//------------------------------// // 4 Features // Story: For science // by Znegil //------------------------------// I woke up from a restless sleep. I had scanned these books for more than three hours but managed to scan every single page. After that, I fell asleep on my desk while writing the journal. I slowly straightened my body, and tried to ignore the pain from this terrible sleep position. I opened one of Fluttershy's books again, while the drawings had been an incredible source of knowledge, I wasn't able to read the text of them. The letters seemed just strange, like if someone took our alphabet and randomly exchanged the letters for new ones... it felt familiar but unreadable until someone could teach me about it. I had chosen the best picture I had taken of Fluttershy and printed it out on my photo printer. It would be a nice 'Thank you' gift for Fluttershy's help. 'Nice move. You're giving her glass pearls for her gold.', my conscience was nagging me. I let my head fall back to the desk. It was all for the greater good, things aren't black and white. 'For YOUR greater good.' I decided this would be a good time for breakfast and chased those thoughts away from me the best I could. ... When I arrived at work Wednesday morning, I went straight to my boss. I told him I would need the rest of the week off because of a family emergency. Since he did not care for my work at all it wasn't a problem. Then I went to my lab, locked the door and turned off the lights. This one time I was happy for my lab not having any windows. I had thought a lot about a new approach to keep the portal safer from the Equestria side and had a pretty good plan. I sat at my desk and started modifying the automatic program since I had written it myself this was easy. ... After half an hour I had finished all modifications. Now the program would use the Equestria parameter first and then go back to random. But every 6 hours (which meant 8 hours in Equestria) it would open a portal to Fluttershy's world for just one minute before it would go back to random. I checked the program several times using time skips. I had to be sure it was perfect. When I finally was satisfied, I started the program and waited in front of the portal to open. As I saw Equestria before me, I stepped through it and once again felt this tingling sensation rush through my body. I looked around, it was near sunset, I had to hurry to get out of these woods. I held my tranquilizer gun just in case and watched the portal close. It was a strange feeling not being able to go back anytime I wanted, it made me feel a bit lost. I began to jog out of the forest as quickly as I was able to while wearing my backpack. I was relieved when I left the Everfree Forest, and only minutes later Fluttershy's cottage came in sight. *Knock Knock* "Fluttershy. It's me, Stella." She opened the door. "Oh, that's a surprise, I haven't expected you before tomorrow." "I found a way to make it work sooner and so I can stay without the pressure of going back right away. May I stay the night in your house, I brought my sleeping bag." She moved aside to let me in. "Any creature is welcome in my house. Come in, and I'll make us some tea again." I set down my backpack and sorted the books back on their shelf. "Thanks again for letting me borrow these, I brought you a gift in return." I presented her the wrapped picture frame. She showed the slightest blush on her cheeks. "You don't have to do this. I am always happy to help." "It's nothing, open it up." 'It really is nothing.' She opened it ever so delicate, it took about a minute. Her face showed so much joy and gratitude. I will never forget how happy this simple present made her. She drew me in a surprisingly firm hug. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you." "Hey, I told you it's nothing special.", I answered astonished by her sudden outburst of emotion. I patted her back and felt pony fur for the first time. It was incredibly soft. She suddenly seemed to notice what she was doing and moved back to bring some distance between us. "Sorry for breaking in your personal space." "Hey, I am happy to see you like it, and the hug felt very nice... how about you showing me your photo album now while we have some tea?" She nodded happily and prepared the tea for us. ... "This is my brother, he can be... difficult sometimes but has a good heart.", she explained. "Wow, he looks so different to you." "And here is a picture with my new friends.", she pointed at a group picture. "They do look nice, I'm sure... wait... A UNICORN?!" Fluttershy shrieked and hid behind her wings. "Oh I'm so sorry, excuse me for being this loud, it's just... she is a fu... she is a unicorn, I thought you ponies are all pegasi." She folded her wings back again. "Oh no, we are Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorns. Earth Ponies are strong and have a special connection to the land; they are great farmers. Pegasi can influence the weather and Unicorns can use magic." I was dumbfounded. "They can use magic? You're not messing with me, are you?", I asked as I finally was able to talk again. "My friend Twilight for example..." A voice from outside interrupted her. "Fluttershy are you home? I have great news!" I jumped over the couch and laid on the ground behind it, just in time before the door flew open, and I heard someone coming in. "Oh, Hi Dashie.", I heard Fluttershy say. "I got Tickets for the Wonderbolts show next week in... why are there tea cups already, how did you know I was coming?", I heard a raspy voice. "I... I had tea with Henry the bear before. Go on with your story.", she responded. "Yeah, anyway. I got these tickets for the show next week and thought you could join me for this event and then... what do you want Angel, why are you tugging my leg? What are you pointing to?" "Rainbow Dash, you shouldn't..." A light blue pony head with rainbow colored mane peeked over the couch right at me. "What kind of creature have you found this time?", she asked Fluttershy. She came over to the other side and checked me top to bottom. Her wings extracted. "It has huge udders..." "Why is everyone saying that? They're quite normal.", I responded. "And it talks!", she said jumping back a bit in surprise. "Dashie, meet Stella.", Fluttershy said. "She is a human mare and very friendly." "Oh, hi.", she said to me, then her focus shifted back to some of my features. "Why are you all not more surprised about seeing a whole new species you never saw before?", I asked them. "And my eyes are up here." Rainbow Dash shook her head. "What was the question again?" "It is not that uncommon here to find a new species. We are used to be surprised by something new.", Fluttershy answered. "Could you come over here for a second Stella?" I walked over to her, and she leaned close to me. "Dashie has... a thing for... udders.", she whispered to me. "Once I visited her home I found a magazine with lots of... well...", she pointed at my breasts. "Oh... ", was all I could answer. I turned around to Rainbow Dash again. Her wings were fully extended and... it seemed like they were throbbing. "Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash, I'm Stella, sorry for the hiding.", I extended my hand towards her. "Hi, nice to meet you.", she responded and tried to look at my face while shaking my hand but her gaze always wandered down my body again. "Rainbow Dash!", Fluttershy shouted, but not very loud. "What kind of behavior is this?" Her blue face turned red. "Well why does she have to cover them, it's not my fault... in a way." "What does this suppose to mean? ", I asked and put my hands over my breasts. "Well since we usually don't wear clothes...", Fluttershy started, her face gaining some color as well. "... to cover private parts can be considered quite ..." she fell silent. "Sexy, erotic, hot...", Rainbow Dash helped out. "Thank you Dashie, I think she understood." I pinched my nose. "You mean she would be less 'influenced' if I were naked?" "We totally should try this out, and I tell you how it changed.", Dashie said with a lewd smile. 'Is this pony hitting on me?' "That's enough!", Fluttershy shouted quite loud this time. She took Rainbow Dash's hoof and dragged her out of the room. "You will take a cold shower now!" I heard her protest, first because of the dragging then after a minute about ice-cold water. I was alone in the room with a smugly grinning bunny.