CHAPTER 8

Precursor

Ice.

That's the only way I could explain them.

My eyes were the palest shade of blue imaginable. Just looking at them was enough to make me shiver. I leaned in closer to Dash's mirror. I had originally come into the bathroom to...well, use it what it was made for and then to check my mouth but as soon as I seen myself in the mirror. Rarity wasn't lying. My eyes are beautiful.

I shook my head, breaking the trance with my own reflection. I slowly opened my mouth, grimacing when I saw what had happened. There were big red splotches in my mouth, as if the skin had been melted away. It looked a lot worse then it felt. I could thank Zecora for that. In the paper she left with us, it explained that the burns should heal fine over the next few days as long as I chew one of those fruit pieces with every meal for at least ten minutes. That was something to look forward to.

"Hey, Newbie! Dinner's ready!"

I sighed and backed away from the mirror, glancing into those icy eyes of mine once more before leaving the bathroom. I headed through Dash's house, smiling as every step I made was met with a little bounce due to Rainbow Dash's cloud flooring. I made my way to my hosts little dining area. "Hey, Dash. What's on the menu tonight? I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!"

A line of scarlet spread across Dash’s face. “W-what did you say, Newbie?”

“Oh. Sorry, Dash. It is just a saying from where I come from. Ugh...this is gonna be.” I noticed Dash blushing and the implications that line may have held went through my mind. “Oh.” I felt my own face heat up before I head tabled. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then how did you mean it, Newbie? That would be can...cannicalism any other way.”

“Um..Cannibalism, Dash. And where I am from...it wouldn’t be.” I kept my head turned away from her, trying to avoid eye contact. I should have known my eating meat was going to pop up eventually. With all that has happened, I have no clue what kind of uproar this is going to cause.

It took a minute before all the gears clicked in Dash’s head. “Oh...so you um...eat meat?” Her tone was not that favorable.

“Well, Humans are omnivores. We eat both meat and plants.” I played with a bit of cloud under my hoof. Dash is going to be slipping in weather duty training with my flying training now, which we practiced a bit on the way home. She is suppose to teach me more tomorrow morning before work which makes me wonder if Dash is an early bird. No pun intended.

“Oh.” Dash’s was blank. It looked like she was having trouble on deciding what to do. “And you ate...horses?” Her expression was still bland.

“Oh no, Dash. We didn’t eat horses...or at least my culture didn’t. I know some of the more...primal cultures might have? I am not sure. I am not even sure if calling them primal cultures would be morally and technically correct. There were a lot of political issues about that sort of thing and-”

“Newbie!” Dash yelled, cutting me off. “You didn’t eat ponies, I get that. Just...what kind...What kind of meats did you eat?” She seemed a bit perturbed.

“Well...um,” I took a deep breath. “There was chicken-” Dash nodded. “-and cow...pigs, ducks, crab, fish, turkey and deer. That is all I can think of off the top of my head.” Dash sat down at the table across from me, just staring my way. “Um...Dash? Could you say something? This is getting a bit awkward.”

“I don’t know what to say, Newbie.” The cyan pegasus frowned. “I mean, when me and gilda were bunked up, I learned griffins eat fish and all. I was cool with that but...Newbie...maybe we should keep this just between us.”

I nodded. “Yeah...I am not even sure if my new stomach could even process meat like that anymore. I am just going to miss the taste of bacon is all.” Dash shook her head.

“You could still eat fish, I know that.” I tilted my head. “Oh well...I may have tried some when I hung out with Gilda. It wasn’t bad, I guess, but it just wasn’t my sort of thing. We could go and get you some sometime or something. I don’t have a problems with the fish but...those other things.”

I nodded my head in agreement. “I understand, Rainbow Dash. I won’t say anything about them anymore.” Well, that didn’t go that bad. I still got the fish option. Better than nothing. I sighed and grinned. “Lemme guess, salad for dinner?” I let out a little laugh.

Dash shook her head. “Nah. I was just lazy the other night. I made some steamed vegetables in a cheese sauce with some ranch dressing!” Wow. My face conveyed my amazement and I did nothing to hide it. Dash beamed proudly. “What? You thought I didn’t know how to cook? You think I just live on salad?”

“Well...I will be honest, I had my doubts.”  I gave Dash a big grin. She just rolled her eyes and scooted over a bowl to me. It smelled delicious. If only there was some bacon around. I chuckled a little at my own thought, causing Rainbow Dash to eye me.

“What’s so funny, Newbie? Something wrong with the food?”

I shook my head. “No. The food is fine. I was just thinking about today and what tomorrow might be like. Thank you again for supporting me like you did. I am pretty sure that everypony would have avoided me like the plague if it weren’t for you.” I am sure a little ego stroke won’t get out of hand....hoof.

Dash beamed. “Yeah they would have but I would never leave my friends hangin’. Loyalty and all that. You’re lucky I have such a good way with words when dealing with ponies.” Maybe I was wrong. “ Ponies know when Rainbow Dash gives the word, it’s all smooth sailing.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Better wrangle that thought in, little pony. Don’t want another Mare-Do-Well incident, do we?”

A line of scarlet spread across the mare’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about...and who are you calling little? I am taller than you are.”

I grinned deviously. “Yes, but my wings are bigger than yours.” I noticed this during our training. It wasn’t a huge difference but I did notice that my wings were a bit larger than Dash’s. My comment had the desired effect. Dash’s eyes went wide and her whole face turned a deep red. I felt a tingle down my spine. I wonder how far I could take this?

“Umm...C-crystal...I know you’re new b-but-” She was interrupted as I pushed my bowl to the side. I climbed up on the table, a smug grin on my face. “C-crystal?!” I walked over to her, making sure to swing my hips in that special way as I did. I laid down in front of Dash, staring her straight in the eyes. “Crystal...I-i don’t think th-” She was silenced as I pressed a feather to her lips.

“Shh.” I ran the feather along her lips and then under her chin. “Dashie...What happened to calling me Newbie?” Dash gulped and I could have sworn I heard her whimper. I got my face close to her’s. “Come on, Dashie. Let me hear you say it. Call me Newbie.” I lifted Dash’s chin so we were staring straight at one another. I could feel her quick hot breaths wash across my face, knowing she could feel mine as well.

“Newbie.” The tingling was all throughout my body as Dash started to lean forward. Okay, this was too far. Time to stop this. Or at least I wanted too. I reached and wrapped a hoof around the back of Dash’s head, pulling her into a kiss.

No.

I pushed forward, knocking Dash backwards and falling on top of her. I pushed my tongue past her lips, immediately finding her tongue and wrestling it for control. She moaned into my mouth as she ran her hooves up my sides, finding my wings. She rubbed the base of each wing, her experienced hooves knowing exactly where to touch.

No!

I broke the kiss and buried my face into her chest. The smell of rain quickly invaded my nose. “Oh Dash.” I felt Dash’s mouth close on my left ear, nibbling it softly. For the briefest of moments, a memory blurred from intoxication rose to mind. Twilight nibbling on the same ear. That seemed to clear my mind of the heat that had hold of it.

“No!” I pushed myself off the mare, rolling away. Dash looked over at me, surprised and confused. “I am sorry, Rainbow. I can’t do this. I don’t know what came over me...I...I don’t feel right.” It was true. My whole body tingled. “I am so sorry, Dash. That wasn’t me.”

With a few flaps of her wings, Dash made her way next to me. She put a hoof on my shoulder...withers? “Are you ok, Newbie?” She gave me a bit of a nudge.

“I don’t know...It was suppose to be just a little joke. Just teasing you a bit...I don’t know what happened. My body just seemed to go on autopilot.”

Dash frowned and seemed to think. “Hmm...Do you feel warm?” I nodded.

“And a bit tingly.”

Dash just smiled. “Oh it’s nothing, Newbie. It’s around that season. It’s probably just a little preshock of estrus. It happens to everypony once in awhile...well...not EVERYpony.” The stare I was giving Dash.

“O-of w-what?”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Of estrus. Your body probably is just letting off some...some..hermons? No....Hormones! Yeah. It’s probably just a small bit of hormones before the big stuff kicks in. Usually happens about a week before or so. As long as you follow the steps you learned in school, you shouldn’t have a problem with it.”

Ok. Trying not to freak out. Deep breaths. “Um..Dash. Let’s think about this. I am new to being a pony right?” She nodded nonchalantly. “Not only that. I am new to being a mare...a female. In my world, I was a male human. We didn’t have estrus. The most I had to worry about was a wet dream.”

Realization started spreading across the cyan pegasus’ face. “Oh.....oh! Um...Well...What should we do?”

Ok. Freaking out a bit now was understandable. “Well I don’t know! How am I suppose to know this kind of stuff?!”

Dash looked around frantically. “Um...we should...teach you. Twilight! The Library! You could learn there!” Probably. “Come on, let’s go!” Dash grabbed me and began dragging me out of the kitchen. The food was definitely going to go cold.

About five minutes later, we were standing outside of Twilight’s home. Dash pounding on the door.

“whooo!”

Dash frowned. “It’s me, Rainbow Dash! Open up. I need to talk to Twi. It’s really important!”

“Hooo! Hooo!”

Dash glared at the door. “Ugh. I just told you who, you featherbrain! Open up!” There was silence on the other side of the door for a moment before it opened slightly. Twilight’s head popped out of the door. She didn’t look too happy.

“Rainbow Dash, if this is about earlier, I really don’t want to talk about it right now.”

Dash shook her head. “No, Twilight. This is about Crystal. She-" Dash stopped and looked around. “Um...can we come inside? Please?”

Twilight stared at Dash for a moment before sighing. “Fine!” She swung the door open. “Wipe your hooves before coming in. I just swept up.” We did so and entered, the three of us taking a spot in the middle of the room. “Ok...So what’s going on with Crystal?”

Dash blushed. “Well...She.” I cleared my throat. “Oh yeah...well that just makes this harder to say.” I just stared at the ground. “Well...He..is about to go into estrus.”

Twilight shrugged. “Just follow what they taught in scho...Oh...Oh! That’s right...Um...I don’t think I have the proper books here with me.” Okay. Now I was scared. “How do you know that she’s abo-” I cleared my throat again. I wasn’t that scared. “That..um...he is about to go into estrus.”

“Well...We were having some dinner and sh...he had a little preshock.”

I scoffed. “If that was a little one then I am going to be out of control when it happens.” I shuddered at my own words. This was making me sick to my stomach. I didn’t know much about that kind of stuff. I never owned a horse or anything after all. I just knew enough to pass school.

Twilight frowned. Cute. “Well, a mares first usually seems the strongest because it’s new to the body and mind...I remember that I was kept out of school for a couple of days until I got it under control.”

Dash nodded. “Yeah. Same thing here. Had my dad freaking out.” Twilight and Dash giggled. Inside joke?

“Um...how long does this usually last?” I said this in a dead tone, trying to show the seriousness of the problem.

This seemed to drag them out of their own little world. “Oh...Well...usually about a week.” Twilight frowned. “But like I said...the first time a mare goes through this is usually the worst.” The unicorn went to over to her books. “I really don’t think I have that kind of material in the library here.” She started pulling books from the shelf, letting them stack up on the floor as she looked through them. “You might want to go over to the school tomorrow morning. I am sure Cheerilee would have something on the subject.”

“I don’t think I could...I have work with Dash. After that, Rarity and Fluttershy want me to go to the  spa with them. I don’t think I could say no...Maybe the day after.” Twilight shook her head.

“It would be Saturday then, Crystal.”

Dash sighed. “Just go tomorrow morning. You can start your weather duty on monday. This way I have plenty of time to train you so you won’t have an excuse for when you screw up.”

“Thank you, Dash... and how do you know I would screw up?”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “Because everypony screws up. It’s just a matter of time.” I just rolled my eyes.

“Rainbow Dash...You are going to have her start monday...knowing what’s about to happen?” Dash’s face went blank. “Maybe she should start after her estr-”

“Stop referring to me as a female! At least while we are in private. I want to keep some semblance of my masculinity for as long as I can.” I huffed and crossed my hooves. Twilight blushed in shame.

“I am sorry, Crystal. It’s just easier to think like that. Considering everything, you are a mare now. You’re even going through estrus.”

“Not yet, I’m not! And I may not...but I am not going to leave it for the birds. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If it’s alright, Rainbow, I am going over to the school tomorrow morning.”

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof. “Don’t worry about it, Newbie. It’s fine. It’ll be better than you trying to get yourself off on everypony that walks by.”

“What?! Is it really that bad?! Oh heavens help me.” I heard a snickering from Rainbow. “Oh, you are just the worst kind of mare.” Now it was full out laughing. “Come on, Rainbow Dash. We left dinner on the table! Thank you for your time, Twilight.” I headed for the door, only stopping when I noticed Dash wasn’t behind me.

“Um...Hey Twi...I’m sorry about what I said earlier.” Twilight grinned and gave Rainbow Dash a hug.

“Don’t worry about it, Dash. We both said things we regret. It was just a stressful day. Now go on. I got some studying to do before sleeping.” RD nodded and quickly made after me. When we were outside and the door was shut, I stopped Rainbow Dash.

“Hey...since when do you use the door?” I got a shove from the mare. “But seriously...about that kiss. I noticed that you were about to go through with all of that. You didn’t resist at all.” There was silence from her. “I thought you liked Twilight.”

“I do!” The pegasus took to the air suddenly, flying towards her home. I quickly followed after her, catching up with her lazy pace quickly.

“Dash...Are you crushing on me too?”

“Hah! Like that would ever happen, Newbie. How could I have a crush on a pony I barely even know?”

“So what then? Was I just going to be a free lay?”

“What?”

“Was I just gonna be a one night stand? Were you just going to use me to get yourself off?”

“No, Newbie. I am not like that. I wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Then what was that?”

“I...It...Newbie....I just don’t know, okay? I didn’t mean anything bad by it but I...it felt.”

I flew closer to Rainbow Dash. “Then you are crushing on me, aren’t you?” There was a bit more silence.

“Ugh. Fine. Maybe I am a little. But you can’t blame me when you have a body like that. You are beautiful. It’s like you’re one of those old statues.”

I laughed loudly. “Oh? So I am old then.” I overtook Dash, flying a bit ahead of her. “Well that’s nice to know. Maybe this old mare will ju-” My face fell. “Gods dammit! I did not just call myself a mare!”

Dash flew past me, this time it was her turn to laugh. “Yep. You did. See, told ya Newbie. You might as well just get used to it.” I flew up to her and yanked on her tail, pulling her down.

“I’ll give you something to get use to!” I took off towards Dash’s house. I knew I could never beat Dash in a race but I still tried.  When we got to her front door, I was exhausted. Dash wasn’t even breathing hard when I landed next to her.

“What was that, Newbie? What am I suppose to get used to?” I shoved Rainbow aside and entered the house. I went straight for the kitchen and sat down at the table, pulling my forgotten bowl back to it’s original spot. Dash went back to her spot and had a spoonful of her vegetables. “Ugh...they’re cold now.”

I laughed. “Well duh. You think they would stay warm for the half hour we were gone?” I took a bite of my food. It was exceptionally good, even though it was cold.

We sat there and ate while Dash started talking about some of the ponies on the weather team. “So yeah. I think you’ll get along good with everypony. Just be careful around Cloud Chaser and Flitter. Those mares have no shame.” I grinned as I leaned back from my bowl, finished.

“Aww. That’s cute.”

Dash cocked her head. “What? What’s cute?”

“You wanting to keep me all to yourself.”

Dash flew up over to me. “Oh ha ha. Very funny, Newbie.” She snatched up my bowl and took both hers and mine to the sink. Dash threw them down unceremoniously. “Well. I am beat. How about we head to bed, Newbie....separate beds.”

I nodded. “Yeah. That sounds great actually.”  I stretched, arching my back and bringing my wings to their fullest length. “Mmmm” I peeked out of the corner of my eye to see Dash staring me down. “You know...you could take a picture or would you rather me just pose in front of your bed?”

“Oh shut up, Newbie.” She pushed past me. “Come on...Let me get you to the RIGHT room this time.” I laughed and followed behind her. “Maybe I can wake up without finding myself in an embarrassing position.”

“What?! You were the one on me! Both times! You are not the lightest pony either you know.”

“Hey! If I do have any weight on me, it’s muscle! I have to stay in shape for my practice sessions. And how many ponies are you sleeping with?”

We both laughed as we made it to the top of the stairs. “Alright, Newbie. Your room is here.” She opened a door up to a small room. Big enough for a bed and a dresser. Why do ponies need dressers?

“Oh...it’s quite....quaint.”

Dash scratched her head. “Yeah...I know it’s a bit small but I usually don’t get any ponies up here. I was about to turn it into a closet or something.” I walked into the room with a smirk.

“Oh great. I guess I am the mare you keep in your son of a bitch!” Dash cringed at my outburst. “I refuse this. I am a human male. I am not a mare!” Dash started laughing.

“You know, with that little slur you still have from the dragon’s blood, it sounded like you said human mare!”

I gave the mare a death glare. “Good night, Rainbow Dash!” I slammed the door in her face, Dash’s rambunctious laughter coming through the door.  I trotted over to the bed and fell down.

Almost immediately I was jolted awake by the ringing at the front door of the store. “Hello and welcome to ClimaticMax. My name is Christian and if you need any help, just ask me!”  I watched as the white haired man in the trench coat take off his hat and smile. I hope he didn’t catch me asleep.

“Oh hello there, Christian. Yes. I do think there may be something you can help me with.” I nodded and shook the mouse to the computer, rising it from it’s slumber.

“Alright then. Is there any specific movie or maybe game you are looking for?” I looked at the guy. He didn’t look very old. Maybe in his thirties but his white hair made him look a lot older at a distance.

“Oh no. It’s not movies that I am interested in.” This will be the third fucking thief this week. I just smiled, positioning my leg underneath the distress button. We were only two blocks away from the police station so that was a plus. “Oh there is no need to press that button. I just have a proposition for you. I have been looking for someone to take on a little work for me. An adventure, if you will.”

Okay. He got my attention. There were plenty of recruiters for movie and such in the area. Maybe they’re looking for extras? “What did you have in mind, sir?”

“Well, I know you have heard of Equestria. How would you like going there?” Oh great. A crazy.

“That would be neat.”

“Oh Christian. I am quite serious, you know. I could take you there and set you on a grand quest that would leave you a hero. Doesn’t that sound enticing?”

I chuckled. “Oh sure it does. What is the catch though? I know there is a catch.” There was a shlump from mail being inserted in the mail chute behind me so I turned around to check it.

“The catch is that it would be dangerous and that you could never return back here to earth. A price that is heavy to most. “

I smiled, shuffling through the mail. “Eh. Not to me. Sure. I’ll go.” I heard the guy shift from behind me. “So how do we get to Equestria?” I don’t get paid enough.

“If you’ll just turn around, I’ll show you.” If this crazy ass flashes me, I am beating him down with a bat. I slowly turned around with an unamused look. I barely saw the glint before pain shot through my chest.

“Fuck!”

I grabbed the sword sticking out of me, looking at the white haired man grinning at me. “Now Christian, you will give me a good fight, right? After all, this is what you agreed to.” I pulled at the sword as the world around me began to fade. Was this really how I died? By some sword wielding crazy in a shitty video store? My vision blurred as I fell backwards and suddenly I was falling from high in the sky.

A mess of red hair and a pair of dull grey hooves filled my view as I fell until an enormous black dragon showed up. “So this is the pony he brought. Pitiful. Lets see how much your worth is.” The dragon opened its maw and the pain became unbearable.

I woke up screaming and grabbing onto Rainbow Dash. “Shhh. It’s ok, Newbie. You are okay.” Tears streamed down my face as I clung to the mare. We sat there for an untold amount of minutes as Dash comforted me until I stopped crying.

“...D-dash?”

“Yeah, Newbie?”

“Whose bed are we in?”

We are in my bed, Newbie.”

“Oh...did you bring me in here?”

“No...you walked in here about two hours ago in your sleep.”

“Ok...Sorry for waking you up.”

“It’s no problem. Goodnight, Crystal.”

“Good night, Rainbow Dash.”