Though she'd have liked to hide, that was hardly an option. With the convention ending, people were checking out. She was in her office, collecting keys and payments. Most of the ponies stared a little, but few asked questions.

The uncertainty of it drove her wild, so she stopped a mare from leaving with an extended hand. "Hold a moment there."

"Hmm?" The mare peeked over her shoulder.

"Shouldn't you be... upset?"

She blinked softly. "I just assumed whatever magic let you look human was wearing off. Kind of sad I never got a picture of it. It was very nice." She smiled brightly at Tabitha.

Tabitha considered that. Seated on her haunches behind the desk, her... other... odd feature was concealed at least. "You could take a picture now, if you want?"

"Really?!" She dug out a camera with a smile and flashed a bright bulb at Tabitha, capturing a picture of her human form above the desk's line. "Thank you! Are you sure it'll come out right?"

"It should," assured Tabitha. She had no illusion to watch over her. "I'm glad you enjoyed your stay here." She inwardly groaned. They were not a hotel... but the bits...

She saw to the departure of many ponies, most of those who had taken up temporary residence. There were a few holdouts, but, for the most part, the convention was over for her apartment building.

She had just remembered she had a camera more than halfway from being purchased that she didn't technically need anymore and she rolled her eyes. "Pay it off, or ask if they can give store credit," she murmured to herself, considering both options. She could see her 'pony' self in any mirror in all its... glory.

"You have changed."

Tabitha looked up to see the monster from the second floor regarding her. "Yeah?"

"For better or worse, the pony land is now your land."

She blinked at that from behind her desk. "I suppose that might be true, if even they want me."

"Have they not so far?"

"They haven't seen all of me."

"I should go..." He turned to depart without delay.

She thrust out a hand. "Hold up there. Why do you only hang around for a few questions each time?"

"That, too, is a question." He wasn't fleeing at least, regarding her evenly.

"Sure, I... guess it is. Don't you have some?"

"Since you invite. Once human, once pony, now both and neither. Once woman, never man, now both and neither. The role of intermediary is filled, and is a task you are unfit for."

Tabitha hadn't heard a single actual question in there. She rolled a hand for him to continue, hoping that was enough.

"Every being in this land submits their head to destiny. What is your role, Caretaker?"

A question that seemed at once pointed, and yet ignored so much. She wanted to ask questions back, but his stare... It was her turn to answer a question, and it was a turn she had invited. "I'll... Well..." She waved a hand around at the building even as she rose to her hooves. "I'm the Caretaker. Even that princess thinks it's important. I'll take care of it."

He seemed satisfied with the answer. "There are Caretakers who struggle against that purpose, who would leave their wards behind to do something else, anything else. I am glad you are not among them." He gestured towards the elf's apartment upstairs. "You will find other tenants who wish you ill actively, instead of through non-comprehension and neglect. I should go..." He turned to leave and did not wait that time, even as she called out.

She was alone, standing there. With an almost angry grunt, she moved for the front door. She was going to face...

Tabitha faltered. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face the pony city as she was...

"There are many fewer guests," came a familiar female voice. Spring was standing there, ready to leave perhaps.

Tabitha felt rage well up in her. There was the source of everything! Well, at least regarding her mixed up state. "Turn me back."

"I owe you nothing." She raised a brow. "You were owed precisely one boon, and that has been rendered." A smile split her face. "You wish to earn another?"

Tabitha winced at the idea. "No! Look, how much? You're a wizard, you're reasonable, I hope. How many bits to undo this?"

"I pay you because you must pay the Caretaker. I am in no hurry to otherwise engage in the commerce of this land." Her eyes wandered over Tabitha. "Interrupted or no, I think my work came out as well as the subject can be. Are you enjoying your half-horse existence?"

Tabitha couldn't even put it all together. Did Spring really expect her to be thankful?

"Don't look at me that way, dear Caretaker." Spring leaned forward. "I do enjoy the larger living arrangements you have provided. See, I can be grateful. Your turn."

Tabitha's jaw worked once without sound. "L-look, I never wanted to... be part man." A safe place to start, she figured.

"Of course you didn't. You never had the chance to want or not want it, really. Enjoy it now, then thank me." She moved to stroll past Tabitha with a secure swagger. "Good day, Caretaker."

Tabitha turned to keep Spring in sight just for a pony to enter. It was Coco. She smiled brightly at Tabitha. "Feeling better?" Spring was gone.

She let out a breath she had been holding. "Compared to before, yes."

Coco nodded firmly. "I'm glad to hear that. I'm still working on that outfit. Until then, you could just wear human clothes for your top and pony clothes for the bottom and it should be fine?"

Tabitha had an irreverent T-shirt covering her top, and nothing down below. No pants she had could dream of fitting well. Still... "Not a bad idea. Do you have any that'd fit?"

"I'm more of a designer and less of a seller," admitted Coco. "I don't keep a lot of extras on hoof. If Rarity was here, I'm sure she'd have you set to go in a flash... In the meanwhile, there are some stores in town. You should go to Saddle Row!"

Tabitha blinked with confusion.

Coco looked guilty. "Oh right. Expecting you to know where that is was quite silly of me. Please, this way." She trotted right back out of the building.

Tabitha glanced around. She could try to hide again, or... She stepped out of the comfort of the building she had grown up in and followed Coco.

Tabitha tried to mind her own business, but her eyes did wander. The looks she was getting ran a wide spectrum. Some swerved to avoid even getting close to her while others stared. Those looks were a mixture of curiosity, apprehension, and disgust. She was different. She didn't fit into anyone's neat little labels.

None of them actually stood in the way, but they did whisper.

"It's like that other pony."

That caught her attention. She found her wings shooting out without being asked, annoying ponies who were trying to get past her. "Sorry, hey!" She turned to face the whisperer. "What pony?"

The stallion blinked at being called to. "What? Oh... uh..." He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there, but he was still there. "Another pony tried to become half biped. I hear the Princess had to intervene. It was a mess." He scowled a little. "If you're smart, you'll find her instead of waiting to be found."

There had been another? At least some kind of mistake like hers. How? "Sorry, which princess are we talking here?"

"Princess Luna," offered the stallion. "Look, I should go." He retreated into the crowd and was lost only moments later.

Coco nudged Tabitha's barrel. "Are you alright?"

Tabitha shook her head quickly. "Yeah... I wonder why Luna didn't offer to fix me if she can do that?"

Coco led the way forward, tail swaying with each step. "If she could have, I can't imagine she wouldn't offer. Did you find out what happened to the other pony?" Tabitha shook her head as she followed. "More the shame. I'll try to find out, after we're done."

They arrived at Saddle Row. It wasn't hard to pick out, with all the clothing stores in sight and the ponies enjoying the wares they provided. For a people that accepted nudity as a non-issue, they had no issue dolling themselves up when given the chance. Tabitha smiled a bit at it. The idea of covering her shame, literally, appealed to her. Besides, she had bits in her purse and she was ready to spend a few. "That reminds me, how much for the suit you're making for me?"

Coco looked back at her friend as if surprised a moment before she recovered. "Oh, um, let's say a hundred and twenty bits, including the custom tailoring. Future ones should be cheaper once I learn the dos and do nots of your... shape." She led the way towards one of the stores and nudged her way in with a wave of a hoof.

A well-dressed mare approached them. "Welcome to the Bit and Bridle." Her eyes fell on Coco. "As I live and breathe, Coco. I thought you might have fled the scene entirely."

Coco turned a little red. "My old boss may have done some... underhoofed things, but I wasn't given up on, and I won't give up." She waved back at Tabitha. "My friend here would like something to cover herself. Ignore the upper half."

The tailor mare tilted her head as she looked over the strange specimen that was Tabitha. "If you were someone other than Coco's friend, I'd fear this was some sort of complex jest. Very well. I'll pay no mind to the parts that aren't pony shaped, which is just as well. As you may see, my clothing is made with ponies in mind. Do you have a particular look in mind?" She approached, horn glowing as she held up a ruler.

Tabitha realized that meant the new unicorn was going to get quite personal, so she tried to cut that off and save the surprise. "A warning. I have, uh..." How did she phrase it?

Coco saved her and leaned in, whispering to her friend. The tailor went a dark red. "Another jest?" She advanced despite that, and came face to... She saw it. "By Celestia..."

"Look, if this is too much, I'll get out of your way," promised Tabitha, feeling increasingly awkward.

Magic wrapped around her, squeezing her gently even as it held her still. "I'll have none of that! You're my customer, and have done nothing wrong. I'm the one acting like a little filly." She smiled, then got to measuring. "Now then, about that fashion?"

Author's Notes:

Let's cover up some of these mistakes. That works for typos!