“I can't believe you're making me do this,” I complained, looking over the cosplay outfit and wig.

Before me, there was the hotel room that my friends and I were sharing. On that bed sat what could be described as a slutty version of Archer's armor from Fate/stay night, a pair of black pvc thigh ultra high carbon steel soled heeled boots, a pair of briefs almost small enough to be considered a thong, a pair of black fingerless gloves, and a crimson cape/metal belt hybrid similar to Archer's jacket. There were also a few other items to complete the illusion, including breast forms, crimson color contacts and a pure white waist length wig.

“How am I even going to wear this?” I said, lifting up the briefs. “Last time I checked, I was a dude!”

“Alex, chill, okay? That's what the gaff and stockings are for,” Jesse stated matter of factly. She was five feet and six inches in height, her hair was dirty blonde and her hair went down to the middle of her back, with a haute culture windswept style. She had complete heterochromia eyes, with an emerald green in her right eye and a garnet red in her left eye. As a tomboy, she always wore a pair of jeans, with a plain white tight tank top, with her plain bra showing through slightly. Her wearing girly clothes was such a rarity, that I can’t even recall a single moment of her in anything other than her jeans and tank outfits. She had been my friend since childhood, but because of my androgyny, she developed a habit for dressing me up like a girl, and I’ll admit it makes me feel pretty but that's a secret, so don’t tell anyone.

I turned to see my other friends Jason and Tony struggling to contain their laughter. I had met both of them in freshmen year of high school; Jason was seven foot tall and lanky with a short mop of ginger hair, blue eyes and wore a pair of thin rimmed specs that reminded me of Shiroe from Log Horizon. Which incidentally was his cosplay for today.

Tony was six foot six inches in height, had black short spiky hair, brown eyes and he had an average body, not too thin, not too fat. He came as Kirito from Sword Art Online.

Only Jesse and I hadn't changed yet.

“Come on Alex, you know I hate overly girly things, and you said you would wear this if I wore something ridiculously girly and I have! Look, I'm coming as Madoka from Madoka Puella Magica!” Jesse exclaimed, pointing to the frilly, pink monstrosity of lace and ribbons. Jesse then brought out every girl's secret weapon, the puppy dog pout. “You aren’t going to leave me hanging, are you?”

“Okay! Okay! I will do it if you just stop doing that face!” I exclaimed, trying to shield my eyes. Jesse grinned wide in victory and I groaned, collecting my cosplay and heading to the ensuite bathroom. Twenty minutes later, I exited, covering myself subconsciously. “Um. How do I look, is itnoticeable?” I asked my friends. After a few seconds, they looked at each other silently, communicating with each.

“Are you sure you’re a guy?” Jason asked with a smirk on his face, causing me to blush. I threw both my arms up under my chin, my hands curled into fists pointing outward and half folding over to shout at Jason,

“What!? How can you say that!?” I exclaimed. They all stared at me dumbfounded. I let my left arm fall a bit as I said “What's wrong?” I asked.

“Oh wow, er … . I never thought I'd see the angry anime girl pose in real life before today.” Tony said, uncomfortably shifting in his spot. I puffed out my cheeks, pouting and crossing my arms, and turning away causing my wig to trail the movement.

“Baka!” I shouted at Tony and stuck my tongue out at him.

Beside me I heard Jesse devolve in fits of laughter, “Oh? So that's where my girliness went! You absorbed it!” Jesse joked with large shit eating grin on her face, causing the rest of them to laugh.

“You guys are complete jerks!” I exclaimed, huffily taking my wallet and left the room, forgetting I was in my costume. When the guys caught up they apologised, and we went to the convention.

It was an anime convention being hosted in Michigan. As we got into the hall, I walked in and a few people stopped what they were doing and looked up. Some smiled and then returned to what they were doing, others wolf whistled at me causing me to blush in embarrassment, and I gave a nervous smile as I hurried ahead. As I did, the laughter from my friends faded as I pulled away.

“That's a good costume, you must have real big cajones to walk around in that.” I stiffened up and slowly turned around to see a man draped in a black hooded cloak, reminding me of that merchant from Resident Evil 4 or the one in Dark Souls.

“However, it seems to be missing a couple of important pieces. Perhaps you may find them here?” he said, settling on a new level of creepy as he grinned, sweeping his arms over his wares. I cautiously walked over to him, and saw on his table items from many games and anime shows, like Dante’s rebellion sword, Alucard’s casull and jackal hand cannons, a mystic force morpher, to name a few. As I was perusing, my eyes fell upon a metal replica of Kanshou and Bakuya Archer's signature swords, as well as a ruby pendant set in a silver chain that Tohsaka Rin's father had given to her.

I quickly look at the smirking and suspicious merchant “How much for the twin swords and the pendant!?” I asked frantically, the merchants smirk turning into a full blown grin.

“For you my friend? For your courage for wearing that thing and firmly kicking gender stereotypes in the nads, fifty bucks.” I opened my wallet and practically threw my money in his face; like that meme says:

“Shut up and take my money!” I exclaimed as I gave the merchant my money, causing him to nearly hack up a lung as he was laughing his head off.

I retrieved the twin swords and placed the pendant chain around my neck, as I looked at my wallet as it screamed from the large transaction.

I thought I heard him say something like, “Have fun young lady.” before everything went dark.

I woke up sometime later, finding myself in a forest of some kind, I went to stand up only to find my center of gravity off. I held onto a nearby tree to steady myself. I looked down at my body, I was taller, judging by how far down it looks to the floor than normal and those heels don’t help, but that was a negligible change overall. What had me concerned is, as I moved, I felt something pull on my chest. ‘Breast forms don't do that.’ I thought, worry filling my mind, so I looked myself over. My skin was darker, my hips wider, my legs and my arms sleek and slender. I wondered where my stockings and gaff were, as I no longer felt discomfort downstairs, and saw that my legs had no stockings covering them. Carefully I pulled my briefs out to get a look, nothing! I put my hand down and started feeling around until a jolt of pleasure went down my spine, upon which I froze and withdrew my hand.

I nearly fell as my vision began to blur, I shook my head trying to clear it, the long white locks of my hair trailing behind me. I’m Archer, and I don't know whether to celebrate or lament the fact that I am a rule 63 version. I hope Jesse, James and Tony suffer the same fate as me and get sent here, if only so I can kick their asses.

“Okay, just stay calm Alex. You’ve only just been sent to a forest in god knows where, and you're no longer a dude.” I said to reassure myself. It didn't work, as I started breathing heavily and rapidly. I heard a twig snap, I turned rapidly to face the direction I heard the sound coming from. I froze as I saw a woman, she had lavender fur, horn and pony ears, her face looking almost human except for the pony muzzle, her eyes were amythest, and her mane and tail was navy with a two tone pink strips. She was wearing a hessian cloak tied with rope and a dress that came down to her knees and hock. She was holding a basket, just standing there in shock. I recovered faster and I felt something filling my hands as I got into a stance that seemed second nature.

“Wait!” She shouted, I remained in my attack-ready posture, but didn’t let down my guard.

“I mean thou no harm!” She exclaimed, I relaxed feeling my hands empty. English, she sounds like Princess Luna. but that coat color ... I could swear that I was looking at Twilight Sparkle.

Drawing on years of theatre practice, I asked “Give me thy name, unicorn.” I hoped that I had said that right.

The unicorn stood there for a second and looked to be thinking, “Mine name is Clover. What is thy name?” Clover asked. I looked down, for all I knew I was Archer now. Granted it would seem that I am a female variant, similar to how Illyasviel and Rin from Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya looked when they used the Archer class and I, for some strange reason, did not retain my male appearance … or equipment. If I ever get home I'm kicking Jesse's ass on principle. I can't give Clover my original name.

“Mine name is Archer, Lady Clover,” I replied. She tilted her head to the side, most likely to recall if she had ever encountered me before, which was unlikely seeing as I had just arrived here..

“Oh! My apologies for startling thee, Lady Archer. Thou art a Lady, yes? I inquire because I hath not seen thine countenance, nor thy kind before,” Clover responded

I sighed internally, I am now a Lady, great. “Fear not, I didst not take offence. Indeed we art a Lady, though I have no lands or title to my name. Might I inquire as to where we are? 'Tis a forest from what mine eyes perceive, but I must confess ignorance as to which forest I am in” I replied.

“Thou art in the Everfree Forest, Lady Archer,” Clover answered.

“Would thou be so kind as to escort me to the nearest city? I asked.

“Of course, I can. I could even provide lodgings in my quarters.”

“Thank ye Lady Clover, that is very kind of you. However, I wonder if that be proper?” At Clover’s confused look, I elaborated while I felt my cheeks heat up. “Well thou art a fair young mare and I am quite sure thou art quick witted as well. However, we hath just met and thou art inviting me into thine bedchamber, surely 'twould be best to wait till we knew each other better?” I asked Clover, who joined me in blushing hotly, and sputtering as she finally got what I thought she meant.

“No, thou misunderstand, we did not extend my invitation with the intention of partaking in carnal pleasures! Thou flatter me, that thou wouldst think me comely enough that thou should misunderstand my invitation to be what thou initially thought. 'tis true it would be most improper. My master wouldst have my hide if he thought I taken random mares to bed. Wait, didst thou sayeth I am fair? Thou art attracted to mares!?”

Hopefully. I thought ruefully to myself. “Mayhaps thou art interested?” I asked with a smile, while the poor mare sputtered and blushed harder.

“If thou desire to return to my city, followeth me as I collecteth herbs.” Clover said, changing the subject, her blush still adorning her cheeks. Which caused me to giggle as I followed her, she’ll be so much fun to tease.

As we walked collecting herbs, Clover spoke up, “So Lady Archer, what art thou, ‘tis clear thee art not a pony, despite looking very much like one?”

“I am a human, Lady Clover. I cometh from a land far away from here,” I responded. ‘Very far away.’ I thought to myself.

“Something is coming!” I exclaimed, crouching back into another combat ready stance. Clover, living up to her moniker, hid behind the rock I had just been sitting on. The sound of a bounding creature grew louder before a manticore jumped out of the brush!“ Clover, dost thou recognise this manticore?” I whispered.

Clover shook her head. Good, I don’t want to kill Luna’s friends. I thought as
I rushed at the beast and dodged a claw swipe from it, then jumped over a stab from its venomous stinger. Using my downward momentum I sliced through it’s stinger. The beast roared as I severed its tail, ichor bursting from the wound, covering me in it. I backflipped over its thrashing claws and landed on its back, straddling it as it tried to buck me off it. I reversed my grip on Kanshou and Bakuya stabbing it in the head, and with a dismounting sideflip with the blades still lodged into it’s skull, I violently twisted its head and broke its neck. Its corpse spun and flew over me due to the leverage creating centrifugal force as I crouched.

I hope, I don’t have to fight too many times, I have to conserve my prana. Wait, What!? How the fuck did I do that? It felt like muscle memory or as if I knew how, but that’s impossible! Thinking again I sigh. Then again, this is coming from a girl who was once a boy who is now in Equestria with as much skin showing as an exotic dancer would. Fuck my life! I don’t know if I can last longer than two days without a master. However, if I am a counter guardian version of Archer, I will not have to worry. Perhaps I can learn to use this world’s magic.

A high pitched scream sounded behind me, I sighed and turned around.

“Clover, thou can come out now. ‘Tis safe,” I said as I made my way over to the shivering mare. As I drew close she backed away, eyes wide and pupils shrunken. Dammit! Way to go Alex! Er, I mean Archer, you just traumatised the poor mare.

“Clover, thou doth not need to be afraid, I shall not harm thee.” I tried to comfort her, crouching down.

“What art thou? There is no way a mare couldst have so much power!” Clover whimpered.

“I am a human as I said, but I am also a spirit. I know not what kind yet, and only two answers are possible, either we art a heroic spirit, in which case I have two days at best to find a suitable master, or else I fade away. The other is more of a hassle for me as it presents a dilemma, as a counter guardian I wilt beeth extremely powerful and immortal, and if I am unlucky; a mindless, heartless, killing machine.” I explained, probably putting the mare off even more.

“What is a counter guardian?” she asked timidly.

“A counter guardian is a protector of balance, an agent of the counter force, which is the collective will of the people to safeguard against extinction. Normally is only an indirect guide and empowers individual people to solve an issue that threatens the species, these take the form of heroes.

If indirect methods fail, then the counter force sends in a counter guardian. A counter guardian is a mindless tool with but one purpose, eradicate the threat. It can be small, to a single individual or it can be an entire continent or an island. But its response is always appropriate to the threat. If I am lucky and this place’s counter force is Harmony, then I may endeth up an agent of Harmony,” I continued and sighed.

“Why doth thou desire to return with me unto my city?” Clover asked, clearly worried for her princesses, which I thought was really sweet of her.

“A place to live, a place to die. It doesn’t particularly matter.” I responded before asking a question “Will thou abandon me here to whatever fate awaits me now that you art aware of my power and my might, Clover?”

“I do not know, thou couldst be like the Windigos.” Clover replied confused.

“Compare me not to those mindless, malicious spirits!” I exclaimed, “The counter force is a force for the greater good. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one,” I continued, “Let me not hear thee say that again Clover, it reminds me of what I couldst becometh.” I finished with a resigned sigh. My choices are to become a mindless guardian or die. What kind of choice is that? I lamented internally.

I heard sobbing, I sighed and put my head in my right hand.

“Thou art verily a tragic being Archer. Born to die soon, or born to slaughter, and neither way art thou free.” Clover said, tears streaming down her face. She tensed up as I pulled her into a hug, holding her in my arms.

“Ahem.” Came a clearing of a distinctly feminine throat. I turned to see the two young sisters Celestia and Luna, Oh fuck me sideways! A more masculine clearing of the voice issued, groaning, I turned to see Starswirl the bearded looking at me with an appraising gleam in his eye and an amused smirk on his face. Well double fuck! I am so boned.

Author's Notes:

In case my description of Alex's outfit is lacking