Oh boy, that poor man. So I've seen humans dropped in Equestria, humans turned into ponies, but never a human taking control of a canon pony's body. This may prove to be entertaining.

I do have to wonder how it took that long for the guy to notice that he wasn't in his own body. Not that I am complaining.

Wouldn't something like "My Little Human: Friendship is Technology" make more sense as a name for that show? Ah, whatever, me reading to much into things again...

ANYWAY

Interesting start. It certainly took him long enough to notice. Dude must've been smashed something fierce. Hope Bon-bon doesn't start freaking out on him.

Story eez tracked, please continue.

>>5254452544

I agree. It would make sense if he was still stoned or ill in some way.

In equestria pony scares you! Also how did he not realise he was missing his junk when he went to the toilet.  *Insert inapproppriate derogatory joke referring to male genitalia here*

Tracking systems engaged!

>>5256852568

Stoned or not, I' bet he would've noticed the moment he got out of bed. You know, having become a pony and all, he'd notice that he's on all fours, has no fingers and speaks in a different voice, unless he's VERY stoned/drunk.

Anyway, I'm gonna track this story too.

Funny, original, and well-written?

I am torn between my joy at having another great fanfic to follow on this site and my despair at having yet another great fanfic to follow on this site.

Seriously, though, this is really good stuff.  I look forward to more.

Oh this looks goooooood! I have experienced loosing track of a great fic before and I have sworn to never let it happen again!

I signed up just to keep track of this one

Promising and original concept, brilliant writing, you amaze me!

im loving this

Meanwhile in Tacoma, Washington, I can only assume that Lyra is having the greatest day of her life.

>>5277452774

Somepony should take that idea and refine a spinoff fic out of it!

Great idea and start!

Just like everyone else, the only problem is the fact that he noticed that he wasn't human anymore till the end. Other that, I'm looking forward for more chapter to this promising story.

Haha!  This is too funny.  And crazy.  I'll be following.  

That i sone hell of a hangover. Where was this bar again?

You know what I just realized?  This implies two things:

Firstly, that Lyra has ended up in Lyle's body in Tacoma, Washington and, as >>5277452774 already pointed out, she is presumably having the single greatest day of her pony life.

Secondly, that the foal's show My Little Person: Software is Magic has its own nigh-cult following amongst the adult ponies of Equestria, who write fanfictions, draw fanart, and compose fanmusic inspired by the show.

And, y'know, they totally have conventions where ponies dress up as the show's characters.  I imagine that Lyra is a regular attendee of these cons, what with the opportunity to cosplay as a person and all.

Someone needs to do something with these implications.

I like how this is shaping up.  And don't worry about the slow pace.  I much prefer a story that takes the time to develop fully instead of rushing it.

Also:  Bon-bon has the patience of a saint.  She needs a hug.

Please continue! This is fun read.

A new chapter? This living organism is very pleased, and likes the slow pace.

Enjoyment containers at critical, adorable overload in progress!

To slow? To SLOW?!? something this hilarious can't ever go "slow".

i'm really liking this concept... keep it up!

Ooh... I see Bon-bon brought up the time when Lyra was sitting on the park bench in a human position. Time to put that office of conspiracy theorists to work

Very interesting concept.  When's the next chapter coming?

And the much anticipated update has come at last! You have not disappointed me.

Another great update!

I feel that while Lyra is having the time of her time but unlike him is pretending to him. Please show us what is going with Lyra for I'm interested to read.

You know, it's one of the best things I EVER read. ANd it comes from man who read like thousands of fics. You took cliche, and made it COMPLETELY AWESOME! Double-way shows (MLP-MLH, Lyra and Lyle, body-switch) and FINALLY ponies think main hero is nuts and do not believe him! It's perfect and make complete sense, I mean, if my friend will start talking that he's a pony, or dunno, Chingis-Khan, I'll think he went crazy and do not believe him 'just because'. Tracking.

Love ya! You're awesome!

Another great chapter.  More serious in nature than the others, but still compelling and entertaining.

Keep it up man. I think your doing fine.

It was late when I skimmed this but I have one question.

 "Do you even really know how to program, or do you just know what you remember"

Which means that along with TVs pOnies have computers... And lyle should KNOW how to program from what I've seen so... Couldn't he have proven that?

Wow, this is great! Fantastic job on taking annoying cliches and turning it into something hilarious and compelling; definitely tracking.

I find it adorably hilarious.

and the slow pace is fitting.

also, what's Lyra up too?

I'mma guess she's in Lyle's body back on earth?

More.

I want MORE!!!

I can haz more, please?

I'll start speaking latin soon, seriously.

You won't like me when I'm speaking latin.

just...please update!

....interesting.... and really good..keep it up!

I keep trying to think of ways to prove Twilight wrong.

It's damn tough; in fact, just about the only thing I could think of would be to quote one of the other Mane 6, on the off chance that their not-as-photographic-as-Twilight's memory would have them thinking they said something else. But even that is a major stretch, and there's a lot of variables that could go wrong.

Tl;dr: You almost made me question my existence, too. Good job.

AW, Bon-bon so sweet here! Glad to see that Lyle not a Mary Sue and shocked, unprepared and not-so-emotionally-strong. Believeable character with flaws - it's perfect! I can sympathize with him. You executed your plot very well!

Wow, Twilight is logical and all, but she's such a bitch if she wants to be. Like Grez said, I almost questioned my own existence. Bon-Bon here shows all good traits of Earth Ponies - she's strong, dependable, always supports and trusts you when you need it. OH, I'm so in love with her.

fantastic

Extra credit in the Turing test: Make the interviewer question his or her own humanity.

Yeah, in retrospect, a battle of wits with Twilight Sparkle was pretty much doomed to failure. Although, if one could reverse the tables and try to indulge her curiosity as a converse brony, answer ambiguities about My Little Person... Ah, but that's a dangerous game in and of itself.

In any case, I do look forward to more. I also rather hope you do a sequel with Lyra's end of the story. After all, where else would she be if not in Lyle's body?

I wonder where this is going...

Part of me wants to say that Lyra actually is delusional, but I really can't tell. Keep up the good work!

Hmm... Simon and Garfunkel and ponies...

When I left my home and my family

I was no more than a foal

In the company of strangers

In the hustle of the railway station running scared

Living large, forced into the richer quarters

Where the fancy ponies go

Waking up without the hearty rooster's crow

Could work. And now I'll be doing this all day instead of getting anything useful done. Well played, sir. Well played.

>>103928103928

In the clearing stands a farmer

Applebucker by her trade

And she carries the reminders

Of ev'ry tree she failed to reap

Or mocked her 'til she cried out

In her anger and her shame

"I can't do this, I can't do this"

But the farmer still remains

Ponify ALL the lyrics!

"I get the news I need from the weather pegasi.

Ohh, I can gather all the news I need from the weather pegasi.

Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile.

Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da, and here I am

The only living mare in Manehattan.

Bon-Bon, get your cake done on time.

I know that you're eager to bake now.

Hey-y-y, let your Cutie Mark shine, shine, shine now

Da-n-da-da-n-da-da-n-da-da

Like it shines on me,

The only living mare in Manehattan...

The only living mare in Manehattan."

I do love a good bit of songfic now and again. A shame I confused Simon and Garfunkel with Gilbert and Sullivan for a moment. I do that sometimes.

Anyway, another fine chapter, especially the little details like Lyra's "magic fingers". Eagerly looking forward to more.

It was a great story. Glad to be of help!

Interesting. Though, I kinda thought that would happen anyways.

A strange and saddly fitting end.  Happy, but a smidge sad as well.  Especially consdering the stresses needed to cause a bout of temporary insanity like that.  Then again, major concert and all.

I didn't expect this though.

OK

THIS is funny!

lol

Man, that's kind of cruel to poor Lyle, isn't it?

(Although really, I shouldn't have expected anything else, coming from you.)

What a tweest!

I have no idea how to react to this ending.

So... good job, I guess?

I'm gonna go think for a while.

I have... mixed feelings about the romantic ending. It fits, and makes sense, but it feels like Lyle died somehow. Through the whole story, it was narrated by Lyle, so I recognize the style and character as Lyle. When it it revealed that it is Lyra, I can't stop thinking of the totally unchanged narrative style as Lyle. It doesn't feel like Lyra because my mind says it's Lyle.

Don't get me wrong, I love the story. I just can't tell if I like the ending. Lyle is an established character, and it feels like they only got renamed to me. I don't know, great story, good ending, I just feel weird about it.

I have... mixed feelings about the romantic ending. It fits, and makes sense, but it feels like Lyle died somehow. Through the whole story, it was narrated by Lyle, so I recognize the style and character as Lyle. When it it revealed that it is Lyra, I can't stop thinking of the totally unchanged narrative style as Lyle. It doesn't feel like Lyra because my mind says it's Lyle.

Don't get me wrong, I love the story. I just can't tell if I like the ending. Lyle is an established character, and it feels like they only got renamed to me. I don't know, great story, good ending, I just feel weird about it.

this chapter confused me so much

someone, elaborate.

This ending...confuses me somewhat. I'm not sure if it's a good ending, or a bad ending. On one hand Lyra is back, but on the other hand Lyle was never really there. Either that or Lyle was there in a sense of a split personality (Or worse, an actual Human that didn't end up returning home) and just killed off mentally in a sense, or perhaps a merge between the two? Doesn't seem likely, still, awesome story.

>>105013105013

The character did get renamed: she went from Lyra to Lyle, and then from Lyle back to Lyra.  I simply didn't let the reader see the first change because then it would have been obvious from the get-go.  Admittedly that would have advantages as well (for instance, the line "I'm just as sane as the next man!" from Lyle becomes as humorous to the reader as it is to me, the author), but that wasn't what I was shooting for.  I considered changing the narrative voice after she realized the truth, but believed that would lead to confusion: i.e. changing the narrative voice would cause the reader to think that Lyle really had been a separate individual.

>>105126105126

Sure!  Your elaboration is:   "U mad, bro?"  

Serious answer: Twilight, Bon Bon, and Lyra incorrectly assumed that Lyra would always believe herself to be Lyle Hartman during her bouts of delusion.  Instead, however, Lyra's brain picked another character from My Little Person.  You remember way back in the first chapter when Lyle mentioned some of his friends by name and reputation?  'The Stan' was one of them.

This was definitely an interesting story. While I didn't exactly see that ending coming, I wasn't surprised either when it came. Maybe I was unconsciously prepared for Lyle to be really be Lyra? In a way, this has a few parallells to the story I'm writing, though I won't elaborate on what and how. Regardless, what I did find a little surprising was Lyle's smooth transition back to Lyra. To speculate, I say it was because Lyle, once the memories popped up, learned he truly was Lyra, and recalling more of Lyra's past, furthermore deduced the flip in character wasn't the first time it had occurred. Previously, when Lyra didn't recall her past as a unicorn mare, she was in firm denial and thus fought to preserve 'himself'. The memories that ultimately reverted Lyle to Lyra were fond and warm, convincing 'him' to step aside with grace and permit Lyra to take her rightful place once again.

Well, that was my quick and feeble analysis that undoubtly has a million holes in it, but eh... that was my meager twenty millimeters.

>>105154105154

well yeah, i do remember all that

i just didn't understand this chapter all that well

thanks

As I was following this story, I found myself daydreaming about a scenario that sort of split the difference between reality and craziness.  I mean something where Lyra figures out (or can be convinced) that she isn't really Lyle, but she's still going to be stuck with his memories and personality for a while anyhow.

I couldn't see her ever accepting that the human world doesn't exist, but she might buy into some sort of psychic connection between the dimensions that imprints Lyle's personality into her from time to time.  (Which might or might not be the actual explanation!)

Incidentally, I picked up the hints that this has happened before.  Logically, it seems like Bon-Bon and Twilight would have told Lyra about those earlier episodes, but doing so would have more blatantly tipped off the readers too, darn it!

I think I have good idea. How about you will also write the dark ending with the possibility of it having a sequel? Since results of the spell were inconclusive and they may find a way to get back

I think that I kinda guessed this by one thing. Any guy, no matter what form, is going to worry about his junk. Only someone who never had such parts wouldn't worry about them.

As is while this is a bit of a mind screw, I do love this subversion of the "Human in Equestria/human as a pony" trope. When Lyra goes off the deep end, she doesn't take a snorkel and mask, she takes a damn bathysphere. Also I love the very Fonz-like The Stan persona. That was hilarious. Lan should've said Twilust out loud.

I knew it would happen eventually, and it seemed that this was the best place to do it.

well at least we "might" get some closure on exactly what happened during the transition and how lyra fared in the human world...

But *Ahem* A very beautiful ending, a pang of sad but a happy ending nevertheless.

lyle is lyra and lyra is lyle who is now stan..... nice epilogue, explains quite a bit too.

Oh wow, this is a real gem; a HiE story actually done right! And what's more, it's in first person, which is incredibly hard to do if you want a HiE fic that people will actually read.

As a suggestion, this is definitely worth submitting to EqD..

>>108018108018

Oh yeah, and also, in regards to the choice of "first person", Kudos to you. I think it's appropriate to say that you've pulled off the impossible!

Code Monkey. Good Song. I live in Enumclaw. Scary close.

West Lander, signing off.

Faved

A bit of an anti-climatic story...

I feel like it was resolved too quickly.

Also I want to know what Lyra did as a human, if that happened, like you implied in Author's Notes.

Loved it.

If you removed the "t" in Hartman, it would be a Killer7 crossover.

I was wondering when I was going to see something like this (even thought about trying my hand at one, now that's crazy).  The whole "human male switched to pony female" should lead to some interesting hilarity.  

Lyra as human would be hilarious.  Also, Lyle didn't seem too freaked that he was female, I would think that would affect a guy.

Huh. It's like the delusions object being dealt with and contort themselves to keep being troublesome. Wow, Lyra, when you develop avoidance issues, you go all out.

I honestly did not expect this ending, but you made it work excellently. Personally, I kind of want Twilight to plumb the depths of the rabbit hole and try to get Lyle to write a treatise on electronics during one episode. If nothing else, it'll make for a great fantasy novel.

Hmm... Man, you've got my gears turning. Is it okay if I do some metafic for this? Not guaranteeing that I will, but I'd like to get your say-so.

Is this the real life?

Is this just fantasy?

Well, this was what the ending had to be. But how did it happen?

Wait lyra--lyle--lyra--Stan??? BRAIN OVERLOAD!!!!!                 HEH AWSOME STORY DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING

>>8148481484

I, er...  I accidentally deleted your final comment.  I've been on duty for about 22 hours now so I suppose I have an excuse but... whoops, sorry.

Anyway for everybody else, here's what he said before I accidentally the entire post.

Posted by: DirigibleQuixote

I honestly didn't see this ending coming, though that's likely partly due to the fact that I'm just now finishing the story.  I'm bad about reading stuff I have tracked.

To be truthful, though, I can't say I agree with the ending.  It seems . . . hollow.  I mean, with all the build-up to Lyle going home and everything, I kind of expected a more concrete ending than "it was all in her head lol".  That was probably just me being the serious-minded bastard that I am, but still.

Also, the whole ending seems dark to me.  Like, really dark.  I mean, Lyra being mentally unstable enough about her career to have bouts of insanity just strikes me as kind of depressing, honestly.  I think what happened is that you knew that you wanted to write a comedic twist ending from the get-go, so you always had that in mind, whilst I read this as I would any other story, so I sort of viewed it with a less delightfully mad perspective.

All in all, I think the problems I have with this fic (and there are only a few) stem from that difference in perspective.  Good story, overall."

AND NOW MY RESPONSE!

Eh, I suppose.  It really was tempting to take a different direction with it based on all the comments, but I ended up sticking with it.  This is because I am a massive jerk to all my characters, always.  Imagine a discord laughing evilly smilie here because that's pretty much what I would be sing if there was one.

I'm considering softening the blow somewhat with a sequel, but any sequel is going to be a long time in coming and somewhat stymied by the fact that Lyra and Lyle would have basically the same personality by virtue of being the same pony/person...

>>165183165183

Fair enough.

I don't think that a sequel would work out, honestly.  This was made (or at least seems like it was) as a standalone story.  Tacking stuff on because of fan demand rarely works in those cases - I mean, just look at Dragon Age 2.

Still, though, it's ultimately up to you.

Wait that means Lyra is on earth wreaking havoc

You know when you commented in Destination: Equestria a week ago, aside from being happy someone read D:E, I thought your screen name looked familiar....... Like maybe one of the authors of some of the stories I favorited. Fillies and Gentlecolts, my powers of observation at their finest.

Loved it! And as far as Lyra in Lyle's body, maybe just write a sort-of follow-up as if that were the way it happened?

Huh, I probably should have seen the ending coming, what with "Lyle" regaining some of Lyra's memories at the fountain in chapter seven, but I think reading this all in one go took away from the time to speculate.  Even as Lyra was starting to come back during the concert I thought the two were just switching out and Lyle was going back off to HumanLand.  So the ending of that was a little bittersweet – Lyra seems to go crazy rather easily and it sort of feels like Lyle died.

This epilogue however makes me see the humor in all of this though.

Anyways, good job with the story.  I liked it.  I'll have to check out some of your other work.  I'd love to see any kind of sequel like you mentioned, but it would ultimately detract from this.  So it'd probably be best to not do that.

(Also might want to fix that italicized thing.)

I love this story.

>>153299153299

Caught in a landslide.

No escape from reality.

That ending...So yet at the same time, sorta .

PLOT ! I did NOT see that one coming. Congratulations, now here, take a star.

I don't usually like HiE stories, unless they are funny light pieces (Dude, We're Ponies! comes to mind), but this one blended comedy, seriousness, and even touching in a very unique, interesting and enjoyable way. Not too long, not too short, no grammar mistakes, I didn't regret reading these 25k words. I found the ending affecting without being forced or overly emotional, which is kinda rare.

And by 'ending', I mean the end of the seventh chapter. I handle the epilogue merely as an alternate ending, albeit one that gave me a good laugh. "BAM!"

PHOTOGENIC, SCHIZOPHRENIC, YOU Lyra is proved as Schizophreinc mean HOW AWESOME THAT I NOW CAN LOVE BOTH OF HER.(And no this nothing to my name)

Lyle and lyra even you are same person mentel becasuse SCHIZOPHRENIC, YOU

lyle do like Place Where the Nuts Hunt the Squirrel CAUSE IT BOTH WHO INSANE.You both Clearly have Full Blow Case Of schizophrenia.Maybe you need see Dr.psyche the Cut-rate Head Shrinker.Or They're be Comeing Take you alway haha.

This story deserves more 'likes.'  Based on just what I've read so far...

The writing is exquisite.  And it's full of emotion, done right.

You are UH-MAH-ZING!!!!

Mutually Fictional? You have my attention.

Well that was just plain amazing.

Great Job!

I loved the seven chapters, but this epilogue just comes across as... a little unnecessary.  Chapter 7 tied the story up nicely, it would be nice to have seen the said "Lyra is Lyle" kind of ending as well where Lyra believes she is Lyle and has been all along, but you could have stopped at Chapter 7 without writing another word and this would all have gone along nicely.  I'm not being negative for any reason other than I feel this epilogue is... well wrong.  The actual story was great and you get two big thumbs up from me on that and I'm glad that JasonTheHuman directed me here to this fic which was an interesting read and had even me questioning my own reality.  Hey, how are we all not to say that we are delusional and we aren't actually ponies having a dream or something?  I could go on about multiverse theory and what not but I liked your angle on this right up to the Epilogue.

I'd recommend the story to others though so please don't get me wrong on that.

EDIT:

I've also put up a small review on my blog:

http://epiczen.net/blogs.php#blog-9

I have a few followers on that so maybe others will come by sometime.

Hmph, should've just brought up stuff that had to deal with the other main 6 and then checked validity. Apparently Lyle hasn't tried that or the other quotes yet in previous incarnations. (I'm fuzzy on that actually they never state that he has been Lyle before that I can recall but it's insinuated. most confusing)

Again I like the logical approach it is my favorite and helps my suspension of disbelief a great deal. But there is a great deal more Lyle could have said. Although it could be attributed to himself saying his knowledge isn't encyclopedic. Later I'm hoping to read about him wracking his brain for someway to prove to Twilight that programming or mlp fim is real. Honestly though he should be able to explain the simplicities of binary and silicon circuitry? on off on off is a pretty simple concept. Maybe if he stays Lyle long enough he can figure something out on that end. But I'm satisfied with what you did write. It's more then what people usually go to the trouble of writing.  kudos!