Lily squirmed on the couch for what felt like the umpteenth time. A thunderstorm had appeared out of nowhere a few hours ago, and even though she would hate to admit it to anypony, she was deathly afraid of thunder and lightning. She pulled the blanket over her head as she buried her muzzle in between the couch cushions, trying her hardest to block out the terrifying sounds. A whimper escaped past her lips as a particularly loud thunderclap rang out from above, making the tips of her wings tremble.

About a minute later, she heard a door further down the hall click open, making her ears cock towards the sound. Jason? she thought as she lifted her head up, the blanket falling from her head to rest on her back. Soft hoofsteps came from further down the hallway, a brief flash of lightning illuminating the pony walking towards her. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, a sheepish smile sliding onto her face. She hoped that he hadn’t seen her squirming in fear, for such a thing was unbecoming of a guard, after all.

“Yeah. I heard someone whimper and I thought it was Nightshine.” Jason stopped in front of Nightshine’s door and pressed an ear against it. When he heard her snoring, he grinned and shook his head as he walked forward, stopping when he reached the living room. He leaned against the wall as he yawned. “She’s still getting used to living here, after all. I don’t think she likes storms that much.” He pushed himself off of the wall and rubbed the back of his neck. “So, uh... was it you I heard? Were you having a nightmare or something?”

“Yeah, it was me,” Lily admitted with a blush. Her ears flicked back as she glanced away, unable to hold his gaze. “I don’t like storms either.”

“Oh, I see...” Jason turned back around towards his bedroom. “It should be gone in a little bit, and then we can all get some shut-eye.” He took a couple of steps back towards his room before he heard Lily cough. Glancing over his shoulder, he waited for her to speak.

“Um... any chance we could stay up and talk for a little bit?” Lily asked hopefully, a light smile pulling the sides of her lips upwards.

“Heh, sure. I don’t see why not.” Jason turned around again and walked over to the couch, treading as lightly as he could so as to not wake Nightshine up. He jumped up on the couch and settled down next to Lily, letting his forelegs drape over the edge. “So you don’t really like thunderstorms all that much, huh?”

Lily shook her head as she squirmed on the couch, her wings fluttering at her sides. “Nuh-uh, and you better not tell anypony about that, either.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” Jason said with a chuckle. “So... what’s on your mind?”

“I don’t know, I just wanted some company. I don’t really like being alone; that’s why I live in the barracks instead of my own place. Living in Canterlot is way too expensive, even on a royal guard’s salary, so it kinda just works out.”

“I’m sure. That’s why I chose to live down here. The food is good, the house was relatively cheap compared to what was offered up in Canterlot, and everypony down here is pretty nice. It did take a while for them to get used to me, though. I only became a pony like, a few days ago.”

“Yeah, Luna said something about that. What were you before you were a pony?” Lily curiously asked.

“A human,” Jason said, his gaze settling down on the ring by the door. “Would you like to see?” he asked softly, wondering how she’d react.

“Kinda, yeah, but... you can change back?” Lily cocked her head to the side. “How?”

“Well... Twilight made this ring for me, so that whenever I want to be a human again, I can simply put it on my hoof, and I’ll change back to a human, or... something like that.” He looked back at her. “I have no idea how it works, but if she says it’ll do it, then I have to trust her.”

“Wait, you haven’t tried it out yet?” Lily perked up.

“Nah, just haven’t felt the need. I think it would be best for Nightshine if I stayed a pony for her. While she acts like a normal filly, I can’t help but treat her like she’s the most fragile thing in the universe. She’s been my daughter for a little while now, and while it already feels like it’s been forever, we’re still learning how to mesh as a family. I think that being a pony would help that process move along faster.”

Lily grinned. “It sounds like you’re doing a splendid job so far. Luna sure seems to think so.”

“Yeah? Was Twilight sending her letters or something?”

Lily nodded. “Mhm. So... you said something about a ring?”

“Oh, yeah. Lemme grab it real quick.” Jason pushed himself off of the couch and trotted over towards the table near the door. Wondering what would happen, and if it would make a sound to wake Nightshine up, he bit down on the ring and walked back towards the couch. He suddenly stopped in place as he realized something, something that would have been extremely embarrassing. “Uh... be right back!” he said, trotting back into his bedroom. He shut the door with a hoof, then sat down near his bed, his heart pounding in his chest.

Lifting his right foreleg up, he threaded it through the ring and let it slide down. A bright white flash of light made his eyes clench shut as he felt his body change shape. With bated breath, he glanced down, affirming his fears.

He was completely naked.

“Heh, sure dodged that bullet...” he muttered to himself as he pushed himself back up on his feet. “Woah...this is a little weird.” He felt a little dizzy, making him grab onto the edge of the bed to steady himself. He walked over to his closet, pulled out some of his favorite clothes, then made quick time in getting dressed. He rubbed the ring that was locked onto his upper arm, hidden by his T-shirt. It wouldn’t budge an inch. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart, then stepped back out into the hallway. “Now, don’t freak out, but... this is what I look like,” he said, stopping in front of the couch as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

Lily looked him up and down, her mouth forming a small, tight ‘O’. “Why, uh... why are you standing on two legs?” she asked.

“It’s just how we are,” Jason said as he sat back down on the couch. Lily scooted closer to him, looking up at his face with a curious gaze. “So... you’re not weirded out? Not even a little bit?”

“Why would I be? Sure, you’re a different species that I’ve never seen before, but I trust you.” She scooted closer to him and lifted up one of his arms, peering down at his hand. “What are these?” she asked with wide eyes, watching as his fingers wriggled about. “No fur, huh? So that must mean—Oh!” Her blush deepened significantly, then she shot him a sly grin. “So that’s why you bolted back into your room, eh?”

Jason couldn’t stop himself from blushing. “Heh, yeah, and it was a good thing I did that, too. As for your question... they’re called fingers. They’re pretty similar to Spike’s claws.” Jason laughed. “Believe it or not, but Nightshine loves these little things. Trust me when I say that she can not get enough ear scritches.” He waggled his fingers about for emphasis.

“Ear scritches?” Lily cocked her head to the side as she let go of his arm. “What are those?”

“I can show you if you want.” Another loud thunderclap sounded out from right above his house, making him jump a little bit. Lily let loose a loud ‘eep’ as she jerked forward, pressing up against his side. Jason’s breath caught in his throat as he felt her tremble against him. “You okay?” he asked, placing his left hand on the small of her back.

“Y-Yeah,” Lily said. Feeling his body’s warmth seep into her right wing and coat, her eyes went wide. With an awkward giggle, she scooted back a little bit, unable to look up at him for fear of him seeing how hard she was blushing. “Sorry about that.”

“Nothing to be sorry about. You were just scared. Hehe, it even scared me, and I like loud thunderstorms!” Jason stretched his arms out along the back of the couch and relaxed, listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the roof.

“Ugh! I hate them!” Lily’s muzzle scrunched up as she shook her head to and fro, like she’d just eaten a piece of sour candy. “I don’t know why anypony would like them.”

Jason shrugged. “I just think they make cool sounds,” he said.

“They make scary sounds,” Lily said, correcting him. Feeling her blush subside, she nudged his leg with a hoof and glanced back up at him. “So... you were saying something about ear scritches?”

“Oh, yeah, that. Just lay your head down on my leg and I’ll show you.”

“O...kay...” Lily said, shooting him an inquisitive gaze. “This better not be a trick.”

“It’s not a trick, I swear. Like I said, Nightshine likes them a lot.”

Lily stared into his eyes for a few more seconds, then laid her head on his leg. “So what are you going to—Oh!” She felt the tips of his fingers run through her mane, the palm of his hand running down the back of her neck. “This actually feels pretty good; almost like I’m getting a massage.”

“Heh, we’re not even at the best part,” Jason said, scratching the side of her neck. He pushed her mane aside as his hand drifted upwards, back up to her ears.

“Mmmm...” A soft smile grew on her face as her ears flopped from side to side, his fingers scratching the base of her ears. Lily’s eyes drifted shut, her left hind leg thumping against the couch cushions as his fingers worked their magic. “I can see why Nightshine loves these so-called ear scritches.”

“Yeah? They must be pretty awesome if it can get your leg thumping like that.”

Lily’s eyes shot open wide as she realized that was exactly what she was doing. Her cheeks burned a crimson red as her mouth went dry. “Uh...” She forced her hind leg to lay still, but the urge to let it thump grew from a little noise to a raging inferno in her mind.

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me,” Jason said. He flexed his wrist, then laid his arms on the back of the couch again. “Nopony needs to know you’re a little leg thumper,” he said, hiding his grin with a hand. “Except me, of course.”

Lily pouted as she rolled her eyes. “Good, but why’d you stop? Don’t tell me that you’re already tired out!” She laid her forelegs up on his leg, her tail swishing about on the couch. “Come on... a little more?” she asked, shooting him a hopeful grin.

“Oh, alright...” Jason said, waggling his fingers about as he reached for the back of her head again. Lily bit back a squee, then laid her head back down on his leg, settling down between her forelegs as she hummed softly in content. Her ears flopped down as she nuzzled his leg, feeling his fingers return to the spot that they never should have left in the first place. She scooted closer to him, curling up against his side as she pushed the blanket back up to her shoulders with her wings. “Sure could get used to this...” she whispered, letting her eyes slide shut.

A few minutes passed in silence as Jason kept it up. As he felt his fingers start to grow weary, he paused, scratched the side of her neck again, then relaxed. “So how was that, eh?” he asked.

Lily didn’t respond.

Jason peered down at her, listening as hard as he could. She was breathing steadily. “Lily, you still up?” he asked softly. When she didn’t budge an inch, he chuckled. “You didn’t fall asleep on my leg, did you?” Warmth from Lily’s body seeped into his legs. He grinned at the adorable sight. He wanted to get up and go back to his bed, but he figured that if she was scared of thunderstorms, she probably hadn’t got any sleep yet. Wanting to let her get some rest, he made himself comfortable on the couch, propped a pillow behind his head, then let sleep take him away to the wonderful world of dreams.

After several minutes, Lily cracked an eye open, glancing up at his face. Perfect... she thought, feeling butterflies flit about in her stomach when her eyes confirmed that he was already fast asleep. She tossed some of her blanket over his chest, then lightly nuzzled his leg, hoping that it wouldn’t wake him up. Why’s he gotta look cute as a human? Those fingers of his are to die for, too... Her ears flicked down as she grinned, wishing for more ear scritches. I wonder if he’s going to invite me to the Grand Galloping Gala... Dear Celestia... please... I’ve never been. She heard another loud thunderclap a little ways off in the distance, and instead of it making her shiver in fright, she simply snuggled closer and closed her eyes, feeling secure and content laying next to him. At least thunderstorms have one thing going for them!