Starshine, Starbright

by cottonball


Chapter 1: I have hooves apperantly

CottonBall yawned. Her paws felt weak, and sleep repeatedly came to her mind. The brown cat sighed, brushing her fangs and crawling into bed. She swirled the bed sheets, trying to find a comfy spot. "What an exhilarating day..." Cotton yawned, her eyes drooping closed.
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BANG! CottonBall shot up, everything dark around her. Her eyes soon adjusted, and a bright, starry sky appeared. The fields among her were stocked with tall grass. A trail led to a small village. The moon shined brightly on Cotton's fur. "I feel... taller," Cotton gasped, glancing at her paws. Where were her paws? They were replaced with a set of purple, cloven hooves.

Cotton stared at her now blue-purple fur. It shone in the bright moonlight. The now ponified cat wobbly walked towards the village. She was surprised to see that a small shop in a lonely corner of town was still litten up. Another pony such as herself was cleaning a marble counter top. His old brown cloke was draped over his haunches. He adorned a pair of white wings. A lollipop rested on his flank. "Amazing...." Cotton breathed, looking through the window.

The bartender looked at Cotton, jumping slightly. His face calmed, and he walked towards the door. "May I help you ma'am?" He asked in a surprisingly high-pitched voice.

Cotton blinked. A moment passed. "Ma'am?"

"Ah, yes? May I come in?" The purple pony scratched her head nervously.

The bartender glanced at the sign that said, "Closed." "Sure thing ma'am," he nodded, gesturing his hoof inside of the cafe'.

Cotton bowed slightly. "Thank you."

The mare padded in, her eyes softening when she saw the stallion close the door and offer her a doughnut. "You look starved ma'am. It's on me," The stallion smiled. He had a small hint of Irish in his voice. The snow-white stallion removed his hood, revealing white hair filled with blue and yellow streaks. His hair was short, with messy bangs. His eyes were a bright magenta.

Cotton blushed. She was never offered free food. "Thank you." She gratefully accepted the doghnut, a light pink aura surrounding it. She gasped, dropping the doughnut. Luckily she caught it. "I'm... I'm a unicorn?!" The mare gasped.

"Ma'am, you ARE a unicorn, you've been like that since birth, yes?" The stallion raised a brow, his wings folded.

Cotton opened her mouth, as if to speak, but shut it immediately. "Ma'am?" The stallion looked concerned. I've never seen a noble so... so speechless before... the bartender thought.
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Cotton awoke in her room, her paws there, everything normal. "Phew..." The she-cat hopped out of bed, walking to the kitchen as the sun began to rise. "Maybe I'll have some Salty Fishes," She mused to herself, pulling out a bowl, milk, and the cereal.

"Cotton? What are you doing up so early?" Asked a groggy blue she-cat, her fur on end. She yawned, grabbing the cereal and pouring herself a bowl of Salty Fishes.

Cotton raised a brow, "Shouldn't I be asking the same question?"

The blue cat meowed, "You woke me, do you know how loud you are in the mornings?"

"Sorry Misty, I had a weird dream last night." CottonBall casually put a spoonful of her cereal in her mouth.

Misty nodded. "What about?"

"Horses.... no, mystical equines. I was a unicorn... and I met a Pegasus. Everything was colorful. I was purple I think."

Misty broke out laughing. She nearly fell out of her chair. "L.O.L omg, really? Magical equines?"

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A casual day passed, CottonBloom got her work done, and she was home tuckered out and ready for bed. She tucked her self neatly in the bed sheets, her eyes drooping as before. Her vision faded.

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"Ma'am? Ma'am?" An echoey voice rang out.

"Huh?!" CottonBall shot up, accidentally bonking her head on the bartender's.

"Ow!" The Pegasus looked taken aback. Despite his aching head, he helped the purple unicorn to her hooves. "I was worried, you passed out for the day."

Cotton looked around. She was undressed, so was the stallion. She was in a room. "Um.... I'm... naked...." She muttered. The bartender chuckled.

"You nobles. Ponies don't need clothes," The Pegasus then straightened his face. "We never properly introduced. My name is StarCatcher. yours?" He held out a hoof.

Cotton hesitated. "Um... the name's Cotton... CottonBall....." She took StarCatcher's hoof, shaking it slowly. "You say I was out a day?"

StarCatcher nodded, his mane bouncing slightly. Ponies? That's what they're called? These look nothing like ponies... Cotton's thoughts were scrambled, and she couldn't focus.

"I couldn't help but notice... you don't have a cutie mark..." The Pegasus trailed off, pointing to Cotton's flank. Cotton stared.

"Cutie Marks? You mean those..." Cotton stopped. Obviously she didn't belong here. She needed to act like she knew this stuff. "Um, yeah! I.... um..." The equine panicked. What was she doing?! She needed a full on script! She stuttered a bit more, causing StarCatcher to look at her worriedly.

"Are you alright Ma'am- I mean... cotton?" The bartender cocked his head.

Cotton stood there, her eyes wide and alert. "I'm not from this place!" she blurted out. She then hung her head in defeat. "I'm no... pony. I'm a cat, and THIS is a dream," The purple-blue equine nodded. The bartender just stared blankly at her.

StarCatcher finally whispered, "A cat."

Cotton nodded.

"A feline."

*Nod*

"Really?!"

*Nods*

StarCatcher sat there for a moment, dumbstruck. "Why in the name of Starswirll's Beard!" He clapped his hooves, a large smile plastered on his face like a banana. "I must take you to Princess Luna!" he stomped a hoof, spreading his wings.

"Who now?" The confused feline/equine cocked her head in puzzlement.

"Punch me, hard," said the Pegasus.

"WHAT?! No, no no no no," Cotton screamed.

"Hmph, your no fun..." StarCatcher smashed his head against a nearby mirror, knocking himself out,

Cotton gasped, "STAR CATCHER!!!" The unicorn then slipped on a piece of glass and hit the back of her head. All went black.

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"Am I... home?" Cotton looked around. Sure enough, she was back in her own room. It was still night however, and Cotton was disappointed to find that her equine body remained.
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