Adjusting to Hooves

by Randa Panda

REVISED CHAPTER 1 (Martha the Newfoal)

Author's Note:

Instead of moving on to the second chapter, I decided to revise the first one. Taking in the feedback I was given for the original version, I tried to have more things happen instead of solely focusing on Martha's thoughts (which is why Martha starts interacting with Kim here), and, as also suggested, I tried to make Martha feel more alien in her new body. I removed the bit where Martha is conversing with her brother Dylan on the phone. Admittedly, I only used him to bump up the word count before. I don't think his character quite fits the tone of this story, but perhaps I will use him in another; he was fun to write.

I'd like to thank nothingtoseehere for reading over my revision and providing me with feedback. I hope this first chapter is more engaging!

Martha reaches a foreleg to the mirror and presses a hoof to the glass, to the equine staring back at her. The eyes of the earth pony are the same as the eyes she had when she was a human - "a bright, clear green," as her ex-partner used to describe them (he was dramatic in speech and, unfortunately, in personality, which led to their split). Surprisingly, her mane is not the same color as the hair she use to possess - instead of a golden blonde, it is white; and not even her coat is blonde - it is a light tan.

A week has passed since her conversion, and she has wasted many hours examining her reflection like this. I'm not a human anymore, she thinks. I'm a pony now.

No, not even a pony. A Newfoal.

She knows that ponification is necessary. She knows that humans cannot survive the Barrier. Humans have to become ponies to survive. She knows.

But - and her stomach twists into a knot and a small part of her mind screams at her for being so selfish, for being so ungrateful - she doesn't feel saved; she doesn't know how she feels. Uncertain? That seems to be the most fitting word. Uncertain. What she feels, and what she wishes not to feel yet cannot help but feel, is uncertain.

Martha traces her hoof over her reflection. She glances over at the clock on the wall. The time reads 2:49. She should head out to see Kim now.

Kim... Martha's heart flutters, and a tiny smile creeps across her face. She begins to approach the door, but then stops and squints at it. Where is the knob -

Oh. Right. The door was adjusted for her.

Martha pushes the door open with her hoof, then steps out. The door swings shut, and she heads out into the bright afternoon.

~~~

As a human, Martha would have enjoyed an afternoon such as this. To quote the cliches her ex-partner spouted: "How radiant is the sun, whose rays bask us all in its glory! How gentle is the breeze, which lightly brushes against us!" But now, going through the suburbs has become an ordeal for her. It is very easy to distinguish Equestrian ponies from Newfoals.

Martha looks down, not wanting to meet the gaze of anybody or anypony she passes by. She notices that there are hooves below her. Her hooves. Her four hooves. Not two feet. Why does she have -

She crashes to the ground, and it is when she is pushing herself up that she remembers what she has become. She resumes her pace, again lowering her head. From the corner of her eye, Martha notices five ponies conversing to each other:

"I bet'cha ten bits that was a Newfoal."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah! You see how they tripped?"

"What about it?"

"It was really awkward-like. Like they didn't know that they have hooves or something. You get what I mean?"

Martha's walk turns into a gallop.

~~~

Martha has reached her destination, and she now stares at the door before her. She raises a foreleg to knock, then stops and lowers it back down.

She, Martha the Newfoal, is on one side of the door. On the other side of the door is Kim, a Human.

But... it's Kim...

Martha forces herself to knock, then waits. She becomes consciously aware of how her hoof is tapping against the floor, how her ears are twitching in anticipation, how her tail is swishing back and forth. She has to inhale, exhale...

And the door swings open.

Martha's heart leaps in her chest.

There is Kim, her eyes the same soft brown; her hair the same color, still long, still beautiful. It hits Martha how she hasn't seen her in ages, and she wants to fling her arms around her, to hug her tightly and tell her how much she's missed her and perhaps tell her how much she really means to her -

Why am I smaller than her? There's only an inch's difference in height -

Oh. Right.

Martha blinks, realizing that she has been staring at Kim. Kim clears her throat, and the very first thing she says is:

"You aren't blonde."

It feels as though someone has slapped her across the face. Martha raises an arm - no, she corrects herself, a foreleg - and looks at its light tan color, then back up at Kim, whose arms are crossed. "No," Martha says, her voice quiet. "I'm not blonde..."

The two stare at each other. All the childish excitement brimming in Martha before begins to waver. She lowers her head, pawing the ground.

Kim says, "So. You're a Newfoal now."

Martha slowly nods, wanting to say something, but unsure of what to say.

"Hm... Do you mind if I... You know, pet you, or something?"

Again, in response, Martha nods. Anything for you to touch me... She shuts her eyes. She hears Kim getting down on her knees, feels a hand lightly graze against her hair - mane - and she shudders.

"Sorry." Martha opens her eyes to see Kim pulling her hand back. "Do you want to come inside," Kim asks. Her tone is inviting, and the smile forming on her face is light and genuine, but there is still a bizarre quiver in the air.

Martha starts to hear the tune of Simon & Garfunkel's "Old Friends" play in the back of her mind. She can't help but outwardly laugh. Kim tilts her head to the side, raising an eyebrow, and Martha only gives her head a shake. Kim shrugs and heads inside.

Martha doesn't immediately follow. She takes a deep breath. Things are changing, but she will be with Kim no matter what.

Comments

[Chatoyance]

Your story has been added to The Conversion Bureau under the section 'Dark or Sad', based on the label you choose for your story. Congratulations!

[ferret]

"I bet'cha ten bits that was a Newfoal."

Oh dear, pony hazing. That's gonna hurt. Though not as much as what they do in some fics...

Things are changing, but she will be with Kim no matter what.

I bet'cha ten bits that—no, no not even I'm gonna go there.