Fast nudged Night along. "I'm not accepting no," she said firmly, "Silver won't die if you're away from her for a few hours. Besides, Twilight is checking on her every hour, on the hour."

Night glanced back down the hallway leading to their room before relenting, going as Fast guided her, "I'm just worried. From what Twilight told me, there's a twenty percent chance Silver traded my foal's loss for her own, and another twenty percent chance she or the foal may suffer some kind of effect from all the magic she built up."

Fast waved a hoof, "And there's exactly zero we can do about that. Put it out of your mind. You're better, and I'm better, and we deserve a day together." She leaned in and nibbled at Night's cheek, "Besides, it's not your foal or her foal, they're all our foals. You're not giving her enough credit. She'll break all the rules if she has to."

Night cracked a smile, "She would... Alright, what do you have in mind?"

Fast waggled her brows, "Well if you want to keep it simple, I could tackle you to the ground and show you how much I love every inch of you."

Night flushed deep red, "I... What's the second option?"

Fast gave a soft pfft, "Oh fine. If you won't accept my ravaging, we could start the day with a walk around town. It'll do you good, and let ponies know you're alright. We can end the walk at Sugarcube Corner, where we'll get something at least half as sweet as you are."

Night nodded quickly with a smile, "That sounds lovely. Let's go." She went to retrieve her saddlebag, and then joined Fast at the door. They exited into the warm morning. The sun was bright, the air was clear, and it did feel good to just walk. Fast nudged her along to a faster pace, bringing them into a full trot instead of a leisurely walking gait. "What's the rush?" asked Night.

"No rush," replied Fast, swatting her tail at Night, "Morning walks are better when they're jogs." Their eyes were drawn towards the eatery where their aborted evening took place. Whatever damage it had suffered was fixed, and it was opening up for ponies seeking breakfast. The town seemed happy and secure.

Night perked an ear, swiveling it around, "Do you think they'll try again? To take her mark, that is."

Fast frowned a little, "Without a doubt, but we're here to relax, not stress some more about the future."

Night sagged a little, "I feel... useless. You can become all kinds of terrible things, but what can I do? We're ambushed and about the only thing I did was provide a good beating target. I couldn't even fight!" She frowned, "Damn unicorn magic."

Fast reached for Night's face, turning it so they were nose-to-nose, "I couldn't see either. We just ran. You are a lovely and wonderful mare."

Night's ears sagged, "I'm the only one without magic."

Fast frowned, "So? You have your head, and it's a mighty fine one at that." She leaned in and kissed Night on the lips, but it didn't last long as the distressed Night pulled away.

Night stomped from one hoof to the other, frustration building, "Look at our herd! We have the Princess of magic and friendship, a shapeshifter good enough to play a changeling queen for a while, a unicorn that's so valuable, her cutie mark isn't safe from thieves, and then... you have me. The watcher."

Fast put her hooves back on Night's cheeks, "Night, I have a request."

Night trembled, but didn't pull away again, "What?"

"Watch over me," asked Fast. "Help keep us safe. Love us."

Night quirked a little smile, "I'll... try."

Fast suddenly perked as inspiration came, "Hey! Why don't we try switching places?"

Night frowned, "What?"

Fast pointed back at the tower, "We'll get Twilight to swap our cutie marks after I turn into you. Then you'll have my mark and can turn into me! We'll switch for a week!"

Night plopped onto her haunches, looking stunned at the idea, "I... you'd do that? You would be giving up most of your magic."

Fast waved a hoof, "If it made you smile? Yes. Let's do it!" Fast suddenly became a copy of Night, glasses and saddlebag included. She flapped her new wings, "I never said it, but it's easy to be jealous of wings. Flying is so incredibly fun!"

Night looked her doppelganger over before leaning in and biting lightly where the outstretched wing met the body, where she knew it was sensitive on her own body. Fast went stiff, and Night knew it mirrored properly. Enjoying the moment, Night continued her soft attention, working the wing slowly from the root towards its tip.

"Ahem," came a voice that made the two lunar pegasi jump apart. There was Mayor Mare, looking on patiently. "If you're quite done, there are ordinances about this sort of thing."

Both nodded at her in eerie sync, even speaking together, "Yes ma'am, sorry ma'am."

Mayor Mare looked a little baffled, "Yes, well, do keep that to your own homes, thank you." She wandered off to deal with less confusing issues.

Smiling at one another, the twins spread their wings and flew off towards the castle swiftly. "Did you mean it?" one asked, "About being jealous?"

"It doesn't consume my day," said Fast, "But yes. Having wings is great! Lunar wings are especially awesome. You don't have to preen them and they mostly take care of themselves if you keep the rest of you clean... Not that a good preening from a loved one is a bad experience, but having to do it, blech."

Night smiled with rising spirits, "Well, maybe you'll enjoy the week then... but if you miss your magic, you can just ask. I won't keep it away from you."

Fast snorted, "I made the challenge! I won't back out of it! Besides, I'll be spending the week with you, so how bad could it really be?"

They landed on the balcony together and quickly proceeded inside. They found Twilight nowhere in sight. They checked in on Silver, who reported Twilight hadn't been around in quite a while. "She said something about Applejack, I'd check there." They left Silver there after making sure she was fine. Zecora assured them she would be attentive, and off Night and Fast went to Sweet Apple Acres.

Swift wings brought them out of Ponyville swiftly, to spot Twilight easily. Twilight was quite busily digging holes. Applejack stood nearby with some potted apple trees. The lunar pegasi descended as a pair and landed on either side of one of the holes. "Hey, Twilight!" One of them called.

Applejack peered at the two, "Uh, are mah eyes playing jokes on me?"

The other shook her head, "Just a little wager. It will be a lot less confusing in a moment. Twilight?"

Twilight poked her head up out of the hole she was in, "Yes? Oh! Night... you've doubled?"

Fast pointed at her unchanged cutie mark, "Not quite. Can you do your magic and switch our marks, please?"

Night nodded her head, "We agreed to swap places, and bodies, for a week."

Twilight rose a hoof, "I... suppose I can, but you realize the foal will still be with Night, no matter what form she takes." The two nodded, and Twilight worked her magic, prying free each of their cutie marks as gently as she could and switching them around. Night became a slightly pregnant-looking Fast Change with a thought and giggled at the alien sensation of the transformation.

Fast pointed at her doppelganger, "You forgot to lose the wings."

Night looked at her bat-like wings on her otherwise unicorn body. "I'm an alicorn!"

Fast chuckled softly, "You were already my princess, now really, ditch those."

Soon Night had become entirely like Fast Change, if one ignored the small sign of her impending motherhood. "This feels so... strange."

Twilight raised a brow, "If you wouldn't mind taking notes, that would be fantastic. We didn't get a chance to see how Fluttershy or Silver adapted since they swapped back so quickly." She vanished back into the hole, and resumed digging.

Fast flashed her fangs, "I can't say your body is all that strange to me, but I can... see a lot more. It's like everything just clicks together." She looked towards Applejack's barn, "That has a thirty-five percent chance of collapse within the year."

Applejack raised a brow, "Say what now?"

Fast shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know how I knew that. It just came to me. This is so cool!"

Night moved up and kissed Fast on either cheek, "Thank you, for this idea."

Fast extended a wing and hugged Night close, "You can thank me with some lunch. I didn't forget the plan to hit up Sugarcube Corner. Let's go."

They trotted side-by-side back to Ponyville. Fast kept talking, "Since you're me, sort of, remember you can get wings back whenever you want. Comes with the cutie mark."

Night tapped at the horn on her head, "But I have a horn. Could I learn magic too?"

Fast frowned in thought, then realized, "Aw shoot. I don't have a horn, or my mark. I'm really going to be experiencing pegasus life."

Night rubbed up against Fast's side, "If you want to call it off..."

Fast snorted, "Never! I can make it a week without a horn!"

Night nudged open the door to Sugarcube. There were about four ponies in the booths, but it was mostly empty. Pinkie Pie was stationed at the counter, and smiled brightly when they entered. "Hey guys! You look like you've got something I can fix." She ducked down and came up with two different sweet treats. Both of their mouths watered and they advanced, diving right into the one that smelled best to them.

Pinkie looked confused, "But... huh. You guys are eating each other's."

Fast burst into laughter, sending cream and frosting flying as she hadn't removed her face from the confection. "Sweet Celestia! Already found out, by Pinkie Pie's treats."

Pinkie Pie smiled, "I did?"

Night nodded, grabbing a napkin and wiping her muzzle clean, "We've switched for a little while. This is very good! How much do we owe?"

Pinkie Pie tapped the counter, "Two bits a piece, and how'd you do that? Are you wearing a disguise, 'cause I have a great disguise of all my friends! Watch!" She ducked down beneath the counter, and Rarity popped up. "I say, your fashion is just terrible," said Pinkie with a bad impression. Pinkie unzipped her Rarity outfit with a burst of giggles.

Fast laughed with her, "Oh, oh, that's just too good! You're almost as good as me at changing. Is that some kind of crazy earth pony magic?"

Pinkie shrugged, "Just comes naturally to me. Also, you mean as good as her, right?" She pointed at Night.

Night grinned and focused on the pink pony before her. Soon there were two Pinkies. The first Pinkie shook her head, "No! I've already had to deal with a bunch of me once!"

The second Pinkie tilted her head, "But this one is your friend."

The first Pinkie nodded, "Well, that's true... I'll let it slide this time, but only if I get a hug." She reared up and threw her forelegs wide, and the second leaped across the counter, tackling the first to the ground. They giggled together in a fit of mock wrestling.

Fast watched the two play with a bit of a grin before taking the opportunity to polish off the remainder of both plates of deliciousness. This was going to be a fun week.

Author's Notes:

Behold, as I suddenly work in today's episode ever so casually and Fast and Night get some time together, exploring each other in entirely non-sexual ways.

What if the typos learn to shapeshift?