I'll tell you now, the show doesn't come close to accurately depicting the Ponyville Public Library. Firstly, the thing is not just two floors. There's three levels above ground, and another two below ground... and that's not even counting Twilight Sparkle's Rape Basement of Science™. Seriously, this place is fucking huge. I think the tree's fucking enchanted or something to hold this much.

Don't think that it's all just books, though. I'm certainly surprised by Twilight's tour. On the main floor is the non-fiction section. The second floor's all set up for the visitors to sit down with a book, or for students to pore over research texts. Above that, you have the living area and all the necessary amenities. The first basement level is all fiction sorted by genre and age rating—oh god, all the pony smut Lyra and Twilight thought I didn't notice in that one room off to the side. Finally, the second basement level is introduced to me as a classroom for an adult learning program that the previous librarian had set up. Twilight couldn't say why, but it never took off, so it just sits there acting as a storage room.

While I'd have loved to check out some of the titles offered, I actually find it difficult to read the Equestrian written script, which is weird, given I was able to read the instructions for the medication with no problems. This becomes most apparent when Twilight leads us down to the third basement level. That same machine she had Pinkie strapped into during her Pinkie Sense investigation is seemingly waiting for me in the dead center of the chamber. Just in front of it is a desk stacked with parchment, quills and ink-bottles, and textbooks that I can only assume have something to do with Twilight's research and everything else. The only thing I found remotely intelligible either read Psychology and You or Pedophilia and You. All things considered, it's understandable why the former might be preferable.

As Twilight ushers me into that seat of the device, I watch Lyra out of the corner of my eye. Since I ran off, fleeing from Pinkie, she won’t let me out of her sight. She’s trying hard not to get under hoof, sitting down somewhere on the floor off to the side. It’s pretty admirable how seriously she’s taking Bon-Bon’s ‘take responsibility’ order. She’s sincerely trying her best to watch over me.

“So, Soren...” Twilight looks a bit uneasy as she sits down across from me, but considering the last time we were together, it’s unsurprising. She did witness a rather embarrassing psychotic episode, after all. As the cap of the device lowers, she asks, “How are you this afternoon?”

“All things considered? Not too bad,.” I reply with a smile. “Now that I’ve gotten some proper Equestrian food in me, I feel pretty good, certain things not withstanding.”

Lyra looks like she wants to add something in, but she catches a glance from Twilight and bites her tongue. However this is supposed to go, the lavender unicorn clearly needs to be in charge. “Is your head still bothering you?” she asks, before a look of embarrassment crosses her face. It could be construed a bit redundant to ask the person enduring a mind wipe if their head is bugging them. “I know only too well how badly a head injury can bother you, even when treated magically.”

“It was paining me for a while, but the painkillers kicked in somewhere in the middle of running away from Pinkie.” That is easily the most physically active I’ve been, that. “I’m just dealing with some really awkward memories coming upon me, the awkward situations they produce, and certain other... issues that you probably already picked up on.”

With a courteous nod, Twilight levitates one of her tomes open in front of her. “Yes, I thought I smelled a pony in estrus when we brought you in.” She returns her attention to me, giving me a sympathetic smile. “I can’t begin to imagine how that is playing on your precarious mental state.”

“I could outline it if you’d like.”

The unicorn mare seems to consider this for a moment. She must be having second thoughts, considering the look Lyra gave her. “That’s alright. I’ll stick with the diagnostic questions I prepared this afternoon.”

I roll my eyes and feign a groan. “Aww, and here I was looking forward to whining about waking up after living through one of Lyra’s sexy memories, and then finding out I’m in heat.” I shift in the seat, suddenly more aware of my marehood. “You have no idea what it’s like being a heterosexual male who is now a mare in heat. Yeah, I might have had gender dysphoria as a human, but I still preferred women. So guess what its like when I have this foreign biological urge telling me to reproduce because I am fertile.”

“Soren, I’m not completely comfortable discussing this topic.”

“Neither am I, for that matter. Does that stop me?” Probably not, but a glare from Lyra certainly does. Too bad, I was looking forward to making Twilight squirm describing the odd desire to have something male scratch my biological itch. “Anyway... you had diagnostic questions for me? What kind are they and what purpose do they actually serve?”

“They’re just a series of questions to calibrate the machine to your mind, and separate Lyra’s memories from your own thought patterns.” Twilight happily responds. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that she’s happy for the redirect. “Once I have a baseline pattern to differentiate your mind from Lyra, I can take a look at how far along the overwrite is.”

I shift my forelegs about in the shackles—why does this thing have shackles anyway? “That’s nice and all...” God, I don’t like the confining nature of this thing. “... but that doesn’t exactly stop it from happening, now does it?”

“No,” she agrees, missing—or ignoring—the sarcastic tone in my voice. “It doesn’t. A spell I managed to find this afternoon should help limit the damage the back-up can do to your mind though.”

I take a moment to mull that over. “I note you say limit and not prevent.”

“The memories would still be replaced, but your baseline personality should remain intact.” A panicked expression floods my face. “I know, it’s not the most ideal treatment, but at the very least we can keep you as you until the switch back. Then it should just be a matter of removing Lyra’s memories and returning you to earth in an, er, amnesiac state.”

Swallowing hard, I glance at Lyra. In the dim light of the lab, her skin looks an off white, as if I were looking at Sweetie Belle or Rarity. Isn’t that odd? Probably just some freakish trick of the light. Turning my attention back to Twilight, I ask, “There’s no other option, is there? Nothing in Canterlot that you think can help?”

There’s a pained twinkle in her eyes for a split second before she vigorously shakes her head. “Honestly, I don’t think the unicorns at the university would be able to suggest anything different given the amount of time you have. I can’t switch you back, either. I’ve done the research.” She averts her eyes. “Starswirl’s spells are all too complex to reverse in a timely fashion. They’re always usually just left to run their course.

“Honestly, I’m amazed that the memory restoration didn’t restore everything immediately.” There’s a look of regret on her face.

From off to the side, I hear Lyra gasp quietly. She may or may not have just whispered, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean any of this.”

I know you didn’t, Lyra. “So I’m just going to become one of those ‘lost my memory’ clichés?” I mutter soberly. “Well shit, I suppose it’s better than ceasing to be. Let’s do this, Twilight.”

I’m not sure where I am, or how I got here. None of that really matters. What matters to me right now is why there’s a big ugly cat staring me in the face. The suddenness of my realization that I’m not in the library scares me almost as much as that fucking cat did. Out of pure reflex, I scramble backwards away from the cat, in turn startling my feline observer. Quickly, my back presses against a wall, halting my retreat. With nowhere left to turn, I realize it’s probably a good time as any to take stock of my surroundings. After all, that cat kinda looks familiar.

As I stare around this new place, a cold sense of realization fills my stomach. Those pony-mannequins, the dresses on display, that fucking cat—I’m in Carousel Boutique! I really didn’t want to be here, especially not while I’m unattended. Jesus Christ, where is Lyra? Fuck, quick! How did I even get here? Why can’t I remember what happened after—

A dressing-room door on the far side of the room creaks open, revealing Lyra. Instead of her bed-sheet toga, she is instead sporting a pale aquamarine ankle-length dress and a matching shawl. In the brighter light of the boutique, Lyra’s skin is surprisingly lighter than usual. Not only that, but there was an almost silver radiance about her.

“Rarity, this dress fits wonderfully!” she shouts, her head directed at the ceiling. “You’ve really outdone yourself.”

From somewhere up above, possibly Rarity’s ‘inner sanctuary’ comes a singsong, “Wonderful! I’ll be right down.” A door closes somewhere above me, and then there’s a tumult on the stairs. Moments later, a door on the back wall of the shop front opens, revealing a slightly frazzled Rarity, measuring tape and all. Fuck! “Ooh, darling you do look marvelous in that dress.”

From the doorway, Rarity daintily trots over to Lyra’s position and begins walking circles around the human. There’s a self-assured smile on the alabaster mare’s face as she pauses in front of Lyra. Finally, she nods and looks up at Lyra, beaming. “I must say, I’m quite satisfied with the way this dress has come out. It’s much better than the design I made for that male body.” She looks at Lyra’s feet for a moment before turning back to her face. “Are you sure you wish to take the dress before I’ve completed the sandals? It would just be until tomorrow morning.”

“I’m sure, Rarity,” Lyra replies with a smile. “I couldn’t spend another hour wrapped in that bed-sheet. It simply doesn’t hold heat like cloth meant for being worn.”

“Oh I completely understand, dear,” Rarity croons, adjusting the waist of the dress. “With such a thin coat—not to say it isn’t lovely—you would almost have to wear something warm this time of year.”

I gape at the two of them, awestruck that they have yet to notice me. Have I just been sitting there catatonic the whole time or something? Then a thought crosses my mind, returning to something I pondered earlier in the day. “So, um, Rarity,” I say from my spot in the room. “Did Lyra commission any underwear? Or is she going commando?”

It’s their turn to gape as they turn their attention to me. Okay, seriously, is there something on my face or something? Did someone draw dicks on my face? Will someone please tell me what the fuck I missed? “What? It’s a legitimate question.”

“Why yes, she did commission undergarments. After all, an open-bottom garment can only do so much to protect you from the elements when you don’t have a tail to do the rest. Certainly not a regular request, I assure you.” She doesn’t seem too keen on that part, so I reckon that regular undergarments are possibly akin to date-night lingerie. “I almost said no.”

“Panties made by ponies? Shit, this I’ve gotta see.” I reply with a grin and cocking an eyebrow at Lyra. “C’mon, just a peek. I’m curious what our fair Rarity produced.” This elicits a slight blush from Rarity. Yeah, panties are definitely a pony kink.

“Soren, don’t be a perv,” Lyra whines, her face turning scarlet. Oh how I do long for a bit of fun at your expense. “Don’t look at me that wa—eeek!” Her condemnation is cut off by a shrill cry as I begin to lift the hemline of her dress. Rarity goes even redder as she watches in horror.

Inch by inch the hemline rises. “Tell me how I got here and why I can’t remember anything after Twilight’s Q&A, and maybe I’ll stop.” I throw on a teasing face. “It’s a pretty simple offer.”

“Fine, just stop!” Aww, you’re no fun. Still, I’m a man—if I can still even be called that now—of my word, so I let the dress fall down. “The spell Twilight had to use was pretty intense, so she had to put you in a sort of trance to keep you calm. Apparently that’s a big thing to keep the spell active, keeping calm.”

“So, lose my shit, and I lose my mind for good? Oh joy.” I laugh. “How will I ever survive Pinkie’s Party now?”

That seems to have sobered Rarity up. “Oh my, Pinkie’s throwing another party?” Rarity seems to contemplate this news. Oh no. Oh no no no! Stop thinking that, Rarity. Just no! “If she’s holding a party for you, she’ll probably spring it on you tonight. We simply must have you look your best!”

No. Fuck! Kill me! “Oh, you really don’t have to do that, Rarity.” I try to lace my words with venom, but I can tell it is coming off far more as anxiety. “I’m a guy, so getting all dolled up just isn’t me.”

Lyra, don’t look at me that way... Oh fuck. You’re getting your revenge for the skirt flipping thing a few moments ago, aren’t you? “Don’t be silly, Soren! You’re a girl now!” Lyra teases, clapping her hands. “Live it up a little!”

The mare and human girl creep closer and closer to me. Rarity’s horn lights up, and then a cupboard opens up. From it flies an endless stream of beauty supplies. I try to run, but I am swept up in a shimmering blue magical aura. Crap, she’s dragging me towards that mirror. Oh dear god no! Celestia, Luna! Save me! They’re going to commit a crime against... against something! Fuck!

Author's Notes:

Re-edited 11 July 2017