//------------------------------// // To cross-dress or not to cross-dress? That is the question. // Story: Sky's Changing Secret // by Sky Sprinter //------------------------------// Carousel Boutique, The Next Day "So now I can shape shift?" Sky asked confused. "Yes, darling. Twilight and I thought it'd be best to allow the two of us to adjust the ring as we see fit. And considering the kind of work that you are going to do for me today I think it's best to allow you that power," Rarity answered. "Now your task today is basically a revival of your old job, but quite possibly more permanent if my thoughts of the usefulness of your 'abilities' are correct then I believe we can end this whole charade today. You can get a job and protection while I get a perfect mannequin." While Rarity was in her dreamland, probably dreaming of having changeling workers up the wazoo for mannequin purposes, Sky decided to try out his reclaimed ship shifting powers turning into a green Earth Pony mare with a purple mane with Rarity's mane style, a black Unicorn stallion with a green mane with Soarin's mane style, and finally into his normal Pegasus form. "It's been too long since I've seen this face," Sky said to himself while looking into one of the mirrors. "Alright, first I'm going to need you to turn into the form of a Unicorn mare, with white fur and a long purple mane, if you please," Rarity said hoping to begin business. Sky then disappeared in a green flash and was replaced by a mare of the description previously stated. "Good yes?" said Sky with a much higher tone than his normal voice, it was quite a bit more feminine. "I can see that voice modification comes with the ability, very good Sky. Now I just need you to stand still so I can visualize the dress so that when I begin I'll have an even better idea to imagine the dress on the mare," Rarity said excited as she began work immediately. Several hours later, a knock was heard on the front door. "I'll get it, just stay right there Skyla," Rarity said leaving to see to the visitor. "Don't worry, I will," Sky said while cloaked in a dress-in-the-making, "And please don't use that name, even if I were to use a female version of my name it'd be something like Sky with an E on the end, none of that Skyla business. Skye not Skyla." Of course Rarity had left by then. A minute later and Rarity re-entered the room and lo and behold Sweetie Belle followed her in. "Ooh, who's that?" Sweetie asked. "Oh, well you see, Sweetie, she is a new employee," Rarity answered. "Don't worry Rarity, she already knows, can you get this stuff off of me so I can shift without ruining your work," Sky said. "She already knows my sister as well." "Oh alright darling," Rarity said as she began to remove the dress she was working on. "What are you guys talking about?" Sweetie asked confused. Once the dress and various tools were off of him, Sky enveloped himself in green flames and out came his natural form. Sweetie screamed a little bit before recognizing the changeling in front of her. "Hey, I know you, you are that changeling I saw at Applejack's. "Um, yeah, that was me," Sky said shy all of a sudden. Why did I just do that? I usually don't ever do that. "Ooh, Twilight and Applejack told me all about you, after I left I told the Crusaders about you and how you aren't like the scary ones ," Sweetie said. "W-Why would you tell them about me?" Sky asked concerned that this might mess up Twilight's plans. "Why wouldn't I? I made sure they knew about Twilight's whole plan and they are on board especially Redwind." Sweetie replied. "It's nice to know that at least one sibling is 100% on my side, although I can't quite blame the other one," Sky commented. "I knew it! Scootaloo so owes me 5 bits!" Sweetie said smiling. "I think I need to step in on this conversation, I'm not finished with the dress enough to call it a day so Sweetie if you'd please?" Rarity said interrupting. "And betting is unladylike, Sweetie." "Oh yeah, that," Sky said sheepishly before shifting into the Unicorn mare form from earlier. "Oh all right, me and the Crusaders were about to go crusading soon anyways," Sweetie said leaving the room. Two hours later, Rarity finally pulled the dress off of Sky and she placed it on a display manikin. "Alright, I think that's enough work on that dress for today, I need to thank you immensely for your help today, I think we might have something going quite well here. I really do believe what Twilight said when she told the five of us her plan with you. I hope that book of yours gets the word out about how useful changeling can be," She said as the two walked down the stairs. "I certainly hope so, if everypony could see that not all changelings are bad then perhaps I wouldn't have to have these Writs of Protection and such," Sky said as he changed back to his Pegasus form, he wanted to use it as much as was possible before Rarity adjusted the magic limiter again to deny him that ability. Right at that moment, Sweetie returned, this time with her fellow three Crusaders. She entered the boutique saying, "He should still be here." The four Crusaders entered and immediately saw Sky and Rarity. Redwind immediately ran towards Sky who had reached the bottom of the stairs and tackled, or rather attempted to tackle him, in a hug, "Hi Sky! Are you working for Rarity again?" she asked. "Just for today, Princess Twilight came up with this plan to get Ponyville acclimated to me. Have me seen as much as possible, or at least be working beneficially, until we find a job that I'm suited for. Honestly I think this job is gonna be it, my abilities makes me basically a living manikin for Rarity, it allows me to actually use my abilities for good, and I kinda enjoy it, I don't know why but I do," Sky replied. "So this is the changeling you have been hyping up all this time, Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked Sweetie not amused, "I thought they were supposed to be ferocious and scary." "Hey, I can be ferocious and scary…" Sky said without any weight behind it. "No you can't Sky," Redwind said smiling. "Come on Redwind, I'm trying to at least sound cool, failing possibly but it's worth a try," Sky said lightly laughing, "Not everypony is as naturally awesome as Rainbow Dash but still…" "Are you also a Rainbow Dash fan?" Scoots asked suddenly interested due to the mention of the "most awesome pony in all of Equestria." "Sky has had a cru-" Redwind said before Sky stopped her with his hoof. "A cru-crucial understanding of her awesomeness, yes, um, to truly live with a Dash, or whatever bad pun I can make to mean living like Rainbow Dash," Sky quickly said. The taste of curiosity was unwelcome to Sky at that moment. After taking a second to wonder about that little exchange between Redwind and Sky, Sweetie Belle then turned to Rarity and asked her, "Rarity, can we borrow Sky for a little while, please? Rarity replied, "Now Sweetie Belle, Sky isn't just some sort of toy to play with, and besides it's time for him to get back over to Twilight's home so that they can continue on her plan for him." "Aww," All four crusaders said disappointed. "You guys might be able to convince Twilight, depending on what you all were planning," Sky suggested. "That's a terrific idea!" Applebloom said excited. "Ooh yeah, what we were planning was seeing you do all your shape-shifty moves," Scootaloo explained. "Sorry to crush your hopes on that, but without me nor Twilight you couldn't see that," Rarity said as she lit up her horn to re-apply the restriction on Sky's magic limiter. "Darn it," Sky said as he felt his disguise fall due to the re-adjusted magic limiter ring. "Ooh," the four crusaders said at the same time. "We could just go to Twilight's with Sky, right?" Redwind suggested. "I guess that is something you darlings can do," Rarity replied. "It's settled then," Applebloom said. The crusaders nodded their heads and exclaimed, "Cute Mark Crusader Changeling Watchers!" "Come on Sky," Redwing said as the Crusaders left the boutique. "Coming," Sky said to Redwing. Before leaving, Sky said one final thing to Rarity, "Thank you and hopefully I get to return to this soon." "You're welcome darling, and I hope you get to return to this as well, you are the best model I've had since Fluttershy," Rarity responded.