creation, geeking out joyfully about his creation. Silver tried to be constructive, but had little intention of going over the statistical differences between a 'peach human' and an 'earth human', to say nothing of all the other colors he had planned. He just couldn't think of any stat to offer that wouldn't be amazingly racist. Trixie came back in, wielding a thick cup of nutrient and calorie-thick oatmeal slurry that she sipped with a thick straw.

Trixie began the second spell even as she drained the glass. Silver glanced between the hypnotic horn and Rough, "Can you see it?"

Rough nodded a little, "It's a dim reddish glow."

It looked quite bright to Silver, easily visible with all its little nuances. He asked, "So... I'm going to turn the question around. Are you, you know, annoyed? I mean... I can't imagine I'm the easiest colt ever, and I'm not even your colt, by blood."

Rough softly struck Silver on the head. Silver shrank back and looked hurt a moment before he could fight back the reaction. Rough's ears spun back, "I am not mad at you. I'm mad at what's happening around you. I'm a little upset I ended up with a colt instead of a human, but that was your choice." He reached forward, gently drew Silver closer. "You're still my David. And you're pretty awesome for a colt." Silver's apprehension slowly faded as he relaxed into the warm hug. He felt safe, and little else mattered. The room was quiet save for the quiet slurps of Trixie's straw.

Trixie licked her lips clean before she announced, "It is done. One spell to teach a lesson, and another to keep our colt safe. If that awful pony gets his hooves on you, he will be in for a surprise, and you will be fine. The trap will deploy itself, all you have to do is believe in Trixie. And go to bed, now." She raised a hoof to point at Silver's bedroom.

Silver trotted for the door. "Yes, mom," he said in a tauntingly cute tone.

Trixie blushed red and sent a pillow sailing, striking Silver's flank with a yelp from him. Soon he was in bed. Rough looked to Trixie, "Will he be alright?"

Trixie nodded, "He will be fine. Just wait to hear his tale. It will be worth listening to." She clopped her hooves together before moving off with her empty glass, "We should get some sleep too."

Rough pointed at one of the plush cushions in the den, "I'll sleep in here tonight. You can take the bed."

Trixie nodded and moved for the master bedroom without another word. She claimed her large cushy bed as was her privileged right and was out shortly. Rough gathered some of the cushions in the room together before fetching his book. He settled down heavily and resumed writing.

Silver felt significantly better with the coming morning, and was off to school without delay. Meadow Leaper met him in the yard, "Hey Silver! Where were you yesterday?"

Silver kicked back a ball Meadow had sent his way, "Nothing big. My parents thought I should visit the castle."

Meadow tilted his head, "Huh really? I never been there before! What's it like?"

Silver left off bits about the princesses, instead describing the windows and some of the art he saw. As he described the things he saw, a crowd began to gather to hear it.

"Wow," said Lily Jump, "Did you really see all that?"

A deep, irritated grunt caught their attentions as Rough Tumble shoved through the crowd, "Course he didn't. He's a big fat liar." He flashed his flat, yet menacing, teeth, "How you doing, liar. Still sore?"

Silver trembled unwillingly at Tumble's presence, but fought back the flattening of his ears, putting on a brave face, "I feel just fine, thanks for asking. That was a lovely little wrestle we had. I hope next time you get serious about it. I could use a real workout."

Tumble frowned deeply, "I can arrange that. I guess some ponies learn real slow." The bell rang, and school began. It passed well enough, with an interesting lesson on how the seasons were originally formed and decided upon. Silver's attention was on the clock and the coming end of the day. He hoped it would all end well, but feared despite it. The weight of his heart crystal gave him some measure of comfort.

When Silver trotted home, he could feel the presence of the bully trailing along after him. He ducked out of sight of the road, scooting a few steps quickly before the light from the entrance of the alley dimmed with Tumble's form. "Looking for a way out?" he asked. "It's not too late to beg. Get on your belly and tell me who the boss is."

Silver's tail fell between his legs against his will even as he raised his words in defiance, "Is that how you like colts, on their bellies? I didn't think you swung that way. You should take me out first."

Tumble looked perplexed at the words, snorting in frustration, "What? I ain't no colt cuddler." He approached on heavy hooves, "You sick little pony, I'll mash you until they aren't sure which you are." Silver stood stock still, praying to whatever forces looked on that Trixie's spell would do... what was it supposed to do? He wished he had asked. There was no time for second thoughts. Tumble's hoof came in a dangerous streak. He winced back and shut his eyes tightly.

"What the!?" exclaimed a new voice. Silver cracked an eye to see Tumble hovering in the air. He thrashed and flailed, but could find no purchase in the blanket of Trixie's pinkish magic. "What's... going on? Help! He--" His voice vanished as the magic around him began to grow more complicated and folded in on the large colt, performing whatever nefarious spell Trixie had decided on. The colt's thick features softened by the moment, almost becoming like that of a filly before he fell from the air to hit the ground with a soft squeak. "You pointy-headed bastard!" he screamed in a new high-pitched voice. He was still a he, Silver could see that between his legs.

Tumble threw himself at Silver, still standing largely still, and dragged him to the ground. He punched and kicked, but there was no force behind it. The bully had been neutered, and swung with an infant's strength. Silver recovered from his surprise with a blink, "Uh... are you OK?"

"I'm not OK!" screamed Tumble, "What did you do? Turn it back! This isn't funny..." Tumble fell against Silver, breaking into loud wails, "My parents are gonna kill me..."

Silver gently patted his back with a hoof, "It's not that bad."

Tumble jerked back, "Not bad? Not bad!" He peered at Silver a moment, "You're a colt cuddler, aren't you? You're going to pin me down and do terrible things to me!" He suddenly flopped over and flipped his tail aside, "Well fine, just get it over with."

Silver's eyes went wide, "Woah! No! Geeze, put your tail down." He scrambled to his hooves, "I'm not... about to rape someone, god."

Tumble looked up over his shoulders, "I just want to be normal again... please. Don't make me go home like this. I'm sorry!"

Silver felt conflicting emotions. "You're kind of a jerk."

Tumble trembled where he laid, "Please..."

Silver closed his eyes and sighed gently, "Will you stop being a jerk?" He moved around Tumble and offered a hoof, "Will you be a good pony? That's all I want."

Tumble snorted softly, "I... what?" He rose back to his hooves, "What are you, an Element? You're not angry at me?"

"Yes, yes I am," said Silver, "But I don't want to be. I hate being angry." He glanced away, then back at Tumble, "Come with me. We can get you fixed."

Tumble hesitantly trotted after Silver, trying to hide his effeminate appearance as he darted from cover to cover on his way with Silver to his home. Silver nudged open the door with his magic and trotted inside.

Trixie was there and smiled brightly, "Silver Lining! How did it..." she trailed off, looking past him to the fillified Tumble and a hoof covered her mouth. "Why is he here?"

Silver closed the door behind Tumble, "Tumble realizes his mistake." He looked to Tumble, "What was that mistake?"

Tumble looked quite nervous, "Uh, don't mess with unicorns?"

Silver shook his head, "A good idea, but that's not the mistake."

Tumble frowned, "You know really mean spells?"

"Wasn't my spell," corrected Silver, "Come on. Do you really want to spend the whole school year fighting?"

Tumble shouted in shrill fury, "If that's what it takes! Respect me!" He sank to his belly, tears flowing anew, "Why doesn't anypony respect me?"

Trixie moved beside Silver and leaned in to whisper, "Trixie does not understand what you are doing, but she will stay here in case it goes poorly."

Silver nodded at Trixie before advancing towards Tumble, "Tell me what you're good at, Tumble, besides beating up ponies or scaring them."

Tumble looked up from the ground, then glanced back at his cutie mark, which showed a picture of a big wheel. "I like... driving."

Silver blinked softly, "There are cars?"

Trixie snorted softly, "Not many."

Silver ventured a hesitant smile, "Nothing wrong with that. Sit up, Tumble. Want to tell me about your car?"

Tumble did sit up, but scowled at Silver, "I don't have any car! Mom and Dad said it was stupid. They beat me black and blue when they saw my mark."

Silver's ears flipped back. It was starting to make more sense. "That's not right. If you want to drive, if that's your special talent, you should do that."

Tumble thrust a thin hoof at Silver, "What would you know! You don't even have a mark."

Silver shook his head, "True, but I don't need one to know that." He threw caution to the wind and advanced on Tumble. He reached for the colt, who drew back. Silver kept advancing, and Tumble only moved back so far, and then he was hugged gently. "I'm sorry."

Tumble scowled through the sting of fresh tears, "What are you sorry for!" he squealed in his high-pitched voice. "Stop feeling sorry for me and just turn me back."

Silver squeezed him, "I'll do what I can to get you a car. I don't know what I can do, but you have my support. You should be behind a wheel, not hurting ponies."

Tumble wriggled free of the hug and retreated into the living room. He settled his eyes on the watching Trixie. "You, can you turn me back?"

Trixie shook her head, "Only if Silver says so. You should finish your talk with him. He can be very stubborn."

Silver shrugged softly, "Turn him back if he wants. I'm not trying to blackmail him."

Trixie snorted, "You should be!" She frowned down at Tumble, "Trixie's student is far too kind. Do you want to be turned back now?"

Tumble bobbed his head quickly, "Please, now!"

Undoing the spell proved a simpler act than setting the enchantment trap. With a flash of bright light, Tumble was returned to his heavy set and muscular self. Tumble pranced in place, delighted to no longer be emasculated, "Thanks." He moved to the door, shoving Silver out of the way. "I'll see you in school."

With a slam, he was gone.

Trixie huffed softly, "Are you certain that was wise? A few days as a shrill little filly-colt would have been very educational."

Silver raised an ear, "Why didn't you just turn him all the way into a filly?"

Trixie made a dismissive gesture, "Even a princess would have a great deal of trouble performing that. Gender swapping spells are near the pinnacle of magic."

Silver blinked slowly, "So turning me into a pony colt is easier than giving me an innie instead of an outtie?"

Trixie tilted her head, "Trixie reminds you that a princess performed that as well. Why, do you want to try being a mare on top of trying being a pony?"

Silver shook his head, "Becoming a mare while still a virgin as a stallion? What a waste. I'll pass for now."

"Just as well," said Trixie, "There is little chance the princesses would agree to grant that wish, even if you have their ear. Dinner will be ready in half an hour."

Silver retreated to his room to do some reading, wondering if he had handled Tumble well, or just invited further violence later.

Author's Notes:

What, more words? Someone send help!

Will Tumble be reformed, or does he have more trouble to cause? Only time will tell.

You know what will definately cause trouble? Typos.