There he was, sitting in his usual chair. Some music played in the background to break the silence as he browsed the internet somewhat aimlessly. An ad caught his attention, which was odd in itself, with ads being something to be ignored, but 'Do you want to go to Equestria?' seemed so… blunt.
He dared to click it, to be greeted with a site that looked like it was made back on Geocities. It had some ponies, but none of the really big mane ones, just a lot of background ponies, and some he didn't even know, but there they were, each rotating slowly in place with a placid smile.
He browsed the selection, trying to find one that caught his eye. And there it was. A curious unicorn pony with light grey fur and faint wisps of energy wafting from his soft eyes. The label beneath it read 'Prince Grey Ghost’.
It went on to explain that this particular pony didn't actually… exist. Selecting it would mean becoming something new, for the sake of another pony that wanted to have someone big and important to be with. It didn't specify 'how' they would want to be together, but apparently, that pony was someone's idea of an ideal companion, friend or otherwise.
After a few minutes of debate, he clicked on the image. The world fell away, as if he were propelled upwards with terrific speed. There was no ceiling to catch him. There was no sky either. It was nothing but darkness. He could feel strange forces washing through his form, testing and plying him in unnatural ways. He could feel the indescribable need to be the pony he had selected, as if it was his choice.
He lost himself to the feeling, letting it wash over his mind. That magic, pervasive and powerful, felt his loss of focus and crept in under his skin. Wouldn't it be nice to be a pony? Strong legs, a powerful horn, and a swishy tail awaited. He could have a companion forever and know happiness. He had but to accept it.
Yes... It would have been good to have those things. He accepted without hesitation. There was no sound in that place, but he could feel the pops and jumps in his flesh. His arms locked forward a moment as they gained a pelt of dark fur. His fingers clenched painfully as hooves formed. Inside that casing, he could move his fingers for the last time, locking them into the position they would have forever inside those protective cases.
He squirmed a little, gritting his teeth as the joints in his legs popped and rearranged themselves. The midportion of his body surged outwards the meet the adjustments of his limbs as his clothes tore free of a body that could not support them. He was naked, but not entirely. Thick and soft hairs had sprouted across his body in a dense pelt to shield him from the wind and perhaps from curious eyes. His own eyes were drawn upwards as he felt an intense pain build in his forehead that erupted in a blinding jolt as a horn burst free, dripping with blood as it swelled larger and larger.
He let out a muffled cry, squeezing his eyes shut. The seconds passed and he prayed the pain would pass.
Which it did, in a fashion. Consciousness faded away.
But it came back. How long had it been? He couldn't tell. He was standing there on all four hooves in a strange circle that looked like a summoning setup straight out of a Dungeons and Dragons game or similar. There was a unicorn on the outside of it, looking at him. She blew her hair out of her face and nodded. "You look perfect, Prince Grey Ghost. How do you feel?"
That name… it felt right. Of course that was his name. What other name would fit?
“We feel...fine,” he replied, studying her. “Who art thou?”
"Nopony important," assured the doctor as she turned for the door. "Your mistress awaits you. She's quite excited to be at your side again, Prince."
He had a mistress? The thought tumbled in his scrambled head a little. He remembered something about it. It felt like so long ago.
“Please, reminds us who this mistress is.” He stepped out of the circle, stumbling slightly over his hooves. He quickly found that the summoning circle was still active, repelling him with a ripple.
Fetlock snorted softly. "My apologies." Her horn glowed as it all faded away to darkness. "Mistress Horn Glass. She's ready to serve and be at your side forever, don't you recall?" With her honeyed words, it did seem a bit more familiar. "She's waiting for you just here."
Fetlock led the way from the back of the new, smaller, office to the front where a pony waited. She had horn-rimmed glasses, as fit her name. They were attached to her head with a little chain that hooked into her flowing mane. The top of that mane was done up in a bun. She had mouse-brown fur and bright-pink hair and tail. She seemed like… a secretary, or a librarian.
Her face lit up on seeing the two of them and she rushed for her prince. "My leige! You're everything I'd hoped for!"
“We art?” He blinked, scrunching his muzzle. “We art having trouble recalling thou.”
"Oh don't you worry about that." She waved off the concern. "You're home now." She leaned up and kissed the confused stallion's cheek. "Your loyal servant will take good care of you. Oh, I have so many things to share with you."
Fetlock softly coughed. "I trust he is to your satisfaction?"
The mare looked between the prince and Fetlock before looking back at the prince. "Tell me, will you treat me like your loyal and beloved mare, because I am. You love me with every fibre of your being, even if it repels you on the inside to be with a mare of such… low breeding. It's a guilty passion, but one we hold dear. Tell me it's true, my prince."
Her words felt so right. The stallion's memories began to sort and shuffle as if making room for her words to be true. If he didn't resist, they simply would, and it would become fact, at least to him.
“We...I...” He bit his lip, giving his head a shake. This wasn't right was it?
She looked into his eyes through those glasses a moment before she leaned in, her soft jazmine-scented breath washing over his snout. "Say yes, then we can be happy together, forever."
“Together... Forever?” he asked, staring back into her eyes.
"'Till death do us part." She nodded firmly. "I will care for you, and you will protect me from our enemies." She smiled a little. "But we fled here, far from them. This is a safe place, safe, where we can be lovers without judgment."
“We did?” he repeated, letting the words sink in.
"We did. We fled our country and came here, to Manehattan. It's not as refined as you're used to, m'lord, but I will do my best to provide you with comfort, and we have each other." She wove her fantasy glibly, happily inventing the romance that would bind them together. "Come home, my prince. I'll make your favorite tonight."
“Yes... Home sounds lovely,” he agreed, nodding his head.
The two left, side by side. Fetlock watched them go with a growing smile. A clipboard floated over from the desk nearby and she scribbled softly.
Case 02, wild success. Lesson learned, be more explicit about the intended role the subject will enter for better results.
She nodded at her own writing and set it down before she went to count her hard-earned bits. Her services would prove in demand after all…