~~*Sparkler the Diamond Diva*~~
I'm going to be perfectly honest here, I am not in a good mood. Instead I lay in my living room with a frown, seated on the couch and silently glaring at the front door heatedly. I had been like this for some time now, with the only interruption being to stare at the house phone when it rang earlier. I hadn't answered of course, my hooves made such an attempt... difficult...
It was with some small annoyance, that I have admitted to myself some folly to my earlier plan. My brother is a sweetheart, true, but he doesn't live with us at the moment. I would have to leave the house to reach him, and that would require me to walk outside. This presented two very real problems for me.
One, I have no hands and refuse to put my mouth on a filthy doorknob.
Two, how does a miniature pony go about walking around in broad daylight?
Answer to two, it doesn't, especially not when it has pastel colored fur!
Were I a more mundane color I could likely pass by as a strange looking dog, but with such vibrant colors that was impossible! I mean really! Not only do such bright pastels stand out in such a drab neighborhood as mine, but there's nowhere for me to hide in a suburb without someone seeing me!
Well... unless I waited for the sun to set of course. I could likely then make my way out and no one would notice me. But that still required me to put my mouth on the filthy doorknob! Or try and leap out over the fence around the yard. I'm a cheerleader, but that does not make me an Olympic level gymnast!
I'm also a little horse, so it wouldn't matter even had I the skills to leap over the fence. I'm roughly half my original size, and on all fours. I wasn't a complete idiot after all, I knew that while a horse could leap quite a ways, that would take time and training, neither of which I had access too at the moment.
'I suppose I could call him,' I admitted to myself but that also had problems. Hooves were not fingers and weren't nearly as useful for manipulations. As such I would need a way to use my phone... 'Perhaps I could use an eraser,' I considered. I'd seen people using 'styluses' on their phones a time or two, it looked like a simple rubber bit at the end of a tube.
Naturally a pencil and eraser should work just the same... right?
Either way it was my best shot, and the pencil in my mouth would be far more bearable than trying to use my lips to open the front door. It would still be gross, but I had on occasion chewed on my pencil before out of frustration, so nothing new. With that decided I... paused when I heard a sudden slam at my front door.
'What?' I thought and turned to the door. I slowly approached the door, then idly poked the mail flap open. As I did I spotted a pastel orange pony laying on the ground outside. 'Oh dear,' I thought with wide eyes. I looked at her laying there then backed away from the door. 'Well, not my problem,' I noted to myself.
However I paused as I considered what this could mean...
What if someone saw the pony outside, then started snooping around and saw me! I could be found out, I couldn't let that happen! Even if I did manage to evade their prying eyes, there would be questions, too many questions, and if they actually searched the house. I shook my head and snorted as I turned back to the door with a grumble.
For better or worse I'd need to get that pony out of the open. Hopefully no one had already noticed it. I looked at the door with a frown and inhaled a breathe as I got up and tried to turn the doorknob. It didn't work too well, and in the end I bit back my pride and shuddered as I used my mouth to turn the knob.
With a grunt of disgust I pulled the door open and then spat to the side. With with a disgusted grunt I turned to the pony on my front porch. It was orange, bright pastel orange, with a blond mane and tail, not to mention what looked like apples on her hips. I frowned and rubbed my chin with a hoof as I considered the pony for a moment.
If I were honest she certainly stood out less than me. Not hard I'm sure, I do have such a lovely silvery-blue shade of fur, not to mention my mane and tail stood out far more, and even my hip mark, a trio of diamonds, was a sight to behold. Truth be told I felt I was a rather beautiful unicorn, though honestly I have little to compare myself too.
With a shake of my head I stop such thoughts and focus instead on getting her inside and out of sight. I hurry out, with a quick look around to ensure no one is watching, then glance down at the other pony. 'How do I get her inside?' I wondered to myself. I didn't have hands to lift her, something I sorely missed at this point...
'Oh bother,' I thought with a sigh as I trotted out passed the mare. I took a quick look around, just to be doubly sure no one was watching, and then ducked down and pushed the other pony into my house. It took a fair bit of time and effort, which I made a note to force her to pay me back for later, but eventually I managed.
With us both inside, I then closed the door and let out a breath.
I then looked down at my 'guest', and couldn't help but feel a little jealous of her. Despite the beauty of my own new form, the more muted colors of my guest would be more useful. If for nothing else then to visit my brother for help. At a distance she probably wouldn't stand out, certainly no one would think they saw a brightly colored pony.
'That would certainly be useful about now,' I admitted to myself. Though even so, now I had to deal with a second tiny horse living in my home. It was hard enough hiding from my dad on my own, how was I supposed to hide her as well? 'Bothersome,' I thought and sighed. It was a good thing my father worked long shifts, otherwise this might've been a problem.
For the moment I'd leave her to the floor, I still had a call to make after all...
~~*Moondancer the Dream Weaver*~~
Every being who has ever dreamed has visited the Dreamlands. While the place has many dangers, most dreamers are safe, protected by their own dreams or nightmares.
The space between dreams is the the true Dreamland and traversing it allows to enter others dreams. But doing so is very dangerous hence why I deviced an alternate method.
By years of training and lucid dreaming I build a tower, a tower that's a dream yet still there while I am aware. That towers has doors that connect to dreams of others and while inside the tower I am basically a goddess.
While visiting others dreams I am in some danger but usually my power over dreams protects me. However, should I stay inside a dream while the dreamer wakes up, I would most likely die.
Lately I been able to drag dreamers inside my tower, if I leave there, they won't wake up, even if I myself do.
While a more cruel and evil mare could use this for torture, the most I have done is to scare said dreamers a bit using the fact that inside my tower my will is law.
Although if somepony steals my sweet grass again I might get... creative. - [Moon Dancer Journal n 12, entry 16]
You know the worst part about being some kind of dream-sage? Waking up. I mean just think about it, you go from all powerful to you in a few seconds. It's disorientating for one thing, and... 'huh... what's that feeling?' I wonder to myself.
Maybe you're Hungry?
"Oh buck me you're back," I muttered.
What's that supposed to mean?
"I was honestly hoping I wouldn't have to deal you anymore," I replied quietly and shook my head to shake the sleep off.
Buck you! Anyways, are you hungry or something?
"No... well... a little of that too," I admitted and glanced around. "Right, I'm in Megan's closet," I recalled as I approached the door. I idly got up enough to open the closet door and saw that it was later, with Megan asleep in her bed. I also noticed a light from the side and spotted that her door had been opened a crack.
Her mom probably checked on her when she got home.
"Thank you for that report captain obvious," I murmured as I slowly opened the closet door and made my way out. I glanced around the dark house and spotted flashing lights in a room off to the side. 'Probably where the mom is,' I decided as I quietly crept through the house in search of the kitchen. My search wasn't long, the house wasn't especially large after all, and I slowly tip-hooved my way to the fridge.
Once there I nosed the fridge open and started to look around. 'Paydirt,' I thought as I pulled open a drawer and found a small baggy of carrot sticks.
We hate carrots.
'Yeah I know, but with this body I'd rather not take any chances with what I can and can't eat,' I replied. I then closed the drawer and then the fridge itself and made my way back to Megan's room as quietly as I could. I peered round the corners of the house to make sure the mother wasn't out and about and then scurried back into Megan's room. I entered her room with a soft sigh and then trotted into the closet and closed that door as well.
Once inside I laid down, limbs folded beneath me, and started to open the little baggy of carrots up. I held the baggy between my hooves and bit down on the top before pulling up and up and... with a sudden rip my head snapped back and a few carrots were sent flying. 'Oh that is just bucking wonderful,' I thought with a frown.
Could've been worse.
'True,' I thought as I scratched my head and then picked what few I could back up and started to munch on them. 'Okay, I don't feel too terribly hungry anymore,' I noted but then grimaced as I noted a dull ache in my horn. My hunger had somewhat covered it, but now that that wasn't an issue it was much more apparent.
Huh... okay that's a little strange.
'Might have something to do with dream walking,' I internally remarked and frowned in thought, 'alright now Surprise suggested that our bodies require ambient magic in order to function at maximum efficiency,' I began to not as I closed my eyes. 'If that is the case then I likely need a steady supply while dream walking, or else I just burn through my own magic and wake up... not tired... or hungry... but with a kind of dull ache in my horn and hooves,' I reasoned.
I get the horn... but why our hooves?
'Well I mean... maybe it has something to do with all the other types of ponies,' I tried to explain and then scratched at my head thoughtfully. 'Earth Ponies and Pegasi use their hooves to channel magic into the ground and clouds, so it'd stand to reason that a Unicorn can do so as well, its probably just not as effective or we can only touch ethereal objects or even things tied more firmly to magic,' I replied.
Okay... so no more dream walking for the time being.
'Unfortunately yes, I'm a pony and my body needs magic to function properly, so I really don't want to know what'd happen if I completely used up my reserves,' I replied and then yawned as I reached for my stuff and dug out my tablet. 'So glad Surprise didn't forget that,' I thought as I turned it on and used it to look around the closet. I then grinned when I spotted a outlet near the back and plugged my tablet in.
"Oh thank you electricity!" I whispered chipperly as my tablet started to charge while I opened my books and looked for something to read.
Not going to sleep?
"No, I'm not tired my head and hooves just kind of ache," I replied and then clicked my tongue, "So I'll just stay up and read whatever books I have on here till Megan wakes up or her mom leaves so I can grab something better to eat," I remarked as I started to read a book. I'd heard the 'light-novel' of an anime called Overlord was pretty good, I had always simply lacked the time to read it... thankfully time is something I have in spades right now.
Yeah... so... you do realize you were basically flirting with Twilight... right?
"What?" I demanded. I then looked to the door to make sure no one heard me and breathed a sigh of relief as nothing scurried. "Now what the buck do you mean by that?!" I demanded with a scowl on my face.
Well... I mean if someone had seen how you were messing with her it might've been taken in the wrong way...
"Oh shut up! I was just pulling a prank on her!" I grumbled and then promptly ignored the ever irritating voice in my head.
If you say so.
"Buck you!"
In your dreams.
"Ugh... am I always this insufferable or only when I want to annoy myself?" I demanded as I looked back to my tablet. "Block it out, block it out, block it out," I whispered in a mantra as I focused on the book and ignored my stupid brain.
C'mon you can't just ignore me.
'Watch me,' I internally retorted as I focused on the story.
Look we have to talk about this, we both know something is seriously wrong here.
'Later, right now I'd rather try and relax,' I replied. My 'head voice' grumbled and I silently ate my carrots and read the story. It was... well... it was certainly interesting. As a gamer myself I could definitely see the appeal of it. Although I did find the occasional use of technical jargon to be a bit... well, I'd just have to get used to it I supposed.
I idly reached for more carrots, only to pause when I noticed they were gone.
You ate them all, dummy.
'Yeah, I noticed,' I grumbled with a roll of my eyes. 'Guess my bad habit of stuffing my face with the nearest food-source when I'm reading hasn't changed,' I noted as I scratched at one of my ears with a frown. 'So what do I need to do to get rid of you?' I wondered to myself and the voice in my head snorted.
Not happening bucko, you're stuck with me till your admit total isolation bothers you.
'No it doesn't, I like my privacy, and I like being alone,' I retorted with a scowl. That wasn't untrue, but the honest part of me admitted I got a little... strange... when I was left alone for prolonged periods of time. The last time I was left completely alone, it was for a week and I ended up with insomnia for the entire time.
You can lie to anyone else, but not to me... since I'm you. Besides that, we're currently in a pony body, and even if you're an alien variant your probably have a similar evolutionary tree which means you're a part of a herd based species. Most likely your naturally drawn to large gatherings of ponies, and so feel both isolated and afraid right now. Which actually explains a few things that have happened so far.
"Yeah yeah whatever, I'm a bucking pony who needs 'friends', ugh... why does that feel like something out of the show?" I grumbled aloud and narrowed my eyes.
Yeah it does... but more importantly don't you think it's a bit strange that some of our habits are still here, and some seem a bit diluted?
"What do you mean?" I asked with a frown. I then glanced at the door to the closet as I recalled I was inside. I thus closed my eyes and instead tried to keep my questions internalized on the off chance Megan or her mother heard me... well Megan wouldn't matter, but I really didn't need her mother finding me.
Well you haven't felt the need to play a videogame in a while.
'No hands, can't really play games without fingers unfortunately...' I retorted, then looked upwards with a thoughtful frown, 'well, there's that and the fact that my tablet has a limited battery life and I didn't want to chance it dying on me,' I admitted. If my battery could go and go and go for days at a time, I'd have probably used my stylus and played around with creative mode in Minecraft or something...
True... then what about the fact we haven't sworn since the change?
'Well... alright that one is a bit odd, but then again I'm also the guy who used to use phrases like 'fudge nutters' in place of the F-bomb,' I reminded with a shake of my head. 'Not to mention with how my job was in a public place so I couldn't always be cussing up a storm, the only reason I thought it strange at all was because it happened after my transformation,' I admitted with a deep frown.
Okay yeah that's true... hmm... you know, it actually kind of reminds me of what happened to that Momonga guy.
'What? Where did that come from?' I questioned with a frown.
Think about it, any time Momonga got stressed out, his undead form forced him to remain calm and collected, it basically killed his libido, and to top it all off it rendered him incapable of being alarmed by his new state of being.
'Yeah... and?' I questioned.
Well isn't it just a bit strange we haven't thought of our old name once?
'How many people think in the third person?' I retorted.
Err... okay point, but how about the fact we haven't freaked out by our change?
'Honestly, I've just been focusing on surviving to keep myself from the inevitable freak out I'll suffer. It's why I've been so focused over the passed few days, if I stop and think about my situation too hard... well... I'll really freak out and that won't help anyone,' I replied with a frown as I shifted my forelimbs.
Then how about the fact we haven't tried to find a way to change back?
'How? We don't even know how we changed in the first place!' I retorted with a scowl. 'Did some magical artifact change us? Did Poison Joke exist beforehand and I stepped in it before I actually changed? Did some crazy wish actually get granted? Did my body react adversely to a source of magic and change to protect me? It could honestly be anything, trying to find a way to fix this without knowing how it happened first would be stupid!' I retorted.
We could've asked Twilight...
'No! Because even if she does have wish granting abilities look how limited our magic and Surprise's magic is right now! I can barely hold myself in my dream scape for a few hours! It'd probably kill her to try and grant a wish of that scale, plus without knowing the original cause we'd still run the risk of changing back into ponies! Oh and that's not even mentioning all the other changes to the local flora!' I replied with a deep scowl.
Alright! Point taken, wishes are a bad idea while we still so magically weak.
'Thank you for acknowledging that I'm right about something,' I thought.
Yeah yea... but that said, we haven't even looked for the cause of all this!
'With what!? I don't have any clue what caused this change besides a few theories!' I retorted as I started to rub my temples with a frown.
Theories?
'Really only one thus far, and I thought of it after Surprise mentioned how little magic is in the air,' I admitted with a sigh, 'We know for a fact that Poison Joke is a magical plant, as is Sweet Grass, and Hearts Desire, that's the three flora we've seen sprout up thus far, and I've noticed a few things like grass look more... saturated recently. Further, there are the ponies like myself and the others, which are magically inclined and require it both to function and survive,' I noted and then closed my eyes and laid my head on my crossed fore-hooves.
'My best theory, is that some form of raw magic has been either been expelled from an outside source or was unearthed and has started seeping into all of us in different ways, changing us all internally to better contain or channel it. I don't know how or when it actually started, but I'd have to guess it began with single cell organisms,' I continued.
Why would you say that?
'Truth be told it simply makes the most logical sense,' I admitted, 'a single cell organism would probably be changed faster due to smaller size and less complex nature than a multi-cellular organism. That said, I can't be certain unless I look at a local germ or cell under a microscope, and even then there's no guarantee that they'd carry a 'tell' that they were magical in nature, for that I'd need to understand what magic really is,' I noted mostly to myself.
Meaning we have nothing to work on...
'Pretty much,' I replied with a sigh, 'It's not like I'm a total nerd who just so happens to own a microscope or any of the other equipment I'd need to analyze what's going on here after all,' I remarked with a shake of my head.
Yet you do own a military grade pistol belt... and a ton of pouches for it. Not to mention all the convenient knives, the flask, and padding, oh, and that machete! Which... wait... did we forget to bring the machete?!
'What're you talking abou... oh buck me I did didn't I!' I thought as I placed my hoof to my face with a grunt. I knew I'd forgotten something when I'd gathered my stuff from my room, but how had I forgotten that of all things?!
Wow, of all the things that you should've remembered...
'... shut up...' I thought with a scowl. I also had to wonder why I was such a plot hole to myself? I then shook my head and let out a snort. It didn't matter anymore, I wasn't in the forest so I didn't have to worry about surviving bears... and honestly the machete probably would've just made it mad. I turned my attention from that and to the door to the closet. I pushed it open quietly to see that Megan was still asleep.
I then noticed her electronic clock stated it was '6:36 AM' and smacked my lips. 'Thirsty... and I really need to pee,' I thought to myself as I pushed the door open all the way and trotted out. I tip-hoofed my way through the house into the bathroom. I quickly pulled myself up so I could reach the faucet and turned it on so I could get a quick drink. I finished with that quickly and then looked to the toilet... then down at my body...
Yeah... now I needed to figure out how a pony uses a toilet...
My business was finished, and I thanked whatever power was watching for the kid-adapter seat on the toilet.
'It's probably meant for Megan,' I admitted to myself. The girl was very young after all, that much was painfully obvious. 'It's also a good thing she and her mom are away,' It would've been awkward to have one of them walk in on me when I was on the toilet...
Now I had a new task to suffer through...
That being, figuring out how to wash my hooves...
Just get up and use the soap.
'How! I have hooves!' I reminded my annoying brain.
Huh... point, might have to think about that one for a bit.
With a roll of my eyes I raised a hoof up and then slowly raised and then braced myself on the edge of the sink. With a quiet grunt of exertion I looked around and eventually spotted a soap dispenser. 'Oh good, it isn't a bar,' I thought with relief. Holding a bar of soap could be hard enough even with fingers, I could already imagine how much of a chore it'd be with hooves or, Luna forbid, my mouth. With a shake of my head I banished such thoughts and instead...
Wait, we have hooves, how are we going to turn the sink on?
'Oh pony feathers,' I thought with a glare at the knobs on top of the sink.
You're doing the horse-lingo again.
'Shut up!' I internally snapped at my brain as I considered the knobs, not to mention my already awkward position against the sink. I then focused on my hooves and recalled how I had deduced a ponies hooves were made from the same material as a unicorn horn, and thereby could in theory channel magic. 'That could mean that all ponies can use their hooves to pick up and manipulate things due to a minor spell they all instinctively know,' I mused internally.
That's a big assumption bucko.
'Well its the best I got to work with,' I retorted and then reached a hoof for one of the knobs. 'Alright, just stay calm and try to figure out how they work these stupid things,' I thought as I glared at my hooves. I tried to grasp onto the knob but, of course, it didn't seem to want to work with me. It took a few tries, each failure causing me more and more irritation as I did.
Eventually I managed to move the knob, then grinned at my hoof. 'Ha! It worked!' I thought to myself as I then looked to the soap dispenser and narrowed my eyes. 'Lets see if I can move that,' I decided as I reached out for it. It took another few tries, but I managed to grasp it and pull it closer with a little effort. Once I had I dispensed a bit of soap and cleaned off my hooves with a proud smile.
Wow, you managed to move a knob and pull a soap-dispenser closer to you... you must be so proud of that massive achievement.
'Oh shut up! It's not like I knew how to do that before.. as a pony I mean!' I responded angrily. I'd also say it was a pretty impressive achievement, considering I didn't have hands. With an annoyed snort I turned off the water and then made my way out of the bathroom. I then started to look around the house and felt a frown work its way across my lips.
It was... dirty for one thing... but otherwise completely and totally uninteresting. I nosed my way here and there, explored every room, and even checked a few nifty hide-holes, but I didn't see anything that'd keep me entertained, which was going to make this a very long day. I felt one of my ears flick to the side as I continued to look around.
'Sooo bored... can't focus,' I thought to myself as I eventually flopped onto the couch in the living room and frowned. 'TV?' I considered and then internally shrugged as I idly reached out and grabbed hold of the remote. 'Ha! Not useless now huh!' I thought with a grin.
I never said it was useless, just that you're making too big a deal about it.
With a roll of my eyes I looked at the remote and then turned on the TV. After a few minutes of channel surfing I realized why I'd long since stopped watching TV a few years ago.
There was absolutely nothing on TV, not even reruns.
"Ugh... why couldn't there be something good on?" I grumbled as I turned the TV off and then rolled over onto my back and stared at the ceiling. I don't like having excess time on my hooves, I never have actually. I prefer to have something to do and when I don't I tend to get really antsy and nervous. I let out a quiet noise that was somewhere between a groan and a growl as I shifted on the couch and then let out a grunt of frustration.
You could check out videos online on your tablet.
'No I've been on that thing all day... and all week actually... and I really need to do other things,' I responded.
Okay... then read a book.
'I've already read all my physical books aside from the ridiculously long ones,' I again responded.
Not those Game of Thrones books.
'Yeah and with how long and expansive they are, I'm really not going to read those now of all times,' I replied with a frown.
Okay, then well... err... huh, not much to do as a pony is there?
'Not on earth no,' I noted and then frowned. 'I really don't feel like going outside right now either... and I'm still pretty drained from my session in the dream-scape,' I thought as I considered what I could do. I lay there, silent and idly drummed one of my hooves on the couch as I tried to think of something interesting to do.
Practice Magic?
I idly considered that thought before I lightly tapped my horn, only to wince at a dull throb. 'Horn still hurts, so no that's not happening,' I responded and then closed my eyes. 'Think, think, think, think,' I thought to myself as I idly tapped the side of my temple.
You know you're not Whinny the Poo, right?
'Shush brain I'm trying to think of something to do,' I responded with a slight smirk. If I recalled correctly, I started doing the 'think, think, think, think, think' thing after I saw one of the movies with Poo in it. Admittedly I was just a kid when I saw it but the habit kind of stuck afterwards.
After a long time of thinking I decided that, honestly, I just needed something to keep me busy.
'Which means clean up time,' I decided and sat up. I looked around the house with a frown and idly nodded my head. 'Yeah, this place could really use it too,' I decided as I hopped to my hooves. I then began my search for cleaning supplies, because once I get started I'm not stopping until this place looks half decent.
Aren't you the least bit worried about Megan's mom noticing you've cleaned?
'Meh, I'll cross that road when I get there,' I responded.
~~*Posey the Gentle Gardener*~~
"I brought you food." Said the voice on the other side of the door, while I wanted to ignore it I was quite hungry so I opened it just a bit and saw a literal fruit basket in front of the door. It smeeled too good for the fruits to be made of wax. I quickly got the basket inside the bathroom and locked the door again.
The apple was tasty and juicy, I somehow was able to peel the banana, no clue how these freak magnetic like hooves work and the orange... was eaten raw, just like the apple. My equine teeth were good to crush everything into a paste I easily let enter my stomach.
Then I washed my face, it was a bit hard to do, leaving my mouth tasting like soap but I needed that after hours of being a wush and crying.
'Is that dog shampoo?'
Yes the bathroom had dog shampoo, this other pony sure had it good. While I had to hide in my little sister room all the time, she was living in a place were they have her her own shampoo. Even the perfume she had used on me couldn't hide the smell I had. She had not been able to find a time were our parents weren't at home for long enough to give me a bath.
"Buck, I should just take advantage of it. There is even towels big enough for me to dry after taking a shower.'
The shower ended turning into a bath in the tube because it was easier. And well... I wanted to pamper myself. I knew Firefly really didn't want to make me cry but...
"Ah dang it! Stupid weak pony personality!"
I wanted to scream to yell that wasn't me but... it was a losing battle.
Is not like I was being taken over, thank god but... my personality had changed. I had to fight all the time to avoid being polite and act shy and... that just irritated me more.
Not to mention the guilt. I wouldn't have survived as a pony without my sister help and... I keep being a jerk to her.
So the first thing I did after leaving the bathroom was give my small sister a hug and apologise. I hated myself a bit for doing so but she is my sister after all.
Then I glared at Firefly.
"What? See something funny?"
"Eh... no... are you okay?" Firefly asked me looking worried.
"Yes, why shouldn't I be?" I told her while I keep the glare. I was still annoyed about her stupid prank.
"I apologised already, okay?"
"Yes you did. Thanks for the fruit basket."
After that I stopped hugging my sister and sat back on the couch in a unfortunate silence.
"So... uh... what now?" Firefly asked and I had no clue what to answer. Unfortunately my sister didn't have that problem.
"Sleepover with ponies!"